Chapter 196: Ill-fated Relationship(3)
Chapter 196: Ill-fated Relationship(3)
It was a day like any other. The weekend had arrived, and as promised, I began physical training with Adelia.
Since Nicole wasn't around, there was no need to go to the Training Hall, where the chances of running into Hiriya were high. I didn't need to do high-intensity exercises anyway, and there were plenty of other places to work out besides the Training Hall.
So, we were jogging around the Academy grounds to warm up and build stamina when it happened.
"What is that wench doing here?"
As luck would have it, we ran straight into Hiriya, who was also out for a jog to maintain her basic fitness. She was wearing surprisingly ordinary athletic wear, but the coordinated light-blue set suited her strangely well.
It was a classic case of leaving the tiger's den to avoid the tiger, only to run into the beast while it was out hunting. Talk about rotten luck.
I looked at Hiriya’s face, which was a mask of discomfort and disgust, and then checked Adelia’s reaction. She was the one who mattered most.
And sure enough.
Despite the comfort I had given her before, Adelia’s sky-blue eyes were shaking violently. She hadn't shed a single drop of sweat while jogging, yet now she was breaking out in a cold sweat.
As I’ve said before, a trauma carved deep into the heart cannot be cured simply because one wants it to be.
"Adelia."
"Ah."
Perhaps she was doing better than before, because she snapped out of it when I tapped her arm. At the exhibition, there had been three of them; now, it was just Hiriya.
Regaining her senses, Adelia swallowed hard as she looked at the scowling Hiriya. Then, with an expression that was somewhere between a smile and a sob, she spoke quietly.
"H-hello. It’s... it’s been a while since the exhibition, hasn't it...?"
"... ..."
Hiriya remained silent even as Adelia waved and greeted her. Instead, she shifted her gaze to me, demanding an explanation for the situation.
I had a strong feeling things were about to get complicated, but she was a foreign princess and I was the son of a baron. There was a clear difference in status, so I had no choice but to explain.
"Sir Cross has been stationed as a knight of the Maishal family. She is currently at the Academy as my guard knight."
"...Guard knight?"
Hiriya looked surprised at the answer and glanced back and forth between Adelia and me. Every time their eyes met, Adelia’s body went stiff.
Hiriya scratched her chin, deep in thought, and then a slow smirk spread across her lips. I didn't know what she was thinking, but my gut told me this wasn't good.
"This works out perfectly. Follow me to the Training Hall."
"Pardon?"
"I said, follow me to the Training Hall. It’s been a long time since we’ve seen each other, and I think it’s time we caught up."
With that, Hiriya spun around. I stared blankly at her retreating back as she walked toward the Training Hall, then turned my gaze to Adelia.
Adelia seemed to realize what Hiriya meant by "catching up," as she was trembling, clutching her left arm with her right hand. It seemed the memories of the past were resurfacing.
Is she planning on a duel?
There was no other reason to call us to the Training Hall. The problem was that Adelia had a history of being severely assaulted by Hiriya under the guise of "sparring."
No matter how much stronger she had become since then, the deep-rooted sense of helplessness and fear was the issue.
Like an elephant that had been tied to a thin rope by its ankle since it was a calf, the horrific memories of the past were shackling her.
"What are you doing? Aren't you coming?"
"Ah, yes. We’re coming. Adelia?"
"... ..."
Adelia didn't move, looking as if she were nailed to the spot despite my call. She wasn't just hesitating; she looked ready to bolt at any second.
Her usual confident self was nowhere to be found, replaced by a small, terrified animal. I looked at her with pity and gently took her hand.
When I grabbed her hand, she flinched violently and looked at me with a startled expression. At the same time, her trembling immediately subsided.
"It’s okay. I told you before, didn't I? I’m on your side."
"... ..."
"I won't be disappointed, so don't be afraid. You can't keep running away forever, can you?"
As I spoke with a gentle smile, I could feel Adelia gradually calming down. Her trembling stopped completely, and her constricted pupils began to return to normal.
Eventually, her ragged breathing steadied, and finally, the corners of her mouth lifted. She even squeezed the hand I was holding.
She looked at me, smiled, and whispered her thanks.
"...Thank you."
"Don't mention it. Let's go."
"Okay."
Now that Adelia had calmed down, I followed Hiriya while tenderly holding her hand. Adelia, too, managed to lift her heavy feet and walk forward.
To an outsider, we probably looked like a couple heading somewhere while holding hands affectionately. Adelia even seemed to want to express her hidden desires, as her fingers began to fidget against mine.
At first, we were just holding hands, but then she began to interlace her fingers with mine, one by one. However, she seemingly lacked the courage to go all the way and stopped after only interlocking her index and middle fingers.
"Hmm..."
Hiriya, who was leading the way, glanced back at us with a peculiar expression before letting out a wicked smile. Both Adelia and I couldn't help but flinch.
"You two seem close. So close I’d never guess you were master and guard knight."
"Ah. This is..."
"No. You don't need to explain. This kind of 'romance' is common among the nobility. I can understand."
Just as I was about to explain, Hiriya waved her hand as if she understood. I didn't know exactly what she "understood," but it was definitely nothing good.
She then turned her gaze to Adelia and spoke in a mocking tone.
"It actually suits that wench quite well. Though in the end, she’ll just end up begging before being abandoned anyway. Just like always."
"... ..."
Grip!
Hiriya’s verbal abuse was like striking a raw nerve. I could vividly feel the strength surging into Adelia’s hand.
That was essentially a vile insult to her birth. It was so vicious that, were it not for the difference in rank, a punch to the face would have been entirely justified.
Furthermore, since Adelia was an illegitimate child, those words must have felt like daggers plunging into her heart over and over again.
Wow... I’m actually impressed.
How could someone have such a trashy personality? I knew she was a brat, but I didn't expect her to say something like that to someone's face.
Part of me wanted to reveal right then and there that I was Xenon and force her to her knees, but it was still too early. To deliver a truly spectacular blow, I had to let her pile up her karma first.
More importantly...
"...You."
The atmosphere around Adelia was unusual. She had been trembling with fear just moments ago, but now she was shaking in a different way.
Anger. Yes. It was anger.
The woman who had always shown signs of anxiety whenever she encountered her family was now manifesting clear rage. It was my first time seeing Adelia angry, so it felt almost foreign.
Regardless, Hiriya wore a sneer so vile it tarnished her beauty and continued her mockery.
"It’s been a long time since I’ve seen that face. Well, you’ll end up crying and begging in the end anyway."
"... ..."
"Isaac, was it? I suggest you don't get too close to that woman. Before you end up disappointed, that is."
She was practically begging to be hit. Leaving only those words behind, Hiriya spun around and started walking again.
I looked at her retreating back with an incredulous expression, then turned to Adelia.
Her face was still filled with rage, but she was glancing at me as if she were anxious. The strength in her hand relaxed, and signs of her inner turmoil were visible everywhere.
She seemed to have been reminded once again by Hiriya’s words. Reminded that she was a "nothing," an illegitimate child with only half the bloodline.
Moreover, because she was despised by her own family, she might have been thinking that she would only bring harm to those around her.
She really is...
She’s too kind for her own good. The fact that someone like her could emerge from a family environment that wasn't just terrible, but an absolute disaster, spoke volumes about her innate nature.
If she had been born as a normal noble daughter, she would have grown up to be a spunky, innocent young lady. Her only misfortune was being born into the wrong family.
But where there is misfortune, there must also be luck. As Hiriya moved further away, I made a proposal that Adelia could never refuse.
"Adelia. Can I make a suggestion?"
"What kind of... suggestion?"
"If you beat Princess Hiriya... no, if you beat that woman..."
Adelia’s eyes widened in surprise when I referred to Hiriya as "that woman" instead of "Princess Hiriya." But what I said next was enough to truly shock her.
"I’ll do whatever you want."
"Wha-what? Anything I want?"
"Exactly."
I gave her a bright smile and whispered softly into her ear.
"Did you think I didn't know how you felt?"
"...!!"
At those words, Adelia’s body flinched violently. Her grip on my hand tightened even more.
I slowly pulled my face away from her ear and looked her in the eye. I saw Adelia, her face flushed deep red, looking completely flustered.
Seeing her, who was usually so bold and confident in front of me, acting so flustered was... well, it was really cute. I suppose any woman in love is like that, but Adelia was particularly unique.
"If you’re going to hide it, do a better job. You’re making it too obvious."
"B-but you... Princess Mari and Princess Cecile..."
"I know. I can't accept your feelings right now. Instead..."
I trailed off for a moment and gently stroked her cheek with my hand. Adelia flinched again at the touch.
As I said, I needed time before I could fully accept her. Not only did I have to reveal my identity, but crucially, I needed Mari’s permission.
Given that she had already accepted Cecile, the possibility was high, but Cecile was a Princess of Helium. There were numerous benefits that came with her, which was why Mari had accepted her so readily.
However, Adelia’s situation was very different. Although her individual martial prowess was great, the major flaw of being an illegitimate child remained.
Whether she would become a member of the Ters Royal Family to erase that flaw or remain as my guard knight would depend on her choice.
"I’ll make my choice after I see yours. So please, just wait until then. Okay?"
"... ..."
"You have to win. If you want to get what you want."
People only develop passion and determination when they have a clear goal. Adelia was no different.
When I cheered her on in a gentle voice while stroking her cheek, Adelia smiled softly and answered with vigor.
"I’ll win, no matter what!"
"Good. That’s the spirit."
I wondered what kind of favor she would ask of me.