Chapter 10
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Northern Grand Duchess's Exclusive Attendant (3)
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After slipping out of the mansion, I headed to the knights' training grounds with Elena.
‘Will it be okay…?’
The duke's most cherished princess—and at just nine years old—was trying to pick up a sword. From his perspective, it might not sit well at all.
But I couldn't very well tell the excited girl to hold back, so I was left feeling nothing but awkward.
Is this the life of a servant…? It's not as easy as I thought.
By the time we arrived at the training grounds, knights were hard at work. Some were hacking at wooden dummies, while others sparred with one another.
It must have been a familiar sight to Elena. She didn't bat an eye despite all the loud crashes and bangs.
That was when one of the training knights spotted her and hurried over. His face was full of bewilderment.
“Princess? What in the world brings you all the way out here?”
“Swordsmanship…? I wanna try it.”
“You mean you're going to swing a sword…?”
“Yeah, me and him.”
Elena’s gaze shifted to me, and the knight’s followed right after.
I stepped forward and gave a light bow.
“I'm Luke Nineheart. I've become Elena Princess's exclusive attendant.”
“Nineheart? You mean that legendary Sir Deren from the 2nd Knight Order?”
“Yes, that's correct.”
It seemed my father was quite the famous figure. The fact that his name still came up long after his retirement was proof enough.
“I understand the situation, but…”
He trailed off, scratching his head. He looked torn—unable to refuse Elena's request outright, yet unable to accept it either.
I felt bad for him, but it did ease my mind a little. He was essentially fretting in my stead.
“Then, could you wait just a moment? I'll go ask the captain.”
“Yeah, go ahead.”
The knight bowed his head and hurried off.
Now that it was just the two of us, Elena began looking around with wide-eyed curiosity. She'd seen the place from afar before, but this was her first time actually stepping inside.
“Luke, this thing's huge. Bigger than me.”
“It is, isn't it.”
Elena's gaze had landed on a massive greatsword. The blade alone was taller than her—even without the hilt, it was imposing.
Someone actually wields this…?
The bigger the sword, the heavier it had to be. Swinging something like that would require monstrous strength.
Not human strength. Monstrous.
That was when I felt a presence behind me—a sudden chill racing down my spine.
I whipped around in alarm and came face-to-face with a man.
Snow-white hair, a long scar running over his left eye, an aura of overwhelming intimidation. If you turned the phrase "battle-hardened veteran" into a person, this was exactly what he'd look like.
If there was anyone here who could swing that greatsword, it had to be him.
“Princess, I'm Chrome, Captain of the 1st Knight Order.”
“Yeah, I'm Elena.”
Elena boldly stuck out her hand to the man who looked like he could wrestle a bear barehanded.
Our princess must have been born without a speck of fear.
No exaggeration. She was truly impressive.
“I've heard so much about you from His Grace. It's an honor to meet you.”
He took her tiny hand with utmost care.
His hand was the polar opposite of Elena's delicate one—scarred and rough all over. Just looking at it told you everything about the brutal northern front lines. It couldn't have been an easy place.
“I heard you wanted to learn swordsmanship.”
“Yeah, me and him. Together.”
Chrome's gaze turned to me.
In that instant, a jolt like electricity shot through my entire body. My fingers went numb—I couldn't even swallow.
They say the strongest beasts can subdue prey with a mere glare. This was exactly that.
Thankfully, the moment didn't last long.
“Very well. I'll show you the way.”
With that, he started walking toward a spot in the distance.
The suffocating pressure lifted at once, and I took a discreet deep breath.
The vanguard of the Northern Knight Order, Captain of the 1st Knight Order. He was beyond anything I'd imagined.
We soon arrived at a corner of the training grounds, following Chrome's lead.
It was the perfect spot—close enough to feel like you were training with the knights, but far enough not to get in their way. Made for Elena, really.
“Then, the two of you can have these.”
He handed us swords—small wooden ones made for children.
They were a bit smaller than the ones I'd used back home, but it didn't matter much. Not a huge difference.
“A sword…!”
Elena took hers with a serious expression, mimicking the knights just like any child playing at being one.
Chrome watched her for a moment, then pinched the tip of her wooden sword between two fingers.
“Princess, you can't swing it like that. I'll teach you from the basics now—follow along.”
“Yeah…!”
And with that, Chrome's swordsmanship lesson began.
How to grip the sword, how to move your feet, what to watch out for when swinging—everything tailored to Elena's level, so it was all pure fundamentals.
I joined in right beside her. Most of it was stuff I'd learned from my father, but basics were something you could never practice enough, so I had no complaints.
How much time had passed?
“Ugh… I'm tired…”
“Then that's enough for today. You did wonderfully.”
In the end, Elena called it quits.
Considering she was the sort who needed a servant's help just to get dressed, she'd held out impressively long.
Honestly, I was a little surprised.
After catching my breath, I approached Chrome to return the wooden sword.
“Thank you for the training.”
“Have you trained with a sword before?”
“Come to think of it, I haven't properly introduced myself. I'm Luke Nineheart, Elena Princess's new exclusive attendant. I learned the basics from my father back home.”
“Nineheart—Sir Deren's son. That explains it. Your form's so clean, I was honestly surprised.”
“You're too kind.”
“Sir Deren and I were pretty good rivals on the battlefield. Old news now, but anyway—feel free to come to the training grounds anytime. I'll train you as much as you want.”
I'd always figured my father's war stories were exaggerated, like the usual army tales. Who'd believe he beat fifty men single-handed?
But hearing he was rivals with this guy? No choice but to buy it.
Father, your unworthy son finally gets it. You must've soared across those battlefields.
I wrapped up the conversation with Chrome and went to Elena.
“Princess, it's time to head back.”
“Uh, yeah! Let's go!”
Elena, who'd been spacing out, nodded vigorously. Was that joy on her face, or was I imagining it?
Well, of course it was. Even the basics must've been grueling for her.
I remembered wanting to bolt the first time my father taught me the sword. I got how she felt.
Once we left the training grounds, Elena let her shoulders slump.
“That was hard…”
“You worked hard. And you were amazing.”
“R-really? I did good?”
“Yes, very good. You looked just like a knight from a fairy tale.”
Maybe the praise perked her up—Elena straightened her shoulders and marched off proudly. It didn't last long, of course.
Soon, as the mansion came into view, Elena tilted her head.
Her blue eyes reflected my face.
“But Luke, swordsmanship's hard. Why do it? Is it fun?”
“So I can protect you if you're ever in danger.”
“Me, in danger? How?”
“Bad people might show up.”
“Like the villains in books?”
“Exactly.”
It'd take a while to explain in detail, but the bottom line was protecting Elena—which tied straight to my own peaceful life.
“So you're a knight, then?”
“I'm a servant.”
“Servant knight!”
Slave gladiator…?
It was just a tiny twist on the words, but it sounded brutally violent.
No colosseums around here, I hope…?
“Then what if you get in danger? Sword's too hard for me.”
“If I'm in danger, Princess, you run to a safe place.”
“No way! I wanna protect you too!”
Her sentiment was sweet, but there was no need. Having the massive Frozenheart Ducal Family as backup was plenty.
Besides, a master stepping up to protect her servant? Absurd.
But if she was dead set on protecting me no matter what…
There were ways.
“If swordsmanship's too hard, how about learning magic?”
“Magic? I know magic. Fire goes pop from your finger.”
“Right. But great mages make huge fire.”
“If I become a great mage, can I protect you, Luke?”
“You can.”
“Then I'll do it! Mage!”
Elena's eyes sparkled like a kid who'd just discovered something fascinating.
It probably wouldn't last. Kids always lose interest fast.
She'd forget all about protecting me soon enough, too—once she made friends, it'd fade from memory naturally.
That's what I firmly believed, at least back then.