The Hero's Weak Mind
The maid who confirmed all the enemies had fallen took a short breath. She soon composed her expression and opened her mouth.
“General, Princess. This place… is not suitable for continuing the meal. I will move the location.”
Every time the wind blew, a metallic smell came with it. The princess nodded her head briefly. I silently put away my sword. These people thought about eating first even after being attacked just now. The kingdom I knew might be stronger in greed than I thought.
The carriage ran faster through the forest path than before. The sound of horse hooves was urgent. Trees flowed past the window. I looked down at my hand. The hand that held the sword. Not a single drop of blood under the nails.
Is this normal?
The ordinary village boy I was at fourteen years old cut down over thirty enemies at once. But my heart was still calm. Like someone who had just eaten a piece of bread. That fact was even scarier. I placed my hand on my knee and clenched and opened my fist. The finger joints made a light sound.
The princess was sitting opposite me. Unlike before, her gaze was fixed on my hand, not the window. Every time I clenched and opened my hand, her pupils moved slightly. I hurriedly covered my hand.
It would be uncomfortable, right.
Of course. Having seen the man sitting in front of her just now split into two with dozens of people, it was natural not to be comfortable. I forced my gaze to the window. Trees. Trees. More trees.
***
“It’s fine around here.”
The maid unfolded the cloth again. This time, it was near a stream. The sound of water was like background, and the wind was refreshing. No smell of blood. The maid skillfully took out bread and cheese, and poured tea. Her hands didn’t tremble even a bit.
I automatically tried to turn my steps to the opposite side of the carriage. But the maid’s voice stopped me.
“General.”
I turned around. The maid was pointing to the middle of the cloth.
“Would you sit here?”
“……”
“For safety.”
Her eyes were serious. I couldn’t refuse. No, I didn’t know how to refuse. Even in my previous life, there was an incident where I couldn’t avoid answering a survey taker on the street for thirty minutes.
I plopped down in the middle of the cloth.
Immediately, the sides on both sides warmed up.
Isabel the princess sat closely on my right. The maid sat on the left. I held my breath. Isabel’s shoulder touched my arm. She didn’t leave any distance. A bit uncomfortable, I moved to the opposite side, and Isabel followed.
“Professor Arthur is incredibly strong as well!”
Isabel’s eyes sparkled. There was no fear in her pupils. It was pure curiosity that filled the seat.
“Is there a separate secret to your strength?”
“The rumors about your strength during the war were exaggerated.”
The maid took the tea in front of me and responded. Not a single sound came from her fingers when placing the teacup.
“I didn’t know that the general had such power in one swing.”
Ah… Why did this happen.
I picked up the teacup. Before thinking that the tea would be hot, the moment my lips touched the rim of the cup, I swallowed a sip. I felt the hot liquid go down my throat, but I forced myself to hold it in while being conscious of the surroundings.
“Such a flamboyant attack is likely to be camouflage.”
The maid continued and looked straight at my face. Her eyes were sharp.
“Since the general showed such overwhelming skill… you might come in a more cunning way next time.”
Her finger swept once over the dagger handle on her thigh. It was an unconscious habit. I looked at that finger and thought. This maid is really strong. I shouldn’t protect her too?
But right now, the one I need to protect is her.
“How are your muscles so….”
Slightly.
Isabel’s finger touched my forearm. I held my breath. Her finger slowly went up. From forearm to shoulder, from shoulder to chest. The slender finger pressed my chest muscles.
“General, is the chest muscle done with some exercise….”
“Princess.”
The maid’s low voice interrupted. Isabel removed her hand and cleared her throat. Her ears turned red. I forced my gaze to the food as if nothing happened.
Isabel picked up a piece of bread. She elegantly spread butter and piled on strawberry jam. The bright red jam spread on the bread. I looked at that red color and felt my stomach churn. It was the same color as what I saw in the forest just now.
Isabel bit the bread deliciously.
“Princess, are you familiar with such attacks?”
The words came out of my mouth. Earlier than I thought. Isabel chewed the bread and swallowed. A bit of jam stuck to the corner of her mouth. She wiped her mouth with a handkerchief and tilted her head.
“Um… attacks?”
She seemed to think for a moment, then laughed brightly.
“I haven’t left the kingdom since I was born, so I haven’t actually experienced attacks or assassinations. Of course, I’ve heard there were many incidents, but the guards and knights blocked them perfectly!”
She lifted her thin forearm and imitated showing muscles.
“Like this!”
No muscles on the forearm. Only a slender line was visible. I looked at that forearm and thought. Nobles are not in the realm of ordinary people. After seeing that tragic scene, eating bread with red jam deliciously.
“My older sister, the princess, witnessed an attack in front of her when she was young, and after that, the guards became stricter, so I was fine.”
Isabel lifted the teacup elegantly and took a sip. Every action was like a painting. I looked down at my hand. Palm with calluses. Faint scars on the back of the hand. Holding the teacup with such hands was a bit funny.
“Then, how are you fine even with such attacks….”
Isabel put down the teacup. Her gaze was different from before.
“I am a princess.”
Her voice lowered.
“A princess must not be afraid in any situation. Because she is the face of this country and represents the people.”
And then added with a slight smile.
“Of course, it’s also because I can rely on Arthur to protect me, so my mind is at ease.”
No trembling in her pupils. Deep and transparent, like the eyes of someone who has shouldered hundreds of years of history. I saw those eyes and realized. This is not a realm I can learn. She has been trained like this since she was young. How to swallow fear. How to maintain the face of a noble.
“I see.”
I nodded and gave up. From now on, I decided to live as an ordinary citizen. I will be scared on my own pace, live timidly on my own pace. That’s me.
“So, what kind of training did you do to create that power?”
Isabel came closer to me again. Her shoulder touched my arm. I subtly avoided my gaze.
“That is….”
I couldn’t say I have no memory of training because I was under hypnosis for ten years. I mumbled and listed improvised excuses.
“Basic training is important. In the morning, I wake up… swing the sword….”
While saying, I didn’t know what I was saying. It was mixed with exercise tips from YouTube I saw in my previous life, like adjusting meals, important to get enough sleep. Isabel nodded seriously while listening. The maid made a gesture as if taking notes. Their serious reactions made me more flustered.
“After all….”
Isabel exhaled as if in admiration.
“Being faithful to the basics is the hardest… but the general has practiced it for ten years.”
No, I didn’t mean it that way.
I closed my mouth. If I said more, it would sink deeper into the swamp. Silence is the best strategy. Isabel accepted my silence humbly and nodded, then picked up another piece of bread.
***
A week after the attack incident.
We arrived at the academy.
Perhaps realizing the attack, the maid moved the carriage along the main road instead of the shortest path. Thanks to that, it took one more day than scheduled. The period of tormenting the princess in the carriage increased by one day.
“General, what do you do first thing in the morning?”
“Do you have any hobbies?”
“Is there any favorite food….”
Isabel prepared new questions every morning. I mumbled at that time. Because I don’t know what kind of person the war hero Arthur is. But Isabel still nodded and admired each of my answers. It seemed like she thought I was saying something with deep meaning.
Finally, the carriage stopped.
Isabel, who got off the carriage with the maid’s escort, turned to look at me before leaving. Perhaps because a week had passed and some affection had built, she had a comfortable smile unlike the first time.
“General Arthur… no, from now on, I should call you Professor Arthur?”
She held the hem of her skirt with her hand and slightly bowed her waist to show courtesy. Curtsey. The first time I received this greeting that I had only seen in movies. I tried to bow my head to return the courtesy.
But my body moved ahead of my will.
Heels together, back straight, right hand raised to the side of the forehead. Military salute. The only greeting method my body remembers. Returning a curtsey with a salute. Is this correct? Isabel covered her mouth and laughed “huh huh” seeing that.
“I’ll invite you to tea time next time. You must come.”
She waved her hand and disappeared into the academy. The maid bowed her head once towards me and followed.
“Ha…”
Finally alone.
I let out a long sigh and looked at the academy. Buildings lined up larger and higher than the royal palace. The building forest of Seoul from my previous life came to mind. Young students walked in groups between the buildings, and people who looked like professors in robes moved busily. In addition, many people came and went inside the academy, forming a small city.
I stood quietly and looked at that scenery. I have to live here for three years. I have to deceive everyone here as the war hero Arthur. Along with excitement, pressure came. In front of so many people, I have to hide myself.
Before my body hardened from the pressure, I shook my head left and right. Since I arrived at the academy, there were many things to do today. Meet the president, get assigned to the lab and classrooms, arrange accommodation, check the schedule ahead——.
At that moment.
The smell carried by the wind.
The savory bread smell, sweet syrup, and grilled meat smell stung my nose. I stopped. I forcibly held back the urge to turn my steps towards the smell. I checked the time for a moment. There was still time to meet the president.
Even a thousand-mile journey is taken one step at a time.
First, let’s eat something.