Chapter 37

“Suddenly?”

At that moment, a maid entered carrying a change of clothes, so Adelina only nodded her head.

‘Everyone in the palace is trying to entangle me with Leophris. Who knows what they’ll do if things don’t go their way.’

Adelina had to consider even the last resort.

“Then, let’s start right away from today.”

As Jaeyon offered to teach her swordsmanship, more maids began to come and go from the room.

“The sword is quite beautiful.”

Adelina held the sword Jaeyon brought and extended it straight forward. It was a sword with a hilt shaped to wrap around the hand.

“This sword will suit you better than the swords of Petrus.”

“Yes. I think so.”

Jaeyon led Adelina to stand in front of a full-length mirror. Standing behind her, he ran his hand smoothly along her arm to her fingertips.

“Sir Jaeyon?”

“Keep your arm straight. When holding a sword, don’t let your mind be distracted by anything.”

Jaeyon whispered softly into Adelina’s ear as he bowed his head.

“Hold it tight.”

“I’m holding it tight.”

When Jaeyon tapped the sword Adelina was holding, it immediately fell to the floor with a clang.

“Sir Jaeyon!”

Adelina clutched the hand that had held the sword. Even after a few minutes, her hand still tingled.

“Miss. The moment you drop the sword, it ceases to be your weapon. It becomes the enemy’s weapon that will pierce your heart. You’d be better off not learning at all.”

Jaeyon bent down, picked up the sword from the floor, and handed the hilt back to her.

He seemed to be asking if she still wanted to learn, warning that a hastily learned sword could be a poison.

“I’ll learn. I’ll practice and practice until this sword can pierce the enemy’s heart, not mine.”

Adelina grabbed the sword from Jaeyon as if snatching it.

She didn’t know why she felt such stubbornness. In her past life, she might have just given up and lived adequately.

“Then. No matter what happens, don’t let go of the sword.”

Jaeyon stood Adelina in front of the full-length mirror again and began teaching her the direction of her arms and wrists.

Click. When another maid entered without knocking, Jaeyon pressed his body against Adelina’s back.

“Sir Jaeyon?”

“Shh.”

When Adelina, startled, tried to look back, Jaeyon blew a small breath into her ear.

“Miss, grip the sword tightly.”

Jaeyon’s hand slid along Adelina’s outstretched arm to reach the sword’s hilt.

“!”

Adelina quickly grasped the foreign object she felt at her fingertips with her palm.

The maid, looking displeased, approached Adelina and Jaeyon and bowed.

“Miss, it’s late. Please retire for the night.”

Not only that maid, but other maids also entered, bustling around to tidy the bed.

“Oh dear, Miss, I made you practice swordsmanship for too long. We’ll continue tomorrow.”

Jaeyon glanced at Adelina’s clenched fist and gestured towards the terrace window.

“Yes. Thank you, Sir Jaeyon.”

When Adelina closed her eyes for a moment in understanding, Jaeyon chuckled slightly and left the room.

+++

That night at midnight. When the maids stopped coming and going, Adelina pulled the blanket over her head and turned on a small light stone inside.

She slipped her right hand into her chest and pulled out the paper she had hidden between her undergarments.

‘A map?’

When she unfolded the paper Jaeyon had given her, it was a map the size of her palm. It depicted two large continents and a sizable island in the sea between them.

<Terrace.>

Adelina read the tiny writing at the bottom of the map, pushed the blanket aside, and got off the bed.

She slightly opened the terrace curtain and looked outside, but there was no sign of Jaeyon.

‘Did I read it wrong?’

Adelina closed the curtain of the terrace and turned around.

“Mmph!”

A large hand from behind clamped over Adelina’s mouth.

‘How did they get in? Surely…’

Ah… the maids deliberately left the terrace window open!

In the full-length mirror where she had practiced swordsmanship, Adelina saw a person in a black mask embracing her from behind.

“Hmm…”

The masked face, with only the eyes visible, came close as if to kiss Adelina.

+++

“Begin.”

In the garden right below the Silver Palace, a man’s voice echoed softly from where the shadow of a large tree deepened the night’s darkness.

A few minutes later, there was a commotion outside Adelina’s room.

“Miss!”

“What are you doing at this hour when the lady is sleeping!”

The voice of Hailyn, the maid from Tiola Empire, and the guards confronting each other reached Adelina inside the room.

“Damn it!”

The masked intruder behind Adelina muttered a low curse.

‘Now’s my chance!’

Adelina grabbed the intruder’s middle finger with both hands and twisted it sharply with the back of her hand.

“Ugh!”

The intruder, perhaps not expecting Adelina’s counterattack, groaned. He released her mouth and pushed her away forcefully.

“Ahh!”

As a result, Adelina tumbled to the floor.

“Miss, I’m sorry. I’m opening the door!”

“What is the meaning of this!”

“Didn’t you hear strange noises from inside this room! I must go in!”

As Hailyn tried to forcefully open the door, there was a rattling sound.

“Damn it!”

The intruder clutched his middle finger and turned to escape onto the terrace.

“Where do you think you’re going!”

Adelina immediately got up and grabbed the intruder’s hand.

‘He’s wearing gloves. That’s a relief.’

She bit down hard on the intruder’s gloved hand, almost drawing blood.

“Ugh! You crazy—!”

The intruder pushed Adelina’s forehead with his palm to detach her and hurriedly exited through the terrace.

“Miss!”

At the same time, Hailyn burst through the door and embraced the fallen Adelina.

“What… is this…”

The guards, who had been holding back Hailyn, saw the scene inside the room and rushed towards the terrace in a fluster.

The night air coming through the window only lightly fluttered the curtains; the guards saw nothing and found no one.

“The lady has been greatly startled. I will stay with her tonight.”

“I would like that. I will speak to Their Majesties about it tomorrow.”

At Hailyn’s words, Adelina quickly widened her eyes as much as possible and looked pitifully at the guards.

“Yes… please do so…”

The guards averted their gaze from Adelina and left the room.

+++

As soon as the guards left, Adelina released Hailyn’s arms and went to sit on the sofa.

When Hailyn approached the terrace window and fluttered the curtains, Jaeyon, dressed only in a black shirt and pants, entered the room through the terrace.

Seeing Adelina surprisingly calm, Jaeyon sat on the opposite sofa and leaned back comfortably.

“Miss, why did you let him escape?”

While Jaeyon crossed his legs and folded his arms, Hailyn meticulously closed the terrace window and drew the curtains.

“What are you talking about?”

“You could have easily kept him detained.”

At Jaeyon’s knowing response, Adelina scrutinized his expression, glaring.

‘How much does he know?’

Was my acting insufficient? Yet the guards seemed completely fooled. As did Hailyn…

“Swordsmanship. Self-defense. Don’t tell me… Miss, do you know how to ride as well?”

Jaeyon, sounding somewhat angry, uncrossed his legs and straightened his posture, looking directly at Adelina.

“How did you know I can wield a sword?”

Adelina cautiously clenched her fist as she eyed Jaeyon warily. She carefully considered where to strike him in case of an emergency.

‘Darn it, Adelina. You shouldn’t get so tense.’

Jaeyon watched as Adelina swallowed nervously. He wondered if that small, white fist could indeed hold any power.

“Grabbing a sword naturally the first time. Perfectly holding it within a day. And.”

Jaeyon leaned even further forward. He brought his face right in front of Adelina’s, piercingly gazing into her golden eyes.

Despite the sudden closeness, Adelina didn’t back away and glared at Jaeyon with all her strength.

“Not fearing the blade.”

Jaeyon leaned back into the sofa again. His gaze still pressed for an answer as he crossed his legs.

“Yes. I know swordsmanship. Self-defense. And I also know that these won’t necessarily protect me.”

Adelina stood up and approached Jaeyon. She drew the sword at his waist and stood in the center of the room.

“You said a poorly held sword could turn against me, right?”

Adelina raised the sword tip and gripped it tightly with both hands.

“Pretending to know something poorly only makes the opponent prepare more.”

Adelina continued speaking while demonstrating sword moves. The sword pierced and slashed the air as if an enemy were present.

Jaeyon quietly observed her movements.

‘Beautiful. Needlessly so.’

As Adelina said, she already knew swordsmanship. However, her sword was more like a beautiful dance than a threatening weapon.

After finishing her demonstration, Adelina approached.

“Today, that guy won’t think I know self-defense. But soon, it will be revealed. I need to learn as much as possible before then, whether it’s swordsmanship or self-defense.”

The sword tip was pointed at Jaeyon’s neck.

“I see.”

Adelina frowned as Jaeyon effortlessly pushed the sword away with a single finger as if it posed no threat.

‘Fly like a butterfly, sting like a bee? Ha. More like fly like a butterfly, die like a mosquito!’

The people she had to face were those who had trained in swordsmanship all their lives. Knights with superior stamina and physique compared to ordinary people. She already understood that she couldn’t oppose them with just shallow knowledge forcibly implanted in her mind.

“I will find him.”

“No need. I know who it is.”

Adelina handed the sword back to Jaeyon and plopped down on the opposite sofa.

“I see. Then. I will turn that clumsy sword into a fine one for you.”

“How?”

Adelina’s ears perked up at Jaeyon’s words, and her eyes sparkled.

‘Will he really transfer inner energy to me like in martial arts novels? Will he place his hand on my chest and infuse energy?’

She hadn’t mastered energy waves or teleportation techniques yet…

Despite a slight suspicion, her excitement was greater.

“Basic physical training. I will strengthen your arms and legs. What are you doing? Hurry and get down to push-ups.”

Jaeyon stood up and extended his hand to Adelina.

‘Ugh! Annoying!’