But Tatiana steeled herself, thinking this wasn’t the true attitude of an athlete. Have you ever seen a knight become shy because there are spectators in the dome?

She immediately attempted push-ups, but the maids noticed that the princess was somehow different from usual.

The person who used to walk around on her hands doing handstands was unusually unfocused and halfhearted today.

They all knew who was responsible for this, but they pretended not to notice. They found it secretly cute to see a newlywed being conscious of her husband.

However, Gideon apparently needed to address this.

“Are you feeling unwell somewhere?”

“Me? Why?”

“Well. You just seem that way. Maybe we overdid it this morning.”

“……No, I’m not?”

What would you know. How could someone like you, who looks handsome whether viewed upside down, right side up, or with the world turned over, understand how I feel.

Tatiana was internally furious. Then declaring ‘My, what perfect weather for swinging a sword!’ she grabbed her longsword and dashed out to the training grounds.

Gideon looked at the maids with eyes asking why his wife was acting this way. They could only shake their heads with awkward smiles. Of course, they knew the answer. They understood her feelings of affection, and now they believed in it too, but wouldn’t anyone feel embarrassed being stared at so openly, no matter how easygoing they were?

But the maids wanted to fully immerse themselves in this sweet atmosphere that had finally arrived. At last, it felt like they were truly serving a newlywed couple.

‘Couples really do need to be separated sometimes. Look how much better their relationship has gotten.’

‘But to think the day would come when Her Highness would get shy while exercising.’

The maids worked hard to suppress their rising smiles.

Fortunately for them, Gideon showed no interest in their expressions. He belatedly followed after Tatiana who had gone outside.

Having left her alone for two weeks, he planned to spend as much time with her as possible on days like today when there were no scheduled appointments.

Kay followed behind Gideon like a shadow.

When the two men arrived at the training grounds, Tatiana was doing pull-ups on a tree branch.

Gideon let out a wry laugh but couldn’t help clicking his tongue.

“So dangerous……”

This is why she ends up with strained ligaments before important events like her debutante.

He wanted to ask if she knew that was why their marriage was delayed by a year. Of course, she wouldn’t know. He had no intention of telling her either. Gideon merely thought he should install a proper pull-up bar in the corner of the training grounds.

Soon after, Tatiana noticed the presence of the two men.

However, she wore a somewhat peculiar expression. Not because of Gideon, but because of Kay.

‘His footsteps are different from before?’

That she could identify someone just by their footsteps was natural, as everyone has different walking habits.

Not only stride length but also weight and how much force is applied changes the sound’s volume.

However, if those footsteps weren’t standardized, it meant they knew how to use various walking techniques.

In this world, only knights, assassins, and thieves put such effort into this.

Of course, not everyone in those groups could do it, it was a level only achievable by the highly skilled among them.

Tatiana dropped down from the tree branch with a thud and stood in front of Kay.

Whether natural or from lack of sun exposure, his complexion was pale. A somewhat lean yet solidly built physique. Eyes that no ordinary person could possess, and a unique aura.

‘I’m really curious.’

From the moment she first saw Kay, she had sensed he was no ordinary man.

Perhaps it was natural since Gideon wouldn’t keep just anyone by his side. However, even if she had met him by chance on the street, Tatiana would have recognized him as a skilled swordsman.

Unable to contain her curiosity and slight competitive spirit, Tatiana stared directly at Gideon. Her eyes asked for permission.

‘Would it be alright if I’m a bit rude to your subordinate right now?’

Gideon interpreted that silent gaze. Rather than being possible because they were married, it was because he knew she had been keeping an eye on Kay occasionally. 

 Gideon sighed and nodded slightly as if saying do as you please.

Thus, completely setting aside the actual person’s opinion, the prince and princess finished their exchange of views between themselves.

Tatiana’s sword strike came in an instant. However, Kay responded to her sword with an unbelievably fast draw.

The sound of clashing metal rang throughout the training grounds, and Tatiana let out an impressed ‘Oho!’

‘He’s incredibly fast!’

Knights can understand many things about each other from just a single strike.

He wasn’t the type of swordsman who relied on power. That much could be guessed just from his build.

Since men can build muscle mass relatively easily, many choose to bulk up.

If he chose a different path, it meant he had other strengths to rely on. 

 So what was she trying to say? That the opponent before her stimulated her interest far too much.

Clang, clang-clang, clang—!

The two continuously changed stances and crossed swords. So dazzlingly, at a speed almost too fast for the eye to follow.

Gideon let out a sigh and a wry laugh. Because various techniques he had never seen before were pouring out. From both sides.

Tatiana appeared absolutely delighted. With each exchange of blows, light and vitality sparkled in her green eyes like their flashing swords.

‘The world is truly vast indeed. Where was such talent hiding before emerging?’

Kay was certainly not a knight. She could guarantee that.

Tatiana had never seen a knight in Valter use swordsmanship like this. Though his movements were efficient, it seemed like countless backgrounds were hidden behind his sword.

For someone who followed an elite course as a knight, he was too skilled in various techniques. But what was strange was that she could also see royal knights’ swordsmanship in him. This wasn’t something one could learn just by watching from the sidelines a few times.

‘Who is this person?’ 

 Though Tatiana kept tilting her head in puzzlement, she was fired up for once. She wanted to have a proper match. Wanted to win.

But her opponent was not only thoroughly trained but also a man in his prime who had reached his peak. If this dragged on, she would be at a disadvantage physically.

She raised the corner of her mouth pretending to be relaxed while clenching her molars. However, Kay had also become serious about this sparring match. He hadn’t thought he could go easy on her, but he truly had no room to do so.

He sensed that Tatiana was trying to end this quickly. Not wanting to let that happen, he too began to reveal his hidden techniques.

Tatiana let out what must have been her umpteenth exclamation of amazement.

The trajectory of the man’s sword began to grow larger. Yet his speed didn’t decrease at all. It was swift. This meant his strength was good too.

Instead of parrying his sword upward, Tatiana deflected it away and quickly dodged.

‘This is why I don’t carelessly try to gain weight.’

Tatiana had rarely seen knights who could control their sword tip more delicately and precisely than her. The same was true when nimbly exploiting openings or avoiding opponent’s attacks. It was all possible because of her light body.

Wouldn’t it be too unfortunate to lose one’s own advantages while pursuing something they don’t have?

However, after she dodged his finishing blow, Kay pressed even more fiercely.

His expressionless face remained the same as usual, but fighting spirit could be glimpsed in his gray eyes. It meant that in this moment, he too had forgotten about status and was giving it his all.

Kay kicked off the grass and launched himself at Tatiana, and her eyes flashed for an instant as she spotted a weakness.

‘His side is open.’

At first glance, it seemed like he was exposing his waist. But she read his next move.

The opponent planned to give up something small to gain something big. A strategy to accept injury to take the enemy’s head. But isn’t that something you only do in real combat?

‘This person is serious? I wasn’t planning to see blood today, okay?’

Then she just needed to achieve victory with something small before he could take something big.

Tatiana decided to end it by cutting near his waist at his clothes. 

 However, Kay didn’t allow even that momentary approach. Almost spinning as he twisted his body to avoid Tatiana’s sword, he leaped up again. Then he swung his broad blade down from above as if to cleave. 

 If you try to block such a strike, either the sword breaks, or your wrist breaks. Or both break.

Tatiana rolled on the ground in an almost instinctive movement to avoid his attack, and Kay’s sword plunged straight into the grass.