Daedric stepped forward with his left foot, directing his arm to strike Jacob's neck with the wooden sword. Jacob easily avoided the blow by taking a step back. However, a serious fight began between them, and their swords met in all seriousness.
Splash! Knock!
During the fight, Jacob would constantly point out Daedric's weaknesses.
“This time, attacking with your legs will be more effective than using your arms.”
“I will remember that.”
"Stretch your back. Your wrist is very stiff."
Deidrick seemed to absorb the advice quickly. I was not an expert in sword arts, but I could see his improvement because Jacob praised him frequently.
When the training session ended, I jumped out of my seat, unable to contain my excitement.
"Didi! That was amazing!"
I ran towards Daedric, ready to hug him, but stopped right in front of him. Daedric seemed, as if unconsciously, to extend his arms as if preparing for an embrace and then froze.
"Why did you stop? Do your arms hurt?"
“No—it's okay.”
Daedric lowered his arms awkwardly. Feeling embarrassed, I pretended to stretch and began circling him enthusiastically.
“You were so amazing! I don’t know much about sword arts, but even I noticed that you were amazing!”
Daedric's lips moved as if he wanted to respond. When I saw that, she smiled brightly and added,
"You must be tired. You've been working so hard!"
“……”
“And your hands are so beautiful. Even with all the pimples, they are the most beautiful hands in the world.”
“……”
Deedric bit his lip, then looked at Jacob.
“That's enough for today. Something important came to my mind.”
“Of course. You did an exceptional job today.”
“Yes! Didi was amazing—”
Before I could complete my sentence, I was suddenly transported to another place.
What rude behaviour.
I got angry and hit the dresser next to me.
“Yes! Didi was amazing—”
Before the girl could finish speaking, she disappeared. Didric was confused.
'She was transferred.'
His heart beat rapidly as he clenched his fists.
'She said I was beautiful.'
She always told him that.
Even though his hands had become rough due to sword training, she admired them as if they were the rarest gems in the world.
His fingers felt a strong desire to hold her soft, white cheeks.
He wanted to run to her and hug her tightly.
“I'll go now.”
With unusual speed, he rushed down the hill.
“……!”
But before he could go any further, he was stopped by a man who looked exactly identical to him—Duke Blackwood.
Thick dark shadows loomed over Daedric, their weight pressing down on him like a suffocating force. His skin stung under that overwhelming aura. He clenched his jaw and looked at him.
“Are you feeling good?”
The sudden interest seemed ridiculous. However, Daedric answered succinctly.
"…Yes."
Duke Daedric watched silently before turning his gaze to Jacob, who was quickly approaching.
Jacob placed his hand on his heart, and bowed deeply.
“I salute His Highness, Duke Blackwood.”
The Duke acknowledged his greeting with a slight nod before returning his attention to Daedric.
Then, in a cold, emotionless voice, he said.
“It has improved.”
“……”
Daedric did not expect the Duke to be watching. But knowing that didn't make him happy.
This man had never paid any attention to him before. Now, as he suddenly appeared here, Daedric couldn't help but feel suspicious.
Daedric remained silent, while Jacob hesitated, unsure if he should leave. But leaving without permission was not an option.
Most importantly, Jacob was worried.
‘Will he be angry that someone like me is teaching the young master?’
They had met before because of the Somerset Incident, but since then, they had not interacted. Jacob was feeling nervous.
However, the Duke motioned for him to leave. Jacob silently understood, and bowed politely before heading down the hill.
Now, with Daedric alone with the Duke, he felt even more uncomfortable. He thought about leaving the place first, but the man blocked his way.
“……”
“Master Jacob’s sword art is good enough to lead the Black Hawk Knights one day.”
Daedric looked on in amazement at the unexpected compliment
Then, in a cold voice, the Grand Duke added,
“If he regains his aura.”
Daedric immediately sighed at that remark and defended his teacher.
“He will regain his aura soon.”
“If you want, I can find another teacher for you.”
Daedric couldn't understand him.
The Duke had never interfered in his life before.
He never tried to care about him.
Now that he was acting like a concerned father, it was more annoying than anything else.
"Mr. Jacob is my only teacher. If it had not been for him, the Somerset affair would have been buried. No one else ever cared for me as he does. . . ."
Daedric gave strong emphasis to the last sentence, but the Duke remained cold.
“You will not advance if you learn from someone who has not regained his aura yet.”
“There is no better sword master than Master Jacob. Stop trying to force this.”
Daedric clenched his fists, grinding his teeth to hold back his frustration.
'My mother never wanted me to be against my father.'
The only reason he still called this man “my father” was because of his mother’s last wish before she died.
Daedric breathed deeply, forced to hold back his anger.
He didn't want to argue further, so he changed the subject.
“Do you know a guy named Arnold?”
The Duke's facial expression did not change. It was impossible to know whether he knew the name or not.
“He wants to enter the Grand Duke’s palace. The Duchess seems willing to allow it. There seemed to be some kind of influence between them.”
Whether the Duke was interested or not, Daedric stated the facts he had discovered.
“There is a secret passage in the underground fruit storeroom. Press the wall where the apple boxes are placed, and it opens.”
“That's not important now. What matters is—”
“When have you ever cared about me?”
Daedric finally snapped, staring at the Duke with bloodshot eyes.
“I will handle things my way.”
“……”
As always, the Duke said nothing.
'He's always like this.'
He was acting like someone who had already decided to leave, someone who had no connection to anything.
Daedric clenched his fists even more, finishing what he wanted to say.
"Gemma uses that passage. Should a simple servant have access to a secret passage that the Duke doesn't know about? She and Arnold seem to use it frequently."
“……”
The Duke's face remained expressionless.
But Deidrick knew—he knew about Arnold. He just chose to ignore it.
This meant that Daedric had nothing left to say.
“I'll go now.”
As he turned to leave, the Duke finally spoke.
“I'm going to block the passage.”
Daedric did not look back.
to run.
He didn't want to stay in the same space with that man any longer.
The good mood he felt earlier had completely disappeared because of him.
Later…
The Duke watched silently as Daedric disappeared over the horizon.
A rustling movement in the bushes.
Jenkinson went out, awaiting orders.
Without looking at him, the Duke ordered him,
“Jacob Howard appointed as Daedric's official sword master.”
Jenkinson almost exhaled secretly and answered.
“…Yes, Your Honor.”
“And close all the secret passages that this woman knows about.”
"All the aisles? Not just the ones in the fruit store?"
“All of them.”
Jenkinson's face turned pale.
“You made him his teacher; now even you—”
The Duke raised his hand, interrupting him.
“Is it wrong for a father to do so much?”
Jenkinson exhaled tiredly.
“…Then I must prepare for your absence. You will need to leave the property for a while.”
The Duke said nothing, and Jenkinson studied his features with an anxious look.
In the meantime…
Before Deidrick got to his room, you had checked the closet again.
So far, there has been no suspicious activity from the siblings, Delaney and Gemma.
While I was sitting on the dresser and waiting, the door suddenly opened.
Daedric hurried in.
“Didi?”
Before I could respond, he hugged me and lifted me into the air.
"Yes-!"
I gasped, taking in the cool morning air before he gently placed me on the ground.
I stared at him in amazement.
Deedric looked at me excitedly, his eyes full of expectation.
“Did you do it well?”