Even if they were tempted by the name of Rodbel, they would run away as soon as they found out how I was treated in the family.
'Above all, there's no way a man would ever love me.'
So even a vague imagination was impossible.
Because it was impossible from the start.
'Well, I don't expect it anyway.'
More than getting married, just surviving was overwhelming.
I stopped my futile thoughts and looked up again.
"……!"
I immediately met his blue-gray eyes.
'What.'
The Crown Prince was looking at me.
I didn't feel his gaze at all, so how long had he been looking at me?
Besides…….
'Is he smiling?'
He was looking at me with a much deeper smile than before.
'Is he smiling at Miracle, and I'm just mistaken?'
With that thought, I turned to Miracle…….
No.
The Crown Prince's gaze wasn't directed at Miracle.
That's because Miracle was also looking at me, following the Crown Prince's gaze.
With the innocent smile she always wore completely gone, her eyes filled with some kind of emotion.
"……."
But it was only for a brief moment, and Miracle smiled brightly again with a pure face and turned her head away.
It was such a clean and clear smile that I doubted if I had seen it wrong.
I looked at the Crown Prince again.
The Crown Prince had already averted his gaze.
Was it all my imagination?
The Crown Prince's smile, Miracle's gaze.
No, no.
'I didn't see it wrong.'
Somehow, I had a bad feeling.
"Lady, you're doing very well."
I easily passed the first test, the academic exam, and the second test, the martial arts exam.
'I passed the academic exam with the highest score, and the martial arts exam…….'
What I showed in the martial arts exam was, of course, spearmanship.
I can still clearly remember the audience's reaction when I first held the spear.
The people who were embarrassed and whispering soon fell silent when I started wielding the spear.
"The reaction is very good. They're just saying they didn't know spearmanship could be so delicate. Our lady, are you going to become a spear master of the century?"
Aen said like a fool for his daughter and laughed cheerfully.
It seems like he's really happy that my grades are good.
The results of the martial arts exam haven't come out yet, but looking at Aen's reaction, it seems like I don't have to worry about it either.
Then Aen looked at me and asked.
"How do you feel?"
"About what?"
"You're doing a great job on the exams."
"Ah……."
At Aen's words, I looked down at my hands for a moment.
The calluses and scars that filled my palms seemed to prove my past efforts.
I clenched that hand tightly and answered.
"I can't really feel it."
"Really?"
Aen asked back with a surprised expression.
I nodded.
What should I say.
'I feel like I'm dreaming.'
After returning from death, I ran only for this day.
Is it because it's the moment I've been waiting for? I don't really feel a sense of reality.
Besides…….
'In my previous life, I couldn't even dream of taking the qualification exam.'
I reveal my existence and prove my value in front of those who didn't even see me as human.
It was a moment I always imagined.
I might get carried away.
'Don't let your guard down.'
I passed the two tests safely, but there's still one more hurdle left.
Just then, Aen started talking.
"Lady, you know what the last test is, right?"
I nodded.
Of course I know.
The last hurdle of the Rodbel qualification exam is.
'Monster hunting.'
The Rodbel family has had the mission of exterminating monsters for generations, so monster hunting is the most important part of the qualification exam.
You might say, how can they make a 10 or 11-year-old hunt monsters?
'But it's literally about testing mental strength.'
They use low-level monsters for the actual hunt. Even then, they proceed as safely as possible with escorts by their side.
It was then.
Knock knock.
At the knock, Aen opened the door.
I peeked at the door from behind Aen.
A knight was standing there with a stiff posture.
"Who is it?"
Aen's voice asking his identity was completely different from how he treated me earlier.
It was cold and hard.
The knight answered quickly.
"Ah! I'm Revil Weed, who will be escorting Lady Lucia on this hunt! I'm here to see Commander Aen Ricxus!"
"What unit do you belong to?"
"I belong to the 3rd Knight Division!"
"If it's the 3rd Knight Division, then that's where Sir Riwail Tene is the commander."
"Yes, that's right!"
"Hmm……."
Stroking his chin, Aen scanned the knight up and down as if to gauge him.
The knight, Revil, stared straight ahead, stiff. Sweat trickled down his forehead.
Soon, Aen nodded and said to me.
"If it's the 3rd Knight Division, then their skills won't be bad. I wish I could protect you myself……."
Trailing off, Aen sighed deeply.
Looking at Aen, I smiled quietly.
It was an important event, and it was a place where dignitaries, including the Emperor, gathered.
Aen's role is even more important in a place like this.
Even taking a little time like now would have been difficult.
But Aen was sincerely sorry and felt bad.
'Aen is so kind after all.'
Does Aen know?
That kindness often makes even me feel soft.
I shook my head.
"It's okay. I'm grateful that you came like this."
"What! You're my only disciple, so this is only natural."
After speaking loudly, Aen checked his watch and said with a regretful face.
"I wish I could stay longer, but I think I have to go now."
"Yes."
Considering Aen's circumstances, he stayed long enough.
"Then, Lady, I'll be watching. Don't get hurt."
After whispering in a soft voice, he said to Revil, who was standing stiffly in the distance.
"I'm counting on you to take care of the Lady."
"Yes, yes!!"
Revil answered loudly.
Soon, Aen left the room.
I was about to prepare for the final test, but…….
"Ahem!"
Revil, who was guarding the door, coughed loudly and slowly approached me.
"Um……."
"……?"
When I looked at him with a puzzled look, he coughed loudly again.
But.
'What is it?'
He looks strangely familiar up close…….
I don't really have any connection with other knights besides Aen, but Revil Weed looks strangely familiar.
Where did I see that man?
"Um…… well, ahem! I mean."
Where did I see him?
"I apologize for suddenly saying this, but……."
Where…….
"I've heard rumors that the Lady is learning swordsmanship from Commander Aen Ricxus."
Ah.
I remember.
"Actually, I respect Commander Ricxus a lot."
'……You want me to teach you how to use a sword?'
"But the relationship between the Lady and the Commander seems to be closer than I heard……."
'Huh, do you think swords are that easy? Or am I that easy?'
"Of course, it's a great honor to be in charge of escorting the Lady……."
'If you get permission from the Lord, I'll teach you. Of course, I don't know if it will work. Hahaha!'
"So…… if you could say something good about me……."
"Sir Revil Weed, was it?"
Revil's eyes, who was awkwardly smiling and flattering, widened.
Soon, he smiled slyly.
He seemed to have interpreted that I remembered his name as a good sign.
"Yes, Lady. My name is Revil Weed. If you have anything you want me to do, tell me anything!"
He thumped his chest and shouted with a confident face.
It was truly a knightly appearance.
And.
'And I'll give you one piece of advice, it's better to know your place. It's not like you're Miracle, who would want to be the teacher of a bastard? You may not have meant anything by it, but that alone makes the other person feel great humiliation! If you understand, get out of here. You're unlucky.'
It was completely different from the way he spit while speaking without hesitation.
That's right. Revil Weed was the knight who refused my request to teach me how to use a sword in the past.
The reason I couldn't forget him even after a long time was because his words left a deep scar on me.
Of course, that's as good as nothing now, and Revil Weed wouldn't even know that fact.
But that doesn't mean my memories disappear.
So I smiled brightly at him.
Looking at Revil's brightening face, I made a firm resolution.
'I will never say good things about him to Aen.'
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