“Melissa Tullio, you also showed superb magic skill. I commend you on your ability to wield tremendous magic power with such grace.”
On the other hand, a battle could not be called high-level if only its victor were skilled. Melissa also received high praise for demonstrating combat prowess that didn’t fall too far behind Albert’s.
“However, in terms of swordsmanship, Prince Albert is still a couple steps ahead of you. Class—if you were paying attention, you know what I’m talking about. In combat, magic is perceived as your most important weapon, but don’t forget that the sword is just as valuable! Take this match to heart and let it carry you to the next level of your training!”
The teacher concluded his speech by declaring both fighters were skilled, but it was the difference in swordsmanship that had settled it. Then he clapped his hands to tell everyone to resume their matches. He seemed pleased that the students had their eyes locked on Melissa’s and Albert’s duel, as it would be a good teaching moment for them.
From the daily romping around I’d done since I first arrived at this school, I had a general idea of what level kids like this were at. Most third-year students couldn’t pull off a fight like the one Albert and Melissa had just participated in. I could understand why the teacher had wanted the students to pay attention to it.
That being said…I’d still give it a forty. Swordplay and Magic were both important elements in winning a fight, but Albert had demonstrated the most crucial element of all: Experience and the Flexibility it cultivated.
Our teacher wasn’t wrong, but he needed to add a prerequisite before Magic and Swordsmanship: Fairness.
If you wanted to walk away from a real battle, you needed to know how to win.
Albert also had little practical combat experience, but I’d been pounding into him the techniques he needed for a real battle. During my days at the family manor, I’d trained myself until I was piss-tired almost every day—and it wasn’t for show.
I gave a proud snort. Surprisingly, it felt goddamn amazing to have somebody you trained get praise and recognition from others.
“But, Prince Albert, your swordsmanship was excellent. Where did you learn how to fight like that?”
But my good mood couldn’t last for long. I froze when I took a sudden arrow to my vitals.
…Keep your goddamn mouth shut, Professor.
“So glad you asked, Professor!”
No way is Albert not gonna answer that.
With a hand to his breast, Albert was unstoppable once he got on his pedestal to give a resounding speech.
“I learned my techniques from the sword master at the palace, of course, but everything else, I learned from my beloved Miss Mylene! I know you praised my skills earlier, sir, but I am but a mere fledgling in the face of her swordplay!”
As Albert sang my praises, I fell into a daze for the briefest of moments. Then the entire class stared at me.
“Ohh… Now, I did know about her unconventional stance and movement style, but am I to understand that I have yet to see her full potential unleased?”
“Exactly, sir! Her strength, her beauty, and her flexibility in a variety of situations are unique in this kingdom—nay, on Earth! Look the world over and you won’t find another like her! Your own Prince Albert has fallen madly in love with her. As such, I am working very hard so that I may hope to get a little closer to her, but her footsteps are still far beyond my reach.”
Albert was swimming in a cesspool of his own bliss. If I didn’t have to pretend to be a good girl, I’d march over to him and sink my fist into that stupid head of his, but since I was acting like a gracious daughter of the nobility (as hard as that was at the moment), I couldn’t do that.
“Yes, I remember her elegant swordsmanship when she saved me from those upperclassman bullies…”
“A lady of both martial and literary arts—that’s Miss Mylene!”
A murmur rose from the students like a whirlwind. Taking the future into consideration, I decided that gaining clout and fame wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, but at the moment, I didn’t want to stand out any more than I had to.
“I see…so people adore her even more than I thought.”
Even Melissa was gazing at me with admiration.
Ahh, fuck me. Now that the prince is a little capable, he’s needlessly persuasive—makes me sick.
“Kee-hee-hee, I think you’re popular, Mylene,” Colette said.
Amid the clamor, I cursed in a voice only she could hear, “I do wish they would give it a bloody rest.”
This would be great publicity if I decided to become a mercenary in the future… But in my past life, shining eyes of adoration had never been in the cards. It made my skin crawl.
I held up my practice sword to banish the feeling.
“Come, Princess Colette, it’s time you and I sparred, too.”
“Hum? I don’t care either way, really.”
The best way to shake off bad feelings is to move your body. As I pointed my blade at Colette, she answered with a lionhearted smile.
……I wouldn’t realize I’d made a mistake until much later.
Our fencing class ended that day amid eager cries of jubilation.