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Side View: Shaghad
“URK.”
This Tiegel boy held back as Selena ordered him to, but the power I could feel as our blades crossed was merciless. One careless moment, and I was likely to drop my sword, but my hand grew tired and numb as I continued to block his blades head-on.
On top of that, his killer’s aura directed at me was the real thing, and, to be entirely honest, it was terrifying. That aura was far more powerful than anything I felt from the assassins Anita or my father sent at me.
“Did I do something to make you hate me?” I asked.
“I loathe anyone who grows close to her without care. Don’t think I hate you in particular,” he replied.
Was that supposed to make me happy?
I glanced ever so briefly in Selena’s direction, and Tiegel’s dagger grazed my neck at my carotid artery. Without a doubt, he would have cut it if I hadn’t dodged.
I had no idea what he was thinking. He was expressionless to the point of appearing disinterested, but underneath were emotions so extreme they couldn’t be touched without the utmost care.
This person in front of me almost seemed like he wasn’t human.
“You’re like a wounded beast,” I said.
Just like Selena, who resembled a skilled assassin more than a noble girl, this attendant of hers didn’t suit his position because of the aura around him and his feelings towards his mistress.
What interesting people. I wanted to learn more about them.
“Urg.”
I became focused entirely on my fight with Tiegel, which was when Selena approached out of nowhere and struck me. And quite a strong hit it was.
“Don’t focus on just one enemy,” she said. “No idiots are going to challenge you one by one when you’re against several opponents. Even if you only see one enemy, there’s a chance they have allies hiding somewhere. Be wary of all your surroundings. Hone your senses. If you can’t do that, if that is lacking, you will not just lose. You will die.”
“I understand.”
I had to handle Selena’s attacks, which could come at any moment while fending off Tiegel. Honestly, it was harsh. It drained me physically, of course, but more so mentally.
If I continued to be on guard for attacks from Selena, I would lack awareness towards Tiegel and get struck by him. These two were skilled assassins, incomparable to any of the ones my father sent at me. If they were sent to kill me, I would die instantly, unable to do anything. I couldn’t be more grateful they weren’t my enemies.
“Agh.”
Tiegel used weapons assassins might use. I had no idea what direction his attacks might come from, so they hit me several times. I did evade a few times, though largely out of sheer luck.
“This isn’t practice. This is a real fight,” she said. “Someone who comes to take another person’s life won’t fight by the rules like a knight will. Even if they’re holding a sword, that doesn’t mean the killing blow will come from that sword. Be wary of everything. Suspect everything. Now, stand up. We don’t have time for you to take a break.”
“Yes, Selena.”
I took her warnings to heart as I challenged Tiegel again.
“You can’t win using the pretty fighting style of a knight. Your opponent intends to take your life. They’ll use any method. What you see is not guaranteed to be true.”
She was well versed in all things assassination: their fighting style and way of thinking. It was almost like she was an assassin herself.
It was odd enough that a noble girl could fight this well.
I’d received information that she was a candidate for Prince Evan’s future bride and that the king of Astra liked her. She was certainly in a position that put a target on her own back for assassination.
Noble blood is considered precious, but nothing has less value than the life of a noble since it could be taken so easily by things like ambition and justice.
Did that mean Selena couldn’t have survived this long if she weren’t this strong? That thought made it hard for me to envy her and her strength.