Chapter 23

Chapter 23

Hizen looked at Leasis with his arms folded. He had not been curious about her before, as he had no need to. So it was the first time he could properly evaluate her body.

When he paid attention to her, he noticed she had some physical advantages to wield a sword. She was taller than most men, had smooth muscles, a light body, and big hands to hold a long sword. It was quite useful.

However, her posture holding a real sword was very awkward. If she had dreamed of becoming a knight, she would have done some basic training. Hizen asked meticulously.

“What kind of training have you been doing?”

“I did gymnastics with Neren-nim, ran around the mansion, and fight with a wooden sword…”

Hizen’s eyes became a little dark when she said ‘with Neren-nim’. His voice was also lower than before when he asked the next question.

“Was there a gymnastics or swordsmanship teacher at the mansion of the Duke of Armada?”

“No. I only trained with Neren-nim. We always trained together.”

Hizen’s expression strangely distorded at the words ‘we’ and ‘together’, even though she said them without any particular meaning. He already knew that the two had a close relationship. But why was he so conscious? Why?

‘It’s all because of the macarons.’

Hizen, who came to a quick conclusion, struggled to keep his calm. He quietly put his hand on her shoulders. Leasis was surprised by the unannounced action. Hizen turned her body 45 degrees in a composed manner.

“Think you’re learning self-defense and listen carefully.”

“Ah… yes!”

“Look straight ahead. It’s the basic stand-by position. Think of it as a position where your fist can land on your opponent’s body at any time.”

“Yes!”

“So will it land? Spread your legs shoulder width apart.”

She listened carefully and he corrected her posture. Hizen, who looked at her hands, made a strange expression. They certainly were not a swordsman’s hands. However, he could see the calluses positioned equally on both of her hands, just like on his own. Rough skin, bumpy calluses, damaged fingertips. He was sure that she had suffered to death with old dirty work.

Hizen looked at them closely. He was staring at her unconsciously without realizing it.

As he stopped moving, Leasis asked.

“Count-nim?”

“…Ambidextrous. With which hand are you the most comfortable?”

Oh. He were amazed by her ambidexterity. Leasis, who found the cause of his silence, replied bravely.

“The left hand. But if necessary, I can use my right hand skillfully.”

“Hmm. Ambidextrous.”

It was very rare in the Empire. In his life, he knew no one but himself who was ambidextrous. She spoke as an excuse to his silence that came again.

“Ah, um. That’s. I used to be left-handed, but now I can use both hands.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, the old headmaid-nim said the left hand was cursed. So I usually handled things with my right hand.”

Hizen could not understand. One was supposed to use the correct hand, whether it was left or right. He could not believe she had been blamed for that. He lost his temper unknowingly.

“Who told you that crap? Surely an idiot who doesn’t even know the basics.”

His reaction was more intense than she had thought, so Leasis doubted her ears. She was startled and heard a dangerous voice.

“Bring them to me. I’ll get rid of that rotten mind.”

His blue eyes deepened. The beautiful look made her look down as she was about to be possessed.

She felt in trouble again. Hizen looked cool when concentrated. But Hizen who got angry for her looked a little cooler.

“Listen carefully. It doesn’t matter whether you’re left-handed or right-handed. A warrior can be strong with a robust mental strength and stamina. Keep that in mind.”

Hizen, who was instructing her, bent down. He spoke seriously, touching her left foot.

“Put your left foot back a little more.”

“L-like this?”

“Yes… Look straight ahead like that.”

He was meticulous as if teaching the knights. Under Hizen’s guidance, she started moving.

The wind brought dirt on his hands and clothes. She was restless. It bothered her that dirty foreign substances were on his noble hands because of her.

He said it was okay, but she did not even pretend to hear it. Hizen thought nothing of it. It was natural to receive some dust when teaching people.

“Yes. It’s quite good now.”

Hizen raised his body satisfactorily, and came face to face with Leasis. It was a distance close enough that she could feel his breath. Leasis unknowingly lowered her eyes. A cold voice like a winter wind made her ears ring.

“Look at me straight.”

It was always magical. As soon as she heard it, her shaky heart became steady. As she looked up, she saw Hizen showing a movement. He raised his hands and clenched his fists.

“It’s the basics of hand gestures. A warrior is not only good at wielding swords. There may be no sword on the battlefield, and there are many threats of assassination. Think of your whole body as a weapon.”

Hizen began to explain it to Leasis step by step. His low but powerful voice was stuck in her ears.

“Your elbow is useful when hitting an enemy close to you. Arms are also a source of defense.”

“Ah… yes!”

“And the most important thing.”

Hizen stared persistently into her red eyes. She swallowed a small breath, feeling as if she would be sucked into his clear eyes like the sea.

“It’s not going to happen, but if you’re going to point a sword at someone, don’t give the enemy any pity.”

Her red eyes grew bigger at the unexpected words. He murmured low, shaking his dusty hands.

“I’ve seen a lot of people with eyes like you. Those who don’t heal themselves, sympathize with others, and can’t aim their swords at the enemy.”

“…”

“They don’t live long.”

Why? His words were too deep to be called self-defense, and an unknown goodwill continued.

While Leasis was questioning, Hizen pointed to a tree.

“Try to think of that tree as an enemy, and try to do it again.”

“Yes!”

With her eyes shining sharply, she aimed the sword at the tree. Hizen carefully looked at her wrists, the angle of her arms, and her posture. It was not bad. He tapped his chin down.

“Go ahead.”

“Yes! Phew…”

She spat out a deep breath. Then, she exuded the swordsman’s energy, making her flesh sting. It was like alive.

Hizen ignored lightly the feeling. A sword shone in his eyes. It was a blue sword thicker than an adult forearm. It was the most vivid glow he had ever seen.

‘Do you know how to use a blue sword?’

His expression changed subtly. In the meantime, she moved instinctively.

The sword cut the leaves with a sharp sound. Like with Hizen, they were all divided into four uniform pieces.

There was nothing more to cut. Hizen’s appearance was reflected in her blurred eyes that had lost focus. She held the sword tightly and breathed slowly.

Hizen immediately noticed that her condition was strange. He grabbed her shoulder.