Chapter 11: Guardian Knight – (5)

When he came to, the sight of a familiar ceiling entered his vision.

It was the ceiling of Freud’s room in the royal guards’ quarters.

“That was no joke…”

He clutched his throbbing head.

Anyone could see the massive bump on his forehead and wince.

Well, getting hit by a wooden sword at a speed comparable to a fighter jet—

Surviving that was a miracle in itself.

If not for Freud’s well-trained body, he would’ve been out of commission for at least twelve weeks.

Thank the heavens it was a wooden sword.

If they’d been using real blades, he would’ve starred in a slasher flick—

With his brain matter as the special effects.

The thought alone sent chills crawling down his spine.

“Why didn’t you dodge?”

The voice made him turn.

Millia was seated quietly on a chair beside the bed, her hands folded politely in her lap.

Seeing her so dejected reminded him of a child caught breaking a flower vase—

He nearly laughed.

Barely held it in.

“I thought… of course Sir Freud would be able to dodge something like that.”

‘How the hell was I supposed to dodge that, you crazy girl?’

Even with Freud’s reflexes, it all happened in a blink.

A flash of movement—he barely raised his sword to block—

Then the blade disappeared from view.

And boom.

Something slammed into his forehead with crushing force.

He blacked out right after.

Which meant—

He didn’t even see the second attack coming.

‘Millia the Swift.’

That was her title.

In hindsight, it made perfect sense.

Freud had been feeling pretty smug lately, battering Kora like a sandbag, thinking he was all that.

That arrogance just got its tail handed to it in today’s duel.

The gap between Millia and himself was massive.

“Did you… let me win on purpose?”

Not that she could’ve known what he was thinking.

Millia asked with uncertainty, and when he didn’t answer, she bit her lower lip hard.

Her eyes were trembling.

“If… if that was out of pity, or sympathy…”

A thin trickle of blood escaped Millia’s lip.

Her hands, resting on her knees, began to shake.

Crap.

“No, it’s not like that.”

He started to speak, then hesitated.

Would she find it suspicious?

How do I explain this in a way she’ll understand?

How do I dress up this utter defeat into something more palatable?

If he spouted something dumb, it’d only make things worse.

Then—

“Millia, can you hear me out first?”

He reached from under the covers and placed his hand gently over hers.

Startled, Millia tried to pull away, but Freud held her in place and spoke as calmly as possible.

“I didn’t let you win. I gave it my all.”

“But you clearly…”

“And I didn’t choose not to dodge. You were just too fast.”

“...I was?”

“Your strike was so good, I didn’t even have time to react, Millia.”

Her eyes widened.

Millia blinked several times, then looked down at his rough hand still resting atop her small fist.

Lifting her head again, her expression now uncertain and restless, she asked—

“Then… does that mean I beat Sir Freud?”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

Well, it was pretty much a complete win, to be honest.

For a fleeting moment, doubt flickered across Millia’s eyes, but it was soon replaced by something else.

“Sir Freud.”

“Yeah?”

“Then I’ve… grown stronger than I was six months ago?”

Her voice trembled.

Her gaze wavered.

Even her heartbeat seemed loud enough to be felt through their joined hands.

Freud nodded with absolute conviction.

“Yes. You’ve grown.”

“...Are you sure?”

“Hm?”

“Then… I’m no longer a disgrace to the royal guard… no longer… that filthy woman?”

“...Uh.”

What the hell has she been hearing to have self-esteem this low?

Flustered for a moment, Freud composed himself and looked into her clear eyes.

“Whatever was said before—forget it. That’s all in the past now. Millia, you and I… we’re both fully-fledged Guardian Knights now. You’re the pride of the royal guard.”

Millia bowed her head.

Through her curtain of golden hair, her soft pink lips moved.

“I see…”

With that, she rose from her seat.

Her expression still unreadable.

“I’m not sure I fully understand… but if that’s what you believe, Sir Freud… then alright.”

“Uh…”

“However—”

Millia interrupted him, placing a hand over her chest.

Her eyes now gleamed with a newfound light.

“I won’t accept today’s spar as my victory.”

“Huh?”

“Today’s match was just a training exercise. We weren’t going all out—we didn’t use real swords or mana. If this had been a real fight, I would’ve tasted bitter defeat against a mana-clad Sir Freud.”

Nope. Absolutely not.

I can’t even use mana.

Freud kept that thought to himself.

“Thank you for the compliment. But I have no intention of stopping here.”

She extended one hand like a stage actress, speaking with dramatic flair.

“I’ll push myself even harder. Until the day I defeat you, Sir Freud, I’ll keep moving forward!”

“……”

“Because that… is how I’ll prove my worth.”

The look on Millia’s face was that of a bold and fearless warrior.

“…Hah.”

I found myself chuckling as I stared at her, caught in the fire of her impassioned declaration.

Yeah. That’s the kind of person you are.

“Alright. I’ll be looking forward to it.”

“Yes, sir!”

With that, Millia gave me a deep, respectful bow.

“So please take care of me from now on.”

“Let’s do our best.”

Then, with steady, confident strides—

She left the room without hesitation.

I watched her back as she disappeared through the door.

Once the door closed, silence settled in.

Only then did I let out a long sigh and sink into the bed.

“Whew. I somehow made it through.”

It wasn’t like Millia had been completely convinced—

I didn’t think she was that oblivious.

Still, I’d say the crisis had passed.

At the very least, my relationship with Millia had improved.

To the point where I could now ask for her cooperation as a fellow knight.

Considering how she used to scowl just at hearing my name—

That alone was progress.

Just then, a translucent system window popped up in the corner of my vision.

“It’s almost here, huh…”

The deadly march of the “Raising the Empress” scenario—

Its first tale was about to begin.

In Act 1, Lincia would face the final trial to be recognized as empress—The convening of the Elder Council.

And within that council—dark forces lay in wait, plotting her death.

I was sure I wouldn’t be able to handle it all on my own.

But now, with the cooperation of an exceptional knight like Millia,

There was hope.

“Haaah…”

Just looking at the alert window made my anxiety bubble up.

“This is gonna be rough…”

Truly rough.

A mountain beyond mountains?

This was a mountain range with no end in sight.

But what could I do? I had to endure.

****

“Huuuuh…”

Outside the room, Millia took in a deep breath.

She did it several times—her chest rising and falling as if trying to express itself.

Then—

“...Heh.”

Air slipped out from between her lips.

Still standing by the door, Millia clamped a hand over her mouth, curling into herself as quietly as she could.

Her shoulders began to tremble—

What began as small ripples turned into a giant wave.

Laughter, unable to be held in, slipped out through the cracks of her fingers.

“Heh… ehehuh…”

It was unmistakably laughter.

Her lips had already been twitching as she left the room—

Now they were soaring skyward.

Millia laughed like a child.

Like a goofy neighborhood fool.

Some might’ve called it immature. Silly, even.

But she had every reason to feel this way.

No—it wasn’t even that many. Just one.

Still, it was enough to fill her heart.

After all—

Wasn’t this the moment she’d been waiting for?

That cold and dismissive Freud…

Had finally acknowledged her.

She replayed his words in her head:

“You and I are both full-fledged Guardian Knights now. You’re the pride of the royal guard.”

“That’s what he said… hehe.”

She tried to stay calm.

But the second she heard those words, she’d nearly jumped for joy.

It was only the dignity of a Guardian Knight that held her back.

If she’d been alone, she probably would’ve bounced around the hallway like a rabbit.

Sure, it was still a grim time.

There were plenty of crises ahead that gave her every reason not to celebrate.

But today—

She’d finally shaken off the inferiority complex that had clung to her for half a year.

Just for today, maybe it was okay to be happy like a child.

There’s no joy quite like having your efforts finally recognized.

Millia, clinging to that convenient excuse, kept giggling like a kid.

“...You really are simple, Millia.”

Watching from down the hallway, a red-haired knight smiled awkwardly.

On his shoulder sat a small, hand-span-sized girl with blue hair, who nodded with enthusiasm.

“Well, I guess things worked out, right, Sylphy?”

He’d handed Millia the sword to start a conversation—

Not expecting her to knock Freud out cold.

But judging by the current state of things, it all turned out fine.

In the end, results were what mattered.

But the spirit Sylphy, perched on his shoulder, seemed to have a different opinion.

She bounced around furiously, clearly insisting otherwise.

“Silphy, no need to be so harsh. They both gave it their all. They deserve some praise.”

The red-haired knight, Lautrec, gently stroked Sylphy’s head and walked off.

And so, another day passed in the Imperial Royal Guard.

-- The End OF The Chapter --

 

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