"..."
Cassia stayed silent for a moment, breathing heavily due to the mixture of the powerful downward strike and the sudden danger she was in.
But after she calmed down.
She laughed.
"It seems like I miscalculated..."
Justinian responded to her laugh with a smile, tossing her halberd to the ground as the duel faced its end.
Lucan, by the side, had an amused smirk on his face, prideful at seeing Justinian execute his techniques to perfection.
"It looks like you no longer need my training, my duke."
He answered, before leaving to help the knights train the men with the horses.
"I am quite an unexpected person after all."
Justinian answered, shrugging.
"No need to play modest."
Cassia answered before grabbing her sword and unsheathing it.
"And as promised, I will be your sworn second... just don't tell my father."
Justinian already knew what she was about to say; based on what she said before, she only planned to gauge Justinian's strength and determination, not outright lose.
But even then, the strength he showed alone was enough for her to feel okay about it.
"I'm sure it'll be fine."
Justinian whistled and called Kalos to his location, the horse immediately responding and standing beside him.
"How good are you at horseback?"
"Me? I'm as good as you need me to be."
"Good, you'll be part of the night raid as well."
Cassia nodded, not before tugging a strand of hair behind her ear.
"But... how do you plan on winning such an impossible fight?"
"Overpreparation..."
Justinian answered bluntly, patting Kalos on the side and ordering it to head to the knights to assist in training.
"I see..."
Cassia replied, looking at the horse's departing form.
"You have... grown quite a bond with your horse despite a short amount of time."
"Consider it a talent of mine."
'Well... the system talent more like it, but mine nonetheless.'
"You're quite casual for a duke..."
"It helps with having my citizens relate to me."
WOAH!
A sudden noise rang out from behind Cassia, and where the overall training was being held, a mixture of yelling and praise filled the entire courtyard.
"The duke just won against Lady Cassia!?"
"Shut up and get back to riding!"
Lucan reprimanded the men, then looked at Justinian briefly.
"Head back inside the palace for a while, you two, or else it will distract the men."
Justinian nodded, looking at Cassia to follow him.
"It's been a pleasure, Lord Lucan."
"You as well, Lady Vesuvian."
Lucan glanced briefly, turning his focus back at the men, a few now being able to ride their horses properly.
'Now then... what's next on the agenda?'
Justinian had thought that he would have to train with the men for a few more days, not only to increase his skill but also to gain their support and trust.
But with recent events, and especially Cassia's duel, he had earned all of it in just a few hours.
But, he had already spent a lot of time just today, and now the sun finally started to set, draping the palace with darkness, with only dim chandeliers lighting the halls.
'Open status screen.'
[Kingdom Building System Protocol Activated]
[Ruler: Justinian Alarys Thirell]
[Rank: Duke]
[Resources:]
Gold: 494 KG
Food: 12~17 Weeks
Military: 513 Units
[Map:]
Snowkeep (Capital): Unrest (43%)
Herdrin: Unrest (11%)
Bridgeton: Unrest (68%)
'It seems like unrest everywhere has finally started to calm down... must be Matthias' doing.'
Justinian crossed his arms while walking.
'The food shortage... after I take care of my vassals, I can redistribute their land and food to the citizens, it's an easy fix, almost every textbook has that.'
Justinian's entire plan and life were now hanging on the fact that this night raid would work; if it did, it meant he could finally send in messengers to Vesuvian and finally be able to fight head-on with reinforcements.
For now, he could only wait and hope Lucan's training would suffice.
And then that's when he will announce his plan to make the night raid successful.
"The night is too young to waste in sleep."
Justinian mused.
"Rest is useful in itself, my lord."
Cassia answered from behind, surprising Justinian slightly, forgetting she was still following.
"You're correct, but it is boring, isn't it?"
He chuckled.
"You do make a point."
Justinian smiled at her response.
"And call me Justinian."
"Is it not disrespectful?"
"You're my sworn second; it'll be beneficial for the two of us to be close."
Cassia tilted her head and smiled, not expecting this kindness or casualness from such a controversial figure.
"Very well then, Justinian..."
She obliged, a hint of awkwardness in her tone when she tried it out.
"But if I may ask."
"Yes?"
"Among all, you're the only one who didn't react upon seeing my face... like it is normal."
"I assume you're talking about your pale skin and crimson eyes?"
Cassia nodded at Justinian's question.
"I do not mind it, in fact... it suits you."
Cassia's eyes widened at the compliment. In all her life, she had heard fear or awe at her appearance, some calling her a bringer of death, while some calling her blessed by the goddess of the moon.
Or the most common, swooned over by counts, dukes, and kings alike.
The sudden normalcy and neutrality of Justinian shocked her, especially when his rank alone could order her to marry him.
"You're... quite an anomaly."
"I try to be."
Justinian answered cheekily.
But the calm moment didn't last long, as a sudden object of interest appeared in Justinian's eye just by the window.
"Stop."
He ordered.
What he saw was odd: a group of men, cloaked in shadows, sneaking across the city's streets, using the darkness as their camouflage.
"It seems like I found something we could do for the night, if you're up for it, that is?"
Justinian turned to Cassia.
Normally, a duke and his second sneaking around unraveling court intrigue would be unimaginable, but with Cassia being one of the kingdom's best knights, and Justinian being now equal to her.
It was more like a simple way to have fun.
And Justinian already knew he had guards stationed everywhere; if things got dicey, then he had an easy escape.
"Whatever you have in mind, I'll follow."
Cassia replied, nodding, also having seen the mysterious group.
"But first... let's have dinner, shall we?"
Justinian replied, forgetting the fact that he hadn't eaten the entire day due to the busy schedule of being transmigrated.