It was now around ten in the morning. Only then did several well-dressed, handsome young men and beautiful young women stride into the outer courtyard to practice their Sword Arts.
To their surprise, a black-haired boy was running through the garden while carrying a rock boulder on his shoulder.
The young boy's face and bare skin were drenched in sweat, yet frighteningly, there was no sign of exhaustion on his expression.
However, the moment they recognized his face, their noble expressions twisted into contempt.
"Oh, look who it is. Our Lord Father's mistaken breed," Logan, the Duke's tenth child, sneered.
He looked about 17 or 18 years old, yet there was no maturity befitting his age. Only pure arrogance and pride in his so-called pure bloodline.
"Well said, big brother. I don't know why, but this illegitimate breed's face really disgusts me," added Lexi, Logan's blood sister.
"That bastard! How dare he step foot in our training grounds? I'll go remind him of his place," another young boy with short, curly hair growled.
But a soft hand stopped him in his tracks.
"Why are you stopping me, Lucia?" he frowned.
It was Lucia, the same person Adonis had previously interacted with in the library.
Lucia adjusted her square glasses calmly and replied, "Lucas, my foolish little brother, can't you see Lady Hellitrix over there? From what I can tell, she is personally administering punishment to Adonis."
Lucas paused at once.
His eyes darted toward the female Royal Knight, who was seated lazily on a lounge chair in the garden, watching Adonis with an unreadable expression.
The anger on his face slowly faded.
"Lady Hellitrix," he muttered, swallowing hard.
"Yes. If you interfere now, she might also punish you as well in place of Adonis," Lucia added smoothly, while his eyes never left Adonis.
Hearing her warning, Lucas understood whatever resentment he felt was not worth attracting her attention.
"We understand everything you said, Lucia," Logan said with a frown. "But why are you calling that inferior breed by his name? Don't you feel repulsed that he is a stain on our great Kingsbane family?"
Not wanting to draw suspicion toward herself, Lucia replied smoothly, her expression carefully neutral.
"Of course I care, Brother Logan. I call him by name because I want to remember that stain clearly. So that when the right opportunity comes, I can drag him down without hesitation."
Her words sounded convincing.
Yet inwardly, her thoughts were entirely different:
"At least Adonis isn't as stupid as you morons. I can sense that he is hiding something significant. And when that secret is revealed to the world, I do not want to be among those crushed by it.
For now, I will play along. Survival comes first. For myself, for Lucas, and for my mother."
At the age of 19, Lucia was a shrewd girl by nature. She knew when to advance and when to retreat, especially when her instincts screamed a warning.
In the library he learned everything he needed to know.
Adonis was only one year younger than her. Yet his worldview, intelligence, and perception already surpassed most adult people she had ever encountered.
Because of that, she made a quiet decision.
It was far wiser to stand beside him as an ally than to become an unnecessary enemy.
Logan did not suspect anything.
"It makes sense, Lucia. I wasn't blaming you though. Anyway, let's meet Lady Hellitrix. We might gain some guidance from her before we enroll in the Royal Academy."
Lucia did not object.
After all, only when a Swordmaster turned 18 and achieved the minimum level 10 requirement could they enroll in the Royal Academy.
Talent and expenses were also factors.
But would the Duke's progenies ever lack something so trivial?
Logan stopped right before her chair and clasped a fist to his chest in what he believed was a respectful salute.
"Lady Hellitrix, we were hoping you might spare us a moment. If possible, we would be honored to receive some guidance in Sword Arts before our enrollment in the Royal Academy," he said, lowering his head slightly.
Behind him, Lexi and the others nodded eagerly. They also seemed very expectant to receive guidance from a Royal Knight.
However, Claudia did not respond at all.
Her gaze never left the garden.
More precisely, it never left Adonis.
The boy was still running.
Once.
Twice.
Again and again.
She had ordered only 10 laps. But he had already crossed 20.
And yet, his pace had not slowed.
His breathing remained normal, his steps firm, and his posture unbroken.
All over his body, sweat fell like raindrops, but he did not tremble. He didn't stagger. There was no sign that his stamina was nearing its limit.
Claudia's fingers touched up to her chin with a thoughtful expression.
This isn't normal, she thought. Not even close.
Stamina was the foundation of everything. Dungeon diving, prolonged battles, sieges, survival in hostile terrain. Power meant nothing if one collapsed halfway through a fight.
And this boy…
"He runs like someone who does not know exhaustion."
"Lady Hellitrix?" Logan called again, his voice louder this time. "If you could just give us a few pointers, even briefly—"
That was the final straw.
Claudia's eyes narrowed.
"Enough."
Her voice snapped like a blade drawn from its sheath.
Logan and others flinched.
She finally turned her head and glanced at them with a cold, piercing stare.
"Get lost! I am busy," she said without giving any face.
She didn't need to. She was a Royal Knight and personal guard of a royal princess. So why would you need to be courteous toward a duke's children?
The group froze.
"But Lady Hellitrix," Logan tried again, forcing a smile, "we are members of the Kingsbane family. Surely you can spare a little—"
"I said... get lost."
Instantly, a suffocating pressure surrounded them from all sides.
No need for shouting. No need for threats.
But the warning was unmistakable.
Lucia's eyes widened behind her glasses.
She immediately grabbed Lucas's sleeve.
"Lucas, let's go," she whispered.
Lucas understood.
But Logan clenched his teeth, feeling humiliated.
His face burned hot, but under Claudia's overwhelming presence, even his arrogance faltered.
"Fine."
He too turned and left.
Claudia did not spare them another glance.
Her attention returned to the garden, to the boy who was now beginning his twenty-first lap.
She smiled with deep intrigue.
'What exactly are you, Adonis? A monster? She chuckled inwardly, "I must say Princess Mariana has really good eyes.'
At that moment, she stopped seeing Adonis Kingsbane as a mere boy. She began to see him as a warrior in the making.
[ Harem Force +10 ]
[ Harem Force +15 ]
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