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[ Five Years before Queen Alessandra II's dethronement and exile ]
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The sun was high above the sky, it was clear without a hint of any clouds hovering above. The sound of metal clanking drowned the silence of the surrounding. I held the hilt of my sword tightly as I dodge the attack of my opponent before I spin around and charge back at him.
He, unfortunately for me, blocked my attack. But not a moment later, it was his turn to be unfortunate as I moved behind him and hit his back with the hilt of my sword with enough force to make him stumble forward. That momentary loss of balance was enough for me to seize my win as I pointed my sword at his throat and saw him gulped down visibly as sweat ran down his temple.
"I win," I declared before breaking into a smile, putting my sword back in its scabbard as he did too.
"You're too good, Lady Aeris. I'm not good enough to be your sword training partner."
"Maybe you should train more then."
It's not that I'm not humble enough as a person. But it's not like I would say that what he said was not true either. It's true that I have grown better with swords compared to before. The only reason why he was stuck as my sword training partner is because of his stature that's the same as mine.
"You're still young, Darius," I said, looking at the young boy after realizing my words may have very well been taken the wrong direction. "Did you not just turn fourteen this year?"
"Fifteen, My Lady," he corrected me but he sounded more flustered than arrogant.
"Fifteen," I repeated before looking to the side where several of House Venatrix's Knights are training under the heat of the sun. "In a few years you'll be as tall and big as those Knights over there. By then, you will no longer be my sword training partner. A new young man around my height and reach will replace you, but by then, I would have been a lot better that it would hardly be called training at all."
"That's true," he said and I looked back at him to see that he was still looking at the Knights. I wonder which part of what I said he was referring to that is true. I have a feeling it was the first part where I said that he'll be as tall and big as those Knights.
Darius is a boy with potential to be a great Knight one day. Although he picked up the sword much later than I did considering that I am four years older than him, he's starting to show his potential barely a year after being chosen as my sword training partner. But as I've said, in a few years, he will be replaced. Because I was born as a woman, my body develops differently than these men. I will not grow as tall as them or as big, my reach will not compare to their reach which will be a great disadvantage.
"Oh if I could fight one of those Knights," I muttered without realizing it. House Venatrix is known as the House that produces the finest and strongest Knights in the Kingdom. Because our House takes pride in it, even women born from House Venatrix are taught at a young age to handle a sword. It was an established custom made by the first matriarch of this House.
"That will be enough for today's training."
"Yes, Lady Aeris— ah, father."
I turned around to see Sir Darwin. The Commander of House Venatrix's Knights and my father's confidant. He is Darius' father. He is the reason why I think Darius has potential. Because Sir Darwin is a great Knight.
"Sir Darwin, has my father returned?" I asked, although my question need not be answered as I know that my father has arrived because Sir Darwin is already here.
"Yes, My Lady."
"I shall take my leave now, then."
I walked past Sir Darwin. But I had not gone far enough as I still heard his voice while he talked to his son.
"I was watching earlier," Sir Darwin said. "Lady Aeris was right. You need to train more, Darius. If you want to keep up with her."
"If I want to keep up with her?"
"She is someone who will lead a Kingdom."
Someone who will lead a Kingdom? As the only daughter of Duke Heinrich of Venatrix, I cannot marry just anyone, especially someone who is below me in status. Father made that very clear to me when I was young. The only ones who are above us are the Royal Family. But the next in line to the throne, the King's firstborn son, is already married. How can I lead a Kingdom alongside a married man?
I pulled the ribbon tying my hair quite tightly and let my brown locks flow down my shoulders as I continued to walk back inside, briefly forgetting what Sir Darwin said.