Zayn now walked into the compound with Dame Kay strode closer behind him. Seeing him here now Ariana knows he already heard everything, but she is not afraid. It's not like she's doing a crime or something.
"Oh, you finally here?" Ariana said that made Dame Kay flinch a little.
Ariana deliberately said this to make the knight realize that she already knows this will happen anyway. Ariana also knows very well that all the knights except Sir Robert felt uncomfortable because they had to be her guard. They become knights to protect their respected Duke and this Dukedorm not to babysit a discarded princess!
But what can she do when it's Zayn who makes the decision?
"I just left you less than a few minutes and now you do something again. Are you that bored?" Zayn asked with a straight face but his tone didn't show that he was angry.
Ariana sees this as an opportunity.
"I'm not playing around. I'm serious."
"Your body is weak and you often get sick. There's no need for you to learn this. You have knights to protect you anywhere you go."
Ariana puffed her cheek nagging him in her mind. 'That's the point. If you see who I am in another world you might be terrified yourself. Worst that I can't even prove it to him!'
"What with this low point of view? I just wanted to learn didn't I?"
Everyone who was there started to get nervous with the new drama. They know usually if the princess wants to do something and the Duke says no, that's the end of everything as the princess is the 'yes' machine all the time.
But now, all of that change and the atmosphere there become so scary with the clashing of 'strong' personalities from both the princess and the Duke.
"This is for your sake Ariana. Stop being so stubborn," Zayn raised his voice.
Ariana flinched a little hearing her name being spoken. It's rare for the Duke call her name as she recalls.
"What was your age when you first started?" Ariana changed the topic.
"7 years old."
"Are you physically strong at the time?"
"Yes."
"Don't you faint while training?"
"Never."
"How long is the training session?"
"8 hours just for sword training. Not including combat and other weapons as well as basic learning as the heir of this family."
Ariana looked at Sir Melvin at that moment for reassurance. Knowing that the princess was looking at him, the Knight who had served the family the longest continued to nod in agreement with what was said.
"Tch, so you are the prodigy too huh?" Ariana remembers her past days when she also just started. Well, he might be more genius because he excels in studying but she is also not behind if its just about martial arts!
"Too?" Zayn can't understand that.
"A-anyway. If someone like you started at 7 years old and do fine, I am probably will do much better as I started now, at 19 when my mind and body is mature enough like this." She's try to find reason.
Zayn is sighing knowing this argument won't go anywhere.
"Stop this ridiculous act. You can't disrespect the honor of a knights by doing this."
"Then, how about this. Test me. If I pass the test, then teach me how to use the sword. " Ariana suggested.
"And what test can you do now? "
Ariana looked around and started to pick up a wooden sword used for practice by those who just want to train to be a knight.
"I challenge Dame Kay to fight me using this. If she can make me release this stick from my hand, then I will give up."
If anything Ariana can be confident about for now is only her hand. She's trained enough to be fast and strong with her grip. Even if her stamina is not on par with her when in the original world, but she knows, habit can't change overnight.
Her body will remember what she learned a while ago and she is sure of that as she confirms it when she exercises to build core muscle and practicing her knife throwing. She just needs to work extra to bring the skill back with this frail body.
Kay shocked with that sudden challenge made her pride feel a little scratched. How can a noob trying to provoke her openly like this? Her face clearly shows dissatisfaction, but Ariana likes it as that person have a lot of prejudice against her the most.
So some teaching will make her back on track? That's what Ariana think is.
"Do you even hear what you're saying now?" Zayn asked in disbelief.
"You might need to change your mind princess." Sir Melvin interrupted.
"Katherine is a very skill with a sword so that she was awarded the title of Dame in a short time. She also bore from a family that is really knowledgeable about swords. In this Dukedom, only 10 women pass all the harsh test and training to be a knight and she is one of the highest rank among them. Probably if you wanted to try, our best student here probably better but still," Sir Melvin looked at the student in question. Being a student also means they are a best of the best to be eligible to train here.
"Hmm..." Ariana lifted her chin. She actually didn't think that far. She didn't even know that Kay is from that established family. But then she smiled. Her adrenaline is becoming higher, so excited. What about challenge if it's not hard right? She is ready to push herself.
Therefore, Ariana threw the wooden sword so hard that it stuck in the ground right in front of Dame Kay.
The whole ground became silent. Zayn at that time just stared at the wooden sword without moving. He probably just as shocked as anyone else.
"I challenge you to a duel Dame Kay. What is your answer?"
The people around including Sir Josh and Sir Lucas shook their heads at Kay, but she ignored them. For her, it is forbidden for a knight to run away from the challenge. So she quickly grabbed the wooden sword, pulling it out of the ground.
"I accept. But don't blame me if you got hurt in the process." Kay said as she walked towards the princess.
"Likewise." Ariana said, still smiling.
But first, Kay paused in front of Sir Josh to give him her real sword that hanging in her waist before moving back to the center of the field where Ariana was already warming up.
"I'm sorry if I'm rude but I won't hold back the princess."
"That's why I chose you among these people."
Sir Melvin watched the Duke then. Seeing that his master didn't say anything else, it was a silent agreement so Sir Melvin approached Ariana and Kay then to say the rules he had determined while everyone who was there remained on the sidelines to witness the unexpected fight.
"Whoever loses the grip on the sword first loses. Only use your hands to attack and not your feet. Begin."
Hearing the 'began' words Dame Kay continued in her position. Her body is now at a 45-degree angle with her left foot ahead of her right.
She grips the sword properly with both hands, one at the top end of the grip and the other hand at the bottom. A ready position which Ariana never knew.
Ariana is still standing still with her focused eyes. She, who never learned to use a sword before looked at her opponent to analyze. She tries to learn the move in her mind right now. She might be a beginner in this, but her strong point is knowing how and where the opponent will attack.
When Ariana started standing ready, Zayn realized something here.
"She learns and identifies the pattern while fighting?" He even let out a low laugh that no one noticed. Unbeknown to anyone there, she reminds him of himself when he first started.
"Huh!" Kay started to move forward and attack. She thinks to finish this as soon as she can so she is being aggressive.
'Hmm... You are making a mistake here sister. Too much speed means and opening for me. ' Ariana is aware of Kay techniques but she still didn't attack and just doing a self defense which is her best techniques with this body.
Ariana moved back while Kay continued to bring her sword forward attacking her. She can't feel that her wrist starts to hurt because of the impact and she knows she can't just keep doing this.
Seeing Kay is too shy with her attack, Ariana finds her opening. She blocks the opponent's sword while spinning her body out of the line and approaches Kay to attack back.
Kay was stunned for a moment as she didn't think that the princess could escape, but she quickly also avoided her body being hit by the sword before stepping back from each other. Back into stand by position.
"Woah, how exciting." Ariana still smiling makes Kay become much more furious but she becomes calm now probably realizes she can't be too reckless.
This time Ariana is the one who moves forward, attacking with the same step just as Kay did earlier making Kay flinch as it is so similar.
"How can you...?" She can't even finish her question as Ariana didn't allow her too.
Even while Kay stunned by what just happen she still defends well until Ariana decides it's the best time to end this. She then held the sword with only her left hand blocking Kay making the swords out of the way, turned her body and bent her body slightly before elbowing her opponent in the stomach.
Kay who didn't predict this instantly sat on the ground in pain and released his wooden sword.
Gracefully, Ariana back to her feet, standing still with her wooden sword becoming her cane while flipping her beautiful hair.
"It's alright if I didn't attack using my feet correctly?" Ariana naively asked Sir Melvin, who froze in his place at that time.
"Y-yes." Sir Melvin just can't believe his eyes as he never knew he could see the flawless move from someone who never learned. But then thunderous applause started to sound here and there from all the Knights and people watching.
"Princess you are awesome!"
"The best!"
Ariana can't help but loving the attention, but as soon as she locks her eyes with the Duke, she gives up. He didn't even have any reaction. So dull and serious like his usual self. So she moved her attention to Kay again.
"Are you alright?"
"Y-yes." She still look like she's being bewitches.
Scanning Kay up and down to make sure everything was fine and satisfied, Ariana then continued to turn her attention to Zayn.
"Come to the field behind our building after your lesson with Madam Petunia. I'll meet you there tomorrow." Saying his piece, Zayn continued to move quickly out of the area.
Can't really get what just happened, Ariana blinked her eyes furiously before screaming,
"Wait, what? Hold on a second!" She then follows the Duke who was already far out.
"Wait! Duke..."
Zayn didn't stop.
"Zayn!" Ariana had to call his name now as she is panting to catch up. She just had the great battle after all!
Hearing the girl finally say his name after so long made Zayn stop in his tracks.
"Didn't you hear what I just said?"
"I get it. But, why there? Why do I have to meet you?"
Zayn stared at the girl sharply.
Ariana finally got it.
"Are you going to be the one who trains me?"
"Why? You didn't want to? Accept that or forget about learning."
'Grr... What a temper! ' Ariana began to hold both sides of her hand tightly because she was holding back her heart.
"Don't you have a lot of work? I can just learn from my knights if you didn't want me to bother others. I know they also have their own duties, and I didn't start this to be the pain in the ass. "
Zayn frowned.
"Stop talking vulgar. Remember, you are a princess at that. " How can he in this situation have time to rebuke her behavior.
"Also," Ariana ignored his nagging.
"I am uncomfortable to learn from you. You hate me in the first place, no, let me correct this... We hate each other. Who knows the training might end up with us slicing each other's throat. So for both of our mentally and physically health, just let me learn without you interfering. Okay? "
"That sounds very interesting to me. " Zayn looks happy suddenly when before his face is so serious.
"Sorry? "
"I really want to see if we will be slicing each other's throat or not. For your information, it won't be easy. I'm not someone who stands still even if you are just a beginner. "
"That's the point. I need someone who is a teacher figure not someone who might bully me. " Ariana started stomping her feet on the ground. Throwing a tantrum like a child as she feels frustrated that this Duke always wants her to follow his words. Where is her own freedom?!
"Like I said before deal with it or just forget about this whole idea. I also didn't have time to serve all your hassles. I'm just doing this so that the knights won't feel uncomfortable with you pestering them. You think they will be honored to serve a princess? They might feel it's a burden. "
"I didn't want the honor. " Ariana insisted. She feels angry now listening to this.
Knowing that this will take forever Zayn said his true reason now.
"You think I want someone else to spend so much time with a person who will be my wife? And see all your clumsy movements and make them awe? " He actually didn't like how the knights saw Ariana with 'honey eyes' a moment ago.
"W-what? What are you talking about? " Ariana feel like the conversation was getting weirder until she forgot why she was angry earlier.
"Learning how to handle a sword requires a lot of time so no matter how much I hate you, you are still my very own person. I'll teach you and that's it. No more negotiating." Zayn continued to walk away, leaving Ariana, who was still dazed.
"Why is he spinning his talking around and making me dizzy?"
In the end, she can't understand a thing but had to accept the deal. After all, Zayn is also the strongest knight here based on what Sir Melvin said earlier. A prodigy at that!
Maybe it's better to have someone who didn't have to please her as a teacher after all. Only then she can grow stronger faster.
~~~~~~~~~~
That night,
While taking a warm bath, Ariana found out that all her body started becoming sick here and there. She knew this would happen, so didn't want Lily to get worried about her she asked for some alone time. So now she needs to deal with this alone.
"This what I get after doing a simple match huh?" Ariana was not satisfied as she looked at herself through the mirror. She can't believe just a little rough movement can make her feel this bad.
"I need to get stronger. Faster." Certainly, determination alone can't help her to get her old body back. But she knows she will get there soon. She just needs to be diligent.
"Not just exercise, I need to watch my food intake now. Looks like I need to visit the kitchen to start seriously. No more delaying. Ugh!" She said while moaning in pain, massaging herself.
Knock! Knock!
Ariana was a little surprised by the interruption as she already told Lily before that she didn't want to be interrupted because she wanted to rest alone. But who is coming at this time?
Covering her body again with a bathrobe and satisfied with her 'decent' look according to her, she opened the door and peeked outside.
"Duke?"
"Let me in." He said in demanding.
Ariana continued to frown.
"Why?"
Without saying much, Zayn, who had lost patience, pushed the door of the room and entered even though Ariana had not yet given her consent.
"Hey! What do you think you are doing?"
Just realizing what the girl was wearing, Zayn slightly widened his eyes but then sighed.
'Why is he always sighing in front of me? ' Ariana can't help thinking this.
"Close the door and sit down beside me." He said while he also sat down on the sofa.
Seeing his serious face makes Ariana surrender to argue as she is already too tired for that. So, listening to him, she did everything and now sits beside him.
Zayn then pulled her hands and examined the wrist which now looked bruised.
"I know this will happen. You who have never been active all your life doing stupid things. What is really in your mind?" He started nagging but his hand quickly opened the medicine he brought and began to rub it on the bruised place.
Ariana silently knew at that moment that this man came here to attend her.
"Why are you suddenly being nice to me?"