Chapter 33
Chapter 33
The first exercise class at the military training ground had begun. Unlike in the garden, the servants could now spread out freely. It was an ideal place for physical training.
‘Perfect.’
To match the new location, Rosalyn had also come up with a new exercise routine.
With a bright expression, she looked out at the servants standing spread out across the field and spoke with determined enthusiasm.
“Starting today, we’ll be doing a new kind of exercise.”
“…?”
Standing before them, Rosalyn sat cross-legged on the ground and said,
“Everyone, please sit like I am. Keep your back straight and place your hands together in prayer.”
“Like when we pray?”
“Yes.”
Though puzzled, the servants mimicked her, folding their hands and sitting cross-legged.
“What kind of exercise is this supposed to be?”
The new routine Rosalyn had planned was yoga.
Among the servants, many had poor posture especially around the back, neck, and shoulders. She believed yoga was perfect for building flexibility and strength at the same time.
“Now close your eyes, and take a deep breath, big enough to make your belly round. Inhale slowly, then exhale. Let your muscles relax… One, two… huuuh…”
“Huuuh…”
Once she saw they were settled and relaxed, Rosalyn spoke again in a soft, calm voice.
“Now, slowly open your eyes and lie down on your stomach. We’re going to start with the cobra pose.”
From a prone position, she lifted her upper body into a gentle backbend. The servants looked on in awe.
“It really looks like a snake. What a strange pose.”
“Wow! My back and stomach feel amazing! Huuuh…”
The servants eagerly mimicked her yoga poses, and Rosalyn, pleased with their enthusiasm, moved on to the next movements with a satisfied smile.
***
Aiden was heading toward the training ground, a thoughtful expression on his face. It was time for the soldiers’ morning drills.
‘Isn’t there a more effective way to train…?’
To wield a sword well, one needed both flexibility and muscle strength. But most soldiers who had strength lacked flexibility, their bulky muscles making their bodies stiff. On the other hand, those with flexibility often lacked the necessary strength.
Currently, strength training and flexibility exercises were conducted on separate days, which doubled the time and decreased efficiency.
‘If only there were a way to train both at once…’
Lost in thought, he arrived at the training ground and noticed the doors were already open.
Come to think of it, Rosalyn was supposed to begin her class here today. He suddenly grew curious. Just how was she planning to train servants, who weren’t even soldiers, in physical fitness?
But the scene he encountered inside the training ground left him perplexed.
‘What are they doing…?’
With growing interest, Aiden watched Rosalyn and the servants.
They were all on the floor, arms stretched out and their bodies lowered, raising only their hips toward the sky. It looked like a group of cats stretching.
Then, using only their strength, they performed a motion similar to a push-up, lowering themselves down before lifting their upper bodies gracefully like snakes. Every movement flowed smoothly into the next.
And finally, they clasped their hands together and closed their eyes, as if in prayer. The whole routine looked less like a workout and more like a devout religious ceremony.
‘What kind of training is this even!’
It was bizarre, something he’d never seen before. But if this method could build both strength and flexibility, it was ingenious.
As soon as Rosalyn finished the sequence, he approached her and asked,
“Miss Rosalyn, what is this mystical form of training?”
Startled by his sudden appearance, Rosalyn quickly composed herself and answered,
“It’s called yoga.”
“Yoga… So, are you worshipping God while you train?”
Worship?
Only then did Rosalyn realize that Aiden had been staring at her prayerful hand posture.
‘I suppose a devout man like Aiden could see it that way.’
She had hoped to grow closer to him and this was the perfect opportunity. Smiling brightly, she said,
“That’s right. We train our bodies while worshipping. It helps develop not just the body, but our faith too.”
Yoga was, after all, originally intended to unify mind, body, and spirit, so it wasn’t entirely a lie.
Now, Aiden looked at her with eyes full of awe.
Tiny beads of sweat dotted her pale face, something never seen among the noble young ladies who avoided physical exertion at all costs. Clad in a light, comfortable white dress, she carried a faint, natural scent, more pleasing to Aiden than any expensive perfume or cosmetic.
‘To harbor unclean thoughts toward someone offering such devout worship…’
He looked down at her prayerful hands, silently chiding himself and steadying his heart. Then he asked with composure,
“It’s truly a remarkable discipline. May I watch from the side?”
“Of course.”
Aiden stepped back and observed the class quietly.
“Next, let’s try partner poses. You’ll help each other with your alignment.”
Partner yoga.
Rosalyn couldn’t possibly adjust every single servant’s form individually, so she’d come up with the idea to pair them up. Each servant turned to the person beside them and formed pairs.
Everyone, except Rosalyn, had a partner.
The number of participants was originally even, but with Anton pulled away for tea party preparations, one person was left without a partner.
‘It’d be better if I could participate and demonstrate…’
Just as she was about to dismiss the thought, Aiden, who had been observing from the sidelines, stepped forward.
“Miss Rosalyn, may I assist you?”
His offer came with the grace and courtesy of a nobleman asking a lady to dance.
“Huh?”
Caught off guard, Rosalyn hesitated. Aiden explained,
“I’ve trained soldiers before, so I know how much more effective it is when the instructor participates directly. Besides, I’m dressed casually today because of morning drills.”
“Then I’d be grateful! Please, come this way.”
Rosalyn and Aiden paired up and resumed the lesson together.
***
Meanwhile, Theodor was in the Imperial Palace’s classroom, attending a lecture on imperial history. As a member of the royal bloodline, he was now required to study the Empire’s history and the achievements of past monarchs.
The lesson was led by Sir Rowell, a respected scholar and member of the council. The white-haired elder was explaining the early days of the Empire and its founding rulers.
“After their victory in the Great War against the monstrous beasts, the ancestors of House Barbarossa established the Empire. Most notably, the First Emperor, Trevius von Barbarossa, having achieved transcendent Awakening, eradicated the monsters…”
But Theodor wasn’t listening.
He was still bothered by how he had stormed off to the palace that morning, irritated by Rosalyn repeatedly mentioning Aiden.
‘How childish of me.’
Leaving like that was immature, especially toward someone he cared about. He glanced at the wall clock in the classroom. After this dull lecture, there would be a twenty-minute break.
He decided he’d use that time to find Rosalyn and apologize for his behavior earlier. With that resolve, he picked up the teacup on his desk, prepared for him before class.
The tea shimmered faintly with a violet hue.
One sip, and a strangely bitter taste hit his tongue. He frowned.
Then, almost immediately, he felt a mild itch and discomfort in his chest, triggering an unexpected sneeze. The sensation reminded him of the episode after his sprint that morning.
“… Ahem.”
He assumed it was just a tickle in his throat and finished the rest of the tea. Meanwhile, Sir Rowell had begun discussing royal mana.
“The pure mana of the Barbarossa bloodline is a noble source of power. That is why Awakening is such a vital part of the royal legacy…”
Theodor’s expression hardened.
He remembered the days when he hadn’t Awakened, when his father and others had scorned and ignored him.
“I know that better than anyone. Move on.”
His icy tone made Llewell falter and skip ahead.
Then Theodor asked, “About this so-called ‘transcendent Awakening’ they say I achieved, how does it differ from ordinary Awakening?”
He knew his Awakening was different. The way his father and the other royals reacted proved that much. But no one had explained what it truly meant.
Rowell looked uncomfortable, “In truth, there are few records of such cases. However, according to the legend of Emperor Trevius, the mana of a transcendent Awakening possesses the power to vanquish evil itself.”
Hearing this, Theodor recalled how the goblins that ambushed their carriage had cowered the moment his mana surged from his lower abdomen.
“But there are no such ancient evils left in this era. Thus, Your Highness’s power is a mighty symbol to reinforce the Empire’s authority.”
That explained why his father and the nobles watched him so closely.
His power wasn’t something they could afford to lose if they wanted to uphold the legitimacy of the royal family.
But Theodor had no interest in such things. What irked him more was how confidently Rowell insisted that monsters no longer existed.
Not just Rowell, but every noble in the palace acted the same. Even during the policy observation, no one had taken Theodor’s warning seriously. Aiden had been the only one to suggest deploying support troops but even he didn’t seem to truly believe in the monsters’ return.
Aiden Hailey.
A man who lacked nothing. He is strong, powerful, really flawless.
The image of Aiden’s clear blue eyes resurfaced in his mind, along with Rosalyn’s praise from that morning.
It soured his mood.
He forcibly shook the thought away.
Class eventually ended, and Theodor sprang from his seat, ready to bolt. As he reached the door, Llewell called after him.
“Oh, and Your Highness, starting next week, you’ll begin martial arts lessons. Once a week, for one hour, in the rear training grounds behind the annex.”
“Martial arts?”
“Yes. At the very least, you should be able to perform ceremonial swordsmanship.”
Royals often demonstrated sword dances at official imperial ceremonies.
“And your instructor will be…”
“The rear annex grounds, once a week, one hour. Understood.”
Theodor didn’t wait for him to finish. Anxious, he rushed out of the classroom and headed straight for the military training grounds, where Rosalyn’s class should have just ended.
He arrived, straightened his clothes, and stepped inside.
And then his expression darkened.
Rosalyn and Aiden were together.
‘What are they doing?’
Rosalyn stood back-to-back with Aiden, their hands firmly clasped. As Aiden slowly bent forward, Rosalyn closed her eyes and leaned fully against his broad back, completely entrusting her body to him, almost as if to feel every inch of his strength and warmth.
A strange anger surged in Theodor’s chest.
Without thinking, he shouted,
“What are you doing?!”
Rosalyn opened her eyes and looked at him.
“Oh? Your Highness?”
“I asked what you were doing!”
She stepped away from Aiden’s back, frowning in confusion.
“We’re exercising. Isn’t it obvious?”
Theodor looked bewildered. That improper, intimate pose was supposed to be exercise?
But then he noticed the surrounding servants doing the exact same thing, back-to-back, matching poses.
“It’s called ‘partner yoga.’ It loosens the upper body and spine.”
Theodor said nothing. Aiden, flustered, quickly bowed and greeted him.
“Your Highness. Welcome.”
His demeanor was flawless, which only made Theodor more irritated.
“What brings you here, Your Highness?” Rosalyn asked, her deep brown eyes fixed on him.
In response, Theodor boldly took her hands, pressed his back against hers, and stared straight into Aiden’s blue eyes.
“I came to finish the workout I didn’t complete this morning. I’m joining right now.”
TN: Oh, this kind of feels like a harem. She has Aiden, Kyle, Theodor and Arch…
