Chapter 28
Chapter 028. People Whose War Has Not Ended (1)
“Don’t make me repeat myself.”
“Apologies. I was momentarily distracted.”
“Tch.”
Sionne Feitan had moments like this—completely lacking in decorum. Maybe that’s why she kept getting swayed by his words and actions.
“We’ll begin sword training once the Feitan blade arrives.”
Rosalyn said again as she entered the now-prepared room.
“You procured a Feitan sword?”
Sionne asked as she dismissed the servants.
“Yes. If I’m going to learn, I intend to do it properly.”
Feitan blades were different from Hernian ones. They were large, heavy, and used only on one edge.
And they required a great deal of strength.
If you couldn’t knock away your opponent’s blade in a single strike, you’d be the one in danger.
“But there’s something I’m curious about. Why does Your Grace want to learn Feitan swordsmanship?”
Sionne glanced over Rosalyn’s arms and waist as he spoke.
“With your physique and strength, Hernian swordsmanship suits you far better.”
It was also one of the reasons female knights were far less common in Feitan compared to Hernia.
Even among Feitan’s few female knights, most did not practice pure Feitan swordsmanship. They tended to adapt the style.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Rosalyn raised an eyebrow in displeasure.
“Are you saying I’m not strong enough?”
Sionne shook his head.
“That’s not what I meant. I said it because the swordsmanship I saw from you was already flawless.”
He recalled the way she had fought.
Her movements were fast and elegant. The way she flowed around the brute force of Feitan’s strikes—her technique was among the best even within Hernia.
It was no wonder Feitan’s knights had fallen so easily to her blade.
“That’s right. No one in Hernia can say otherwise about my skill.”
Rosalyn settled onto the sofa, acknowledging the truth.
As Sionne said, her swordsmanship had been perfect. She had no desire to deny it.
But what he didn’t realize was—that was the skill of the twenty-eight-year-old Rosalyn.
“But I’m not so sure that still holds up against Feitan swordsmanship.”
The gap from losing seven years of memory was wider than expected.
The style of combat she’d once seen to the point of exhaustion now felt unfamiliar.
“Not just Feitan swordsmanship—I’m not even sure I’m the same in real combat anymore.”
The void in her memories left her uneasy.
The Rosalyn de Anata who had led them to victory in war was gone. What remained was a twenty-one-year-old novice who had never seen real battle, who was only now laying eyes on Feitan’s style.
‘I couldn’t even fire a crossbow properly… I nearly got killed.’
The things she had learned from books were hitting their limit. Compared to what could be learned on the battlefield, they were weightless.
That’s why Rosalyn needed someone to teach her—someone who had learned from experience. For the sake of what came next in her plans.
“Teach me everything you learned from the war, Sionne Feitan.”
She wasn’t entirely sure it was right to ask this of a former enemy.
But she didn’t want to face that same fear again.
“In that case.”
Once again, the shameless consort asked,
“What will Your Grace give me in return?”
“Ha.”
Rosalyn let out a laugh of disbelief.
Her offer wasn’t even a loss for Sionne Feitan. It gave him an excuse to stay by her side.
“I’m fairly certain this offer isn’t a disadvantage for you either, is it?”
She spoke as though she had nothing to lose.
“In any deal, both parties should benefit.”
Sionne sat at her feet as he replied.
“For Your Grace to suggest you’re giving me something in return for allowing me to stay while you learn Feitan swordsmanship—it’s quite the spin.”
Rosalyn sighed. The fallen prince was sharp and far too logical.
It was annoying—and a little impressive.
“So,”
She looked down at him and asked,
“What is it you want?”
“……”
Sionne paused to think.
His eyes wandered around her room. The desk piled with documents. The neatly made bed. And then, finally, his gaze returned to her.
“Give me Your Grace’s night.”
He whispered as he pulled Rosalyn’s hair close and kissed it.
“Hm.”
Rosalyn paused in thought, then unexpectedly took hold of Sionne’s hand. The reaction caught him off guard, and his hand trembled slightly.
“But you know, Sionne…”
Rosalyn’s lips curved into a smile.
“I’ve been wondering when to bring this up, but I think I’ve finally figured out my type.”
“Your… type?”
She leaned in, bringing her face close to his. Instinctively, Sionne realized this conversation was not heading in a direction that favored him.
“I prefer someone a little shy over someone who pushes too hard.”
“……”
“Like someone who covers their face when I undress, but still gets red in the ears.”
Rosalyn reached out and gently pinched his earlobe with her left hand.
“That sort of thing… I find more appealing.”
Sionne leaned back slightly.
When the woman had lost her memories, the more he approached, the more flustered she became. He used that to his advantage to tilt the situation in his favor.
But now that the roles were reversed, he didn’t quite know how to respond.
“……”
“Yes, just like that.”
Rosalyn smiled, clearly pleased by his frozen silence. That smile somehow felt both humiliating and disarming.
“Then… I suppose I’ll have to act the part.”
Sionne, already acting, shamelessly replied as if it were a new idea. His eyes curved as he smiled.
“If doing so earns me more of Your Grace’s attention, then it’s worth it.”
Just as his breath neared her lips, closing the distance as though it had never widened—
“Right, so take a step back.”
Rosalyn’s index finger pressed against his forehead, pushing him away.
“Ahem. And if you teach me Feitan swordsmanship, then in return, I’ll give you…”
Rosalyn recalled Sionne reading her documents during the carriage ride. The way he furrowed his brows midway suggested he couldn’t read Hernian script.
“…I’ll teach you how to read Hernian.”
Sionne’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Truly?”
“Yes.”
He hadn’t expected that. Asking for something in return had never been about actually receiving anything. It was just a way to draw closer to her.
But to be taught reading and writing… That would make it significantly easier for him to search her documents for any mention of Merilyn and Anna.
“So? Would you call this a fair deal?”
“Yes.”
Sionne nodded. It was far more valuable than spending the night with her.
What a ridiculous turn of events.
The same woman who had once thrown a fit about learning letters from a maid was now offering to teach him herself.
* * *
With its new master, Anata Castle had become busier than ever. Not a single person was idle.
They needed to repair the castle and stockpile supplies in preparation for the coming winter. And that required manpower—plenty of it.
Around that time, rumors began to circulate near the Anata territory.
“They say vagabonds who go to Anata can become knights.”
“What? Just by going there?”
“You go through a training period, then get officially appointed.”
It was a welcome rumor among commoners.
Becoming a knight usually required one to pay out of pocket for a helmet, chainmail, sword, spear, and more—costs far beyond what most could afford.
“Ha! But Anata… Isn’t that where Her Imperial Highness is?”
Rosalyn’s reputation only added fuel to the gossip.
Although whispers circulated that she was mad, the title of “war hero” was not something that faded so easily.
Receiving a knighthood from a war hero was not a privilege given to just anyone.
Thanks to this, it didn’t take long for people to begin flocking to Anata Castle.
“I am Aaron Vanil. From today forward, I will be your commander.”
The responsibility of commanding them fell to Aaron.
No one wanted the job of managing rough, undisciplined vagrants—many of whom didn’t even speak properly.
‘Didn’t you say you’d accept any punishment? Think of this as part of it.’
His merciless lord had left him no room to complain.
‘Considering your contributions during the forest battle, I’ve even lessened the severity. Keep that in mind.’
Truthfully, Aaron had been ready to accept any punishment.
What truly bothered him wasn’t this role. The thing he really couldn’t tolerate…
Was the fallen prince of a ruined kingdom standing by Her Grace’s side.
