Chapter 8

   "Marquis Lordest, I myself didn't know about this, she is smart but not this clever. " I give a poker face as they continue arguing about me, they won't stop fighting over something so small, god, they look like childrens fighting over nonsense things.

    Finally, I broke the unstoppable argument that Marquis Lordest is trying to keep on insisting, I tap my little fingers on the wooden table and open the basket that was laying on the table.

    I got hungry suddenly.

    I took another basket out of the basket that contained delicious snacks and sandwiches, then I took a napkin and sat on the table.

    "I don't need to inform you that I know things Marquis Lordest, it's not your business if I'm knowledgeable or smart, you have no rights to assume without further investigation, nor you are allowed to do so, " I give one sandwich to Sir Rodrigo and then the another to Count Laniel.

    I heard him groan, so I took another to give him. 

    "I have been learning for the past few days so I'm familiar with military conduct. I don't think learning only about Ladyship etiquette is very fun, " I hinted in a mock voice.

    "I see, I understand, please forgive my impudent actions, you just surprised me a bit. "

--+-•-+--

    After at least an hour of chatting personally and asking about things, afternoon arrive so fast that I didn't think about the time, father had an afternoon meeting with the emperor, he said that I can roam around this place because it's the closest to the prince palace, so that's what I did, with Sir Adrian of course.

    I was told that I have been in the palace so I should be aware of the structure to where I go, but I said that I had forgotten about it so Sir Adrian insisted on escorting me in the meantime.

    My feet eventually had taken me to a garden filled with dead flowers that had not been managed for many years. 

    "Sir Adrian, what is this place? " I placed my hands on my dress and asked. 

    "The empress palace, " I gaze at him.

    "Empress Palace? "

    "This place hasn't been managed since the empress's death, this was forbidden, do you remember that the Imperial Palace has 6 separate palaces, the emperor's palace, the main palace, the prince and princess palace and the empress palace, with also the concubine palace, " he explained.

    It is maybe a western style, but it is not much different from the eastern style, I see.

    "Empress death? How did she die? " My question made Sir Adrien confused for a moment, I can see how his elbow shifted in a suffocating confusion.

    However, he ended up responding anyway. "The empress died because of an illness, it was an incurable and inevitable illness. After her death, many of her supporters collapsed in pieces, and the empress garden had never been managed, it was left drenched. "

    I see. 

    I shrugged the feeling before leaving.

    After walking back, I ended up going to the training ground. At first, Sir Adrien tried to stop me, with an excuse that I wasn't allowed but in the end, I won.

    The knights busy in training suddenly stopped when I stood at the hill watching them train, they looked at me with a glimpse of unexpectedness and confusion. I tried giving them a sign to continue but it seems my method doesn't work for men I didn't train with. 

    I sat closely while watching them but they decided not to continue practicing making me look at Sir Adrien in confusion.

    "Did I do something wrong? " I asked.

    He gives a few sighs and he glances at me. I can see the change in his expression. "Milady, you did nothing wrong but to these knights, your presence is seen to be uncomfortable, " my eyebrow tilted up.

    "Huh? "

    "I mean, milady, it's the first time a lady like you who's a noble lady to visit the training field, they seem a bit confused about your actions and didn't want to make milady bored by watching grown-ups training and clashing swords in front of milady, " is that even a problem? I know females or women can't wield nor fight, because it was forbidden but can't I watch men fight? Practice? Or so on? 

    At least let me watch! 

    "What if I am a noble lady? Can I not watch them practice? Is it a problem that you guys overestimate us ladies? " 

    "No! No! Milady, it's just that we didn't think milady would be interested in men practicing blades, so they were worried that you might not like them, please don't misunderstand. " 

    I frowned upon his explanation and stood up, I then swiped my dress to remove the dirt on my dress. "I am aware of the Imperial Rule, a woman cannot take upon the men's responsibility, while woman belongs to the court, men belong to the battlefield, such discrimination is disgusting. "

    I said coldly and watched as the sun rose down, while the blue cosmos was merging with the yellow-orange ray sunlight. He remained silent for a couple of minutes while I remained watching as the sun merged with the moon. 

    "Milady, you really seem so different, why do you care so much about the responsibility of men and women? "

    Have I gone too far? Maybe... 

    "I speak out of merely, I don't care about it, more like the care ━ I just wanna watch knights to the extent of their capacity, " I just observe people up close, because observing is how you'll manage to see who is worthy and who is just worthless in the field. 

    I told you, hobbits die hard even in the life after. 

    I admire their passion. 

    "So, milady, only came here to observe? No noble lady would waste their time concerning such matters, I believe you are the only one who thinks differently from a noble lady. "

    Ah, I ended up chuckling in the midst of our conversation. It's just funny how western people think that a lady cannot fight, due to their belief and thoughtless assumptions they lack even the tiniest power that the woman can conclude.

    If the shamans were here to witness this, they would laugh so loud that they would insult these men. 

    Jeez, godforsaken, you bastard to all places you have reincarnated me, in this world that my talents are far more useless. 

    "Sir Adrian is the Second Captain right? ".

    "No, milady, I'm the captain of Crambell troops, " I looked at him and I nodded. 

    "I have a favor to ask you but keep this a secret to father and to everyone, is that okay? " 

    I heard that a noble lady keeps a personal bodyguard as their personal knight, my father hasn't yet assigned me someone because I was still not old enough, because only when I'm at least 13 years old can I have my own bodyguard.

    Sir Adrien is a loyal subordinate of my father, he may be loyal to my father but I can't assure that he is also loyal to his daughter, me. 

    "If my ability can do so, then let me hear it, what is it milady? " He responded flawlessly.

    I turn my head back and look at him. 

    "Let me train under you, " it was straight forward I know, but it's the only way I can say it out loud without being ashamed of my favor. 

    I can see the changes on his face, he was giving me a poker face until earlier but now he was surprised, he looked me straight in the eye. 

    "What are talking about milady? That's absurd, you can't just spout nonsense so freely! " As expected, he would think of my favor as a nuisance, well I understand anyways, the Imperial Rule is so tight that even captains of the Crambell fear it. 

    I smile before laughing, but the way I laugh wasn't happy or joyful, it was full of mockery and displeasure. 

    Fine, I'll try to live as a lady of this house, a lady who belongs to the court! 

--+-•-+--

    We went home after the meeting, father was looking at me so seriously, so I assume Sir Adrien reported to him saying about my favor. I guess even loyalty cannot be broken to another master. 

    Shame... He's a good man... I can see it... 

    "Father, I--- "

    "The crown prince will be visiting tomorrow to propose a marriage of convenience, " my eye suddenly turned pale and the thought of assuming things ended up the opposite.

    It's not about what I said to Sir Adrien?

    Wait, Crown Prince? No, what the hell does that mean? Marriage of Convenience? I'm still 10! How can they arrange this to a mere kid!? I was going to calm myself but I ended up panicking anyways, everyone will panic from this, I'm not dramatic over it! 

    I have refused marriage candidates from my former life because I have no interest in love, though marriage is needed for a noble lady, cause I cannot succeed with my family name, but why so early!? 

    Wait, I look at him. "Crown Prince? The successor to the throne? " I asked obediently, and thought that the crown prince he mentioned is the man my former memory adores, or she likes, if she was still around, she would be very pleased but I am not! 

    "We told the emperor about your proposal to the military salary, and the conducts, without any doubt, the emperor was amazed and told me that you are a perfect candidate to become the empress. " He glares trying and hesitantly about saying more, he doesn't seem happy for someone who was praised by the emperor.

    He might dislike the idea about the marriage proposal. Then I'll be busy the whole night. I'll find a way to easily resolve this matter without accepting that damn proposal. If only I had my memories before, it would be easy! I need to investigate the matter, issues and scandals regardless of the crown prince, a way without accepting or refusing his proposal.

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