Chapter 129: Chapter 62.1: Lies and Selfishness

“Let me ask you again; why are you doing this?”

“As I said, it’s for my physical fitness…”

“I don’t think that’s the only reason. You could have done it in other ways such as having a full-time mentor on hand.”

Arnold said in a definite tone and looked down at Rishe who remained crouched.

Then he continued, “… ‘I can’t let them take up the slack for me. I want to know the actual way things are done in the training field. It’s better to disguise myself as a man so that my gender and position won’t be taken into account’… Based on what I’ve seen so far about your thinking process, that’s about right, isn’t it?”

He has seen through me…!!!

“But I still can’t figure it out. The training content is naturally tailored to a man’s physical and muscular strength. You must have known that you would barely be able to keep up with them if you participated in it.”

He even pointed out Rishe’s initial concerns, which made her more and more speechless.

“I thought it would be worthwhile for me to participate in this training because of my lack of …… physical and muscular strength.”

“Your swordsmanship revolves around your dexterity, your core, and the accuracy of your slashes. If you’re after physical strength alone, muscular training isn’t so important.”

Ugh…..

She could roughly guess what Arnold was trying to say.

He thought that she should stop her training as a cadet.

Still, I can’t just say ‘stop’ without an island to cling to.

He told her earlier that he was trying his best not to break his covenant to Rishe.

That was, of course, the pledge he had made when he proposed.

He was referring to his promise to fulfill everything Rishe wished to the best of his abilities.

That’s why he’s asking me why I’m here. If His highness is satisfied, I can stay here until the last day.

But she thought.

She didn’t want to use extra manpower for herself. She wasn’t concerned because of her gender or because she was the fiancée of the Crown Prince.

These reasons were just pushed aside by Arnold’s arguments.

What remained was the last motive, which she didn’t even tell Theodore, her partner in crime.

“’I understand what Your Highness is saying. But …….”

“But?”

She knew that she was totally being selfish.

That was why Rishe glumly bowed down, curled up in a ball and muttered.

“I wanted to go through the training you devised….”

“…………”

That ended up sounding like a childish argument.

Arnold raised an eyebrow. The sparring he did with Rishe not long ago, that just one time, seemed to have become Rishe’s flesh and blood.

In her life as a knight, Arnold defeated Rishe. It was a complete defeat.

If the same man has devised a way to train rookies, she would like to learn it firsthand.

…. Sigh, this doesn’t explain anything.

Rishe hurriedly stood up in front of Arnold who has gone silent.

“Uhm, my basic strength may indeed be unsuitable for this kind of training, but His Excellency Rovine, the instructor, can accurately determine the limits that won’t lead to over-training. Trainees can also spar with each other and point out each other’s shortcomings. I think I’ll grow stronger steadily over the next few days!”

“…”

“Speaking of training as I know it, it’s like pushing myself to the limit to the point of harming my body, but this training has taught me otherwise. If I can learn everything I need to know in the next few days, I can get by on my own without a full-time instructor.”

“…”

“And by then, there’s absolutely no reason for you to spare your time and resources with me.”

“…”

Was the explanation still weak after all that?

She thought so, but for some reason, Arnold held his forehead and sighed deeply.

“Uh, Your Highness?”

“…. It’s nothing. And I’m well aware that you don’t have any reservations about the training, which is supposed to be physically demanding.”

“Of course. It’s fun, and it’s educational.”

After that assertion, Arnold looked at Rishe with a grimace.

Then, after another sigh, he asked, “… You aren’t hurt, or significantly worn out, are you?”

“Yes. His Excellency Rovine gives proper guidance.”

“You seemed to have gone out of your room at five in the morning. What time do you go to bed at night?”

“Ugh. I get under the covers as early as possible at about eleven o’clock at night…”

She left the room cautiously, but it seemed that he had noticed the signs. Yet he overlooked it. Or Did he think she was going to take care of the fields?

Recently, she’s spent some time in her bunk, memorizing the geography of Garkhain and reading the diplomatic records of the city so far.

As a result, she actually went to sleep much later, but she nonchalantly kept that to herself.

Arnold who looked in deep thought eventually spoke, “I have a condition.”

“!”