255 – Swordsmanship with a Fateful Encounter -2-

I can feel Mikhail’s trembling at my fingertips.

The slight tremble of Mikhail, felt between our clasped hands, vibrates and moves between the palms.

“Just follow my hand.”

Mikhail’s stiff movements slowly trace a horizontal line following my touch.

-Whoosh.

Clear and crisp.

I can’t say my way is right, but at this moment, I engraved the martial arts Mikhail had shown in the novel just as they were.

With a single stroke, I confounded the archbishop.

The martial arts that made the wind dance with a small movement.

I glanced at Mikhail, who followed my hand well, and spat out praise. I thought he would move with a strong ego, but he followed along nicely.

“Good.”

I had no choice but to praise.

“Relax your shoulders more, not like you’re chopping down, but as if you’re riding the rhythm…”

Where did the ticking figure go, the guarded demeanor disappeared, and the submissive Mikhail showed more unexpectedness than I thought. Perhaps because he was wearing the guise of Misa, his movements became much smoother than before, and it was easier to teach.

If there’s one flaw.

-Shiver.

It’s that he can’t concentrate.

-Tighten…

The more I touch him, the harder Mikhail closes his eyes, unable to focus on the sword, afraid. My fingers make Mikhail flinch when they touch his wrist, and if the touch to correct his posture is a bit too strong, his grip loosens as if he would drop the sword at any moment.

Yes, like a lady guarding her bowl of rice in front of a hot stew, Mikhail was trembling.

“Excuse me.”

“…”

“Mr. Misa.”

Mikhail, breathing a bit hurriedly, didn’t hear me. Breathing shaky breaths like someone who couldn’t hear, Mikhail kept gripping and releasing the sword.

I briefly let go of Mikhail’s hand that I was holding.

“Um… I think she’s overdoing it, considering we’re not that close, and I’ve been too hasty,” I thought, carefully releasing Mikhail’s hand and taking a calm breath.

“Shall we call it a day?”

“Huh?”

“You’re not listening to a word I’m saying, are you?”

“…Ah.”

Mikhail looked down at his trembling hand and sighed. I didn’t know what was making him so anxious, but after seeing his hand shake like a leaf in the wind, I couldn’t help but smile bitterly.

“Let’s stop here for today.”

“I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s something anyone could experience.”

“Still…”

I carefully called Mikhail to sit under the shade of a tree. “Let’s take a break and continue later.” Although we stopped midway, I thought I had done a decent job teaching him for two hours without a break. Any normal person would have been exhausted after two hours of training with a sword master.

‘Come to think of it, I’m quite the premium talent.’

To have a sword master work for free, Mikhail’s connections seemed all the more impressive to me.

Considering how much harder I pushed him than at the academy, it was understandable that he was tired.

I couldn’t tell what was making Mikhail so nervous, but it seemed like there was a mental issue.

It felt good to talk after a long time. It’s not often that Mikhail and I get to talk alone. Even though I was disguised as Misa, I thought it would be good if I could listen to his worries. For the sake of a friend’s concerns and a better future for the possessor.

I spread a handkerchief from my chest pocket on the ground and tapped the floor.

“Miss Misa.”

“I should practice more…”

“Sit down.”

“It’s okay. I need to practice more.”

“Your tone is very stiff. Last time, you were like ‘Hey, you.’ as if you would call out like that.”

“I’m sorry…”

“Sigh! Come and sit down. Sometimes, rest is the best training.”

“…”

Mikhail reluctantly sat down next to me, tidying his academy uniform and keeping a slight distance.

‘It’s definitely still awkward.’

I don’t expect our relationship to improve overnight. There were deep emotional rifts and many issues to resolve.

Mikhail dislikes me.

And I dislike Mikhail too.

I chuckled softly, lifting my head to gaze at the trees flourishing in blue. Just looking at them fills my heart with a breath of fresh air, and a bright smile forms naturally.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?”

I asked Mikhail, looking at the blue trees. Although it seemed old, Hamel’s pride was in its villainess’ house and the dazzling natural scenery. Oh, and the friends of the forest too.

I let out a hollow laugh, spouting trivial boasts to Mikhail.

“Hamel may be a backwater, but the air is truly fresh. There are valleys, mountains, and the breeze is cool. Ah, of course, it’s cold in winter though.”

“…”

“Country life isn’t all that bad, you know. I didn’t think much of it at first.”

Mikhail clenched his fist and asked cautiously.

“Why… do you live in Hamel?”

“Huh?”

“You lived in the capital, in a very nice mansion.”

“Ah…”

I plucked a flower with a small smile and answered Mikhail’s difficult question. I needed something to hold onto, to steady my wandering hand.

“I was driven out.”

“…”

“The person I served made a small mistake, and we were driven out. Well, it wasn’t a small mistake. The person involved must have been quite shocked.”

“…”

Mikhail clenched his fist.

I don’t know what that clenched fist means. Whether he’s angry, or if he dislikes my brazen talking, I couldn’t tell.

But still.

“I don’t hold a grudge. Well, there’s no point in holding grudges. We were in the wrong, so it’s fortunate that it ended at this point. You’ve heard the story, Miss. You know what we did wrong.”

“…”

“Honestly, even if Mikhail were to get angrier, I wouldn’t have anything to say.”

“…Everything.”

Mikhail said, bowing his head.

“Isn’t it all because of Mikhail?”

I didn’t expect him to say that.

Faced with such a sharp question, I pressed my lips together and sank deep into thought.

I couldn’t tell if he was asking the question to lower his regard for me or if he was just curious. Whatever answer I gave, I felt like I was stepping on a minefield.

‘Cowardly.’

You might be wearing the mask of Misa to gather information, but that’s not my case. I licked my lips and gave an awkward smile.

“Exactly.”

“…”

“I can’t deny it. It’s all because my motives were too ambitious.”

“Do you dislike it then?”

“Ah… I’ve always disliked it. It was too perfect, too unbearable to watch.”

Mikhail’s expression turned pale and rigid. Even though he had done nothing wrong.

He’s too stubborn, which I don’t like, but since he hasn’t actually done anything wrong, I responded with a playful smile.

“Still, I do feel sorry. That friend suffered a lot because of us. Especially since I tormented him a lot.”

“…”

“Oh, just one thing. If there’s something uncomfortable, it would be that.”

I said, peeling off the petals of the edelweiss flower in my hand with a bitter smile.

“It’s the fact that he hated us too much.”

“…”

“I tried my best… Exactly. Once you’re disliked, it’s not easy to shake it off.”

“Disliked?”

“I understand, but given that I’m not exactly the most trustworthy person, it makes sense. Sometimes even I can’t trust myself, so I admit it…”

But still.

“It’s regrettable.”

Mikhail’s head hung even lower. Whether it was because of the insults thrown in his face or something else, Mikhail, unable to lift his head for a long while, finally took a trembling breath and spoke to me.

“How did it happen…”

“Yes?”

“How did you come to serve Olivia?”

“Ah… The lady?”

“Yes.”

“Why do you ask?”

“She’s a villainess, isn’t she? Filled with bad rumors since childhood, and she really was like that. I heard it from the seniors. They said Olivia was truly devilish.”

I nodded with a small laugh. Because it was true.

“That’s right. A capricious villainess who destroys things when they don’t go her way and moves more on emotion than reason.”

“Knowing that, why do you stay?”

I chuckled softly and spoke to Mikhail, my honesty laid bare.

“Because I have nowhere else to return to.”

“What…?”

“It’s because that place is the only place I can return to.”

“…”

“Even if the rumors are unfavorable, it’s also the place where I can rest most comfortably, and you’re the only person whose heart aligns with mine. That’s why I can’t leave.”

“What does that mean?”

“Exactly.”

I chuckled again, brushing off Mikhail’s question.

“I’m not sure myself.”

“People say I’m different right from the start, but I wonder what’s so good about me. Really.”

I let out a hollow laugh, shaking my head, yet the smile never left my lips. Because I truly enjoyed it.

“I don’t understand it either.”

Mikhail clamped his mouth shut. He was surprised by the fact that, contrary to his belief that there must be a compelling reason, he had chosen this path himself. Bowing his head, Mikhail was confronted with a different image of the boy from his memories.

I gave Mikhail a somewhat understandable reason, feeling like I had criticized the lady too much and that I should also offer some praise.

“She’s still my lifesaver, you know.”

“A lifesaver?”

“Yes, I almost died when I was young. It’s a bit awkward to say it myself, but there was a serious incident.”

I pointed to my stomach and smiled bitterly.

“It hurt.”

Mikhail remained silent.

I got up awkwardly, laughing to dispel the gloomy atmosphere.

Since too much dark talk would make us both depressed, I stroked my hungry stomach and asked Mikhail a question.

“Miss Misa.”

“Yes?”

“Would you like to go eat?”

“Eat…?”

With an ambiguous smile, I thought of a restaurant named ‘Yuram.’

“I know a nice place.”