After that, I continued my training with Duke Raven.

  We did not talk to each other during that time.

  Not a single word was spoken.

  Well, to be exact, it was I who refused to respond to him

  He kept asking me and sometimes giving me pointers.

  However, I gave him the silent treatment.

  I still followed his advice, yet I refused to talk to him.

  I knew it was childish.

  However, that was the only way I could express my dissatisfaction.

  We continued our day like that until the day he returned to the capital.

  I did not even go to see him off.

  I was staying in my hut.

  Duke Raven also did not bother to come to see me before he went.

  Then it was already past morning and almost noon when I heard a knock on my door.

  I knew it was Duke Raven’s son.

  However, at that time, I did not know which of his sons was coming.

  I did not ask him.

  He also did not tell me.

  Yes, I was the one who refused to talk to him unnecessarily.

  At that time, after I heard my door being knocked on, I did not go to open it.

  I only sent them my acknowledgement with my voice.

  “Enter.” I tried to make it sound as natural as possible.

  After that, the door began to open, revealing the person standing behind.

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  His face looked familiar to me.

  I thought I had met him before.

  However, it was only a few times.

  The only thing I was sure about was that he was not the oldest.

  After he opened the door, he respectfully gave me a knight salute.

  Yet, he did not set foot into my hut.

  Standing outside the entrance, he scanned the inside of my hut.

  Then, he shifted his focus to me.

  I was sitting in my chair, observing him.

  I had to say I was getting used to people like that.

  And I did not expect much from him.

  After he was similar to his father.

  After staring at me as if evaluating me for a while, he said in a cold voice. “I heard Your Highness is healthy enough to walk by yourself. So, I think you would not need my help.”

  It was rude coming from a knight.

  Even if he was Duke Raven’s son, he did not have the right to be this discourteous.

  He did not even attempt to hide his hostility to me.

  The way he phrased it, it sounded as if he didn't want anything to do with me.

  So, I tried to be sarcastic with him.

  I raised my face, with my chin pointed at him, while being seated on my chair, I spoke to him in a provocative tone. “... Yes. It appears to be so.”

  Yes, our ‘first’ was the worst if I had to say.

  However, it could not be helped.

  It was he who first talked to me like that.

  It was he who first showed hostility toward his master.

  I just responded in kind.

  Then, to him, as if his business was done, he took a step back and lowered his head to me.

  Then he flatly said this to me, “I will wait outside. You may call me if you need anything.”

  He did not even look at me when he said that.

  However, I gritted my teeth and accepted it.

  Duke Raven also hinted that something was wrong with his son.

  I just let it pass.

  Then I noticed a sword hanging at his waist.

  I was really in need to improve myself.

  Training with Duke Raven was a great thing.

  However, I did not know how fair I was against someone my age.

  So, I looked at him.

  He was wearing the imperial knight armor.

  So, he must be knighted.

  However, he was still young.

  At least, he was only a few years older than me.

  So, he could be a good measurement.

  So, I decided to test it.

  Duke Raven warned me about the risk.

  Yet, I don’t think the risk was that big.

  This is the land without death.

  I would not be killed here.

  And even though I suffered some injury, I would not be dead.

  It would just hurt a little.

  With the blessing from the sanctuary, I would recover fast.

  I still had many more medicines that my mother had prepared for me.

  So, the risk was manageable.

  So, I swallowed my pride and asked him. “... Well, I was looking for someone to spare with. Since Duke Raven is not here, you may be my sparring partner.”

  Even when I threw away my pride and nicely asked him like that, he did not even look me in the eyes.

  He just coldly refused it. “I apologize; I was prohibited from being your sparring partner.”

  Then he rudely dismissed me. “If your highness does not need anything else, please allow me to go to my post. Please rest well.”

  After he said that, he closed the door without waiting for my reply.

  Facing this blatant rudeness, I could only curl my hand into a fist and sit down in my chair.

  I was holding it in.

  I consoled myself that it was the normal treatment the powerless received.

  I was still weak.

  I needed to become stronger.

  Thus, I began to train harder.