Since that day, I have been doing my solo training.

  In addition to my time spent with Lilia, I spent most of my free time on training.

  I only repeated the training Duke Raven used to instruct me.

  I did what he told me.

  I ran.

  I swung my sword.

  I worked on my footwork.

  That was all the training I underwent.

  Duke Raven’s son, David, did not interfere with me.

  He did not give me instructions.

  He did not give me any advice.

  He just silently watched me train.

  Even when I fell down from exhaustion, he did not come to help me.

  He did not give me water or tower as Duke Raven did.

  He just coldly looked at me.

  He only came to me when it was mealtime.

  He would silently prepare my meal and watch me eat.

  I also could not initiate a conversation with him.

  My pride did not allow me to do so.

  So, I ate my meal in silence under his watch.

  After I finished my meal, he also cleaned it for me silently.

  He also prepared water and other basic needs for me.

  At least he fulfilled his basic duty as my caretaker.

  So, I could not complain much.

  That was the silent treatment he gave me.

  He even refused to give me his name.

  The only instance I learned about his name was by accident.

  It has been about a month since he came here.

  On that day, he brought me breakfast as usual.

  Yet, unlike usual, he did not watch me eat.

  After he finished setting up my table, he walked out without a word.

  Although I found it unusual, I did not question him.

  Then, after I finished breakfast, I waited for him to clean up.

  However, no matter how long I waited, he did not show up.

  Thus, I decided to go out to find him.

  Perhaps he ran away?

  Perhaps he found that it was a good idea to neglect his duty.

  That was my first thought.

  I walked to his pose.

  However, I could not find him there.

  Did something happen to him?

  Or did he run away?

  That was the prominent thought I had at that time.

  So, I walked around the sanctuary.

  Then, as I silently walked around, I overheard something.

  It was his voice.

  “It's been a while, Lady Aria.” His voice was so gentle when he said that.

  It made me wonder whether that voice came from someone else.

  However, that voice was undoubtedly his.

  Then, I heard a girl's voice; it was that girl's voice. “I pray to the goddess for your glory. How have you been, Sir David?”

  Her voice was not the same as it was then.

  It was as if nothing had happened.

  As if she were never sad from the beginning.

  She happily replied to him.

  I did not see it; however, I could guess that he was smiling brightly when she said that.

  I knew it. She was a good actor.

  She and her father were the same.

  Yet, I also noticed something.

  She called him David.

  That was how I learned his name.

  So, he was the middle son of Duke Raven.

  I used to see him visit my room several times when I was young.

  He always sat silently in the corner of my room when he visited me with his older brother.

  “Thanks to the goddess's blessing. I am healthy.” I could hear him energetically reply to her.

  His tone, his voice, the more I heard it, the more cringy I felt.

  If I could imagine it.

  If he had a tail, he would be wagging his tail at her as he said that.

  I was sure of it.

  He acted as if a puppy were trying to please its owner.

  That was how I felt from his voice so far.

  And his owner was also good at playing with her pet.

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  I could hear her lively reply to him.

  “I am glad to hear that.”

  She really knew how to please men.

  Then, as if he had just realized something, he asked her in a soft voice. “Are you coming here to see his Highness?”

  The way he did it… It was as if he was exaggerating it.

  Only at that part did she try to make it sound like she was sad.

  She just passionately replied to him.

  Then, she immediately switched to being sad.

  She really was good at pretending.

  With a soft voice, she weakly replied to him. “Not exactly. I don't think His Highness would wish to see me. I just came here to deliver these.”

  Although I could not see them as I was hiding behind a tree, I could guess it. Perhaps, she even pretended to cry at that moment.

  It was because after she said that, David replied to her in a sad voice. “I understand. Are these the medicine?”

  He tried to be understanding of her. He even offered to change the topic, too.

  She was really good at manipulating men.

  “Yes. I heard you would also stand by here for a while, so. I brought these for you, too.” She said that in a gentle voice.

  She also did not forget to ensnare him.

  She acted as if she had never forgotten about him.

  As if she were always thinking about him.

  It was without question that he would fall for such a simple trick.

  “These? You remember?”

  He cheerfully responds to her little gift.

  I could imagine that he was violently wagging his tail at her.

  Then, she doubled down by pretending to be a victim.

  She acted as if she were a good girl who tried to shoulder the blemish that was not hers.

  Although it was in fact her fault.

  She meekly said that. “It seems that my immaturity caused concerns for many people. It also brought inconveniences to you. Please consider it as my apologies to you.”

  Everything was her fault.

  She and her father were the causes of everything.

  Because of them, we suffered.

  Yet, she still shamelessly phrased that as if it were her good heart to take on the blame.

  I could see through her.

  However, David could not.

  It was as if he were already brainwashed by her.

  He danced to her tone.

  With a panicked voice, he tried to comfort her.

  “There is no need for you to apologize. It was not your fault. It was that guy, I mean, his highness’s fault. It did not cause me any inconveniences.”

  In his attempt, he even pointed his finger at his real master.

  And she pretended to be grateful for his action.

  No, I knew it.

  She might actually be happy to hear that.

  It might be her goal from the beginning.

  She softly thanked him.

  “Thank you for your kind words.”

  She sounded like she did not desire such comfort.

  I did not hear David reply to her remark.

  Instead, I heard her continue.

  “May I trouble you with these. I would like to take my leave. I have more stuff I need to do.”

  She made it look like she was not that sad just a moment ago.

  She acted as if she had just brushed it aside.

  She acted as if she wanted David to forget it.

  I could see it.

  I remembered it.

  My sister used to tell me about it.

  It was her reverse psychological manipulation.

  She acted as if she was trying to forget the bad thing, and it hurt her deeply.

  By doing so, it would touch the man’s heart and ignite their desire to protect her.

  It was her way to manipulate men.

  I knew it.

  I was warned about it.

  I was taught about it by my mother and sister.

  They told me to always be careful around women.

  Those women would try to ensnare me.

  They would use these dirty tricks.

  And that girl was one of them.

  Yes, that was it.

  Everything made sense.

  Her every action was an act.

  Her every action was calculated.

  She was like her father.

  She was also evil.

  They were the same.

  They would never fool me.

  However, David could not see through their trick.

  I wanted to tell him immediately.

  However, considering how deeply he fell for her, I did not think he would listen to me.

  It would be a waste of time.

  So, I would just let it be as it was.

  Then, when he heard her say that, he dejectedly let her go.

  “Why so suddenly?..... I see. I understand. Please have a safe journey, Lady Aria.”

  Then, at that time, I could sense that he was looking in my direction.

  He might have perceived my presence.

  That girl, too, might have noticed it.

  That was why she went back in a hurry.

  David just stood there watching her depart.

  Although we could no longer see them, he still did not turn back.

  It was only when they were long gone that he turned back.

  Then, he called out to me in a cold voice. It was a stark contrast of the tone he used with that girl.

  “Please refrain from leaving the hut without permission, your highness. You are not in the position to do that.”

  Realizing that it was no use to hide, I walked out behind the tree where I had hidden.

  I replied to him, “I tried to call you, but you weren't there.” I tried to sound as calm as possible.

  Then he replied to me with hostility. “My apologies, but as you could see, I needed to receive an important guest.”

  He even looked down on me.

  He put her above me, his real master.

  I could not help but raise my voice at him.

  “What is special about that girl?”

  I took a step forward when I said that.

  I could not allow him to make light of me.

  I needed to show him who his real master was.

  Yet, facing my attempt to assert my dominance, he just frowned and was lost in his thoughts.

  He still did not take me seriously.

  As I was about to pass my tolerance, I heard him mutter something.

  “.... I see. Father warned me about this. It seemed to be corrected.”

  Hearing that, I asked him to explain himself.

  “What do you mean?”

  I was also curious about what was on his mind.

  Then, as his father did, he just brushed my question aside.

  “It is nothing of your concern, your highness. Please return to the hut. If others see you here, things will become more complicated. Please understand.”

  He tried to make it sound polite, but the way he phrased it was insulting.

  He treated me as if I were a troubled child.

  When I was about to lash out at him, he brought he basket he was holding to my face.

  I could see my sister’s handkerchief in it.

  While I was baffled by that, he spoke to me exhaustively.

  “Please bring these with you, her Majesty and her highness went through all the trouble just to secure them. Don't waste their efforts and her goodwill.”

  It was as if he were really exhausted.

  I did not take it.

  I knew that this basket was prepared by my sister.

  Yet, he said that it was my mother and sister who secured them.

  And it was that girl who delivered it.

  I could deduct it.

  They might make a request to that girl.

  Yet, I knew she was like her father.

  So, she might make unreasonable demands of them.

  So, I had to check it.

  If she really did that, I would ask him to bring it back and tell them to cancel that deal immediately.

  I did not want them to sacrifice for me again.

  “What kind of demand did she make?”

  Thus, I asked him in caution.

  Seeing me like that, he just threw that basket to me.

  Thus, I caught that basket in a panic.

  It was no longer just rudeness.

  It was Lèse-majesté.

  He treated imperial treasure as if I were garbage.

  I was about to retort to his action, yet I stopped his words.

  He coldly looked at me.

  He looked at me as if he wanted to murder me.

  His eyes… he looked at me as if I were trash.

  “Your Highness, please keep your prejudice in check. It is causing inconvenience for everyone.”

  His voice was chilling.

  Seeing him like that, I took a few steps back.

  I could feel myself short of breath.

  My back began to sweat profusely.

  I began to question.

  Why did he direct his sword at me?

  Why did he do that?

  Was it because of that girl?

  Did he do it to please her?

  Why did both he and his father do that just for her?

  I could not hold it in, so I blurred these questions to him.

  “What is so great about that girl? Why are you trying so hard to please her?”

  After I shouted that at him, he just walked past me.

  As he walked, he said these words to me.

  His tone told me that he was really furious. His voice was so fierce.

  “Whatever it is, she is a hundred times greater than you can think of. You can think as much as you want. However, please keep it to yourself. You already crossed the line. So, don't try to throw away the last rope.”

  I knew I should stop there.

  Yet, it really hurt my pride.

  I could not let it go like that.

  Thus, I turn back. I looked at the person who walked past me.

  With his back facing me, I quavered as I asked him.

  “You? Are you on my father’s side or on their side?”

  I needed to confirm his standing.

  I could no longer hold it in.

  I was really at a loss.

  I needed to settle it with them.

  As for him…

  When he heard that question, he halted his step.

  Then, he softly called out to me before letting out a sigh.

  “... your highness, ... Haaaa.”

  Then he turned to look at me.

  The eyes he looked at me no longer carried hostility.

  Yet, I could see his pity.

  Then, he flatly said these words.

  “I am on the good side. That is all you need to know. I think you need to go. It is about time for you to meet your little girlfriend.”

  Hearing him bring up Lilia, and with him even calling her my girlfriend, I instantly turned red.

  It was really too much; we had not been there yet.

  I was still not sure how Lillia thought of me.

  Thus, I loudly shout at him, denying his misconception.

  “Lilia is not my girlfriend.”

  Yet, he was not bothered by my remark.

  He just closed his eyes and said these words with a tired face.

  “Your Highness, many people, me included, have made so many sacrifices for you; do not make our sacrifices be in vain. This is the plea from a loyal subject to the empire.”

  After he said that, he turned back and walked to his pose.

  I tried to call him to stop, yet he did not stop.

  Thus, at the end, I could only look at him departing.

  That day, I could not see him again.

  It was only the next day that he came to bring me breakfast.

  He acted as if our previous conversation had not happened.

  It really got on my nerves.