The Villainess Is Too Difficult

The once tranquil training ground quickly turned into chaos. Although the Walpurgis family’s training ground was built quite sturdily, befitting a ducal family, the surrounding area couldn’t help but become messy.

“Haaah!”

Ariel swung her wooden sword with a shout. Her violent performance, unbelievable for a duke’s daughter, was something you’d both want and not want to show to those who fantasize about noble ladies.

“Hmm.”

And the one parrying it was a cold-looking handsome man who could make countless ladies cry. But in reality, he was a strange older brother with an incomprehensible way of thinking, suddenly proposing a duel to his sister whom he hadn’t seen in a long time.

While Ariel was showing signs of fatigue and sweating, Theodore’s breathing hadn’t even become rough. This was natural in a way. Theodore had been training with swords since childhood and was now an elite member of the Imperial Knights.

But compared to him, what about Ariel? Her body, which had just recovered from collapsing and was originally that of a magician, was far from trained. Although she had picked up a sword now, it hadn’t even been a month. It was no exaggeration to say it was a fight between a child and an adult.

“Haa, haa…”

Ariel, breathing heavily, dropped one knee to the ground. Normally, someone would have scolded her for such unladylike behavior, but this was in the middle of a duel. Thinking she’d have to pay back such luxuries with interest later, Muriel quickly headed somewhere.

“We should stop here.”

Meanwhile, Theodore was genuinely surprised by Ariel’s unexpectedly tough performance. He had heard that his awakened sister had picked up a sword and was training, but he thought it would be at most a playful level, a mere whim. He thought it would be fortunate if it lasted a week.

But facing her sword, he could tell. Ariel’s sword was plain yet persistent. That unknown determination even evoked strange emotions. She was somehow desperate.

Just the fact that she used magic without hesitation when told to go all out was telling. Combining magic with swordsmanship. It’s very natural for skilled swordsmen, but while it sounds easy, it’s really difficult to actually do. Manipulating magic while moving your body? Many people can’t adapt to the suddenly changed physical abilities, let alone the partial concentration required to manipulate magic.

Ariel was just a beginner who had barely mastered the basics. Until now, all of her attacks were nothing but the most basic of basics, like slashing, thrusting, and swinging. But when magic was added to it, it produced power beyond imagination.

Of course, Theodore also knew how to use magic, so he parried it lightly, but he was still dumbfounded.

‘Beyond imagination. How much effort she must have put in…’

Theodore’s eyes fell on Ariel’s white hands, which hadn’t let go of the wooden sword until this moment. How many times must she have swung a sword with those delicate hands? This was an achievement that couldn’t have been made without picking up a sword almost immediately after waking up.

What was it that drove her? Theodore was very curious about this fact, but decided not to ask. There was a line that needed to be respected even between family members, and above all, the traces of her effort were clear enough not to worry about that fact.

“Good job.”

Therefore, Theodore praised her sincerely. It’s often said that conversation is the easiest way to know a person, but Theodore considers himself to be lacking in eloquence.

That’s why the easiest way for him to understand a person was none other than the sword. While words can be mixed with lies, a sword is always honest. Even if you mix in feints, the true heart of the swordsman is undoubtedly contained in the strikes that come in between.

And Ariel’s sword was more than enough to please him.

“Thank… you…”

Ariel, having barely caught her breath, slowly took a deep breath. Her limbs were trembling and screaming, and her magic still felt awkward, as if surprised by the unfamiliar usage. Her vision was spinning, and her head was throbbing as if she had come down with the flu.

Although she had been training until now, this was the first time she had actually swung a sword against a person. Although it was a wooden sword, not a real one, and she was able to unleash attacks freely thanks to the overwhelming gap with her opponent who went easy on her, it was still tough, and towards the end, she had to endure through sheer willpower.

It was exhaustion she hadn’t felt in a very long time.

“Young Lady. Excuse me.”

“Ah, thank you.”

Muriel brought a basin of water and a towel with perfect timing. As Ariel changed her posture to be a bit more comfortable, Muriel sighed.

“Please mind your dignity…”

“I’m fine.”

“I don’t mind either. We’re family after all.”

At the frustrating sight of the two siblings answering so nonchalantly, Muriel sighed once again and started carefully wiping Ariel’s sweat-soaked face.

As soon as they left the training ground, Ariel was immediately dragged to the bathroom by maids who had been informed in advance by Muriel. Theodore also disappeared, saying he would go wash up, so Ariel had no choice but to be dragged away.

“Young Lady, you’re not hurt, are you?”

“Young Lady should take better care of her body…”

Despite the voices of the maids coming from all directions, Ariel just closed her eyes and remained still. Muriel, who was washing her back, carefully opened her mouth.

“Um, Young Lady.”

There was no answer. Ariel never ignored the maids’ words usually, but strangely, she remained tight-lipped like a mute only when bathing.

However, it was clear that she wasn’t completely ignoring them, as she would engage in conversation as usual after getting dressed, and would answer questions asked in the bathroom later.

So Muriel seized this opportunity and naturally brought up the topic.

“What do you think about the Young Master?”

“Pardon…?”

Perhaps because the question was too direct, Ariel immediately questioned back. This time, for some reason, the response came right away. Was it because of the question, or for some other reason?

“This is the first time you’ve properly met the Young Master, isn’t it?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“How was it?”

At Muriel’s question, Ariel closed her eyes and fell into deep thought. Ariel, with her eyes closed in thought, was like a painting in itself. Muriel, who had been staring blankly, was startled by a colleague’s glance from the side and quickly resumed moving her hands.

In the end, Ariel didn’t give an answer throughout the bath.

After drying her wet body using magical tools and applying various cosmetics, Ariel finally opened her eyes.

Damp hair, slightly reddened cheeks, and slightly relaxed lips. Ariel’s appearance right after bathing was enchanting enough to drive viewers mad, but fortunately, those present were sufficiently accustomed to it.

“We’re finished, Young Lady.”

“Thank you for your hard work. Please go rest.”

“Yes.”

The maids left one by one after politely bowing. Only Muriel remained until the end.

“About the question from earlier…”

Is the answer finally coming? Muriel waited for Ariel’s words, anticipating what kind of answer would come.

“Honestly, I’m not sure.”

“Pardon?”

But the answer that came back was far from what she expected. She wondered if she had misheard, but Ariel’s expression was as expressionless as ever.

“Um, what do you mean by ‘not sure’…”

“It’s as you heard. I’m not sure about my brother.”

Was the question too sudden? Well, that could be the case. Muriel nodded, hiding her disappointment. But as they say, you should always listen to the end of what someone has to say.

“I can see that he’s trying to take care of me, but for some reason, he seems to struggle with expressing emotions. He seems like a good person. But I can’t give a definite answer based on just that.”

What’s this, she seems to be seeing it accurately? Muriel was surprised that Ariel had pinpointed exactly what she had seen, and her curiosity grew.

“Then why didn’t you express that?”

Theodore’s affection for Ariel was evident from his actions. Ariel seemed to know this well too. But she treated Theodore in a stiff manner that could be described as businesslike.

Of course, Theodore did it first, so there’s no need to argue about who’s right or wrong, but if Ariel had approached him warmly first, Theodore would have had no reason not to reciprocate. So why?

“How could I do something so embarrassing? I’m not a child.”

At Ariel’s blunt response, Muriel hurriedly covered her mouth. Otherwise, she felt she might reveal her twitching lips.

“I think I need to observe a bit more.”

Fortunately, Ariel wasn’t looking at Muriel, so her little deviation(?) went unnoticed.