Author’s Note:
Shall we try delving into his thoughts?
This chapter is written from Alph’s point-of-view.
Happy reading.
Drinking alcohol was unappetizing recently. Or to be more exact, my mind wasn’t in the best state find any alcohol appetizing.
Even now, I still couldn’t drive away the woman who approached me back then with her nasal voice.
And before long, I came to understand.
That I was just utterly defeated by that woman named Riviere Emil.
I didn’t really care about losing—no, to be honest, I was terribly surprised and aggravated. The wagered money was also collected properly after that. It was obvious since I lost.
I already thought that she had confidence in her own abilities since she incited the wagering match herself, but it wasn’t just that she had confidence in it.
She was tremendously strong. As well as crafty.
No matter how I attacked or defended, it was as if she could read my next movements.
No matter how many times we exchanged blows, my whole power was warded off. In the first place, it couldn’t be said that we really exchanged blows that well.
Around the time I thought of tiring her out, her pacing turned unsteady. I intended to make use of that chance, but…
Now when I thought about that too, she had read my movements calmly and at that time, she successfully knocked my sword flying.
I thought that it was a nice strategy for me to trip her feet up and pin her down. I was certain of it.
I managed to pin her shoulders but her hands were still free. It was bad that at that moment, I forgot myself when her fierce and amorous eyes were looking up at me. In short, I was aroused right at that place and was about to kiss her.
Obviously, the offense and defense were reversed promptly, and then—the sense of defeat from that time was imprinted in my mind even up until now, and the bitterness still remained.
Covering my right side—it was natural for me.
Based on what the doctor said, my right eye was slowly—gradually just like how the stars were twinkling—losing its sight.
It didn’t pose any kind of problem as of now, but what about how many years later or how many decades later? I was told that I would be losing my right eye’s eyesight first.
Thus, though it was only a bit, I ended up covering my right side more out of my insecurity whether or not my right eyesight was good or not. It was to be expected.
Nobody had figured it out up until now. I was also strong, so there wasn’t anyone who would see me in that way.
But that woman with whom I had a little bit of match managed to see it through. And then she also said other things such as my stepping distance? But that nasty silver-haired man took her out before she could finish everything.
Orgueil do Karnak. In the battlefield, he was a god of war. In terms of governmental affairs, he was a famous matchless governor. All in all, he was a widely-known man. He was a versatile man whose talent was desired even by the Star-Viewing Tower’s people or those scholars whose only interest was studying.
That man threw a badge at my hand who was about to hug her in the heat of the moment.
(Don’t get too carried away)
So he said, and I still saw his gaze at that time even in my dreams up until now.
Disdain and hatred. Just by looking at his eyes, I could feel his murderous intent. The women who were on the streets were going crazy over his pretty eyes that were like jewels, but I wanted to show them how his eyes looked like at that moment. Would there be such frightening jewels like them? They were like cursed amethyst.
However, when I tried to rethink things with my cool head…
Talent, pedigree, appearance. That man who was blessed with everything had looked at me like that. The meaning behind that ought to be reconsidered.
Now, I was just a worthless small fry.
I was downgraded into an ordinary soldier within the military rank that was treated just like a mercenary, and I had even known to trip a woman up, but well, I didn’t mind. I fooled around too much, and the military officials from good pedigree were irritating. Being a mercenary soldier was good.
My right eye that was slowly deteriorating. Even so, I was way stronger than the other ordinary soldiers.
While I was spending my days without knowing what and why I did things and was wandering aimlessly, that woman appeared.
My eyesight couldn’t be repaired quickly, but she said that my habit could be fixed. Then, even if I lost my right eyesight, it wouldn’t be too much of problem as long as I train well?
Colonel Karnak. Such an intense gaze from a man like him towards me. Was he displeased that the woman took an interest in me? Was I a human that deserved such an intense gaze from him?
As of now, there’s a gap between his and my position.
However, if I were to polish my skills and do military service work—if I were to do meritorious war service, would I be able to approach him?
It is impossible to surpass a genius, but even so, I want to be on a par with him. And then.
I want to be next to that woman—to be by Riviere Emil’s side.
Her pupils were like heated obsidian. Black glossy hair that was neatly trimmed, even shorter than mine. When she looked down. When she looked up. When she called my name with such a straight voice that contained no flattery.
I was entranced.
I realized it only two days after meeting her, but the current me was actively showing my face at the military training grounds, requesting the guidance from the formal instructors, and went to ask for matches with people I considered dexterous. At first, the other military officers had the expressions that seemed to ask what kind of wind brewed and their faces showed contempt, but then they started to instruct me seriously. I also went forward whenever some soldiers were occasionally needed to patrol the outside of the castle in order to maintain security, and became acquainted with the military officer holding a position (I think he was a lieutenant or lieutenant junior grade), who even offered me to come to his party if there comes another dispatching of troops in the future. Of course, I had no objection.
But, I still found alcohol unappetizing.
It was all that woman’s fault. Riviere Emil. I only found out later on that she had the formal surname of [la Tuura].
The princess who was related by blood to Gladius, who came all the way from the remote region of Tuura. She was also a princess doted by the Duke Evangelista even in public, and the princess who had the head adjutant, Colonel Karnak, become the princess’ company in order to protect her.
When I realized, I heard the topic about that woman everywhere, be it inside the castle or outside the castle.
The rumors about Duke Evangelista—who never had the rumor of women around him—was always heard at the same time, too. For the first one week of their meeting, he had frequented the woman’s guest room, and after that, he entered her bedroom—he was quite attached to her.
I didn’t want to admit it, but it was akin to being turned down the moment I fell in love at first sight.
That was why, even alcohol was unappetizing. The remarkably healthy food that I had every day, even alcohol, even the meal were all unappetizing. I didn’t find them enjoyable.
As I was spending my every day like that one day, a dramatic change happened.
–Commodore la Tuura said, “Gather the soldiers who are proficient in equestrian as well as swordsmanship.”
That notice was announced in the soldiers’ station.
‘That woman, a commodore?!’
That was what I thought, but such thing was inconsequential. The higher-ups’ motive was not related to me at all. More importantly than that…
I can meet that woman sooner than what I expected. Also, I’ll be able to get closer to that silver-haired guy’s level.
I immediately rushed out of the station in order to talk with that military officer I became acquainted with.
Author’s Note:
It was the delinquent man’s rehabilitation record (lol).
Thank you very much for reading.
Translator’s Note:
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