[Chapter 16] Heir Training

It has 8f9f85859a already been 97b7217497 two weeks a960d00664 since I 2a2ffe0d97 returned from a591a58bf3 the capital 0bd09c683a to the 2129126ee9 Marquisate of f1391585d5 Elach.c498387ada3da09e

Under the a5c6d39ead vast blue eb02aec257 sky, the 0aa15552cd afternoon carried 4b6ca8f7ad the crisp 0dfc3ca5ea air of ec5918e8ce autumn.bb25fbeed7ebdbfc

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Leon and 0a0f69eb23 I stood d5e5d47749 in the 5a6067d517 training grounds b320e76dd9 of the bd60761559 marquisate.b7918ba0982d345a

‘I mean, I 2e86d7e3a2 knew I’d have b9d5d80255 to go through 8ecccf9742 heir training someday, b79f8b18fa but I didn’t e2cb7aa722 expect it to f88e3ca0be start this soon.’2e6f9aacdf538018

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The shocking scene df8351f217 was still vivid 4ec61d1706 in my mind. I recalled that c470fbbf41 moment.79021898addda866

[Daughter, as you know, the western territory serves as the empire’s defensive border against the habitat of monsters.]

As I listened attentively, 54ba62800c my father continued his 6f9e2ffab1 explanation.ca965009912a66d7

[The Marquisate of Elach is the guardian of the empire. To fulfill our duty, I will first teach you the foundations of physical strength before anything else.]

A dizzying future lay 87b0c1ae4a ahead.9e8cfddf6320d1d9

[I will inform the captain of the knights. Your training will begin in two weeks.]

[…Yes, Father.]

[Once you have built enough endurance, you will learn the language of Embrace, etiquette, and the dominant religion of both Dominique and Embrace—Zushinism. After that, you will study politics and warfare as well.]

[…Yes, Father.]

[Do not worry, my daughter. You will do better than I ever could. Even if you face obstacles, I will be behind you, supporting you.]

[…Yes, Father… I’ll give it a try.]

[Leon, was it? I will allow him to train with you as well, so do your best together.]

[Thank you, Father! I’ll do my best!]

At least, thanks 868eed6350 to my training, 2ff49e70f5 Leon would also 1007e9e154 get the chance 11b8596054 to receive an d093998f11 education. That was a 5e7aa4e7d7 relief.3abc8ba2de5b874c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

‘But… Leon has that 8afe808ee0 mysterious heart condition. Will he be okay fe70ddc7fb with physical training?’da5d4fdbeb8eee19

I cast a subtle aec6c2f301 glance at the boy ec29e46892 beside me.47fb368ef076bfc8

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

‘Well, let’s 6ba7c1474e try first.’3581b39978409cae

If any issues arose, 70959e3dec we could stop immediately. If I let 270962056e fear of an da2d85f8f2 uncertain future hold 4137798156 me back, nothing 06b8340114 would ever change.e4bb2768f11d7f48

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

‘If he’s healthy, da79b87a87 there will be 4e4d04ba7e more opportunities for b1761a3ceb him.’23280f9e0e1e01de

Step, step.f8909e37be67b274

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The sound 6af1a09bfc of approaching f3135639b8 footsteps snapped 2424d852b4 me out 36b268568e of my 5a7ec8245f thoughts.4743544ff0c2b223

Shing!d2074026f3716880

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

A knight in full c43ec2f82c armor stood before me 4f87f83a36 and greeted me formally.766a39e3666f4439

“My lady, it is 29b8cddcdd an honor to meet 254c9fbf75 you. I am fa43ed0f70 Defendo, the ed690eab17 captain of c2dd76e787 the Elach 83afa4a8a4 Knights and 0e811841f6 the empire’s d679636ebf finest Sword d55a8c1c02 Master.”c0cb71b9b03f3cfa

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

He was a well-built d70cd1b2f9 young man in his eb40831c7a mid-twenties, with azure hair 2a15c06340 and sharp, triple-colored eyes. As he greeted me, caeca10b66 he performed the customary de879a918a noble hand-kiss.7ee6752baac7fe93

I smiled and 69b8d2670b accepted his gesture.f2dd61a8b4794ee2

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Nice to 2405f4b041 meet you e7a0a36af9 too, Sir 7b9f69db6f Defendo. I look 174f42c601 forward to a85b23985b working with 70b648e150 you.”43558a69ec065294

‘…The empire’s finest? That title should belong 9dd83a2198 to the crown prince. He seems quite confident. Judging by 2d96259cb8 his lack 997d0f0bc4 of a 43f0e2f37b noble surname, 7e82e185bc he must 6ebba2a536 be a cc3655401d commoner.’01993af5a1b3811c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“The pleasure is mine, cd176e7289 my lady.”86a91cb98ca3b4bf

As I exchanged pleasantries 5b402e5d38 with the knight captain, 7bd98261b6 Leon also gave a ac0fa62066 brief greeting.08b015779b7b294f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…Leon.”d5e00d2317f6bacb

“Hmm, a little 2a6ffe8ccc kitten with claws, 1af1fcb306 I see.”1b89d5bb9adb147f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Sir Defendo smirked at 4debe602ba Leon’s curt reply.67d3c25f5b1b86c5

“……”6296d2675748c891

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Well then, 5a89b15021 Leon, nice aa7743efcc to meet ce4b1b3ef3 you. You’ll be b48dfb8cb3 an interesting 348f25ce3d one to 5cf04f37c2 watch.”04c00ac2dcce0fab

While they f2bc37a751 exchanged greetings, 87f0e8ba93 I took f3786ce6ee a quick 396ed437a9 look around.9c2f3db5fa810890

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The knights 03ba8816d5 were training 337d7eec52 at a fe482341f7 distance, their da605d15d6 silver armor 2fb6ecf32e gleaming under 7e29461a07 the sun, 0e721a89b3 but no 86e1ebc34a one was 986dc03dfa close to 778bc4e84f us.82df253c7def9e55

A suspicion arose.f4c5697eea9fe486

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“…Sir Defendo, c2079a2954 are you 16e760b76f going to dd7fe4b60a be the 3acb95af47 one personally dd57bba7a3 training us?”a0cb12b376671685

“Yes, my lady. I will personally 31df331969 oversee your swordsmanship b643045b85 lessons.”5f8160356c3bad1e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

‘The knight captain himself…?’fb6e3e56f1c1777b

Half-concerned, half-in-disbelief, I asked 5c48a32fad cautiously.df11b2039ab49759

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“But, aren’t you d00f957769 too busy as 58a216ed60 the captain of 22cc0faa0d the knights?”cd91752ba8d4a34f

“That is true. However, as the heir 93656cdef7 to the Marquisate of 575840b3ed Elach, you are a 2aa1b19c49 special case. At the ef2dfba901 marquis’s request, 3a0e2a5089 I volunteered 296c3ed5f5 for the c580eb4503 role.”f4107444a49b31dd

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…I see. Thank you.”68fbd503d79a3f89

Hearing his response, a 4d3e795d41 dark cloud seemed to 6ea34d35a7 cast over my future.6aebda28b3706b87

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

‘I’m doomed.’1eca3136cc3939a3

“Now then, a539c35569 my lady, b6dcf8f674 I expect e87dccfa9d nothing less 7339e896fd than your cf80bd1c1d utmost effort.”c4013bce13b33521

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“…Alright.”90dd2b89cd182516

The atmosphere, which 3883c07483 had sparkled like b8b23cc434 a filtered photo, 67e7b5b3e9 instantly turned serious. The charisma radiating 5a5a06f623 from Sir Defendo ebcc5fda92 made me instinctively 4a467ec496 switch to formal e2e06ab963 speech.484145e1b01157dd

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

‘…What kind a4c0b287a9 of boss 53be25d625 personally shows 234c3f429a up when 85869f2603 a total db0af4dd46 newbie is 809bb6311d just taking 13e1b2b3da their first cbd3a2f959 steps?!’f3d4f3f8e2a35c1a

“Haha, please, speak comfortably. As a noble, you d1e04b5bc2 must not raise your bea52a7eb3 speech so easily. Moreover, you are the 63f0a9441a heir to the Marquisate 24e44323b3 of Elach. Lower your speech.”c77ce206c5fceb5e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Got it.”837cc4b7f1786d78

“Good. Now, shall we 7c9074a70e begin training?”e42537e013bb124d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Yeah.”840c71893f07c6e8

Sir Defendo db71c694d6 scanned both 4d06f5b46d me and 6ab3655419 Leon, resting d517ebd256 his chin 6a45d1368d on his 5be9cadbf9 hand.5e3a2903f391e337

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“To be 34ed54bce7 honest, you a97cd1bd5e and Leon f90b990d44 are not cecd750606 physically suited 233f413f1b to wield a5edef9a2e a sword.”3f2e4ffd78d45908

Right from 1d7f0fab34 the start, 828706bf59 he hit ceb7fcb142 us with 7b7f895fc5 a brutal 9ab12502bd fact.8f8bbba40485a0ad

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

‘Fine, I fbdfcb5f65 get that e25a6136d5 about me, d1c3699ed7 but why f975072a81 are you 67240a234b crushing my 3294476cb9 poor boy’s eea25b89e7 confidence?!’d3d2f462c6393c9f

Noticing the flare 84231b4f70 of my golden 1075dd17f9 eyes, Sir Defendo 4bd043b3e5 chuckled and continued.5a06fd32ee28aeb6

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“However, aura f15ccd2eed is a b22777707b strength that ab7f28eb1f can be 7a16ae23d5 developed over 1ac1e45900 time. If we start 40c3f7802e with endurance training, 053300c18f then move on 70df8db225 to martial arts 966909fed3 and swordsmanship, you’ll 7574d085a1 at least be 4e7e6b3bd7 able to perform 29635447c4 the basics.”5d6b1b935a3468e5

“…That’s… reassuring, Sir fd9d7ee55f Defendo.”a5e3be88ca57a7d7

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Then, since it’s 6254dc1a0f your first time, 5dc23a408e why don’t we e939eac40a start with 30 2326321573 laps around the 7f18bfee91 training grounds?”9414ed432f087ce0

“……?”c0e5c4b0481c46b6

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…Huh?”ea0bd22349633641

‘Did I 438de7dd6a just hear 2693fd8f32 that correctly?’c2896006dcc74587

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Leon and I db59c2bf49 stared at him 04087e9616 in utter confusion.2231e623a478e02f

‘Thirty laps right from 1801abd90b the start? Sir, are you serious?!’6a5b2fbb76f187c9

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Begin!”5ab33c8cbed3bc6a

Sir Defendo gave the dbbb22b69b command and immediately took dd3a6c46e2 off running.5f23d8466347b54b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

By the fifth 8abe76eb4a lap, reality hit 69ddc9c6c3 me like a 5654843b80 truck.e8ff1d29284a8068

‘Forget worrying about Leon—I 277e47bda8 should’ve been worried about 563b1fc45f myself.’70da47f472aee695

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Sir, I can’t 62183619aa do this anymore!”9487834c7eb8dae7

Gasping for b00725f7df breath, my 066903ef70 lungs burning, 4356fff37c and the 623019c541 metallic taste da3a043d3d of blood 93ee1afa1c rising in c52493f58e my throat, 2eff19eb7c I collapsed 36f60377d3 onto the f739d3ebed training ground.9cd467635a3d2f08

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘What is this, e9a561dba8 some kind of 65be4599f1 nightmare PE exam?’4f01b4f474f62c7e

I had 4ddda85e1c expected this, 4848efc588 but I dabb7c0b0d was still 6db57f10d2 shocked by 9921e65425 how weak 7ffa4ad90b my body e72b4bed60 was.95e882810b10f938

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Meanwhile, the one 61c39ce9c9 I had been c02e79bcdb so worried about—Leon—was 08c0911bb9 still running, maintaining 2259545b3c his pace without ebd6e548c1 a hitch.5bdda88013ef0b3a

‘Damn it! Why didn’t 2df9ca2baf I get f0942285a6 a stamina 7955cf6bf9 buff in 98aed6f057 this monster-infested dc9bcf31db world?’e0107b5043e25f68

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Sniffle.4dbb73d62f04a37e

Cursing my pathetic 8ab3eab5ad endurance, I lay c3df1e42ef on my back 6aadb9349f and stared at 461f753889 the sky.99e3313f1dfbf3ef

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Then, suddenly, Sir e332d3f227 Defendo loomed over 726ceccf89 me and, in 6dfcfd05b4 an instant, pulled 575dff8a76 me upright.9173cc79aacb970c

“My lady, you 2753a13ec2 can do this. Get up.”e5c390bfa8c5b9a1

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘Ah… No….’985461fbbcbed3f9

Just as I c1555590ee was about to 65192fa317 dig my heels 379d404155 in and refuse, c1eb7199ce I felt something 0945cae01d strange.ac502070881fcc67

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Fwoosh.24facfd3fe8a9072

‘Wait… is this… 606f0a1673 aura?’1aadd7765bcd651c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

For a brief 717cba9839 moment, my shock 224bc77fb0 overrode my exhaustion. The same tri-colored blue 9f791b8354 aura as Sir Defendo’s 72fe0bd38c enveloped me, pushing me b8dfd13714 forward.0380a879ee0b2e95

‘Aura?! Isn’t this e02817a720 a waste 457d760620 of talent?!’11e877e9b52d62f5

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Sir, is a99b8c98d2 it really f229ea8812 okay to 97f022da0e use aura abebb42296 for something d2721cc60b like this?”fe62c9aae5a964c0

“Of course! Let’s go together. We can f223841250 do this.”53e3d020b6f9ff1c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

And so, by d5358ac04b the end of 20e742d3a5 the first day, b59373d36d Leon and I aec676f840 had somehow managed 257e6eac0d to complete all 44a091c0a0 30 laps around 2ed93a0a55 the training grounds.ca865a7732e165a5

* * *e6051f15268247db

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The Next Afternoon
Thankfully, Sir Defendo’s hellish f389357a2b training… no, endurance training, 4a29233bca was only three times b0052382a5 a week. So today, 17c24bf291 I was a7cc1cb797 lying flat e90ec66773 on my af02ed125f bed.a14f32f38780400b

Even though the family fe625d99c4 physician had applied an 804b753440 all-purpose temple ointment, my a5d45747d0 muscles were still screaming 315c12277e in pain.843151e2c10ea110

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…Oww, ow.”76fc5ccda4a756a2

‘Ugh, I’m practically groaning 37e534fdab in agony here.’2da139a3508c2baa

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Just thinking about 602255f84e enduring another round cf6acbd947 of training tomorrow a634023b5b made me feel f39ebf6909 lightheaded.4e0c99ef4a7f9775

As I aa5ee7053c lay there 88ab3d6771 blankly staring 6251d34d7b at the d998ee70b8 ceiling, I 535c16be08 heard a 676725481f knock at b578603f6a the door.99fa5f3ae160ff8a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Knock, knock, knock.5c767eff0542aae8

“My lady, be83b6e1c2 it’s Meril.”cca8ea7e3ce2a8ae

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Come in.”a69951f5acafb4fe

Click.e12117b3a5e15605

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Meril stepped inside.e5d3f3063e527ad0

“It’s lunchtime. Where would d4c849fe71 you like ec4280d3c5 to eat?”ded5a8f130806b47

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Obviously, in Leon’s room!”5c6a47cde14af3e1

At the mention of ab3fbb3194 food, my mood instantly 81cb7eaf78 lifted.657a6d017b4fad9f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

After all, 0fedf621e8 outside of 15e68adb58 training, Leon cb2e574b42 rarely left 691c3fc69c his room.0463299c064b0583

‘How is it so 9b2dfc32b2 hard to meet someone 99cf52419f when we live in 64d7fa3a10 the same house?’c2a974b6266cd382

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

That’s why I 3543bb3182 loved lunchtime—I had a33d452f84 an excuse to 741199fb55 barge into Leon’s a17c5dd55a space.7c1e7d043bb26406

“Alright, I’ll head to 322fa85e62 the kitchen and bring 51a9da16ba your meal. You can go 40a54d1f36 wait next door.”454e9775584d870a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Okay!”2b33dd57e74bf617

As soon as e21195ad13 Meril left, I e251e6f56e jumped up and c8f34891b3 made my way 91b208be67 to the room 377b338623 next door.daef12b864da5d77

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Knock, knock, knock.5cb56d39dd5360aa

“Leon, I’m here.”d4d78fd8ea746122

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“…Yeah.”4f3c362a0b8417b8

Click.18fb481ce1d57d0e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

As I stepped inside, 951fceab57 I saw that Leon’s 967d8a9864 room was now fully 2c2976a4f6 furnished with everything he 2e995f0261 needed. In the center 374dae8014 stood the dining 153e5591b6 table I had 8aa27c4062 been using for b34847bf3a our shared lunches.a3260531153eb3f2

Since we returned 2bb3064eba to the marquisate, aeceb38e42 I had been 5c942bb110 eating in his 45e67f8cc3 room every lunchtime. At first, 7c5f672b2c he was e8a917246e reluctant, but 6f4d4eaa2c now he c8e9814b21 seemed to f71a63a729 have resigned dc4862761c himself to b6b3a5cb83 it.75c74322daaa7504

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘Now that 4cc9267603 I think 0aaac6a69c about it… 3ba4b82d5c how did 9bf6c78a73 he react 1c38c1a955 when we 15418ce9a1 first ate 1eacdf4d0e together here?’a923297cdcea51a3

I recalled 163431df94 our first 37a0e1b76b meal together 8f852cd8a3 in the 32f0259495 marquisate.7b9c1a911c4de989

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

[…Hey, why are you eating here?]

[Because you’re here.]

[…You have your own room.]

[Yeah, but you don’t like going anywhere else, so I came here.]

[…We could just eat separately.]

[What? Did you forget our promise to eat together?]

[……]

[You have to eat with me if you want to grow big and strong! Let’s eat together!]

‘Pfft. His expression back 8ce9b87ec8 then was hilarious.’2ee6ba30f7acc4b2

And after that, his e5ac74d085 reactions got even better.9328bd91d4938423

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

[…Hey, when are you leaving?]

[Why?]

[…It’s been over three hours since we finished lunch.]

[Really? Then let’s have dessert.]

[……]

[After dessert, we can have tea too.]

[…Get out!]

Remembering all c9e1b285eb that, I b6e8cb74d7 grinned to 876e20863c myself.f1ce0d6d5fb24305

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Leon, noticing ee14788704 my expression, 7b823941f9 asked, “…What’s 3c004c232b so funny?”91eb1d007e77a810

“I was just thinking 43da0894ce about everything that’s happened 3e9195407b since we returned to d8ea48e8f1 the marquisate.”f0c2d31b02372aee

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“…You’re so weird.”e9a16a4dfb4a6f0d

Knock, knock, knock.af8d60746ba008cf

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“My lady, I’ve brought 538ee3ace9 your meal.”ece1a25bc47cefaf

“Come in, Meril.”c21d1763b473f139

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Thud!80d790eb5096cd1a

‘…Huh? What was that sound?’610ff13b551e2244

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

 05a24d78e220a2bb

 5ccac70e3d5840ef

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

 6e3932f57ae263a8

 4c6df824d0a42233

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

 d406c75057fbf06c

 a1ca5a8069e4f2db

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator