Within the colorful and peaceful green garden, dark-haired with a pair of blonde heads were enjoying their time as they chatted. Juliet and Amanda were silently standing a distance away from their table behind the twins.
Mira quietly served their teas and juices to their masters and slowly backed away from the duo.
"So, you want this boy to be your knight?"
Rebekah asked the twins who were crunching on the cookies for confirmation.
Edwin nodded. Linda put down her bitten tart and looked at Rebekah.
"Can we share the same knight?"
Before hearing her reply, she tried to sound reasonable, giving out the most serious face.
"We always stay by each other's side so it's pretty rare to get separated only if we are with Momma!"
Rebekah looked at her daughter's straight face with a proud heart, tapping her index finger on top of the table, and agreed.
"Of course. It doesn't matter what request you ask for me but if it's something that will put you in danger, remember Momma won't let it slide~"
'It's not common for a knight to serve more than one master which worries me...'
The two nodded at Rebekah's intense gaze. They now can let go of nervousness in front of her. It appears that as long their requests and demands don't cost them any harm, she doesn't mind.
"I will pay that boy's wage, you don't need to use your allowance for trivial things such as this."
She calmly sipped her tea as she gracefully crossed her legs.
Silently staring at Rebekah's cold beauty but gentle actions, they vowed that one day they would tell the duchess about their secret and what they know about the events of the world.
However, they didn't know what will be in store for them after revealing their secret. 🙂
———
Edwin stared at the boy who was nervously sitting in front of him on the couch. They're now in the reception room where they serve guests.
They were indifferent circumstances when they first met since now they could serve the boy some food.
Thinking about it, he waved his hands towards Mira, who was silently standing next to Amanda, to serve them. She bowed her head before leaving to get them.
You might be wondering about Juliet, but they have already given up on her. Ever since they came to this world, they found out not everyone was against them. They were just divided into two factions which you can already guess.
Mira and Amanda are sincere maids who don't complain and do what is commanded by their words. Although I don't know why a quiet person like Mira is close friends with Juliet.
Anyways, back to their current situation.
Ian fiddled his fingers around in his tight situation. Sweat was forming against his back as his head bowed down from the heavy atmosphere within the room.
"We need to test your swordsmanship."
Linda broke the quiet atmosphere as she apathetically spoke,
"Momma saw talent within you as she is a swordmaster herself."
Swordmasters.
They are considered the highest rank swordsmen want to reach. Duke Bernstein is one of the few swordsmen who achieved that rank at a young age during the war.
About 7 swordmasters are living on the continent. Excluding the duke, most rulers need to be an archmage or a swordmaster to rule their throne.
Ian had always admired their lord since childhood and looked up to her. So having two of her children ask him to be their knight, he can't help but think all of this is a dream.
There are a few negative rumors about the twins but he doesn't believe what he hears. He would rather experience them himself in what he sees. And to his expectations, they were far from spoiled.
Despite their young age, they were intelligent enough to strike a deal with him. They will have him as their loyal escort knight and he gains the money to be able to rent out a priest to heal his father's critical condition as he is the only guardian for himself and his younger sister.
Thinking about it, he straightened his back as he stared back at them with his now unwavering eyes.
"It's an honor to be recognized by the Duke, I will accept any test you have set for this lowly commoner."
He put his hand on his chest as he stood and bowed toward the twins. Linda looked toward Edwin, and he slowly nodded. They stood up from their seats and walked towards the door.
"I'm glad you have this much will, shall we get going then?"
Edwin looked toward Ian with a cheeky smile spread across his face.
Linda couldn't help but sigh and send a sympathetic gaze toward the clueless boy.
'May your god bless you from Big Bro's mischievous plans...'
She silently prayed for Ian's future.
———
Clink Clang
Full-fledged and apprentice knights were intensely sparing in their spacious training area. Ian looked around in awe but felt small compared to them. However, that didn't stop him from his burning determination to raise even more.
A tall man with scars aligning up one eye and lips walked toward them with a pressure aura. He towered to the kids and put his hand on top of his chest as he kneeled to meet their gaze. He looked at them doubtfully.
"Master Edwin, Lady Linda, what are you doing in such a distasteful and dangerous place like this."
He softly spoke to the young twins, glancing at the young boy who was stiffly standing behind them.
Despite his intense and threatening presence and huge and tall body with an ugly scar across his face, he was soft towards small and weak creatures like children.
"We just want to test Ian out, Uncle Drew!"
Edwin looked at him seriously but excitedly jumped toward him.
Drew caught the small boy easily and softly put him in his arms as he stood up. Linda looked up with admiring eyes as she raised her hands in the air. Looking at her actions, he couldn't help but chuckle as he bent down and scooped her onto the other side of his arm.
Drew was the current captain of the Bernstein's knights and had been by Rebekah's side since their academy years. He was one of Rebekah's loyal subjects who would risk their lives for her and always stay by their side.
He was previously the third son of a marquis. He left his comfort living to learn the sword and look for a befitting master he could serve and vow his knighthood to. When he attended the academy, he felt every noble he met was pathetic in their pride.
He thought he would just need to cross the border but that was when he found out about Rebekah's existence.
He couldn't help but admire her skills in her spare time with her older brother, the current emperor. That was when he vowed his knighthood to her rather than the future emperor.
Although he wasn't a swordmaster, he was a beneficial swordsman who made a name during the war, the Fiery Warrior. He didn't like the name as he was not a warrior but a knight, but he found it amusing so he left it be.
"So this Ian is the thin boy standing there?"
Drew carefully examined the boy, triggering his aura.
"He will be our future escort and personal knight and he is also recognized by Momma so don't look down on him because of his pitiful appearance."
Edwin confidently answered his question as he puffed his chest.
"Hmm..."
Drew looked at the boy with confusion and thought carefully.
'Recognized by Master? He must've had the talent that attracted her to make him a knight for the young twins.'
"How far in skills are you with the sword?"
He gently looked at the ginger-haired boy who was slightly trembling and stared up to meet his eyes.
"I'm just a b-beginner. M-my father was a k-knight who guards here..."
Ian replied to his question, stuttering.
"A knight?"
Drew looked at the boy carefully as he thought of a possible knight that had a similar appearance as this boy.
"Is your father's name Roy?"
Ian looked at the captain in surprise. He nodded vigorously at his doubts and stood up proudly. Drew chuckled at that sight.
"I have heard you don't usually spend much time on the sword because of your sister, correct?"
Ian's confidence dropped at his words as he looked down at his feet in shame. He chuckled even more deeply which made some nearby knights shiver at the creepy feeling.
"It's fine! It's understandable how you had to take care of your younger sister and now your father. Unfortunately, he ended up in that state, he was an honorable man."
Drew softly looked at him as he bent his knees. Edwin and Linda looked at Ian with calm gazes as they held Drew tightly so they wouldn't fall.
"Let's test your skills by having yourself spare with one of our knights, shall we?"
AKS
Nice
okie