"Young Master, our investigation found that the boy Miss Claire has taken an interest in is named Raine. He is fourteen years old, the son of a farmer, and supposedly quite talented with a sword."

"For the past several days, Miss Claire has been giving him additional instruction. She appears to value his swordsmanship talent highly."

The pale young noble frowned. His fingers tapped a steady rhythm against the polished wooden armrest as he considered the report.

"Then, Rules, it seems Claire intends to cultivate that commoner into one of her own people because of his talent. Is that right?"

"Yes, Young Master Dennis."

The retainer named Rules bowed slightly.

Had Raine been present, he would have recognized the young man seated in the deerskin chair. This was the expressionless noble he had encountered on his way out of the castle.

"In that case, arrange for the news to reach Alonso, Count Habsburg's eldest son."

A cunning smile spread across Dennis's face.

"He is far more 'concerned' about his sister Claire than we are. Once he learns that she has begun cultivating her own followers, he should be considerably more agitated than us."

"As for that commoner Raine... I look forward to seeing how he ends up."

Dennis laughed.

"Your wisdom is truly unparalleled, Young Master Dennis," Rules flattered him at precisely the right moment. "This way, your goal will be accomplished without our having to lift a finger."

Rules had expected his young master to order Raine quietly disposed of. That would have risked directly offending Claire. Instead, Dennis had devised a way to kill with another man's blade almost immediately, achieving his objective without drawing trouble onto himself.

Baron Norman would surely be pleased with his son.

Rules was one of the Baron's retainers. In his younger years, he had followed Baron Norman through numerous battles. His strength and a measure of luck had allowed him to survive, and he had eventually reached the level of knight candidate.

A knight candidate was a third-level Knight Attendant who had fulfilled every prerequisite and stood only one final step from becoming a Knight.

Rules, however, was already too old. Even if he took an incomparably precious advancement potion, his chance of entering the transcendent realm was less than one in ten. Baron Norman had therefore assigned him to serve as guard captain to his eldest legitimate son, Dennis.

"One more thing, Young Master Dennis. Two days ago, the Baron asked whether there was any chance of establishing a romantic relationship with Miss Claire before she leaves Mayst County."

Rules knew Dennis would dislike the question, but Baron Norman awaited an answer. He had no choice but to ask.

Dennis's face darkened the moment he heard it.

This was his most painful failure.

He had pursued Claire relentlessly, only to receive a single response.

"If you can defeat me in a spar, I'll consider it. Would you like to try?"

He would never forget what followed.

Three seconds.

He had lasted only three seconds before losing in humiliating fashion.

Afterward, he tried every method he could think of, hoping sincerity and persistence would move her. He even followed Claire to Habsburg Estate for Knight Attendant training.

Despite all that effort, he had made no progress. He had not so much as held her hand, let alone established a romantic relationship.

Could he use underhanded methods?

Claire was Count Habsburg's daughter and had become a Knight at fifteen, making her one of the finest talents in Mayst County. Soon, she would leave to enroll at the Royal Academy of the Dragonic Empire.

Dennis, meanwhile, had only recently reached third-level Knight Attendant. If he attempted anything dishonorable, Claire would beat him so badly he would remember it for the rest of his life.

The memory of past bruises made him shudder.

He wanted to vent his anger on Rules, but this had been his father's question. His rage subsided into dejection.

"Tell my father I'm still working on it."

Dennis suppressed his anger and waved a hand. "Now go. Send Tina in."

"Yes, Young Master."

Rules bowed and withdrew.

Before long, a graceful young woman entered timidly. Her face bore a strong resemblance to Claire's.

"Young Master Dennis."

"Close the door and come here."

Dennis looked at her frightened expression with disgust.

Tina resembled Claire in appearance, but the difference in bearing and figure was enormous. Still, one could not demand too much of a substitute. Rules had searched all of Mayst County before finally finding this tailor's daughter.

Whenever resentment festered in Dennis with nowhere else to go, he summoned her to vent it.

"Lift your head, Tina. Look at me. Imagine that you're a noblewoman from a distinguished family—proud and unyielding."

"Young Master Dennis, I... I don't know how."

"Useless. Then bend over."

Dennis seized the terrified maid and forced her facedown against the desk.

Fabric tore, followed by Tina's plea.

"It hurts, Young Master!"

Smack!

"Quiet. Don't make a sound."

She could only bite down on a roll of parchment as tears streamed over her cheeks.

When her father first sold her to Dennis, Tina had secretly rejoiced. She imagined becoming a noble young master's personal maid and entering a better life.

Within a day, that hope had plunged from heaven into hell.

Dennis had treated her brutally from the beginning. Later, she learned that she was merely a substitute for the noble and beautiful Claire who occupied his thoughts.

No—even *substitute* was too generous.

She was only a plaything on which he vented his depravity.

"Damn you, Claire. Sooner or later, I'll have you," Dennis growled.

---

For three consecutive days, Raine went to the castle for instruction in Great Bear Swordsmanship after completing his archery training.

The lessons came so quickly that he felt as though he were swallowing them whole without time to digest anything.

In only three days, Claire taught him Wrath Cleave, Leaping Cleave, and Cleave. He had achieved only a preliminary grasp of Wrath Cleave. As for the other two, he understood how to generate and direct the force but could not yet execute them smoothly.

Further improvement would require constant practice—unless he spent Skill Points.

Raine had begun to suspect that Claire's departure was close.

"Today I'll teach you the Guard Form," Claire said, raising a brow. "It is the only defensive move in Great Bear Swordsmanship. Come—attack me."