“Anyway, since you know already, His Grace just wanted the best of you so do not think of any bad ideas.” Creston said nonchalantly.
“I am not thinking anything bad.” Maxineirah defended.
“That’s good, then. Let us get started, shall we?” Creston asked.
They started training and spared any chit-chats. Creston taught her new moves and like earlier, he was stricter than before. He was pointing out every mistake she made and getting her into the right position.
“You only have ten days, Milady! Please put in more effort!” Creston said.
“Can we at least take a break?” Maxineirah asked, panting. Her wooden sword was stabbed on the ground and she was using the handle to lean on.
“Certainly no breaks, Young Miss. You wanted to learn right? Did Sir Jetarom not tell you that ‘you can only exceed your limits when you overcome exhaustion by throwing up’. That is rule no. 7, is it not?” Creston recalled that made her groan.
Even though Maxineirah was so tired that she could not even lift her arms, she forced herself to do so after hearing those words.
She swung her sword once again and could feel her arms falling off. She continued it again until her limb became numb.
Maxineirah was not the only one who was working so hard, that night, Maxwell, Drenschville and Grenchant were also practicing in seclusion with the talented Knights they talked to except for Drenschville who was working hard by himself for not even a single Knight bothered to help him.
It was not an issue for him though since he was first part of the Paladins in his Priesthood before he became a Cardinal.
Grenchant was having some difficulties because his body constitution was trained for gathering mana.
And Maxwell chose a Knight from the Phantom Knights to be his instructor, making the Knight gaped in awe for his fast learning improvement.
Ninth day before the sparring, that morning, Creston told Maxineirah to run at least 20 laps around the training ground with two rubber wheels tied on her waist behind her back. After that, he made her climb the mountain not too far from the Estate by running to the top. They ate their lunch on the top of the mountain, brought by Creston before they climbed.
Maxwell learned new sword forms on the other training ground.
Grenchant was being taught by Gabriela’s Captain Knight in their Estate. He strengthened his body muscles all morning.
Drenschville trained in their garden since no one goes there.
While training with his sword, he also trained his affinity in divine power.
He already got into the 5th Stage but he has still a long way to go because he reached Stage 13 in the past.
Holy or divine power was much easier to gather than mana of magicians but divine power was also weaker than mana.
Every two stages of divine power’s strength was equivalent to one level of mana circle’s strength.
In the afternoon, Maxineirah trained her breathing alone on the top of the mountain by meditating, her senses trying to be one with nature but it was no easy task as she thought it would and came down the mountain before the sun sets down.
Maxwell was able to spar with three Knights before dinner.
Grenchant fixed his body’s internal constitution with the help of his father, Franzus but he was not able to complete it in a single day and did not even get to the half of it.
Drenschville on the other hand was getting it slowly, he was able to mix the divine power with the sword for only three seconds. Although it was only for a short time, it was still considered as an improvement.
Maxineirah did not come to the secluded training ground as per her personal Knight’s order and she spent it on resting instead while still meditating although she did not completely succeed.
Eight day before the match, Maxinierah was able to awoke earlier than usual because she slept earlier than the past nights.
Her day started with an additional ten laps and proceeded the day like yesterday.
For the rest of the days before the match, the four of them continued the cycle while the numbers of their training and its difficulty increased with each passing day.
Two days before the final day of the match, the Captains and Vice-Captain William visited the Cadets’ training in secret to see how much they improved and they were all satisfied to see the results.
A day before the D-day, Cadets were told to rest and condition their bodies for tomorrow and they willingly abide.
Maximus was feeling down the entire week because he ate all alone and the maids did not go to the training ground to prepare for lunch since the ten days started. On the other hand, the Knights were not motivated at all and practices became boring for them.
Maxwell went to see Maxineirah that morning since they had not seen each other for more than a week.
At last, Maximus was able to eat with her daughter and Maxwell for breakfast. Maxineirah sat on her father’s lap as usual and Maximus felt contented as if the no more less than a week of his loneliness was quickly shove away by her daughter’s sweetness.
Maximus immediately noticed the changes in her daughter’s body.
Her bottom became sturdy, her legs and arms became a lot stronger and muscles started to be visible. She grew a little taller and gained a little weight. Her grips became tighter and her balance was better than before.
Maximus did not know if he should cry in happiness because her daughter grew or cry in regret because she was starting to grow fast.
Although, there was still baby fats in her body but most of them turned into firm muscles.
Was it really a right decision that he let his precious daughter train in swordsmanship?
After they eat their breakfast, they went out to go shopping at the capital’s town since it has more shops and entertainment areas than their land’s town. However, their territory’s town was not less than the capital’s prosperity and it was also one of the famous tourist areas in the Empire.
It would be Maxineirah’s first time to shop at the capital since she went back in time. She was excited but at the same time, she somehow felt uneasy.
It was the capital where the Imperial family’s Palace was located. It was not surprising if they were to meet the Crown Prince by chance but it would be unnerving for her to see him again like last time.
She has no issue with the other Princes since they were her friends in the past life but Caleidon was another thing.
It was the older Caleidon who did those things to her and her family but Caleidon was still Caleidon even if he is young right now.
His sins in the past would be his sin in the future.
Maxineirah hesitated if she should come or not but she felt guilty for leaving her father alone to eat by himself for the last nine days. It would stack up to her if she were to also refuse to come with them so in the end, she tagged along.
Her face was dark while inside the carriage and that was not oblivious to her father and brother.
“Maxine, do you feel sick?” Maxwell asked, sitting beside her.
Maxineirah forced a smile and replied, “I am fine, Maxwell.” But her brother looked at her unconvinced.
“Then why does your smile look weird? Perhaps, you do not want to come with me?” Maximus butted in and looked at her like a tamed wild bear.
The look on her father’s face made her delighted.
“Oh, no. Of course not, I want to go with you, it is just that I am feeling hungry again.” Maxineirah reasoned out and gave a plausible facial expression.
The two were not fully convinced but they did not want to pry into her anymore since they did not want to make her feel uncomfortable any more and they could not think of any other reason to make Maxineirah’s mood better. They also do not think that it was because of them just like what she told them.
It took them two hours before they arrived in the city.
There were a lot of well off people walking in the street, some had their handmaids and footmen with them and some had at least three guards tailing them.
It was bustling with shops and markets and looked so lively.
They were dropped off in front of Dessertia, a famous dessert shop in the whole Empire since Maxineirah told them that she was hungry. It was past morning. A time between morning and noon so it was time for the refreshments.
Right after they took off, looking fierce Knight guards immediately surrounded them for protection. People were startled and could not help but to look at their way.
‘Must be important persons.’ The aristocrat’s thoughts were like that.
All nobles could be aristocrats if wealthy enough to build their own Kingdom but not all aristocrats could be noble even if they could build a whole Empire out of their money because nobles have titles blessed by the Church, Magic Tower, and by the Imperial Court.
Nobles always look for an emblem first for they treasure politeness to those higher than them to have conversations if necessary and to gain favors.
Nobles knew who mounted off from the grandeur carriage and surrounded by Elite Knights and it was no other than one of the four Ducal Houses, the ‘Battlefield Dominator’, Duke Maximus Blairgowrie Epingham Sahrent Zachrono who was also known as one of the Top 20 wealthiest person in Asthal. He was recognized for his character traits, beautiful and shining silver hair that only the direct bloodline of Zachrono could have and bloody red orbs and for their beautiful faces.
They could only see his face in some special banquets so they were surprised to see him outside but when they noticed children, they immediately found out why.
There was this steamy rumor circling around the Social Circle about the cold Duke and his sons suddenly favoring their youngest and only daughter and sister after a long time of abandoning her.
Some of them, specifically nobles from the East already witnessed that, but most of them had not yet, so many of them were curious if that was really accurate information and not some baseless rumor. They did not expect that they would see the subjects that day right before their very eyes.
One thing that they instantly thought was, ‘I should tell this to everyone.’
They see every possible rumor as a business that could build up their reputation in the Social Circle even if it was in the slightest.
The Social Circle was a group formed by both nobles and aristocrats to exchange information, it was always being held at banquets and/or gatherings like tea parties instigated by the ladies of the society.
Information that could be attained there are only second to private and secret Underground Intels who gather the most accurate information that comes in a very hefty price and not only that, but could also sell information.
Not many use Underground because it was not widely known and only a limited few knew them, the Underground’s branches and their passcodes.
Maximus, Maxwell and Maxineirah entered the dessert shop followed by their Knight guards and people inside kept looking at them because the number of Knights were unordinary, they had at least 13 people.
They all look intimidating when they are focused on their work, guarding their masters.
Maximus picked the table on the corner and so, their guards sat on the nearest tables around them.
“Darling, what do you want?” Maximus asked Maxineirah when the shop manager himself came over and gave the menu. The manager knew right away that they were a big deal.