294: [Bonus chapter]Did You Play With Me?

[Bonus chapter]Did You Play With Me?

As Oriana observed his torso, she decided the five sides where she should attack.Rafal's senses alert as he waited for her to attack and then…0

Clank! 

Oriana first attacked on his right side while coming from behind, but as the elite knight he was, Rafal could block it even with a blindfold on his eyes. Oriana observed his movement and hummed in response as she circled around him once more. 

Rafal only frowned. "Can you make it fast? Do not waste my time, I need to resume my practice."

Oriana was unfazed by his words and attacked his left side. 

Clank!

The result was the same. Rafal's sword blocked it. She gave a satisfied 'hmm' and continued to circle him, which clearly displeased the knight. 

"Aren't you dizzy from walking in circles?"

Rafal was irritated, moreso because he felt like he was an animal in a cage and she was a spectator teasing that animal. He could only grit his teeth as he could not step out of that circle and was not allowed to attack her according to their bet.

Oriana attacked him from behind, and without moving his feet, the knight blocked it just by rotating his upper body. 

"Your attacks are weak and tactless. I don't even have to put an ounce of energy into receiving them," Rafal mocked.

"But you have to move your muscles," Oriana commented. 

It left Rafal puzzled but he ignored as he was now waiting for the last two moves.

After Oriana delivered the last two attacks, and Rafal blocked them, he gave her a triumphant smirk, but before he could say a word, she spoke, "Sir Ahren, you are free to practice but don't over do it."

"Do I need to get your permission when I won the bet?" he mocked. 

Oriana let out a good-natured chuckle as she gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder. "Alright, Sir Rafal, you won. I shall leave you to celebrate your overwhelming achievement."

Rafal glared at her. Why did it feel like though he won, it felt like he was being played? 

Arlan was smiling as well because he knew exactly what Oriana did while Imbert was like a still water though he saw through Oriana's intentions as well. 

"Wait!" Rafal called her. "What is the meaning of this?"

"What?" she asked. 

"Did you just play with me?"

"Sir Rafal, can't you use better words instead? Why would I play with you? Do you think you are a cute puppy for me to play with?"

"You…"

"As your physician, I merely took this opportunity to check your body. I personally confirmed that your movements are smooth and you felt no discomfort. I decided to let you free from the rest you hated so much."

"You decided?" he frowned "Who are you to decide? Even if you had found any problem with my movements, do you think you could stop me?"

"This lowly servant sure dare not stop you, Sir Ahren, but you forget, I only have to say a word to His Highness and Sir Loyset. I won't waste my time trying to convince you. I have better things to do. You are fortunate that you performed well in my test. You pass with the best marks. Good job, Sir Ahren." 

After giving him a bow, she turned to leave. 

Rafal's face turned red with anger and he shouted, "Halt!" 

Oriana curiously found Rafal letting out curses as he approached her. "Is there anything wrong?"

He glared at her hands that were basically dragging the sword. "...and you don't even know how to use a sword. You are so clumsy it is obvious you have never wielded a sword before."

"I was an herbalist before coming to the palace. Why would I need to know how to use a sword?"

"But now you are no longer a mere herbalist, but one of His Highness's personal aides. Everyone around His Highness knows how to use a sword. It's necessary because if someone attacks His Highness, even if you are not capable enough to protect the Crown Prince, you should at least not be a burden that needs to be protected."

Oriana gave him a wide-eyed look, wondering what he was implying, and soon she got the answer.

"You will start to learn swordsmanship and I will train you personally," Rafal declared.

"What?" she exclaimed. 

"You heard me right."

"I'm busy!"

"So am I."

"You…"

"I already train the other knights. One more person is not a burden."

'But I am burdened!' she could only internally scream.

Maybe in the past, she would be interested, but she didn't have time for that anymore. Learning medicine from Erich and witchcraft from Rosetta, she had already bitten more  than she could chew.

She looked around and then found Arlan standing there. She was about to call for him, but the prince turned around as if he did not see her.

"Your…Highness…?" Her face turned sad, her words barely a whisper. 

"Seems like His Highness agrees with me," Rafal commented. 

Oriana calmed herself. "Alright, but we will start lessons when we go back to Griven."

"That I will decide and not you," Rafal spoke before walking away. 

Oriana stood there in a daze. 'Did I just dig a grave for myself? How will I manage so many things at once?'

—--

After returning inside the mansion, 

Oriana was in low spirits. Being a full-time attendant, a physician's apprentice, a witch in training and a swordsmanship novice…not to mention she could not even sleep in bed at night…She idly wondered if there was a spell that could stop time, or relieve fatigue, or maybe create a body clone. 

Fortunately, she had finished her tasks and the prince had locked himself in his study. She had nothing to do other than check in on the prince once in a while to ask if he needed anything. She spent the rest of the time reading the new book given by Rosetta. 

The pair of mates were busy in their own worlds. Nothing changed between them even after Oriana came out as a woman.

When nighttime came, Oriana began to grow anxious. Arlan had told her in the morning that she had to resume her work of attending the prince at night.

The night deepened, and soon, it was time for the prince to retire for the night. With much hesitation, Oriana went upstairs to Arlan's chamber. 

This time, Imbert was not the knight guarding the door, but Kerry. Tonight, the Crown Prince had not asked for wine so she knew he wouldn't be drunk and he would just sleep without bothering her. But she still could not help but feel anxious, and it was difficult to resist the urge to return to her own room and lock herself inside.

A man and a woman…in the same room at night…

Could she really stay by his side as if nothing changed?

Kerry opened the door for her. She calmed herself and stepped inside the dimly lit chamber, praying to the spirits and the gods.

For what reason, she didn't know.

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