IVF 22

Chapter 22

Clang—!

Two swords collided fiercely.

The silver blades flashed viciously, as if ready to pierce each other’s throats at any moment.

Judging by their skill alone, one would think they were knights who had earned glory on the battlefield.

Yet the two dueling were not even adults—only boys.

The training ground was large enough to accommodate five hundred men with ease.

Knights of the Dark Moon Order, belonging to House Hart, had retreated to a distance, staring at the boys with exhausted expressions.

“How long have they been at it?”

“At least an hour. I came here an hour ago.”

“I saw them two hours ago. They were sparring then too.”

Even a well-trained knight would grow tired after a certain point.

But these immature boys were sparring without rest.

Even the famed Dark Moon Order could only click their tongues in disbelief.

“Is it because he’s back home after so long? He’s pushing hard.”

“His stamina’s monstrous. Feels like it’s increased again.”

“The Young Master’s one thing, but that Ash kid’s no joke either. He’s keeping up with him.”

Calling one of them a monster wasn’t wrong.

One of them practically was.

Karayan—Lucius’s blood relative and a Legion.

While the knights did not dare approach—

Karayan spoke to his opponent.

“Ash, show a little more passion.”

A vibration traveled through the blades pressed against each other. To an outsider, it looked intense.

But in truth, it was all flair and no substance—half-hearted to the extreme.

“The same goes for you, Young Master.”

Ash, the same age as Karayan, replied bluntly.

Short red hair.

Ash-gray eyes and dark skin characteristic of a small nomadic tribe.

A sturdy build that made him resemble a young bear.

Ash was the youngest ever to join the Dark Moon Order.

He was also the son of the Duke’s adjutant and Karayan’s childhood friend.

Given his impressive connections, some might suspect favoritism.

But anyone who had crossed blades with Ash could never deny his ability.

He didn’t possess overwhelming power like a Legion—but by human standards, he was abnormal.

Clang—!

Their real swords collided again.

Ash smoothly attempted to deflect Karayan’s blade—

When suddenly he flinched and stopped, turning his head.

“What is it?”

“I felt like my mother was watching…”

“Olivia?”

Karayan relaxed his stance and followed Ash’s gaze.

No one was there.

“You’re imagining it.”

“It was definitely her. The chill down my spine felt just like that time.”

“That time?”

“One night I was so hungry I couldn’t wait until morning. I snuck into the kitchen. I saw the meat Mother said was for breakfast.”

Ash muttered expressionlessly.

“The moment I took a bite… I felt that same chilling stare. When I turned around—”

No need to hear the rest. His mother, Olivia, must have been there.

Ash trembled slightly as if recalling a horror story.

Karayan lowered his sword and scanned the area carefully.

Olivia wasn’t there.

Instead, a servant hurried toward them.

“Young Master, urgent news.”

“What is it?”

“Princess Arabel—”

“That’s enough. I already heard from another servant.”

As if he couldn’t bear even hearing her name, Karayan cut him off.

Princess Arabel—a fellow Legion and a woman who had persistently proposed to him since childhood.

Even after being rejected, she kept approaching him.

Just hearing her name made him instinctively recoil.

He had already declared he would not meet her today.

Why bring it up again?

He was about to dismiss the servant—

Until he heard the next words.

“Miss Langshus is currently attending to Her Highness.”

“…What?”

Karayan froze in disbelief.

“That little potato?”

“Potato?”

Ash tilted his head.

“She hasn’t been mashed, has she?”

“Mashed?”

Was the princess cooking?

Ash suddenly craved mashed potatoes. With milk bread.

Pile the creamy mash high on freshly baked bread, then top it with another slice.

That sounds delicious.

While Ash licked his lips, Karayan was serious.

Why is she with Arabel?

However she got involved, in Karayan’s eyes, Lumina was facing an unavoidable disaster.

The opponent was the Empire’s cherished princess.

And a Legion.

If Arabel so much as handled her roughly, that small and fragile Lumina might drop dead.

Though both were Legions, Karayan judged Lumina weaker than even a powerless Legion.

“Ash. Let’s stop here.”

“Potato omelet. Lots of ketchup… Huh? Running away again?”

“No. I’ll rescue her before she becomes mashed potatoes.”

Karayan never involved himself in anything concerning Princess Arabel.

So why now?

Ash blinked.

Karayan seemed strange today—like he was fixated on one thought.

Ash chose not to voice it.

But had he spoken, Karayan would have flinched, as if his thoughts had been read.

Because right now, all he could think about was Lumina.

The moment she held his hand, saying she would heal him.

The dazzling light that enveloped them.

The moment she hugged him.

She claimed she had hugged him—but because of their size difference, it had looked as though she had been the one embraced.

He couldn’t forget her fragile body.

He tried to shake it off, feeling perverse for dwelling on it.

But it wasn’t easy.

It’s only because she resembles her.

That’s all.

That was why he had lingered around the estate, restless over when she would wake.

Why he had sparred endlessly with Ash in irritation after hearing she had first met Lucius upon waking.

In any case, Karayan insisted he was not concerned about Lumina at all.

Right now, that soft girl was surely being bullied by Arabel.

Without realizing it, his steps quickened.

He headed straight for the drawing room—

And witnessed a scene he had never imagined.

Soaked in tea, Lumina looked up at Arabel’s maid, Eva.

“Oh dear. I’m sorry, Miss Lang… mm… young lady.”

Eva smirked, unable to recall Langshus properly.

“It was an accident. An accident.”

An accident?

It was obvious Arabel and Eva had only wanted to discard Lumina and search for Karayan.

The excuse was laughable.

Princess Arabel must have ordered it.

Eva turned away and barked at the ducal maid,

“What are you standing around for? Clean this up at once!”

It was unclear whether she meant the teapot—or Lumina.

At least it wasn’t too hot. I could have been burned.

The ducal maid panicked. Eva fumed. Arabel observed like it had nothing to do with her.

Lumina could not stay silent while Arabel feigned innocence.

Supported by the maid, Lumina rose slowly.

Then she reached out.

“Ah! What are you doing?!”

It happened instantly.

Lumina grabbed Eva by the hair.

Despite her appearance, her grip was strong. Eva was helpless.

“Let go! Let go! Have you lost your mind?!”

“Pardon? I can’t hear you.”

Smiling innocently, Lumina knocked Eva down and picked up the fallen teapot.

She raised it high above Eva’s head.

Eva’s face turned pale.

“D-don’t!”

Surely she meant to smash it down!

Ignoring her screams, Lumina tilted the pot.

And—

Drip.

“It’s not very hot, is it?”

With an angelic smile, she poured the tea over Eva’s head.

More than half spilled out—enough to drench her thoroughly.

Only then did Lumina release her.

Eva collapsed, legs weak.

“What do you think you’re doing to my maid?!”

Arabel finally intervened.

“Oh, Your Highness.”

Tea dripped from Lumina’s ruined clothes. She limped forward like something risen from hell.

She was terrifying.

“I was upset seeing someone unqualified call herself Your Highness’s maid. I acted without thinking.”

“What?”

“A maid who reflects Her Highness should be perfect at all times, like a mirror.”

“……”

“But she can’t even support someone properly and spills tea everywhere. That hardly suits a noble princess.”

Lumina smiled brightly.

“And she couldn’t even remember my family name. Such pitiful memory. Someone like that serving Your Highness? Impossible.”

By appearance alone, Lumina looked too gentle to utter a sound even if bullied.

Yet she had seized someone by the hair and shaken her.

The contradiction stunned Arabel.

Her mouth hung open—

Bang.

The door burst open.

Karayan entered.