Charlize’s eyes sank in an instant.


    She was lost in thought for a moment before she gently ordered Mary.


    “Can you put the piano in this room?”


    “The piano?”


    “Yes, it would be better to put it near the bed.”


    Charlize’s wish was granted. Dn had promised to teach Charlize the piano.


    Mary answered politely.


    “I heed the grandmaster’s order.”


    The budget of the imperial pce, which was allocated only to Charlize, reached billions of genen.


    Mary stepped back, thinking that she must bring the finest piano.


    Charlize, who was left alone, sat on the sofa and closed her eyes.


    ‘I can observe Dn while taking piano lessons.’


    If it’s love, then he must have some moments of diposure. Isn’t there a saying that love is like a cough that cannot be hidden?


    The sorrow for Dn quickly faded. Even if only his drawing paper was colored ck, she didn’t want to trample his heart.


    ‘I thought it was because I had a reason.’


    Charlize altered her thoughts.


    ‘Come to think of it, it’s almost time for the swordsmanship ss.’


    It was already noon. Their first ss after Dn ascended the throne.


    ‘Ah.’


    Charlize, who came up with a good idea, opened her eyes. She looked at the long sword with a meaningful gaze.


    She came up with a way to test Dn during the swordsmanship ss.


    ‘Shall I make the situation a bit more tense?’


    She didn’t have to wait until Dn taught her how to y the piano.


    It would soon be known whether Dn loved her or not.


    Charlize’s eyes were filled with intense light.


    “I’m happy and grateful that I can always ask Master to teach me.”


    Dn bowed his head.


    His white nape was revealed under his ck, short hair.


    ‘Should it be called modesty?’


    An obedient face that he never showed to other people.


    It was the first time that she met him on a bright day after the drinking party, so his voice sounded strange.


    “I’m the one who is grateful, Your Majesty.”


    Charlize replied politely.


    “I prepared a dangerous ss today. Would that be okay with you?”


    “…I’m fine with any of Master’s methods. What would you like to do?”


    “Pointing the sword at each other with all seriousness.”


    Charlize lifted her real sword.


    “I usually do guidance training, but it will be very dangerous this time because I covered the de with a lethal poison.”


    Dn seemed a little surprised.


    “We can get to the stage and avoid hurting the opponent with our swords, that’s why we’ve been pointing the sword at each other without hesitation. But, Your Majesty, shouldn’t we try a serious fight at least once?”


    “…That means…”


    Charlizeughed softly.


    “Yes. We will have sparring with the determination to take each other’s lives, Your Majesty.”


    If there was even one person close to the drill hall, they would’ve been very shocked to hear Charlize’s words.


    However, Dn was quiet for a while before nodding.


    “I will follow Master’s will.”


    Charlize spoke to Dn.


    “It would be great if Your Majesty could choose a sword that you are best at. Ah, all the swords have been covered with lethal poison so be careful.”


    Dn was visibly nervous.


    He was worried for a while before he returned with a sword breaker.


    A sword that breaks a sword.


    Charlize’s expression turned strange. It can pull out the opponent’s de from its hilt or in some cases, break it.


    It was famous for being a very cruel sword because the wounds taken from this sword became hideous scars that looked worse than any other sword scars.


    “You chose a sword breaker.”


    “What did Master choose?”


    Charlize told him that she would use the sword she was already holding. It was because any sword was the same for Charlize anyway.


    “I’ll have dius.”


    Charlize’s expression was calm.


    “Shall we start?”


    “…Are we really going to do it, Master?”


    Dn asked back with unease. Charlizeughed a pleasant but loudugh.


    “Yes.”


    “…I understand.”


    The moment their eyes met and lifted their swords, the battle began.


    <em>Tatak!</em>


    Charlize jumped up like a butterfly. As she said in the beginning that she would do it seriously, Charlize was true to her words.


    Dn’s eyes shone. He lifted his sword to block Charlize’s sword. Without hesitation, Charlize struck his sword several times.


    <em>Chaeng-chaeng!</em>


    <em>Hwik</em>


    Charlize’s sword narrowly passed through the air next to Dn’s cheek.


    Had Dn let his guard down a little, he would’ve probably been stabbed by her sword.


    Dn became serious when he finally realized that Charlize was resolute.


    He counterattacked. Charlize was quiet.


    No one can follow Charlize, who had Keira’s past.


    However, Dn had been sparring with Charlize fast enough for her to run out of breath.


    ‘His skills are truly amazing.’


    Dn was a genius.


    Charlize was immersed at the moment. She was faithful to her opponent as if she was locked in time. She dealt with him seriously.


    But the truth is, it was all a test from the beginning. An attempt to read his mind under the guise of sparring.


    ‘If Dn loves me,’


    How will he react?


    ‘He will not be able to extend his sword to me sincerely.’


    Charlize wanted to see Dn tremble. As a human, your heart bes the coldest the moment your life is threatened.


    ‘But with the sharpest sword, Dn can be shaken.’


    The moment he loses hisposure, Charlize may be able to read Dn’s true feelings.


    She taught him that the best defense will always be to attack. She told him to empty his emotions when he is faced with a sword. She told him to dry his lips for himself rather than others when wielding a sword.


    What will Dn do?


    <em>Chaeng-chaeng!</em>


    Dn was outstanding. His expression was as hard as a stone and he fought Charlize enough to make her feel threatened with every moment that passed.


    Stimted by a sense of victory, Charlize forgot that her opponent was Dn and almost cut him down.


    He was out of breath. It seems that Dn can control his emotions well.


    However, there was no decisive attack. Charlize’s eyes squinted.


    ‘This is the time.’


    With momentary judgment, Charlize put her arm into the orbit of the sword Dn wielded.


    She purposely gave him an opportunity.


    ording to Charlize’s teaching, Dn had to coldly cut her down with his sword. That way, he will win.


    However,


    “!”


    His sword skills were astounding.


    He stopped his sword at a distance that would have killed Charlize had it reached a bit more.


    Dn couldn’t stab her in the end.


    It was only a minute difference and the tip of the sword was shaking due to the rebound.


    Hesitation was an instinct. A reflexive reaction that was not controlled by reason.


    Charlize acted as if she had a slip-up and quickly sealed the gap.


    She ced the tip of the sword right before Dn’s neck.


    “…”


    Dn only stared at Charlize.


    The fight ended.


    “If it was a real fight, Your Majesty would have died.”


    Charlize said, tilting her head.


    Dn, who had been quiet for a while, slowly lowered his gaze.


    Charlize took the sword.


    “I’m sorry, Master.”


    Dn bowed his head.


    The apology didn’t fit the situation. His opponent might’ve been Charlize, but if it was still a fight between Dn and another knight.


    The opponent’s sword would have been broken earlier by the prodigious skills of the emperor.


    Dn sheathed his sword, his calm expression admitted defeat.


    Charlize paid attention to Dn’s fingertips.


    They were still trembling.


    Likest night when he spilled alcohol.


    ‘Dn certainly cannot cut me down.’


    Dn couldn’t cut Charlize even when she gave him an opening.


    Even if he gets stabbed.


    ‘Like a ckshaw flower.’


    Charlize could have ovee it all.


    However, Charlize couldn’t find the logic behind it.


    It was the same for Dn’s mother, the seventh concubine.


    It may be blind respect for those who are with power or the loyalty that will eventually break the sword.


    ‘What’s with this discrimination because of love?’


    Charlize used her brain to think, but she didn’t get an answer.


    Moreover, even if the situation changed and she was put in Dn’s shoes, she wouldn’t have been able to fully swing her sword towards him either.


    Assuming Charlize fought with Ronan before she returned, the answer came out.


    ‘Does that mean I love Dn?’


    No.


    She doesn’t love Dn. She just likes his personality.


    Charlize, who was thinking for a while, soon became absent-minded. While she painted him ck, did Dn dye her too?


    ‘I can’t believe my mind was that soft…’


    Charlize breathed out slowly.


    “You don’t have to apologize, Your Majesty.”


    Charlize said.


    “I was only admiring your ability that improved remarkably.”


    Charlize sincerely praised Dn.


    “Your speed when wielding a sword is twice as fast as it was in the past. It’s great that you can now counter your opponent’s attacks smoothly.”


    “Thank you. It’s all thanks to Master.”


    The tip of Dn’s ears turned red. Charlize wasn’t exactly trying to tter him, but she never tried to tter someone with lies.


    She meant what she said. Dn lowered his eyes.


    “Let’s take a break for a while before resuming the ss, Your Majesty.”


    “Yes, Master.”


    She wasn’t sure if it was love, but she was sure that the possibility had increased.


    That was enough achievement.


    Charlize looked at Dn. His blue uniform was particrly dazzling today. Charlizeughed, pretending not to know why.


    The first time she heard Dn y the piano was when he was 13 years old. Charlize was 14 years old at that time.


    The future tyrant was so vignt that he did not easily let his guard down whenever he was around Charlize.


    The melody of the music he yed at that time was still vivid. There was a group of stars in the sky that she saw through the open window that day. Even the atmosphere was dreamy.


    “Isn’t it time for you to take care of political affairs?”


    She thought it would be nice if Dn taught her how to y the piano soon, but she didn’t know it would happen so soon.


    On the evening of the third day after she said her wish, Dn came to see Charlize.


    “That’s not what the emperor ascended for.”


    Dn replied softly.


    It seems that Charlize was more important than national affairs. Dn’s eyes were resolved.


    It wasn’t that long since he ascended the throne, so she was certain that he would be very busy. However, Charlize didn’t point it out further, because that was a remark worthy of a tyrant.


    The Lc Room wasvishly decorated. The maids would meticulously clean it up every day.


    “Take a seat, Master.”


    Charlize sat on the piano chair.


    Since then, Dn did his best to teach Charlize how to y the piano.


    Since her quest to find out Dn’s feelings was her goal from the very beginning, Charlize kept looking at Dn rather than the piano.


    However, throughout the whole ss, Dn’s expression was so calm and elegant that the boy of the past seemed to ovep.


    Besides, there was not a hint of flirtation in his t tone, to the point that Charlize had slowly gotten confused.


    “You have to y the piano like you’re losing the ball, Master. It’s all about basic position.”


    Charlize pretended to be clumsy on purpose.


    Dn, who was only teaching her with words so far, took Charlize’s hand and corrected her position.


    Charlize paused for a moment.


    She felt a bit uncertain when their hands touched each other and her heart pounded strangely.


    Charlize paid attention to Dn.


    She couldn’t read him.