<i><span>What is His Highness Arnold doing here? Formal knight training aside, I can’t believe the Crown Prince came to train the cadets!!</i>


    <span>Even Theodore said that Arnold would never visit this training ground.


    <span>However, there was no way she could mistake the figure of the beautiful man standing in front of her.


    <span>“…………”


    <span>“…………”


    <span>Arnold stared at her silently and she felt cold sweat trickle down her face.


    <span>Has only a second passed? It might be as short as a blink of an eye to others, but to Rishe, it felt quite longer.


    <span>In her knight’s life, there were times when she could see the scene around her slowly during tense battles, but what was this tension where she couldn’t even hold a sword in her hand?


    <span>“―― ……”


    <span>By the time Rishe braced herself…


    <span>Arnold suddenly took his gaze off of her and ordered his vassal standing next to him.


    <span>“Rovine, start training quickly.”


    <i><span>… Huh?!</i>


    <span>Contrary to Rishe’s anticlimactic feelings, Arnold continued to speak nonchntly, “I want to see the trainees in action. What are the training drills?”


    <span>“Ha, we’ve already done one-on-onebat. It was implemented after flexibility and running. After that, they’re supposed to train their muscles. How about it?”


    <span>“Then make adjustments after the match. Make sure that your body is sufficiently rxed and free of physical exhaustion.”


    <span>The trainees seemed to have grown taller just from Arnold’s speech. Arnold didn’t even look at Rishe the rest of the time, except for the one time earlier.


    <i><span>I-I don’t think I’ve been discovered….!</i>


    <i><span>— No, that can’t be true.</i>


    <span>She vehemently corrected the wishful thinking that sprang up in her mind.


    <span>Even though she was wearing a short wig, her face was only slightly altered with make up to give her a different impression. Anyone who knew Rishe would recognize her at a nce.


    <span>Above all, even if she changed her appearance drastically in some way, her opponent was Arnold.


    <span>The way she stood and walked, she felt that he’d spot her with the slightest quirk or something.


    <i><span>Still, I should have just gotten away with it for ten days! How I could encounter His Royal Highness Arnold, who is so busy with his official duties, here ……!</i>


    <span>Following Arnold’smand, Rovine instructed the cadets.


    <span>“Then, as always, start with flexibility. Don’t get carried away just because His Highness Arnold is here.”


    <span>“Yes!”


    <span>They replied in unison, each scattering to their usual ces. Rishe also rushed to the corner of the training grounds while silently searching for any sign of Arnold.


    <span>“Hey, Lu, it’s terrific! That, His Royal Highness Arnold, he’s the real deal!?”


    <span>“U-Uh-huh, good for you, Fritz.”


    <span>With a cramped smile, Rishe embraced another wishful thinking.


    <i><span>Maybe he missed it.</i>


    <span>Maybe he didn’t notice Rishe’s existence and wouldn’t say anything.


    <span>If that was the case, Rishe could also continue her training here.


    <span>She wondered if she could somehow preserve the terms with Theodore; to keep this secret from Arnold until the training is over and let him be present when the truth got revealed afterwards.


    <span>With a glimmer of hope, shepleted the usual training and sparring.


    <span>****


    <span>“……….So?”<span>


    <span>“………………”


    <span>When Rishe was called to the back of the training grounds, she fell into despair, sandwiched between the wall and Arnold.


    <span>Throughout the training, Arnold hadn’t bothered Rishe at all, but had examined the trainees’ conditions together with Rovine.


    <span>She’d been hoping that everything would end up uneventful, but those thoughts were understandably shattered.


    <span>“What the hell are you doing here?”


    <span>“Uh, uhm, ……”


    <span>With him looking at her up so close, Rishe was unable to see Arnold’s face properly. With her back to the wall, she looked away awkwardly.


    <span>“Y-You look in good spirits, Your Royal Highness……. I’m extremely delighted that you’re speaking to a mere cadet….”


    <span>“…. Ho?”


    <span>Knowing that she was barefaced, she’d pretend to be a trainee for a while. Besides, there were no signs of anyone else around, but she didn’t want to be overheard having an awkward conversation.


    <span>“Got it.”


    <span>Hearing Rishe’s reply, Arnold stretched out his hand.


    <span>Arnold had been wearing ck glovestely, but his hands were now bare.


    <span>Against all odds and expectations, Arnold wrapped his hands around Rishe’s face and squeezed her cheeks.


    <span>“Mmm?!”


    <span>“If you’re not the person I think you are, then I suppose you won’t mind me touching you directly.”


    <span>“!!”


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