17. The hero asked for my friendship
“Lady Erika’s safety is what we, the Shadow Knights of the Guard, protect with our lives!”
Lloyd said with absolute confidence as he slammed his fist into his chest in confirmation of his oath.
I shook my head firmly.
“Thank you, but I would prefer you teach me a practical method.”
“What? I don’t understand what you mean.”
Lloyd inquired with a puzzled face.
While Gilbert stared at me with wide eyes in wonder.
“The proverb says: Don’t give me a fish, teach me how to fish. Please teach me martial arts so I can protect myself.”
“Learning martial arts yourself, miss? That’s impossible! It’s too dangerous!”
said Gilbert, shaking in terror and flapping his hands.
He looked so funny and cute that I almost burst out laughing, but I controlled myself.
I continued speaking with as serious a face as I could.
“I cannot rely on the protection of the Shadow Knights forever. An enemy attack could happen at any time and anywhere. I need to learn how to protect myself in preparation for that moment.”
I asked as politely as possible.
Lloyd held his chin and lost himself in thought for a moment, then nodded as if he had made a decision.
“I felt this before, also during the carriage accident. Your courage, Miss Erika, is truly admirable, so much so that I wish to include you in our squad. How could I not help a miss like you when she is asking so urgently?!”
“Just a moment, shouldn’t we ask the Duke’s permission first? This is not a decision that knights can make alone.”
Gilbert said with a puzzled face as he winced, but Lloyd smiled broadly and placed his hand firmly on the younger knight's shoulder.
“That is for you to inform him. Training beginners is your responsibility, isn’t it? Don’t be rude to the missus, and teach her with perfect politeness.”
While Gilbert was stunned and speechless, Lloyd Li quickly bowed in greeting.
“Miss Erica, Gilbert may be a little fool, but he is a loyal knight and will teach you sincerely. Excuse me, I have an important matter to attend to.”
And just with that, he disappeared like the wind.
“Where is Sir Lloyd going anyway?”
When I asked him, Gilbert let out a sigh.
“Sir Lloyd’s nickname is ‘Sword of the Wind.’ But it does not mean that his sword is as fast as the wind. Rather, it means that he is a ‘womanizer’.”
I looked in the direction Lloyd had fled.
In front of the annex, there was a blonde woman dressed as a librarian walking around as if she was waiting for someone.
Isn't that person...the employee in charge of the shelves on the first floor?
Lloyd ran to her and greeted her, and then the two of them took off, holding hands affectionately, behind the building.
Doesn't it look like a romance novel? Everyone is in love except me.
Even in the original story, after love was made between Carlex and Freesia in the Royal Library, a false rumor spread that the library had become a temple of love.
After that, countless lovers sneaked into the library… and it turned into an inappropriate dating place for them to make love.
I briefly read that employees were suffering in the hell of couples who would hide behind bookshelves and not read, just kiss.
They ran away with their faces red with shame, but I am different.
If I come across any emotional behavior of couples in the Royal Library, I will show them what it means to do justice.
“Miss Erica, will you choose the appropriate weapon first? Let’s try the basic sword first.”
Gilbert began his self-defense lessons with a resigned face.
He took a wooden sword and took me in front of the training dummy.
“The basic training is to hit the doll. You must hit the chest area accurately and with the greatest possible force.”
Gilbert explained to me in detail how to hold the sword and the swing position.
I held the wooden sword tightly with both hands and ran towards the doll.
“Hey!”
The battle cry went out on its own.
At first, I was hitting the doll's torso, but as I swung, the pent-up bitterness began to explode like an erupting volcano.
I started attacking the doll by swinging the wooden sword randomly, as if I was releasing my anger.
“Haaa!”
Gilbert seemed to be startled by my ferocity, and he stepped back lightly.
“H-Well… Miss, if you overdo it, you might hurt your wrist.”
I attacked the doll ferociously, but because Erica's body was weak, I quickly ran out of energy.
Gilbert thought for a moment, then brought a short bow and arrows from the barracks.
“Actually, this training bow is for Little Prince Michael, but try using it.”
“Will the bow really help me?”
“With continuous training, anyone can control the enemy using a bow. Since your build is small and your muscle strength is weak, you are at a disadvantage in close combat with a sword. It is better to attack with a bow.”
The short bow was about the size of a child's arm, but it looked sturdy.
Gilbert showed me in detail how to place the arrow on the string, pull the string, and aim it at the target.
On my first attempt to shoot the arrow, the arrow fell helplessly like a leaf.
As she continued to practice, she was able to imitate somewhat, but it wasn't really a good condition.
Behind me, Gilbert, watching my training, said in an impressed voice:
“You seem to have good concentration, miss, and you have a talent for archery.”
“How long do I need to practice before I can use it in real battle?”
“There is only one way: constant practice. You must practice shooting twenty arrows a day.”
My arm was really hurting and my fingers were hurting from rubbing against the tendon.
If I practiced every day, I think I would have trouble even holding a book.
I let out a sigh, but picked up my bow again.
Once I decide to do something, I have to see it through to the end to feel good.
“I'll try.”
I took a deep breath again and pulled the bowstring.
My arm was shaking, but when I focused my gaze on the target and focused on a single point, my cluttered mind cleared.
At that moment, I heard a deep, low voice from behind me.
“Librarian Erica, what are you doing here?”
I was surprised and shot the arrow without even looking at the target.
The arrow hit the wall and fell.
I looked behind me to see Carlex standing with slight signs of fatigue, wearing a bright white brocade coat with gold embroidery and a purple coat.
Gilbert ran up and saluted.
“Mr. Duke, have you returned from the royal palace well?”
“Hah, it’s still a stressful place. If I delayed any longer, I would have fallen into the hands of the Crown Prince.”
Carlex's gaze went straight to me behind Gilbert.
“Gilbert, explain to me what you and Librarian Erica are doing here.”
His voice sounded like he was questioning.
Poor Gilbert stood helpless like a mouse before a lion.
I couldn't stand it, so I stepped forward.
“I asked Sir Gilbert to teach me martial arts.”
“Hmm, like that then.”
Carlex Gilbert ordered with a cold face:
“Immediately go to the main gate of the library and make sure visitors are thoroughly searched.”
As if Gilbert had escaped death, he quickly greeted me and ran towards the main gate.
Carlex and I were left alone in the backyard.
Carlex slowly approached me.
Even just walking, he looked like a lion approaching prey, radiating a majestic feeling.
“Why are you learning self-defense?”
“It is training in preparation for any potential danger.”
“I don’t understand, there are my swords and my knights in front of you, so why?”
Carlex's gaze was calming and he asked: “Do you dare refuse my guard?”
He is the best sword in the kingdom, and the knight who instills terror and fear in his enemies.
He is also the ideal knight that the noble girls in the kingdom dream of.
But, based on my experience in life, if you wait for a knight who may or may not come, that is a proper way to die. Instead, saving my life myself is quicker.
“أنا ممتنة للحماي عائلة الدوق لي، لكنني أريد أن أحمي نفسي بنفسي.”
"Understood."
I watched his face, thinking he would pass it on without comment.
“Then I will teach you myself.”
Huh, this is exhausting.
I took a step back and quickly shook my head.
"You, Sir Duke? No, it's okay! I will refuse because it will be too much for me."
The corner of Carlex's mouth rose in a curved line.
He looked at me with a sly look.
“If you don’t trust my sword alone, shouldn’t I teach you myself?”
Carlex grabbed the bow in my hand.
“While I was watching, I saw that the shooting position was unstable.”
He got right behind my back without even giving me a chance to respond.
I can almost feel his solid upper torso.
I can clearly hear his breathing, feel his body heat, and smell the strong masculine scent of his perfume.
My heart started beating fast without any shame.
My cheeks were bathed in red.
What a heart without principle.
Is all it takes is a handsome face?
“Come on, take a bow, Miss Dale.”
Carlex asked politely, as if inviting him to dance at a party.
With no choice, I raised my bow, took aim, and caught the string.
Carlex hugged me from behind, gently wrapped and held my hands, the hands that held the arrow and string.
“When pulling the bowstring, it is important to maintain stable breathing. Launching an arrow requires intense concentration.”
I suppressed my trembling and focused on the arrowhead.
She looked at the bright arrowhead reflected in the lamplight, and exhaled softly.
My beating heart gradually began to calm down.
As my hand followed, his breath and mine seemed to become one.
The moment his hands and hands released the taut bowstring, the arrow shot toward the target at the speed of light.
Even the passing wind stopped.
There was only me, him, and the flying arrow.
Thong!
I was terrified by the loud sound of the arrow piercing the target, and I fell from his embrace.
When I suddenly turned around, Carlex was smiling brightly.
“You seem to have a talent for archery. You surprise me every time I meet you.”
“This is thanks to your guidance, Sir Duke. Thank you.”
“You are smart, so you will be good at archery. If you have any distracting thoughts, the arrow will veer off target, so always stay focused.”
He explained shooting techniques to me in detail and clearly.
There was no trace of the arrogant Duke who had mocked me when we first met.
Some time has passed.
When I was about to finish the shooting practice and return to the library, Carlex said to me:
“Librarian Erica, I will take you to the palace after work.”
“I heard that the Knights of the Guard are the ones who guard me when I go to and from work. You don’t have to bother picking me up, Sir Duke. Besides… today, I intend to return with Director William in the carriage.”
“Hmm, Director William is usually slow, but he is fast in such matters.”
Carlex grumbled, dissatisfied with William.
Seriously and calmly, she rebuked him:
“Director William is your best friend, isn’t he? You seem to be a lofty person, Sir Duke, and you have few friends, so you should value the people by your side.”
As I was speaking, I felt like a teacher teaching a student how to be nice to his friends.
Of course I expected Carlex to be angry with his temper.
But surprisingly, he listened to my words like an obedient student.
Even in the original story, Duke Carlex was always alone.
He didn't care about the people in the world, and would make arrogant and cruel comments.
He did not communicate or ally himself with other noble families.
He had the king's love and complete trust, but in reality he was not interested in power.
Everyone either admires him and fawns over him, or they envy him and are jealous of him.
Director William was the only friend who could truly open his heart and understand him.
Carlex bowed gracefully as if in greeting, and looked calmly into my eyes.
“So, are you my girlfriend?”
“What? How could I dare to be friends with His Eminence the Duke?”
What was his plan really to act like this?
I was confused, but curious about his true intention, so I looked at him skeptically.
“كلامك صحيح ليس لدي الكثير من الأصدقاء الذين يمكنني فتح قلبي لهم صديقي الوحيد منذ زمن طويل هو ويليام حتى أنني أود في بعض الأحيان أن أركل ظهره… لكن مهاراته في التعافي بالسحر لا بأس بها إنها توقف الكوابيس.”
Do you really consider William a friend? Or do you consider it just a means of magic?
Carlex's face moved closer to mine.
I wanted to step back, but his hand had already grabbed my shoulder.
A low, soft voice, one I had never heard from the cold Duke, tickled my ears.
“Miss Dale, please feel pity for me, who has no friends to whom I can open my heart...”
When my eyes met his, his cobalt blue eyes curved narrowly, and a charming smile appeared on his red lips.
“Will you be my girlfriend?”
(To be continued…)
Loving translation