I Will Be the Greatest Knight
Chapter 159: Show Off for the Nobles (Castle Bonus - )

Chapter 159: Show Off for the Nobles (Castle Bonus Chapter)

Sir Gunnar had been going easy on the apprentices for two days but by the third he decided he needed to get them out of hibernation and back looking sharp. Not only would they be practicing guard duties at the banquet, but Earl Auden had requested a showing of the knights’ strength. He would use it as an opportunity to pin his knights against all other orders.

Since his knighthood undoubtedly had ridiculous amounts of funding going to it, there was at least some sort of advantage in that.

The Knights of Tenetium were determined to prove that they didn’t need deep pockets to remain the strongest knighthood. In Gunnar’s opinion, only the Knights of Hydrogia led by Commander Lothian in the south could hold a candle to what they had in the north.

As Irene exited the doors leading to the courtyard first thing in the morning, she was expecting to be struck by a freezing chill she had known each winter for her entire life. However, what she was met with was far from that.

All of the snow had been cleared away from the practice yard as if it was never there in the first place. There were fires lit in the corners of the courtyard that made the warmth grow. It seemed blocking the wind was enough to make them believe the weather wasn’t freezing.

She practically expected to see green grasses and bushes lining the place considering how relatively warm it felt.

The Royal Knights were out that day as well, running through drills and showing off their glistening armor. She still wondered if they were strong or simply beautiful. Whatever it was must have been enough considering the Princess and Crown Prince managed to get out of the bandit attack unscathed.

As the apprentices lined up in front of the knights, they were able to see that a few early arriving nobles had started lining the walkways on the second story above the courtyard. Those who were interested in watching the knights had pulled furs over their bodies so that they wouldn’t be bothered by the cold from much farther up.

Irene saw a flash of her father’s red hair as he walked along the wall. A sad smile appeared on her face as she silently wished he was out there practicing with them.

It wasn’t time to focus on that. She was happy he was there at all.

Luckily they had practice swords available for them so, when they were passed out, their focus went forth to Sir Gunnar who proudly commanded the apprentices he was most familiar with.

Side strike, side strike, forward thrust, diagonal slash.

Their movements were sharp and concise, the nobles in the upper levels looking down on them certainly helping their determination.

Side strike, side strike, forward thrust, diagonal slash.

The moment the apprentices started showing signs that they were even somewhat getting used to the movements, Sir Gunnar changed his orders. They were soon paired off with each other, blocking each other’s movements and practicing their strikes and blocking. Each barked order and command to switch was followed with impressive response times. The wooden swords clashing together echoed off of the sides of the hard brick that surrounded them on all sides.

The practice wasn’t long, but they were moving around so much—warming up, blocking, footwork—that sweat had gathered along all of their hairlines. The cloaks they all thought they would need before were forgotten next to the outer entrance of the large estate.

Irene was paired up with Felix and Leif was surprisingly paired up with Arin since the Royal Knights had already been practicing but they were on the far side of the courtyard.

"Show me what your made of," Arin ordered Leif immediately.

At this, Sir Gunnar decided it was time to let the apprentices loose.

"Begin!" he ordered and merely stepped to the side where other knights had gathered.

All anyone could hope was that their apprentices outshined the others.

Knowing that she ought to put her best foot forward, Irene stared at Felix with unbridled determination. For once, she wouldn’t allow her hotheadedness to get in the way of the match. He was undoubtedly going to tease her and she needed to get a grip on the heat that his remarks always elicited from within her.

They raised their swords at one another and she allowed him to attack first.

Before he struck, he tossed his blade into his left hand before sending a forward thrust that was quickly slapped away by the side of Irene’s sword.

He didn’t allow her counter to break his focus and he immediately used the direction of his wooden sword to swing all the way around and offer another side strike.

Irene anticipated as much and she caught his sword by slapping hers in its path and turning it downward so it was caught. Since it gave momentary distraction, the girl then elbowed the apprentice in the ribs. They weren’t wearing armor considering there were no threats out there other than one another.

Felix let out a groan and he knew the younger apprentice’s sharp elbow was going to leave a bruise.

Since all he had over Irene was strength alone, he decided what was best was overpowering her and he threw his weight into getting back his sword.

However, she seemed to fall much easier than he was expecting to and, before Felix could truly have control of the spar, it was over in a flash.

They had fallen on top of one another and his hands were on the ground next to Irene’s head. Her eyes were elsewhere but wide.

"What is it?" the apprentice asked.

While the two of them sparred, Irene caught a millisecond’s worth of a glance at one of the higher walls. It wasn’t even a thoughtful glance since she was supposed to be focusing on the match.

However, what struck her was the sight of someone she had gotten unbelievably close to in the life she saw.

Even though he was in his late teens, she would recognize the person she married

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