New World, New Life: I Became A Bigshot In The Ancient World
Chapter 58: A FEELING OF APPROVAL

Chapter 58: A FEELING OF APPROVAL

"The third princess is also joining in the training?" Captain Hugo Lancelot, the older brother of Hugh Lancelot, asked in surprise.

He was just as tall as his younger brother, even slightly taller, and unlike his brother that had short blonde hair that fell over the side of his forehead, he had shoulder length blonde hair that was brushed back and tied to the back of his head.

Hugo Lancelot was the Captain and Commander in charge of the Royal Knights, the knights under the king’s order. He was also a close friend of the king.

The royal children were in the training grounds of the Royal Palace for the morning training classes.

"Yes, Captain." Ivan nodded in reply to the Captain’s question.

This proved to Aristia that Hugh had kept his words and had kept her secret a secret, not even telling his own brother.

"The princess is indeed joining the training," a voice cut in.

They turned to see who it was.

"I’m her trainer." Hugh Lancelot said, adjusting the white gloves he wore on his hand. His green clothes complemented his hair and brown eyes. "Greetings, your highnesses."

"Greetings, Captain Hugh," the royal children greeted in reply.

"Hugh," Hugo said, turning to his brother in surprise. "You’re her trainer? For how long?"

"It’s been months," Hugh replied.

Hugo nodded, feeling even more surprised. So, the third princess had begun training long before he bagan training the first and second princesses.

"I suppose you’re joining us for today’s training, then?" Hugo asked his younger brother.

"That’s why I’m here," Hugh said, spreading his arms. "The first and second princesses are also training?" He asked, glancing at their clothes that were similar to Aristia’s.

This time, it was Hugh’s turn to be surprised. He hadn’t known the twin princesses were taking part in the training.

"Yes, I’ve been their trainer for a little more than a month now." Hugo chuckled, then he patted his brother on the shoulder. "So, let’s begin the training?"

"Of course," Hugh nodded. He took a glance at his golden pocket watch and tipped his head towards Aristia, "Begin."

The others were confused at his words.

Aristia nodded and immediately, she took to her hills, beginning her laps around the large field. Alaric followed behind her.

The others were left watching with wide eyes. Was she going to run around the whole field?!

Slowly but surely, Aristia completed the duration of the field. She didn’t just run throughout, she complemented it with some light jogging in between, otherwise she wouldn’t be able to complete the lap and would burn out early on. It had been difficult at first, but she had gotten used to running long distances after doing so for months.

"Huh...haaa..huu..haaa," she panted with her hands on her knees. "I’m...done... Captain," she said.

"I’m... done... too, Captain." Alaric said, imitating her actions by placing his hands on his knees. He had stopped early on and just stood waiting for her so that they would run back together.

[He’s too sweet!]

"Very good, you’ve improved. Rest for a minute and get ready for the next assignment." Captain Hugh nodded, checking his pocket watch to see when she had finished.

Aristia nodded and walked slowly to the bench at the side. Alaric took a seat beside her.

Beatrix and Serina turned their heads stiffly from Aristia to Captain Hugh. Was this what Aristia went through everyday? They wondered. That meant Captain Hugo was going easy on them. Very easy. They gulped nervously.

Captain Hugo glanced at his brother, watching him check the time on his pocket watch again.

He hadn’t expected that his brother had not used a gentler method to train the princess. He wasn’t as strict to the twin princesses as he was with his other pupils, the Crown Prince included, because they were females, but his brother... he still kept his training as brutal as he made it to be. He should have expected his stubborn-as-a-bull brother to not make any considerations for the princess.

He glanced at Aristia in surprise. Despite Hugh’s harsh training methods, she followed obediently and without even complaining, unlike what he would have expected from her. A sudden feeling of approval rose in his heart.

Ivan was also stunned beyond words. When he had heard that Aristia was also taking the classes meant for males, he had thought all she did was practice using wooden swords and how to hold a bow. He hadn’t expected this at all. He was astounded. Even he himself didn’t go through such training.

"Time’s up, princess." Hugh returned his pocket watch to its position and looked at Aristia. "Get your sword."

Aristia got up. It turned out Captain Hugh had actually gone easy on her when she first began the training class with him.

Her eyes roved the training grounds, stopping at a wooden shed.

She asked Ivan, "That should be where the training equipments are kept?"

Ivan nodded his head dazedly.

[What’s up with him?] Aristia thought, going to collect a sword from the shed. Beatrix and Serina followed along.

Luckily, there were wooden swords of different sizes in the shed, probably those used for practice by the page boys.

She picked one that she could easily use and another for Alaric, while Beatrix and Serina each picked out their own swords.

Aristia turned to leave when she noticed two wooden swords lying at the side.

[Aren’t those I and Alaric’s swords?] She thought in pleasant surprise. She put back the sword she was holding and took that one instead. The custom-made sword fit perfectly in her hand.

It seemed Adeline had remembered to put the swords among her belongings the day they were supposed to come to the palace.

Hugo also began his training with Ivan, Beatrix and Serina.

"Shall I hand over your training for the day to my brother? Would you like to run laps around the field too?" Hugo asked jokingly with a serious expression.

Immediately, Beatrix and Serina shook their heads. "N-no, Captain!"

Captain Hugo shook his head in amusement.

"I would," Ivan said with his hand raised. "I would like to run a lap around the field."

Captain Hugo did not have any objections, so he nodded. "Very well."

While Ivan began to run, he turned to Beatrix and Serina.

For months they had been practicing posture and how to use the wooden swords. He felt that they had mastered the right posture and was ready to let them practice using the wooden swords fully.

Aristia held her wooden sword and stood in front of Captain Hugh.

The captain pointed at a row of wooden figures, "You can begin."

After the training, the princes and princesses returned inside the palace. After cleaning the sweat from their bodies and putting on new clothes, they headed to the drawing room.

Madam Grace sat elegantly on the couch with a few salesgirls behind her. They bowed when they entered.

Rowaine sat beside Catherine with a tea set on the table in front of them.

"Madam Grace will have your measurements," Rowaine told them.

Three salesgirls stepped out from behind madam Grace and began to take their measurements, while madam Grace talked with the Queen and Grand Duchess, showing them some new designs.

After the measurements were taken, the salesgirls returned to their position behind madam Grace.

Suddenly, Madam Grace turned to Aristia and asked, "Would you like to make any adjustments to the designs?"

She had discussed with the queen and grand duchess about the designs and Rowaine had expressed her curiosity about Aristia’s designs, especially when she found out Aristia had modified madam Grace’s designs to suit her tastes.

She was obviously aware that Aristia had been the one to design the stylish training clothes for her daughters.

Aristia thought for a moment. "Let me see," she collected the designs from madam Grace.

Madam Grace watched with curiosity and anticipation. She had never imagined that she would ever ask such a question ever since she began designing dresses for the aristocracy.

The aristocracy was more than satisfied with her dresses, and she had thought her designs were perfect and unmatched, until she saw what Aristia had done with them in the grand duke’s mansion. She had made them even more stunning than before in ways that she had never imagined.

She then remembered Aristia’s words of wanting to design a dress months ago in her boutique. If the princess’s modified dress was like this, how would a whole new design be?

She had also been the one to make Aristia’s training clothes weeks after they visited her boutique, and was astounded at how Aristia had turned male clothes into something stylish.

From that day onwards, the way she looked at the third princess changed. Who said the third princess didn’t know what she was doing? Who was demanding and impulsive? She now knew that she had been wrong. Very wrong. The princess was talented and a genius.

Madam Grace could only imagine the wave of sensation those modified designs would cause, but unfortunately, she couldn’t replicate the designs, or use it to make clothes for others until she received permission from the third princess.

Madam Grace held back a sigh. She turned her attention back to Aristia, waiting for her answer.

To her surprise, Aristia said something completely unexpected, but desperately welcome.

"Hmm... I’ll create new designs." Aristia finally answered.

Her answer surprised madam Grace, but it also filled her with great anticipation. Her hands twitched, and she felt like asking Aristia to do so immediately.

She held herself back before she could do anything rash.

Taking a deep breath in, she said, "Of course, princess. I would be honoured to have you design a dress."

"Then, it’s settled." Rowaine said, "The third princess will design the dress."

"Then, I will take my leave, your majesty, your highness." Madam Grace bowed and stood up. Her salesgirls immediately followed behind her.

Even as she left, her mind was filled with thoughts of what Aristia would design.