The Grand Duke's Soulmate
Chapter 363: First Time Holding The Sword

Chapter 363: First Time Holding The Sword

The training commenced with the usual routine—ten laps of field running, with the knights shirtless, as per the rules.

Anna was truly exhausted by the exercise, her face paling upon completion, but she refused to withdraw despite the knights’ evident concerns. Her stubborn determination silenced them. She even had dismissed Rafe and Kiev, seemingly furious over some earlier event.

Clara and Emily arrived to observe the training as usual. After the run, Eric was prepared to pause the session, but the princess insisted on proceeding.

"Can we hold the weapons now? You said it would be part of the training, but I have not yet wielded a sword," she pressed.

"Don’t you think it’s too soon? Perhaps we could do another exercise instead. I’m not sure you’re ready for this," the second-in-command knight suggested cautiously.

"No, no! We can do the next exercise tomorrow. I must start somehow. Please, Sir Navin," Anna pleaded.

Reluctantly, Eric acquiesced.

"Very well then. Luke, get the practice wooden swords. Each partner will spar against each other. As for Sir Henderson, you will teach our lady how to properly hold and swing the sword, as she is not yet ready for sparring," he ordered.

Both knights nodded in compliance.

As the wooden swords were distributed, Anna eyed hers intently, hesitating momentarily before taking it firmly in her right hand.

However, the weight of the blade caught her by surprise, nearly pulling her down until she quickly grasped it with her other hand to maintain her stance.

"Oh, my! I thought wooden swords weren’t heavy!" she exclaimed in astonishment.

The other knights exchanged puzzled looks, for the wooden sword she held was the lightest in their training arsenal.

Standing next to Eric, Garin whispered, "She won’t be able to swing it, Sir Navin. She’ll definitely hurt herself."

"Don’t worry," Eric replied quietly. "Eli is agile. He will surely catch the blade before that happens. That’s why I paired them together."

Though the third-in-command knight’s eyes were shining with concern, he adhered to the decision and retreated to his sparring partner.

Each pair faced off at the trainer’s order, keeping a respectful distance between them. Eli and Anna were instructed to move further away from the rest.

"My lady, if you’re not ready, you can watch them first. Look at how they hold their wooden swords before we start," the young knight advised Anna.

The princess nodded, understanding that she and Eli were isolated for safety reasons. Nevertheless, as their sparring commenced, she still had a good view of the other knights.

’Thud! Thud!’

The sounds of wooden blades clashing echoed across the training ground as the temporary ’rivals’ engaged in their matches. Damon and Luke were locked in a fierce, intense exchange.

In contrast, Noah’s sparring with Garin had a more relaxed, almost playful quality to it. While Garin fought with focus, Noah seemed content to let his guard down slightly, his attacks a bit more casual and open-ended than the all-out intensity of the other knights’.

"Hey! Don’t give me that lame move, Sir Brooks! This is a serious training! Show me what you’ve got, and don’t be lazy!" Eric shouted at Noah, who smirked in response.

"Really? You want me to go all out? Don’t blame me if your favourite subordinate gets bruised today," Noah retorted with an arrogant tone.

"Shut up! Sir Skyler needs to improve his skills. How will he maintain his position if he can’t be as good as you? Don’t embarrass me, Sir Skyler!" Eric barked.

"I won’t!" Garin replied, then turned to Noah. "Raise your sword properly, Sir Brooks. I’m not doing this for pleasure."

Noah smiled.

"I will, Sir Skyler. I don’t look down on you, yet I only look out for you. If you want to take this seriously, I will, too. Give it your best, but be careful," he advised.

Garin nodded, his face set with determination as he readily gripped his sword. Their spar resumed, now in a more severe manner. Garin lunged forward and began his attack with an oberhau only to be met with a swift block from his opponent.

Pivoting on the balls of their feet, they traded blows. Noah feinted left, then quickly switched to a powerful overhead strike, only to have it deflected by Garin’s deft parry.

Undeterred, he pressed on, launching a series of rapid thrusts, each testing the other’s defences. The spar continued for another half-hour, both knights firmly holding their ground.

Garin responded to Noah’s attacks with sidesteps and ripostes. Still, the experienced knight propelled his strikes, seeking openings in his opponent’s stance with a quick, powerful jump—his signature combat style.

Noah lunged forward, his wooden blade flashing as he targeted Garin’s exposed flank. He brought the blade to rest lightly against the knight’s neck in a swift, fluid motion.

The impact caused Garin to stagger momentarily, barely able to mount a counterattack. Seizing the opportunity, Noah pivoted and struck the back of Garin’s thigh with his foot, causing the knight to lose his balance and fall backwards to avoid the blow.

As Garin tumbled, Noah smoothly twisted his body and landed another strike, the wooden blade stopping just shy of Garin’s head. The knight fell to the ground, narrowly avoiding what could have been a serious injury.

Noah landed lightly on his feet, a satisfied expression on his face.

"Are you all right?" he asked, extending his hand to help Garin.

"Yeah... that was close," Garin replied, accepting Noah’s assistance to stand up and brush the dirt from his back. "I should have been more vigilant."

"I told you to be careful," Noah said with a smirk. "Sir Navin wanted me to go all out. Perhaps he missed seeing my moves."

He chuckled, clearly proud of his victory.

"Show off!" Eric shouted from the sidelines.

Garin let out a small laugh.

"I know he misses having fun sparring with you. Don’t worry about me. I know your skills are on par with Sir Navin’s, and it’ll take more practice to bring you down."

"I can tell that wouldn’t be long. Your reflexes are getting better, Sir Skyler. Keep it up," praised Noah. "I’ll show you some moves. Let’s do this more flexibly so I can teach you."

Garin agreed, and the two knights resumed sparring in a lighter mood.

From the edge of the training grounds, Emily watched with growing concern at the spectators’ seating. When she noticed the scars on Noah’s back, her face fell. Clara, who sat beside her, noticed the change in her demeanour.

"Is there something bothering you?" Clara asked. "You seem concerned about Sir Brooks. Have you talked to him?"

Emily shook her head.

"I haven’t had a chance. With His Majesty’s arrival and the duel, it didn’t feel right to ask him yesterday." She sighed heavily.

"Perhaps you can find an opportunity to talk to him later. I’m sure he would want to speak with you, too," said Clara.

Nodding, Emily turned to knightess.

"Can we leave now? I don’t think I can watch anymore."

The sight of Noah’s scars made her heart feel heavy each time. She was sure they resulted from floggings, and the thought filled her with anguish. She couldn’t begin to fathom the sheer agony the knight must have endured from the lashing.

"Of course," Clara replied understandingly. "Let’s go spend some time in my chamber. I could use the company."

As the two women departed, Noah’s gaze followed them, wondering if he had done something to upset Emily.

Meanwhile, Anna, who had watched the sparring with a mix of awe and concern, was impressed by Noah’s skills.

"They look so serious just now! I was already worried," she said, unable to hide the anxiety mixed with excitement in her voice.

Throughout the intense exchange, she had to restrain herself from crying out, fearing that the knights might inadvertently harm one another in their fervent display of skill.

"That’s pretty normal, my lady. We all take our training seriously. At least the spar between them lasted longer than before, which means Sir Skyler’s skills have improved, but he is still unable to defeat Sir Brooks," Eli responded.

Anna’s brow rose with surprise.

"Sir Brooks is that excellent?" she asked, curious.

"Yes, definitely. Within the Knights of Gerhard, only Sir Navin can match him."

"If Sir Brooks is already that great, and Sir Navin too... then Kyren..."

The princess paused, creasing her forehead in contemplation.

Eli straightened his posture, a prideful gleam in his eyes.

"Of course, His Highness is way superior. He can defeat them both," he responded.

The princess bit her lower lip; her expression turned into determination. She needed to prove that she, too, could be better in the ways of combat.

"All right. I’ve watched them. Now, show me how to hold this sword properly," she demanded, her grip tightening.

Eli glanced down, observing Anna’s stance. Her feet were unsteady, her wrists bent, and she practically choked the pommel.

"Well... first of all, stand like this and hold it in a straight line that runs down your forearm, through your wrist, and down the line of the sword. The way you’re holding it right now is called the ’broken wrist’ position. Your strike will be weaker, and you will strain your hands," he instructed.

Anna’s brow furrowed.

"How do I do that? I... I can’t! It keeps slipping, and I’m worried it might fall!" she exclaimed, struggling to adjust her grip as she tried to follow the order.

"Just relax. Straighten your posture first to support your body," Eli said, demonstrating the proper way to hold the sword. "Then, hold your sword like this."

As the young knight guided her through the motion, Anna’s eyes lit up with understanding.

"Oh... like that! All right!" she responded, quickly trying to mimic the positioning.

The princess could picture the stance correctly in her mind, but the force in her hand was not strong enough to hold the weapon well, as it felt heavy in her possession.

"Like this? Is this acceptable?" she asked, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

Seeing her determined effort, Eli opted not to correct her immediately.

"We’ll improve it more. For now, maybe try to get used to its weight first," he said, offering an encouraging smile.

"Or perhaps I could swing it like this!" Anna suggested, lifting the sword high to demonstrate.

But before she could swing it, the sheer weight of the weapon caused her body to stagger. Her eyes widened in panic as she struggled to maintain control.

"Ah!" she cried out.

Anna lost her balance... her grip loosened from the weight... the sword fell... and the worse was about to happen.

In a flash, Eli reacted, his strong arm wrapping around the princess’ back and pulling her into his embrace. His other hand deftly caught the blade, preventing it from falling upon her.

The sound of Anna’s scream brought the other knights rushing to their aid. They froze, witnessing the princess cradled in the young knight’s arms, her face pressed against his bare chest.

Moments later, the princess’s eyes fluttered open in confusion. She had braced herself for the impact but instead found herself in Eli’s embrace, safe.

"Are you all right?" the young knight asked, his voice toned with concern.

"I..." Anna began, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment as she realised their compromising position. She quickly pushed herself away from Eli, who reluctantly released her.

"Forgive me, my lady. I was only protecting you," he said, equally flustered.

Eric quickly approached them.

"What happened?" he inquired.

"Our lady was swinging the sword, and she nearly fell. I caught her before she did," Eli explained.

Eric asked Anna, "Are you all right, my lady?"

"I’m fine..." she replied, her gaze averted.

She felt uneasy with the shirtless knights crowding around her.

Sensing the situation, Damon suggested, "Perhaps we better take a break for a moment."

Before Anna could respond, a loud sound echoed from the stable, followed by a high-pitched neigh.

"That sounds like Max," she said, recognising the warhorse’s voice.

"It is. I wonder what’s going on. I better go take a look," said Eric, concerned.

"Let me come with you," Anna requested.

"That wouldn’t be a good idea. Maximillian can be dangerous when he’s not in a good mood," the burly knight warned.

Anna persisted, "He’s a good boy. He always listens to me. After all, Kyren told me to look after his steed. He specifically told me that at the port, remember?"

The second-in-command knight paused, considering her request. Knowing that Maximillian favoured her and always obeyed her commands, he relented.

"Fine. But stay behind me. If he acts aggressively, you should back off immediately."

"We’ll come with you," Luke said, and the rest of the knights nodded in agreement, determined to ensure the princess’s safety.

They quickly made their way to the stable next to the smithy, where they found a farrier attempting to calm the agitated warhorse.

"What’s the matter?" Eric inquired.

The farrier bowed respectfully to Anna and the knights, then explained the situation, "I think he hates me. The senior farrier couldn’t make it today, and we’re supposed to change Maximillian’s horseshoes, as they are already worn, and one of them has cracked. I tried to do it myself, but he won’t let me. He nearly kicked me just now, and when I avoided him, he kicked the wall in anger!"

"Didn’t he get treated before the parade of my proclamation?" Anna asked.

"Well, apparently, he got other treatment, except for changing his horseshoes because His Highness the Grand Duke was preoccupied. We wouldn’t do this if His Highness were not around. This is an exception because the horseshoe has bent and damaged. It’s not good for a horse as it could lead to injury," the farrier responded.

"I see..." Anna turned to the warhorse, concerned. "Max, why are you behaving like this?"

Maximillian let out a sharp whine in response.

"My lady, this warhorse doesn’t understand commands from anyone other than His Highness," the farrier said.

"It’s all right. Let me talk to him. He’ll listen," Anna assured him, approaching the warhorse that stood at the edge of the shoeing area of the stable.

Maximillian whined again as if protesting.

"Oh, really? You want to go against me?" the princess said sternly, placing her hands on her hips.

At this, the warhorse froze, its head bowing in submission.

The knights and the farrier were worried and wanted to intervene, but Eric gestured them not to interfere. He was convinced that the mighty warhorse would submit to the princess.

Anna stood before the steed. She gently reached out and touched his nuzzle, brushing it lightly with her soft hands.

"What’s the matter, Max? Do you miss Kyren?" she asked in a soothing tone.

A low, short neigh escaped the horse’s lips in response.

"I know, I miss him too. Very, very much," Anna said, her gaze turning sad.

Maximillian nudged his head against her cheek. She patted him lightly and allowed him to rest his head on the side of her face.

"I know you’re not in the best of moods, but let the farrier do his work. Your feet could get hurt if your horseshoes aren’t changed. Do you want your hooves to get infected and have your feet cut off?" she asked.

Maximillian snorted and stomped one of his feet in protest.

"Then behave. Be a good boy, and don’t cause any trouble. If I see you being cranky again, I’ll smack your bott*m," Anna warned.

The knights held back their laughter, amused by the sight of the petite lady scolding the massive warhorse. Maximillian bowed his head in submission as expected. The knights were relieved; only the farrier seemed perplexed by the display.

"Does our lady possess the ability to communicate with animals?" the farrier asked the knights quietly.

"Not at all! It’s simply because Maximillian has taken a liking to her. He obeys her without needing training, more so than even His Highness," Eric explained.

"How amazing! I’ve never seen anyone able to manage Maximillian other than His Highness!" said the farrier, amazed.

"That’s our lady’s speciality," said the second-in-command knight. "She may not be a strong woman physically, but she can charm our lord and those around her." He turned to Eli and teased, "Now, Maximillian has to compete with His Highness for our lady’s affection. Just make sure you don’t become another wheel in their relationship. I saw you blushing when you held her just now. Don’t get any weird ideas."

"What are you saying? I would never have such thoughts!" Eli countered.

"That would never happen," added Luke. "Imagine if His Highness saw the incident just now. I bet Sir Henderson would become a dead meat!"

"Not a dead meat... a minced meat would be more precise. His punches nearly broke my jaw last time," Damon replied, rubbing his chin as he recalled the time the grand duke hit him for taking his wife to Mistdale to see Armel.

"I would never have such feelings for my lady!" Eli declared. "I respect her the same way I respect His Highness! And if I were to want someone, she would have to be younger than me. That’s for sure!"

"Yeah, we’ll pray you find your someone soon," Luke joked.

Noah remained silent, as usual, but equally amazed by Anna’s ability to so effortlessly subdue Maximillian.

The other knights laughed, unaware that unseen, malevolent eyes were watching them closely.