Chapter 10: The Duke's Daughter
"He who conquers himself is the mightiest warrior."
- Confucius
Chapter 10: The Duke's Daughters
"Haha you mean father made you cry Suzue?" I nod vigorously and smiled back at her lazily ignoring the protesting adult opposite to us.
"Yeah, he's so mean that time my lady, and when i first meet him i thought he was a pedophile, he keep on staring at me, it was very creepy"
Hearing her laugh again made me smile, we are currently sitting on a tea table located in the garden having our pwn tea party.
Lady lilith was making me share my experience with the duke and i immediately agreed if that is the only way to make her smile and laugh.
"There was also one time when i invited him to play tag, it was really unfair i was running and he was just walking, so to make everything fair i blindfolded him"
She stared at me expectantly..
Man, she's so cute... I bet she received many engagement proposals before being engaged with the prince.
"So did you won?" I smiled grimly and heave a sigh.
"I didn't, it made his competitive spirit rose more, it was my biggest regret"
She chuckles and pats my hand which is resting on the table lazily, cheekily i intertwined our hands causing her to blush.
Probably she was lacking with physical interaction... Well it would make sense since the duke said that she's immersing herself with royal studies.
"Did you know that the duke hates spicy food the most..." I said making her focus all her attention towards me a sign that my distraction successfully distracted her.
"When i accidently gave him a spicy pastry he glared at it for the whole day causing all the holy maidens and visitors that passes by shivers in fright, he looks very childish that time"
He laughs again making me grin.
I'm actually not a clingy person but this girl has this kind of aura that's makes seems pulling you towards her and made you unknowingly attracted to her.
My eyes shifted towards another presence that suddenly appears, it's a knight with a stoic expression.
"Your grace, my lady ,young miss sorry for intruding but the head butler from the mansion informed us that the crown prince is visiting"
"Oh" my expression become disappointed when the expression that i successfully stitched on lady lilith's face become undone and went back to what it used to be.
I silently clicks my tongue and stood up when the father and daughter stood up.
I let go of the lady's hand and inserted it inside my training pant's pocket.
And followed them on their way to the gate.
"He must be there for your dancing lessons" Duke ceases the silence and when i heard i once again clicks my tongue and i felt pain on my head making my pout listlessly.
"Oh he might be making up for his absence the other day" lady lilith said while still having that ugly smile on her face, we stop in front of the carriage, when a knight attempted to help her step inside the carriage i stopped him and steals his job .
"My lady" i lazily said and places my hand in front of her, she lightly chuckles and accepted it with a light curtsy and i help her ride the carriage.
"Farewell father, suzue it'll be an honour if we again" i beamed slightly and did our own bow.
"Like wise my lady" i went back beside the duke not forgetting to bump at a certain knight.
His eyes widen and stared at me with a sweat drop.
"Don't be such a kid" the duke said and a response immediately escape my mouth.
"I'm a kid"
He clicks his tongue making me clicks mine too.
Our attention went back to the lady when he giggle and waves at us, i wave instinctively and we watch how the carriage soon disappears from our sight.
"Lilith holds the Red joker"
My jaw drops and i could almost see the smug look of the dukes face, i immediately snap back to my usual expression.
This duke always pokes on my nerves, between us he seem acts more like a kid... So childish.
"I'm not childish"
"What are you a mind reader" he just shrugs making me pout, we turn around to face the church and stared.
The church is like a mini castle, it's white and had a touch if gold, so beautiful and full of elegance.
"I found out you are my ..."
"Daughter? Figures" i inserted both of my hands inside my pocket, i felt him stared at me making me glace at him in the corner of my eyes..
I was not actually sure if we are related but there are few hints and clues laying in front of me and couldn't help but assume... There's this part of me that is very attached to him
The church told me that the black joker mark's form and appearance would depends to the holder's personality or the holder's most closest kin's and my mark is a dragon...
I am too far away of being one and there's only one person that looks like me and acts like a dragon..
"How did you figure?"
"The hair and eyes..."
"Touche"
I silently laughs and stared at the sky,
They were so blue, i know why they were blue but it never cease to amaze me.
"Do wanna live with us?"
Us?... How warming.. But..
"Nah"
"Why?"
I didn't answered and my eyes shifted to a crow silently staring at us from the tree.
"I prefer staying away from danger"
"Makes sense" he patted my head and softly rubs it.
"Let's go, i shall train you"
"Ohhh i suddenly felt fully awake once"
We races towards the field with of course him winning, what do you expect? He have long le, older and stronger.
When we reach the field he pick up a stick and throws it at me, i manage to catch it and formed a stance.
"Your stance is good but your body is too tense and tight, try relaxing and attack me"
"Yes!"
And thus our training start... The duke isn't a great teacher but his pointers and taunting was making me improve more, our one training become every week then end up as everyday.
He would train me when he's free and when i say free it means everyday, there are some days when he wasn't there and lady lilith will be with me, and there are days when both are with me then time passes by, without us knowing another year 2 years pass.
"Again!" The duke shouted and i immediately flip my self to stand and kick the artificial sword up and the air and lazily caught it.
I dash towards him and swings towards his body he immediately block it so with swift move i swings towards his head but he blocks it and pushes me causing me to flip backwards.
I landed safely on the ground and without wasting any time i attack him again.
While swings our ours back and fort in a astonishing speed i suddenly went down and kicks him off his feet which done successfully.
He fell of and i tried to swing my sword towards him but he rolled away quickly stood up and kicks me in the stomach but i manage to block it with my knee and we started exchanging blows.
I notice his leg starting to raise but his hips weren't cooperating with it so i figured he was making it as a bait and as i though he did.
He fake and uses his other leg which i successfully block and countered with a head kick he caught my foot and a smirk appeared on lips, his forehead creases but it was too late because i immediately twisted my body and did a turning kick.
"Yes!" I cheered when i saw him fell down which is a big mistake because the neck thing i know is i'm already laying on the floor with my hands twisted on my back and my face pushed on the ground.
And then i know i failed.
For a thousand times.
"Don't let your guard down next time" he smiled and patted my head before leaving me defeated on the ground.
"I understand, but it won't change the fact that i manage to land a hit on you" when i remembered my successful hit a grind breaks out on my face causing him to roll his eyes and rubs his cheek.
"Anyway i told Lilith that i'm planning to adopt you and make you my heir, she immediately accepted and started fussing about it everyday it was goddamn annoying"
"Your heir?" I stared at him in disbelief.
That means more work to do, i don't like it at all.
"But that's too tiring i prefer becoming as a personal knight to Lilith instead, that's so i could have my lilith everyday" i whined at him who just stared at me with a deadpanned look and then smile.
"Okay then you shall not be my heir and i could make you become Lilith's temporary knight in two conditions" i lazily stood and waited him to finish.
"Defeat me once and you wont be my heir if ... If i could fine someone more reliable, is this fair enough for you"
"No! That's unfair no one is as amazing as me- ouch"
"Don't get to cocky you brat"
I rolled my eyes and rubbed my head, it's true though.
"Anyway we need to train your ability next, and today is perfect the sky is starting to get dark"
"Yes Father"
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone