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“Next, please.” The cool female voice, though small, carried well through the male-dominated training hall.

Aphia wiped the beads of sweat from her forehead with her sleeve and lightly held up her wooden sword. Her tone had been stiff but gracious, and she was a beautiful lady.

Her cat-like eyes might have given people the impression that she was a bit harsh, but if one considered that a charming point, she was very lovable. Her fluffy flaxen hair was tied back in a single bun, and every time it bounced, it seemed to give off a scent of sexiness.

Again, it had to be said that Aphia was a beautiful woman.

“Next, is there anyone who would like to spar with me?” Aphia asked, but no man answered.

Although it was an invitation from a beautiful woman, no one accepted it. Rather, the men looked at her with surprised and exhausted expressions.

“……”

Aphia’s slightly thorny gaze swept around the training hall in circles. The men turned away to escape her gaze or even left the place quickly if their eyes met hers. They couldn’t look Aphia straight in the eyes.

“……”

She looked a little discouraged and muttered to herself as she put away her wooden sword, looking extremely bored.

“I think that’s enough for today.” As she spoke, the tense atmosphere around her relaxed. Yet this ruined Aphia’s mood even further.

“……”

The beautiful woman was known as Aphia Rickman. She was a knight who served the Royal Knights for the Kingdom of Elugor.

People knew her as Steel Aphia. This was because of her stoicism that kept others away and for her talent with the sword, which even led her to be considered as a candidate for the leadership position in the Royal Knights.

◇◇◇

She threw a hemp cloth into a tub of water, and with it, the grime and fatigue of her body were rubbed away. Aphia’s well-trained body was moderately muscled, and the water dripped down in a circular pattern, following her rigid muscles.

She poured the tub’s remaining water over her head to cool her burning body.

“……”

But it was not enough. The training, discipline, and refinement needed to cool off her burning body was just not enough. Aphia’s body was still eager to wield the sword and train.

It was not because she was just a training fanatic. Aphia had a goal, a high, far-reaching goal. She was afraid even to reach out toward the heights she was aiming for.

That’s why she always strove to improve, hungry for training, and stoically disciplined herself in a spiritually rigorous way. That’s why she was now jittery, angry, and impatient.

‘What the hell was that?!’

Aphia bit her lower lip abominably as her eyes followed the droplets of water falling from the tip of her nose. She remembered the incident that had taken place in the royal castle the other day.

At that time, Aphia had been asleep in the barracks after being caught by surprise by someone’s magic.

The king and his sons, whom she should have been protecting, were threatened by an Upper Rank Demon while she had been sleeping peacefully and soundly. For Aphia, this was nothing short of the greatest humiliation and shame.

“……”

She clenched her fists, thinking, ‘I am sure he would’ve never allowed such disgrace to befall him.’ The image of the knight’s back, the one she was determined to reach, was etched deeply into her mind.

Aphia shook her head, sending droplets of water flying, then squeezed her flaxen hair and looked up as if she had come to her senses.

She had already decided what she was going to do. Today, Aphia intended to go to the place where she had visited every single day since she settled in the royal capital.

◇◇◇

The bazaar in the castle town was full of life.

The smell of appetizing spices wafted in the air, cheerful music played everywhere, and the clamor of men clinking glasses of ale never ceased. While most of the aristocrats were not fond of the noise and heat, Aphia, despite her aristocratic status, weaved her way through the bustling crowd with ease. A beautiful woman walking alone might have attracted attention, but no one called out to her.

Steel Aphia was well known throughout the capital.

Upon spotting the usual flower vendor’s stall, Aphia walked in with a confident air of familiarity.

“Hey! Another cold day, no?” Aphia said as she approached the old street vendor. When she saw her come, the old woman smiled, her wrinkled face crinkling even more.

“It’s still the beginning of spring, after all, lady knight.”
“We should both be careful not to catch a cold then. Can I have the usual?”
“The usual it is. Are you headed for the Hill of Promise again?”
“Yes.”

Aphia replied, and the old woman smiled.

“Hehe. I am sure he is happy to see a beautiful woman like you every day. Take care on your way.” The old woman then offered a single, gentle-looking blue flower.

“I hope you’re right. Thank you, I’ll take care.” Aphia said with a gentle smile.

After accepting the flower, Aphia paid the old woman, while also making sure to leave a tip, and turned around to leave.

The old woman looked at the coins in her hand and stopped Aphia, looking a little surprised.

“Lady Knight, please wait! This is…”
“It’s alright, take them.”
“But…”
“Your back’s hurting, isn’t it?”
“Well yes…”

“I’m a knight. I’m familiar with a person’s body, so if I look closely enough, I can tell if someone is hurting. Use that to ask the town doctor to whip up some medicine for you.”
“Lady Knight…”
“If you stop working, just where am I going to buy my flowers from? Take care of yourself. I’ll be back again.”

Aphia said and turned around once more.

‘I am sure he would’ve done the same thing.’

As she watched Aphia walk away, the old woman bowed her head deeply.