Chapter: 4 - Chanced bond

Later that morning, Milo couldn’t shake the strange feeling from his encounter with the duke. As much as he wanted to forget it, the whole exchange had stirred something inside him – a spark of curiosity and excitement, tinged with just a little bit of fear.

"Milo," his mother called softly as she set a small cup of tea in front of him. "Are you alright, sweetheart?"

Milo blinked, realizing he’d been staring at the table in silence. "Yeah, I’m fine, Mom. Just… thinking."

"About what?" His mom gave him a knowing smile. "Is it about the duke’s daughter?"

Milo’s cheeks flushed a deep red. "N-No!" he stammered, avoiding her gaze. "I mean… maybe a little."

His mom chuckled, a soft, warm sound. "You know, it’s alright to be curious. She’s around your age, after all, and it might be nice for you to have a friend. You spend too much time wandering the village on your own."

Milo sighed, taking a sip of the tea. "I just… I don’t know if she’d even want to be friends. She probably thinks I’m just some nosy commoner."

"Well," his mom said, her smile turning mischievous, "you’ll never know if you don’t try."

That afternoon, Milo couldn’t help but find himself wandering back toward the duke’s estate. He told himself he was just out for another walk, but he knew that wasn’t true. His feet carried him up the path, and before he knew it, he was standing once again near the iron gate.

To his surprise, he spotted a small figure moving around in the courtyard, swinging a wooden practice sword with swift, precise movements. It was the duke’s daughter, Risa. She moved with such concentration and precision that Milo found himself captivated, watching from a distance as she performed each strike and block with ease.

As if sensing his gaze, Risa suddenly stopped mid-swing and turned toward him. Her eyes narrowed, and for a moment, Milo thought she might yell at him for spying. Instead, she simply walked over to the gate, lifting her chin in that haughty way she had.

“Are you back to snoop on our house again, commoner?” she asked, crossing her arms.

Milo gulped, but tried to keep his voice steady. “I wasn’t snooping! I was just… out for a walk.”

Risa raised an eyebrow, her expression skeptical. “Sure you were.” She let out a soft ‘hmph’ and looked him over. “You don’t look like much of a fighter. What are you doing watching me practice?”

Milo’s curiosity got the better of him. “I… I’ve never really seen anyone train like that before. You looked… well, really strong.”

For a moment, Risa seemed taken aback. But she quickly recovered, her expression turning haughty once more. “Of course I’m strong. My father is the Duke of Balhae, and I’ve been trained by the best instructors in the kingdom.”

Milo couldn’t help but be impressed. He’d heard stories of nobles being trained in swordsmanship and magic, but he hadn’t seen it up close before. “I… I don’t know how to use a sword,” he admitted, a bit embarrassed. “My dad says it’s not safe for kids to handle weapons until they’re older.”

Risa rolled her eyes. “You don’t know how to use a sword?” She sounded almost exasperated. “What are you going to do if you’re attacked by bandits or wild animals? Run and hide?”

Milo bristled at her tone. “I may not know how to fight, but I’m not afraid of anything!” he shot back, his voice rising.

Risa smirked, clearly amused. “Oh really? Not afraid of anything?” She held out the practice sword, hilt-first. “Prove it. Let’s see what you’ve got.”

Milo hesitated, staring at the wooden sword. He’d never held a weapon before, let alone used one in a fight. But Risa’s challenging gaze spurred him on. He took the sword from her, feeling its weight in his hands. It was heavier than he expected, but he tried his best to look confident.

Risa took a step back, watching him with a critical eye. “Alright, commoner. Show me your stance.”

Milo awkwardly held the sword in front of him, trying to imitate the way he’d seen her stand earlier. Risa sighed, rolling her eyes.

“Your grip is all wrong,” she muttered, stepping closer. She reached out, adjusting his hands on the hilt. Her touch was surprisingly gentle, and for a moment, Milo felt his heart skip a beat.

“There,” she said, taking a step back. “Now, try swinging it.”

Milo did as she said, swinging the sword in a wide arc. He stumbled a bit, barely managing to keep his balance. Risa shook her head, letting out a sigh.

“You really are hopeless,” she said, though there was a hint of amusement in her voice. “But… I suppose everyone has to start somewhere.”

Milo felt his cheeks burn with embarrassment. “I may not know much now,” he muttered, “but I’ll get better. Just you wait.”

Risa crossed her arms, her smirk widening. “We’ll see about that, commoner.”

Over the next few days, Milo found himself visiting the duke’s estate more often than he’d planned. Each time, he found some excuse to pass by, hoping for another chance encounter with Risa. And, much to his surprise, she didn’t seem to mind his presence.

In fact, after a while, she started to expect him. Each afternoon, she’d be out in the courtyard, waiting with her practice sword. She’d roll her eyes and call him names like “clumsy commoner” or “useless Milo,” but she’d also patiently correct his stance, guide his movements, and even give him tips on footwork.

At first, Milo found her attitude infuriating. She was bossy, sarcastic, and seemed to take great pleasure in pointing out his mistakes. But as time went on, he began to see a different side of her. Beneath her prickly exterior, there was a surprising kindness, a gentle touch when adjusting his grip, a quiet word of encouragement when he managed a decent swing.

And slowly, Milo began to improve. His swings became smoother, his stance more stable. He started to understand the basics of swordplay, and though he still had a long way to go, he could tell that Risa was impressed.

One afternoon, after a particularly intense practice session, Risa sat down on the steps of the estate, watching as Milo caught his breath. She looked thoughtful, her usual smug expression replaced by something softer.

“You know, Milo,” she said quietly, “you’re not as terrible as I thought you’d be. Maybe you really could make it into the Royal Academy.”

Milo looked up, surprised by the unexpected compliment. “You think so?”

Risa shrugged, glancing away as if embarrassed. “I mean, don’t get your hopes up. You’re still pretty clumsy. But… you have potential.”

Milo couldn’t help but smile. “Thanks, Risa. That… that means a lot.”

They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, both staring out over the village below. The sun was beginning to set, casting a warm glow over the landscape.

“Do you… ever get lonely up here?” Milo asked, surprising even himself with the question.

Risa stiffened, her usual guarded expression slipping back into place. “I don’t need friends, if that’s what you’re asking,” she said, her voice sharp. “I’m the daughter of a duke. I have responsibilities.”

Milo nodded, sensing that he’d hit a nerve. “Yeah… I get it. But, you know… it’s okay to want friends too.”

Risa didn’t respond, but he noticed her glancing at him out of the corner of her eye, her expression unreadable.

After a moment, she stood up, brushing the dust off her clothes. “Come on, commoner,” she said, her tone brisk. “Let’s see if you can remember what I taught you yesterday.”

Milo grinned, grabbing the practice sword and preparing for another round. As they sparred, he couldn’t help but feel that, beneath her prickly exterior, Risa might just be as lonely as he was. And maybe, just maybe, they could help each other feel a little less alone.

                                                                                            (To be continued)