"I'm here." Lionel quickly answered as he fixed the way he looked.
The sound of footsteps became nearer until a woman appeared from the entrance of the garden. She was dressed in a maid's uniform.
"Ah, there you are, my Lord!" The woman said, slightly panting. Her name was Diana, a woman who had served in the Duke's household even before Lionel was born.
Lionel smiled at the woman.
In his past life, Diana had stayed by his side until the very end. She became his second mother after his own mother had died. However, Diana died too on the day he was killed.
The woman has been by his side for days, but he was still happy every time he saw her. She looked younger now. With his memory, she should be just in her late 30s.
I failed to protect her, he thought silently. But this time… things will be different. A pang of guilt tightened in Lionel's chest.
"My lord, are you alright?" Diana worriedly asked when she noticed his worn-out look. "You seem pale."
Lionel shook his head and forced a small smile. "I'm fine, Diana. I was just lost in thought for a moment."
"I see, My Lord," Diana's expression softened a little. "Anyway, I came to tell you that your swordsmanship class is about to start. Captain Reinhardt is already waiting for you in the training grounds."
"Captain Reinhardt?" Lionel's lips curved slightly upward. "The strict captain?"
"That he is," Diana answered, followed by a chuckle. "If we don't hurry, he'll start lecturing me too for letting you be late, my lord."
"Alright then, let's not make him wait." Lionel let out a sigh.
"As you wish," Diana bowed slightly before straightening up with a fond smile.
As they began walking back toward the mansion, Lionel glanced at her from the corner of his eye. There was something warm and familiar about her presence.
Diana, on the other hand, also stole a curious glance at him
In the past few days, there was something different about the young master, Diana thought.
It was as if he wasn't the boy she'd raised since he was little. Lionel seemed older somehow. As if in the span of days, he suddenly became more mature and wiser.
Just like now. Lionel calmly accepted his lessons, when in the past, it would take him a few persuasions and a few tantrums. Still, she smiled to herself.
Perhaps he's just growing up, she thought again. She knew that boys that age do change fast because they're growing up.
"Hurry up, Diana," Lionel said quietly as they walked along the stone path.
"Yes, my lord," Diana replied with a soft smile before the two of them hastened their steps.
The sound of their footsteps echoed softly as Lionel and Diana walked down the long hallway that led to the training grounds.
When the large wooden doors opened, Lionel was greeted by the scent of steel and the loud sound of swords clashing together.
The training ground was huge. It was wide enough that it could accommodate hundreds of men at once.
On one side of the training ground, there were rows of practice dummies that the soldiers used in their training. Some were already cut and worn from countless drills. Beside it stood a rack full of swords and spears in steel and wood.
While on the opposite side of the training ground lie a row of straw targets used for training archery. At the far corner back, there was also a large enclosure to learn horseback riding.
Everything you need to train is here.
Aside from that, their training ground was no ordinary area. It was a place worthy of a duke's household. It was the same ground that produced countless knights who stayed loyal to their house and the kingdom.
As soon as Lionel stepped inside, the room went completely silent.
The soldiers, most of whom were grown men, froze mid-swing. The sound of their swords clashing stopped, and one by one, they turned toward the door.
"Greetings, young master!" they all said together, bowing respectfully.
Lionel smiled at it. How he missed being called that way, instead of duke.
"You may return to training," He nodded slightly.
The men went back to their drills immediately afterward. Some remained staring at Lionel, confused at the sudden seriousness in his tone.
But Lionel, his gaze was glued on the man who was standing at the center of the ground. Captain Reinhardt.
Reinhardt looked to be in his early forties. He had broad shoulders and was standing tall like a rock. He has short dark hair, while his face is average. The man had a scar on his face that ran down from his temple to his brows, a mark from his old battles.
But what stood out most was his expression. He had a stern look on his face, and his emotions were almost unreadable.
"You're late today after not missing classes for a couple of days," Reinhardt said in a low and commanding tone. Even without shouting, his voice carried a heavy authority that made even seasoned soldiers straighten their backs.
In the training ground, there were no rankings of nobility. In here, Reinhardt was the captain, and Lionel was his student.
"I apologize, Sir. It won't happen again." Lionel met his gaze calmly. Unlike the past, when he would throw a tantrum, he decided to accept his mistake today and apologize for it.
For a moment, Lionel just looked at the man in front of him. Captain Reinhardt.
He used to hate him.
In his past life, Reinhardt was the strictest person he'd ever met. Every training session with him felt like torture. He remembered how the captain made him swing a sword a thousand times until his arms went numb or run laps around the field until his legs gave out.
He even remembered cursing the man in his sleep almost every day until he became an adult.
But now, standing here again, Lionel couldn't help but actually appreciate him just a little. Back then, he never understood him. He thought he was just a cruel and heartless man who enjoyed making him suffer.
Now he knew better.
All those harsh lessons and exhausting drills were what made him strong enough to survive as long as he did. And even when everything fell apart, Reinhardt never betrayed their family.
He stayed with sword in hand, defending the estate until his last breath. That's why he deserved nothing but respect.
Well, that was for the future. Right now, since he was still young, he still hates him a little.
"Since you're late," Reinhardt said, crossing his arms. "You know what to do, young man."
Lionel let out a quiet sigh. "Of course, Captain." A faint smile tugged at his lips. It was weird to act as docile as this one.
"I guess I have no choice."
One of the nearby soldiers nervously brought a training sword and handed it to him. They know that Lionel was really not the best at using swords.
"I know I'll already lose," Lionel whispered to himself before tightening his hold on the sword. The blade was dull and worn, but it felt familiar in Lionel's grip. He turned it slightly, the metal catching the light.
"It's just like before…" He took a step forward with a firm stance.
"But this time, I won't lose without a fight." His eyes remained staring at the captain, who was also preparing to duel at the side.
"I'll show you, Captain," he whispered to himself softly. "The results of your hard work in the future you have yet to see."