Chapter 321: A Game of Questions
Chapter 320: A Game of Questions
Lyria’s POV
I nodded.
He demonstrated once again, his movements slow enough for me to observe every detail.
"Remember your footing," he instructed. "A strong strike begins with your stance."
I copied him.
"Excellent."
He smiled encouragingly.
"Now your right."
I drove my right fist forward.
"Very good. And now your left."
I attempted the same movement.
Immediately, I felt how awkward it was.
My balance shifted incorrectly, and the punch lacked confidence.
"Stop there," he said gently.
He stepped closer.
"My apologies, Your Highness."
Before adjusting my posture, he waited just long enough for me to nod.
Only then did he place one hand lightly against my shoulder.
"This is too tense."
His touch was careful and respectful.
"Relax."
He gently repositioned my arm.
"The strength comes from here."
His other hand hovered near my waist without quite touching me.
"Turn your hips."
I followed his instruction.
"Better."
He stepped back.
"Now try once more."
I did.
The movement still felt strange, but noticeably less so than before.
He nodded approvingly.
"Again."
I repeated it.
"And again."
Soon I found myself breathing in rhythm with the strikes.
Right.
Left.
Right.
Left.
Each one became smoother than the last.
"The body learns through repetition," he explained. "One day you shall find yourself performing these movements without conscious thought."
He smiled.
"And that is precisely what we are striving for."
I found myself smiling in return.
"If an opponent believes you favour only your dominant hand," he continued, "then striking with the other may surprise them."
"I s-see."
"It may very well grant you the opportunity to escape."
His expression remained serious.
"I would much rather you flee from danger than remain to prove a point."
"I w-was not p-planning on s-staying," I admitted.
"I am relieved to hear it."
We continued practising for several more minutes.
The rhythm became almost soothing.
Strike.
Recover.
Adjust.
Strike again.
Occasionally he corrected my footing.
Other times he merely nodded quietly with approval.
Eventually he folded his arms.
"You have ceased speaking about yourself, Your Highness."
I paused and only then did I realise he was right.
"I s-suppose I h-have."
A sheepish smile tugged at my lips.
"I m-must confess I d-do not q-quite know what e-else to say."
He did not press me.
Instead, he waited patiently.
It was strangely reassuring.
Then, quite suddenly, an idea came to me.
"H-how about w-we play a g-game?"
His brows lifted at that.
"A game?"
I nodded eagerly.
"It is s-something I p-played with D-Duke Thorncrest."
Recognition crossed his face almost immediately.
"I am suddenly uncertain whether I ought to be concerned."
I laughed.
"N-no. It is q-quite harmless."
He looked mildly relieved.
"I should hope so."
"It is a g-get-to-know-you g-game."
He tilted his head with interest.
"We t-take turns a-asking q-questions."
"And?"
"And w-we must answer h-honestly."
He considered that.
"I see."
"I w-would like t-to know y-you better a-as well, m-my lord," I admitted. "A-and p-perhaps it w-will help m-me o-open up m-more."
I laughed quietly.
"Or p-perhaps it w-will simply h-help me r-remember the things I l-like and d-dislike."
His expression softened considerably.
"I think that sounds like a splendid idea."
My smile widened.
"T-there is o-one rule, t-though."
"Oh?"
"A-anyone who r-refuses to answer a q-question receives a p-punishment."
There was unmistakable amusement in his voice.
"And what dreadful punishment has Your Highness devised?"
I glanced thoughtfully around the training hall.
The space was certainly large enough.
"H-how about o-one lap around the t-training grounds?"
He laughed.
It was a rich, genuine sound that echoed pleasantly throughout the hall.
"Your Highness," he said, still smiling, "that scarcely qualifies as punishment for me."
He paused, a playful glint entering his eyes.
"Are you quite certain you could endure such a consequence yourself should you lose though?"
A playful spark entered my eyes.
"I a-am not p-planning to lose."
His grin broadened.
"There speaks confidence."
"I h-have every i-intention of winning."
"I believe you."
He inclined his head politely.
"Very well. I accept your terms."
I clapped my hands together lightly.
"W-who shall g-go first?"
"You may."
I shook my head.
"N-no. I w-want to hear the sort of q-questions y-you ask."
He considered that for a brief moment.
"As you wish."
He folded his arms thoughtfully and then smiled again—he was doing a lot of that today.
"Who is the most annoying person in the palace?"
I burst into laughter.
"T-that one is e-easy."
He chuckled.
"I suspected it might be."
"There a-are m-many candidates."
I grimaced dramatically.
"B-but a-at present, only o-one comes to mind—M-Marquess Hale."
Earl Hawthorne sighed.
"I feared you might say that."
"You a-agree?"
"I do."
There was not the slightest hesitation.
"I dislike the man a great deal."
Curiosity overcame me.
"W-why is that?"
His expression became one of quiet exasperation.
"I was on my way to visit Alistair some time ago," he began, "accompanied by my guard."
He shook his head.
"Quite by chance, I happened upon the Marquess reprimanding a young maid."
I frowned.
"W-what had she d-done?"
"That," he replied, "is precisely the problem."
His voice carried unmistakable disapproval.
"Very little."
He sighed.
"She had stepped into his path whilst carrying a tray of refreshments. She apologised immediately. Repeatedly, in fact."
He looked thoroughly unimpressed.
"But the Marquess refused to let the matter rest. He spoke to her as though she had committed some unforgivable crime."
His jaw tightened.
"She looked positively terrified."
I felt my own expression harden.
"S-she merely stepped i-into his path?"
"Nothing more."
He shook his head.
"She was also no older than eighteen. And yet he continued chastising her until she burst into tears."
His voice became quieter.
"I dislike seeing those with authority misuse it merely because they possess the power to do so."
I found myself nodding.
"I a-am not e-even surprised."
He looked at me.
"The day y-you and the o-others came t-to visit after I r-recovered, the M-Marquess came a-as well."
Earl Hawthorne’s expression darkened.
"Did he?"
I nodded.
"He d-demanded to s-see me," I continued. "But my m-maid put a s-stop to it."