Life as a Tower Maid: Locked up with the Prince

Chapter 204

Translator: Yonnee

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“…Are you not going to face me with a real sword?”

As though his pride was slighted, Liam murmured quietly.
Albert paused for a moment before he replied.

“If you win against me while I’m using a wooden sword, we’ll have a match with real swords later.”

Despite Albert’s words, he wasn’t trying to wound Liam’s ego.

There’s a reason behind them using just wooden swords here.
I didn’t need to think deeply as to what this reason was.

Swords weren’t cheap at all.
As House Grey was pouring all their assets into gambling, the household could not afford to set aside enough for Albert to have a proper sword.
And Greta was surely not helping.

Duke Masen might have already caught on to this.
He had an unreadable gaze set upon Albert.

Chewing his lower lip, Liam then grabbed onto his own sword’s hilt and held it up straight.
Albert stood on the other side with his wooden sword.

“Then— Start.”

While sitting on the bench, Duke Masen stood as the judge between the two contenders.

As soon as the duke’s voice rang, Liam rushed straight at Albert.
He was moving faster than I could have anticipated.

Making the first move, Liam swung down with his sword, which then broke through the air and made a distinct sound.
Albert stepped aside and lightly dodged the attack.

It would be difficult to strike back against a real sword when your own weapon was made only out of wood.

The weight and material of each kind were completely different.
So, as Liam lunged forward, Albert instead chose to dodge and lodge an attack where Liam was unguarded.

The wooden sword headed towards Liam’s side, but before it could even hit the boy squarely, Albert halted his movements.

Intimidated by the dizzying speed of his opponent, Liam briefly closed his eyes while anticipating the blow.
However, when nothing came, he opened his eyes, puzzled.

“…Why did you stop?”

“We’re here for a spar, but that doesn’t mean I’ll let you get hurt for no reason.”

Albert pulled the wooden sword back as he said this.
Liam’s face flushed bright red.

“It’s fine even if I get all beaten up.
Please give me your best.”

“If you sincerely wish for that, please come back after you’re done training more.”

In just this short exchange, the difference in skills between the two boys was plain and clear.

Both I and Duke Masen could see this.
However, in fact, it must be Liam who could feel this difference the most.

“But I trained real hard already…”

Liam muttered to himself.
Perhaps feeling like Salieri in front of Mozart, Liam bowed his head down while gripping his sword tighter in his hand, ordinary against prodigy.

But it’s not that Liam was completely devoid of talent.
It’s just that Albert was brimming with too much of it.

For a moment, Albert’s gaze flitted towards me.
He blinked.

It’s as if he was thinking about something.

In time, Albert pursed his lips together before soon opening them again to speak.

“That’s right.
You’re much better than the last time we had a match.”

I thought he’d just leave it at that, but it’s a bit surprising to see Albert encouraging Liam now.

The future Albert who I knew was someone deserving of countless upon countless of compliments, but the Albert right now was awkward in everything that he did, like a wounded kitten.

“Really?”

Liam’s cheeks grew red after hearing what Albert said.

“Then, please spar with me again next time.”

“Okay.”

Candidly, Albert nodded in agreement, and at this, Liam smiled brightly.

That refreshing smile was so jarring to see, considering how brusque he was in the future.

“Well done, Liam.
Now, I’ll be discussing a few things first with the Young Count, so head back inside first.
You’ll be too excited if you stay here, so you won’t be able to rest properly.”

“…I understand.”

I didn’t think either that Liam would follow the duke’s words so obediently and innocently, but against my expectations, it’s exactly how he acted.

It seemed like he was somewhat aware that his presence here would burden Albert.

And evidently, Duke Masen’s visit wasn’t only for the sake of Albert’s and his son’s sparring session.

Only when he saw Liam leaving the mansion did Duke Masen turn around, visibly more relieved.

“Then, may I have a cup of tea with you?”

“Of course.”

Albert was aware of this as well, and he answered the duke with a low voice.

He and Duke Masen entered the small drawing room.

“Here it is, I’ve prepared it!”

Greten made a fuss as she began to set down the refreshments she had prepared in advance.
The quality of the tea and desserts wasn’t as bad as I had initially expected.

The tableware that’s been provided in the mansion were luxurious enough, and the color of the tea seemed subtly palatable.
This showed how Greten had paid at least some attention to it.

She bowed her head constantly with a wide smile on her face.
She did not forget to say, “Thank you ever so much, Duke Masen, for all the gifts.” Then, silence reigned as she walked out the door, leaving only two people inside.

Albert did not say anything at first.
Duke Masen likewise remained silent, taking a sip of tea before setting the cup back down.
They both seemed to be in favor of getting down to business immediately.

“May I ask what it is that you want to say to me?”

As Albert said this, Duke Masen stared at the boy.

“…Young Count, I don’t wish to be involved in the imminent battle.”

The man’s gaze was as serious as ever.

“A power struggle will only result in the destruction of many people’s lives.
It is dishonorable, but I shall remain as a bystander on the sidelines.”

Listening as Duke Masen was saying this, I briefly caught sight of a tuft of black hair, only slightly visible through the window.

And it was a familiar tuft of black hair.
I quickly approached the window.

It was Liam.
I thought he had gone back when he boarded the carriage earlier, but it seemed like he came back without anyone knowing.

“Just what is Father saying…”

While grumbling, Liam placed his ear against the window.

After this room was cleaned earlier, there was one window that hadn’t been properly closed.
Liam began to eavesdrop on the conversation of the two people inside.

Not noticing any of this, Albert and Duke Masen continued their discussion.

“Please completely sever ties with my son.”

I knew that Duke Masen was considering the imminent future.
He could see the future that would unfold between the present king and Albert, just as Greten also foresaw it.

Besides that, he was also fully aware of how much his precious son, Liam, admired Albert.

“I don’t wish for that child to be caught up in any political strife.”

In the present, Liam was already the duke, but even though he knew Albert for a long time, he couldn’t stop Albert from getting locked up in the tower.

Liam also had a reason for this, as it seemed.

He was unable to help Albert until he completely inherited the dukedom.