Chapter 18: Chapter XVIII

Choosing

The wind rustled his dark brown hair and his forest green eyes shone under the sunlight. He smirked at me, not lowering his sword. I looked him the eyes, “Are you still raising your sword against me, Sir Thelonious,” 

 

He chuckled and raised it to my chin, making me raise my head to avoid it. “I apologise, but I think that is where my sword lies, against your throat,” He said aggressively but still smiling.

 

I sighed once more, and moved away from the sword. He finally lowered it and sheathed it. “What are you doing here, Astelle? This isn’t the garden.” He said in a condescending manner. “I’m aware of that fact, I’m going to look at the knights,” I walked away from him and toward the training grounds.

 

I could hear his footsteps behind me, “Why?” he asked, sounding genuinely confused. Is he an idiot? Why else would I go there? I sighed and turned around suddenly.

 

He stopped immediately, “Hey! Idiot! Don’t turn around so suddenly!” he yelled. “I’m going to the training grounds for the only reason I would, to pick a knight,” I informed him, and turned back around and started walking again, a bit faster this time to put him as far away from me as possible.

 

He may hate me more than I can see at the moment, he sister surely does.

Suddenly, I hear footsteps, running footsteps, and he appears before me. “What do you mean by that?” he asked angrily confused. I looked at him as if he were an idiot, which he proved he was.

 

“Don’t give me that look! You have never shown interest in picking a knight! Why now?!” he yelled more, louder and louder with each question. “Why should I give you, who's currently yelling at me for absolutely nothing, my reason?” I told him, he is getting more annoying every second and is wasting my time.

 

This was the third male lead, as well as someone who despised Astelle as much as Xavier did. However, he never really bothered with her much in the novel. It was his fault Astelle died, he hated her enough to be the reason she died.

 

He always suspected her and it was always him who gave Astelle’s name as the suspect for the female lead’s attempted assassination. “Listen here, if you think your family can save you from me, you are dead wrong,” he threatened me as he held me from my collar. “What do our families have to do with this? Where the hell is your mind at idiot, huh?”

 

...I am so fucked.

 

I said that without thinking, I said hell! I said idiot! I said huh! Ah! Astelle, I’m so sorry! That's so not lady-like!

 

He released me immediately like he was shocked, “What did you” that’s all I heard before I interrupted him, “If you’re done with your little jester play, I am leaving, I have somewhere to be,” I said with a complete blank face and hope he think he hallucinated it.

 

I walked away calmly but as quickly as I could. 

 

τμ∀τ ω∀ℑ τμε ∑øℑτ ∫øøΙïℑμ τμïηδ λø∪ ⊂ø∪Ι∂'∇ε ∂∅ηε.

 

I could not understand what I assume Astelle jus said, but it awfully felt like she berated me and I do not blame her. I finally reach the damn training grounds, this better work or I am going to suffer a lot.

 

“Lady Astelle of house Asterion,” a grown man in the heaviest looking armour I have ever seen since I arrived here. “What are you doing here, my lady?” it seemed he knew me, and very closely related too. I felt a pressure on my head.

 

Sir Ezekiel…? Yeah, thank God for these memories, and he’s my sword training tutor. Finally, some good luck. “Good afternoon, Sir, I have a request, if you can pardon it,” I spoke politely to my supposed teacher. 

 

This is going to be dumb; I am not even sure if this will work. He smiled widely at me, “Of course! What is it?” He said very happily. A person who doesn’t hate me, how nice. I relished in the man’s smile. He looked like a typical captain of the knights, with light brown hair almost blonde, and hazel eyes. He had a neat beard and a scar on his right left cheek below his eye. 

He waited patiently as I observed him, I coughed, crap, what’s wrong with me today? Cold, stern personality, that is what Astelle was like. I told him my request. He widened his eyes and immediately repeated it back to me, to make sure what he heard was what I said. I nodded surely and he looked taken aback.

You are reading story The Villainess’s Curse at novel35.com

 

“But why?” he asked me, though not outright refusing me. “I need a knight who’s better than me, who can defend me better than I can myself, so what better way than to fight them myself?”

 

He was slack-jawed at my response but nodded. “This is interesting, if I may, my own pupil fighting against those I’ve trained.” He added, smiling widely. What a wholesome man. Ah! To make sure I don’t get hated unnecessarily…

 

“Those who lose to me, please do not punish them harshly, I do not wish to make more enemies,” I added in, he looked at me after he called all his trainee-to-be-knights over. He nodded, but he did look worried. 

 

“All of you, listen clearly!” he boomed loudly. I flinched at the sudden loud voice but kept a calm face. Oh, Astelle, if this is possible, please speak now or I am doomed.

 

λø∪ ∀Γε ∀η ï∂ïøτ ∫øΓ ∂øïηδ τμïℑ ωïτμø∪τ ∀ηλ þΓïøΓ þΙ∀ηηïηδ.

 

I do not understand but that’s good enough for me. I looked at all their faces as Sir Ezekiel explained what they were going to do. Some looked shocked, others finding it ridiculous and some worried.

 

However, there was one who had no reaction but a soft, but still oddly anticipated, smile. Interesting. I’ll keep him in mind then.

 

“Sir, with all due respect, but does this noble lady really believe she can beat even one of us?” one smug faced trainee spoke up. Sir Ezekiel was about to hush him up. 

 

However, I wanted to deal with him first. “Then, with all due respect, would you like to try first?” I spoke up, looking straight into the boy’s eyes. He smirked, “Then, my lady, do not weep when you’ve been defeated and still on the ground,” His buddy beside him elbowed him.

 

I asked Sir Ezekiel to prepare the area for us. He complied but look enraged at the boy’s words. “Do not fret over such words, teacher,” I calmed him down, yes, but I was fuming. How dare this damn kid?! Ugh! He’s not even a side character! Don’t think you’re so high above me bastard!

 

I know I said I don’t want any more enemies but I want to ruin this guy’s reputation so bad!

 

We were given wooden swords. “Before we begin, do you wish to go in the defence or offense?” this was the important question of all.

 

“Of course, offense, not to be rude, my lady, but I don’t think you know how to fight on the offense,” he laughed. “Alright, then, I’ll be on the defence,” ugh, he’s so obnoxious.

 

“Once I say begin, you shall begin, you’ve been given wooden swords out of safety for both of the competitors, do not harm or cause lethal injury to each other, to win hold the wooden sword to the neck a meter away,” Sir Ezekiel listed the rules.

 

“Begin!” He yelled and thus, we began.

 

He was down before five minutes even passed. I don’t know what happened myself, I just moved way too fast for myself to even register. He ran into the duel first, trying to get the jump on me. I evaded, and turned around to hold his sword with mine. 

 

He grunted as I pushed him back with the sword. He leaped forward again and I stepped aside, turned around and held the sword to his neck from the back.

 

“Lady Astelle wins this duel!” Sir Ezekiel yells out loud, and a bit too proudly.