REDA | Chapter 20

~Chapter 20~

“Grandfather is the strongest?”

Calix looked at Duke Lux with a doubtful face.

“If you don’t believe me, why don’t you see for yourself?”

“How?”

“Finish your meal nicely, then come with me to the training ground.”

“Are you saying you’ll spar with me?”

“Yes.”

At the word “spar,” Calix’s eyes lit up.

Ruby got worried and tried to stop them.

“Grandfather, I’ll make sure Calix listens in class. You don’t need to push yourself.”

Duke Lux gave her a sharp look.

“You think I’d lose to that boy, don’t you?”

Ruby stayed quiet because he was right.

Most grown men couldn’t beat Calix.

Could an old man like Duke Lux win?

Even if he had been a famous swordsman in the past, a retired fighter is usually much weaker than someone still active.

Ruby was afraid Grandfather might get hurt.

She didn’t want Calix to injure him and make a bad first impression on their very first day living together.

“Of course! Big Sis is always on my side,” Calix said proudly.

“You’ll see soon enough,” Duke Lux replied, starting his meal.

Calix happily began eating, too, very different from how he usually got distracted during meals.

Ruby wondered if Grandfather had said this on purpose just to make Calix eat properly.

Thanks to that, Ruby could focus on helping Sasha with her food.

“Sasha, do you want to watch too?”

“If I finish all of this, can I?”

“Yes.”

“Okay.”

Sasha seriously tried to stab a cherry tomato with her fork, but the round tomato rolled off her plate and bounced onto Duke Lux’s plate.

Duke Lux paused and looked at Sasha.

She shook in fear.

“I’m sorry.”

Ruby quickly stood up to remove the tomato from his plate, but Grandfather moved faster—he calmly picked it up with his fork and ate it.

Ruby and Sasha just stared in shock.

After swallowing, Duke Lux looked at the children.

“What are you staring at? You know how to eat on your own, don’t you?”

“Sasha, eat by yourself,” Ruby encouraged.

“That’s right. You should eat without your sister’s help,” Duke Lux added.

Sasha carefully picked up a piece of lettuce with her fork and shoved it into her mouth.

Balsamic sauce got all over her lips, so Ruby grabbed a napkin to wipe it—but Sasha stopped her.

“I can do it myself,” she said, taking the napkin and wiping her mouth roughly.

Ruby realized Grandfather might be purposely challenging the children’s pride so they would try harder.

“Do I need to feed you too?” he asked Ruby.

“No, I can eat by myself,” she replied quickly.

Because of that, Ruby finally got to enjoy her meal in peace.

She wanted to thank Grandfather, but if the kids overheard, they might realize he was manipulating them, so she stayed quiet.

Even though the salad was cold, Ruby felt warm inside.

***

After the meal, Calix and Duke Lux changed into training clothes and went to the training ground.

“Your Grace?”

The knights looked shocked—Duke Lux never came here in training gear.

“What brings you here, sir?” the knight commander Hans asked.

“I’m here to spar,” Duke Lux said.

The voice, however, came from someone whose head barely reached Hans’s chest—Calix.

“With His Grace?” Hans asked, confused.

“Yes,” Calix replied, walking confidently to the center of the training ground.

“Hurry up!”

“Don’t speak so rudely,” Ruby scolded.

“Tch, fine. Come on, Grandfather.”

Duke Lux didn’t get upset and calmly walked over.

“Don’t cry if you lose,” he warned.

“Me? I’ll never lose!” Calix said proudly.

“Show him what you’ve got, Brother!” Sasha shouted.

“Sasha, where did you learn words like that?” Ruby asked.

“I dunno.”

The knights looked on with interest.

Hans moved beside Ruby.

“Who do you think will win?” he asked.

“Calix,” Ruby answered.

“You really love your brother.”

“What about you?”

“Watch closely,” Hans said.

Calix took an attacking posture, while Duke Lux simply stood there.

“Aren’t we starting?” Calix asked.

“You go first,” Duke Lux said.

Calix jumped forward with his usual fast attack, but Duke Lux only stepped aside to dodge.

Calix’s wooden sword sliced through the air.

Again and again, Calix attacked, but Grandfather only avoided the strikes without countering.

“Are you scared? Why won’t you fight back?” Calix demanded.

“Dodging can also be an attack,” Duke Lux replied.

The more he dodged, the more frustrated Calix became, swinging faster and faster—but he still couldn’t touch Grandfather, not even his clothes.

“His reflexes are better than I thought,” Ruby whispered in surprise.

Hans chuckled. “He once dominated the battlefield. He won’t lose easily.”

Hans then told Ruby to watch Grandfather’s movements closely.

She tried, but he moved so quickly she couldn’t clearly see his form.

“You see? He still trains,” Hans explained.

Ruby was shocked—Grandfather looked over sixty, yet he still practiced regularly.

Hans revealed, “He even has his own private training ground. And his skills are far above most of the knights here.”

If that was true, Calix had chosen a very dangerous opponent.

Ruby watched anxiously.

Calix was starting to tire from his constant attacks.

“Stop dodging!” Calix shouted, out of breath.

“Just hit me, and you’ll win,” Duke Lux said calmly.

Annoyed, Calix steadied himself and swung again, still focused even when angry.

Duke Lux looked impressed but still didn’t counterattack.

Hearing Sasha cheer, Calix’s strikes became sharper, finally brushing Duke Lux’s clothes.

Calix pushed harder, driving Grandfather toward the wall, predicting where he would dodge next.

Just before reaching the wall, Duke Lux swung his wooden sword once, stopping it right at Calix’s neck.

Calix froze.

“I win,” Duke Lux said. “Now, go to your lessons without complaint.”