Chapter 431

Chapter 54 Hidden Currents

“Let me hold you…”

Her tone was calm and straightforward when she said this, but it made me quickly lower my head, clenching my fists under the chair. My heart raced with fear and anxiety; I was too afraid to agree immediately, yet I didn’t want to refuse either, leaving my mind in chaos.

“Why…”

The words slipped out of my mouth subconsciously, so softly that even I could barely hear them.

But Victoria heard me clearly.

“Why?” she countered, her tone turning firm. “Is there really a need for a reason just to hold you?”

I dared not look up at her, keeping my eyes on the ground as I heard rustling sounds from her side. Victoria seemed to have shifted her posture. “You made a promise with me back then, saying that holding you was okay.”

Ah…

Did I say that?

I think I did… but then again, maybe I didn’t…

“Come sit over here.”

She won’t change her mind…

Forget it, might as well…

I stood up, still looking down, and slowly walked over. “Just holding, you can’t… Ah!”

Victoria grabbed my hand and pulled me into her embrace, making me sit on her lap as she gently held me.

At this moment, my heart tightened. My waist straightened, my fists clenched, and I dared not lean back or move around, nor did I dare to look back at her. My mind was blank.

After a moment of silence, she suddenly said, “I’m not surprised at all that Lady Bertha would pass on her swordsmanship to you.”

Huh?

She’s talking about this now… what does she mean…

“Lady Bertha… She understood long ago. She knew that her time was limited, and several years ago, she began planning for some things. Many of the elderly lady’s thoughts and actions were clear to me.”

Victoria spoke while gently stroking my back.

So this is what she wanted to tell me…

“I know she thought about many things. Once, she found me and talked about the teacher’s swordsmanship, saying it should be passed on to more young people… But she hesitated for a long time. Because the teacher’s swordsmanship, ultimately, is an extremely vicious killing art, and I believe you can see that too. If such swordsmanship falls into the hands of those who lack self-restraint or even have ill intentions, no one can predict how they might wreak havoc in the world, becoming a great scourge. Yet, most people lack self-restraint, making it difficult for Lady Bertha’s ideas to be realized…”

Think about it…

It is indeed true.

It’s like if you had the ability to manufacture AK-47s and could give them to anyone, but who knows what those people would use them for—whether for good or evil—it’s impossible to guarantee.

Master Sword Saint’s swordsmanship is much more terrifying than AK-47s to this world.

Therefore, one must be cautious.

“She originally placed her hopes on me. She told me that if one day she and the teacher were gone, she hoped I could continue to pass on the swordsmanship, giving it to more people with a sense of justice… But I can’t do it. I can’t inherit the essence of the teacher’s swordsmanship.”

“Why?”

I felt uncomfortable in her embrace, twisting slightly, relaxing my body and leaning back.

Otherwise, it’s tiring…

“Because I am a member of the royal family, and now I am the ruler of a country. Such an identity means I cannot devote myself to the study of swordsmanship, nor do I particularly enjoy it, and I’ve even had resistance before.”

Victoria hugged my waist, placing her hand on my lower abdomen, massaging it gently.

…Just talk, why are you rubbing my stomach?

I lightly slapped her hand.

But she ignored it and continued to rub: “Body techniques, swordsmanship, ultimately, are all killing arts, with the teacher’s sword being the most terrifying. Many people say it is the purest, almost artistic method of killing. Due to the teacher’s sword path being too clean and fierce, to fully utilize it requires the swordsman to have… an unwavering will to kill.”

As she rubbed, she found the center of my navel and started to poke with her fingers.

“Don’t poke…”

I hit her hand with mine.

But she kept poking.

So I hit her again and held her hand firmly.

Victoria continued speaking, her breath brushing against the back of my neck: “When the enemy reveals their weakness, without hesitation or delay, accurately strike the vital point, ending their life… Such cold and decisive intent may sound simple, but most ordinary people, kind-hearted individuals, cannot actually do it… Those who can do it are often ruthless bandits and outlaws.”

“Kind, upright, just, with a heart full of love. While gaining great power, they also know how to restrain themselves, acting decisively when drawing the sword and resolutely when sheathing it. Only such people have the right to inherit the teacher’s sword… So long ago, I already guessed that Lady Bertha would surely pass on the swordsmanship to you.”

Huh…

Is she praising me?

I feel a bit happy…

“But you lack the will to kill and don’t have such awareness. You are too kind, perhaps you won’t be able to master its essence in the end…”

Victoria calmed down for a moment, then started to get restless again, freeing herself from my grip and rubbing my waist and lower abdomen, as if caressing a beloved toy. Her head came close from behind, her chin resting on my shoulder, her head gently touching mine.

“However, Peipei… I just like you this way.”

“…You, oh…”

After all this, she tells me this…

How embarrassing…

How can she be so shameless…

I felt my body weaken, my cheeks flushing, as if boneless, lying down in Victoria’s arms under the quiet moonlight of the night garden.

My originally tense mood somehow, unbeknownst to me, relaxed to the point where I didn’t want to move. My eyes slowly closed, thinking, Victoria is still rubbing my stomach, it feels so comfortable… so comfortable it makes me sleepy… I’m a bit drowsy…

Hey…

I suddenly opened my eyes, tightly closing my legs, desperately grabbing her hand heading towards my lower abdomen, shouting in embarrassment, “How could you! Where are you touching!”

“What’s wrong? I’m just massaging your stomach.”

“I… I don’t want you to massage anymore…”

“Are you uncomfortable?”

“It’s not uncomfortable… but… ah, you’re… a pervert…”

“So what?”

“…”

“I just like you.”

“…”

“I want to blend you into my body…”

She held me tighter, squeezing me so hard I couldn’t breathe.

“If only I could always hold you like this…”

“In such a garden, doing nothing, spending each day pruning flowers and weeding, just holding you…”

“…Don’t say anymore…” I covered my blushing face, “Why are you acting like this today…”

She didn’t drink much alcohol…

…

Victoria pressed her face closer.

“Peipei.”

“Mm…”

I was already dazed, my head spinning.

“In the future, make dinner for me again…”

“Alright.”

“Um…”

“Tomorrow morning, accompany me to see Lady Bertha.”

“Um…”

“I’ll sleep with you tonight.”

“Um… Ah! No…”

“I’ve sweated, I need a bath.”

“Can I go to your place to wash?”

“The bathhouse was dismantled by Schalman for repairs.”

“…”

That night.

The moon was hidden behind clouds.

…………

Early the next morning, I went with Victoria to pay respects to Grandma Bertha. We prayed in front of her memorial tablet and offered flower bouquets.

Grandma Bertha’s memorial tablet was placed in the Royal College church. Victoria brought me in her unicorn carriage—nowadays she always had soldiers escorting her. With this unique, elegant carriage and the privilege to enter the college gate at will, everyone would stare in amazement as we passed, immediately guessing who was inside the carriage. Many followed us all the way to the church just to catch a glimpse of the noble queen.

Although Grandma Bertha’s funeral wasn’t grand, after learning of her passing, students came in waves to pay their respects. There were many people around here every day recently. To ensure safety, the soldiers politely cleared the area, but they couldn’t stop the constant stream of onlookers. My and Victoria’s descent from the carriage was inevitably seen by the students.

I guess rumors will soon spread wildly and become more exaggerated.

No matter. I don’t really care anymore.

After the ceremony, Victoria, busy with her duties, left the college. I returned to the tower to continue my peaceful campus life.

I took a one-and-a-half-day leave, missing one abyss class. Sarah helped me take notes; the content wasn’t particularly important, but she was unusually serious. She feared I might overlook something that could lead to problems in future battles. After all, she only listened to the abyss class, while I had to face those monsters. Sarah understood this, so her little face was solemn and tense as she explained everything to me until she felt she had made herself clear.

Due to Professor Melville becoming the new principal, the administrator of the tower by Ceylon Lake changed again.

It was a middle-aged woman nearing old age, kind in appearance, seemingly easy to talk to, but actually strict and disciplined. It was said she was once a formidable warrior. Once, I hurried to the cafeteria and jumped down from the third-floor staircase out of impatience. She saw this, scolded me harshly and made me write a self-examination. She kept me there for a long time, delaying my meal, which was infuriating. I didn’t like her much.

But I didn’t dislike her either.

Sophia has been busier lately.

According to her, her father has officially started assigning her tasks. This year is when the Jaslin family is thriving, and since gaining her father’s approval, she has gradually been involved in the core affairs and resources of the family. Recently, her father has also intended to expose her to public view, planning to truly groom her as the future heir of the family.

So she has been taking leaves of absence frequently, attending formal events and participating in core family meetings. The circles she now interacts with are no longer the small, petty nobles as before.

However, Sophia hasn’t neglected her studies because of this. Sometimes, I wake up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom and find her still reading by lamp light. Occasionally, if she falls asleep from exhaustion, I cover her with a blanket.

Compared to Sophia’s efforts, looking back at Sarah’s recent behavior… She did try hard for about a month after the May Day night, then began to slack off, finding various excuses not to practice swordsmanship.

Sometimes, when I look at both of them, I think… The gap between people isn’t usually about who is smarter, but rather about this.

Nobles remain nobles, especially those who have endured through generations. They are called “upper class” not just because of luck or being with the right leader, but also because the difference between them and commoners is often obvious.

In history, those declining nobles or even royal families often decline because, in the next generation or the generations after, there are no more people like Sophia. Instead, they become like her brothers—according to Sophia, her brother, upon returning to the capital, first blamed her for not leaving the city, almost causing the whole family to be trapped. After that, he sought pleasure with women.

She laughed happily when saying these things, as if joking.

Sometimes, seeing Sophia’s effort motivates me too. Originally, I planned to practice for three hours, but I might think, why not extend it by another half hour or even an hour… until I get hungry.

Having such a friend by my side feels really good.

Of course, I’m not saying Sarah is bad.

Sarah is a truly good girl. Although lazy, she is honest, brave, kind-hearted, and a good friend. If she ever becomes a knight, she will surely be an excellent one.

Everyone has their own way of living.

But in my eyes, those who strive to achieve themselves are more charming.

As for the other girl in the dormitory, Daisy…

She remains the same. When not in classes, she spends most of her time in the dormitory, doing nothing much, often aimless, going wherever we go, not talking much, wanting little, without goals or ambitions, but perhaps the happiest and most carefree among us.

Perhaps she will always be like this.

Some people, as long as they live without disasters, have a loving partner and a harmonious family, can be very happy and content—this is actually a mindset that many envy.

Daisy will probably become a good wife.

In any case, the three girls of Room 1504 will always be my friends.

Days turned over page by page.

In these few days, I haven’t seen Beaudet much.

I remember it seemed to start from early July. He became rarely seen, and later it was as if he vanished. At first, I didn’t notice much, but I found out Beaudet was missing when I suddenly wanted to eat donuts from Kurri Street one morning. I decided to ask him to skip class and buy some for me, but couldn’t find him. Asking Sarah, I learned he had taken leave from the college long ago.

No one seemed to know what he was busy with.

Maybe he had some important matters…

After all, it was heard that his grandfather, Cardinal Saint George, had also left the capital recently.

Regarding the disputes within the Valen Empire, the news reports later mentioned Count Lafayette winning without losing a single soldier, consecutively capturing three northern cities. The generals and soldiers inside the cities had lost their fighting spirit long ago, even turning against each other. By the time the feared Santel army arrived, they lacked the courage to resist.

I was happy for this.

Things seemed indeed to be heading in a good direction.

And this peaceful and comfortable life in the academy would continue indefinitely, until the end-of-year holiday when I could finally go home.

I thought it could be like this.