The training grounds were exceptionally lively today.
By the time Lilian arrived, the field was already filled with young knights.
They were lined up, marching in formation.
It looked like they were rehearsing something.
Shaya waved to Lilian from nearby.
โWhatโs going on today? Shouldnโt everyone be resting at this hour?โ
โWasnโt it said that some high-ranking noble would be coming? Todayโs the day.โ
Oh, so it wasnโt anything related to Count Kohnโs family after all.
Count Kohn was still away at war, and the young lady of the household had no plans to travel.
Then who could it be?
Most likely some noble connected to the military.
โSo, Iโm training alone today?โ
Shaya nodded. โBesides the usual physical training, just focus on perfecting those stances. The entire knight corps will be busy all day.โ
โDonโt slack off just because Iโm not around.โ
โDonโt worry.โ
Lilian waved her hand and stepped into the smaller training ground to begin her session.
After a week of intense training, Lilian had gained a clearer understanding of the systemโs capabilities.
Besides the โEffort Rewards,โ the system also had a function called โOnce Learned, Never Forgotten.โ
Thatโs rightโonce Lilian reached this level, she would never regress.
Knowledge she had acquired would come back to her easily, even if left unused for a long time, and she could skillfully apply it.
If she wanted, Lilian could now recite all the medical knowledge she had learned backward.
Similarly, when it came to basic swordsmanship, others needed constant practice to maintain their foundation.
But for Lilian, once she learned something, it was learnedโno need for constant reinforcement. This significantly boosted her leveling efficiency.
Therefore, the basic swordsmanship Shiaya taught had already brought Lilian to Lv.1, the entry-level rank.
Continuing stance training alone would be pointless.
Lilian planned to use the stance training time for physical conditioning instead.
Evening had already settled in.
โCharge!โ
The knight corps members were drilling in unison on the field.
This was the last event of the rehearsal.
โAll right! Ready! Form up!โ
At Martinโs command, the knights quickly and neatly formed their ranks.
They looked every bit a disciplined military unit.
โYour Highness, how does it look to you?โ
Ophelia de Xipetta appeared quite satisfied. She nodded, acknowledging the unit.
Captain Martin let out a breath of relief.
Ophelia turned and entered the building.
The method she had gleaned from her dream was indeed effective. If this unit could synchronize the [Reinforcement] seal, their combat power might multiply.
However, there seemed to be more to this method.
Unfortunately, Ophelia had yet to see that dark green figureโwho had revealed the technique to her in the dreamโagain.
No, it couldnโt exactly be called a dream.
The version of herself in that vision was clearly older than her current age.
Was it the future?
Who was that dark green figure?
โYour Highness, I reported to you earlier about the situation regarding Count Kohnโs familyโฆโ
โHmโฆ The maidโฆ right?โ
Lilian Elward, who claimed to be a maid from Count Kohnโs household, had completed the basic knight training within a week and was already learning swordsmanship.
But intelligence gathered showed that just a month ago, she was an unremarkable little physician from the outer districts of the imperial capital.
Regardless, completing training in a week without any physical issues was truly astounding.
โDid Miss Eleonora inquire about Lilianโs training status later?โ
โNo, Your Highness.โ
It wasnโt that Count Kohn had discovered some unique training method.
Noโsuch a possibility never existed. If such a method existed, who would train under the knight corps?
And even invite the knights to train her?
That was borderline foolish.
โIs Lilian still training now?โ
โYes, Your Highness. She should currently be reinforcing her sword stances.โ
Shaya answered.
โTake me to see this Lilian.โ
Ophelia was genuinely curious how Lilian had advanced so quickly.
Was it talent? Or some special technique?
If it could be replicatedโฆ
Opheliaโs gaze sharpened.
Lilian was running laps when suddenly the gate to the small training ground opened.
A figure with purple hair stepped in.
From a distance, Lilian saw Shaya fake a cough and give her a subtle signal.
What was going on?
Why was an inspection being carried out right over her head?
The purple-haired figure drew closer, and Lilian stopped.
Long purple hair, blue eyes, noble bearing.
Lilian recognized her immediatelyโthis was Ophelia de Xipetta, the second princess and one of the heroines from the Game ใBraveโฆDemon Kingใ.
Though due to the earlier timeline, Ophelia still looked like a youthful maidenโnot the mature, long-legged woman in black stockings from the game.
But Lilian recognized her at once.
Because she was simply too beautifulโฆ
Damn, why would she come to see me?
No, no, first control your emotions.
According to what Lilian knew from the Game, the second princess in front of her had a special ability to sense othersโ emotions and vague thoughts.
Not quite mind reading, but a disturbingly powerful talent.
In the late stages of the Game, entering Opheliaโs personal storyline, she used this ability to eliminate threats within the Dawn Empire.
Even though the hero was set to be straightforward and pure-hearted, it was only in the later stages of Opheliaโs route that various CG scenes unlocked.
Because of this ability, Ophelia found it difficult to trust anyone.
Even momentary malice would be sensed and captured by her.
She would never trust such people.
First of all, Lilian wasnโt eager to interact with the gameโs heroines.
One Eleonora was troublesome enough; the others all had their own formidable qualities.
Secondly, she didnโt want to be around someone who could read her emotions and thoughtsโespecially someone who enjoyed toying with othersโ feelings.
Only the hero in the Game remained consistent and eventually won Opheliaโs heart.
But that was just a game.
This was reality, and Lilian was no hero.
Her thoughts were far from pure.
Ophelia seemed to know something.
She smiled dangerously.
Sigh, I knew it.
Lilian felt helpless.
Iโm definitely in big trouble now!
โMiss Lilianโฆ It seems you recognize me?โ
โNo, or rather, youโre very familiar to meโmore familiar than I expected.โ
Surprise, admiration, thought, desireโฆ resistance, helplessness.
Apart from that inexplicable desire, Lilianโs reaction was understandable.
She knew that sheโthe second princess of the Dawn Empireโpossessed the ability to sense emotions and thoughts.
This was fascinating.
Originally, only Ophelia herself knew of this ability.
Neither the emperor nor her brothers had any knowledge of it.
Now, there was a second person in this world who knew about her power.
Moreoverโฆ
Ophelia looked at Lilian, whose figure began to overlap with the image from her dream, finally merging into one.
So it was her?
Who exactly was she?
Why did I dream about her?
How did she know those things? Wasnโt she just a maid?
And why did the Ophelia in my dream have such a close relationship with her?
Ophelia could recall that feelingโit was a mutual trust, a willingness to give oneโs life for the other.
A feeling she craved but never obtained.
Thinking of this, Ophelia took a deep breath and kept her gaze fixed on Lilian, waiting for her next move.
Lilian felt a bitter twist in her heart.
Sighโฆ
This is just cheating.