The lizard hissed angrily and stomped toward Percy. Its tail smashed heavily onto the frozen ground, breaking it apart.

No matter how I look at this. You are not a lovely Common Monster!

Percy swallowed hard, not noticing that his clothes were already drenched in sweat. His full attention lingered on the three-meter-long lizard. Its maw opened widely, and the surrounding temperature dropped even further as it spit out glacier-blue flames that froze everything they touched.

If Percy hadn’t retreated further, he would have been struck by the flames and frozen solid within seconds.

Hello? Someone, please?!?

Ulfhar noticed his helpless gaze, but he glanced at Melissa instead.

“You cheater! I don’t acknowledge this. I am not done yet!!” She exclaimed, her cheeks flushed in anger.

The Glacia Knight Captain sighed and intervened at last, “Actually. The Imperiat is over.”

Melissa’s eyes widened slightly when the words resounded.

“But he…” She grit her teeth and glared at Percy.

No matter how Melissa looked at this situation, Percy won. She instinctively used her Ego and Monster Card, even if it hadn’t been necessary.

But even if she didn’t use her Ego and Monster Card, Melissa had to acknowledge she didn’t expect Percy to block this many attacks. Melissa Reeze had been trained for years as the rightful heiress of the Reeze dukedom. The best of the best had trained her since she could remember. Yet, Percy, a mediocre swordsman, saw through her attacks and blocked the deadliest attacks. He accepted their difference in strength, speed, and experience and fought her, knowing it was impossible to block all attacks. Percy had to sacrifice his health and safety merely to avoid getting crippled after Melissa’s initial attacks.

But his sacrifices were also how he emerged victorious. Percy saw through her moves and blocked the slashes and cuts that would have damaged his vitals and avoided other dangerous blows while accepting the portion of attacks that wouldn’t affect his combat prowess.

He breathed heavily and was covered with over a dozen light to mild wounds, but Percy was still standing. His counterattack had been unexpected as well, especially his bloodlust. Melissa had never sensed this much bloodlust from an ordinary human. The only times she sensed bloodlust like that was when she saw Gifted Ones who lost themselves in the lust of battle and blood and when the Pleacis attacked her.

She shuddered at the memory and nibbled on her lower lip.

Melissa took a deep breath and unsummoned the lizard.

“Did you use the Gnoll’s bloodlust?”

Percy didn’t answer, but that was enough to answer her question.

Melissa was forced to take a few more deep breaths. She was unwilling to give up like that, but Ulfhar and the Glacia Knights studied her intently.

I am a noble. I don’t break my promises. My words are worth more than gold!

“I…for-forgive you…” Melissa, her girth teeth, “However!! I will behead you the moment I see you using my family’s inheritance technique again! There will be no Imperiat, nothing!!”

The young noblewoman cursed quietly when the corners of Pecy’s lips curled upward, and she turned and walked back to the carriage before changing her mind.

Percy burst into a bright smile when Melissa returned to the carriage. He survived.

Unfortunately, his joy was quickly taken when a firm hand landed on his shoulder, pressing on one of the deeper wounds. He turned to see Knight Liam smiling at him. A glass vial flung through the air, and Percy caught it as smoothly as a young man with more than a dozen cuts all over his body could move.

What does he want from me? They tricked me… No, there is more to it. They don’t want to get rid of me.

He saw something in Knight Liam’s eyes and followed his gut feelings.

Please don’t let that be a mistake.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Percy cleared his throat, his eyes following the young noble as she entered the carriage.

“Can we spar again, Lady Reeze?”

Melissa didn’t turn back and cursed quietly but didn’t say no. Percy could have sworn that Melissa’s mouth twitched, imitating a faint smile before the coachman closed the carriage door.

“Why did you ask that?” Knight Liam asked quietly as Percy removed the glass vial’s cap with a satisfied smile. He didn’t answer right away but emptied the minor healing potion in one go while his eyes narrowed to tiny slits. He swallowed the sweet, viscous liquid and said nothing for a few seconds.

“I think it’s better to be on good terms with Lady Reeze. The Imperiat might not be considered a casual spar – I still don’t know what exactly the Imperiat entails. I apologize for that – but I understand her a little bit better than before. She has a heavy responsibility to carry at such a young age, and the mixture of pressure, anxiety, responsibility, arrogance, and so forth is not doing her good. Maybe sparring with someone around her age, though less talented, will help her destress a little. As long as I don’t die, I should be fine. I will learn a lot and grow stronger as well.

I want to be on good terms with the future Duchess of the Reeze dukedom if possible. Making her an enemy would be my death sentence. Other than that, I want to reach the Wintermoon estate with an intact body. As long as Lady Reeze doesn’t hate me, I should have a good chance of receiving permission to attend the Imperial training. Maybe that is a little far-fetched, but I can always hope, can’t I?”

He smiled and shrugged helplessly.

“Currently, we’re not on good terms, but…I don't know. Maybe she is not all that bad if the Glacia Knights like her. They treat her like family. And...Lady Reeze seems to love her family. So that is probably why she was adamant about punishing me for copying some of her movement sequences. Lady Reeze wants to make her family proud and to be recognized for her actions. I can see her eyes glimmer whenever Ulfhar mentions her father. I…don’t know how that is, but I understand the sentiment…I think… If I am honest, I’m not that good with family things, love…or anything. Not too long ago, I was struggling to fill my stomach. Everything around me is changing so fast, and all I’m hoping for is to…find a place somewhere. A place where I can grow…a place where others accept me for who I am…”

Percy halted and shut his mouth when he heard his voice crack. His voice cracked a few times, and his eyes got wet.

What is wrong with me?

He shook his head to disperse the thoughts tormenting his mind and looked at Knight Liam, trying to hide the outburst of emotions wreaking havoc within him.

He didn’t know how many weeks he had left before they reached the Wintermoon estate, but Percy knew that his relationship with Lady Reeze had to change. Ulfhar and the Glacia Knights accepted him for who he was, and if not for their trickery, he would have loved to become a knight of the Glacia Knight Order as soon as possible.

Finally, Melissa was powerful…and beautiful. Her exterior was beautiful, and so was her execution of power. It was just that her inside was…difficult. Or maybe he didn’t know her well enough.

“You can tell us your story when you’re ready. Until then, how about you officially join our training?” Ulfhar asked when nobody dared to say anything. Everyone stared at Percy, countless thoughts flashing through their minds.

“Why did you do that?” Percy asked Ulfhar instead of answering once he got his emotions under control.

The Glacia Knight Captain smiled at the youth, which didn’t help Percy’s turmoil of emotions.

“Do you want Lady Reeze to hate me even more, or why did nobody tell me about the Inheritance technique?”

Ulfhar was still smiling, but Knight Liam nudged him on the side. “Don’t be like that. He will hate us if you keep up this annoying farce.”

Ulfhar laughed and patted his old friend’s back. His smile didn’t cease, but his presence became more serious once he was done laughing.

“I don’t have to tell you my reasoning, and I won’t tell you everything. Just know that I was curious. Interested to see how you will handle Melissa,” He said in a serious tone.

“She is nice and quite strong for her age. You didn’t even see a quarter of her power yet. But you must have noticed that Lady Reeze is young and inexperienced. She never fought to death before meeting you. The Pleacis was the first creature to attack her with the intent to kill her, and as you’ve predicted, she has yet to overcome that trauma. Your bloodlust wasn’t anything special. It was lackluster, at best, yet it was more than enough to push Melissa. The memories of the Pleacis resurfaced, and she responded instinctively by summoning the Glacia Lizard and activating her Ego.”

“So…you wanted to see if the fight with the Pleacis traumatized her and how bad the trauma is? And, of course, to treat me like a living experiment…great!”

Percy clenched his fists tightly.

“I didn’t expect you to win the Imperiat. That was out of my expectations. I was curious to see you fight, but I was more interested in Melissa’s judgment. I wanted to see how she would punish you.”

That doesn’t make it better. I liked you, Ulfhar, you know!?

“Don’t look at me like that. I was going to intervene and stop her from punishing you. Her father gave me the necessary permission and documents to teach Melissa. As her teacher, I have some special privileges, you know?” Ulfhar winked at Percy, who cursed the man in his mind.

No, I don’t know. I know nothing. Shouldn’t that be obvious after spending four days answering questions with me?!

No matter how much he disliked the Glacia Knight Captain’s reasoning and actions, Percy silently acknowledged that he had learned a lot in a short time.

“I will join your training, but please don’t trick me again..” Percy grumbled

Trick me again, and I will ensure the entire kingdom hates the Glacia Knight Order and your lord! I will copy the Inheritance techniques of all nobles in the Wintermoon estate and say it was Duke Reeze’s order!!