After arriving at the abandoned fortress on the forest of Rarsia the soldiers from the royal guard started to unload the provisions from the carriages meanwhile Yuki was walking around the castle when she saw Saito who was doing push ups.

When Saito noticed Yuki he quickly stood up and he said.

"What do you want with me Hime-sama?"

Yuki placed her left and on her chin and she said timidly.

"Will you have a sparing match wit me Saito-kun?"

Saito then let's out a sigh and he said with a worried look on his face.

"Are you sure? You might get injured you know?"

With uttering another word Yuki tightly held the wooden sword in her hand. After sighing one more time Saito then grabbed a wooden sword and he said with a smile on his face.

"Fine but don't blame me if you're hurt Hime-sama."

Saito quickly changed his stance into that of a sword-drawing stance(Iaijutsu) and waited for Yuki to attack.

After an hour of sparring Yuki lays down on the ground while staring at sky. Saito sat down and he said with a smile on his face.

"Good job Hime-sama, It seems like you have a talent in swordsmanship. If you're not busy tomorrow come by and have a sparring match with me."

"Tahank you Saito-kun I've learned a lot thanks to you. Normally Yuzuru will scold me if he saw me practicing my swordsmanship. But now that my life is facing danger he's allowing me to learn swordsmanship. But I'm not as talented as you say I am."

Yuki showed a dejected look on her face as she said those words. Saito then patted her head and he said in a calm tone.

"Please don't underestimate yourself too much Hime-sama. You're not as powerless as you think you are. Please believe in your own strength."

"Nn."

Yuki nodded and she stood up and Yuzuru suddenly ran towards then and he said in a serious tone.

"The town of Randel is under seige by the army of the anti-monarch fraction. Their estimated numbers is over 3,000. What should we do Hime-sama?"

"Don't send any soldiers. We'll stay here and prepare for their attack."

Said Saito as he asked Yuzuru to hand him a map and he asked Yuzuru to tell him the direction of the town of the town of Randel and the fortress. And Saito said in a serious tone.

"Even if we departed to the town we wouldn't make it in time, there's also the possiblility of it being a trap so we shouldn't act without preparing the necessary countermeasures in-case the enemy attacks us. For now we should focus on fortifiying and strengthening the strength of this fortress."

After hearing Saito's words Yuzuru then said in an angry tone.

"Then your telling us to abandon them?"

"If you want to go to the city of Randel then go by yourself. I'm summoned here to protect Yuki Hime-sama and what happens to there people aren't my concern. I don't mind abandoning even tens of thousands just to fulfill my duty. But if you died in vain then this young lady will be sad, So I'm asking you to stay here to protect Yuki Hime-sama  or do you want to go to the town of Randel despite knowing it's a trap and put not only yourself but also put the lives of Yuki Hime-sama and the other soldiers here in danger due to your reckless actions?"

Saito let's out a sigh and he said to Yuzuru in a serious tone.

"If you can promise me that you'll protect Yuki Hime-sama then I'll go there and I'll check on the town and I'll ask your relatives to come along with me if you tell me where they live. You have some relatives in that town right?"

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Without uttering another word Yuzuru just nodded and afterwards Saito rode a horse and went to the town of Randel.

Yuki then picked up the two wooden swords and handed one of them to Yuzuru and then she said with a cheerful smile on her face.

"Let's go to the town of Randel too, I'll go to Randel even if you don't come along Yuzuru-san. if you want me to stay then beat me at a sword fight."

Yuzuru then picked up the wooden sword and changed his stance into that of a battle stance. Yuki did the same and she changed her stance to that of a sword-drawing stance(Iaijutsu).

The first one that moved was Yuzuru. He quickly lunged towards Yuki at full speed. Yuki then used her wooden sword to hit the hand of Yuzuru then she took a side step and kicked Yuzuru's left leg and after Yuzuru fell down on the ground Yuki pointed the wooden sword at Yuzuru's face and he said.

"It's my win Yuzuru-san. So will you come with me to Randel?"

Yuzuru let's out a sigh and he said.

"Do you know what will happen if I putted you in danger? That man will definitely kill me! despite knowing that you still want to go to Randel?"

Without answering Yuzuru. Yuki nodded.

"But we must first gather the necessary provisions for our journey."

Then Yuzuru went to the carriage and he took a horse and a bag of bread and two water bottles. 

Yuzuru then helped Yuki up the horse and the two of them rode off to Randel. On the way the two saw Saito who was smiling as he was leaning against a tree. When the two appoached him he showed a smile on his face and he said.

"Good work Hime-sama. I knew that you'll win that fight."

"Y-you were watching our fight Saito-kun?"

Asked Yuki as her face turned bright red. Meanwhile Yuzuru showed a wry smile as he watched the two.

"I knew that you'll follow us so I waited for you Hime-sama. But I never thought that you'll actually defeat Yuzuru-san. Well he's not that strong since his attacks are easy to predict. But you still did well on defeating an experienced opponent."

"A-are you telling me that I'm weak?"

Yuzuru said as he showed a wicked smile at the two. Afterwards the three of them continued thier journey towards the town of Randel.

Saito rode on a white horse with Yuki and Yuzuru rode a black horse.

Upon exiting the forest and they saw a large army outside the walled city of Randel. The number of soldiers were over five thousand men.

Saito revealed a wicked smile on hos face and he said.

"So their nimbers exceeded the numbers in the report? Did they get reinforcements or are those the soldiers of the town? Anyways it's impossible to breakthrought their line of defense. We should withdraw now."

Then Saito placed his hand on his sword and quickly turned around and he saw a young girl that was about fifteen years old. The girl had short blonde hair, slender waist, pale white skin and a pair of blue eyes. She wore an iron breastplate. Underneath it was a long white dress. Yuki turned around and she said.

"Lily? why are you here?"

Lily then smiled at Yuki and she said.

"I came here to help you Hime-sama. I saw you and Yuzuru-dono leaving the castle so I followed the two of you."

Saito then revealed a wicked smile while facing Lily and he said.

"You did well to hide your presense. I'm truly impressed Lily-san."

Then Saito handed Lily a letter and he said.

"Can you do me a favor Lily-san?"