Chapter 12: Royal Capital: Fragile as a Blow
"Brother's body..."
"Well, my body... is a doll made of white porcelain. While the exterior is exquisitely delicate and beautiful, the interior is already covered in mold and even rot... My body is more fragile than crystal. If I'm not careful, bruises and bloodstains will appear on my skin."
"ah?"
(My brother is made of a different substance... He's more like a butterfly with gorgeous wings that could be torn apart by the wind at any moment, a mysterious elf living among flowers, or a strange bird with feathers as white as snow...)
Lucien's words rang out again, Xiao Yun turned around and looked at Yaris worriedly.
The abundant steam everywhere in the bathroom added a hazy beauty to the already dazzling beauty. The long, shiny silky hair exuded a dark aura, and the gem-like eyes were as beautiful as the night sky itself, filled with an incomprehensible depth.
He had just finished bathing and was only wearing a loose silk robe. The soft hem of the robe dragged on the ground, vaguely revealing his feet, which had turned a healthy rosy color after being soaked in hot water.
Sensing the concern in his brother's eyes, Yaris stretched out his hand, the pale pink color from the hot water gradually fading away: "Try to grab my wrist with the force you use to hold the sword."
"I……"
Xiao Yun took a breath, grasped the soft and smooth white wrist that seemed to be made of another substance, and exerted a little force——
"ah……"
Yaris let out a soft cry from his throat.
Xiao Yun quickly let go.
However, Yaris's wrist was already bruised and blood was faintly oozing out.
"this……"
(Isn't this what "fragile as a breath of air" refers to?)
Xiao Yun took a breath of cold air.
Skin as smooth as cream and as soft as a baby's is the highest imagination of beauty in classical literature, but if a person really has such delicate skin that can be blown away -
"Owner……"
The servant came forward with a frown, and carefully wiped the blood and rubbed the bruises off Yaris with silk as if he were caring for an expensive work of art.
Yaris closed his eyes and smiled gently, a smile that was filled with unfathomable darkness.
"Lucien..."
"Um?"
"I've always hated myself... and my family... For five thousand years, our family has been repeating this tragic story, just to breed monsters like me, called 'divine pets', and maintain the power and wealth that are said to come from the gods."
"elder brother……"
"I don't like myself, and I don't like the way others look at me even more... In their eyes, I am a tool of God, an exquisitely beautiful puppet, a walking work of art, but not a living person with emotions... As my only relative, I don't want you to look at me like an object... That will only make me more miserable..."
"When I was a child, I overheard doctors discussing me. They said that even if someone like me drank medicine every day and used various magical methods, I could only guarantee a lifespan of thirty... But you are different. You are healthy and full of energy. You can live to eighty or even a hundred."
"Father is right not to love me. A body this weak cannot allow a woman to become pregnant and give birth to offspring... I am just a tool used by the family to maintain power. You are the one responsible for carrying on the family bloodline..."
"--elder brother."
Xiao Yun looked at Yaris with pity and opened his mouth several times but didn't know what to say.
Language has become so pale at this moment, only——
Hug him and hold him tight in your arms.
"I'm sorry, brother, I... I always disappointed you in the past... But... I won't let you down again!"
"real?"
Yaris's voice trembled slightly.
"Yes, I won't let you down again."
"The heavy workload of the academy—"
“I will do my best to finish it within six months!”
"Don't push yourself too hard. If you suffer because of this, I will never be able to forgive myself!"
"No... I won't let my brother feel pain again... I will work hard to be the person you want... No! I will definitely be the person you want!"
"Lucien..."
Jarris sobbed with joy, and his tears wet Lucien's shoulders.
…
…
When the 11 o'clock clock struck Silver Moon Palace, Xiao Yun had just finished his morning sword training.
Sweating profusely, he handed his weapon to the attendant and took a warm towel from the servant.
"Hoo--give me a drink."
"Wine or juice?"
"Adrien?!"
Xiao Yun looked at his roommate with freckles in surprise: "How could you..."
"I'm taking a day off today. I met Mr. Mikael when I passed by the big fountain in King's Square. He brought me here..."
After explaining the whole thing, Adrien's lively puppy-like eyes began to look around: "Lucien, your brother... no, His Highness, is he... is he up?"
Xiao Yun checked the time: "It should be around now..."
"Can you take me to see him?"
"ah?"
Xiao Yun's expression froze: "You..."
Seeing that Lucien was trying to reject him, Adrien folded his hands and looked pitiful: "Please!"
"But……"
"Palace rumor has it that His Highness needs a full body massage from his servants every morning after waking to relieve the poor blood circulation caused by sleep. I wonder if such a beautiful yet fragile body really exists in the world?"
"It's true."
Xiao Yun lowered his eyelids.
"My brother is very weak. He often spends half a month in bed. He does need servants to massage his limbs every day to promote blood circulation, but—"
"Although I am weak, I am not as weak as the court sparrows describe me to be, Adrian."
"Your Highness—"
Adrian exclaimed, then immediately forgot what he was about to say. His puppy-like blue eyes stared straight at Yaris, muttering to himself: "...The rumors are true, His Highness is indeed... better! His Highness is even better than the rumors... Oh my God! My father... My heartless father would actually... hold grudges against such a beautiful person..."
"Because your father, Duke Adlon, was a romantic knight loyal to love."
Yaris walked up to the two of them calmly. He was wearing a white robe with gold embroidery, had long black hair, and had a delicate face comparable to a peerless beauty.
"Your Highness—"
"elder brother."
"Ansel and Malus said you mastered extremely complex swordsmanship in just one month."
"That's what happened."
Xiao Yun, who had learned Tai Chi sword in his previous life, tried hard to suppress the upturned corners of his mouth.
"Can you show me?"
"Now? Here?"
Yaris nodded and glanced at Mikael who was following behind him.
Mikael hesitated: "I..."
"Me! Me!"
Adrien excitedly raised his hand: "Your Highness, let me be Master Lucien's opponent!"
"—Are you sure?"
Yaris had a calm smile on his face.
"certainly!"
Adrien raised his voice and invited Lucien: "Come on! Lucien!"
"--elder brother?"
"Lucien, Adrien has already invited you. What are you still hesitating about? Let's start now."
Yaris smiled gracefully, a smile as mysterious as the moon in the night sky on her beautiful face.
…
The competition officially begins.
Mikael, the judge, stepped forward and used his sword to hold down the two people's overlapping rapiers.
"Three, two, one... go!"
Mikael quickly backed away.
The next moment, the two swords collided with each other, making a crisp and violent collision sound.
Click! Click! Click!
After only three rounds, Adrian's expression changed drastically!
(Has he really only recently started swordsmanship? Even though I've been receiving one-on-one instruction from a swordsmanship expert since I was little, I'm actually a bit overwhelmed!)
(But his sword-swinging movements and reactions to the blows all carried the awkwardness of a novice swordsman!)
(Could it be that he—)
"Wow!"
At the moment of distraction, Lucien's sword tip pierced Adrian's hilt, and with a strong push, Adrian's sword flew out!
Bang!
The rapier stabbed into the ground, the hilt swaying in the wind.
Adrian looked down at the blood on his wrist and readily admitted defeat.
"I lost."
"With that strike just now, you only needed a little force to cut my wrist or even sever my tendons."
"But I couldn't possibly do that to a friend."
Xiao Yun returned Adrian's sword to him.
"Losing is losing, but—"
Adrien cheered up again: "Lucien, that move you just made was amazing! Can you teach me?"
"sure."
Xiao Yun liked Adrian's clear and simple personality like a puppy, and was about to discuss swordsmanship with him arm in arm.
"Lucien."
Yaris's voice rang out.
He had changed out of his robes and was now wearing a white lace top. He held a rapier in his hand, his eyes sparkling. "Would you like to have a match with me?"
“Brother, you…”
"My arms are weak, so I can only practice with the light sword indoors. Each practice lasts less than an hour. I read various related books and watch knights' martial arts demonstrations to simulate and imagine, train and improve myself."
"Why? Why suddenly..."
Xiao Yun didn't understand.
"I wonder if you're really as talented with a sword as they say."
"just in case……"
Xiao Yun was worried that he might not know how to control his strength.
"It's okay, I'm wearing soft armor."
Yaris's smile was as clear as water.
Seeing that he would no longer refuse, Xiao Yun had to accept Yaris's invitation.
Adrian volunteered to be the referee.
"Three, two, one... up!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the two swords had already entangled with each other, and the collision of swords made a crisp sound! The sword light danced like a silver snake, and the speed was so fast that Xiao Yun was dazzled.
So fast! So smooth!
He really...
"Don't be distracted!"
Yaris suddenly spoke, and as he spoke, his body danced with the light sword like flowing water.
"Lucien, physical strength is my absolute weakness. To this end, I have to devise sword techniques that are twice or even three times faster than normal. But as long as my opponent can withstand the first five minutes of my attacks, I will definitely lose. You are different. You have abundant physical strength. Once you master the technique of high-speed swordplay, your strength will surely increase greatly."
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