A Lesson in Losing.

Lizbeth "Lizzy" Delacroix – The Rose of House Delacroix

- - -

Lizzy had never fought someone like Kun before.

Her sparring partners were polished, disciplined, and predictable. They adhered to technique, to etiquette, to rules.

Kun?

Did not.

The moment they stepped into the training courtyard, Lizzy realized she was in for hell.

Kun rolled his shoulders, utterly relaxed, his wooden practice sword resting against his shoulder like an afterthought. Alice stood off to the side, shifting nervously. The palace guards whispered among themselves, intrigued by the spectacle—Lady Lizbeth Delacroix versus the stray?

Lizzy smoothed her sleeves, forcing composure.

"You've sparred with knights before," she reminded herself. "You've trained under the best. You will not lose."

Kun, meanwhile, yawned. "We starting or what?"

Lizzy lifted her blade. "Try to last more than a minute."

Kun grinned. "Yeah, yeah."

Alice clapped his hands. "Alright! Begin!"

Lizzy moved first.

A quick step forward—her blade slicing in a sharp arc toward his shoulder.

Kun ducked.

Not sidestepped. Not parried. Just dropped so fast that Lizzy barely registered it before he swept her legs out from under her.

Lizzy hit the ground.

Hard.

She gasped, the wind knocked from her lungs. She barely had time to blink before Kun pounced, aiming to press his sword against her neck.

Lizzy rolled out of the way, springing back to her feet. Her cheeks burned. The guards murmured louder.

Kun stretched his arms. "You good?"

Lizzy gritted her teeth.

This boy.

She lunged again, this time feinting to the right before twisting left, expecting him to dodge.

He didn't.

Instead, he closed the distance before her strike even landed, stepping inside her reach. His sword clashed against hers, but his free hand shoved her back before she could react.

Lizzy stumbled, barely keeping her balance.

Kun tilted his head. "You're stiff."

Lizzy bristled. "Excuse me?"

Kun shrugged. "You move like you're in a dance. That's dumb."

Lizzy's nostrils flared. *"It's called refinement."

Kun nodded. "Yeah. Dumb."

Lizzy saw red.

Alice groaned. "Oh no."

Lizzy attacked.

Faster. Sharper. Harder.

Kun dodged.

Every.

Single.

One.

She swept at his legs—he hopped over it. She jabbed at his ribs—he twisted away like a leaf in the wind. She struck for his shoulder—he caught her wrist, flipped her sword out of her hand, and tossed it behind him like it was garbage.

Lizzy barely had a second to register what happened before she found herself—

Flat on her back. Again.

Kun blinked down at her. "Huh."

Lizzy couldn't breathe.

The courtyard was silent.

Alice buried his face in his hands.

One of the guards coughed.

Lizzy stared at the sky.

Her entire soul screamed.

Kun sat cross-legged beside her, completely unbothered. "So, wanna go again?"

Lizzy slowly turned her head toward him.

Kun grinned.

Lizzy smiled back.

And then punched him.

Right in the arm.

Kun wheeze-laughed, shaking it out. "Ow. That's rude."

Lizzy sat up, still scowling. "You are the most insufferable boy I have ever met."

Kun beamed. "Thanks."

Lizzy hated him.

Alice, looking both relieved and horrified, crouched beside them. "So… are you two friends now, or?"

Lizzy glared at Kun.

Kun held out a hand. "Rematch tomorrow?"

Lizzy hated him.

…But she shook his hand anyway.

Because Lizzy hated losing more.