☆Chapter 31: A Blade Too Heavy☆

"Again."

Matteo's gruff voice echoed across the training grounds.

Lucian, drenched in sweat, gritted his teeth as he lunged forward, his wooden sword clashing against Matteo's with a dull thud.

"Your stance is still too wide."

Matteo sidestepped easily, knocking Lucian off balance with a swift kick to the back of his knee.

"Focus."

Lucian hit the ground with a groan, panting as he pushed himself up again.

"You're getting better, kid." Matteo grunted, offering him a hand.

"Not good enough." Lucian wiped his brow, eyes filled with determination.

"I need to be stronger."

Matteo's gaze softened.

Lucian wasn't just training.

He was preparing.

Preparing to protect Seraphina.

Matteo could see it in the boy's eyes.

"You're already stronger than you think, Lucian."

Lucian nodded, but his jaw was still set.

"Not enough. Not yet."

☆☆☆

Seraphina watched from the sidelines, her chin resting on her palm, eyes narrowed.

"Tch."

"What's with that look, princess?" Matteo raised a brow as he approached her after Lucian's training.

"I can do that too." Seraphina's voice was casual, but the gleam in her eyes was anything but.

"What?"

"Sword fighting."

Matteo blinked.

"You?" He snorted.

"No offense, princess. But a sword's not like your pranks. It's not about wit. It's about—"

"Discipline. Control. Precision."

Seraphina cut him off, her expression serious.

"I know."

Matteo narrowed his eyes.

"Why the sudden interest?"

"Because." She shrugged.

"If Lucian can do it, why can't I?"

"Seraphina…" Matteo sighed.

"Does Lorenzo know about this?"

Seraphina's smirk was dangerous.

"Do you think he'd let me?"

Matteo's face went blank.

"...Right."

☆☆☆

"Please, Matteo."

Seraphina's voice was sweet.

Too sweet.

Matteo's instincts screamed danger.

"No."

"Pretty please?"

"Still no."

Seraphina pouted, batting her lashes.

"I'll tell Nonno about that time you—"

Matteo's eyes widened.

"Don't you dare."

"Oh?" Seraphina's smirk was pure mischief.

"You mean that time you snuck into the wine cellar and—"

"Okay, okay!" Matteo threw up his hands, defeated.

"You win. I'll teach you."

Seraphina's smile was victorious.

"Good choice, Matteo."

☆☆☆

"Hold it steady."

Matteo's voice was patient as he adjusted Seraphina's grip on the wooden practice sword.

"Like this?" Seraphina tilted her head, trying to balance the blade.

"No."

Matteo sighed, correcting her posture again.

"Your hands are too high. Lower them."

Seraphina shifted, only to nearly drop the sword on her foot.

"Oops."

"Seraphina…" Matteo's eye twitched.

"Focus."

Seraphina nodded, her expression serious.

"Got it."

One minute later…

"Gah!"

Seraphina stumbled, the sword slipping from her grasp and flying across the training ground.

Clang!

Matteo winced.

"Okay…"

"That was… unexpected."

Seraphina pursed her lips.

"It's heavier than I thought."

"That's because it's a weapon." Matteo deadpanned.

"Not a prank tool."

☆☆☆

"Again."

Seraphina picked up the sword, her face set with determination.

"You sure about this?" Matteo asked, crossing his arms.

"I don't quit."

Ten minutes later…

"Ow!"

"That's your foot."

"Right."

Fifteen minutes later…

"AH!"

"That's the ground."

"I knew that."

Twenty minutes later…

Clang.

Matteo sighed.

"Sera…"

"Don't say it."

"I'm just saying…"

Seraphina glared.

"Don't. Say. It."

Matteo held up his hands.

"Okay, okay."

"I can do this." Seraphina's voice was stubborn.

"I just need… more practice."

"Or maybe…"

Matteo 's tone was cautious.

"Maybe… swords just aren't your thing, Sera."

"Not my thing?"

Seraphina's eyes narrowed.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means…" Matteo chose his words carefully.

"You're more… strategic than physical."

Seraphina huffed.

"So I'm not good at fighting?"

"I didn't say that." Matteo raised a brow.

"You've got other strengths, Sera."

Seraphina crossed her arms, pouting.

"Like what?"

"Like outsmarting everyone around you."

Matteo's grin was laced with amusement.

"You don't need a sword to win a fight. You just need to think three steps ahead."

Seraphina's frown softened.

"Three steps ahead… huh?"

Matteo nodded.

"Exactly."

"Still…" Seraphina muttered.

"I kind of wanted to be cool with a sword."

Matteo chuckled.

"Trust me, princess. You're already cooler than anyone with a blade."

☆☆☆

"What…"

Lorenzo's cold voice echoed through the training grounds.

Seraphina and Matteo froze.

Lorenzo's piercing gaze locked onto the wooden sword in Seraphina's hands.

"Care to explain?"

Silence.

Matteo immediately pointed at Seraphina.

"It was her idea."

Seraphina glared.

"Traitor."

Lorenzo's eyes narrowed.

"Matteo."

"Sir?"

"Run."

Matteo didn't need to be told twice.

He was gone.

Seraphina sighed, turning to face her father.

"Papa…"

"Don't."

Lorenzo's tone was deadly calm.

"We'll talk about this… later."

Seraphina gulped.

She's in trouble.