Second Life, I’m Dying Soon Chapter 29

Chapter 29

The commanding voice carried thick anger. He had no intention of holding back.

Cecil bit his lip hard and grasped the soft grass beneath his palm. In the end, his trembling hand reached for Alexis’ longsword.

He barely managed to stand, unable even to brush off the grass clinging to his pants. The sword he held for the first time felt incomparably heavier than the wooden swords he had wielded until now.

Not only that, but the sleek blade, honed sharp enough to slice through the air, felt far too overwhelming for a beginner.

As soon as Cecil managed to assume a basic stance, Alexis stepped forward without warning. The distance between them vanished in an instant, and their swords clashed.

Clang—! Thud!

Two loud sounds rang out—one from the impact of their swords and the other from Alexis’ foot striking Cecil’s knee.

“Pathetic.”

Alexis spoke coldly. His gaze, devoid of mercy, bore into Cecil, who had been sent flying by a mere kick.

“Get up.”

Cecil struggled to push himself up with his knees. The moment he grasped the hilt of the fallen sword, Alexis’ attack resumed.

Clang! Clang!

Each time the metal collided, a numbing vibration traveled from Cecil’s palms to his shoulders. Though the sword techniques Alexis used were ones Cecil had learned before, the force behind them was nothing short of ruthless. He was sent flying before he could even attempt to block.

Cecil dropped his sword countless times, rolled across the ground under relentless kicks, and his once-pristine silk garments became stained with green grass and dirt.

“Huff, haah… ugh!”

“Again.”

The so-called training was merciless. Unlike Cecil, who was gasping for breath with saliva dripping down his chin, Alexis remained perfectly composed, not a hint of exertion in his breathing. He merely kicked Cecil’s sword toward him, watching his suffering with an indifferent gaze.

“You sure had the nerve to act out despite being this incompetent. I’m getting bored just entertaining you.”

Cecil barely managed to stand, using his sword like a cane. His entire body wobbled, but his eyes remained sharp and unwavering as he stared at Alexis.

“…Yes. I fully understand just how vast the gap of skills between Your Highness and myself is.”

“The fact that you still have the strength to run your damn mouth means you’re not finished yet. Good. I’ll make sure to hammer that arrogance out of you today.”

Alexis swung his sword down again. Cecil gripped his sword tightly with both hands and barely managed to block the attack. The force of the impact rang through his bones, making his wrists throb, but he refused to let go this time.

However, before he could even take pride in holding his ground, another attack followed. The speed was impossible to keep up with, his stance broke, and—predictably—a kick struck him again.

“Ugh!”

Cecil tumbled across the ground, colliding with the base of a tree.

His entire body felt like it was falling apart. He must have bitten his tongue in the fall, as the taste of blood spread inside his mouth.

Alexis approached. The tip of his sword, held effortlessly in one hand, pointed at Cecil’s throat.

What an irritating existence. Every little thing Cecil Adrian did grated on his nerves.

Should he just kill him?

Losing an arm wouldn’t be impossible to justify. An unfortunate accident, a moment of carelessness—there were plenty of excuses he could use.

But then, that face caught his eye. Again. That look of resignation. It was absurdly disarming, stripping Alexis of his anger in an instant.

“Why do you look like that?”

“…….”

“I’m giving you exactly what you wanted.”

Cecil struggled to lift his upper body from where he lay sprawled. His voice came out hollow.

“I didn’t seek Your Highness’ guidance because I wanted to improve my swordsmanship.”

“Then what?”

Cecil lifted his gaze, meeting the frigid stare directed at him. His throat constricted, his clenched teeth trembled.

He wanted to spend time with him. But he couldn’t bring himself to say it aloud.

“I’ll ask again. What the hell are you scheming?”

“…….”

Cecil shut his eyes. His silence only fanned the flames of Alexis’ frustration.

Alexis grabbed Cecil by the collar and hoisted him up. His light frame lifted easily, slamming against the rough bark of the sequoia tree.

“I can’t make sense of you. If the Empress didn’t order you to do this, then why do you insist on staying near me? Why are you so interested in what I do? What is it you want from me?”

“Does my presence make you uncomfortable?”

“Do you think it wouldn’t? Your very existence is a nuisance to me. Did you actually believe I’d trust the Empress’ blood?”

Cecil let out a breathless laugh. This man had a talent for cutting him apart with words.

“No matter how much I try, I suppose I’ll never be someone Your Highness accepts.”

“Enough nonsense.”

“Just call me insane. It’s not like you’d listen to me anyway, would you?”

“Exactly.”

Alexis exhaled slowly, forcing down his anger.

“I’ve already been more than merciful to you. There will be no more.”

“…….”

“You are banned from the training grounds. Do not set foot near the knight order again.”

“Alexis.”

Cecil grasped the wrist gripping his collar. Alexis stiffened. No, what truly startled him was hearing his name spoken without formality. 

Cecil, however, tightened his grip and spoke his final words.

“I’ll do as you say. But please, look after Rocco.”

“What?”

“Just this once… grant me this request. That much, at least, you can do, can’t you?”

“…….”

“I can’t just leave him like this.”

Looking utterly disheveled, the only thing he could say was to ask for a favor—to look after a mere trainee knight. Alexis scoffed in disbelief. He coldly shook off the hand gripping his wrist.

“Acting all virtuous won’t change your reputation.”

“……”

“Stop meddling in the affairs of the knights.”

With a sharp flick, the sword fell from his grasp and landed on the grass.

“Get him out of here.”

Alexis gave the order and turned away without hesitation.

The guards hesitated, unsure how to handle the situation. Cecil Adrian, notorious for his ruthless demeanor, sat there with his face buried in his hands, silently swallowing his sobs.

Once again left alone, Cecil slumped against the tree trunk, his exhausted body leaning against the rough bark.

The more he tried, the more misunderstandings piled up, creating an unbreakable wall between him and Alexis. Now it seems that it has become impossible to break down even that.

After that day, Cecil stopped visiting the training grounds. He also refrained from showing himself at the crown prince’s office.

About a week later, the luggage piled up little by little on the empty desk. Alexis, busy with his duties, glanced at it out of the corner of his eye.

It was refreshing not to see that irritating face.

Whether it was self-reflection or defiance, he wasn’t sure, but Cecil had clearly shut himself away in Peridot Palace. Perhaps he was still bedridden from the brutal beating he had taken.

Surprisingly, the empress remained silent.

Rather than causing a commotion, Empress Elizabeth’s faction was preoccupied with the mining development project that had recently become a major topic in court. Since she was the one spearheading the initiative, it seemed she had no time to concern herself with her son.

Pressing his fingers against his temple, Alexis attempted to alleviate the dull headache creeping in.

It was ridiculous to be worrying about Cecil when there were far more pressing matters at hand.

“There’s no need to concern yourself, Your Highness. After a lesson like that, he won’t dare to overstep again.”

Unable to hold back any longer, Claude interjected. He had noticed Alexis’s gaze drifting toward Cecil’s desk multiple times already.

Having spent years together, he could see right through the crown prince’s thoughts.

“When did I ever say I was concerned?”

“For someone who isn’t, you certainly keep looking at that seat.”

“Instead of spouting nonsense, why don’t you focus on your report?”

Irritation was evident in Alexis’s voice. His sharp glare shot toward Claude, who quickly coughed into his fist, straightened his posture, and resumed his briefing with a more formal demeanor.

“The Black Forest garrison construction has commenced. It is expected to take approximately a year and a half to two years to complete.”

“What about the new recruits?”

“The knight order’s final count has been set at 130 new members. Their training concluded yesterday, and to prevent any incidents like before, we’ve added regulations and conducted specialized training on crimes of a sexual nature.”

“……”

It was a flawless report. Yet Alexis remained silent, his fingers tapping lightly against the polished surface of his desk.

“His name was Rocco Maxwell, wasn’t it?”

At the unexpected mention of the name, Claude’s expression stiffened.

“What is his status?”

“As per your orders, he is under strict supervision. He’s been excluded from training, and I personally interviewed him yesterday. Fortunately… or rather, based on my judgment, I did not notice anything particularly suspicious.”

“I’ll meet him myself.”

“Pardon? You, Your Highness? There’s no need for you to—”

Before Claude could dissuade him, Alexis had already risen from his seat.

Under normal circumstances, he wouldn’t spare a moment for a trainee whose face and name were barely familiar to him. For someone who prioritized logic above all else, this was an unprecedented decision.

And yet, he found himself compelled to act. Cecil’s request had lodged itself in his mind like a thorn, refusing to be ignored.

Until he removed it, he wouldn’t be able to focus on anything else.