The Stepmother Keeps Stealing the Male Leads - Chapter 17

Jaina looked around as she arrived at the Lephia Palace.

As a child, she had visited on Foundation Day, holding the hands of her father and mother, but it still felt unfamiliar and overwhelming.

Even the annex, said to be for military use only, was incredibly grand and beautiful.

This year, the number of applicants for the Imperial Knights reached an all-time high.

The waiting room was packed with burly men.

They all looked incredibly strong.

‘Will I really be chosen?’

Having taught herself swordsmanship, Jaina wasn’t sure of her own skill.

Would they laugh at her?

Jaina’s self-esteem was steadily sinking.

The exam was simple.

It was a one-on-one sparring match.

It was a test that reflected the opinion of Knight Commander Andre, who believed that only real combat could reveal a knight’s skill, talent, temperament, and even past.

Before she knew it, it was Jaina’s turn, and she looked at her opponent.

A man named Arnold, who was twice her size.

A top graduate of the Knight Academy, he looked at his opponent with disbelief.

It was bad enough to be paired with someone who looked weak and feeble—now it was a woman?

Arnold felt his pride take a hit at the idea of sparring with a woman.

If she were a woman, she should live protected like a flower in a vase—what was she doing trying to be a knight?

Jaina, for her part, was equally startled upon seeing Arnold.

He was the opponent she had most hoped not to face in the waiting room.

The unluckiest of the three sisters, Jaina had no luck today either.

***

‘It’s that woman!’

Louihart spotted the female applicant at last and cheered inwardly.

He was glad he had followed Andre’s advice to conceal his identity.

Louihart had covered himself in a robe, hiding his hair color and face.

It was incredibly comfortable not to draw any attention.

He pressed his back firmly against the chair to better watch the duel.

Though her face was hidden by a helmet, her tall and slender build showed clearly that she was a woman.

‘What bad luck.’

Maybe it was the size difference with her opponent standing before her, but Louihart felt bad for Jaina, who seemed to have no chance of winning.

“Then, the match begins!”

At Andre’s command, the match began, and Arnold swung his massive greatsword at Jaina.

Jaina quickly dodged.

The humming sound cutting through the air revealed just how much power was behind that blade.

The match was one-sided.

Arnold kept swinging his sword with brute strength, and Jaina barely managed to dodge.

Everyone watching the match thought that if she got hit by that sword even once, it would be over.

“…Just a moment, please!”

In the middle of the match, Jaina shouted.

The Imperial Knights entrance exam was conducted under the rule that participants should immediately report any issues to ensure a fair and safe match.

In fact, a previous participant had requested to use the restroom and earned the judges’ disapproval.

“Is there a problem?”

“Is wearing armor mandatory?”

Though armor was provided for safety, it wasn’t mandatory.

A previous applicant had fought without a helmet because none fit his large head.

“It’s not mandatory. But in the event of injury, the Imperial Palace holds no responsibility.”

At Andre’s words, Jaina beamed.

She took off the heavy steel helmet she had borrowed.

As the helmet came off, her hair tie came loose with it.

Her long brown hair scattered in the air, drawing the attention of every spectator.

‘She’s actually beautiful…’

He had assumed the portrait in the application was fake…

She was like a deer he had once seen at a picnic—beautiful and delicate.

She looked even better in person than in the drawing.

And most of all, her green eyes sparkled like the finest emeralds, even from afar.

Jaina removed not only her helmet but also her leg guards.

Only her chest and arm guards remained.

‘If she gets hit like that, her bones will be shattered…’

Andre thought Jaina would lose, so he figured it would be better if she at least got hit while wearing protection. But since the participant wished it, he had no more to say. He only hoped she wouldn’t get seriously injured.

The match resumed.

Even if his opponent was a beautiful woman, Arnold was determined to show that a match was a match and not to be taken lightly. He gripped his sword again.

Wearing only her chest and arm guards, Jaina moved swiftly.

Before anyone realized it, Jaina was right in front of Arnold and landed a hard blow to his abdomen.

The tables had turned.

Arnold was always one step behind Jaina.

No matter how powerful an attack, it meant nothing if it didn’t land.

And Arnold’s attacks, due to their sheer strength, took time to recover from.

Jaina didn’t miss the opportunity and kept striking.

Blow after blow, Jaina’s attacks left Arnold dazed.

Eventually, Arnold’s legs gave out, and he collapsed.

“Match over. Jaina Emeldia wins!”

***

“Why not?”

Louihart slammed the desk with a thud in protest.

Andre, who had finalized the list of accepted candidates, replied, “I understand. She’s not only skilled in swordsmanship but also quick and intelligent. However, she’s not suitable to become a knight.”

This was why he hated watching the trials with the Crown Prince.

Louihart had apparently become far more invested in the entrance exam than expected.

“But she won, didn’t she?”

“What is this, a colosseum? The point isn’t victory or defeat, but to assess whether one is suitable to be a knight. Jaina is certainly talented, but since she never attended the Knight Academy, her swordsmanship is unusual and too rough. She won’t get along with the other knights. Her skills would be better suited to a well-paid mercenary or private guard.”

Andre had overseen the Imperial Knights entrance exams for many years.

Through long experience, he knew that simply being good at swordsmanship wasn’t enough to survive in the Imperial Knights.

One of the most important virtues for a knight in the Empire, where hierarchy and structure were crucial, was ‘assimilation.’

Though it would be a shame to let her go, Andre had seen too many who entered the knights with skill alone, only to be ostracized or unable to adapt and end up fleeing.

To Andre, it was obvious—Jaina wasn’t a hunting dog but a wild wolf.

“Then she can be my personal guard.”

As if concluding, ‘If it’s bland, just add salt,’ Louihart smacked his fist into his palm with a cheerful voice.

It was a rebuttal worthy of the prince whom even the Emperor couldn’t win against in a verbal spar.

“Her name was Jaina, right? Assign her as my guard knight. It’s perfect. She’ll blend in more easily than a typical guard, and Andre, you can teach her how to assimilate like a proper knight in the meantime.”

“Your Highness, could it be…”

Andre narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

“I-it’s not like that!”

Reading the look in Andre’s eyes, Louihart flinched and shouted.

Even if Jaina was beautiful, it wasn’t out of that kind of base interest.

Ever since falling for Angelina, Louihart hadn’t had eyes for any other woman.

It was just that his curiosity had been piqued by Jaina, a female knight with remarkable skill.

And as the future emperor, he felt it wasn’t right to overlook such talent.

“…If the budget comes from Your Highness’s own funds, then I have no objections.”

Andre nodded in agreement with Louihart’s suggestion.

Unlike the Imperial Knights, who hired within a fixed budget, the Crown Prince’s funds were virtually unlimited, so there was no issue.

And as Louihart had said, maybe even a wild wolf could be trained to become a hunting dog.

As the commander responsible for training, Andre felt a desire to teach someone with such outstanding ability.

Andre added Jaina Emeldia’s name to the list of accepted candidates.

***

“Match over. Jaina Emeldia wins!”

Helene screamed and jumped with joy.

Her throat was already hoarse from cheering for Jaina, but she couldn’t stop smiling.

It was worth slipping her a small allowance and sneaking into the capital to watch the entrance exam in secret.

Disguised in a palace maid’s uniform, Helene had secretly watched Jaina’s match.

Honestly, this made her happier than the time Korea made it to the World Cup Round of 16.

Soaking in sweat, Jaina smiled more brightly and purely than Helene had ever seen.

Though she knew Jaina was skilled, when she saw her opponent Arnold—his size and strength—she hadn’t expected much of a chance.

But Jaina had far surpassed Helene’s expectations, displaying incredible skill.

She had never attended the Knight Academy, and her only sword training had come from her father in childhood, the rest self-taught…

Despite such disadvantages, Jaina had won the duel.

Helene was truly proud.

They said winning didn’t guarantee being accepted, but surely they wouldn’t reject someone who defeated such a monstrous opponent.

After Jaina’s match ended, Helene changed clothes and slipped out of the palace by hiding in a supply wagon.