“Duel!!!” Leona stormed up to Rhode, face flushed with determination.

Lately, for some reason, Leona had been allowed to visit Shilo’s house.

She didn’t care about the reason.

For a child, overly complicated things were better left unknown.

All she needed was an excuse to pick a fight—no, to settle the score!

She *had* to beat Shilo just once. Just once! Then she could prove she was an excellent child too.

“So you’ve come to the wrong person,” Rhode said, swinging on the swing and reading his book without even glancing up.

Lately, Leona kept showing up, each time demanding a duel with Shilo.

Probably because of that little duel Rhode had staged before, the girl had latched onto the word “duel.”

Too bad she kept picking the wrong twin.

Leona’s cheeks burned crimson. The hand gripping her sword trembled slightly.

It wasn’t the first mix-up—but she still couldn’t tell Rhode and Shilo apart.

*Adorable. Not interesting.*

“I… I…” Leona hesitated, words stuck in her throat. One or two slip-ups were forgivable. Not this many.

“I’m *not* here for Shilo, darn it!” she bluffed. “I’m here to duel *you*!”

*Creak—*

Rhode froze mid-swing, startled.

“Serious?” He shot her a skeptical look.

“Of course!” A blush crept across her face. Lying was still too hard.

Rhode saw right through her, but her flustered composure made him hesitate to call her out.

“Why?”

“Because you tricked me before!” she declared with righteous indignation.

“Uh…” Rhode was speechless. Logically… she wasn’t wrong.

After a beat, he sighed. “Fine. Beat me, and you can challenge Shilo.”

Playing along was his compromise.

After all, she *had* untied him once—though he’d ended up tied even tighter afterward.

“Really? No tricks?” Leona blurted, eyes narrowed at the little trickster.

“No tricks. Promise.”

“O-Okay…” Leona stammered. She didn’t think Rhode could win—but jumping through this hoop every time was annoying.

*Is he going easy on me?* Nah. Must be imagination. Impossible.

Rhode smiled faintly. Amusement for him. Peace for Shilo’s studies.

Don’t be fooled—he cared deeply for his little brother.

Others might dote on Shilo too, but protecting him was a big brother’s duty.

*Yes. Duty.*

His own sword lessons? He skipped those often. No worries.

Rhode proudly whipped out his new black dagger, waving it playfully.

“You’re not using a sword?”

“Same difference. I can’t use swords *or* daggers,” he said with misplaced pride.

“Might be a dagger prodigy though.”

Leona went silent. Her eyelid twitched.

Rhode’s confidence was so absolute, you almost believed him.

---

The duel began—and ended instantly.

Predictably, Leona won without breaking a sweat.

“So weak,” she said, flourishing her sword.

Even as an older brother, Rhode was nowhere near Shilo’s level.

“Do you even practice swordsmanship?”

“Nah,” Rhode muttered, looking away.

“Your footwork’s not bad, though,” Leona added after a pause—offering reluctant praise.

“Anyway! I beat you! Can I challenge Shilo now?”

“Go ahead,” Rhode shrugged from the ground.

What choice did he have? She’d won cleanly.

Besides, they’d already wasted half an hour.

“Oh—next time, check eye color,” Rhode suggested, tapping his own. “Mine are blue. Shilo’s are red.”

“Ohhh!” Realization dawned on Leona’s face.

*That’s* how to tell the twins apart? She’d been staring at their faces the whole time!

Now it’d be easy.

“I’m off to duel Shilo!” Excited, she dashed through the house.

As a princess, no one would stop her.

She’d find him in seconds.

“So boring,” Rhode muttered, clasping his hands behind his head and flopping onto the grass.

He didn’t look tired at all—still energetic enough to jump around even if hung upside down for hours.

After a moment, he grabbed the book from the swing. Time for a re-read.

Good novels held up. Maybe he’d spot new details this time.

But just as he settled onto the swing—

Doraf stood before him, hands clasped behind his back, face stern.

Rhode quietly closed the book and set it aside.

“You were far too disrespectful to Princess Leona,” Doraf stated coldly.

“…”

“She is a *princess*. Do you understand that?”

“…” Well. Rhode hadn’t known.

A cold dread settled in his chest.

*That* duel-happy girl… was a princess? She didn’t seem the type.

(Though novels *did* have princesses like her—usually ending up as “Princess of Something” or “-hime.”)

“You’re grounded for one week. Reflect in your room.” Doraf turned sharply.

“Learn from Shilo…” He shook his head, disappointment heavy in the gesture.

“Huh?! A *whole week*?!”

Doraf didn’t look back. Hands still behind his back, he walked away.