Brooke's Priority
Chapter 4's

“Brooke!”

Lucas looked really angry. There was another child who looked the same age as him standing not far from Lucas. I didn't recognize him.

“Oppa is back?”

I tried to say it with a sweet and cute tone like Grace.

“You! Bring the wooden sword.”

Lucas tried to take it from me. However, Filley immediately blocks Lucas' hand.

“Filley! How dare you block me.”

Filley turned to look at me and I nodded slowly. Filley immediately stepped out of Lucas' sight and stood behind me. “Filley is my bodyguard and I order him to deter anyone who approaches me without permission, Oppa.”

“Izin?” Lucas dumbfounded. “He should know I'm your brother and don't need permission to take that wooden sword,” Lucas spoke in a high tone. He really looks angry.

“I also do not need permission to learn to hold a sword.”

I replied to Lucas firmly and looked into his eyes. We race to look at each other. There was silence before the boy who came with Lucas greeted me.

“Good day, Brooke.”

She smiles. A mocking smile that instantly made my blood pressure rise.

“Who?” ask me in a soft voice, trying to stay polite.

“Reacted right. Lucas said you lost your memory and became weird.”

He smiled at the corner of his lips. Really annoying.

“Lucas, relax. You just need to report this to your dad and Brooke will be locked up in his room all day until he wakes up.”

Realize said? You fucking kid.

“Brooke,“ Lucas called me in a slow voice. His gaze began to soften. “The sword will only hurt you. Holding a sword means you're ready to see blood.”

Is correct. In this world, swords were used for battle. The sword is the protector and the weapon to kill. Nobles can kill people who go against his orders or betray him. Execution. They call it that. There were no clear legal restrictions governing the power of the nobility.

“I need a sword to protect my life, Oppa.”

“I'll protect you,” Lucas points to himself. “I swear I'll protect you, Grace and this family. I won't let anyone put poison even scratch the wound on you.”

Sounds impressive but I shake my head. “No. We will protect all important things together.”

The first priority on my list is to protect what's valuable to Brooke. The other is me now. And precious to Grace. The other person is the one I want to save. I can't just rely on Lucas or Filley.

“You talk like a great hero.” The annoying child now showed a sour face. “You insulted us who learned to sword. You must think this is easy. For additional information, in this Kingdom, there were only ten female knights. You know why?”

“They die. Almost all of them died because women were not basically as strong as men. In the end, the ten surviving female knights stopped being knights when the war was over. They went crazy for seeing so much blood of his comrades in arms.”

I then saw him looking at me with a face like I didn't know what reality was in life.

Alexrod Bartus.

I just remembered his full name. Lucas said he would go see his close friend, the son of Marquess Herry Bartos.

I stared at the wooden sword in my hand. Then he looked at Alex with anger. I purposely showed her my angry face. I threw the wooden sword right at Alex's feet.

“You gave up?” Alex grinned.

“Of course not,” I replied as I walked closer to Alex.

Alright. I'll teach him a valuable lesson.

Side kick.

I kicked him in the face.

“Listen, don't ever say they're crazy even if that's the case,” I said in a threatening tone. I looked down at Alex who was lying on the ground. Surprised to not be able to stand. Lucas also didn't help him stand up because he froze to see what had happened. I still remember the judo moves I practiced for years and Brooke's body obeyed my will to make those moves (i was lucky enough this time).

Nice too. Judo moves and the ability to use a sword would be a great combination.

“The ones who come forward to fight are the great ones who leave everything behind to protect the people who stay.” I approached Alex and squatted down beside him. “I also don't call this easy. Nothing is easy for me. So, stop trying to solve problems by complaining to parents. Damn boy.”

He certainly doesn't know the term PTSD.

I'm sure the female knights are living in post-traumatic stress suffering and Alex talks about it like it's nothing serious.

“Oppa, we'll talk about this with Dad,” I said to Lucas, keeping a close eye on Alex. “I will stick to my current decision.”

I stood up and walked over to Lucas. “Oppa, I love you. But you have to let me do this for myself.”

“Brooke.” Lucas could not finish his sentence. He still looked at me in disbelief because he just beat up Alexrod, his close friend and called him a fucking boy. Lucas doesn't believe his sister is swearing at his friend.

“Oppa, I will call a healer to treat his wound,”. Afterwards, I walked a few steps past Lucas.

“Filley!” shouted later. “You didn't follow me?”

Filley nodded. He was also shocked to the point of doubt whether he should follow me or not. I feel like I've caused a big problem today. I beat up the second son of the Bartos family. Unfortunately, I have no regrets. He deserved it after all his nonsense regarding the loyalty of the female knights. The seventh priority on my list. Trying to change the view towards equality and duty of a woman.

I turned around because I wanted to say something.

“Oh yes, Alex Oppa. By the way, if I get locked up later, I just run away.”

*****