Helena was not as strong as a knight.
Nevertheless, she was a vigorous lady. The hard labour she endured during her childhood kept her in good shape. She gained power in her first life by helping Adham carry goods for his merchant business. Helena could easily lift the heavy crate using her strength. In her second life, she gained great stamina from dancing all night long with men at the ball. Helena could dance with ten men without getting out of breath.
Now, everything was back to square one. Helena had lost her strength and stamina. At this rate, she would not be able to defend herself if danger arose.
Helena was standing in the backyard, holding a wooden sword. Her arms trembled under the weapon's weight. Frustration built up inside her mind. Her memory remained intact, but her body had regressed. This condition irked her. Helena yelled obscenities while swinging the sword.
"WHY IS THIS NOT FUCKING WORKING!"
"Lady Helena, cursing won't make you stronger."
Helena stared at her instructor. Violet just shook her head at her master's behaviour. "I don't understand why you want to wield a weapon, My Lady. You're only going to hurt yourself."
Helena ignored her maid. "Tell me, Violet. What are my chances of mastering a sword?"
Although rare, noble ladies were permitted to pursue knighthood. They learnt how to wield a sword from an early age. Helena was late to do so. She could not deny that she was undertrained.
Violet was hesitant to reply, but she answered the question. "Zero."
"Damn it!" Helena threw her sword to the ground.
Her oldest maid sighed. "Is there any special reason why you decided to take up swordsmanship all of a sudden?"
Helena touched her head. "I just want to learn some self-defence. Who knows what danger might lurk in the future?"
Violet was stunned by Helena's answer. Her master had a point. The knight would not protect Helena all the time. She would be vulnerable on her own. Perhaps learning self-defence was necessary.
Violet thought about it and came up with an idea. "Instead of strength training, how about we try something different? Azure and Scarlet can teach you."
"Really? The twins? They don't look strong."
"They're not powerful, but they're agile. My Lady can always quit if the training turns out to be too difficult."
Helena agreed since it was better than nothing. The next day, Azure and Scarlet assisted her. They wore shirts and trousers instead of their maid outfits. Helena smiled at the sight. Even in their training outfits, both girls still looked adorable.
"So what are we going to do?" Helena asked the twins.
"We need to warm up first," answered Azure. "Let's start by running laps!"
Helena was dumbfounded. "What about the warm-up?"
"Running is the warm-up!" Scarlet joined the conversation. "After that, we'll climb a tree!"
"Climbing? Why are we doing... Ah, wait for me!"
Helena was foolish for thinking the lesson would be easy. The twins' training was hell. They pushed Helena's stamina and body beyond her limit. She ran around the house five times, practised climbing the tree, and stretched her rigid limbs to improve her flexibility. Every night, she wept from the pain of her aching muscles.
"Lady Blackmoore, are you all right?"
Helena and the maids visited the blacksmith a few days later. Mr. Iron was concerned about her haggard appearance. Helena had dark circles under her eyes, sunken cheeks, and dry lips. It had been going on for a week. She was exhausted from rigorous training. Helena wondered how she even survived the lesson in the first place.
"I am fine…. I think."
"Are you looking for a weapon again? What happened to the dagger?"
Helena could not tell the blacksmith about the broken dagger. She shifted to another topic. "I require a different weapon. Something that can deal damage from a distance."
"How about a spear?"
Scarlet shook her head. "It's heavier than a sword. Lady Helena wouldn't be able to lift it."
"Bow?"
Azure shook her head. "You need strength to fire a bow. Not to mention, it's difficult to carry the arrows."
Helena was glaring at the twins. "Why do you two speak as if you have experience?"
Azure and Scarlet giggled. "Because we both are experts on that weapon!"
"They are right, Lady Helena," Violet added. "Azure specialises in bows, while Scarlet specialises in spears. It's common in our family to be proficient with a weapon from a young age."
Helena was speechless upon hearing this. She was aware the Pearls were a family of knightly lineage. It was no surprise that the twins had mastered a weapon. Perhaps they studied the bow and spear while living with their uncle and aunt. Violet herself was a battle mercenary for a short time.
"I guess hiring you and your sisters was the right decision."
Mr. Iron frowned. "Sorry, Lady Blackmoore. We don't have much choice when it comes to long-range weapons. The only other option is a gun, but they are illegal in our kingdom."
Firearms were prohibited for good reasons. To begin with, the destructive power was too strong. The user could fire several rounds in a short time. Finally, a gun was involved in a bloody incident. A noble lady was angry at her husband for cheating on her. If she had only killed her husband, no one would have batted an eyelid, but she murdered everyone on the estate. Firearms were banned throughout the kingdom from that day onwards.
Helena crossed swords, spears, and bows off her list. A dagger entered her mind, but it was only effective at close range and in a surprise attack. Helena pondered her options until Azure and Scarlet tugged at her clothes. They pointed to a corner of the store.
"Lady Helena, that one suits you."
Violet saw it and agreed. It was a black bullwhip with a white handle. Mr. Iron explained the weapon to her.
"The whip is crafted from a strip of leather. The thong is the braided section between the handle and the fall. The fall is the part of the whip that hangs down. The cracker is the string at the end of a whip. The one that creates a loud noise."
Helena held the whip. The thong was around three metres long. Despite its length, the whip was not as heavy as Helena had thought. It was a pretty convenient weapon. Compared to a sword, at least Helena could carry it in her hand or hide it under her dress.
"I'll give you half the price, Lady Blackmoore. No one will buy the whip. The weapon would be more useful in your hands than gathering dust in the corner."
"Thank you! I'll spread some good word about your shop to others!"
Helena bought the whip and returned home. She changed her outfit and prepared to test the weapon. Helena gathered with her maids in the backyard to practise.
"Is it important to learn how to handle a whip? You only need to swing it, after all."
Violet shook her head. "A whip is more dangerous than you think, My Lady. Let me demonstrate how to use it."
Helena sat next to the twins and watched Violet. She took a deep breath and focused on the target. Violet swung the whip, creating a deep cut in the tree. Azure and Scarlet applauded their older sister, but Helena just shuddered. She was taken aback by just how powerful the lash was.
"Well, that was... frightening."
Helena stared at the half-ruined tree with pity. The Pearls were monsters. She was glad they were working under her.
Violet rolled the whip. "You can't kill humans with this, but depending on the speed and trajectory of the attack, you can deal some damage. One swing could cut through skin, tear muscle, and damage an organ."
No wonder Violet told her to practise. Wielding a whip was no easy feat. You must be skilled to wield it as a weapon. Not to mention, a whip proved ineffective in close-quarters combat. It became useless at close range.
Helena must practise hard to become proficient with the whip. She swung it repeatedly without hitting the target. Her lack of precision almost caused an injury. She was out of breath and sore from the effort, but she smiled. Helena had never held a weapon before. She enjoyed this new experiment.
As Helena swung the whip with all her might, she almost hit the innocent servant who happened to walk in. The maid fell out of shock. Helena was surprised and rushed to her side.
"Oh, God! I'm so sorry! Are you all right, Nora?"
"I— I'm fine, My Lady..." Azure and Scarlet helped the maid stand up. "I just came to tell Lady Helena that the Countess had called for you."
"Mother?"
Her mother was waiting for her. Astrid Blackmoore wore a red silk gown, paired with emerald earrings and a matching necklace. Her head rested on the armchair's arm, and her long black hair cascaded over her pale skin. The view was ridiculously stunning. She looked like a painting rather than a real person.
Helena wished she were that alluring. She might have an easier life in high society with that appealing face.
"Sit down, Helena. I have something to talk about."
Helena sat down opposite her mother and took the tea that had been prepared for her. "What is it, Mother?"
"Helena, are you still feeling unwell?"
"No. I am perfectly fine. Why?"
"You haven't attended any salons or balls since that incident."
Helena almost spat her tea out. She forgot about it.
In her first and second lives, Helena was a hard-working woman. She was an active participant in high society. She visited many salons and balls to improve and expand her connections with nobles. Those matters no longer crossed her mind because her thoughts were occupied with her regression.
"Not only that, but you've been acting strangely lately. You seem more like an older woman than a young lady."
Technically, she was supposed to be at least twenty years old. Regressing twice left her worn out. Perhaps it made her appear older. Of course, Helena could not say that. She just laughed and evaded her mother's gaze. "I am just a bit tired from all the charity work, hahaha..."
"Helena, I won't force you to attend a ball or salon. Mother is just worried about you. I was responsible for giving you a difficult childhood. All these years, you've been such a sweet, mature daughter. You have worked hard to prove yourself. You can take a break and enjoy your youth more, my child."
Her mother smiled at her. It was not the kind of smile she showed towards nobles. It was a genuine smile, filled with love for her daughter. Her affection touched Helena.
"Don't worry, Mother. I've already had plenty of rest. I'll go to a salon soon."
They had a wonderful time that afternoon. It had been a while since Helena spent quality time with her mother. Helena listened to her mother's stories all day long. She spoke about the servant who had given birth, the latest gossip among the nobility, and the trends for the next season.
That night, Azure and Scarlet brought her a stack of letters. Helena read all the invitation letters before going to sleep. She decided to fulfil her role as a noble's daughter. Helena must avoid salons frequented by Ethel and those who are prejudiced against her commoner background. Her eyes skimmed the family's names. Helena finally chose a letter with a unique green stamp.
"I think this one is safe."