(Maria's pov.)
I was only a child when my mother died during the great war. I recall that following her funeral, my father sobbed nonstop for a week.
My father, who was the strongest person I had ever known, broke down in tears right in front of me.
I made a vow for the first time then.
a promise to surpass my mother in strength. Strong enough to fight, to become the best knight to ever exist in the entirety of the Lumberg kingdom.
If I can do this, then my father won't have to worry about me dying, because he would know every battle I faced, I would win.
So, I poured all my focus into training, mastering my art at a young age, ignoring everything else that didn't align with my goal. Victories born from my own sweat and blood.
…
"You there! You're pretty strong for a girl; what's your name?"
That was the first time I saw him, the boy dressed in a peculiar, rich outfit.
During my training in the forest, he walked up to me, claiming he wanted me to be his retainer.
