Choose Me Instead (UNDERGOING RE-PLAN AND REWRITE)

Act 1 Scene 15

"Ahahaha...I see so everyone knows of my pranks..." at that moment you felt like digging a hole and hide in it. Hoping to never meet another soul. "What have I done...Carsein's going to remember me as the prankster now!!"

↠━━━━ღ◆ღ━━━━↞

In case you forgot how your training outfit looks like, please refer back up.

You and Carsein are currently in the training grounds waiting for Aristia to change. To be honest you weren't angry or anything it gave you more time alone with Carsein after all.

"Why did mother wanted to meet you?" Carsein suddenly asks you out of nowhere. As you whip your head to him the moment you hear his voice. "Huh?" you let out.

Carsein turns embarrass for some reason, as you look at him curiously. "Are you not suppose to ask question like these?" you asks yourself. "You see, mother usually wouldn't bother having the guest stay longer. But she asked you so I was curious to why...I don't mean to pry or anything!" he explains his hands waving around like Midoriya Izuku.

You were stunned for a moment before letting out a chuckle, "I see, I never knew you would get this embarrass for a mere question Sir Carsein. However for your question, I suppose she would be helping me with certain aspect a marchioness is suppose to know considering she's the duchess and all. The work shouldn't be too different."

Carsein nods at your explanation, starting to understand his mother's reason of asking you to stay back. "I see...anyways why-"

"I apologize for the delay!" Aristia shouts as she runs towards the two of you. It was like Carsein's mood took a 180 as he immediately starts to frown. "Took you long enough to get changed. I don't have all day you know."

"...I'm really sorry for the delay, sir." Aristia says looking down to the floor ashamed.

With his arms cross, Carsein stares at Aristia who was nervously fidgeting on the spot. "So, your father told you to train with me?" Aristia instantly starts to nod, "Yes he did."

"Ha! What a joke! You think learning how to wield a sword is easy? Why don't you just swing it for a couple minutes for fun?" Carsein mockingly suggest shaking his head as he did.

"But, aren't you the one who said to come visit if I need help?" Aristia asks resorting to her final hope, his words.

You weren't sure what to say in a situation like this as you stand there looking at the two of them debating back and forth. "Erm..." you hum out slowly raising your hands.

"..That was before I knew you were the eldest daughter of House Monique Carsein answers seriously, and your hand that was midway up was slowly let down. "Now that I know, don't expect me to be nice to you."

"...What do you mean?" Aristia asks disbelieving what she just heard. "I meant exactly as I said." Carsein childishly says poking out his tongue to irritate her more. Hearing this Aristia instinctively squeeze the wooden sword she was holding, "What is this...? He won't even tell me the reason, yet he's only discriminating against me."

"Sir. I'm not trying to learn how to use the sword as a simple pastime." Aristia states as if it's a known fact. "Hmph. It's clear why a girl from a noble house would want to learn. I can't stand those who try to show off by doing something different." Carsein rebutted.

As much as you wish to tell yourself that Carsein is in love with you which is why he treats you differently it's not. His sentence makes you truly understand his compassion against the swords. 

Aristia who is the crown prince's fiance has no need to learn swordsmanship yet she still did. Which was why Carsein believe that she wants to learn swordsmanship to be different than others, to proof that she is worthy of being by the crown princes side. While on the other hand you were obliged to learn as you were the heir to the house, a house of swordsman. If you didn't know how to wield one it would be super duper weird.

Aristia who didn't catch the reason was distraught, the difference in personality was too much. She didn't like it at all. "...I'm not training for that kind of reason."

Carsein picks up a wooden sword, from who knows where. You truly didn't know where it came from perhaps if you do a similar action you'll get a sword too? You tried, and it didn't work making you cry comically. "Enough excuses. If that's the truth then you need to prove to me how serious you are."

"Fair enough! How should I prove it?" Aristia asks bravely, eyes filled with determination.

"...Let's see how good you are at the basics." Carsein coolly says holding the wooden sword in front of him. Doing a signature handsome second male lead pose as you stare in awe.

"God damn even his standing posture is soo hot! Wait- I can't fangirl right now I'm not a degenerate." you quickly switch up in your mind wiping the drool that was slightly dripping out.

"...Alright." Aristia says tightening her grip on the wooden sword.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

"Haah!"

"Hah!"

"Haah"

Aristia's breath was heard with every swing and every hit.

"So what do you think about your sister?" Carsein asks you still observing Aristia.

You slightly bit the bottom of your lips unsure if you should diss Aristia and her skills considering you would be worst if it weren't for the muscles memories of the body. "I...I'll be honest with you. Her basic skills is good but the rest is shi- I mean really bad. She was only able to brush up her basics while our father is gone. And I'm not really allow to help since I'm super bad at explaining and will probably ruin her more."

Carsein nods at your words as if agreeing with you. "Hm..I see so that's your thoughts." He stands up properly walking to Aristia, "Ok that's enough."

Still panting Aristia walks over to you guys, "How...how was I?"

"Hmm...I think you're pathetic!"

Hearing his statement Aristia's face flush red due to her anger. "Wha- !"

"Your basic skills are passable, but the rest? You're a total mess! And you want to call yourself a swordsman? Are you out of your mind?? Even your sister agrees with my statement." Carsein tauntingly tell Aristia. Hearing the words 'sister' you slowly turn away as you feel Aristia's stare moving towards you.

"[Y/N]? Do you really agree with his observations?" Aristia asks, eyes teary making you feel guilty as you make up an excuse. "We- well it must be because you were training so hard with the basics making the other moves look bad comparing."

And flipping the switch Aristia's eyes look more hopeful, "Do you really think so?" "HELL NO!" Carsein suddenly shouts in anger pointing at you. "HEY YOU! WHY ARE YOU TELLING HER THINGS YOU DON'T MEAN?!" You flinch after getting called out, "It isn't things I don't mean you idiot! It's call encouraging her!"

"...So you're telling me you agree with Sir Carsein?" Aristia asks the hope you once put into her spirit broke once again. "Ah..." you sigh out forgetting Aristia's presence.