Reincarnated as the third son of the Duke

A single Sword Saint per generation—that was the measure of its rarity.

For William, who had once devoted his entire past life to the sword, the significance of that title was immeasurable.

"I cannot bring dishonor to House Hern. But more than that, how could I treat a knight who has reached the pinnacle of swordsmanship with anything less than the utmost respect? Regardless of status, Sir Aizen is more than worthy of the reverence of all knights."

"Hah."

At William's solemn words, a flicker of intrigue passed through Aizen's eyes.

Many of the other princes had shown him great respect as well.

But their deference had always been that of a noble heir acknowledging the weight of the Sword Saint's name—recognition of his influence, knowing his endorsement could shift the succession.

William, however, was different.

The reverence in his voice was not political; it was the admiration of a warrior for another warrior.

A rare thing among nobles…

Most aristocratic youths saw strength as nothing more than a tool, a means to command and control.

They grew up in comfort, surrounded by knights of middling skill and vast armies of soldiers, their understanding of combat limited to numbers and strategy.

To them, warriors who could stand against a hundred men alone were nothing but legends or foolish brutes who would be crushed by sheer numbers.

Yet, the way William spoke...

It is as if he has walked the path of the sword himself.

—"I thought he was a hopeless case at first," the Grand Duke had told him before Aizen left for the training grounds. "But upon closer look, he's quite extraordinary. Was he exceptionally talented? No—what surprised me was his mindset. You'll understand when you meet him."

Aizen had not thought much of those words at the time.

But now, he was beginning to understand.

Even so, a single unusual reaction was not enough to warrant special treatment.

Like the other princes before him, William would undergo the same training regimen.

Only through it would Aizen determine his worth.

"Very well," Aizen said. "If that is your stance, then I shall not reject your courtesy any further. Do as you see fit."

"Thank you for your understanding."

"Then let us begin at once. Run the length of the training grounds."

"Understood."

Without hesitation, William immediately turned and started running.

Not a single question.

Not even the briefest moment of hesitation.

It was Aizen, the instructor, who found himself caught off guard instead.

"Wait, hold on a moment, Your Highness!"

William came to a halt and turned back.

"Yes? Is something wrong?"

"Aren't you even the least bit curious?" Aizen asked. "Why I am making you run? How long you must run? What purpose this training serves?"

William tilted his head slightly, as if the question itself was odd.

"I am curious. But if you are making me do this, it must mean I need it. If you do not see the need to explain, then there must be a reason. As a student, it is only right that I follow my instructor's guidance."

As soon as he finished speaking, William resumed running.

Aizen, left staring after him, let out an incredulous chuckle.

Such words were easy to say—but to truly believe them, to act without question, was another matter entirely.

Humans, by nature, resisted meaningless labor.

And nobles? They calculated cost and benefit as naturally as breathing.

Yet, William had not only refrained from questioning the task—he had not even hesitated.

He is different, after all, Your Highness, Aizen thought to himself, a glimmer of expectation forming in his gaze.

For the first time in many years, he wondered…

Could he, at long last, be teaching a true knight instead of another pampered noble?

William ran in silence across the open training grounds.

In truth, the answer he had given Aizen had not been entirely honest.

It was not simply blind trust in his instructor that allowed him to follow orders without question.

No—he already knew the true purpose of this test.

To an outsider, it may seem like a simple endurance exercise. But in reality, it is a way to evaluate a disciple's potential in multiple ways.

Aizen was not just measuring stamina.

He was testing obedience—whether William would follow orders without complaint.

He was assessing William's current level of physical endurance before beginning actual training.

He was observing how long William would continue running if not given a stopping point.

Through this single exercise, Aizen was gathering insight into William's temperament, his discipline, and his resilience.

Everything except raw talent could be judged through this simple test.

Though, to be fair, most untalented candidates would be eliminated by their lack of determination anyway…

William let out a faint, bitter smile.

Such was the nature of power.

A teacher might not want to take on a student, but when that student belonged to the ruling family, they had little choice.

Still, looking at it from another angle—this was also an opportunity.

A rare chance to impress a Sword Saint.

No matter how disciplined I may appear, at the end of the day, I am still a noble, William mused.

No matter how much he trained, no matter how hard he worked, to Aizen he would still be a prince raised in comfort, enjoying privileges that common knights could only dream of.

And if that was how he was perceived…

Then he would have to prove himself in ways beyond mere words.

William had expected his performance in front of the Sword Saint to be unimpressive.

But if there was anything he could prove, it was his determination.

"I've already demonstrated my discipline. Now, all that remains is my endurance."

He had no choice but to push himself to the limit.

Though his body had healed, his lack of recent physical exertion was undeniable.

Fatigue would set in soon enough, and if he wanted to leave a lasting impression, he would have to push himself to the breaking point.

Fortunately, this was the Grand Duchy of Hern.

Even if he collapsed, gasping for air, they would surely have the necessary medicine to revive him.

With his resolve set, William pushed off the ground and increased his pace.