Chapter 178
Of course, I knew Lucio was older than me, but I had never been conscious of the age difference.
He had always been a mature person, both in my past life and this one, and I simply thought that was just his personality.
Even Ascart, who is the same age as Lucio, sometimes feels like a younger brother to me, so his words caught me off guard.
At that moment, Lucio frowned, looking sullen.
“Honestly, even when father asked if I was the same age as Ascart, I felt a bit guilty.”
“Really?”
I hadn’t noticed at all. He had answered so shamelessly that I was more worried about my dad’s blood pressure.
“W-Wait! Why did you just casually call him ‘father’?”
Startled, I asked, and Lucio, who had been sulking, let a small smile slip.
“You’re not very perceptive, but you’re oddly sharp sometimes.”
“What did you just say?!”
“Don’t be mad. His Grace the Grand Duke is my close friend’s father, after all.”
“Of course, he might actually become my real father-in-law in the future.”
As he added that last part softly, I gave him an incredulous look, and Lucio responded as if hurt.
“What? Is it because I’m older…?”
“It’s not that!”
I shouted, turning my head away to avoid his eyes, and muttered quietly.
“It’s just… I don’t have the room for that kind of thing right now, or the heart for it.”
When I told the Emperor I wasn’t interested in being betrothed to anyone, it wasn’t a lie.
In my past life, I had always bitterly thought no one would ever feel that way about me, and even in this life, I hadn’t had the space to entertain such hopes.
I admit, realizing Lucio’s feelings had made my heart flutter without me even noticing.
But before I could enter any kind of sweet relationship, I had to first resolve the issue of the demon’s soul stone around my neck and my own soul.
I couldn’t ask someone to share this heavy burden just because they liked me—or because I liked them.
“There it is again.”
Lucio sighed.
“I’m the one being rejected, so why do you look like that?”
Had I made a face like I was about to cry again?
As I touched my face, embarrassed, he spoke in a low voice.
“It’s fine. I can wait.”
“…”
“Here, take it. I came today just to give you this.”
Lucio pulled something from his coat. A communicator.
I stared at it, wondering why he was giving it to me, and he clicked his tongue lightly.
“I heard you collapsed yesterday. Well, more like I got a report. Hearing about you like that… I really didn’t like it. And knowing I couldn’t do anything about it either.”
“…”
I looked at the communicator he was holding out.
His face showed frustration, worry, and undeniable affection.
He might not have realized it himself, but he had basically confessed his feelings earlier.
Even without such direct words… I couldn’t pretend not to know how he felt anymore.
“If it’s too much pressure, just think of it as something the head of Darel’s guild gave you. VIP requests are always welcome.”
When I still didn’t reach out, Lucio sounded a bit anxious.
Just as I was about to give in and take it…
“Oh, right! A request!”
“Hm?”
“I have something to request from you!”
A perfect idea came to mind, and I looked at Lucio with sparkling eyes.
***
“Over here, sis!”
As I entered the arena, Diana waved her hand enthusiastically at me.
I had been worried when I left for the palace, but fortunately, she looked bright and cheerful.
‘She even looks happy to see Lucio next to me…’
Feeling a bit awkward, I scratched my cheek and headed toward the seats where my parents and Duke Elard’s family were seated.
As soon as I sat down, my mother asked,
“Adriana, how did it go at the palace…?”
“It went well. There’s nothing to worry about now.”
“But then, um…”
My father started to speak but glanced to the side.
Following his gaze, I saw Lucio sitting next to Diana. It seemed he was curious why I had come with him.
“We just happened to have the same destination, so we came together.”
I replied casually and began scanning the arena like I was just sightseeing.
And then, without thinking—
“!”
My body froze.
In the distance, leaning casually against the wall with his arms loosely crossed, was Master.
As soon as I saw him, chills crawled down my neck, and my chest tightened painfully.
A strange mix of fear and longing rushed over me, and I stared at him, desperately trying to suppress my emotions.
‘…He’s looking at me.’
Even from afar, I could instinctively tell our eyes had met.
Then, his lips moved slowly.
As I stared wide-eyed, trying to make out his words…
“Your grandfather is sitting over there.”
My mother’s voice came from beside me.
I flinched and turned my head. In the lower-level seats not far away, I saw my grandfather sitting with Count and Countess Amber. Clara was with them too.
Grandfather could have sat in the seats of honor. He must have been considerate of the Countess…
“Ah!”
“Adriana, what is it?”
“Oh… it’s nothing.”
I forced a smile.
I quickly looked away, but in that brief moment, the Master had vanished without a trace.
***
“Waaaah!”
A thunderous cheer, loud enough to shake the arena, erupted.
As Jack, fully clad in helmet and armor, stepped onto the central platform, the roar grew even louder. From women who adored him to warriors who admired his swordsmanship, the cheers transcended age and gender.
One of the Empire’s three great knights. A Swordmaster.
The hope of the commoners—Jack Sedian.
Even his opponent in the finals, called to the platform after that grand name, could only gulp nervously with tension and fear.
The finalists gathered in the center of the arena, and as they turned toward the seats of honor, the Emperor slowly rose and placed a hand on the railing.
He looked over the now-silent audience and spoke to the finalists.
“I look forward to a fair and honorable match.”
His solemn voice echoed through the air. As soon as he returned to his seat, a steward gave the signal.
Ba-ba-ba-bam!
At the sound that filled the arena, the restrained audience exploded with cheers.
After shaking hands with his opponent and moving into position, Jack briefly glanced toward the high seats where noble dignitaries and foreign envoys sat.
Even from that distance, the cotton-candy pink hair stood out clearly and vividly.
Jack unconsciously tightened his grip on his sword.
He planned to give it his all today.
He wanted to show how far he had come as a knight, and how hard he had worked to keep the promise he made the day they parted.
That he was no longer the weak boy of the past.
That he was now strong enough to protect someone.
And…
‘That I want to be the one to protect you.’
He vowed to confess his feelings after winning, and with sharpened determination in his eyes, Jack focused on his opponent.
Finally, as the flag bearer waved the large banner, the two charged forward, drawing their swords.
Clang! Kiiing!
Their swords clashed midair.
‘The match is already decided.’
From the stands, watching the duel, Allen was confident of Jack’s victory.
The opponent wasn’t bad, but Jack’s skill was simply on another level.
Feeling oddly proud of a match that wasn’t even his own, Allen’s chin rose with satisfaction, but then tilted his head, puzzled.
Today’s match was part of the founding festival, a show to please the Emperor.
‘Knowing Jack, I expected him to go easy and drag things out a bit before winning…’
But to his surprise, Jack was giving it everything he had.
He hadn’t used aura due to the rules, but even so, he looked more serious than when sparring with Allen.
‘Why’s he trying so hard?’
Watching Jack fight like it was a real battle, Allen was momentarily dazed, then suddenly felt a twinge of irritation.
‘If I’d known it’d be like this, I should’ve entered Jack last year.’
Then he could have gone wild in today’s match and shown off his skills.
Not understanding why he felt this way, Allen scratched his head, shook it, and refocused on the match.
As expected, Jack’s movements were efficient, with almost no wasted motion.
Just as the public praised, he was fast, sharp, and precise, always aiming for vital points. No matter how well his opponent deflected and dodged, there were limits.
‘Ah…’
Eventually, the opponent stumbled back, made a critical mistake and exposed his back.
Jack spotted the decisive opening and immediately moved to strike the final blow.
Moments later…
Jack stood with his sword pointed at the neck of the kneeling opponent before him.
A flawless victory.
Allen thought, if this had been real combat, Jack’s sword would’ve pierced the opponent’s chest, not hovered at his neck. He smiled in satisfaction.
Then the stadium, which had held its breath, exploded with applause and cheers like fireworks.
“Well done.”
Jack sheathed his sword and offered a hand to his opponent.
He normally held back during duels, except with Allen, and gave his opponents some dignity. But today, he hadn’t gone easy at all and felt a bit embarrassed and sorry.
However, contrary to his worries…
“I-It was an honor to cross swords with you, Sir Sedian!”
His opponent, overwhelmed, shouted in a voice full of emotion, as if it had been a privilege to face Jack’s full strength.
Relieved, Jack gave a faint smile and turned his gaze back to the seats of honor.
‘…?’
His expression stiffened slightly.
He had expected Lia to smile brightly and wave back—but instead, she was rising from her seat, her face pale.
Through the next chapter we will see how Jack becomes disqualified even before confessing 🙃
Do I even want to know???? 😭😭😭