The circular stadium was filled with people early on. The carriages of the noble families, entering one by one, unfurled their banners in a display of their majesty.
“Woooooow!”
“Grand Prince Benio!”
The loudest cheers erupted when the carriage of Grand Duke Benio’s family made its entrance, with the scorpion-shaped shield of the Benio family crest flashing brightly.
“Long live Grand Prince Benio!”
Ash Benio, dressed in a blue uniform, followed by his six direct knights, entered.
“As expected of the Grand Duke Benio’s family.”
“They’ve won the competition every year, haven’t they?”
As praise burst from everywhere, the knights entered the stadium, and Ash took his seat.
“…Damn, I feel sick to my stomach.” Ash cursed under his breath, wearing his usual graceful smile. “Just thinking about having to force a smile all day makes me sick.”
“You’ve drunk unusually much.” His aide reprimanded him. “You drank that much at the banquet in the duchy, and then you drank several more bottles upon returning.”
It was rare for Ash to lose such self-control, so his aide was worried.
“I’m going crazy.”
Ash closed his eyes tightly before reopening them. He couldn’t remember clearly, but it seemed he had babbled nonsense to Siani. All because of that damn Jeff. He had been holding back, but that guy practically lit the fire.
“You have no idea how much Siani dotes on that knight. If you touched him, you would be in big trouble.”
Jeff’s giggling echoed in his ears.
“By the way, Grand Prince, about ‘that matter’ you mentioned. I’ve prepared for it, but…” His aide whispered after looking around.
‘That matter.’ Yes, Ash was contemplating two choices. The first was to win the competition as usual and glorify his family. The second was to turn the competition upside down using the magician he had bribed.
“What should we do, Grand Prince?”
“…Well.”
“Why don’t we go for the first option as we did last year? We don’t even know who that knight is.”
Indeed, his aide was right. They barely knew the face of the knight named Rere. No point in ruining the competition, then.
“Just the first option.”
As Ash’s lips parted to speak,
“That… Your Highness.”
Suddenly, an unusual silence hovered. While his entrance had sparked cheers, this time, it seemed overshadowed by something…
“It’s the princess.”
It was Siani. As his aide said, Siani was entering the stadium.
“Oh my god, look there. It’s the family of Duke Felicite.”
“They look amazing.”
The knights following her, wearing black masks, caused heavy tension to fill the stadium with their red shoulder boards flapping.
“…”
When Ash saw that, he felt as if his heart would burst, not knowing if it was anger or something else, but…
“It’s that b*stard,” Ash muttered under his breath. He instinctively knew. The one closest to Siani, with silver hair…
“That b*stard.”
An unknown restlessness crushed Ash. Just seeing Siani standing next to him made his heart feel like it would explode.
“It seems right.” His aide seemed to have recognized the presence at a glance.
“…”
Ash’s gaze drifted to the sky. A large circular sphere, imbued with a barrier, would rise at the start of the game. The game would be played inside that sphere. Meaning, soon Siani would…
“I’ve decided.”
“Yes?”
Ash, slowly twirling his ring, said, “Go with the second option.”
He would have to watch that b*stard being torn apart by the claws of a monster. The thought of her grieving brought a smile to his face. Well, now that it had come to this, he planned to make his goal clear.
You’ll know again.
That you have no one to rely on but me.
* * *
Exiting the temple, Kailus frowned, squinting at the bright sunlight after a long absence. From the lounge where he stood, the view below was clearly visible.
“They’re coming in.”
“It’s de goddess!”
The imperial family was watching the stadium through the glass windows.
“Once the tournament is over, I must ask. Which designer tailored that uniform?”
“So pretty!” Moriana jumped up as soon as Siani entered.
“Do you like it that much, Royal Princess?”
Her eyes sparkled more than ever, surrounded by a lively aura.
“…”
Kailus silently watched Siani. The woman, leading her knights into the stadium, was met with heat and loud cheers. Amidst this, Kailus tried to feel the energy crossing through the air. But,
No.
He felt nothing. Naturally, he wasn’t one to sense the power of the goddess. Kailus was meant to ‘protect’ the goddess. Therefore… he was a being who sensed the power of the devil.
“I never thought you’d actually come out.”
“Moriana kept saying how pretty the Princess of Felicite is, so I got curious.”
The emperor looked at Kailus with a somewhat startled expression. It was a look questioning whether he was indeed a man. Then,
“…!”
The silver hair behind Siani Felicite caught his eye.
“Oh, the knights of the duchy are quite tall.”
Kailus momentarily closed his eyes and reopened them.
“But why the masks…”
The emperor seemed to be saying something, but Kailus couldn’t hear him.
Why is this happening? For some unknown reason, his consciousness was blurring. Struggling to maintain focus, Kailus tried to look beyond the glass. As the knights of Felicite drew closer.
“Kailus!”
“High Priest!”
Eventually, he clasped his mouth.
“Oh gosh, High Priest!”
“Ugh!”
Purple blood surged from the back of his hand.
“Kailus, what’s happening!”
Kailus quietly observed his blood-stained hand. ‘
What is this…
His fair skin turned even paler, filled with dread.
What’s happening?
* * *
I could feel the numerous gazes pouring over me. According to the etiquette, the duke had to greet the emperor first, so Irik went with him. Eventually…
“Oh my, look at those magnificent knights. Where have they been hiding?”
I had to enter with the Norma.
“Wasn’t that uniform designed by designer Bergman?”
“The masks add such a mysterious touch, don’t they?”
Unlike Ash’s welcoming party, which was attended by only some nobles, the imperial stadium, the largest venue in the empire, was packed with people as far as the eye could see.
“Greetings, Princess.”
At that time, the guide who approached me bowed his head.
“Princess, please use the right corridor, and the direct knights should use the left.”
A fork in the road had finally arrived. From here, it seemed I really couldn’t take care of the Norma any longer.
“Guys.”
“…”
“Be careful. No matter how much someone provokes you, only kill the monsters. Got it?”
I couldn’t bring myself to add ‘not people.’
Looking at them, reality started to sink back in. What have I done? They were the Norma, called monsters in the original story. And more so,
“Princess, you don’t look good.”
Here was the one who would chain the nobles and drag them around.
“Don’t worry.”
Here was the magician who had been catching beasts barehanded since he was young.
“Why did you only come with Redian in the same carriage?”
Here was the one who would behead his own father and seize the throne.
And…
“…”
Redian, the male protagonist of this story whom I had to save, was looking at me with his arms crossed. He didn’t say anything, just lightly smiled.
“We’ll go in first. Redian is the leader, so please talk to him.” Inein, who had been quiet, bowed to me gently.
“Why are we going in first?”
“What’s this? You’re not letting go?”
He then dragged Francis and Vallentin by the naps of their necks.
“Princess, we’ll do well and come back!” Francis, waving his hands at me as he moved away, caught my eye.
“Redian, I’ll say it again.” I tried to tell him that no matter what happens, he should avoid it at all costs and that he should never overdo it.
“Master.”
Redian called me first.
“That day, you left this ring with me.”
He took out a silver ring from his pocket. That was our restraint.
“Oh, right.” I had left it with Redian because the duke had suddenly appeared at the training ground.
“Even if I get hurt, after the tournament ends and I return…”
Before I could react, Redian grabbed my hand.
“You can treat me, Master.”
The ring, warm with a mysterious energy, slid onto my finger.
“Just like always.”
“…”
The same ring on our hands sparkled.
“Okay.”
My heart felt relieved instantly.
“Let’s meet in my room tonight.”
Instead of worrisome words, I offered a light smile.
No barrier mattered.
“I’ll feed you lots of candy.”
After all, we would always be connected at every moment.
♥ thanks
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