Viola touched her forehead.
‘Oh, dear, those two.’
People were standing in a circle and the number of them was quite significant. They were watching two people dueling.
‘Why are they fighting?’
Although overshadowed by the sobriquet, ‘Teen Idol,’ Jeremy was, in fact, the successor of the Storm Sword. He would later become a figure able to confront and beat Medea in a decisive battle. Finding his equal among peers was difficult. However, Tundra was fighting Jeremy. The only fortunate thing was that they weren’t using mana.
‘Oh….’
Should she go out and stop them?
‘But, that will attract even more attention, won’t it?’
Perhaps if she actively intervened, the leading newspapers of the continent would probably handle it in this way:
“The Main Characters of the Scandal; the Companion Sword and the Teen Idol!.”
“Viola Bellato, Shocks High Society!”
It would become sensational news.
‘No, we can’t have that.’
Tundra would end up as the enemy of all Jeremy’s crazy fans. She decided not to escalate the situation any further.
‘Since we’re in Hyril’s territory, a knight directly affiliated with the Marchioness will come and mediate.’
Viola decided to just pretend to not know.
Hera asked, “What’s the matter?”
“Oh, it’s nothing. I’m just a bit tired.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, just taking a little break while basking in the sunlight.”
Viola casually sat by the window. Down below, Jeremy and Tundra were fighting, exchanging words.
‘What are they babbling about?’
Although she couldn’t hear, she became curious and tried to listen.
“…Hey!”
“…That’s right!”
“…It’s!”
‘Huh? I can hear them?’
It wasn’t exactly clear, but she could sense the general nuance. Their mouths seemed to move faster than their arms and legs.
***
Jeremy shouted, “Why are you preventing me from meeting Viola?”
“My master doesn’t like you.”
“How do you know that?”
“I just know.”
Jeremy couldn’t understand.
‘He just knows?’
Clang!
Their swords clashed. It was a duel without using mana so both of their faces were pouring with sweat as if it were raining.
“Did Viola say she dislikes me?”
“There has been no such occasion.”
Tundra wanted to say, ‘Yeah, that’s right,’ but couldn’t. Viola disliked lies, so he couldn’t engage in actions that his owner disliked.
“Then give me an explanation that makes sense.”
“All I know for sure is that my master feels uncomfortable around you.”
“Why are you so sure about that?”
Clang!
Their swords clashed again then they distanced themselves.
“Heuk, heuk.”
“Heuk, heuk.”
Normally, during a duel, heavy breathing was hidden. Even unconscious panting could be seen as a weakness. However, neither of them could conceal their breathing at all. It meant they were both exhausted.
“I’m just sure.”
“Is that an answer or nonsense?”
Jeremy couldn’t comprehend. If Tundra had provided a logical explanation, he might be able to understand, but it seemed a rational response from Tundra was beyond his reach.
“I should at least hear a valid reason, even if I have to knock you down.”
“My existence is a valid reason.”
“Your existence?”
“I can read my master’s mood.”
“Grand Mage Sir Daniak said, ‘You may know the inside of water, but you cannot know the inside of a person.’”
“But I know.”
Jeremy felt like he was going to die from frustration. There was simply no communication.
“You’re a Companion Sword, huh?”
Tundra swung his sword forcefully.
Hwoong!
A powerful aura emerged. Despite the swing not having much mana, it created quite an intense sword wind. Jeremy stepped back two paces. A few strands of Jeremy’s bangs had been cut off.
“I’m not a Companion Sword.”
Meanwhile, the aura of the Marchioness’ senior knight was felt. Both Tundra and Jeremy sensed that their duel had come to an end. Continuing the duel any further would be considered a threat to the security of the Marchioness’ subjects.
Tundra sheathed his sword.
“I am a Companion Dog.”
His eyes flashed. It was a side of him that he had never shown in front of Viola. Gazing at Tundra, Jeremy felt like he was looking at a mad dog. Even the onlookers tilted their heads at the strange sight.
‘He’s serious, isn’t he? So serious that it’s scary.’
Tundra’s appearance during the duel was solemn. It seemed strange that he earnestly asserted his identity in such a way. Many people were perplexed.
“Anyway, are they fighting over Lady Viola?”
“A lover’s quarrel?”
“Seems like it, but isn’t Lady Viola only 12 years old?”
“That’s not a big deal. Do you know why the Forget-Me-Not Banquet invites participants that are 12 to 17 years old?”
“I don’t know. Why?”
“At that age, nobles look to dedicate themselves to their future partners. They are fighting for their own future.”
The age of a promised person did not matter.
Later, the commotion was summarized to be a duel between two men vying to become Lady Viola’s partner. In reality, it was just a squabble between a pet dog wary of an outsider and a curious contender who wanted to become friends.
(Even though Tundra wasn’t a noble, he was engraved in people’s minds as one.)
Meanwhile, the Marchioness’ guardian knight approached.
“Sir Tundra, Sir Jeremy, please cease.”
Tundra had already sheathed his sword and Jeremy now also put his sword back into its scabbard.
The guardian knight shouted loudly, “Everyone, disperse!”
At the knight’s shout, the onlookers began to scatter.
Jeremy asked, “May I ask for the knight’s name?”
“My name is Paldan. I am a 3rd-class guardian knight of Marchioness Hyril.”
“Sir Paldan, I have a favor to ask.”
“What favor?”
“There is a noble I must meet, but this person keeps getting in the way.”
Tundra’s body twitched. Currently, Jeremy exuded the elegance and composure typical of a noble.
“Who is this noble?”
“Viola Bellato, the 6th Lady of Bellato. What do you think, Guardian Knight Paldan? Does he have the right to prevent me from approaching Lady Viola?”
Guardian Knight Paldan lowered his head.
“As far as I know, he has no such right.”
Tundra interjected without hesitation, “A dog has an obligation to protect its owner.”
“Tundra, are you saying your master is so weak that she needs your protection?”
“…”
Jeremy sighed.
‘It’s getting more complicated. If it’s a dog, it’s a dog. What’s the point of preventing us from meeting each other?’
He glanced upward.
‘Viola must be aware of this disturbance.’
Despite that, Viola did not come down.
‘Does she really not want to meet me?’
He pondered, but the answer did not come. He had congratulated Viola as a friend and shared in her joy over winning the Blue Diamond.
‘That’s all there was to it. It’s not something to feel bad about, is it?’
At this moment, he couldn’t know for sure.
‘I need to think about this more.’
With the thought that he may have committed a serious error, he decided to step back for now.
“Enough. I’ll stop here for today.”
“I wish you would stop not just today but every day.”
“I’m stepping back because I’m concerned I might have unknowingly made a mistake.”
“Your existence itself is a mistake.”
Tundra instinctively understood the real issue. In reality, Viola’s attempt to keep Jeremy away wasn’t because Jeremy had done something wrong. It was simply because Jeremy’s presence itself posed a threat to Viola.
“Are you saying these hurtful remarks to damage my self-esteem?”
“You could afford to have it reduced. You have a lot of self-esteem.”
Jeremy sighed again and lowered his head with a grimace.
“Anyway, tell Viola I want to become good friends with her.”
***
Senna picked up a doll and threw it. Despite screaming and breaking a glass in anger, the frustration did not dissipate.
“Bellato, you barbarians!”
They had no dignity of nobility whatsoever. The father and daughter joined forces to insult the Duke of Mariantu.
“I will never forgive you!”
Moreover, what was going through Celine’s mind to make such a decision? To offer such a precious gift to the daughter of Bellato, who insulted Duke Mariantu! By proxy, Celine insulted Duke Mariantu. At least, that’s how Senna saw it.
Then, Senna received some news. Lina, Senna’s childhood friend who was currently serving as her maid, said, “The bonded warrior Tundra and the foreigner knight Jeremy are having a duel.”
Senna suddenly felt better.
“Tundra is like Viola’s guardian knight, right?”
“Although they call him a Companion Sword, I’m not sure about his exact role. There are rumors that he’s just a pet, but it’s not confirmed.”
Senna thought to herself.
‘Viola must have upset Jeremy.’
Yesterday, Viola openly insulted Jeremy. Despite Jeremy sincerely congratulating her, Viola didn’t even give him a glance. It was behavior that violated the norms of high society. At the minimum, observing basic etiquette, like making eye contact or acknowledging the greeting, would have been considered polite, but Viola didn’t even uphold these simple manners.
‘Prince Jeremy probably went to quietly express his dissatisfaction, and that immature Bellato must have rudely confronted our kind Prince Jeremy.’
There would likely have been a duel.
“Let’s go, Lina.”
“W-Where to?”
“We need to mediate and point out Bellato’s rude behavior.”
Senna firmly grabbed Lina’s hand. The Marchioness’ guardian knight would arrive soon. When the guardian knight intervened and stopped the duel, Senna planned to step forward and address Bellato’s behavior. She thought that her support, as Duke Mariantu’s beloved daughter, could help Jeremy. Then people would criticize Bellato for their lack of manners.
‘Then Prince Jeremy will surely be grateful to me.’
Bellato would be embarrassed and Jeremy would develop a liking for her. That’s what Senna thought but things took an unexpected turn.
“Anyway, tell Viola I want to become good friends with her.”
Upon hearing Jeremy’s words, Senna felt as if the sky was falling.
‘He wasn’t going to express his dissatisfaction with Viola?’
After being so blatantly ignored, he still wanted to be good friends? Even after being humiliated in front of so many nobles? She bit her lip.
‘Who does she think she is?’
What right did that adopted daughter have?
‘Why does he only like her?’
She wasn’t even Bellato’s direct descendant. Not of pure blood. Not of noble lineage. Just a commoner from the slums!
“Lina, let’s go back.”
Senna immediately packed her belongings and returned to Duke Mariantu’s estate. In the carriage, she shed bitter tears and vowed revenge.
At the same time, Tundra, expecting to be praised for expelling unwanted outsiders, suddenly faced a situation he hadn’t anticipated.
—————————————————————
Translator Note:
This chapter was translated by Bree.
If you like my work please support us in Patreon. Next post will be released on Februeary, 13.
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Poor Tundra🤣