No one could understand what had happened. How Aiden had claimed victory. Even the exchange of offense and defense hadn’t been properly visible!

“Aiden will be the winner of this tournament.”

Khalid remarked with an admiring tone.

“I told you, didn’t I?”

Aristie retorted with an I-told-you-so attitude.

“Yes. He’s definitely outstanding. With skills like that, he could aim for the top ranks even in the martial tournament?”

“Really?”

Aristie’s expression showed pride but also some surprise.

Understandably so, since most winners of the martial tournament were the Emperor’s personal knights, and the champion had been Knight Order Commander Rhion for several years.

“Of course, in terms of stamina, Rhion is far superior, but technically, Aiden doesn’t fall behind. Usually, one maintains power throughout the battle, but he has the ability to conserve energy and explode it in a single moment.”

“Is that so?”

Aristie responded while looking at Khalid with eyes that seemed to say ‘surely not……’

“That means his reflexes are exceptional. He must decide on an attack method in an instant and control his strength and speed accordingly.”

“I see.”

Aristie’s expression cooled slightly as she replied.

“Did you see it? Aiden twisted and struck upward with his sword after observing the trajectory of his opponent’s blade.”

“No. I couldn’t see it at all.”

Aristie’s tone became completely indifferent.

“He didn’t attack first. He responded to the enemy’s movement with the most effective counterattack. He must have trained repeatedly until his body moves instinctively.”

“Yes. I’m sure he did……”

There it was again. Khalid’s lecture on muscle theory.

What good does explaining such things to me do?

Aristie nodded vaguely at Khalid’s detailed explanation.

He would enthusiastically talk about strength and muscles even if a log replaced her beside him.

The next match and the one after that were taking place in the arena, but Khalid didn’t even look straight ahead. He acted like there was no need to watch further since the result was already determined.

Khalid’s judgment proved accurate.

After several matches, Aiden claimed victory as expected.

“The winner is ‘Aiden Crua’ of the Yentrice Duchy!”

When the winner was announced, thunderous cheers and applause erupted. No one dared to disrespect or mock Aiden anymore.

Most spectators could only express admiration and praise for Aiden’s almost magical skills.

“Could Aiden’s teacher be someone….?”

Khalid tilted his head slightly and asked Aristie.

“It’s Sir Volter, the Knight Order Commander of the Yentrice family. I also learned archery from him.”

“You too?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm, Volter……”

A peculiar light flashed momentarily in Khalid’s eyes.

After being lost in thought for a moment, he smiled and offered congratulations when Aiden approached and knelt on one knee.

“Congratulations on your victory, Lord Aiden.”

“I am deeply honored, Your Majesty.”

“You’ll receive prize money and a trophy engraved with your name as a reward.”

“I will accept them with gratitude.”

“But that’s not what you truly desire, is it?”

“……”

“If you have a request, speak freely. That too is the winner’s right.”

That was true.

The benefits given to the swordsmanship tournament winner basically included three things: prize money, a trophy, and the right to make a direct request to the Emperor.

Of course, the request right wasn’t anything extraordinary. Being more like entertainment, typically requests involved honor-related matters such as dining with the imperial family or giving a wedding speech. Sometimes there were no requests at all.

But Aiden had prepared his wish in anticipation of winning. It was,

“I would like to give a toast at the celebratory banquet that will be held later.”

“A toast?”

Khalid’s jawline momentarily skewed at the unexpected request before returning to normal.

……I see. A toast following the swordsmanship tournament victory. Does he intend to officially stand out after ending his long wandering?

‘Aristie was right. Aiden is ultimately a member of the Yentrice family to the bone.’

In childhood, Aiden wielding a wooden sword had been an energetic and ambitious boy. Khalid felt pleased, like he had regained a childhood friend he had lost, and readily agreed.

“No reason why not. I’ll look forward to a splendid toast.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“But may I ask for one favor too?”

“Yes? What……”

Aiden’s gaze, which had been fixed on the floor, shot up toward Khalid.

“I’d like to meet this Knight Order Commander Volter, your teacher.”

“That wouldn’t be difficult, but may I ask why?”

“Nothing special, just want to ask him to train my personal guards when he has time.”

Aiden widened his eyes in surprise.

“You want my teacher to…… train the Kirvatan knights?”

“Yes.”

Khalid nodded.

“They look impressive but their skills are all at the level of sucking on baby bottles. I think your teacher’s guidance might at least get them to eating solid food.”

“Pfft!”

Aristie, who had been quietly listening beside them, burst into laughter.

The knight order looked capable of chewing through iron, yet he still found them unsatisfactory.

Following his beloved younger sister’s laughter, a smile formed on Aiden’s lips too. He slightly bowed his head and answered willingly.

“I’ll speak to my teacher. He will probably accept gladly.”

* * *

‘What should I do. I’m so tired……’

Aristie, walking around the banquet hall, felt her body becoming rapidly fatigued.

She had been feeling tired throughout the recent days while preparing for events, and now that the swordsmanship tournament had ended and her tension eased, all the accumulated fatigue seemed to hit her at once.

She wanted nothing more than to return to her bedroom and rest immediately, but that wasn’t possible. This wasn’t just any occasion but a banquet celebrating her brother’s victory.

For Aiden, who wasn’t accustomed to crowded places, her presence at the venue would provide great support.

‘Let me endure just a little longer.’

Aristie mechanically raised the corners of her mouth while exchanging greetings with nobles. Though conversations about the charity auction occasionally arose, the main topic remained the winner, Aiden.

To think such skill had been hidden in him, who had lived under the derogatory nickname ‘the stuttering young duke’!

Aiden’s performance today shocked everyone and made them see him in a new light. But the shock people received didn’t end there.

“To commemorate my victory, I would like to say a few words to everyone. Would you all please raise your glasses?”

When Aiden, who had changed into neat clothes, appeared in the banquet hall and began speaking, the attendees’ mouths opened again in surprise.

Wasn’t the young duke a stutterer? One who seemed to have no hope of recovery.

“When I think about it, the Empire has always faced unexpected crises. Besides wars, plagues have spread, and recently, the country fell into chaos with the appearance of a villainess.”

Regardless of people’s shock, Aiden continued his toast.

“However, each time, we have overcome these crises by working together. This isn’t distant history but reality that has occurred in our lives, and each of us is both a participant and witness to overcoming these crises.”

When Aiden’s voice gained strength, the audience naturally felt moved. The most touched person was rightfully Aristie.

She listened to her brother’s speech with even more trembling emotions than when she watched the swordsmanship tournament.

“I believe the driving force that allows us to overcome crises is unity. I hope today’s swordsmanship tournament has become a place for such unity. If everyone cooperates and unites like now, I believe we can overcome any crisis that may come in the future.”

When Aiden raised his glass high, people’s glasses also rose high, drawn by his lead.

Soon, the toast’s cheer shook the hall.

“To the peace of Ferzen!”

“To peace!”

Music played and dancing began. The first dance was initiated by Aiden and his partner, Princess Systea.

The swordsmanship tournament victory, the toast, and Princess Systea from the Kingdom of Shatra—all these sequential processes served as a kind of device to prove Aiden’s and his family’s well-being.

As he intended, the opposition who had been disparaging the Yentrice family could no longer find excuses to pick on. The runaway young duke had returned and was no longer a stutterer like before.

Not just that. His skills were outstanding enough to be knighted immediately, and he even had a princess from a friendly nation as his lover.

Moreover, his younger sister, the Empress, enjoyed the Emperor’s complete affection.

Now Aiden became someone the nobles needed to impress rather than ignore. Aristie’s joy at witnessing her brother’s growth with her own eyes was indescribable.

But even so,

‘I can’t drink anymore……’

Aristie barely took a sip from her raised glass before putting it back down. Even though it was light non-alcoholic champagne, somehow her body rejected it.

The area around her solar plexus felt uncomfortable. Was her waist tied too tightly?

She wished this day would quickly pass so she could soak in a warm bath……

“Aristie, you don’t look well.”

Khalid, noticing her condition, casually spoke to her.

“Ah….. I think fatigue has built up. It’s nothing serious.”

“Nothing serious? Don’t I know you? I’ll watch over things here, so go get some rest.”

“But it’s my brother’s victory banquet……”

“Come back if you feel better. The banquet has only just begun.”

Aristie hesitated but eventually nodded. As Khalid said, the banquet had just officially begun. She didn’t have confidence to endure until the end without resting.

“Then I’ll just close my eyes briefly in the waiting room and come back.”

Aristie quietly left the hall and entered her private waiting room. Just escaping the loud noise made her feel much better.

She loosened her dress strings and sprawled on the sofa like a dog on a summer day when she heard a careful knock at the door. When she asked who it was, surprisingly, it was the Imperial Physician.

“His Majesty the Emperor sent me. He said Your Majesty the Empress looked unwell.”

‘My goodness…… He sent the Imperial Physician in that short time?’

Aristie shook her head anew at Khalid’s drive. It was just fatigue, but he seemed quite worried.

“I’m fine, so you may withdraw.”

She tried to send the Imperial Physician away with a refusal, but he outside the door didn’t retreat easily.

“If I return without examining you, His Majesty the Emperor will not be able to set aside his concerns. Please allow me to at least perform an examination.”