114. Swordsmanship Tournament (1)

As the Emperor and Empress Consort took their seats in the royal box at the center of the arena, which had remained empty throughout the competition, the announcement signaling the start of the match echoed through the venue.

“Larael, if I had participated in the tournament, I would certainly have won and dedicated my sword to you.”

Edward whispered, leaning toward Larael as they watched the announced participants enter the arena. When Larael covered her mouth and laughed, Edward pushed out his lips in a pout.

“Your Majesty, that expression just now was exactly like the doll I have.”

Edward twitched his eyebrows and then turned his head with an expressionless face. He really didn’t like that doll. He had said that looking at the doll with its round body and short arms gave him goosebumps for some reason. Larael smiled and turned her head to look at the Count and Countess of Hedway. After exchanging eye contact greetings with them, she turned her attention back to the arena.

The third day began with the quarter-finals.

The matches were intense and rough, enough to make one’s palms sweat, as these were participants who had defeated numerous others to reach this stage. Since the swordsmanship tournament was open to anyone, there were participants who hid their faces behind helmets and others with exotic appearances.

Sir Gerard, who had received Sasha’s enthusiastic support, advanced to the finals after a fierce competition.

During the brief interval before the finals began, Larael stepped out of the stands for a moment. Edward, who had been conversing with the Count and Countess of Hedway, glanced at her but didn’t call her back.

As Larael left the stands with her maids, Handelson and Berser followed her.

“Your Highness, where are you going?”

Berser, who had assumed Larael was heading to the powder room, asked when she moved in the opposite direction.

“…Do you know where the waiting room for tournament participants is?”

“Yes, I do.”

Berser led Larael to the participants’ waiting room with a puzzled expression. Berser had mentioned participating in the swordsmanship tournament before. Handelson had also participated, but he had boasted loudly that he didn’t want to participate in such tournaments originally because he had performed poorly.

Berser revealed Larael’s identity to the guard in front of the waiting room. The guard glanced at Larael, his eyes gradually widening as he bowed to her. Before entering the corridor in front of the waiting room, Berser carefully asked Larael.

“Your Highness, what brings you here? These are sword-wielders, so there might be some rough characters.”

“Joy is here.”

At those words, Sasha and Joanna following behind Larael, as well as the knight guards, were all speechless, their eyes wide open, only their pupils moving.

“The helmeted person who made it to the finals is definitely Joy.”

Suddenly, Handelson burst into laughter. Sasha and Joanna also laughed following Handelson, but Larael didn’t laugh and quietly gazed at the corridor leading to the waiting room with a serious expression.

Larael walked down the corridor to the waiting rooms and stood before one of the two rooms used by the finalists—the one belonging to the unnamed participant. She took a deep breath and knocked. Despite her knock, there was no sound from inside. Berser stepped forward and grabbed the doorknob.

“Your Highness, shall we just enter?”

Larael shook her head firmly and knocked again.

After a while, the door opened slightly, and an unnamed knight wearing armor and a helmet appeared. He recognized Larael and quickly tried to close the door, but Handelson and Berser pushed against it to prevent him. After a brief struggle of strength, the unnamed knight fell away from the door, causing Berser and Handelson to lose their balance and tumble into the waiting room. The armored unnamed knight stood silently in the middle of the room, facing Larael.

“You’re Joy, aren’t you?”

At Larael’s words, the armored person who had been standing silently hesitantly removed his helmet. Joy shook his head to get rid of the sweat that had formed in his hair. Then, after roughly combing his hair with his fingers, he held the helmet at his side and looked at Larael. A bewildered smile gradually spread across his face as he looked at her.

“Uh… this wasn’t part of the plan…”

The faces of those who confirmed that he was indeed Joy, as Larael had said, were filled with astonishment.

“No way!!”

Sasha screamed, covering her face with both hands and shaking her head vigorously. She was recalling how she had assumed and hoped the unnamed knight would be a handsome man. Larael frowned at Sasha’s screaming.

“Could everyone leave? I’d like to talk with Joy.”

As soon as Larael spoke, everyone left the waiting room, leaving just the two of them.

“Your Highness, how did you know? If I was going to be discovered so easily, I wouldn’t have worn this stifling armor—do you know how much I’ve been sweating?”

Joy asked Larael with a casual smile.

“It was obviously you.”

At Larael’s words, Joy felt his chest fill with joy. He hadn’t expected to feel such overwhelming emotion at the fact that Larael had recognized him even though he was completely covered in armor from head to toe.

“Joy, why didn’t you tell me?”

“I told you before, Your Highness. I said I would become your knight guard. Are you angry that I didn’t tell you? I wanted to surprise you.”

Joy said, lowering the corners of his eyes.

“Joy, of course I’m not angry. I came to cheer for you. I was just a little surprised.”

Larael looked at Joy, who was filled with emotion.

“I’m really touched. With Your Highness looking at me like that, I feel like I can definitely win.”

Joy had advanced to the finals relatively easily compared to other participants. Of course, he was confident about the final as well, but he was starting to get nervous as the competition approached.

Larael didn’t care whether Joy won or came in second. She thought that Joy deserved her support simply for having a goal and challenging himself to achieve it.

“The match will start soon, so I’ll go. It’s okay if you lose, just don’t get hurt.”

“Your Highness, don’t say that. I won’t lose.”

Larael smiled gently at Joy’s words, full of confidence. She patted Joy’s shoulder to encourage him and left the waiting room. Sasha followed Larael while glancing back. Through the open door of the waiting room, Joy was staring at them blankly.

“He won’t be able to beat Sir Gerard… But I’ve grown fond of Joy enough to worry about him getting hurt.”

Larael recalled Joy speaking with confidence.

“Sasha, maybe you should be worried about Sir Gerard?”

“Your Highness!!! That’s not fair!!!”

Sasha retorted indignantly.

Edward looked at Larael as she returned to her seat beside him.

“Where did you go?”

His soft voice tickled Larael’s ear. Larael wrinkled her nose in response and sat down, arranging her dress.

“Won’t you tell me?”

Edward asked again, bringing his face closer. His warm presence pleasantly touched her skin. Larael slightly shrugged her shoulders and smiled enigmatically.

“Larael.”

He raised his eyebrows playfully when Larael didn’t answer, but turned his head back to look at the arena when the announcement for the start of the finals was made.

Gerard and the unnamed knight, Joy, entered the arena. The arena filled with cheers supporting both of them. Joy, with his helmeted face, looked up toward Edward and Larael. Edward tilted his head.

“Is that someone I know? It seems like he’s looking at me?”

Edward raised his hand in response. Joy quickly turned his head away.

The match began with a resounding horn.

Gerard began to pressure Joy from the start. Joy seemed flustered by his one-sided attack, but soon regained his composure and started launching attacks at Gerard. Larael clasped her hands together, focusing on the match. She didn’t even notice Edward staring at her.

“Larael, I feel like jumping into the match. How about I compete with the winner?”

Larael turned her head at Edward’s words. Edward was tilting his head, gazing at her intently.

“Is the match boring for you?”

“No, I just want to receive that kind of look from you too…”