Clang! Claaaang!

The peaceful tea party was covered with sharp metallic sounds.

As Baren had said, Garret’s skill was of a high level, but to Flora’s eyes, the speed of his sword was too slow. Though not exactly sloppy movements, he was creating several openings she could exploit.

Flora aimed only at his vulnerabilities and thrust her blade in one swift motion. Not only that, but she also struck, swung, and stabbed without giving him room to counterattack, pushing him back.

Screech. The crossing blades created successive eerie sounds.

Amidst the continuing savage noise, a strange light filled the emperor’s eyes. As Flora moved her body nimbly, the dueling clothes he had personally prepared accentuated her figure.

The more enchanted the emperor’s eyes became, the paler the faces of the nobles grew, who had naturally expected Flora’s complete defeat.

Among them, Rosaline’s complexion, which stood out the most, turned completely blue.

“……What, what’s going on?”

The sound someone let out in surprise was actually what she wanted to say.

She had never even thought that Flora could actually handle a sword. Rosaline felt like her insides were burning as she watched Flora display skills beyond mere swordsmanship.

‘Surely Garret won’t lose.’

Having belatedly discovered something she absolutely hadn’t known, she anxiously clutched the hem of her skirt.

Since the duel began, the distance between the two showed no signs of widening. Sword met sword with terrifying sounds.

At the scene where he could get caught up if not careful, Baren watched the contest between the two without taking his eyes off for a moment.

There was no need to act as a referee. It was clear to anyone’s eyes, not just a knight’s, that Garret was struggling against the woman.

Garret was helplessly being pushed back by the woman’s fierce attacks, thrusting and slashing as naturally as breathing.

Just then, Flora instantly closed the gap and momentarily loosened her grip. The tip of the sword, which had been extended into the air, was quickly flipped toward the ground. In that state, she firmly gripped the hilt and slashed Garret’s forearm with a twisting motion.

Caught off guard by the sudden attack, Garret let out a groan. As his sleeve became soaked with red blood, the watching ladies screamed.

Barely managing to hold onto the sword he nearly dropped from the pain, Garret felt a chill.

‘Damn it. Where did this woman come from?’

The attack just now completely overturned his expectation that she would definitely slash at his chest.

The woman’s swordsmanship skills, which twisted her wrist dazzlingly and turned the direction of the sword freely, were beyond imagination. He was so overwhelmed just trying to block her sword, which could come from any trajectory at any moment, that he couldn’t even use his own skills.

Not only did she cut off attacks before the sword properly connected, but she also took advantage of those gaps to thrust her sword at bizarre angles, making it impossible to relax for even a second.

Moreover, when attacking him, the woman’s gaze was so cold, as if she wouldn’t stop until his life was extinguished, that it sent chills down his spine.

He gritted his teeth at her irregular techniques rather than orthodox swordsmanship. At this point, he had no choice but to give his best. He had to break her momentum in one go.

Seeing Garret’s expression become grave, Flora sensed the coming attack.

Her prediction was accurate. The blade came straight for her neck.

Blocking it by holding her sword upright, she immediately slid the blade while simultaneously spinning her body once and strongly slashed from bottom to top.

Carrying that momentum and targeting the gap where her opponent’s rhythm was completely broken, Flora quickly withdrew her body and successively brought down her sword with great force.

A gust of wind swept through with the rapid attacks and defenses of the two. Those who had become engrossed in the match raised their b*ttocks and stretched their necks to see through the obstructed view.

Eventually, after the dust settled, what they witnessed was Flora’s blade precisely aimed at Garret’s neck, frozen in place.

“Gasp!”

The mouths of the male nobles fell open, forgetting all dignity. Due to the succession of rapid attacks, they had no way of knowing how Flora’s sword had come to be pointed at Garret’s neck.

Except for Baren, who had witnessed everything up close.

Garret inhaled sharply at the stinging pain he felt on his nape. The sharp sword seemed as if it would pierce his neck at any moment.

Fortunately, Baren broke the silence and spoke.

“Flora is the victor.”

Clap, clap, clap. The first applause erupted from the emperor.

As the stunned nobles began to clap one after another, the tense atmosphere melted away like thawing ice.

Having finished the match, Flora removed her dueling clothes, now soaked with sweat, and put on her dress.

She hadn’t intended to see blood, but if it had turned into a prolonged battle, she couldn’t ignore the physical toll. Having competed under the hot sun, she was still breathing heavily.

After drinking a glass of water handed to her by a servant and catching her breath for a while, Flora returned to the tea party.

“The protagonist has arrived. Sit beside me.”

As she entered, the emperor, who greeted her first, pointed to the seat next to him. Flora calmly passed by Rosaline, who was seething with anger.

Having abandoned even managing her expression now, Rosaline was openly glaring at Flora as if unable to contain her anger. The ladies who had been subtly watching Rosaline lowered their gaze and quietly sipped their tea.

“I was impressed by Flora’s beautiful swordsmanship wielding my sword.”

As the emperor lavished praise, the nobles couldn’t contain their curiosity and poured out questions.

“Your skills are remarkable. May I ask where you learned swordsmanship?”

“Please tell us. Even I couldn’t take my eyes off you.”

The atmosphere was quite different from before. Instead of contemptuous looks, respectful gazes fell upon her. When she answered that she had trained on her own, they expressed even more admiration and showed increased fondness.

Flora glanced at Baren, who had been trying to dissuade her until just before. He was sitting quietly with his lips firmly pressed together, but his expression looked more relaxed than before.

‘I probably didn’t make a big mistake.’

Thinking that she hadn’t made any significant errors, Flora felt somewhat relieved.

Someone’s gaze followed her. It was Andrean, sitting next to Rosaline, who was trembling with suppressed anger.

He looked at Flora with a strange gaze for a while.

* * *

The tea party ended in a warm atmosphere. It was thanks to the emperor treating Flora quite intimately and the nobles behaving cordially as a result.

‘It’s been a long time since I had such an enjoyable day. Attend next time as well.’

The emperor even casually extended an invitation for Flora to attend in the future. Because of this, Flora naturally ended up promising to show her face at the next banquet.

In the returning carriage, Baren opened his mouth for the first time.

“You…… maid. What was your name again?”

“It’s Flora.”

“Tell me how you managed to butter up the knights, the lord, and even His Majesty the Emperor.”

“I never buttered up anyone.”

“That’s an indignant expression.”

Flora unconsciously raised her hand and touched her face. She did feel somewhat wronged, but was surprised it showed so clearly.

But she understood what Baren was worried about.

“Next time, I’ll send my regrets, so you don’t need to worry.”

Baren made a face as if he was pondering something, then abruptly asked.

“Earlier…… if it had turned into a prolonged battle, it would have been disadvantageous for you.”

“I know.”

Baren’s guess was accurate. From the middle of the fight, Flora had already abandoned the idea of disarming her opponent and focused on quick attacks.

“But in the end, I would have won.”

“I’ve felt this before, but…… that’s remarkable confidence.”

“Underestimating an opponent’s skill is hardly the virtue of an excellent knight.”

“Weren’t you underestimating when you confidently said you would have won earlier?”

His tone carried a bluntness suggesting they weren’t so different.

“It’s different. I never prejudge others’ abilities.”

Flora deliberately threw this comment in response to Baren’s point.

Baren was a rigid knight with typical traits of someone who couldn’t compromise with others. Flora had seen countless knights in her unit with old-fashioned tendencies who only acknowledged as equals those who had earned their knighthood through orthodox means.

Sure enough, Baren, whose mindset remained intact, offered a different answer.

“I can’t acknowledge you just because you got lucky and won.”

“I competed fairly against Sir Garret and won, and the same goes for Sir Hatsen. There’s a separate reason why I had to win.”

Flora calmly presented her opinion.

“Both of you held your swords with dedication and effort, but you probably didn’t have the determination to take my life.”

Baren silently listened to her words.

“My mindset when holding a sword is different from theirs. That a single mistake can cost you your life in an instant.”

Flora continued nonchalantly with words that would have chilled Hatsen had he been present.

“To survive, you aim for the opponent’s neck first, no matter who they are.”

“……”

“……Does that answer your question?”

In that moment, the young maid’s eyes held a clearer light than any knight Baren had ever seen.

* * *