The next day, the two people who had caused a commotion in the ducal family finally faced each other in the training grounds. However, the atmosphere wasn’t very serious, because the surroundings were too bustling. One side of the training grounds was crowded with people who had come to watch their sparring match—just how far had the rumors about this sparring spread?
‘Why did it suddenly become like this?’
At the pouring gazes, Van looked at his sparring partner, Leo Irad, with an awkward expression.
‘And why is this person so serious about it?’
Unlike yesterday when Leo had been wearing a fitted suit, today he was dressed in the Flame Knights’ training uniform. That appearance made it seem like he intended to take this sparring seriously, making Van’s awkwardness grow even more.
‘Surely he’s not telling me to fight with full power in this situation.’
Sparring with a strong swordsman was always welcome, but he didn’t want to become a spectacle like this. However, Leo seemed completely unconcerned about the surrounding gazes.
“So, you’re not used to fighting people?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm.”
Leo swept over Van with cold eyes. Since Edner acknowledged him, his swordsmanship skills must certainly be solid. However….
‘Rowy’s lover? Ha, that’s not even funny.’
Leo let out a hollow laugh, recalling Van’s rough and destructive swordsmanship. Wasn’t he too dangerous a person to keep next to Rowy?
‘If it’s someone to be Rowy’s partner, someone more….’
Wouldn’t it be better if they were gentler? Leo hardened his expression, thinking of his timid cousin who couldn’t even make proper eye contact with him. Of course, Rowy had merely avoided him because Leo’s nagging was annoying. However, Leo, who had no way of knowing that fact, looked at Van with displeasure and drew his sword.
“Then, I’ll personally teach you—the swordsmanship of a true knight.”
A competitive spirit also arose in Van’s eyes. The desire to compete against a strong opponent was an unavoidable instinct of a swordsman. Moreover, wasn’t his opponent the successor of the Irad Duchy, the Empire’s greatest martial family?
“…Then, I request your teaching.”
With Van’s words, the two instantly rushed at each other. Bang! Just from swords clashing, a roar like an explosion rang out.
“……”
“……”
Leo and Van, who had briefly distanced themselves, sharply examined each other. From just one collision, the two had instantly grasped their opponent’s skill.
‘Indeed, worthy of Edner’s high praise.’
At the level far exceeding his expectations, Leo admired inwardly. This time Leo swung his sword with a bit more force. Van easily parried that as well.
‘He definitely doesn’t seem to have much experience with fighting people.’
Leo thought as he deflected the incoming sword. Van seemed unfamiliar with this kind of sparring, visibly hesitating and releasing his strength at intervals. In other words… he was restraining his sword for fear of hurting his opponent. Against none other than Leo Irad.
‘Interesting.’
To show such an opening when they should be clashing with full power. It could even be seen as disregarding Leo’s skill, but Leo brushed off the situation with a hollow laugh. This kind of movement stemming from the instinct not to hurt humans was commonly shown by novice swordsmen who had just started sparring.
‘But this person is no novice.’
Even though he was acting so carelessly with a skilled opponent right before his eyes, no real opening could be seen. Indeed, it was skill worthy of Edner’s high praise. However…
‘Still, I don’t like it.’
To keep him with Rowy, that child…. Tsk, Leo, who clicked his tongue briefly, swung his sword roughly with strong killing intent unlike before. Van, who noticed Leo’s momentum had changed, obediently retreated.
“……”
“……”
Their eyes looking at each other were sharp. Having finished their brief probing, the two put strength into the hands gripping their swords once more. Having sufficiently grasped each other’s skills, now it was time to clash with full power. It was when Van, who had taken a deep breath, tensed all his muscles for the collision to come again.
‘…Rowy?’
Van discovered familiar silver hair among the spectators. Rowy, who had been pushing through the crowd of spectators, waved his hand lightly when their eyes met. At the sight of Rowy he was seeing after a long time, delight also spread across Van’s face. Van stirred his body as if he would run to Rowy right away. However, unfortunately, Van currently had a sparring opponent before his eyes.
“Do you have the leisure to let your mind wander?”
Leo’s fierce sword flew at Van. Startled, Van hurriedly raised his sword, but the situation was already too late to block. Van quickly twisted his body to minimize the impact.
‘This is bad….’
Even during this, Van’s gaze didn’t leave Rowy. No, he couldn’t take his eyes off him. Eyes widening in surprise, an outstretched hand, and… even strong magical power bursting out. Van finally let out a sigh and squeezed his eyes tightly shut.
* * *
“Rowy Irad!”
The enraged Duke of Irad’s voice rang loudly through the office.
“Using magic inside the estate! And interfering in the knights’ sparring? What if someone had gotten hurt—how could you do such a reckless thing!”
Startled by the loud voice, Rowy’s shoulders jumped. Van, who had been summoned along with Rowy, felt sorry for Rowy but also thought this matter deserved scolding. Right. It was too dangerous. Van nodded inwardly. Seeing Rowy intervene between them saying he would block the incoming sword, Van had been truly so surprised he thought his heart would stop. It was a situation where even a severe scolding would be deserved. Of course, Rowy didn’t seem to think so.
“…Van isn’t even in the Flame Knights, so why did you make him spar?”
“What?”
The Duke’s voice grew louder. However, even with a frightened face, Rowy didn’t back down.
“Why did you make him spar dangerously? On whose authority? He’s mine.”
“…Are you calling that words right now!”
The Duke’s thunderous roar burst out again. At the voice mixed with even killing intent from how angry he was, Van pulled Rowy behind himself. However, that action only provoked the Duke further.
“You bastard!”
What the hell are you to act like Rowy’s protector? In an instant, the target of anger shifted from Rowy to Van. Van sweated profusely in his predicament. However, Rowy still had no tact.
“Why are you saying something to him?”
“Please just stay still….”
Van pushed Rowy, who had suddenly stuck his head out from behind, back again. Then he hurriedly begged forgiveness from the still-angry Duke.
“I’m sorry.”
“What are you sorry for?”
…Please just stay still. Van, who firmly held Rowy who kept popping out, kept watching the Duke’s mood. Leo, who had been watching that farce from one side, let out a hollow laugh and opened his mouth.
“That’s enough. There’s no point in talking when he obviously won’t listen properly anyway. Rowy Irad. Know that from today you won’t be able to take a single step out of your room.”
At those words, Van quickly grabbed Rowy who was about to pop out again. Then he began to awkwardly soothe Rowy. Please endure just this once. Just once….
“Haah….”
Eventually, a long sigh flowed from the Duke’s mouth.
“Just leave. Both of you disappear from my sight right now.”
At the Duke’s weary voice, Rowy and Van, who had been watching his mood for a moment, quickly left. The Duke’s face crumpled watching the two leave through the door with their hands tightly clasped.
“Tsk, bringing such a thing from who knows where….”
Leo, who had likewise been watching their backs with a hardened expression, asked the Duke.
“Is that guy really Rowy’s lover? …Looking at what he does, he certainly seems like it.”
“…How was his skill?”
“Considerable. As Edner said, his flaw is that his sword is too rough…. But it seemed like that was his swordsmanship style from the start. Whose family’s scoundrel is that one? Is he from a family in Seraphila?”
“……”
“…Don’t tell me he’s a commoner?”
“……”
He’s a slave. The Duke of Irad thought inwardly. Because knowing Leo’s personality, he would obviously be furiously angry. The Duke instead mentioned Van’s other status.
“…He says he’s a Holy Knight from a small order.”
“A Holy Knight?”
Ha, what Holy Knight. At the unexpected words, Leo let out a hollow laugh. What kind of Holy Knight goes around touching the children of noble families?
“So, are you really thinking of matching that guy with Rowy? Isn’t he far, far too lacking to be Rowy’s partner?”
“……”
“Haven’t you been constantly trying to send Rowy to a good family?”
“……”
It was correct. The Duke had long worked hard to match Rowy with a family with even slightly better conditions. This wasn’t to gain political advantage as others evaluated.
‘Because this is all I can do for him.’
The Duke always felt indebted to Rowy. Being distracted by his pitiful younger sibling, Estelia, and not properly caring for young Rowy remained as a burden on his heart. The reason he tried to find a good marriage match was precisely because of this. The arranged engagement with the Crown Prince was the fruit of all those efforts.
‘Though it ended up like this in the end….’
The Duke smiled bitterly.
“But you know the current situation isn’t very good.”
“……”
At the Duke’s serious voice, Leo closed his mouth. The Duke, who had been watching Leo for a moment, opened his mouth again.
“And above all… that guy says he’s from the Elysion Temple.”
“Elysion? If it’s Elysion….”
At the somehow familiar name, Leo trailed off. Elysion… Elysion…. Leo’s eyes, who had been searching his memory, suddenly widened.
“Elysion? Is it the Elysion I know? The one we borrowed Holy Relics from.”
“Right. …That temple that chases demons.”
At the Duke’s words, Leo’s face hardened coldly.
