"Na...?"
Justinian looked at the sky, rembering Greek, Latin, and Byzantine na conventions; it was the best choice he could think of for inspiration.
"Hmm..."
"What about... Kalos?"
[Modifier Granted: Noble/Beautiful]
[Kalos The Noble Steed]
[Status: Trustful]
[Bond: 64%]
The horse reared after receiving its na, slightly causing Justinian to catch off balance at the sudden movent, but with a swift movent, he managed to steady himself.
"You okay...!?"
The horse neighed, whipping its mane around as it subtly grew larger, its appearance switching from war horse into sothing like a noble mount.
One ant for rulers themselves.
"Guess you got an upgrade?"
Justinian laughed, giving his horse’s enhancent a test drive, circling the courtyard once more, this ti at record speed, faster than before.
"Impressive... is this what car guys feel?"
He said, stroking his chin in admiration.
But he didn’t have ti to fully admire his new steed as a sudden voice rang out from below him, looking up at his mounted position.
"Lord Justinian, yes?"
Justinian narrowed his eyes, vaguely surprised.
It was a silver-haired lady with silver-plated steel armor, her appearance raising bright flags all around Justinian’s mind.
Beautiful, pale, red eyes that looked like blood, an appearance given to her due to genetics.
She looked familiar, sothing he had read before, the only Moon-born in the novel, or in his world, an Albino.
And then it hit.
Cassia Von Vesuvian.
But even if he recognized her, he didn’t know why she was present here at all; the novel already didn’t detail Justinian’s life, and even more so, the current people in his capital.
The castellan was one thing, but her presence here was a complete shocker.
"The flower of the south...? Correct?"
Justinian rembered her nickna, one of the female leads of the novel, one that caused a misunderstanding, jealousy arc for the golden boy MC.
And one that Justinian rooted for to win, despite knowing it was a useless endeavor.
"Yes, Lord Justinian."
Cassia placed a hand on her chest, straightening her posture at the greeting.
"What... what are you doing here? Did Vesuvian send backup?"
"No, my lord, I was here for a few months already, tasked to keep watch over you and keep you safe just in case your own servants started to plot against you."
Justinian raised a brow. He knew Vesuvian was loyal, but he didn’t expect them to go as far as sending such an important knight like her to his capital just to protect him.
He quickly dismounted his horse, patting Kalos in the neck, ordering it to go do so laps for him.
"This is completely against my orders... but can we spar?"
Cassia said bluntly, her eyes observing and calculating.
Justinian tilted his head slightly, looking behind Cassia, checking back on his n who were still struggling with the horses, albeit now slightly better than before.
So even noticed Justinian speaking with Cassia, with so of the n even swooning at her beauty.
’I guess this is one way to get extra reputation...’
"What for?"
Justinian asked, crossing his arms; he wasn’t just about to accept a duel without reason.
"I’ve heard about your plan, and I heard you need competent soldiers. If you best , I shall serve you as your sworn second."
"I trust my father wouldn’t mind if I serve one competent enough to beat ."
Justinian’s eyes completely widened.
In the novel, Cassia was described as one of the kingdom’s best swordsn, a flurry of grace and death like snow descending onto a battlefield.
Even with Justinian’s new combined skill, fighting her would an certain defeat; the only person he could think of in his court who could even win against her would be Lucan.
But if he won, he would gain another powerful ally in his goal of fixing his capital, and then his whole duchy.
"I have pride as a duke, but surely you are aware that what you’re asking is unfair to ."
"I know of your concerns, so I offer to fight you with a handicap."
’A handicap?’
"Yes, I will fight with only my sword."
She grabbed the sword by her waist, a masterwork of craftsmanship, one granted to her by the king himself due to her beauty.
The king himself was a womanizer after all.
"And you can use any weapon you desire."
Justinian laughed at her offer; a handicap like that would be suicidal.
For her, it makes sense. Justinian is a duke, so he already has so skills with combat, but to her, those skills were far below hers.
So even a weapon disadvantage would make no difference, that is, if Justinian hadn’t just recently gained his new trait.
"I accept, and to add clarification, if I win... You start serving imdiately?"
"Yes, my lord."
Justinian offered his hand, and Cassia took it, shaking to finalize the deal.
Justinian imdiately headed to a nearby weapon rack, one that looked crude and unused, but it still had a usable weapon.
If Justinian really did gain the skills of his n, then he would use the signature of his knights, the halberd.
"I trust this is fine?"
Justinian said, planting the butt of the Halberd onto the snow-covered courtyard.
"Yes, that is the deal."
THUD.
Another noise of a person being kicked by a horse rang out in the background, cutting the tense mont.
"Should we find privacy?"
"No need."
Cassia unsheathed her sword, the blade catching the sun’s light as it temporarily blinded Justinian.
’Holy crap... it’s like that thing has been covered with vaseline...’
"I’ve heard an intruder entered the palace!"
Lucan suddenly returned to the courtyard, the loud clang of steel ringing behind him as the knights following him were already taking formation around the courtyard and encircling Cassia.
"Is that... a Vesuvian?"
Lucan shouted in confusion.
"It’s a long story."
Justinian answered, chuckling.
’At least I should be happy they didn’t take too long with their strategy eting and actually start to train my n.’
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