“The individual knights’ match will now begin! Please welco the finest warriors of the Imperial Knights with a round of applause!”
The crowd filling the Colosseum’s stands—composed of imperial elites—burst into cheers, stirring up the atmosphere.
Imperial knights, attendants, and so outside nobles had also gathered.
Asella sat in the mid-tier VIP gallery alongside the other imperial princes and princesses.
I stood a bit farther back, like a shadow behind her.
Lifting my head to look at the upper tier, I saw the Emperor watching the arena with gleaming interest.
From the eight competing factions, their representative knights entered the wide arena to engage in one-on-one duels.
To the Emperor, it was a pleasant spectacle for the eyes and ears.
To the participating heirs, it «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» was a battle that would wring blood from their veins.
“The first opponent is a knight from the First Prince’s faction, Ilsung Palace. A Sword Expert, famous as a rising star.”
The head maid offered an explanation.
With the sounding of the gong, the match began. Tanya and the opposing knight clashed, their swords flaring with sword energy.
The fierce aura rolling off them was palpable all the way to the seats, and the spectators were completely captivated.
No matter how many knights there are, a truly skilled swordsman is rare.
There are only two Swordmasters in the entire Empire. A duel between Experts was a spectacle in and of itself.
“Oooh...!”
The Emperor’s eyes widened in surprise as he watched the unexpectedly high-level match.
Blades grazed dangerously close to flesh, attacks and defenses flowing simultaneously.
—Clang!
Tanya’s sword energy sliced sharply through the opponent’s defenses, striking him with precision.
The knight, who had assud he’d easily overpower Tanya, began to falter. His tongue clicked in frustration as the tide turned against him.
It’s about ti for him to try sothing tricky.
He pulled sothing from his coat and hurled it to the ground, shattering it.
—Boom!
A thick black smoke burst forth, engulfing the two fighters.
A smoke bomb.
Items and artifacts, as long as they aren’t weapons, are all permitted in these duels.
That’s how the Empire fights.
Inside the smoke, two silhouettes moved rapidly.
The enemy knight was trying to circle around and strike Tanya’s back while her vision was obscured.
“Tch...!”
I heard Asella click her tongue. She must’ve thought Tanya was in trouble.
Clang! Clang!
Swords clashed with ferocity—at the sa ti, whoosh! the smoke cleared in an instant.
“What’s the result?!”
“What happened?!”
All eyes locked onto the arena.
Tanya was standing tall, sword pointed at the neck of her collapsed opponent.
“Oooooh! Moonlight Palace defeats Ilsung Palace!”
“Who is that knight?!”
“How did she react in the dark?!”
The audience broke into gasps and cheers, all focused on Tanya now.
The Emperor stroked his full beard with interest.
Smoke bombs are the most basic tactic in the Imperial Army.
Of course, I’d prepared a counterasure.
I pulled a small glass vial filled with orange liquid from my coat.
―――――――――――
Vision Enhancent Ampoule [Doubly Enhanced]
Effect upon ingestion: Your night vision is heightened. You can see clearly even in darkness!
―――――――――――
A byproduct of making various vitamin supplents.
After grinding two hundred of the palace’s finest carrots to extract Vitamin A, only the strangest effects remained.
Asella turned toward .
“Hmph.”
I decided to translate that snort into a sentence of praise.
Tanya easily defeated her semifinal opponent and advanced to the finals.
Endurance was combat power too. The individual matches continued with no breaks in between.
“The final opponent is from Tojin Palace.”
“Yes. He’s a knight from Second Prince Georg’s faction. Also an Expert.”
Even among Imperial Knights, those at the Expert level usually serve as unit commanders or personal guards to the Emperor—yet every contestant here is an Expert.
Goes to show how seriously each faction is taking this tournant.
“Haha, so it’s Asella’s knight who’ll be facing off, huh? That’s odd. Asella, since when did you have a Sword Expert?”
The voice was light and casual.
A man in his mid-twenties, dark-skinned and draped in flashy accessories.
Second Prince Georg.
Asella didn’t even glance at him, brushing him off like a pesky fly.
“That’s none of your business, Georg.”
“Ah, scary. Don’t be so cold. Aren’t you supposed to call brother?”
Asella didn’t bother replying—just gave him the kind of rotten expression one might wear to an execution.
Whoa. That’s kinda terrifying.
I swallowed instinctively.
Georg clearly had no idea how his antics would co back to bite him later.
If anything, he seed to enjoy Asella’s reactions, laughing heartily.
Might as well enjoy it while you can.
Second Princess Lauga slapped Georg lightly on the shoulder in admonishnt.
“Oppa, why are you picking on Asella like that?”
“I just find her so admirable. Our sweet little Asella, doing her best as a mber of the Imperial family.”
“Don’t use words that sound like insults.”
Asella, who had been keeping quiet, finally snapped back.
It must’ve struck a nerve—being treated like the baby of the family instead of a rightful heir.
“An insult? Co now, Asella.”
Shff.
Georg dropped the act and leaned his large fra toward her.
Even with his frivolous deanor, he carried the blood of the Emperor. He exuded the aura of soone born to rule.
“Knowing your place is the most important thing. That’s what they call self-awareness.”
Even Lauga, the sister just older than Asella, had already turned twenty.
To them, Asella must’ve still seed like a child playing pretend.
“At gatherings like this, you should act your age. Stay quiet, and I’ll even pat your head and give you a piggyback ride.”
“Georg.”
Asella picked up the golden goblet in front of her.
“Fla.”
Fwoosh!
A magic circle instantly lit up, and the goblet burst into flas.
Drip, drip.
The ornate golden vessel lted, losing its shape and dripping molten tal onto the floor.
Asella stared coldly at the now-serious Georg and issued a calm warning.
“If you touch my head, you’ll end up just like that.”
“Tch. Such a pain. All that pride and nothing but a magic weapon.”
Georg clicked his tongue and leaned back in his chair, pretending to smile again.
“Well, looks like our Asella’s been putting in work. Haha, guess we shouldn’t let our guard down. That knight of hers is more skilled than I thought. Right, brother?”
“Ah? Uh, yeah... I guess.”
Georg had called out to the wiry young man beside him, who replied quietly.
It was Gunther, the First Prince—beaten by Tanya in the first round.
A surprisingly timid figure for soone designated the heir apparent.
“But still, even among Sword Experts, there are levels. How embarrassing would it be to lose to soone from Asella’s camp?”
Georg raised his voice again, shifting his attention to Gunther when Asella showed no reaction.
“Haha, our Hyuk is known as a future Swordmaster. Watch carefully, brother. If you’re truly the Emperor’s son, you should at least be able to command knights of this caliber.”
He puffed his chest and gave a smug grin.
Then Lauga patted his shoulder again.
“Oppa, your knight just got knocked out.”
“What?!”
Georg leapt to his feet, startled.
A sandstorm was already swirling in the arena—the final match had ended.
At the center of it all, Georg’s knight lay face-down with his butt in the air, while only Tanya stood upright.
“Wh—what the hell...?!”
Georg’s mouth flapped open in disbelief, but the match was already over.
Had he underestimated Tanya? Overestimated his knight?
“Hyuk couldn’t have lost so easily. What trickery did you use, Asella?!”
But Asella didn’t give him the answer he wanted. She glanced sideways, a small smirk lifting the corner of her lips.
Ugh. She’s so smug sotis.
“So that’s the level of knights you command? I enjoyed the show.”
Lauga laughed gleefully, fanning Georg’s rage.
“To think sothing like this would happen in front of His Majesty! Falkenhein! Was there sothing wrong with the knight’s condition?!”
Georg’s personal physician, Falkenhein, stepped forward from near and answered.
“Your Highness, Knight Hyuk was in perfect health. The plague was fully cured by the Imperial dical Institute...”
“Then why—!”
Georg turned his eyes upward.
The Emperor, clearly pleased with the final, leaned back in his chair and let out a booming laugh.
The announcer approached Tanya.
―Let’s hear a few words from the victorious knight. Please introduce yourself.
His magically amplified voice echoed across the Colosseum.
Tanya cleared her throat a few tis and replied in a low, composed tone.
―I am Tanya, a knight of Moonlight Palace.
What’s with that tone?
Does Tanya have stage fright?
―You didn’t stand out much before. When did you join the Imperial Knights?
―A month ago. I serve as the personal guard of Her Highness Asella’s physician, Sir Gotberg.
―So you’re his bodyguard. Gotberg—the newly appointed royal physician, correct?
―That is correct. I ca from the North with Sir Gotberg.
―The North! So it was your Northern training that brought you victory today?
Tanya shook her head.
―Though my sword strikes true, it would have been impossible without my master’s support. Sir Gotberg prepared the tactics and dicinal ampoules for dueling knights.
―Ah, the very sa master who designed the mask now popular in the palace! Then have you always served this physician?
A bit of a sensitive question.
What kind of loaded question is that?
He’s clearly from another faction.
But Tanya, naïve to politics, answered calmly.
―It is true I am loyal to my master, but it was Her Highness Asella who appointed him. I received favor from them both. I represent Moonlight Palace.
―Understood. Please give a great round of applause to the champion—Sword Expert Tanya of Moonlight Palace!
Cheers and applause thundered against the Colosseum walls.
An impeccable answer.
“Hoho! Asella’s knight won, did she?”
The Emperor laughed heartily, as if his children’s rivalry were his favorite pasti.
“Kh...!”
Georg slamd his fist down on the armrest, grinding his teeth.
“Once is a fluke. Overall victory is determined by cumulative scores—second place this round doesn’t matter. There won’t be another misfortune like this next ti.”
He shot a glance at Asella.
But Asella ignored his look and turned toward .
“Physician Gotberg.”
Why now?
The mont she said my na, the eyes of the other princes and princesses turned to .
“Hi, Gotberg!”
Lauga greeted casually, and I returned the gesture politely.
“So that’s the guy? Gotberg, the physician?”
Georg’s brows twitched as he looked over.
I stepped out from the cluster of attendants and stood before Asella.
“What do you require of , Your Highness?”
“Tell what the next event is.”
Surely, she knew the tournant schedule better than anyone.
Was she trying to display in front of the other heirs?
“The team mock battle between knights will begin next.”
Asella, apparently in high spirits, let the corners of her lips curl upward—just enough for to notice.
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