Chapter 26
"Don't let hatred consu you, Your Majesty."
Quinas had said. Leto, who had been listening intently, clenched his fist.
He already knew the aning of those words. He had lashed out at the High Priest during the day. How desolate his face had looked when he accidentally saw it afterward.
It was Livia who pulled him out of that abyss. Like a gentle light, she allowed him to breathe again.
Quinas had faintly smiled.
"Do not be afraid. Only then will you achieve."
These were Quinas' last words to Leto.
Late at night, Leto sat on his desk. In his hand was an empty necklace box.
Just a single kiss on the neck had made her blush. He recalled how she had covered her neck and stepped back. It had been incredibly endearing, enough to make him smile. But it also unsettled him.
'Right now, she only steps back, but given the chance, she would run away.'
That was what Leto feared the most. Losing Livia completely, and her talk of divorce becoming a reality.
So he tried to match her pace. When she pushed him away, he retreated, and when she refused, he accepted it.
But... even he had his limits.
Snap.
He closed the box firmly.
"I need to drive in the wedge."
The selection process for the vice-captain of the Royal Guard consisted of three stages: docunt screening, preliminary selection, and final selection.
Shawn almost got eliminated in the docunt screening due to the collective opposition of the knights. They didn’t want a mage in the Royal Guard.
At that ti, the captain of the guard had said,
"Then just beat him in the competition."
I laughed when I heard that and felt reassured. If he was that kind of person, he could handle Shawn.
The preliminary selection was also a close call. Shawn barely passed the basic physical test, revealing the mage’s inherent weaknesses.
However, he scored full marks in magic, his specialty, and average in swordsmanship.
And today was the final selection.
The selection was categorized as a royal event. The principle was to participate, but I had decided against it. If I went, Shawn would be even more disliked.
So I was working in my office. Leto ca to find .
He was dressed in full uniform. His epaulettes glittered in the sunlight.
"What brings you here?"
"Why are you still here? You should be preparing to go to the selection."
"I thought I sent word that I wouldn't be attending."
"Really? I hadn’t heard anything."
'Liar. He doesn't look surprised at all.'
"It's problematic. I have a lot of work."
I gestured to my desk, which was piled with docunts.
"Hmm, really?"
He said that but didn’t leave. He placed his hands on the desk and looked down at . I looked up at him, holding my pen.
"Is there sothing you want to say?"
"I thought you should show the brotherly love of the Matrion family to the end."
He raised one eyebrow, as if asking if I understood.
He had done this before, saying Shawn would suffer if I didn’t attend.
"You're playing dirty."
"I'm not even surprised by such words anymore."
I had no choice but to place my pen in its holder.
"It will take ti to get ready. Please go ahead."
"I'll wait. What’s the point if we don't go together?"
Then, does going together have any special aning?
We went to my drawing room.
"On second thought, you don’t need to wear a uniform. It’s cumberso and heavy."
"Still, I think it's better to wear it. If I seem insincere, the guards will be disappointed. Also, I should match Your Majesty."
"Then should I change?"
If I told him to, he probably would. He seed unusually warm today.
"Please wait. I’ll change quickly."
I went to the bedroom next door. Lady Mare helped
change.
Leto was right. The uniform was cumberso and heavy.
"I'll put the coat on you before you leave. It’s heavy."
"Alright."
Lady Mare and I returned to the drawing room. She draped the coat over
in front of the mirror. Just as she was about to adjust my attire, Leto approached.
"I'll do it."
"Ah, yes?"
Lady Mare asked in surprise.
"I said I’ll do it. You can rest."
Leto began adjusting my attire. He fixed my collar and sleeves, even bending down to straighten the hem of my coat.
Naturally, I was flustered.
"Your Majesty, why all of a sudden..."
"I got called a coward, so I need to earn so points back, don’t I?"
"And what will you do with those points?"
"I’ll use them all, don’t worry."
Lady Mare’s eyes widened. It wasn't just her. The maids blushed and tried to suppress their smiles.
When the adjustnts were done, I had to admit he did a good job. The pleats were neat, and the coat balanced on both sides. Surprisingly, he had a delicate touch.
Leto extended his hand to .
"You look beautiful. Shall we go?"
His actions, tone, and expression all conveyed his intentions clearly.
I pretended not to notice and took his hand. Ignoring him seed the best option for now.
On the way to the training ground, I asked Leto,
"How many candidates are there for the final round?"
"Three. The other two are knights, of course."
"They must all be outstanding."
"Shawn is the most outstanding. The issue is his ntal strength. The knights won’t be cheering for him."
"He'll be lucky to avoid jeers. Is the selection a competition?"
"Yes. It’s been a while since we’ve seen a mage fight a knight."
Knights and mages are like oil and water. They fundantally don't mix.
Knights look down on mages as lacking system and foundation. Mages see knights as outdated and rigid.
But Shawn was different from ordinary mages. We had to hope his peculiar personality would pull through.
Many people were waiting for us at the training ground. We took our seats of honor.
A stage had been set up in the center for the selection. That’s where the competition would take place.
"Your brother is over there."
Leto pointed out Shawn, who stood awkwardly among the knights. They whispered and laughed at him.
"He’s being ostracized."
"He doesn't seem to mind."
Shawn noticed us and waved enthusiastically.
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!"
His voice was incredibly loud. The knights looked at him with displeasure.
‘Sigh. This is why I didn't want to co.’
Leto smirked.
"See what I an?"
"Please start quickly. He'll get into trouble."
"He’s already in trouble, being the Empress's brother."
So he’s seen as a parachute candidate. Even if he becos vice-captain, there will be concerns.
Still, I believe in Shawn. He won’t disgrace .
"Dislike is a passing emotion. Proving himself with skills is more important."
"That’s true. Shall we start then?"
"Yes."
Leto signaled the captain of the guard. The captain announced loudly,
"We will now begin the selection for the vice-captain of the Royal Guard! First, we will have the introductions of the three final candidates!"
Shawn and two knights ascended the stage. They bowed to us first.
Next, they turned and bowed to the guards.
"Yaaay!"
"Boo—"
Cheers and jeers erupted simultaneously. It was obvious who each was directed at.
The captain shouted again,
"Since there are three candidates, we will draw lots for a bye."
He gestured to the table in front of us, where three lots lay.
"Your Majesty, please draw the bye."
Leto turned to .
"I’ll leave it to the Empress."
The choice unexpectedly fell to .
I wanted to choose Shawn. Especially since he might struggle with physical endurance against the knights.
I picked the lot on the far left. The captain approached and respectfully took it.
There was a mont of tension in the training ground. The captain’s eyebrow twitched as he read the lot.
"The bye goes to Shawn Matrion, second son of the Matrion Marquisate!"
This was quite fortunate, though it soured the mood among the knights.
"Shawn must win now."
Leto said with amusent. I sighed lightly.
"Yes. If he loses, they'll mock him for not winning despite the Empress's favoritism."
Including
in the mockery, of course.
The competition between the two knights began. One was blond, the other dark-haired. Leto watched intently, resting his chin on his hand.
He seed to scrutinize the knights deeply, almost reading their minds.
It was a fitting competition. The swords slashed through the air quickly, occasionally glowing with aura. It was hard to predict the winner.
"Watch closely, Livia."
Leto leaned toward
and whispered,
"The blond one will win soon."
Really? They seed evenly matched.
But seconds later, the blond’s sword point touched his opponent's neck.
"Yaaaay!"
Cheers erupted from the knights.
I looked at Leto in surprise. He clapped nonchalantly, as if accepting an obvious fact.
There was a short break.
The blond knight ward up during the break. The knights encouraged him not to lose to a mage.
anwhile, Shawn killed ti under the shade of a tree, looking languid from the long wait.
And shortly after,
"We will now begin the final match!"
Shawn started warming up only after stepping onto the stage. He waved at
again.
I told Leto,
"Teach my brother to be more tactful if he becos vice-captain."
"It’s not 'if,' it’s 'when.'"
"You think Shawn will win?"
"Yes. Shawn will win. There's really no need for a fight."
How strange. How can he be so sure? Especially with a mage versus a knight.
"Begin the final match!"
As soon as the captain spoke, the knight charged. Shawn dodged lightly. He then cast an attack spell. The knight's sword shattered the spell.
It was quite an exciting fight. But I found Leto more interesting than the match.
He watched with a bored expression, like soone who knew the answer to a quiz. Yet his eyes glead sharply.
I spoke to him, entranced,
"You’re amazing."
"What?"
"To see through your opponent so quickly."
"You know what I’m thinking, don’t you?"
"Huh?"
He slowly turned his head. His gaze pierced through
this ti.
"You know I love you, don't you?"
Just then,
"Yaaaay!"
A cheer erupted. Shawn raised his fist and roared. The blond knight knelt, panting heavily.
Shawn had really won.
I looked at Leto. He was still staring at .
I told him,
"I'm sorry. I couldn't hear anything because of the cheer."
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