Chapter 32

My stomach was upset.

I wanted to take Luciano and leave right away.

I don’t understand why I had to listen to this.

“As an older brother, can’t you do that much for your younger brother?”

When did you treat him like an older brother?

Empress Isabelle’s voice was soft.

However, no one knew that this proposal wasn’t an invitation but a command.

“All right.”

Luciano eventually accepted the sparring.

“Prince Luciano will come forward. Prepare the seats.”

Empress Isabelle laughed as if she knew it.

While the knights were making seats according to orders, I took a moment to lead Luciano aside.

“How can you accept that. Let’s say you can’t do it now.”

“I have to accept it otherwise.”

I know.

Empress Isabelle wasn’t the type to give up until she got what she wanted.

Luciano’s calm eyes were saying that.

And it was obvious what Empress Isabelle wanted.

Luciano’s defeat.

His humiliation

“Then, are you going to lose?”

“… I’ll do my best.”

You’re going to do that.

“It’s ready. Go over there.”

Empress Isabelle’s servant came and announced that it had finished preparing.

Luciano looked at me for a moment and then turned around.

His steps were daunting.

‘You really want to do your best.’

I felt it while hanging out with Luciano, he was very competitive.

When we played together, I got mad because I wanted to win, but Luciano also hated losing.

He never forced himself to lose.

‘He’ll do his best again this time and try to overcome the differences in the given environment and conditions.’

It often occurred to me.

Perhaps the reason why Queen Isabel was trying to suppress Luciano even more was because of his personality.

‘With the main character’s genius and tenacious personality, he eventually achieves everything.’

She may have been aware of the danger early on.

So I often thought about whether it would be better for Luciano to show his weakness on purpose.

But as long as he was determined to do his best, he wanted to win.

I got impatient and clasped my hands tightly.

I thought Luciano would be able to win this time too.

I believed he could do it.

All the knights were gone, and only Luciano and Prince Steven remained in the gymnasium’s center.

I must say I was glad.

It was sparring using a wooden sword.

‘I can’t say I’m happy.’

It was an unreasonable fight from any point of view.

People who push for things like this.

The person who didn’t stop this was really disgusting.

I know it is how this world works.

‘The more I experience it, the more I feel like I will distrust humans.’

There was still so little I could do.

Whenever something like this happened in front of my eyes, I wanted to grow up quickly.

It was too unfair to be a child.

It seemed like a duel was about to start, but there was no movement between Luciano and Prince Steven.

Instead, they seemed to be having a little conversation.

I couldn’t hear the conversation because it was far away.

Their faces were the complete opposite.

Luciano was very stiff, and Prince Steven’s attitude was confident.

It was the leisure of those who knew that the current situation was in their favor.

“Aesvin.”

I was looking over there and was surprised when I suddenly called.

Perhaps she was observing me, Empress Isabelle was looking at me with an arrogant look.

“Yes, Empress.”

“Who do Aesvin think will win?”

“… Prince Luciano.”

Luciano would be able to overcome it.

I only uttered that belief, and Empress Isabelle laughed as if I was being ridiculous.

“Well, you’ll be rooting for your friend Prince Luciano. I must cheer for Prince Steven to win.”

The way she smiled was so mean.

“Who do you think will win?”

Empress Isabelle asked the aristocrats around her.

“Of course, it’s Prince Steven.”

“Prince Steven, who is more talented, will win by a landslide.”

They naturally said the sweet words that Empress Isabelle wanted.

“Oh my, it’s a victory. Wouldn’t it be too depressing for the loser?”

It was really disgusting to see them laughing and chatting while exchanging blatant flattery.

“Oh, it’s about to start.”

Someone announced the beginning of the sparring, and we naturally turned our eyes.

Both Prince Luciano and Prince Steven lifted their swords and prepared to fight.

I clasped my hands again.

’Everything’s going to be alright. He’s the main character, he’ll definitely win!’

Anxiety and nervousness came, but I believed it would work out well.

And in an instant, the two collided.

Clash!

Prince Steven struck the sword from the front and Luciano easily blocked the first attack.

But that wasn’t the end of Prince Steven’s attack.

He quickly retrieved the sword and slammed it again from the side.

Tak! Tak! Tak!

The sound of the two wooden swords clashing became more and more intense.

Prince Steven’s attack was fierce and not like a child’s swordplay.

But Luciano was also taking it well.

‘As expected of the male lead!’

Luciano, who trained for about a year without anyone’s help, was dealing with him quite well.

As the competition, which was expected to end in a heartbeat, grew longer, “Prince Luciano is holding up quite well.”

Someone made a slight noise, and she got Empress Isabelle’s glare.

“Great, but it’ll be a win soon. The difference in skills is so big.”

At that moment, Empress Isabelle’s cold gaze fell and the aristocrat sighed.

‘No, it won’t end like this.’

Although it seems one-sided, Luciano aimed for a hole in Prince Steven’s attacks.

‘Luciano never give up!’

As the offensive continued, the link between Prince Steven’s next action loosened a bit.

The sword was recovered slower than the first time.

Luciano didn’t miss the opportunity.

Luciano’s wooden sword flashed like lightning, aimed at Prince Steven’s neck.

“!”

Prince Steven tilted his head to avoid it, perhaps he wondered if he had learned the swordsmanship in vain.

But it was a little late, and there was a solid red line on Prince Steven’s cheek.

“Argh!“

Empress Isabelle’s scream rang out.

‘That’s right! As expected, Luciano!’

On the contrary, I managed to hold back my will to cheer.

“Make it stop now! Right now!”

Empress Isabelle shouted to stop the sparring.

“Don’t come near me! It’s not over yet!”

But Prince Steven’s cry was stronger.

The knights who tried to approach paused.

As if resentful of what had happened, Prince Steven’s eyes lit up.

At Prince Steven’s order, the knights were wary of Empress Isabelle.

“What shall we do?”

Empress Isabelle was surprised to learn that Luciano had beaten Prince Steven.

Realizing that he wasn’t seriously injured, she squinted and looked at Prince Steven and soon replied calmly.

“Let’s leave it alone for a while.”

That was how the match was maintained.

When Prince Steven realized that there was no interference, he took his stance again.

After erasing his previous frivolous attitude, he rushed more earnestly toward Luciano.

And he swung his sword even more fiercely.

Tak!

Of course, Luciano wasn’t pushed and blocked it well.

However, the feeling of being able to block it was stronger than before.

Luciano was definitely a swordsmanship genius.

He would later become stronger than anyone else.

But that was the future.

Currently, a 12-year-old without a proper teacher is just a talented child.

Prince Steven’s sword narrowly brushed Luciano’s body.

Surely a year of training couldn’t be ignored.

As Prince Steven’s attitude changed, Luciano seemed to be pushed back.

Gradually.

A little bit more.

There was a strong sense of defeat.

Tak!

“Ugh!”

Luciano missed his sword in the final attack.

A moment of silence fell on the airfield.

It was Luciano’s defeat.

Prince Steven stepped back with a face full of joy.

Luciano stood still with his head down.

Was it because I believed in my heart that the main character would win no matter what hardships he faced?

‘I didn’t expect Luciano to lose….’

Luciano’s defeat was also a shock to me.

“As expected, Prince Steven won. Congratulations.”

I belatedly came to my senses with someone’s flattery.

I shouldn’t have been so stunned.

I ran towards Luciano.

“Prince Luciano, are you hurt anywhere?”

Prince Steven’s strange gaze came, but there was no time to pay attention.

“Prince….”

I tried to look at Luciano’s expression, but he didn’t raise his head.

As I got closer, he trembled and left without showing his face.

I didn’t catch it because his backside looked like he was begging me to leave him alone.

When Luciano left the drill hall, Prince Steven exclaimed excitedly as if it had belatedly dawned on him.

“Mother, I won!”

He showed his joy without hiding his feelings.

‘Can you really say that this is a win?’

I felt all wronged.

Contrary to my feelings, Prince Steven jumped up and down.

“Wow, wow! I’ve beaten brother Luciano! I won!”

He was rejoicing as if he had the whole world.

“Prince Steven.”

At that moment, Empress Isabelle’s voice rang out.

The cold voice was unusual, but Prince Steven, who was excited about his victory, didn’t notice.

“Yes, mother!”

He answered with a cheerful and robust voice.

Empress Isabel’s gaze at her son was cold.

“You should have done it right from the beginning. Then you wouldn’t have been hurt.”

Prince Steven, who was jumping with joy, hardened at the tone of reproach.

I didn’t know she would scold him for getting what she wanted.

It also sounds cold to me, and what about Prince Steven, who was directly criticized?

His mood subsided in an instant.

“I’m sorry.”

Others in the same room also noticed.

Someone stepped up as if they hadn’t seen it.

“You still won.”

I wondered who was involved in this atmosphere, turned out it was Marquis Knox, Empress Isabelle’s father.

“We don’t need a trivial victory. You have to be overwhelming if you don’t want your opponent to be presumptuous.”

But he wasn’t good enough to stop Empress Isabelle.

“….”

Prince Steven’s head bowed even deeper.

“Empress.”

Marquis Knox sang briefly.

It seemed like a warning that it wasn’t good to do that in a crowded place.

And Empress Isabelle was that rational.

“Prince, don’t make the same mistake next time.”

Empress Isabelle said as if to wrap it up.

Prince Steven was talking, but her eyes were on me.

A warning that this wouldn’t be the end.

An indication that there would be another time.

I could definitely understand it.