After the short break, I watched the rest of the matches relaxed, but then something completely unexpected happened.
'I can't believe it. Why is Diera struggling like that? 'ð±
The quarterfinals were in progress, and of course, everyone was sure that Diera would win quickly again, and advance to the finals, but a knight on a dark horse appeared that managed to put him in a difficult situation.
The unknown knight, was the winner of the previous two matches, and now he fought against Diera head to head. These turn of events made everyone sweat with excitement.
The unknown knight was very agile despite his large build, so he easily avoided Diera's attacks.
And then the knight, calmly, let Diera rush at him with his big lance and...
Bang!
Another battle ended...the unknown knight hit Diera's shoulder and passed by him...at the same time Diera's lance hit the knight's wooden shield but was easily bounced off.
'This unknown knight just scored high right now.'
An unexpected and shocking turn of events just happened, and the arena was deadly silent... Diera lost a match, to an unknown night, for the first time today.
Even though there was no winner because in the quarterfinals there were only three rounds, it was still shocking that the prodigy of the Orgo family lost a match to an unheard of knight.
The score was 1 - 1.
The last match was more intense that the previous one. After they exchanged a total of five blows, Diera won against the unknown knight.
But I couldn't shake off the feeling that the referee was a little to lenient with Diera.
'Maybe that is a given, after all Diera is from the Orgo family who is renowned for their swordsmanship.'
Even though the unknown knight lost he was getting more attention than Diera now.
"Who is that person? He looks so young."
"Looking at his shabby armor and horse... it doesn't look like he belongs to any of the famous knightly orders."
"But he was still amazing!"
"Ha! After his performance they will quickly scout that knight."
Diera won "a wounded victory" and advanced to the finals.
In the remaining quarterfinals the last match was between Isidor and the third son of the Serig family, who belonged to the Blue Knights order, but again Isidor won easily and advanced to the finals.
'Diera's completion looks bad.'
The previous match must have taken him by surprise, and his win was somewhat biased, so Diera who is a righteous person, was now sitting lost in thoughts with a stiff expression.
Diera couldn't show his skills at the beginning of the tournament because his opponents were too weak, then he lost a round to an unknown night and had a questionable win, and to put the cherry on the top in the finals he was defeated by Isidor and fell off his horse.
"This year's winner is Sir. Isidor Visconti, the Vice-Captain of the White Knights order!"
'Wow! Isidor won...'(â ââ ｡â ââ )â !
Now I had to cool off my surprise over the results, in the scorching heat.
'But I bet money on Diera.' ð¢
Since I knew the outcome of the match, because of the novel, I thought it would be foolish of me not to gamble.
'Wasn't this supposed to be a easy win?!
But I must say that it is fortunate that I didn't bet a huge amount. It seems that my concerns were valid. The content of the novel changed again, Isidor participating in this competition when he originally didn't, changed everything.
I remember exactly that in the novel was a scene where Philap was intensely jealous of the winner, Diera.
But now at the awning where the seal of the Montez family is hung is only the Duke and Duchess.
Where did Philap evaporate to?'
While I was lost in thoughts about the current situation, I heard my name being called, by a soft voice, from the podium.
"I dedicate the glory of today's victory to the one who wished me good luck with this handkerchief, Lady Deborah!"
Isidor loosened the handkerchief tied around his wrist and waved it in the air, lightly.
Normally there would be a burst of enthusiastic cheers right now, but as soon Isidor said my name an awkward silence ran through the arena.
Everyone turned their heads towards me, as if they were knitted together...
'What am I supposed to do in this situation...'(â -â _â -â ;â )â ã»â ã»â ã»
Usually the winner of this tournament dedicates the glory of the win to the lady who cheered him on.
It was a common custom, but this time the atmosphere was awkward because the Lady concerned was considered a ruffian.
I received looks filled with doubts, unbelieving what they heard. It was the same gaze I had received when I attended the ball with Isidor.
'If Isidor is considered the light of this Empire and I am seen as the darkness itself.'
I frowned slightly at this thought.
The nobles that were staring at me with shocked expressions must have noticed my displeased expression, because they quickly turned their heads or cast their eyes down.
The ceremony to congratulate the winner was held after his announcement and the atmosphere in the arena began to be lively again.
'However...My heart keeps beating fast because of the sudden attention.'
I have a phobia of attention. The real me is still a timid person,
"He just waved the handkerchief three times, right? As I expected, Sir. Isidor was threatened by you just like me!"
Said Belreck with a very serious face and tone, that left me dumbfounded.
"I am not threatening Isidor!"
The carriage ride back home was quiet as a dead mouse, both I and Duke Seymour were tired and overwhelmed by today's events.
Duke Seymour looked more exhausted, probably because of the heat, so I refrained from talking.
He was resting, leaning against the back of the bench, which was very comfortable and luxurious, it could put a limousine to shame. By the time we got home, Duke Seymour opened his mouth.
"Deborah...That guy..."
"I'm sorry?"
"It's nothing."
After a long silence, Duke Seymour, who was stroking his sharp chin, suddenly said something shocking.
"Deborah, for a husband, an excellent mage would be better. Knights and summoners couldn't come to the same level of intelligence as you, it would be impossible and troublesome to have an intelligent conversation..."
'What?! H-husband?!'
While I was spacing out because I was too tired, a word hit my ears like a stroke of lightning, and made me, quickly, come back to my senses.
'I still have two more years until I am of a marriageable age! I haven't even collected 10 billion won to buy a title and I still have nightmares of Louis Gargell running after me!
What is he bringing that terrible word up? Or is he, secretly, trying to find out what I think about marriage, now that I am about to have my debut?'
Because I didn't want to lose the laid back and luxurious lifestyle, that resembles a 5-star hotel, that the Seymour family is providing for me and still could provide for a long time, I quickly responded.
"F-for the time being, I am focusing solely on my research. I have no time for anything else in my life."
"Research?"
"Yes. Starting with the mana stones and many others,24 hours is not enough for the many things I want to research."
My eyes lit up with enthusiasm while I talked about how great my passion for researching magic was, so Duke Seymour looked at me surprised.
"Now, I am working on something even more amazing. Ha, ha, ha!"
Because I was so desperate, my mouth moved like crazy and enveloped Duke Seymour in a banquet of words.
"I didn't know that you are so passionate about your work. But, as a matter of fact, I heard that the servants often see you studying until dawn."
'That was probably because I stayed up all night drawing the blueprints for the cafe.'(â ï¼â ^â Ïâ ^â ï¼
The assignments I had when I was an undergraduate student were difficult and boring, but because it was my own shop, I was very excited and happy.
"Since I am a Seymour and my father's daughter, it is only natural that I have a never-ending thirst for knowledge."
Because Duke Seymour made a misunderstanding look good in my favor, I didn't forget to chime in a bit.
Perhaps because he was moved by my enthusiasm for learning, Duke Seymour stopped the conversation about marriage. He even stroked my head affectionately once.
"Good decision, you should work hard."
"Yes."
'Phew, it seems that I managed to dodge the bullet.ƪâ (â Ëâ â£â Ëâ )â Ê
Children must pretend to study so that their parents won't interfere to much in their future.
But today, it was apparent just how desperately I need that 10 billion won.
And it is regrettable that I lost 100 gold coins in vain because I gambled... Ahhh, how many smoothies do I have to sell to make 100 gold coins again?!
In the original work, Diera was the winner...'
My head hurt because of all the changes that happened to the original novel including me becoming the top student of the academy.
'The jousting competition was very important in the original story, because it was where all the hard work done by many important characters was recognized by everyone.
The rumor that Mia is the incarnation of Saint Nyla started to appear right after the tournament to... After Diera won the tournament he made sure that his feelings of love and appreciation for Mia resonated with everyone.
"I dedicate the honor of this victory to Mia Vinoche, who spares no effort in caring for all patients at the medical center.
I will also dedicate my sword to her beautiful devotion to follow in the footsteps of Saint Nyla."
The protagonist received cheers from the crowd because of Diera's emotional speech, which resembled a year-end awards ceremony, and she became one of the main focus of conversation when people talked about the jousting competition.
But that was in the novel, the reality is very different because at the end of the competition the atmosphere became cold because of me...
Because of Isidor's nosiness, I unintentionally stole Mia's spotlight and received all the attention and I hope that benefits, from it, will continue to occur.
But why is Isidor so interested towards me?
I still can't figure it out, at first I thought that there was something he wanted to gain from Duke Seymour, because he did give me a diamond, with the worth of a townhouse in the capital, as a gift, he could think that Duke Seymour cherished me deeply.
It is normal to assume that his objective is not me, but Duke Seymour, because it cannot be explained why he gave me the book of the 6th head of the Seymour family to please Duke Seymour.
But he could have made a deal, himself, with Duke Seymour using that book...
Haaa... to assume that Isidor likes me...Is dangerous. It is very bad for my heart and blood pressure.'
I had a strange thought all of the sudden.
'Master has a strange attitude every time Isidor is brought up. What if they have some kind of relationship?...Isidor and the Master?
The fact that a character named Isidor, who rarely appears in the novel and had no significant contribution, is now intervening and is making significant changes...Maybe he has something to do with the Master?
Besides, there is a link between them that I had overlooked, the Crown Prince.
Isidor is the Crown Prince's close friend and confidant, and the Master is the Crown Prince's advisor.
It is possible that the Master already knows Isidor but is pretended not to?
But this is all just speculation, there is no proof to back it up. Should I ask another information guild to gather information about Isidor?
If the information of the investigation is going to be different, then it will be a pretty well-founded proof...'
"Princess, is the water temperature to your liking?"
The maid assisting me asked and made me suddenly come back to my senses.
"Make it a little bit colder."
"Yes, Princess."
After the bath I received a gentle massage, put on a robe and laid down on the bed to rest.
'I am so tired, I just want to sleep.'
Even though my body felt heavy and tired, because a lot of things happened today, I couldn't fall asleep.
'Philap disappeared and the winner changed.
The competition was also weird...Diera was beaten by an unknown knight and lost to Isidor in 3 seconds...'
It didn't take long for my questions about the competition to be cleared up.
.........................