Owen spoke to the nobles in the banquet hall.
“I apologize for this ending so trivially. Next time, I’ll provide proper entertainment.”
Jay’s face contorted with unbearable anger. Not only was she angered by her unexpected defeat against Artia, but the atmosphere also felt unfavorable for the Crown Prince to request a dance from her.
After the duel, it seemed like the Crown Prince lost interest in her.
‘Probably because I lost.’
Being embarrassed in front of everyone and losing to Artia was unacceptable.
No matter how Jay became a duchess on the outskirts, Artia remained Artia.
Jay thought it shouldn’t end like this.
‘If I show an entertaining match here, they’ll regain interest in me.’
Ending it like this would inevitably worsen the Crown Prince’s interest and the nobles’ reputation of her.
Usually, Jay had an attitude of not doubting her swordsmanship skills, looking down on others. Consequently, many considered her arrogant.
She was aware of that.
But she believed people envied her to the point of disregarding her.
So, how happy was Artia deep down?
With the intention of undoing everything, Jay spoke up.
“It’s invalid. It was a mistake. Let’s do it again.”
“?”
Many nobles looked at her with puzzled expressions. Jay, unable to admit her defeat, shrugged as if to say, ‘What’s the problem?’
The palace knight glanced at Owen.
Owen pursed his lips.
“It seems our lady is quite upset.”
Jay, with a mischievous smile, spoke to Owen in a low tone.
“It’s not anger. I’m just disappointed that it ended so unsatisfactorily. I want to show a more entertaining match. I couldn’t fully demonstrate my skills due to nerves.”
Owen swept his hair back.
“Lady Ada is asking for another chance. Let’s follow the Duchess’s opinion.”
Artia smiled openly, revealing her excitement.
Owen squinted at Artia.
‘She’s more generous than expected. I heard she went through a lot of hardships after some investigation.’
Owen hired Jay as a partner because among the noble ladies, only she knew how to handle a sword properly. Plus, he wanted to see Artia’s skills, which seemed exceptional during the hunting competition and on the island. Even if she was hiding her true abilities, Owen expected her nature to surface if he made her face an opponent she intensely disliked.
“…….”.
Jay managed to secure another opportunity by some means.
However, Jay still felt a dirty sensation that she might lose to Artia this time as well.
Seeing Artia’s relaxed face, Jay’s heart pounded as if she had seen a demon from hell.
‘Calm down. That was just a warm-up. It wasn’t a real duel.’
Jay took a deep breath to steady her emotions. In front of her was undoubtedly Artia – the same Artia who laughed, cried, and even fought if needed.
She couldn’t lose to such a girl.
Even asking for another sparring match was a significant embarrassment for Jay.
‘But I can’t end it like this.’
The fact that Jay, who considered Artia a petty and insignificant human, was being challenged with a sword to her neck. And that too, in front of everyone.
‘How can she stare at me without even blinking?’
Jay ground her teeth towards Artia.
But to hide her true feelings, she wore a gentle smile on the surface.
Because of this, others didn’t know Jay’s true feelings.
Nor did they know about the relentless bullying Jay had subjected Artia to since childhood.
“Let’s begin.”
The palace knight signaled the start.
Jay gripped her sword again.
Artia felt Jay’s disdainful gaze, like fiery flames burning in her angry eyes.
‘It seems she’s quite upset.’
Trembling hands.
Legs tense with strength.
Jay’s contemptuous gaze considered Artia a perfect enemy.
It was already like that, but now it seemed like eyes wanting to tear her apart.
‘Oh, this might be frightening if it appears in my dreams.’
Jay, who wanted to show an entertaining match, probably wished for Artia’s perfect defeat. She believed her value would rise if Artia lost. Perhaps, the more pitiful Artia’s loss, the more Jay would relish it.
‘If I want to show an entertaining match, I have to participate too.’
Artia decided she wouldn’t end it quickly this time but provide a more entertaining spectacle.
‘If you want this, then I’ll comply.’
Jay’s sword struck Artia’s heart, intending to make her drop the weapon.
Artia intentionally approached the sparring with a sloppy stance, looking like a beginner to everyone.
A smile played on Jay’s lips.
‘Exactly. I don’t know what kind of education you had in the North, but you’re no match for me.’
Jay fiercely attacked.
She targeted Artia’s throat, swiftly and accurately swinging her sword.
The nobles watched the sparring with keen interest at Jay’s dazzling moves.
Owen sat on a golden chair, sipping champagne, while Cascus stood a few steps away.
Artia mulled over Jay’s ostentatious words and suppressed her laughter.
‘No, she said she wanted an entertaining match, so why does she seem so eager to win? It looks like she wants to finish quickly.’
Male lead reborn without memories — but he still falls for her.
The person he finds displeasing in this life turns out to be his cherished wife-master in previous life…
Xie Zhi and Fang Xianxing who had known each other for less than three days through a blind date sat in the same car in front of the civil affairs bureau. They had a disagreement and failed to get married.
Xie Zhi immediately took out his phone, slid through his contacts, and randomly selected the next marriage candidate.
The woman snatched his phone and hung up. Looking at his phone wallpaper, she awkwardly changed the subject: “An ancient painting, eh? It looks pretty good, it’s just that the person in the painting looks a bit like me.”
When he heard this, he sarcastically mocked her for being so delusional, completely unaware that, the person in front of him was the reincarnation of Wen Ru, the famous prime minister of Yuan Shun whom he most admired…
The female CEO who doesn’t want to get married with a divorce agreement in hand × The male archaeological researcher who will only get married if he’s sure he can get divorced
