As I turned my head, I saw the mercenary group approaching from the other side.

They seemed to have come fully prepared, with rather solemn expressions.

“Oh, isn’t that Her Majesty the Empress over there?”

Eddie stood on his tiptoes to look towards the shaded area. The silver hair shining brightly even in the shade was undoubtedly Ilarid.

A bright, clear light. Small but refreshingly sparkling eyes. Lebel recognized her at once.

“This seems to have been quite a big event. I didn’t expect Her Majesty the Empress to come.”

“…This is bad.”

“Luth, what’s wrong?”

“…Beside her.”

Lailo and Eddie glanced sideways at where Lebel was. Judging by his eyes, they became strongly convinced that he would absolutely not lose today.

“Is the captain going to sweep them all away by himself?”

“Those Imperial Guard guys better be prepared for today.”

The members chattered excitedly, but Lebel maintained silence throughout. He had one more reason not to lose. He tightly wrapped the cloth around his hand.

No matter what happens, he would not let go of his sword.

Although from a distance, Ilarid also saw the shining darkness from afar. A blue-gray star twinkling in that cold winter night sky.

It was the first time since that night near the Empress’s palace. Lebel turned back to prepare for the competition after giving a brief greeting upon seeing Ilarid.

The invited nobles began to gather. Most of them were Cledius’s supporters, and among them was Diobe the ‘Count’. Having finally risen to the rank of count recently, his shoulders were raised high.

Most of them only gave formal greetings to Ilarid before taking their seats.

Neither they nor Ilarid were on terms to exchange warm wishes with each other. These were the people who had led the charge in branding the Melpiram Count family as traitors.

People no different from enemies. Ilarid clenched her neatly folded hands.

“His Majesty the Emperor has arrived.”

As Ilarid expected, he arrived last. Everyone in the seats, including Ilarid, stood up. Cledius was accompanied by Kailem and the Imperial Guard behind him.

And beside him, of course, was Selina.

“The Empress Consort has come too.”

“Where the thread goes, the needle must follow. We couldn’t leave out the Empress Consort when the Empress is attending.”

Cledius spoke shamelessly without hesitation. I’d rather sew with my fingernails than use such a needle. Ilarid let out a barely perceptible sneer as she sat down.

Soon the Imperial Guard officers had also finished their preparations. In a moment, the bell signaling the start of the competition would ring. Cledius, who had been looking down at the two groups lined up below the spectator stands, stood up from his seat.

“Just a moment, I have a proposal before we begin.”

Just as everyone had sat down waiting for the announcement to start, Cledius raised his hand and said something unexpected. Right before the start? The mercenary group looked at the Emperor with puzzled eyes.

“I suggest we use real swords instead of wooden swords for this competition.”

It was a declaration disguised as a proposal. Cledius raised his eyebrows towards the mercenary group. Though it seemed like he was asking “What do you think?”, the option to refuse didn’t exist in the first place.

The Imperial Guard seemed unperturbed, as if they already knew.

Until now, all sword competitions had been conducted with wooden swords. While it was partly a formal event, the biggest reason was to prevent unavoidable injuries.

They might have to be mindful of noble families’ reactions if someone got hurt unnecessarily. After all, these were precious sons of noble households.

How would the mercenary group react? The gazes of the spectators, including the Imperial Guard, turned towards where the mercenary group was.

“Oh well, that’s even better. Real swords fit my hand better anyway.”

“Won’t those Imperial Guard guys wet their beds at night?”

“Don’t go easy on them at all. You should always be serious in a fight with weapons.”

The members were fired up, saying “Let’s see how it goes.” The Imperial Guard was rather taken aback by the sight of them chuckling and whispering among themselves.

They had surely expected them to protest with troubled faces, saying it was absurd, but there they were, laughing leisurely.

“Why are those guys giggling like that? It’s annoying.”

“Instead of grumbling, check your weapons.”

Jin scolded them, but the officers’ spirits were dampened compared to when they had entered. There was also a murmur from the spectator stands. Among the invited nobles, those with children in the Imperial Guard couldn’t bring themselves to argue with the Emperor and just hemmed and hawed.

“I object.”

As if speaking on their behalf, Ilarid opened her mouth. All eyes under the canopy turned to Ilarid.

She didn’t look at anyone, keeping her gaze fixed on the training ground visible in front of the spectator stands.

“The Imperial Guard and the mercenary members are all Your Majesty’s assets. If they were to be injured during the competition, the loss would be…”

“Empress.”

Likewise, Cledius did not look at Ilarid. There was no way the same opinion could come from their conflicting gazes.

“The Empress is here to watch, not to give opinions.”

The meaning was clear: just keep your mouth shut and watch. Ilarid couldn’t hold back the laugh that burst out. It was truly a Cledius-like thing to say.

Selina, who was clinging tightly to the Emperor’s side, chimed in with a remark.

“Your Majesty the Empress. How can you oppose His Majesty the Emperor’s words? Surely there must be a deep reason for his proposal…”

A soft chuckle, “Pfft,” escaped from Ilarid’s lips. Her body bent forward involuntarily as irregular breaths came out. Her shoulders, made up of fine lines, began to tremble slightly.

It was almost adorable at this point. What would Cledius say next? Would he add “How dare you” as usual and spout mocking words? Ilarid waited for his next words without stopping her laughter.

At the sound of her faint laughter, the nobles’ gazes began to gather one by one towards Ilarid and Selina. The one who had always been so stiffly frozen that no emotion could be found was now laughing in front of people for the first time in a very long time.

“I spoke with sincerity, but Your Majesty the Empress only mocks me… I’m hurt.”

Selina put on a forced sad face and covered her mouth with her hand. Then she immediately leaned her body against Cledius next to her and met his gaze.

‘Huh…?’

Cledius did not look at Selina who had nestled into his arms.

His gaze was directed precisely at Ilarid. It couldn’t be. Selina was flustered and automatically detached herself from Cledius.

Cledius was looking at the Empress, slowly blinking his eyes. Even his tightly closed lips were gradually parting.

Cledius’s red gaze looking at Ilarid was fervent. The hidden, twisted desire was slowly rising up, tinged with heat.

She laughed. It was the first time Ilarid had laughed like that, shaking her body, since that tragic day. At least in front of Cledius.

“Your Majesty… the Emperor?”

Selina placed her hand on Cledius’s chest and called him as usual. But unexpected words flowed from his mouth.

“Empress Consort, apologize to the Empress.”

Only at the end of his words did he look at Selina. No emotion could be felt from the red eyes that had always seemed so affectionate.

More than any other reason, there were many eyes watching from all around. If the Empress Consort acted arrogantly, it would greatly tarnish not only her own face but also the Emperor’s.

Selina’s face was completely red. Shame and embarrassment rushed in all at once, making her shrink from her toes up.

Count Diobe let out a low sigh and hit his own forehead.

‘That, that… Even if she’s tactless, how could she! Speaking like that in front of His Majesty the Emperor and other nobles!’

Although she was the Emperor’s favorite, excessive behavior would only become poison. Now was a situation where Selina had to immediately apologize to the Empress and beg for forgiveness. Other nobles were also demanding Selina’s apology with their eyes.

Eventually, Selina stood up creakily from her seat. And she slowly bowed towards the Empress. Her face, looking at the ground, was miserably distorted like someone who had suffered a severe insult.

Usually, Cledius would have joined in insulting Ilarid. But just now, his gaze was somehow different. The lingering affection of someone who still had feelings hidden at the very bottom.

Fortunately, Ilarid accepted Selina’s apology. It was as good as Cledius siding with the Empress, but Ilarid didn’t even care.

‘He probably did that because there are many people. He’s the type to care about others’ gazes.’

He had saved face as an Emperor. She decided to turn her gaze away from the Emperor and Empress Consort and look towards the training ground. There was no point in wasting time and energy here.

The mercenary members had already drawn their swords. Their manner of inspecting the blades and swinging them exuded composure.

“Why does it feel like we’re the only ones nervous?”

“Shut up and just prepare properly.”

The officers glared at the mercenary group preparing on the other side. They didn’t want to admit it, but the Imperial Guard had lost the battle of momentum.

But they couldn’t just stay deflated, as it wouldn’t uphold their dignity as the Imperial Guard. After all, they were the top elites of the Astrid Empire. The honor of the nobles rested on their shoulders as well.

In the midst of preparations, Jin’s eyes fell on the mercenary group’s leader, Lebel. He quickly averted his gaze. He felt he couldn’t bear the guilt that would rush in if their eyes happened to meet.

At least he didn’t want to cross swords with that man. Jin checked his sword one last time, trying hard to suppress his complex emotions.

The officers’ swords were already perfectly prepared according to Kailem’s instructions. There were faint traces of something applied to the blade, reflected in the light.

Hopefully, they wouldn’t meet. He didn’t want to cut him with this sword in his hand. Jin pushed the sword into its scabbard, making one last prayer.

The rules of the competition were no different from the usual sword competitions.

One person each from the Imperial Guard and the mercenary group would come out to duel. The losing side would change their contestant, while the winning side would continue with the same contestant against the next opponent. The side that ran out of contestants would declare defeat.

In other words, one person needed to hold out as long as possible for a chance of victory.

“Who’s going first for us? Do we decide by rock-paper-scissors? Or by flipping palms?”

“I’ll go.”

“Eh? Captain, you’re going right away?”

“…As expected. Guys, let’s just cheer. Let’s warm up our voices!”

“No way, my prize money! I was going to take it all!”

“Don’t worry. The captain will take care of it. Didn’t you see that look in his eyes earlier?”

The members recalled Lebel’s eyes burning vividly. The moment when the dark blue-gray came alive with vitality.

The bell signaling the start of the competition rang. Lebel walked to the center of the training ground and looked towards the shaded spectator stands.

Ilarid was looking this way. She seemed to nod slightly.

The only reason Lebel had to survive. The days of struggling to reach that blue light were still alive under his skin.

‘For you, I will definitely win.’

Lebel engraved his determination on the tip of his sword. If he achieved victory in this competition, the mercenary group’s position would be further solidified.

And there would be more reason to stay longer by Ilarid’s side in the imperial palace.

‘Whatever you’re preparing… so that you can use me right away.’

He remembered what Ilarid had said before parting that night. He was prepared to do anything.

Strength naturally entered Lebel’s body. The silver blade of the sword he was holding reflected the sunlight, shining white. A small name engraved closest to the handle gleamed with light. Lebel gently kissed that name.

The opponent contestant began to enter from the Imperial Guard officers’ camp.

The referee raised his hand and shouted loudly.

“Let the first match begin!”