“Oh my…!”

“Gasp… Oh, my!”

“Huh…!”

Exclamations and voices mixed with astonishment burst out here and there. An intense competition was unfolding on the vast training ground of the Imperial Guard, carved out of the hilltop behind the imperial palace.

Under the fluttering imperial flags, those who were creating a rough scene reminiscent of a real battlefield without an inch of concession… were not the renowned Imperial Guard knights from across the continent, but six empress candidates.

The third empress selection competition.

It was a competition to evaluate the martial arts skills of the empress candidates. The position of empress of the empire, which every woman desires, was exposed to that much danger. The number of assassins who had penetrated the iron-clad defense of the Imperial Guard and aimed for the empress’s life was never small.

Fortunately, most ended in failure, but unfortunately, the 5th empress was kidnapped, and the 12th empress lost her life.

The 18th empress and the newborn crown prince in her arms were almost kidnapped by assassins, but they were able to repel them with the empress’s excellent sword skills.

Since then, martial arts competition has been included as an event in the empress selection competition and has been passed down to this day. It was a place to prove that they could help with the safety of not only themselves but also the emperor and descendants in any crisis situation that might come.

The sword skills of the candidates who had built up their abilities in various ways since childhood to be selected as empress were superior to those of ordinary veteran members.

The families didn’t know about the other events of the competition, but they knew that the evaluation of martial arts skills was definitely included. The candidates learned competitive horseback riding and held swords and bows in their hands from when they first started toddling.

Daily self-defense lessons were just a rare free time for the candidates to come out of the separate palace and meet with noble children. At least for five of the candidates.

Unlike the five candidates who were flying around the training ground and displaying dazzling skills, the eleventh candidate was struggling as their prey.

The first match, where points were gained by snatching the cloth tied around the opponent’s waist, ended with Princess Lilibet’s great victory and Arabel’s crushing defeat, with even a handful of her hair torn out.

As soon as the horn sound announcing the start of the match rang out, five ladies rushed at Arabel, who looked the weakest, and snatched away the blue cloth hanging from her waist.

Although fouls were rampant, the ladies were so rough and violent that the three judges couldn’t even approach and could only watch carefully. With elbow punches and kicking skills that made one’s tongue click, Lilibet snatched away the cloths of the remaining three and gained 5 points, ending the first match.

After the “first match to warm up” ended, when the ‘full-fledged’ second wooden sword match began, the Emperor’s red eyes glared at the training ground with an ominous light.

As the Emperor, seated on the hill separated from the audience seats, placed both hands on the armrests, the veins on the back of his hands throbbed as if they were about to burst out.

He couldn’t step in because he had promised not to help Arabel at all. By the looks of it, not only Arabel but also the other ladies were biting, tearing, and hitting each other terribly.

If the Emperor intervened here and ended the competition, the person who would be harmed by the Emperor’s biased action would be Arabel.

It was obvious that the resentment of those who couldn’t dare complain to the Emperor for ending the competition without reason just because it was unfavorable to Arabel would pour onto her.

The public opinion that had begun to acknowledge Arabel, who had proudly won the first competition with her own strength, would turn its back again.

This time, he could only watch. The Emperor’s mouth dried up as he looked at Arabel, who seemed like a gazelle thrown to a pack of wolves.

That’s because the five candidates, excluding Arabel, were the most skilled with swords among the two hundred women who participated in this competition.

All five candidates who remained in the competition were the type who excelled at any physical event rather than studying.

The five candidates were warming up by swinging their wooden swords in the air with expressions that suggested they wished these weren’t real swords.

On the other hand, Arabel, holding a long and heavy wooden sword as tall as herself, looked like a young page who had entered the training ground to hand over a sword to a knight.

Six buckets, each filled with red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and indigo paint, were brought in and placed in the center of the training ground.

“The winner will be the candidate who cuts the opponent the most with the wooden sword dipped in their designated paint.”

At the judge’s words, the eyes of five candidates shone sharply, while the eyes of the remaining candidate wavered, losing their way.

They couldn’t cut the opponent with a wooden sword with a blunt edge and tip. Of course, they could strike down and cause bruises. It was a match where the paint-dipped wooden sword would leave color on the opponent each time it touched, and the winner would be determined by counting those numbers.

The six candidates put their wooden swords into the buckets of their designated colors and waited.

The color smeared on Arabel’s wooden sword was green, and the color on Lilibet’s wooden sword was orange.

Lilibet, who lightly lifted the orange-colored wooden sword with one hand and spun it three times using her wrist, sneered at Arabel. It was as if she was enjoying imagining where to cut to give double the pain.

As the horn sound announcing the second match rang out, a rainbow spectacle unfolded inside the training ground.

Unfortunately, among the many colors, green couldn’t be found anywhere.

As expected, the wolf pack attacked the gazelle first, and the helplessly beaten gazelle’s entire body was filled with all colors except green from head to toe without any gaps.

“I didn’t know the empress candidate competition was this brutal.”

“This competition is mild. Last time, during the crown princess selection for Crown Prince Luca, two ladies were carried out on stretchers.”

“But, by the looks of it, that Arabel lady might also be carried out if she’s not careful. Still, she’s surprisingly holding up well.”

“It’s a bit harsh. With five of them attacking such a small-framed lady… Now we can’t even see Arabel lady anymore.”

“Oh my…! Their striking power is stronger than an ordinary knight!”

“Look at that judge who went to mediate getting knocked down!”

When the three large-bodied judges clung on and pulled away the five, a small body reappeared from within. Even people who had been watching with interest at first gradually frowned and looked at the eleventh lady with pitying eyes.

Realizing that there was no place left to cut on Arabel, the wolf pack now began to fight each other, swinging their wooden swords.

“How strange. Arabel lady has opportunities to cut but isn’t attacking…?”

When one noblewoman tilted her head and pointed at Arabel, the people around nodded after watching carefully.

“That’s right. Now the five ladies are busy fighting each other and showing their backs to Arabel lady, but she’s not attacking?”

As the nobles said, the five candidates were so engrossed in attacking each other that they were showing openings to Arabel. Although Arabel could easily smear paint if she wanted to, she was standing with the tip of her wooden sword resting on the ground.

Deputy Commander Peter, who was close to the line outside, signaled with his eyebrows to Arabel, whose cheek was swollen red, either from being hit by a palm or the handle of a wooden sword.

‘Now’s your chance, attack.’

Even if she couldn’t win, wouldn’t it be better for her reputation to score a few points rather than zero? If she did well, she could smear paint from behind without them noticing and score higher than one or two others.

Not knowing Deputy Commander Peter’s frustrating feelings, Arabel stood still until their match ended. The Emperor’s body was about to rise from his seat to call for the end of the match, swept up in anger at seeing Arabel’s swollen cheek.

The Emperor’s brow furrowed for a moment because of Arabel, who wasn’t attacking the competitors showing their backs right in front of her.

Arabel was now… showing the spirit of chivalry. She was implementing the rule of not attacking an enemy who showed their back in a formal duel, not a war.

Although she probably hadn’t learned it formally, she thought it was cowardly to attack an opponent from behind without warning in a match.

“Hah…”

A shallow sigh escaped between the Emperor’s lips. How far will this small woman shake me…

Like the Emperor, the eyes of many knights watching the match deepened.

The woman in front was showing with her whole body the most basic spirit of chivalry that they had forgotten. They became ashamed of their own voices that had been advising the candidates to attack from behind.

Beep beep beep! The horn sound ending the second match was heard.

This time too, Lilibet, who left the most orange color on the faces and clothes of the candidates, won with 10 points, and the rest of the candidates also evenly took scores between 5 and 9 points.

The eleventh candidate… was still recording 0 points.

“The last match is an obstacle race. The best way to escape danger is to safely run away. In this match, only the winning candidate will be given 20 points.”

The eyes of the four candidates, except Lilibet, sparkled with expectation. Although they had lost the lead to Lilibet, who had taken a total of 15 points, if they scored 20 points in this match, they would automatically win.

The princess of Kuvil country, who was two points behind Lilibet, gritted her teeth firmly. Of course, if Arabel, who had maintained 0 points so far, won the last match, she could also become the winner of this competition.

However, no one expected her to win. Even the Emperor was fretting over ‘how Arabel could finish the running race without getting hurt’ rather than winning.

In fact, this match was practically a competition between Princess Lilibet of Sevils country and Princess Reine of Kuvil country. The six candidates stood in front of the starting line, looking as if they had returned from a battlefield.

“Pass through the various obstacles ahead…”

The judge pointed with his palm to the far hill.

“The candidate who reaches Emperor Your Majesty first will be the winner.”

The eyes of the six candidates widened as they looked up at the quite distant hill.

“And all candidates.”

As the judge paused, six maids approached the candidates.

With small, round bundles in their arms.

“You must protect a cotton doll the size of a newborn baby and bring it to Emperor Your Majesty without damage. Dropping it means disqualification. If the cloth tears, 5 points deduction. And if it gets dirty or dusty, 2 points deduction.”

The six candidates each held a newborn-sized cotton doll in their arms.

The Emperor, who was watching, complained through his teeth, looking very displeased.

“Are they really the same size? Why does Arabel lady’s cotton bundle look twice as big as the others’? It looks like a child holding a child!”

“That’s because the lady is so small and thin… Ouch!”

Secretary Lex, who was answering straightforwardly, groaned, grabbing one of his legs. Assistant Kyle and Secretary Antonio had kicked his shin simultaneously.

The cotton dolls in the arms of the five ladies, boasting cool leg lengths, looked like adorable newborns in contrast to their superior physiques.

On the other hand, the cotton bundle in Arabel’s arms, although the same size as the others, looked more like a one or two-year-old than a newborn. It even looked worrisome whether she could carry it and run.

“And the candidate who becomes the winner today will have the opportunity to go boating on the lake with Emperor Your Majesty!”

The faces of five women, including Lilibet, brightened. It was an opportunity they couldn’t miss.

Arabel’s round eyes, which had been even more droopy, suddenly widened, looking at the distant Emperor.

Her clear nostrils tensed, and her pink lips closed quite firmly. The two hands holding the cotton bundle clenched into fists.

Beep beep beep, the horn sound announcing the final match rang out widely. Five candidates dashed forward like lightning.

But Arabel’s two feet were still on the starting line, untying the string of the skirt she was wearing over her pants with one hand, and whoosh, she took off the skirt.

It wouldn’t have mattered if the loose pants that narrowed at the ankles, worn for the competition, were seen, but everyone was shocked by Arabel’s sudden action of taking off the skirt over them.

The Emperor, watching from the hill, stuck out his head as if he couldn’t believe it.

Arabel carefully wrapped the cotton bundle in the skirt, then placed it preciously on her chest and tightly tied the two strings connected to the skirt around her shoulders and waist.

Then she gently stroked the comically drawn face of the cotton bundle with her small hand, and wiped her nose once with the back of her hand.

After rubbing the toe of her small shoe on the dirt ground a couple of times… she ran forward. Something small whizzed by quickly, kicking up dust, beside the candidates who were running frantically.

One, two, three… Arabel overtook the candidates in front at an incredible speed. She skillfully rolled, crawled, and mounted over low and high obstacles, breaking through without hesitation.

She passed through narrow obstacle sections by balancing on one foot, hopping and skipping across.

It looked more like a highly skilled assassin roaming the imperial palace rather than escaping from an assassin. The people in the audience seats simultaneously stood up and took in the unbelievable sight with their mouths open.

The ladies who had never carried a load in their lives were having quite a difficult time. Every time they tried to speed up, the cotton bundle held them back.

The cotton bundle, which they had scoffed at as light at first, felt quite heavy when they started running, and they struggled with how to hold it.

The cloth tore or got dirty as they barely managed to catch the cotton bundle that they almost dropped while running.

Just as Lilibet and Reine arrived at the bottom of the hill where the Emperor was sitting, neck and neck, a wind whooshed between them… and the heels that came into view disappeared in the blink of an eye.

As the two princesses panted and sprinted up the hill with all their might,

“Woaaah!!!!!”

“Beep beep beep!”

The people’s tremendous cheers along with the horn sound announcing victory made their ears ring.

Two pairs of eyes, lost in disbelief, looked at Arabel standing next to the Emperor, smiling shyly.

While the two princesses were out of breath and about to vomit, the winner was standing very comfortably, holding a cotton bundle without a speck of dust, not even short of breath.

The competition committee, the candidates, and even the Emperor hadn’t thought of it. The fact that the playground of the eleventh candidate, who was mocked as a country bumpkin, was the mountains of Kander territory, said to be the roughest and wildest in the empire.

Running on flat ground and small hills was mere child’s play to Arabel, and the animals she had rescued from her father’s laboratory since she was young and released deep into the mountains were much larger and heavier than the cotton bundle.

The wild animals she had saved, wrapped in aprons and cloths, were all injured animals, and Arabel knew well how to transport them to the forest without aggravating their wounds.

The judges received the spotless cotton bundle from Arabel with eyes full of wonder at her achieving the best record in history.

The head judge placed a golden wreath on Arabel’s head and announced in a loud voice.

“With this, the winner of the third competition is… Lady Arabel of the Del Saint-Cyr family!”