Baron Kito arrived at a quiet corner of the square and sat on an empty bench. He spoke kindly several times to ease my tense wariness.

“I am not a suspicious person. Don’t worry.”

Frankly, I didn’t think he would kidnap or threaten me. It was more because Duke Penton was beside him rather than trusting Baron Kito. In other words, Duke Penton’s presence was a major reason I followed him.

That’s why I was anxious that Duke Penton might disappear somewhere far away. If he stayed, I planned to make one of the excuses I had thought of and escape to the mansion.

“…That fool may be an idiot, but he’s not someone who would harm you,” Duke Penton remarked, as if he noticed my concern. Still, when I couldn’t easily believe it, the Duke stayed right beside me instead of leaving.

“Just wait a moment. I always carry it around, knowing this would happen!”

What? Baron Kito asked with a smile.

“Oh my. It seems to be at the very bottom corner!”

Baron Kito sat me in front and rummaged through his bag. It was a leather bag that doctors might carry. The bottom was all worn out, and there were holes here and there, so it didn’t look good on the outside.

I was worried that the bag might burst every time he fumbled inside.

Baron Kito’s face brightened as he dug deep into the bag with difficulty. He quickly pulled his hand out of the bag lest he lose the item. Then, a foldable chessboard appeared.

‘A chessboard?’

Baron Kito unfolded the chessboard and took out the pieces inside.

“What on earth are you thinking of doing, Kito?”

“Just stay still! You’re always in such a hurry, Aimar.”

At Baron Kito’s rebuke, Duke Penton shook his head. I stared blankly at the two of them.

‘By the way, Baron Kito and Duke Penton seem quite close.’

Even though their titles differ considerably, they call each other by name without regard.

Despite Baron Kito’s reckless behavior, Duke Penton did not get angry or threaten him. Rather, he only suppressed his own temper as if he were used to this situation.

“I should correct myself. That fool is a complete idiot, and he’s wasting your precious time.”

Duke Penton let out a small chuckle.

“What a resentful thing to say, Aimar! I’m discovering a promising talent right now. It’s a very great thing!”

After placing all the pieces on the chessboard, Baron Kito stared at me intently. Could it be that he’s thinking of playing chess with me right now?

“You got excited all by yourself without even asking this child’s opinion.”

“Your opinion will change too once you see this child play chess.”

“Are you really a strong candidate for the next champion?”

Although Duke Penton spoke discontentedly, Baron Kito did not yield his opinion. The Baron, who even placed a prepared chess clock beside him, seemed to have itchy hands to move the pieces himself.

“…Now, Lize.”

Seeing the Baron looking at me with expectant eyes, it seemed right to move the chess pieces. However, my hands didn’t readily move. Not only was it sudden, but I didn’t fully understand why I had to play chess with Baron Kito.

“Lize?”

“…Excuse me, but my mother is waiting for me….”

“Hmm, then how about this? I’ll give you 50 gold coins if you beat me.”

50 gold coins? My mouth naturally fell open.

“Tsk tsk, now you’re tempting with money.”

“Aimar. You shut your mouth.”

With 50 gold coins, I could buy everything I wanted and still have money left over.

“Can you really give them to me?”

“Of course.”

I stared blankly at the chessboard. Fortunately, I loved chess.

After being born here, what relieved my boredom was none other than chess. It started when I brought the chessboard from the corner of Swel’s room and began playing alone. As for the rules, I had overheard a friend learning chess before my possession.

“Since when have you been playing chess?”

“…I think I’ve been playing since I was five years old.”

“No one taught you?”

“I learned it on my own.”

Baron Kito asked in succession.

“All by yourself? Really?”

“Yes. I found the textbook on my own.”

“Then who have you played chess with so far?”

“…By myself.”

Baron Kito made an expression as if he couldn’t believe it. But I wasn’t lying. Once, I had lured my siblings to play chess, but they all quickly lost interest after a quick defeat. Since then, my opponent had always been myself.

I had even played with my eyes closed. I had also followed and played game records one by one. I learned strategies and reviewed games on my own. Finally, when I used this in actual practice for the first time and shouted checkmate, I was filled with exhilaration and excitement.

“But I haven’t been able to play chess much recently.”

“What? Why?”

I stared intently at Baron Kito upon his question. If you ask the reason, it was because of the letter sent by the person in front of me. Regardless of whether he knew it or not, the excited Baron Kito waited for me to open my mouth.

But I met Baron Kito again. If Isabel finds out about this…

“I’m sorry…even if you bet 50 gold coins, I don’t think I can play a chess game.”

I had to return to the mansion within thirty minutes. Besides that reason, if I became friendly with the Baron here, he could send another letter to the Marsen mansion. Then Isabel would surely take away the chessboard hidden in my room.

“Why so sudden?”

“I have to go to the mansion. My mother will be looking for me.”

“Then I’ll go directly to Madam Marsen and explain the situation.”

That would be a big problem.

“No!”

Baron Kito and Duke Penton were slightly startled by my urgent voice.

“Actually, my mother really hates me playing chess.”

“I don’t understand why. Chess is a very beneficial game.”

Baron Kito asked with a face that looked genuinely incomprehensible. What answer should I give here?

“I think I know the reason. Who makes a living playing chess unless they have talent like you? Madam Marsen would want that child to only do it as a hobby.”

The Duke, who had been listening, helped me out. Then Baron Kito also made an understanding impression.

“Ah, I see! Is it your dream to be a champion?”

“What? No, that’s not it.”

“What?”

“My mother hates me playing it even as a hobby. And she will really get angry if I don’t return to the mansion within 30 minutes.”

I thought he would understand and let me go after I said this much. Baron Kito pondered for a moment and then opened his mouth.

“Then how about this? We play bullet chess, although I don’t enjoy it.”

‘He’s determined to play chess no matter what.’

It seemed he wouldn’t let me go until the end if I didn’t play chess. I glanced at him and missed the timing to stand up.

“Do you know what bullet chess is?”

I nodded my head.

Simply put, it was speed chess. Unlike the usual method of making moves over a long period of time, in bullet chess, you had to read, think, and move the pieces within just a few minutes.

“And I promise not to tell your mother about today.”

“But….”

“If you just leave, I might send a letter asking to play chess just once because I would be disappointed.”

He was quite stubborn.

After all, the opponent was the famous Baron Kito. Even if I did my best, it was obvious that I would lose in a few minutes.

“Just one game.”

“Great, then let’s do it right away.”

Baron Kito hastily proceeded with the game, lest I change my mind.

My heart suddenly raced at the chess game I was playing after a long time. Seeing the pieces guarding their positions, my head instantly became complicated.

Moreover, it was bullet chess. It required considerable concentration. If you make one wrong move while being chased by time, you can make an irreversible mistake.

“Yes, you move the pawn first. It’s the standard.”

The game began.

Baron Kito’s face, which had been full of laughter, also became quite serious. He and I quickly moved the pieces, focusing on the opening game without a word.

“Fast.”

The Duke, who was watching, spoke. As he said, the Baron and I captured pieces not in minutes, but in almost seconds. Was the speed originally this fast?

Baron Kito, who said he was not confident in the fast speed, gradually increased the pace. I was swept up in that speed.

My focus was solely on the chessboard. And on the pieces that were on the chessboard.

Baron Kito quickly attacked my weaknesses. He attacked me accurately, as if it was unbelievable that he had thought of the moves in such a short time. Even when I made a plausible zwischenzug, it didn’t work.

It was a clear mistake when I, in a fluster, thoughtlessly moved a piece without seeing the rook on the left. Because of that, Baron Kito was immediately able to capture a high-value piece and gain an advantageous atmosphere.

‘I’m doomed.’

I bit my lower lip. Yes, it was a lost game from the beginning…. I was anxious.

“…Don’t be too chased by time. Think.”

Baron Kito whispered, looking at me sweating. As he said, I took some time to explore how to get through this crisis, but there was no suitable move.

I couldn’t spend any more time.

I tried to offer a handshake first and go to the mansion, but my hand wouldn’t move. My eyes were fixed on the chessboard as if searching for even a small hope.

‘…..’

The chessboard in front of me was drawn exactly in my head. There, the pieces moved by themselves, creating thousands of probabilities and strategies. The movement of the pieces repeated, returned to their original positions, repeated, and repeated again and again.

And I, who had returned to reality, boldly moved the position of a piece.

“…!”

“…Oh.”

An exclamation came from the mouth of Duke Penton, who had been silently watching the chessboard. At the same time, Baron Kito looked at me, stopped capturing a piece, and grinned.

I thought I had escaped the crisis and gained a slight advantage. But it was only for a moment.

Baron Kito changed his strategy and drove me into a corner. He quickly and meticulously crushed my king’s life and subdued my pieces one by one.

“Check.”

Check. There’s nowhere to run.

“Check.”

I was cornered. I tried to draw a stalemate, having no confidence in winning, but Baron Kito was experienced. He did not allow a draw.

“Checkmate.”

It was my loss.

“Ah….”

After the game ended, I stared blankly at the chessboard for a while.

“Judging from your expression, you seem disappointed.”

“…I’m sorry.”

After coming to my senses, I hurriedly offered a handshake to Baron Kito. He accepted my handshake and looked at the chessboard with me.

“Not only was that move earlier amazing, but the opening move was also amazing. I rarely saw the opening move you made in chess matches. At first, I thought I had discovered a new move.”

“Is that so?”

“It was a bit of a disadvantageous move, but it was a very unique one.”

Baron Kito smiled contentedly and straightened his bent back. The clock tower nearby rang dully as if it was on the hour.

“You said you didn’t receive the letter?”

“Yes….”

“Actually, the reason I was looking for you was because I wanted to make a suggestion to you. The content of the letter I sent was that suggestion.”

Baron Kito’s gaze met mine.

“A suggestion?”

“Yes, Lize. Would you like to participate in a chess tournament?”

“….”

“I’m not saying to participate right away. As you know, you can only participate in chess tournaments from the age of 16. Before that, you can participate in junior chess tournaments, but to be honest, those tournaments have many operational problems since they were only recently established. I don’t think it would be helpful for you.”

“I don’t know. Even if I want to, it’s obvious that my mother will object.”

“But you do want to, right?”

Baron Kito asked sharply. When I remained silent, the Baron spoke carefully.

“Then can’t you play chess even once a week?”

“You can’t come to our mansion.”

“Of course. Actually, I want to play at my mansion, but I’m going to the capital for the preliminary round in a week. I’ll probably stay there for about three months.”

Baron Kito pondered deeply. And as if he had a solution, he looked at Duke Penton.

“Yes, go and play at the Penton family’s place!”

“What?”

“He’s quite a skilled player, though not as much as me. He will surely be of help.”

Even so, for the daughter of the Marsen family to go to the Penton mansion?