Chapter 73: The Third Day of the Festival (II).
Meanwhile...
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School Arena
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"Whew... whew..." Someone was taking deep breaths calmly trying to mind her ever so nervous heart. She counts, synching it with her breathing. "Deep breaths in, deep breaths out- one, two, three and four, five, six. We'll invite her to sit with us as a friend, that's normal."
It was the great villainess Lady Evelyn Alarie who had her face flustered and rested as a fresh tomato.
That blonde girl is rubbing off on her, who knew she would start talking to herself now too?
'Agh! I don't think I can look at her properly after yesterday! I-I know I kissed her on the cheek and missed!' (Lady Evelyn) covers her face in shame.
Her seatmates see what she was doing and silently judge her for being... a little weird. They gave her the side eye before going back to waiting for the event to start.
"Ugh... why am I like this...?" She questions herself, wondering truly- after all this is the first time she's ever fallen in love. Is this how others feel when they also feel in love?
Did they also not sleep all night thinking of the person they admire?
Just a simple thing from her daily routine would immediately make her remember that person.
Every time she eats, she wonders if Miss Blanchet has also eaten her fill.
'Love...' She placed a hand on her chest wondering if this is the right feeling and that she's not mistaking it for friendship. 'I love her... I couldn't sleep last night thinking about that kiss.'
Even if it was a cheap elementary cheek kiss, it was everything.
'If I... didn't miss her lips... what would've happened?' A question one cannot answer any longer.
Students started packing in and almost everyone has taken their seats. A few visitors from other schools attended, their uniforms adorned with other colors and special crests.
"Hello, Lady Alarie." A few of her classmates walked on by, waving a hand as they ascended up the stairs. "Lady Evelyn, pardon me- but why are you sitting here?"
Lady Evelyn blinks, unable to reply.
"Aren't you supposed to um... sitting in the grand noble stand with the rest of your family? I heard... since your family donated much to the academy." One of them couldn't help asking, because it was written on the poster paper of the festival's third day.
Almost everyone knows the Alarie family sponsored the academy for the costs of the magic duel.
From the wands, free stall foods, magic barriers and donated magical projection machines so that everyone in the arena can see the match more closely.
"Oh my apologies! What I meant to say was-!" She couldn't continue after being met with the villainess' distant, professional smile.
"It's alright I prefer to sit here with the rest of the other students and I haven't gotten word from my family if they'll be attending to come see the magic duel competition after all they're quite busy with the kingdom's affairs." There was no letter notifying of their presence in attendance.
They...
Never even cared to attend her class's play, why would now be different?
"I'm not even competing, besides... I'm currently waiting for a friend." Though while she was not competing, she had been recommended by the professors privately before but still she turned it all down.
"Oh! If that's so, thank you for giving us a moment of your time. Have fun watching! We'll just be right there if you need us." They pointed at the seats on top of her and left with a polite smile.
"Mm." She waved them farewell as they got into their seats. "Sigh..."
It was beginning to feel a little lonely but not until she heard a pair of wings flapping and familiar chirping.
"Tweet! Tweet!"
"Losimer!"
Lady Evelyn's familiar happily flies over to her and hits her right in the face.
"Oof-" She grabs Losimer and makes him stand on top of her palm, she looks around trying to find the blonde girl she's been waiting for. "Hold on, where's Miss Blanchet?"
"Chirp, chirp, tweet~!" (Losimer) explains via communication in their mind of how the blonde girl will be back soon with buckets of popcorn for them to eat.
And also she needed to save Analissa a seat.
"I... see..." (Lady Evelyn) smiles in relief, looking happy and excited. "So she won't be here for quite a while but of course I'll be saving her a seat. And I can't believe you had the nerve to demand caramel popcorn flavor."
Losimer rolls his eyes, "Chirp."
"No, I'm not jealous of you, you oaf. If anything, I'm feeling nervous that my tummy is doing this thing that I can't explain." She points at her tummy, the perpetrator of all her worries because she feels like her stomach and chest are going to explode by the time Analissa comes to sit beside her. "Does my hair look okay? I don't smell funny do I? Or what if I can accompany her to get some popcorn- surely the line is long and..."
His smart familiar shakes his head, reminding Lady Evelyn that the seats here are not reserved and that if she doesn't secure a pretty good spot it'll be taken by another student. So they need to make sure to not leave that one specific spot.
"Tweet!"
Surely she could be a lot more patient, she's making herself look desperate and no lady wants a desperate woman.
Lady Evelyn pouts hearing her familiar's good argument and just settled in for that. "Alright, alright I'm not going to ask anymore questions... but still my hair looks presentable right?"
Losimer nods in reply, "Tweet."
Clack! Clack! Clack!
The sudden clatter of armored boots echoed through the arena.
Gasps rippled through the student stands as a dozen knights in polished silver marched in, their presence cutting through the noise like a blade. Sunlight gleamed off their armor, and every movement sent a chorus of metal ringing through the air.
Students turned, staring.
"Knights...?" One whispered, earning the curious looks of the crowd while having popcorn in his mouth. How come a dozen knights are here perfectly in line?
"Wait- those aren't just any knights. Look at their insignia!" His friend shouted pointing at the crest on their armor. "T-Those look like the Alarie military!"
"The Alarie military? Here?!" Now that got everyone's attention.
The Might of House Alarie.
The Alaries is not just one of the noble houses- it is a military dynasty. Known for its unmatched discipline, precision warfare, and centuries of battlefield legacy, the Alarie military has long stood as both sword and shield to the empire.
Their soldiers are not just well-trained- they are bred, educated, and conditioned for war from childhood. Discipline is drilled into their bones. Whether you be born as a man or a woman, they could only care about what you can bring into the family.
Cowardice is a forgotten word in their lexicon.
While many noble houses maintain private guards, House Alarie commands a standing army rivaling the imperial legions in size and surpassing most in efficiency. They possess heavy infantry battalions armored in enchanted steel, capable of enduring magic and blade alike.
Obsidian Casters, an elite corps of battle mages who train in silence and kill with precision. Ironbound Knights, the personal guard of the Grand Duke, renowned for never retreating- even when outnumbered ten to one.
Their influence doesn't end on the battlefield.
House Alarie also controls key forges, war academies, and spellarm smiths, giving them dominance in both military doctrine and weapons manufacturing.
Grand Duke Vernon Alarie who's current position is a noble and a General.
In a kingdom where nobles often rule from behind velvet curtains, Grand Duke Vernon Alarie is a warrior who never left the war room. Within military circles, he is known as "The Silent Blade"- a strategist feared for his unpredictability and brutal efficiency.
And now he's come to fetch his daughter.
"Why are they here? They're supposed to be in the noble stands, not down here with us..." The knights advanced without a word, their formation precise and unyielding- until the lead knight halted, eyes scanning the crowd before calling out:
"Duchess Evelyn Alarie."
All eyes snapped to her.
Evelyn slowly stood, hiding Losimer behind her. 'Stay behind me, Losimer.'
Her heartbeat was loud in her ears facing all the dozen guards. "What are you all doing here? Did you need something from me?"
The knight stepped forward, voice steady but urgent. "We have been tasked to escort you. Your father is waiting in the noble stands, milady."
Her breath hitched realizing that her family is here- but for what reason?
Surely it's not just to watch the magic duel competition? She's not even competing!
"Father... he's here?"
Silence fell.
No one moved. No one dared speak.
Something had shifted- an invisible line crossed. Whatever was about to happen, it had just begun.
Lady Evelyn was wondering why in the world her father suddenly decided to come at the very last day of the festival... he didn't even come watch the play- none of her parents did.
Is it because...
"..."
His father adorned victory and family tradition the most, he along with the rest of the Alarie family was well known in the academy grounds and all of them have always been active during school festivals.
One of them being the magical duel competition.
He has won four times in a row. The winner will have their portrait portrayed in the hall of victory. It has always been like that. Could it be that he's here because of that?
"Take me to him."
'Losimer, stay here and wait for Miss Blanchet. I'll handle my father... but I cannot guarantee that I will come back to stay with the two of you. I'm sorry, I'll do my best to get back as soon as possible.' She gave her familiar a reassuring smile before following the guards escorting her.
Losimer stayed in the common sitting grounds patiently waiting for the heroine to come back with the popcorn... his master just left and now it's his duty to protect the reserved seats.
"Sniff... chirp."
It was a little lonely after they left. He could only hope that Miss Blanchet comes back with the popcorn soon.
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