As the sun and the moon danced two times, the day of the Grand Sparring finally arrived.
I still didn't know what the sparring would truly entail. Was it just the duel between Lady Octavi and Lord Kaeso? Or something more?
In the morning, Adel helped me with my routine. Everything was the same as usual. Afterward, she led me to the living room to wait for my family.
Aurelio was the first to arrive. Felix and Livia stood dutifully behind him.
This was the first time we had met without distractions in seven years. Aurelio greeted me warmly, breaking the awkward silence. I tried to fill the room by asking him about his recent swordsmanship.
Surprisingly, Aurelio's answer felt cold and distant.
"It is fine," he said shortly, looking away.
He wasn't the Aurelio I knew from three weeks ago. Then, I told him about my own sword practice with Cassius. To my surprise, he turned his face away completely, avoiding eye contact. It felt like he didn't like the idea at all.
Soon, my parents arrived. They were dressed in magnificent attire. My father carried a cane adorned with intricate decorations and jewels. Lady Octavi had told me about the Family Regalia—this cane was a symbol of status and power. It was my first time seeing it.
After we exchanged greetings, we walked outside. The sun shone brightly, making the jewels on my father's cane sparkle dangerously.
In front of our home, three carriages waited. Each one was more luxurious than the last. The first was for my parents, the second for Aurelio, and the third for me.
We departed for the Palace grounds.
This was the first time my family needed three carriages and a heavily armored escort. The last time I was in a carriage was seven years ago, with just one vehicle and a few guards. Now, it was a show of force.
I leaned forward to the small window behind the coachman's seat to talk to Adel.
"Why do we need so many carriages and soldiers this time?" I asked.
"It is for security reasons, My Lady," Adel responded from the driver's bench. "But that is secondary. The main reason is to show authority and power. As My Lady knows, the Aurelius family, despite being a ducal house, does not have vassal Counts to maintain their land directly. So these carriages and armies serve as a demonstration of strength to the other nobles."
—-
In front of the Palace, a line of carriages waited to enter. These belonged to lesser nobles—Counts, Viscounts. Their escorts were few.
The air buzzed with excitement. Ordinary people crowded the public entrances, trying to get a glimpse of the spectacle.
"Is the Grand Sparring for the public too?" I asked Adel.
"Yes, My Lady. However, there are designated areas. One for the public, one for the nobles."
As I glanced around, a man in heavy armor approached my parents' carriage. He spoke briefly to them through the window.
Suddenly, our carriages were directed out of the waiting line. Our entourage bypassed all the other nobles, sweeping toward the main courtyard with privileged access.
In the main courtyard, only a few carriages were present. These were grand, ornate vehicles belonging to the highest tier of nobility.
As we neared the main entrance, I saw the Crown Prince Fabian. Beside him stood Her Majesty, the Queen.
Our entourage stopped.
My parents stepped out first. Their carriage moved away immediately. Next, Aurelio stepped out, followed by Felix. Finally, I stepped out.
We rejoined as a family and walked toward the entrance.
From the distance, I saw the Queen smile at me. My mother smiled back. However, I felt their smiles were forced—masks of polite insincerity.
We exchanged greetings without bowing. The Queen and my mother spoke as if they were thrilled to meet, putting on a show for an audience that wasn't even there yet.
Fabian merely exchanged handshakes with my father and Aurelio. It seemed like a facade. However, when Fabian took my hand and kissed it, his eyes lingered on mine.
Is this part of the act too? I wondered.
And where are the Third Prince and the King?
We went inside. Maids immediately guided us through the hallways to a receiving room. I was confused; I thought the sparring would be outside.
As we entered the room, I saw them. The Nobles.
They all turned to look at us, eyes filled with curiosity and intrigue.
"Finally, the Aurelius is here…"
A feminine voice cut through the silence.
I saw my father startle.
A beautiful woman with brown hair strode toward us. She wasn't wearing a gown. Instead, she wore light, intricate armor that accentuated her strength. Her stride was confident, almost predatory.
She stopped in front of us. She looked at Aurelio and me.
"Where is the other one?" she asked bluntly.
Her attitude toward my father was shockingly carefree. She tapped his back familiarly and stepped right between my parents, bumping my mother aside.
"Oh, is it Lady Eliana?" my mother said, her voice tight. "As always, Lady Eliana has no courtesy."
Eliana.
I tried to recall her name from my lessons. Suddenly, her face was in front of mine.
"Is she the Crown Prince's Betrothed?" she asked casually.
Then I remembered.
Eliana Aemilia, the Duchess of Romgardia.
Lady Octavi had told me about her. She was known for her lack of courtesy but respected for her immense courage, bravery, and her "Platinum Heart." She was rumored to be the strongest swordswoman without Transmutation.
The most shocking rumor was that she and my father had a long-standing rivalry. They had sparred countless times without Transmutation, their score tied in the hundreds.
"Yes, she is," my father answered.
"How about you find someone to be your betrothed, Eliana?" my father teased. "To cure your bad nature?"
I recalled she was still single, leading her duchy alone.
Suddenly, Eliana smirked. "If the match is you, maybe I will consider it…"
My mother stepped in quickly. "Add the word 'like', Lady Eliana. If the match is like him."
Eliana laughed loudly. "Very well. If the match is like you, maybe I will consider it."
"Maybe you need to start wearing a dress, not armor, to attract someone," my father retorted.
"I thought wearing armor would attract someone like you, who appreciates strength," Eliana shot back.
My parents exchanged amused glances. Lady Eliana was uncontrollable.
She turned her gaze to Aurelio. "This is the first time Aurelio will be known in the Royal Court."
My parents nodded.
We walked into the crowd with Lady Eliana beside us.
I realized something huge. These guests weren't ordinary nobles. All of them were Dukes and Duchesses. All eight Dukes were in the room.
The crowd was divided. I recognized the split in power.
One group had Two Dukes. One group had Four Dukes. And our side… had Two Dukes (Aurelius and Romgardia).
The Eight Dukes were divided into three factions.
Suddenly, an announcement boomed.
"Her Majesty the Queen! His Royal Highness the Crown Prince! Her Royal Highness the Second Princess! His Royal Highness the Third Prince!"
The Royal Family entered.
Half the Dukes didn't bow. The group of Four Dukes bowed deeply.
I felt gazes piercing me.
The Second Princess stared intensely. She had long hair and the same piercing blue eyes as the Queen. The Third Prince, Tito, looked at me with a stern expression, clearly remembering the Tansy flower incident.
I avoided their eyes.
The Queen clapped her hands. The room fell silent.
"Welcome everyone to this Great Hall," the Queen began, her voice commanding. "Forgive the sudden invitation. I have called you to watch a magnificent show, something the Kingdom will witness for the first time."
Her gaze landed on me.
"Firstly, I need to show my appreciation to the Eldest Daughter of Aurelius, Aurelia Aurelius, for the magnificent idea and approval."
All eyes snapped to me.
"This show will be seen as the first step of the betrothal between the Crown Prince and Aurelia Aurelius, solidifying the relationship between our families!"
Everyone clapped, looking at Fabian and me. It was a trap. The speech framed my family as eager for attention, eager to please the Royals.
The Queen waved her hand slightly, signaling me to join her and Fabian.
I started to take a step.
Grip.
My mother grabbed my arm tightly. Her grip was a silent warning: Stay.
My father and Lady Eliana exchanged a knowing glance.
Suddenly, Lady Eliana stepped into the center of the room.
"May I have the room?" she announced loudly.
She looked around at the finery. "I see everyone here wearing their great dresses. Yet I am wearing my light armor. Maybe it is just me who wants to watch the show. While all of you are wearing your best to come here, maybe everyone in this room really just wants to tittle-tattle."
She smirked. "So, are we here to gossip or watch a fight? If we are here to gossip, I will leave this room and join the public outside who have been waiting for hours."
The room fell silent. The Queen's smile faltered.
"What words you have said, Lady Eliana," the Queen replied coolly. "As Lady Eliana has said, let us go to the Palace grounds and enjoy the show."
The Queen turned and left, followed by the Four Dukes.
Before we left, my mother gave a subtle nod of gratitude to Lady Eliana.