As everyone made their way to the Palace grounds, the Master of Ceremonies' voice boomed across the arena.
"Her Majesty, The Queen! His Royal Highness, The Crown Prince!"
The crowd erupted in cheers as the Royals took their seats in the central, elevated box.
Unlike the Queen, the Dukes' names weren't announced. They graciously followed behind, taking their seats in the exclusive Nobles' Section without fanfare.
When I looked at the designated area for the Dukes, I saw that some people were already seated there. I scanned for my family's box.
Adel, Felix, and Livia were already present, standing dutifully beside the velvet seats. They bowed as we approached.
I realized that the nobles' seating was strictly divided by vassals and their lieges. The seats around the Royal Family were packed with their vassals—Counts and Viscounts. I spotted a familiar face among them: Lady Clara, sitting primly near the Queen.
In stark contrast, our family's area stood isolated. There were no vassals around our seats, leaving a noticeable gap of empty chairs that could have accommodated ten people. These seats should have been occupied by the Claudi Family—our only vassal house. But Lady Octavi's parents were at home in Florence, and Lady Octavi herself was preparing for the fight below.
The Master of Ceremonies announced the beginning of the event. He outlined the schedule: speeches, jousting, melee, and finally, the Grand Finale—the sparring between Lady Octavi and Lord Kaeso.
First came the Queen's speech.
Similar to her previous address, she used my name and my family name to emphasize the importance of unity and loyalty. While this speech meant little to the common folk cheering in the stands, it was a heavy message for the nobles watching us.
"May our unity be as strong as the steel of our swords," the Queen concluded, raising her hand, "and may our loyalty be unwavering like our stone walls!"
Applause thundered through the arena.
The first match began: Jousting.
The grounds had no barrier between the jousting knights—a dangerous, old-fashioned style. It showcased the pure skill of each knight in handling their horse at speed.
The knights, assisted by their squires, donned their helmets. They raised their lances.
Signal.
They charged. Hooves thundered against the earth.
CRASH!
The clash of lances echoed through the grounds. Wood splintered. The crowd roared in excitement.
However, I noticed that the nobles in our section were less impressed. They chatted amongst themselves, barely glancing at the violence below.
After several intense clashes, one knight emerged victorious. The defeated knight bowed graciously.
Next came the Melee Combat.
I thought it would be a duel, but it was group combat. Multiple knights fought simultaneously alongside their squires—some on horseback, some on foot.
The goal: unhorse or defeat the opposing Commander.
The chaos began. Swords clashed, shields banged. It was brutal and messy. Knights were knocked out and dragged away by squires.
Finally, one knight unhorsed the opposing Commander, claiming victory. The crowd cheered wildly. Yet again, the nobles remained unimpressed. Even my parents watched with polite indifference.
Then, the atmosphere shifted.
The Master of Ceremonies announced the next event: Foot Combat.
This was the prelude to the Grand Finale. It consisted of three rounds:
Pupils of the Palace Academy.
Knights from the Blue Order.
Lady Octavi vs. Lord Kaeso.
Unlike the blunted weapons of the melee, these swords were sharp. Real steel.
The first match began.
Two participants entered—a boy and a girl, both appearing to be the same age as Aurelio.
The boy was quick and agile. The girl took a strategic, defensive approach. They clashed swords, sparks flying.
Suddenly, my father spoke, his eyes fixed on the arena.
"So this is where Kaius's daughter ended up…"
"She insisted on enrolling there," my mother replied smoothly.
"It is a waste of time if the result is what we are watching now."
"Well, she didn't go there for this," my mother gestured to the fighting. "She went there for social interactions… The results have been quite impressive."
I realized they were talking about Lady Octavi.
"Mother," I asked, leaning in. "You said she insisted on enrolling there—does that mean her family didn't want her to go?"
My mother turned to me. "It is not that they didn't want her to go, but they saw it as a waste of time."
"A waste of time?"
"Look at the two in front of you," she pointed to the Academy pupils. "They are about the same age as Aurelio. Their skills are impressive for their level, but by our standards, they are not enough. Lady Octavi had surpassed them in every way possible by the time she was eleven. So, you see, it would have been a waste of time for her to attend the Academy for training."
"I see. But you mentioned she went for social interaction?"
"Correct. Lady Octavi was alone at that age. You were only four years old, and we have no other vassals besides the Claudi family. She had no peers. That is why she insisted on attending the Academy. The results have been staggering—people know her name. The Royal vassals know her, even the Blue Order knights respect her. She is recognized throughout the Kingdom."
My father cut in, his voice low. "It is not just noteworthy; it is a major concern."
"A major concern?" I asked.
"Yes. Between our family and the Royal Family. Even though the Queen emphasized unity, the outcome of this event might suggest otherwise. Lord Kaeso is the Commander of the Blue Order. If Lady Octavi defeats him, there could be a significant shift in the perception of power. On the other hand, if Lady Octavi loses, the Claudi family risks losing their status as the Golden Sword of Aurelius."
"Why is it a no-win situation? If she wins, we don't lose anything."
"The problem is the perception of the spectators, Aurelia," my father explained patiently. "The Eight Dukes are present here. If Lady Octavi easily defeats the Royal Commander, it suggests a power imbalance—that the Royal Order is weaker than our family's vassal. This could lead to tensions, with our family appearing to challenge the Royals. That is why the Queen thanked you earlier for the idea. If Octavi wins, the Royals play the victim of our aggression. If she loses, we look weak."
I felt a pit in my stomach. I hadn't considered the political trap when I approved the match.
"What will Lady Octavi do in this situation?" I asked.
"She will go for a draw…"
The answer didn't come from my father. It came from Aurelio.
Suddenly, the crowd cheered loudly. Something significant had happened in the arena.
I turned my attention back to the fight.
The Academy pupils had started using Transmutation.
My eyes widened. I looked at the Queen. She was smiling.
She broke the agreement. I had specifically requested no Transmutation.
The sparring became intense. The sound of clashing metal rang sharper, infused with power.
"The boy… he is holding back," Aurelio muttered, watching intently.
"Holding back?" I asked.
"His footwork… He could get closer to her, but he is limiting himself. As if he is being forced into a defensive position."
"This is a sparring match," my father said dismissively. "It is just for entertainment. Right now, they are putting on a show. The winner was likely decided before it even began."
I still didn't understand Aurelio's earlier comment.
"Father, why would a draw be the choice for Lady Octavi?"
"A draw is the only choice, but it is not the best solution," my father explained. "This match isn't about public opinion; it is about the opinion of the Nobles. A draw could be seen as a balance of power. However, Lady Octavi needs to time it right."
"What does that mean?"
"If she forces a draw too quickly, it will look deliberate. It will look like she is pitying him. She needs to make the outcome appear genuine, showcasing her strength without humiliating the Commander."
"And if she prolongs the match?"
"If she prolongs it, she risks revealing her true nature. She is facing a Commander. If she toys with him for too long, the experienced warriors watching—the Dukes—will realize she is holding back. That is an insult in itself."
Suddenly, the crowd erupted.
The match was over. The girl had won.
Thunderous applause filled the air, but I knew now that the match had been a charade.
The Master of Ceremonies announced the next match: Round Two.
I blinked in surprise.
Entering the arena were Lady Hillaria and Milo.
That explained why I had only seen Lady Clara in the stands.
They took their positions. The crowd fell silent.
"Begin!"
Just like in her spar with Octavi, Lady Hillaria took the offensive immediately. She struck with precision and grace, her blade a blur.
Milo, however, showed incredible agility. He was on the defensive, but his movements were fluid.
Clang! Clang!
The sound of metal was constant. Hillaria pushed Milo back, but he held his ground with impressive footwork, dodging strikes by inches.
"Is she your acquaintance, Aurelia?" my mother asked, watching with interest.
"Yes, Mother. She is the daughter of the Commander, Kaeso."
"Ah… I see. And the other?"
"I believe he is Milo. The Lieutenant of the Blue Order."
Hillaria and Milo exchanged blows. The intensity was palpable. This didn't look like a charade. Both were fighting to win.
As they circled each other, Lady Hillaria made her move.
Flash.
She suddenly activated her Transmutation without warning.
She dashed toward Milo with supernatural speed.
Milo seemed caught off guard.
BAM!
Milo responded instantly. He parried with immense strength, his defense rock-solid against her enhanced strike. The clash echoed like a thunderclap.
Hillaria's eyes widened in surprise. Milo had matched her Transmutation strength with pure skill—or perhaps his own hidden power.
"Hooo…" my mother grinned, leaning forward. "That was interesting."
As they exchanged blows again, Milo maintained a calm, focused expression. He showed no signs of fatigue or fear in the face of Hillaria's power.