Inside the magnificent, gilded theater, Luna and Clorinde danced a duet.
Two swords, plunged into the floorboards, silently testified to the fierce battle that had just taken place. But now, the two women swayed to a light, cheerful melody.
This was their intermission—or so Luna had declared.
When this dance ended, the final duel would begin.
A duel to determine victory and defeat, winner and loser, and... who would become the pet.
Relaxation is necessary, Clorinde thought. A string kept constantly taut will eventually snap. But she rarely danced—or rather, she never had the opportunity to.
She never attended banquets or balls; a Champion Duelist had no place in such settings.
But Clorinde danced beautifully.
Luna guided her gently, a single subtle movement enough to show Clorinde exactly how to move.
The sensation was truly strange.
"...How did you train your swordsmanship?" Clorinde asked.
The music, their breathing, and the sound of their footsteps were pleasant enough, but she wanted to find something to talk about.
Luna stepped and spun, turning into Clorinde's arms. Her back pressed against Clorinde's chest, and her raised hand lightly hooked Clorinde's fingers.
"I learned the basics from my 'Father.' The Sword Dance came later."
"Navia told me your original style wasn't flashy at all—plain, unadorned, and deadly," Clorinde said with a nod.
Luna remained pressed against Clorinde's chest, turning her head. Their gazes met at close range, yet even their heated breaths and scents couldn't cloud their eyes with haze.
"And you?"
Clorinde recalled, "My Master locked me in a room full of wooden dummies. Each dummy held a wooden sword with a bag tied to the hilt. The bags might contain food... or just trash."
"If I didn't get the food, I couldn't last until dinner. To seize it, I needed keen eyes, speed, and reflexes... The Marechaussee Hunter's swordsmanship is designed to close in on prey at maximum speed and strike a vital point."
Luna sighed. "Such harsh training. Mine was different."
She turned, pressing her chest against Clorinde's. Her grip on Clorinde's hand shifted, her fingers now interlaced between Clorinde's.
"I trained directly with 'Father.'"
Though it wasn't always like that.
But whenever Arlecchino was home, this was how she taught her.
"It sounds like you were injured often."
"I was."
Luna spun lightly again, creating distance while keeping their hands joined.
"To grow stronger, one must endure pain. Physical pain is the easier kind, isn't it?"
She smiled faintly.
"...Yes."
Luna released her hand.
"The intermission is over."
The gentle duet had allowed them to regulate their breathing. It was time to resume the Duel.
Clorinde and Luna faced each other. The Golden Stage still played the lighthearted dance music, but the atmosphere had changed completely.
Then—Luna and Clorinde moved.
They sprinted toward the nearest swords, lunging to snatch them up
Luna seized Clorinde's sword.
Clorinde grabbed Luna's.
The feel was wrong—one too light, the other too heavy. Clorinde flicked her wrist and threw the sword! Luna tossed her blade into the air and kicked the hilt, sending it shooting forward!
The swords brushed past each other, and in the instant they returned to their masters' hands—
Clang!
Flashes of sword light, faster than the wind, crossed.
"Clorinde, you shouldn't feel guilty."
"...Why?"
Luna pressed down on Clorinde's blade, her voice low. "Because you weren't the one at fault. You should be angry. Remember that Proxy Duel."
Clorinde remained silent.
"What did Mr. Callas ask of you?"
Luna's words pulled her back to that day.
"Clorinde, please take care of Navia..."
Clorinde recalled everything from that time—Callas's request, the conviction in his eyes. She pressed her lips together slightly, knowing exactly what Luna was about to say.
Luna continued, "He asked you to take good care of Nana, to fulfill his wish, to complete his plan, to strike that final blow. So cunning, wasn't it? That way, you could never betray Nana."
"And in the end, you chose to grant his final wish, carving the nightmares, the anguish, the confusion, the guilt... all of it into your own heart. Unable to speak of it, you could only remain silent."
"But who made all this happen?"
"It was Vacher. A villain, a sinner who harmed others for his own selfish desires."
Luna parried Clorinde's sword and gracefully circled behind her. Resting her own blade on her back, she used her free hand to cup Clorinde's chin, turning her head to face her.
Then, Luna whispered:
"Their selfishness harmed others, leaving behind a trail of pain, sorrow, confusion, and anguish... all for others to bear. My beautiful Miss Clorinde, in truth, is one of those victims."
Clorinde's gaze flickered.
Had her actions in Callas's Proxy Duel drawn criticism and malicious gossip? Of course, they had.
But she had always considered that normal.
To make a choice is to accept its consequences.
And now, Luna was telling her that the true culprits were the sins of others.
This... Clorinde closed her eyes, her lips parting slightly. "Are you trying to absolve me?"
"No. I want..."
Luna's palm covered Clorinde's eyes.
"I want to see your anger. If it weren't for those wicked people, tragedies like Nana's would never have happened."
"Why must righteous people like them die, while such utterly vile sinners are allowed to live?"
The words whispered in her ear awakened the fury deep within Clorinde's heart.
Thump, thump. Her pulse quickened.
"Why are we left with nothing but sorrow, guilt, and suffering?"
Luna leaned close to Clorinde's ear.
"I yearn for your voice, your hatred, your anger. Don't feel guilty for your choice. There is only one true enemy—the sins of others."
Her sweet tone masked words dripping with temptation.
It wasn't her who had driven Callas to duel her, nor Neuvillette, nor anyone in the audience. It was Vacher.
It was sin.
Clorinde's lips tightened, her hand gripping the hilt of her sword.
"I know."
She pushed Luna's hand away and turned around.
"I don't think you're wrong. The true enemy is the sins of others. Without them, so many tragedies would never have occurred."
A flash of steel!
Luna nimbly dodged the blade and looked at Clorinde.
"...But I was the one who chose to swing the sword."
Clorinde's expression was complex, yet she seemed to have reached some understanding.
"I think... I will never forget that strike."
Her voice held a trace of sorrow, mingled with acceptance.
Luna's expression softened.
"I see."
That moment had pierced the heart of the woman Clorinde had become, and it could never be removed.
She was the one who chose to swing the sword, and she was the one who chose to continue bearing this pain. No amount of words or comfort could ever erase that mark.
Even if Navia herself came to forgive her, to declare, "We're still the best of friends," it wouldn't be enough to remove this "needle."
Luna raised her sword. "Come, Clorinde."
It was time to settle this.
"Hn."
Clorinde raised her sword in turn.
The next moment, they clashed again—sword against sword, eye to eye. Luna relentlessly increased her speed, her strikes growing more powerful, more forceful!
"Answer me with your blade, Clorinde!" Luna cried.
Clorinde pressed her lips together, then let out a soft breath.
"I will."
Their swords met without pause, the fierce winds from their clashes strong enough to cut skin! But even this wasn't enough to decide the victor.
A duel is a battle of wills.
The sword is an extension of the duelist's soul.
Then... Clorinde's gaze sharpened. A scorching emotion erupted within her, driving her, guiding her to unleash one final strike!
This will decide it!
Faster than ever before, her sword slashed toward Luna! In that instant, Clorinde had only one thought—win this duel!
But she clearly saw Luna's sword.
Faster, more precise, more resiliently, it intercepted the path of her blade.
Clang—!
Her attack was blocked.
In the next blink of an eye, the flash of a blade passed Luna's sharp gaze, cut through the void, and countered toward Clorinde. It all happened in a fleeting instant.
Clang—!
Another ring of steel. But this time, Clorinde felt no weight in her palm.
Her sword flew from her grasp.
However, something warm and soft—unlike steel—caught her hand. A gentle pull sent her tumbling forward.
As her body fell, an arm wrapped around her waist.
Luna leaned in, one arm holding Clorinde close.
The spinning sword plunged into the ground, and Luna released her own blade.
They stared at each other in silence, only the sound of their soft, panting breaths echoing between them.
"Luna... you won," Clorinde whispered.
"I won."
"..."
"Are you frustrated?"
Clorinde shook her head slightly.
Luna smiled softly. "Clorinde, you really did choose to bear the price of your own decision."
"Yes. If my choice is called a sin, I won't deny it. It's forever embedded in my heart, and it will always sting whenever I try to swing my sword, questioning me—Will you truly swing this blade?"
Clorinde lowered her gaze. "I accept the pain it brings. I'll see it as another trial... one whose perfect answer I may never find, even at the end of my life."
She raised her eyes again to meet Luna's.
Her lips parted slightly, releasing a warm breath. Clorinde took a few shaky breaths. "Thank you for making me face this."
Luna leaned down and kissed Clorinde's lips.
"—!?"
Clorinde's eyes widened in shock, completely unprepared for this.
But why...?
Slowly, Clorinde closed her eyes, a sense of peace washing over her entire body. A sweet taste mingled with their scents, and the rise and fall of her chest gradually slowed.
I'm kissing Luna... she thought.
She didn't feel any aversion at all.
In fact, she wanted to stay like this forever. As the thought crossed her mind, a blush crept onto her cheeks. Her hand moved to cup Luna's chin, silently asking her not to pull away.
But Luna still turned her head slightly, creating just enough space to speak.
"You don't have to bear this alone."
Clorinde whispered, "You mean..."
"When you feel sad or hurt, come to me. Unfortunately, I can't remove this 'thorn' of yours."
Perhaps no one could.
"But if you want, my embrace, my lips, my voice... they're all yours to use. You don't have to bear everything alone. If you're dueling against this 'thorn', then—"
Luna gently caressed Clorinde's cheek.
"—why not let me be your 'Champion Duelist'?"
Clorinde gazed into Luna's eyes and finally smiled.
"...Alright."
Luna leaned down again, and Clorinde didn't resist, accepting the warmth of her lips. Her tricorn hat slipped off and fell to the floor.
"May I take off your glove?"
Luna asked, already tugging at it with her teeth.
"My glove? You can, but what are you planning to do?"
Luna leaned close to her ear and whispered a few words.
Clorinde hesitated, then said, "But I... No, I promised."
"Really?"
"After all, I'm your pet now. I must obey my Master."
Clorinde averted her gaze, clearly embarrassed.
If you're so ashamed, you shouldn't have said it so plainly.
But it did make Luna blush—not from shyness, but from... a surge of intense emotion. She pinned Clorinde down and bit off the glove.
"I'll make sure you enjoy this, Clorinde."
Luna kissed her fingertips.
"...Mmm."
Clorinde closed her eyes, a faint smile on her lips.
"I trust you."