A trickle of blood ran from the corner of Kevin's mouth, but he didn't dare say a word in protest. He simply wiped it away and got back to his feet without a word.
"Are you okay, Kevin?!"
Of course, Aisha was scared.
Even if Reigun Seth wouldn't hit her like he did Kevin, just being caught in the blast of his fury was terrifying enough.
After all, Kevin got beaten because of her. Pretending she hadn't seen anything would be far too cold.
The blade of Royal Knight stood between Reigun Seth and his second punch.
By summoning her Jack's Knight to stop the domestic violence, Aisha successfully redirected the Duke's attention toward herself.
And to everyone's surprise, the girl who always seemed the weakest was the only one who dared step forward against the Duke's wrath.
"Aisha, stay out of this!" Kevin cried out in a panic.
He'd been beaten by his father too many times to count. Reigun Seth's anger was his alone to bear. No one else needed to get involved.
"Aisha... oh, it's you, huh?"
The Duke's gaze fell on the white-haired girl whose Spirit Eyes were aglow.
The National Lion—a man whose gaze was as savage as a beast—locked eyes with her, and Aisha's ahoge trembled in fear.
"I see now. Aisha Carlos. You're the disgrace of the Carlos family, who got lucky and beat Kevin."
"I-I stopped being a disgrace a long time ago." Aisha fought to speak up against the beastly pressure. "I've grown since then!"
"'Grown'... Hmph, hahahahaha!"
Reigun threw his head back in laughter, the booming sound echoing through the exhibition hall, drawing even more attention.
"Only the weak talk about growth. Just like your pathetic Carlos family, which is on the verge of extinction. Listen well: the strong are chosen by fate from the moment they're born. Growth? True strength means being born at the top!"
He wasn't just talking about dueling strength anymore—he was making the divide in status between their families very clear.
Dukes were born at the peak. Families like the fallen Carlos clan would never rise to their level.
"With all due respect, Duke Seth, may I correct your viewpoint?"
A gentle, elegant voice rang out, in stark contrast to Reigun's thunderous tone.
"Who's there?"
"Aisha Carlos's elder sister—Alice Carlos."
Alice stepped out of the crowd and bowed gracefully, performing a textbook noble's greeting.
"Sister Alice?"
Aisha hadn't expected her sister to step out and stand with her.
"Another brat from the Carlos family."
Reigun's scowl deepened.
"You think some little girl has the right to correct me? Don't be so arrogant."
"Forgive me, but isn't arrogance exactly what you're displaying, Your Grace?"
Unshaken by Reigun's oppressive aura, Alice smiled with confidence and composure, earning admiration from all around. How could a girl from a fallen family stay so calm while speaking directly to a Grand Duke?
"Three hundred years ago, Livorden's history was ruled by the royal family, the Nero line. The emperor—remembered in history as a tyrant—sparked a revolution from the oppressed masses. That revolution was led by none other than the progenitor of today's Kaiser family."
"What are you rambling about, white-haired brat?"
Alice's pale green eyes glinted with a mysterious challenge.
"According to historical records, three hundred years ago, the Kaisers were but a minor borderland family with a tiny holding. Yet they defied fate and led the people to topple tyranny. But you, Duke, just said that only those born at the top can ever be strong. Should I take that as an insult to the royal history itself?"
"You..."
Reigun's beard twitched.
Even if the Seths feared no one, declaring open disrespect for the Kaisers—and in public, no less—would have serious consequences.
"Your Grace, do you still insist your view is correct? That those from lesser lineages can never rise?"
With impeccable politeness, Alice defended the honor of the Carlos family and invoked the Kaisers to render the National Lion speechless.
At that moment, everyone saw her smile as unfathomably sharp—hardly the demeanor of a girl from a small-time noble house.
Even Miles couldn't help but admire her. "So that's what Aisha meant by the perfect heir to the Carlos family. Alice really is impressive."
"Damn it... Just a silver-tongued brat. How dare you compare your family to the Kaisers! You're fated to be trash. That won't change."
"Fated to be trash? Then I sincerely recommend, Your Grace, that you learn to respect others—if only to preserve your own dignity. Especially after the Seth family lost to that same 'trash' you speak of. Otherwise, you're only demeaning yourself."
With those final words, Alice gave Aisha a sidelong glance, as if tacitly praising her for winning that duel against the Seths.
"Sharp-tongued little brat. I won't argue further. We'll let strength do the talking. Just wait—tomorrow you'll see a real show."
Kevin's defeat was undeniable. Realizing he couldn't win a verbal spar, Reigun turned to leave.
And the "show" he spoke of, of course, referred to tomorrow's Class Year Team Duel Challenge.
Fusion Academy had already sent him the lineup. Among them was the very girl who had stained the Seth name: Aisha Carlos.
The match order was supposedly randomized.
Regardless, for a Duke, pressuring the school to rig a "performance match" was hardly a challenge.
"Kaima. With me."
"Yes, Father."
Leaving his second son, Kevin, behind, Reigun called for Kaima, his "eldest son."
"Tomorrow, you will crush that Carlos brat. Completely."
"Crush her, huh..."
Truthfully, after watching Aisha's duel with the Arcana Knight and the Sacred Beast, Kaima had come to respect her strength.
To say "crush her completely" sounded both arrogant and disrespectful to any true Duelist.
Nevertheless, the National Lion would never tolerate a vague answer.
"You know better than anyone what it means to lose to the same opponent twice. Kaima, as my proudest son, you must uphold the honor of the Seth family!"
"Understood, Father. I won't bring shame to the family."
His proudest son, huh?
The words sounded like approval, but Kaima couldn't find it in herself to feel happy.
...
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