"Just call me Young Wolf," Andras nodded.
"In that case, you may address me as Princess Anabella," the girl smiled.
"Too long," Andras shrugged. "Princess will do."
"Excuse me?" Anabella's eyes widened. "I think I misheard something."
"This here beside me is my personal maid, Noelle," Andras introduced.
"Good day, Princess," Noelle bowed.
"Good day!" Anabella answered, then looked her over curiously. "An elven maid?"
"Half‑elf maid," Noelle corrected, her eyes flashing. "And I can bake bread rolls too."
"I see," the Princess said, a little flustered.
"Are you interested in the qualifier matches as well?" Andras asked.
"I only came to watch the Hero's matches," Anabella replied.
"I hope the Hero doesn't end up against a Wolf Knight in the qualifiers," Andras remarked grimly. "It wouldn't be good if the Hero failed to reach the group stage."
"Hahaha!" the Princess laughed. "I see you're quite the jester."
"We'll see how funny it is when such a duel begins," Andras replied, then bowed respectfully. "But now I'll take my seat. Enjoy yourself, Princess."
"Enjoy yourselves as well," Anabella smiled, her gaze lingering on them long after they had gone.
The Young Wolf sat down in the seat of House Wolfwood, with Noelle taking a smaller chair beside him. Not long after, Christina Silverwood, Captain of the Silver Knights, arrived. She stopped before Andras and greeted them in the warrior's way: not with a handshake, but with a fist bump, as true fighters do. First with Andras, then immediately with Noelle as well.
"Greetings, Young Wolf, Noelle!" Christina said warmly.
"Hello, Christina! You came to watch the matches too?" Andras asked.
"Hello, Christina," Noelle nodded.
"I saw the list of qualifiers," Christina remarked. "Why didn't you enter the tournament?"
"Because this is a knightly tournament, and I am a mage," Andras replied.
"But I so wanted to fight you!" Christina sighed.
"If you can defeat the Hero, then I'll face you. Or whatever you wish," Andras said, his eyes flashing playfully.
"Whatever I wish?" Christina asked with a mischievous smile. "If I defeat the Hero in a duel, will you marry me?"
"And if the Hero defeats you, then I should marry the Hero instead?" Andras shot back, his voice edged with mockery.
From the center of the balcony, the Princess watched all of this closely. Her eyes lingered on the silver armor, the silver sword crest, and the silver‑blonde hair.
Another guest arrives… surely a Silverwood. If I'm right, this must be Christina Silverwood, Captain of the Silver Knights. She went straight to the Young Wolf. A fist bump? Like knights? Even with the half‑elf girl? If I recall, they defeated the Blue Ogre together. So Christina is in the tournament. And the Young Wolf is not. As if you could defeat Eris! Marry her? Do they have a relationship? What—marry Eris? Over my dead body! Anabella thought, her eyes flashing like lightning.
The air in the balcony vibrated: camaraderie, jealousy, and unspoken promises mingled together, as though the true battle of the knightly tournament had already begun—not in the arena, but in the clash of words and gazes.
"Who would you cheer for if the Hero and I dueled?" Christina asked, her eyes flashing playfully.
"I don't know the Hero," Andras replied calmly. "Naturally, I'd cheer for you."
"Thank you, that makes me happy," Christina smiled.
"But if you fight against a Wolf Knight, then I'll cheer against you," Andras added, his tone edged with seriousness.
"Even if it's not Anita or Andrea, but a male Wolf Knight?" Christina asked curiously.
"Well, in that case… maybe not," Andras allowed himself a faint smile.
"Hahaha!" Christina laughed. "I'll go greet that girl, then I'll come back here."
"That girl is the Princess," Andras noted. "You haven't seen her before?"
"She's the Princess? No, I haven't met her yet. I'll go greet her," Christina replied, heading toward Anabella.
The Princess's eyes flashed like lightning as her thoughts churned.
Then I'll cheer for Eris in your place, you stupid Wood‑folk! Yes, I am the Princess… how can you not recognize me?
Christina stopped before her and bowed politely.
"Greetings, Princess!"
"Hello, Christina," Anabella answered, her voice gentle but slightly tense.
"We haven't met before, so allow me to introduce myself formally. My name is Christina Silverwood."
"And mine is Anabella Augusta Riel," the Princess replied.
"Pleasure to meet you. Goodbye!" Christina said briefly, already turning back.
"Goodbye, enjoy yourself!" Anabella answered, though inside she boiled with anger.
What? That's it? Two sentences and I'm dismissed? This Christina is even ruder than the Young Wolf! And now she sits beside him? Your place is with the Silverwoods, not next to him! she thought, her gaze following Christina with jealous intensity.
Christina took a seat beside the Young Wolf on one of the smaller chairs, ignoring the fact that the Silverwoods had their own ornate seat in the balcony. The Princess's eyes flashed like lightning, but she said nothing—only watched the conversation unfold.
"Are the other noble houses not coming to watch the matches?" Andras asked.
"It seems the qualifiers only interest us," Christina replied. "But don't worry, the group stage will likely fill the balcony."
"The Princess is here only because of the Hero," Andras remarked.
"But the Hero is a girl… strange," Christina said.
"Perhaps she knows her well," Andras shrugged.
"Only Noelle accompanied you? Where are the other girls?" Christina asked.
"Anita and Andrea are competing in the qualifiers with the other Wolf Knights," Andras explained. "Ironclaw is guarding my mother, since Xaba and Jula are also in the tournament."
"So Ironclaw is Carla's bodyguard now," Christina nodded. "She's certainly safer with Ironclaw than with a dozen knights."
"I heard they're going to taste one of the city's famous pastries today," Andras noted.
"I would have loved to join Carla for a pastry," Christina sighed, "but the knightly tournament comes first."
"You'll have time after the qualifiers," Andras replied.
"There will be a ball at the royal castle after the qualifiers," Christina smiled. "I even brought my niece—she can't wait to dance with you there."
"I hope you haven't filled her head with nonsense," Andras remarked.
"Oh, I only mentioned what a fine young man you are!" Christina answered playfully.
"How many push‑ups does your niece do in a day?" Andras asked.
"She's never done a single one in her life," Christina laughed. "Hahaha!"
"I do a hundred push‑ups every day, and I can bake bread rolls too!" Noelle cut in proudly.
"I can do a hundred push‑ups myself," Christina replied. "But as for cooking and baking… that's not my specialty."
"The first match is about to begin," Andras pointed toward the arena. "The Hero, Eris Scarlett, starts the qualifiers with her first duel—her opponent is some unknown swordsman."
"In the qualifiers, you have to win three duels in a row to reach the group stage," Christina explained.
"With so many duels, the qualifiers might last two weeks," Andras remarked.
"The spectators won't be bored, that's for sure," Christina answered.
At that moment, roaring cheers erupted in the arena: Eris Scarlett had defeated her opponent in a single lightning‑fast move.
"The Hero crushed her opponent in an instant," Andras said, his eyes narrowing.
"What do you think of her?" Christina asked, her voice a mix of curiosity and challenge.
The Young Wolf's eyes flashed as he invoked his magical sight. The Hero's figure was revealed clearly before him.
So this is the Hero? Her name: Eris Scarlett, fifteen years old, human, female, class: Hero. Two magical elements—fire and light, as expected of a Hero. Scarlet hair neatly braided, blue eyes radiating confidence. A beautiful and strong girl, far more likable than the Princess. And if Uriel chose her as Hero, does that mean she's an even greater prodigy with the sword than Andrea? Andras thought.
"She didn't use her elements, but I can feel she has two," he said aloud. "Fire and light."
"She has two magical elements as well?" Christina gasped. "That means you're no longer the only one in the Kingdom who wields two elements. Just as one would expect from the Hero!"
"The light element was given to her by the Goddess Neptune," Andras replied grimly. "Even so, she must be an exceptional warrior if she was chosen as Hero."
"Now I truly want to fight her!" Christina declared, her eyes gleaming with determination.
Meanwhile, the Princess seethed inwardly.
Did you see that, you Stupidwoods? Eris won her duel in an instant! She's the strongest! What?! You're not even surprised? The Young Wolf could tell her elements just by looking? Even the Royal Archmage, Master Albert, needed the magic orb to determine that. Could the rumors be true—that the Young Wolf is an even greater mage than Albert himself? And now Christina wants to fight Eris even more? Fine, I admit it's good for the Kingdom if the great noble houses have strong warriors too, but against Eris you don't stand a chance! And the three of them are having such fun together, while I sit here alone like a fool. B‑O‑R‑I‑N‑G! Maybe I should sit with them too? Otherwise they'll think I'm some arrogant little brat for not joining the conversation. Very well, I've decided! I'll sit with them. Be honored, Stupidwoods!
In the balcony, the air vibrated: Eris's victory, Christina's resolve, and Andras's calm analysis mingled with the Princess's jealous, wounded thoughts—spinning new threads of intrigue behind the scenes.