TMLLT 06

Chapter 6

I’m ready

“I’m ready.”

The vacant lot behind the academy building was quite spacious, so it was also often used as a training ground.

“Is around two o’clock okay?”

“It’s fine.”

It was fortunate that Royce had the time. Fiddling with his collar, Royce said casually,

“You don’t have to feel too nervous or pressured.”

“I don’t feel pressured.”

“I’m ready anytime, so if you want, we can do it right here. The atmosphere right now is just…”

“Here?”

I looked around. Even if it was a knight academy’s ball, it still didn’t seem suitable for a duel.

“Well, it’s a bit… There are too many people around.”

“Oh, yeah. It’s probably better if it’s just the two of us.”

“And my current clothes aren’t too great either.”

“They’re good enough.”

“I’m not okay with them, though.”

“Oh, I see… Alright.”

It wasn’t a low-activity dress, but it was still uncomfortable for sparring.

“Let’s just do it in two days’ time.”

“Sure.”

The string quartet that had been playing throughout the banquet hall came to an end, and fireworks erupted in the distant sky with a bang.

“Well, then I’ll look forward to that day.”

“I’ll be waiting, too.”

The dark night sky, the pleasant murmurs in the background, and Royce’s beautiful face illuminated, as if by starlight. Looking at that, I couldn’t wait to go back and practice swordsmanship.

* * *

Two days passed, and it was finally the day I decided to have a sparring match with Royce.

When I opened the window, I found the sky to be clear as well. From a distance, the sound of cicadas announced the arrival of midsummer. It was a day that was not too hot, but just right.

I looked at myself in the mirror, having finished getting ready.

‘This should be fine.’

I was wearing a black top and bottom practice suit, the most comfortable outfit I owned. It was something I used to wear when I was preparing for Eudelin’s entrance exam. I achieved good results after practicing in this outfit, so it boosted my confidence.

Then, I tied my hair up high. Since all my hair ties seemed to have disappeared, today, I used the red hair tie Royce had given me.

“Alright.”

Somehow, I had a good feeling about the way my hair was tied up. After thorough preparations, I set off from the count’s house. As I was leaving, my cousin, Glenn Vivi, started to say something, but I was already running late, so I hurriedly left without responding.

As soon as I arrived at Eudelin, I started running.

When I borrowed two wooden swords from the training ground, it was already 2:05.

‘I hope he didn’t leave or something because I kept him waiting for five minutes.’

Hoping that Royce Velkerente wouldn’t be petty about being a bit late, I headed to the courtyard behind the academy. Royce was already there.

The moment I entered the courtyard, his presence under the shade of a tree captivated my attention with his demeanor and aura.

However, his outfit was somewhat unusual.

“…?”

The blue fabric that matched his eyes looked luxurious at a glance. There was even a red sapphire attached to the frill in the middle. Somehow, he was dressed even more formally than the last ball we attended.

‘Why dress like this for a practice session?’

He already had nothing to be desired in terms of swordsmanship, so was he trying to make an even greater impression?

“Senior Royce!”

When I called out to him, Royce, who had been gazing in the other direction with an expressionless face, looked back at me.

“Serdin.”

“Did you wait long? It must have been boring.”

“There was no room for boredom with all this anticipation.”

Royce looked at me with a slightly flushed face and said,

“That’s a nice outfit.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. To the point where I feel embarrassed about my own clothes.”

“I don’t think you need to feel embarrassed.”

“No, it seems like I was being too narrow-minded about my attire for a situation like this…”

It was unclear whether he meant it or not when I looked at his fancy appearance. Rather, I think I might’ve been the one who went with the stereotypical choice for a practice attire. Anyway, the important thing in a match was not the clothes but whether one could win.

Royce looked at me with a languid smile that seemed a little nervous, and said,

“Let’s begin. I’m ready.”

“Okay.”

“You don’t have to be too nervous.”

Ironically, it seemed like Royce was the one more nervous.

“Why are you so tense, Senior?”

“Tense?”

Royce let out a small smile, then mumbled,

“Yeah, I must have been nervous.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re someone who can make me feel that way.”

Did he really think of me as a worthy enough opponent to make him feel that tense? It didn’t feel bad since it felt somewhat validating. Still, Royce was the strongest and most exceptional man I’d ever known.

Smiling back at Royce, I asked,

“Shall we, then?”

* * *

Royce had been there since half past one. Their appointment was at two, but what if Serdin arrived early? Serdin would be quite nervous as it was. It was better for him to arrive first than have her wait for him in tension.

‘How is she going to confess?’

Royce leaned against a tree with his arms crossed. Since Serdin seemed to care about her clothes, he’d also put in a little more effort today.

Serdin, who had been looking for him. Serdin, who said she was going to die because of him… Today was the day she would officially tell him something important.

The look of anticipation in Serdin’s usually indifferent eyes at the end-of-semester party had been incredibly lovely. A smile crept onto his face when he thought of that. Royce was ready to accept whatever words she confessed in.

“Senior Royce!”

While he’d been lost in thought, he heard Serdin’s voice from afar. Royce turned his head with the most nonchalant expression possible.

Serdin appeared in completely different attire than he had imagined. Her jet-black training suit contrasted sharply with her pale red hair, exuding a formidable aura. Serdin looked like a knight going into battle.

At that moment, Royce felt as though something had pointed out his narrow-mindedness.

‘Yeah, these expensive and stylish clothes aren’t everything.’

Royce immediately reflected on himself as Serdin walked up to him confidently.

“Did you wait long? It must have been boring.”

Since her face seemed to be laced with an apologetic look, Royce responded in a relaxed tone,

“There was no room for boredom with all this anticipation.”

Serdin was holding something in her hand: two wooden practice swords.

‘What’s this? Why would she prepare something like that for a confession?’

“Let’s begin. I’m ready.”

“You don’t have to be too nervous.”

Serdin looked up at him with her big eyes and asked,

“Why are you so tense, Senior?”

Tense? Hi?

It was only then that he realized how fast his heart was beating. A chuckle and smile escaped him. It suddenly struck him how he was nervous as well, just as much as she must have been preparing for this moment. And it was only because Serdin was someone who could make him feel that way.

Serdin smiled back at him.

“Shall we, then?”

“Sure.”

With a confident expression, Serdin handed him a practice sword. Hesitantly, Royce accepted the practice sword.

“Let’s make good use of our sword technique.”

“…?”

“Here I go.”

“…?”

With that, she swiftly came at him with the practice sword. Royce reflexively parried Serdin’s sword.

Serdin’s face lit up with excitement as she relentlessly struck his sword with hers.

‘What is this?’

Even as he managed to parry every blow, Royce couldn’t shake off his confusion.

‘Was this a new form of confession?’ While he was thinking this, a crimson energy emanated from Serdin’s sword. The moment Royce’s sword clashed with hers, sparks flew, and flames quickly burst forth. The flames transferred onto Royce’s practice sword.

‘Sword energy?’

Serdin grinned. Like Royce, she was also a swordmaster of her family.

Yes, Royce had heard of it before. In rare cases, someone who wasn’t the direct child of the family’s head could become the sword of the family. But to suddenly use swords during a confession…

‘What on earth is this?’

Royce took a step back in the greatest confusion he’d ever felt in his life. At that moment, Serdin’s sword precisely struck the center of his sword’s balance. The recoil knocked Royce’s sword out of his hand.

The two collided and fell together.

“Wow.”

Serdin cheerfully picked herself up from the ground, rejoicing, while Royce looked up at her, still bewildered.

“I’m glad.”

“… Huh?”

“Thank you for accepting me, Senior.”

“… I haven’t given any answer yet…”

“You already accepted.”

Serdin reached out her hand to him, smiling beautifully. The sunlight shining behind her was incredibly radiant.

“Yes, that’s right.”

Yes, so what if it was a new way to confess? Serdin herself was someone new in his life…

* * *

I reached out my hand to Royce with a big smile, and he took it.

‘I can’t believe I beat Royce Velkerente!’

Sure, I might have caught him off guard with a bit of a surprise attack, and judging by his movements, he didn’t seem to be in his best condition today, but… I still felt really good!

I was truly grateful that he accepted my request for a sparring match. I didn’t hide my laughter, and even though Royce had lost, he smiled graciously.

He was a man who would no longer be a part of my life, but I thought I would still remember this scene from time to time. It wasn’t a bad life experience.

“So, Serdin, what do we do now? How do we start…?”

Royce had a smile on his face, but seemed a bit rambunctious and was rambling a little.

Was the shock of losing so great? Perhaps he was taken aback because he had been a little careless. After all, I was still a first-year, and he was an extremely skilled person.

I comforted him with a laugh.

“Why are you so surprised, Senior?”

“No, no… Do I seem that way?”

He fidgeted with the back of his neck, flashing a shy smile. It seemed he was genuinely embarrassed to lose.