16. Conversation

  I let out a long breath, watching Alex walk away, his figure wilted and pitiful. He was the spitting image of a tragic legend from my old world."

  Karna was a child born from a low caste. Though his life was filled with scorn because of his status, he kept fighting. No matter how many insults pierced him, he endured—he even rivaled the greatness of Arjuna. Yet no matter how desperately Karna shed his sweat and blood, fate never sided with him. In the end, the world blessed only the golden son, Arjuna. And Karna met a tragic end at the hands of the man he had always chased.

  [He truly suffered his worst defeat,] Apollo’s transmission echoed in my head.

  “At least he fought beyond his limits.”

  “You did your best, Alex,” I said quietly as I watched him stagger down the empty corridor.

  I didn’t watch their match from the beginning. Earlier, I had to rush to the auction house to meet Salia and collect the stack of gold coins from the sale of the Survival Knife. I immediately used that money to order various equipment and materials as preparation for the war.

  Still, the final moments of the match were shocking enough. That training-obsessed protagonist had actually reached the second stage of Aura usage. His growth was utterly absurd, even though Alex had struggled desperately to keep up.

  Unfortunately, the short training time we had wasn’t enough to shatter the “wall of fate” surrounding the main character.

  Honestly, it was infuriating how that bastard ruined my plan to secure free assistance from the Duke. I even regretted apologizing to Elaine the other day. It would have felt more satisfying if I had remained the Academy’s resident villain and continued oppressing them—at least that would’ve given me a proper outlet for my frustration.

  A plan that should have proceeded smoothly was destroyed by the sudden appearance of that uninvited bastard, followed by the old bastard—the Duke—who abruptly changed the tournament rules. If civil war ever breaks out and the southern territory collapses, I’ll be the one laughing the loudest, like a villain watching the downfall of his so-called protagonist.

  “B-Brother… I’m sorry. I failed!”

  Alex’s trembling voice shattered my thoughts.

  “Alex, are you disappointed?”

  There was no answer. He simply lowered his head and nodded slowly.

  “No need to worry. I’ve already prepared a backup plan to save our family.” I patted his shoulder firmly. “Even though the most efficient plan vanished because of that black-haired bastard, never forget the bitterness of this defeat. Preserve that feeling so you can become strong enough in the future.”

  I turned and called Darius, ordering him to take Alex back to the inn for treatment. I also instructed the other attendants to pack our belongings immediately; it was time for us to leave this place and return to Lucien territory.

  But just as we were about to step out, a group of knights from the Duke’s residence blocked our path.

  “Young Master Rey Lucien. The Duke requests your immediate audience,” one of them said formally.

  “Tell him I’m indisposed.”

  “Excuse me?” The knight tilted his head, as if doubting his own hearing.

  “Is there a ring in your ears? I said I’m in no condition for an audience. Tell him I’ll deign to meet him tomorrow.”

  “The Duke has ordered that you be brought now—even if force is required.” The knight’s hand moved toward the hilt of his sword, his posture turning aggressive.

  My eyes narrowed sharply. “Draw that sword even once, and I guarantee your head won’t remain where it is.”

  “You—!” Wrath creased the knight’s brow. He was about to fully unsheathe his blade—

  “Enough!”

  A stern voice thundered from behind. A middle-aged man in his forties stepped forward. He wore plate armor far more magnificent and imposing than the others. The Knight Captain.

  “Young Master, with all due respect, please come with us to meet His Grace,” the Captain said politely, though the oppressive aura radiating from him was unmistakable.

  Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

  I wasn’t a fool. I understood the situation well enough. I had stirred enough trouble here already.

  “See? That’s how you ask properly. Not like that ‘thug’ over there who dared threaten me with a sword. I suppose I should file a complaint to the Duke about your subordinate’s unpleasant conduct,” I said sharply. The Captain’s brow twitched slightly, but as a leader, his emotional control was exceptional.

  After parting with Darius and instructing him to take Alex back, I finally arrived before the Duke’s chamber. The servants opened the massive doors in perfect synchronization.

  As usual, Duke Valerius sat upon his throne in full majesty. But this time, he was not alone. Beside him stood a girl with long purple hair as smooth as silk, cascading to her waist—its color matching her sharp violet eyes. Her cold, fierce gaze completed her presence perfectly.

  Selena Valerius, the Duke’s daughter—and the Villainess in Elaine’s route.

  If Elaine embodied warmth, Selena was the embodiment of winter, capable of freezing anyone with a single glance. She was a masterpiece of cold elegance, rivaling—if not eclipsing—Asteria’s beauty. But where Asteria was a gentle breeze, Selena was a localized blizzard. Her presence didn't just command the room; it froze it.

  When I accidentally met her gaze, Selena narrowed her eyes. It was a look filled with piercing judgment. I doubted she needed a sword to stab straight through my heart.

  I quickly averted my eyes and offered a formal bow to the Duke.

  “So, I hear one of my subordinate knights caused trouble for you. Is that correct?”

  The Duke’s question caught me off guard.

  Who would have thought that minor commotion would reach his ears so quickly?

  “Just a small misunderstanding,” I answered briefly.

  “Hmm. I suppose I do need to discipline certain knights who act as they please.” He leaned back. “According to our original agreement, Alex failed to win the tournament. Therefore, I hold no obligation to assist your family. Do you have any complaints?”

  Had this old bastard grown senile? He summoned me here, and now he was asking whether I had complaints about Alex’s loss.

  “No, Your Grace. The defeated are losers, and losers have no right to make excuses,” I replied flatly.

  “Losers don’t make excuses, hm? Interesting.” The Duke smirked faintly and gestured to a servant.

  A wooden chest filled with gold coins was brought forward. There were at least one thousand gold coins inside.

  “Since the tournament rules were changed abruptly, the prize distribution has also been adjusted. First through fourth place are now eligible for rewards,” the Duke declared with authority.

  Previously, only the champion received a prize. Accepting this money eased some of my irritation over his absurd rule change.

  “How generous,” I said, receiving the chest respectfully.

  “So, do you still insist on requesting my assistance for your territory? If you persist, I could offer you a small test.”

  The offer put me on guard. Whatever scheme he had in mind, my instincts told me it was wiser to refuse—for now.

  “No, thank you. Our business in this city is finished. I will be returning to Lucien territory immediately.”

  After the exhausting formal exchange ended, I was finally able to leave the Duke’s residence and head back toward the inn.

  —*

  “Father, why did you lie to him?” Selena asked sharply. She knew very well that from the beginning, there had never been any provision for prizes beyond first place.

  “I always intended to provide that compensation,” the Duke replied, sipping his red wine. “It is the price I must pay for altering the rules so suddenly.”

  He fell silent for a moment, eyes fixed on the door Rey had just exited. “Do you remember what he asked right before leaving?”

  Selena replayed the memory. Just before departing, Rey had paused and delivered a bold rhetorical question.

  “Your Grace, as a highly experienced knight… if Aura usage had remained prohibited according to tradition, in your opinion, who would have stood as the victor?”

  At that time, the Duke’s brow had furrowed deeply. “You ask unnecessary questions,” he had replied, his fingers nearly crushing the crystal glass in his grasp.

  Selena clearly remembered Rey’s gaze—absolute confidence, unwavering. There had even been a faint hint of mockery toward her father’s deliberate obstruction of Alex’s victory.

  As if Rey had already read the entire political chessboard.

  He knew the Duke had intentionally allowed Lucien’s border to remain threatened in order to weaken the Imperial Princess’s faction. If the southeastern territory collapsed, the resulting “Domino Monster” effect would cripple the nobles supporting the Princess in the central region—without the Prince’s faction lifting a finger.

  “Selena, do you think the Lucien family can withstand the monster wave that will strike their borders?” the Duke asked.

  “Considering the selfish neighboring nobles—especially in this lethal winter—mobilizing reinforcements is nearly impossible. Unless the Empire intervenes directly, but that is unlikely given the heated political tensions in the capital,” Selena answered realistically.

  “You’re right. However… I believe they will endure,” the Duke said, leaning back.

  “A miracle like that is impossible, Father.”

  “That boy… he is not as simple as he appears.”

  The Duke recalled Rey’s eyes. Even when his primary plan to secure military aid failed completely, Rey did not look broken. He did not beg. Instead, he appeared as though he had already prepared backup plans from B to Z.

  The Duke let out a long sigh.

  “If I did not have political commitments with the Empire—and if that boy did not carry such repulsive rumors—I might consider betrothing you to him.”

  Selena’s eyes widened in visible displeasure.

  “Hah? What nonsense are you saying, Father?”

  Selena was not the type to be easily swayed by rumors, but she was still a woman with sharp instincts. During the meeting earlier, Rey had briefly glanced at her chest with what she deemed an “A blatant, lingering gaze.” look. Though he had quickly regained professionalism and averted his gaze, she had noticed.

  The irritation nearly made her leap from her seat and slap that bastard’s face. Perhaps Elaine’s rumors were not entirely false—Rey truly was a lecherous scoundrel obsessed with women’s bodies. Yet at the same time, she had to admit he was far from foolish.

  “Enough. My head aches just thinking about it,” Selena muttered. She rose and left the room, followed by her personal attendants.

  “If he looks at me like that again, I swear I really will slap him,” she whispered softly along the silent corridor.