I was quickly escorted to the training grounds.

After changing into simple training clothes, the sting on my cheek still burned.

It was the first time Reginald had ever slapped me.

The terms of the duel had already been decided.

The first person to land three clean strikes on their opponent's chest guard would be declared the winner.

Even so, everyone knew the truth.

The odds were overwhelmingly against me.

The door creaked open.

Luna von Arondain stepped inside.

For a brief moment, her blue eyes flickered violet before returning to normal.

“Az…” she whispered, stepping closer. “Why did you accept?”

She gripped the front of my shirt lightly, her hands trembling despite her composed face.

“I understand why you did it. But that doesn’t make it okay.”

Her voice cracked just slightly.

“If you lose… who’s going to wake me up every morning? Who’s going to make my sweet buns and Hildaea tea?”

She looked up at me, eyes glistening faintly beneath the light.

“I don’t want to lose you, Az.”

Something warm and heavy pressed against my chest.

I didn’t fully understand what it was.

But I knew one thing clearly.

I never wanted to see her like this again.

"Can't we ask someone else to fight for us?" she asked quietly.

I gently shook my head.

"This happened because of me."

I forced a small smile.

"I have to take responsibility."

For a moment, silence settled between us.

Then an idea came to me.

"I promised you a snowpear parfait tonight."

A faint flicker of surprise crossed her face.

"Rose already brought the ingredients to the kitchen."

I leaned forward and rested my forehead lightly against hers.

"So I have to come back, don't I?"

For the first time since I entered the room, a small laugh escaped her lips.

"You'd better."

Her voice was soft.

But the relief in her eyes was impossible to miss.

After a few more moments, Luna quietly returned to the royal seating overlooking the training grounds.

As she walked away, I drew in a slow breath.

I was putting on a brave face.

The truth was, I knew defeating Valen was nearly impossible.

But for her, I was willing to try.

I stepped onto the dueling field.

The training grounds were packed.

Knight trainees lined the perimeter.

Nobles filled the elevated stands.

At the center sat King Valerius, with Luna seated beside him.

Reginald stood nearby.

His face was calm and expressionless, but his eyes told another story.

Sadness.

Worry.

Regret.

I understood him well enough to know the truth.

He had struck me not out of anger, but out of desperation.

A final attempt to stop me.

"The mutt has finally arrived to learn his place."

Valen stood at the opposite end of the field, dressed in light armor and carrying the same arrogant smile as before.

I ignored him.

At that moment, a tall figure stepped into the center of the arena.

Commander Kael.

With blond hair and blue eyes much like the King's, Kael was Valerius's elder brother.

Years ago, he had relinquished his claim to the throne after realizing his younger brother was better suited to lead the kingdom.

Instead, he chose the sword over the crown.

Swearing loyalty to the King, he became the Commander of Arondain's Royal Guard.

Among the knights, few names carried more respect.

And today

He would serve as the judge of our duel.

Kael surveyed the crowd before speaking in a powerful voice.

"As Commander of the Royal Knights, I will oversee this duel as referee."

Kael's calm voice echoed across the training grounds.

He looked toward both of us.

"The rules are simple. The first participant to land three clean strikes on the opponent's chest guard will be declared the winner."

Several trainees stepped forward and handed us wooden practice swords.

Valen was also given a shield.

An additional advantage.

As if the gap between us wasn't already wide enough.

The training grounds fell silent.

Thousands of eyes watched from the surrounding stands.

The countdown began.

"Three..."

I tightened my grip on the wooden sword.

"Two..."

Sweat trickled down my forehead.

"One..."

A single drop fell and struck the dirt below.

Commander Kael raised his hand.

For a brief moment, the entire world seemed to hold its breath.

"Begin!"

Valen moved first.

To my surprise, he didn't attack immediately.

Instead, he advanced slowly, almost casually, as though this duel were nothing more than a game.

I tightened my grip on the wooden sword and rushed forward.

Crack!

Our blades collided.

Valen remained firmly on the defensive, his shield raised while his eyes calmly tracked every movement I made.

Every strike I threw felt clumsy.

Predictable.

He read them all with ease.

Then he attacked.

The strike itself was simple.

A downward slash.

But the skill behind it was overwhelming.

I barely managed to block.

The impact jolted through my arms.

My hands went numb.

I stumbled backward, struggling to keep my balance.

Valen lowered his sword.

Then he looked at me.

Not with contempt.

With pity.

For some reason, that felt even worse.

The noble stands erupted.

"Show him his place!"

"Teach the commoner some manners!"

"Put the mutt in the dirt!"

Their voices echoed across the arena.

I glanced toward the royal seating.

Luna sat beside the King, her posture as elegant as ever.

Yet her fingers gripped the stone railing so tightly that thin streaks of blood stained her hands.

Every time I was struck, her body flinched.

Almost imperceptibly.

Yet she never looked away.

Not even once.

"Get up, Az..."

The whisper barely left her lips.

King Valerius noticed the blood on her hands.

The trembling in her shoulders.

But he said nothing.

I charged again.

My attacks lacked any real form.

Valen effortlessly parried every strike.

Then, in a blur, he knocked my sword aside.

Before I could react—

Bam!

His shield slammed into my face.

The world spun.

I crashed into the dirt.

Pain exploded through my skull.

Gasps rippled through the audience.

Valen stood over me.

He had a clear opening.

He could have scored another strike immediately.

Instead, he stepped back.

Waiting.

He wanted me to stand.

He wanted me to suffer.

Blood trickled from my nose as I forced myself back to my feet.

Valen's smile widened.

This time, he didn't hold back.

He rushed forward.

I barely managed to raise my sword.

Thud!

His wooden blade slammed into my chest guard.

"First hit!" Commander Kael called.

Cheers erupted from the noble stands.

Before I could recover, Valen spun.

Crash!

His shield smashed into my shoulder.

A sickening crack echoed through the arena.

White-hot pain shot through my arm.

I dropped to one knee.

In the royal stands, Luna's fingers tightened further around the railing.

Still, she remained seated.

Still composed.

Only the faint trembling of her shoulders betrayed the fear she was trying so desperately to hide.

"Father..."

Her voice was calm.

Too calm.

"Please stop the duel."

King Valerius closed his eyes for a brief moment.

"I cannot."

Another wave of pain tore through my body.

Luna lowered her gaze for only a second before looking back at the arena.

"...Please get up, Az."

Then Commander Kael's voice thundered across the training grounds.

"One hit!"

Luna froze.

Her eyes widened.

Valen staggered backward.

The cheers died instantly.

For a moment, the entire arena fell silent.

Because the strike Kael announced...

Wasn't Valen's.

It was mine.