Succession Round 2, Lord Ransel. (4)

6.

“First, we’ll circle around the continent and head to the Imperial Capital. To look for the Demon King.”

“Demon King, huh? Sounds like a hero’s journey when you put it like that.”

“We might find some clues while we’re searching.”

The Aspiring Swordmaster Merigold.

It was the standard ending, after all.

“And I want to take you to my hometown too…”

Merigold’s territory, burned and gone.

Come to think of it, it was a place he’d never been.

The land imbued with all of Merigold’s memories and grudges.

The territory of a Count’s family that vanished from the map overnight.

“It’ll be a long journey.”

“It’ll be over in the blink of an eye, probably.”

.

.

.

When they returned to the campsite, the game they’d caught was already sizzling over the fire.

“What took you so long?”

Viscount Dante called out to Lancel with a sly grin.

“Just went to wash up a bit.”

“Something worth washing up for, I see.”

“Just hunted a little hard.”

“We all know what you were up to, don’t try to deny it.”

Merigold kept her head bowed.

Clutching the collar of Lancel’s clothes with her hand.

Sitting by the bonfire, Lancel suddenly became curious.

“Mary.”

“Yes, Lancel Dante.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever asked, but what did you do before coming here, living on your own?”

“…Well, let’s just say I was preparing to become someone worthy of you, Lancel Dante… or something like that?”

From Lancel’s perspective, it had been three years, but for Merigold, it was different.

The time it took for her to open her eyes and find him was a full eight years.

Eight years.

It was by no means a short time.

What kind of time was it, spending eight years thinking of only one person? What happened?

Lancel always resented the five years he couldn’t interfere with.

For Merigold, those five years must have been a terribly lonely time. A time when she was thrown into the world without anyone’s help, to live on her own. To survive a time of isolation, a ten-year-old fallen Miss was far too weak.

‘How is a ten-year-old fallen Miss supposed to survive and become an Empress? The game needs to make sense.’

That’s all Lancel could do, inwardly berate the person responsible for all of this.

“It was okay.”

Merigold hugged her knees, gazing at the bonfire as she spoke.

“It was pretty okay, actually. It was hard, but… we ended up meeting like this, after all.”

“…Yeah.”

“Hehe.”

“Get your hand off me.”

“Ehehehe.”

Lancel still couldn’t fathom how she had spent those eight years alone.

‘The time Merigold lived, having lost her family, her home, her friends, and her status, waking up as a ten-year-old… eight years…’

As he pondered the meaning of it all.

“Haaah!”

The vigorous members of the Dante Family were clashing Wooden Swords with each other.

Having eaten some meat, they seemed unable to contain the overflowing calories and male hormones.

“Let’s see your skills after all this time, you bastard!”

“Don’t forget I won last time.”

The arena was quickly filled with the rough breathing of men who had thrown off their shirts, and the groans emanating from the clashing of sticks.

Naturally, Viscount Dante and his eldest and second sons were mixed in with the sweaty men.

“Hahaha! Come at me all at once, you bastards!”

Only Lancel seemed to want to stay far away from the scene.

“Lancel!”

The voice of the second son, Kyle Dante, burst out at that moment.

“I’ll put some bruises on you for old time’s sake. Get up!”

“…”

There was a strange resentment in his tone.

“I didn’t like you flaunting around just because you got a good wife. I’ll engrave some chivalry on you for old time’s sake. A nice, deep blue chivalry.”

“Brother… could it be that Miss Dovh still isn’t seeing you these days?”

“…Why are you suddenly bringing up my fiancée?”

He seemed to have been caught off guard.

“I told you not to be fooled by her face, didn’t I?”

“Shut up!”

Miss Dovh, who was engaged to him, was a woman of outstanding beauty, but she was also a precious Miss known throughout the Empire.

Every time he ran into her, the hairs on his body would stand on end, wondering what his life would have been like if he had been tied to that woman.

Perhaps Miss Iceford, who came from a good family, might have been better in that regard.

“Anyway, get your Wooden Sword and come out here.”

It was hard to back down.

“How annoying, really. Oh dear, oh dear.”

Just as he was about to get up, scratching his head.

“I will.”

Merigold grabbed his shoulder and stood up in his place. She picked up the Wooden Sword that had fallen to the ground.

“May I take your place, Kyle Dante?”

As she said that, she threw off her coat and cloak. Her firm blouse and leather pants were fully revealed.

The well-placed muscles between her smooth curves adequately supported her body.

A quiet cheer flowed from the maids.

“I haven’t sparred in a long time, so I’ve lost my touch… but more than anything! I want to prove that I’m worthy of the Dante Family! Please allow me. Kyle Dante. Viscount Dante.”

Everyone’s gaze was focused on Merigold.

Her eyes sparkled with spirit.

“I’m a member of the Dante Family now, after all!”

7.

Intervening in a duel between knights was not a desirable thing to do.

Merigold’s actions, intervening between Lancel and Kyle, were also not very proper when viewed from a ‘chivalrous sensibility.’

But the reason no one stopped her was probably because everyone felt the same way.

They were curious about Merigold’s skills.

“I’m fine with it. Father, do you allow it?”

“Why are you asking me? It’s your business to handle. My knees are aching, so I’ll just watch.”

When Viscount Dante shrugged, Kyle Dante smiled.

“So he says.”

Sensing the atmosphere, the family members quietly retreated.

Only Merigold and Kyle Dante were left in the center of the open space.

“Just so you know, from the moment you hold a sword, I will treat you as a knight. If you’re thinking of asking for mercy, step down now. If you’re still okay with it, I’ll gladly accept the duel.”

“Yes! That’s what I want.”

“Alright. Then let’s see your skills.”

In the minds of the onlookers, the outcome had already been decided.

Kyle.

The second son of the Dante Family, who, despite appearances, was a knight who had already been recognized for his skills, having experienced minor battles in the frontier.

Right now, there was no knight order he couldn’t enter if he wanted to. Except for the Imperial Knights.

In comparison, Merigold was just a young female knight who had just come of age at eighteen.

There was no point in arguing about who would win when the two of them fought. No bets were even made.

This was truly a match between an adult and a child…

Clang!

“Huh?”

And with the first clash, the Wooden Sword flew into the air.

The Wooden Sword, spinning and twirling, plunged into a field.

It was Kyle Dante, not Merigold, who had empty hands.

“…?”

Questions arose in the minds of the onlookers.

“He, he lost? Young Master Kyle?”

“There’s, there’s no way… huh?”

It happened so suddenly that no one reacted.

Merigold seemed to move her foot, and in an instant, she dislodged her opponent’s hilt. That was all.

Kyle Dante could only stare at his empty hands without any resistance.

“You fool. You were caught off guard because you weren’t paying attention. I told you not to underestimate your opponent so much.”

Viscount Dante clicked his tongue.

“Ahem.”

Kyle Dante picked up the fallen Wooden Sword with a flushed face.

“I, I made a mistake, Mary. I’ll ask you again. I didn’t even say we were starting yet, did I?”

How pathetic, Kyle Dante.

Lancel could only smile bitterly as he listened to the petty demands of his own flesh and blood.

“Are you okay with it?”

No one objected to Kyle’s words.

In fact, there were still few people who understood what had happened.

It was true that it only looked like he had made a mistake because he was too careless.

“Tsk tsk.”

Only Viscount Dante and Rio Dante, who were glaring at Kyle with dissatisfied faces, recognized it. The victory or defeat of Merigold and Kyle Dante. The difference in skill.

“I understand! I’ll ask you again!”

With the permission of the person involved, the two faced off again.

This time, Kyle Dante was also fully focused. He still believed that the reason he had lost was because he was careless.

“Hoo.”

Kyle Dante slowly calmed his breathing.

His body, which had been calculating the distance between himself and Merigold as she narrowed the gap step by step, moved like lightning in an instant.

“Now!”

The Wooden Sword soared through the air.

He intended to strike Merigold in one go, without giving her a chance to react.

Just before the blade, which had closed the distance of several meters, was about to plunge into her neck.

‘…!’

Merigold’s figure wavered and then disappeared like a phantom.

“Hup!”

Kyle Dante belatedly discovered her figure, which had cleverly turned to the outside of his body.

Clang-!

With a crisp sound, the blade bounced off again.

“…This…!”

The Wooden Sword flew again towards Kyle Dante’s defenseless body.

“Ugh!”

He hurriedly bent his upper body backwards, but it was already too late.

The Wooden Sword stopped right in front of his neck.

“…”

“…”

It was silent without a single breath.

“Thank you for the match, Kyle Dante.”

Only Merigold’s bright voice echoed quietly.

8.

“She dueled for her fiancé’s sake…”

“And she even won…”

Merigold looked around at everyone’s dumbfounded gazes, looking slightly embarrassed.

Viscount Dante opened his mouth to her, who had tied up her hair, which wasn’t even sweaty.

“Excellent, Mary Mary. I’m proud to have you in our family.”

“Thank you, Father!”

Merigold’s expression brightened.

“I knew from the first time I saw her that our Mary wasn’t ordinary. What are you doing, Kyle? Accept your defeat and pay your respects.”

“Yes, Father.”

Kyle Dante, who had slumped down, got up with a bitter face.

“It’s my defeat.”

Kyle Dante quietly retreated.

“Miss Mary, may I ask who you learned your swordsmanship from?”

It was the eldest son, Rio Dante, who asked the question.

Mary hesitated for a moment and looked at Lancel.

“I learned from a local teacher on my own, and then from my Master…”

“Master?”

It was a nostalgic title.

Master. The word The Aspiring Swordmaster Merigold used to call him.

The image of Merigold from those days when they lived together on the battlefield briefly flashed through his mind.

Even the words Merigold, who was working as a waitress, had said when she first came to him.

“Please teach me a move, Lancel Dante!”

Merigold from those days, asking him for a duel with bold eyes.

“Huh?”

“Please teach me a move!”

Merigold’s hot gaze met Lancel’s.

“Miss Mary… to Young Master Lancel?”

“She fought for her fiancé…?”

“Is this a lovers’ quarrel?”

In the midst of the bewildered crowd, only Merigold was flashing her eyes.