Ch.116116. The Ball

“A duel? What are you talking about?”

Earlier, he had snapped at Matilda using informal speech when he saw Chloe being insulted, but now he was maintaining his composure. He used formal speech for the sake of minimal dignity, though that didn’t mean his ill feelings toward Matilda had completely disappeared.

How could they? Not only had she failed to offer a proper apology and merely made excuses, but now she was spouting more nonsense that he couldn’t understand. If she would just disappear from his sight, he could at least forget about it cleanly, but what was she thinking, deliberately seeking him out again?

“W-well…”

Matilda hesitated under his cold gaze, unable to continue.

‘Why is he looking at me like that? What did I do wrong? What do I lack compared to that damn woman! She’s a commoner, and I’m a noble. As for looks… looks… even setting that aside, I can give him so much more than she can!’

Their first meeting may have gone poorly, but that was something that could be fixed going forward. If she showed him sincere affection, Rex would surely realize he had misunderstood her. After a moment’s hesitation, Matilda clutched her skirt tightly and exclaimed:

“I’m requesting a proxy duel. Miss Chloe, if you’re a member of the Darmois Club, you should know what that means.”

“No, I don’t.”

“Ah. I’ll explain here.”

Claine pressed down on Rex’s shoulder as he stood up with a click of his tongue. He looked back and forth between Chloe and Matilda before speaking.

“Miss Matilda. Rex and Miss Chloe are visiting the Darmois Club for the first time today. They don’t know the club’s culture. Remember when I said earlier that the Darmois Club is a ball, but not an ordinary one?”

Rex nodded with a disgruntled expression.

“A proxy duel is a unique culture of this place. You could call it a tradition. The point is that the stronger one gets to claim the beautiful partner.”

“…What?”

“Just hear me out. Think about it. This place is full of charming men and women. Unfortunately, not everyone can get the partner they desire. That’s only natural. Being attractive means, in other words, that many people want you.”

Rex couldn’t understand what the connection was between having many beautiful people and dueling, but he silently listened to Claine’s explanation. Claine plucked a grape from a bunch on a tray and continued:

“Just like these grapes. When many people want something but the supply is limited. The proxy duel is a tradition established for those who have been rejected.”

At the mention of rejection, Matilda bit her lip. But she couldn’t deny it. Because it was true.

“If a lady desires a man who already has a partner, she can officially challenge the other lady to a duel. Of course, we can’t have delicate ladies fighting each other and risking scars on their faces—what a disaster that would be. And pulling each other’s hair would be undignified for noble ladies. So instead, they compete through proxies.”

“…Isn’t fighting prohibited within the ball? And so is forcing a partner on someone without their consent.”

“Unauthorized fighting is prohibited, but fighting through mutual agreement is not. And even if you win the proxy duel, if the man refuses, that’s the end of it. There’s no issue.”

It seemed like an utterly absurd tradition. Even if you win the proxy duel, you don’t necessarily get the other person, so why go through all that trouble?

“The skill of a proxy indirectly represents the power of the family. It shows at a glance how high-caliber talent they possess. Also, only ladies can request proxy duels. A lady can challenge another lady or a man, but the reverse is forbidden.”

Claine chuckled as he popped a grape into his mouth.

“That’s why I brought Miss Maya. I hate troublesome matters. No one has challenged me yet, but if someone were to request a duel to accompany me, I planned to use Maya as my proxy to fend them off. It’s no exaggeration to say that Maya’s skills are unmatched below the Brilliance rank.”

“Why is it only possible for women?”

“Isn’t that obvious?”

Claine shrugged as he replied.

“It would be unseemly for men to stand back and watch while sending proxies to fight for a woman. A man should rightfully win a woman by his own efforts.”

‘Isn’t it just as unseemly for women?’

Rex sighed deeply. Is this the world of nobility? He had hoped to experience something he normally couldn’t, and in a way, this was indeed something he’d never experienced before. Just in a completely different direction than he’d expected.

“A-anyway! I’ve requested a duel. Now give me your answer.”

“Miss Matilda. Regardless of the outcome of the proxy duel, I have absolutely no intention of becoming your partner. Stop wasting your energy and go home.”

“…No! I… I like you. Why, why do you dislike me so much?”

“Ha.”

Matilda widened her eyes and turned her head at his scornful laugh. Chloe sneered with a mocking voice:

“You’re pathetic, Miss Matilda.”

“What did you just…!”

Chloe took a deep breath and enunciated each word clearly.

“I. Said. You’re. Pathetic. Don’t you have any pride as a woman? Desperately clinging to someone who doesn’t want you. And he already has a partner. If it were me, I would have died of shame long ago.”

“Chloe.”

“Ah, don’t grab me. Let go.”

Though he hadn’t actually grabbed her, Chloe made a show of shaking off Rex’s arm as she stood up. With dignified steps, she approached Matilda and tilted her head with her arms crossed. Rex watched the two women with anxious eyes, while Claine looked on with anticipation.

“Let’s do it.”

“…What?”

“Let’s have the proxy duel. You seem to think that even though you lost as a woman, you can still win in a duel. I’d like to show you that’s a delusion.”

Chloe smiled sweetly. Her eyes were smiling, but her mouth was not. Matilda’s cheeks trembled. She glared at Chloe with a distorted expression.

“Fine! That’s what I wanted. A match. If I win, I’ll take Rex as my partner. If I lose, I’ll never approach Rex again and disappear from your sight.”

“Agreed.”

“Wait. Chloe, what about my opinion?”

Rex jumped into the conversation with a bewildered expression. Where was the consideration for the person actually involved? He was about to say that, but when his eyes met Chloe’s, his mouth automatically closed.

“Rex. Be quiet, okay? My heart is racing for the first time in a while.”

“…”

Rex shut his mouth with an awkward expression. Claine, who had been chuckling while holding his stomach, wiped the moisture from his eyes and said:

“However, for a duel to be established, you need a proxy. Does Miss Chloe have one? If not, I’ll specially lend you Maya.”

Maya immediately reacted to this shocking declaration with wide eyes.

“What?”

“Miss Maya. Isn’t this turning out to be quite a spectacle?”

“No, but still…”

“I paid Vivienne a suitable amount to hire you. As long as I don’t give unreasonable orders or put you in danger, I have the right to use you as I wish. Isn’t that right?”

“That won’t be necessary.”

Just as Maya was about to nod glumly, Chloe shook her head.

“I’ll participate directly.”

“Oh? So Miss Chloe is a Sanctifier too?”

Claine asked with surprised eyes. The fact that he couldn’t tell meant that Chloe’s level was higher than Claine’s. Mid-level Sanctity. If she was above that…

‘Indeed, she’s a genius too.’

Thinking about it, it made sense. No matter how close she was to Rex, Charlotte wouldn’t keep a girl with no value around.

“My lady.”

“It’s already decided, Owen. Don’t tell me you’re not confident about facing a girl much younger than you?”

“That’s not it, but…”

“Then do as I say! I told you I’d punish you when we return to the family. You’re my knight escort now. Don’t forget your duty. You’re obligated to perfectly carry out what I order.”

Matilda glared at Owen with narrowed eyes. Owen swallowed his frustration and bowed his head.

‘She’s so immature.’

His duty was to protect Matilda in Elysium during the Crown Princess’s coming-of-age ceremony. Not to engage in these petty love quarrels. Why, of all the numerous knights, was he selected? And to escort Matilda, who was notorious for having the worst personality in the Morland County! Well, it was probably because he was the youngest in the knighthood.

“I… understand, my lady…”

Even if it didn’t make sense, as a low-ranking knight, he couldn’t disobey Matilda’s orders.

***

“Aren’t you worried?”

“Not at all.”

“How cold. You know, the opponent is a knight. Matilda is quite ruthless. It’s customary to limit proxies to below Brilliance rank, but she brought an actual knight.”

Claine looked at the wine swirling in his glass before raising his head. After the duel was established, the group immediately went down to the first floor. There was a square cage surrounded by a fence inside the ballroom. It was large enough that there was no concern about stray attacks going outside.

Chloe and Owen were inside it. Already, people had gathered around to watch the proxy duel. Most looked puzzled. On one side was a man who appeared to be in his mid-forties, while Chloe looked to be in her late teens or early twenties.

‘Worried, huh.’

During the brief preparation time, Chloe had changed into clothes that were easy to move in. Beside her were three arming swords laid out. They were shorter than longswords, easy to handle with one hand.

Though it was a duel without killing intent, that didn’t guarantee safety. The blades were sharp, and cuts would cause injury. That’s why they used proxies for these contests. Especially since it was also a place to compete for pride among nobles, things sometimes got more violent than necessary.

‘Not really.’

But Rex wasn’t worried about Chloe. A real knight? What of it? Of course, Chloe hadn’t yet reached Brilliance. In a real battle, Chloe’s chances of defeating Owen would be slim.

That means it’s not impossible.

And this isn’t a real battle—it’s a duel.

For the past three years, just as Chloe had watched Rex, Rex had always watched Chloe from close by.

Rex knew Chloe’s abilities.

In a duel, in a match—

Chloe doesn’t lose.

“I apologize.”

Owen approached Chloe with a gloomy face. Chloe, who had been warming up with swords in both hands, blinked and tilted her head.

“Pardon?”

“It’s not something a knight escort should say, but the lady I serve sometimes has a nasty temper. When she can’t get something she’s decided to have, she throws tantrums for days. Today, I’m sure the lady took a liking to Miss Chloe’s partner. People aren’t possessions to be had just because you want them… but she’s still too immature to realize that.”

Owen spoke in a respectful voice and bowed his head.

“I apologize for the trouble. By way of explanation, as a member of the Morland County, I cannot disobey the lady’s orders. Of course, I will be as gentle as possible with Miss Chloe and will not inflict any wounds. I swear on my honor.”

“Ah, I see.”

Chloe smiled gently and shook her head.

“It’s fine.”

“…Pardon?”

“I’m not weak enough to get beaten up just anywhere. I appreciate your consideration, but please don’t go too easy on me. Otherwise, Miss Matilda might throw another… tantrum.”

It wasn’t just Rex who had grown over the past three years.

Chloe raised her arm.

“Since you’re being considerate, I’ll take the first move.”

A sword leaning against the cage wall floated up.

Bang!

The blade shot out like an arrow, grazing Owen’s side. Owen drew in a sharp breath and shifted his gaze. Just now, the sword by itself… what on earth?

It didn’t cut him. The speed was slow enough that he could have dodged it if he wanted to, but his surprise delayed his reaction. Even so, it didn’t cut him because Chloe deliberately missed. Owen stared at Chloe with astonished eyes.

“Here I come.”

Chloe kicked off the ground with a refreshing smile.