Ch.20A Single Flower (4)

Is this my imagination?

It might be my delusion.

I secured the lance under my armpit and aimed forward.

“…Brother?”

Asena and Kirsy looked at me with puzzled expressions.

I counted silently.

1…2…3…4…5…

Soon the lance grew heavy, its tip drooping downward.

But I could be certain.

The lance was shorter and lighter.

There was a difference from my usual record of only being able to hold it for 3 seconds.

An ordinary knight might not have noticed, but I, who practiced with it daily, was sensitive to even subtle differences.

I looked at Asena. She was watching me with a stiff expression.

Normally I would have thought it was just her mistake, but after overhearing her gossip, it felt different.

Asena rarely made mistakes with important things.

Was it intentional? Or was it my paranoia? Personally, it felt very deliberate.

“Asena, this seems a bit short, doesn’t it?”

I asked.

And I saw it.

She didn’t look surprised like someone who heard something unexpected, but instead swallowed first like someone caught doing something wrong.

Her rigid expression cracked, colored not with confusion but with dismay.

Her eyes lost focus, darting around as if thinking of an excuse.

I thought to myself.

Ah, this was intentional.

Having known Asena since childhood, I could tell this much.

It was a fact that came to me with a quiet shock.

“…Short?”

She asked cautiously.

“…Yes. This puts me at a disadvantage, doesn’t it?”

“Ah… well… then, since there are competition lances prepared, let’s discard this one and use those.”

She tried to salvage the situation, even stumbling over her words nervously. I could tell she hadn’t wanted me to discover this.

At least she was concerned about my reaction.

The Asena I’d read about in the book was defiant when caught doing something wrong.

“I’m sorry, brother… I must have made a mistake.”

She still wouldn’t look at me, only staring at the lance she had made. She too must know that if this was intentional, it wasn’t something to be taken lightly.

“…..”

Why was she doing this to me?

Why.

I’m curious about the reason.

She spoke ill of me, told me not to participate in the jousting tournament, and now she even tampered with my weapon.

Am I embarrassing to her?

A few days ago, I asked her if she wanted me to live like a dead mouse.

She said that wasn’t it, but her actions said exactly that.

Honestly, I’m starting to get angry.

Am I some stain on the Praester family that needs to be hidden?

Why are you ashamed of me? Everyone else might be, but you shouldn’t be. I raised you. I was the pillar you could lean on when things were hard. I filled the void left by our parents.

How little must you think of me? How much must you disrespect me?

Belittling me as incompetent in front of others, promising to banish me…

Despite my efforts and the memories we built, there’s no sign of trust in me.

“….Huff!”

I release my frustration mixed with a sigh.

Right, my duties won’t change anyway. This is actually good. I recall the three goals I set for myself.

I gripped the lance tightly.

A knight cuts through adversity with their weapon.

I’ll show them.

That I belong in the Praester family more than anyone.

“No, I’ll use it as is.”

Kirsy, who had been watching the whole situation, muttered.

“But you said it’s disadvantageous… what if you get hurt?”

That’s exactly why it’s meaningful.

I think to myself.

Only by overcoming disadvantages will you stop looking down on me.

“Don’t worry. Asena, do you remember our promise?”

“…Yes…?”

She asks absentmindedly, not even fully aware.

She must be embarrassed that her tampering was discovered.

“The promise, do you remember?”

“Which promise…?”

“I asked you to cheer for me, didn’t I?”

“…..”

“…Watch me closely.”

She nodded stiffly. Her eyes still couldn’t meet mine.

****

After the twins left, I mounted Rush and put on my helmet.

Rush, carrying me for the first time in full heavy armor, fidgeted as if not yet accustomed to this weight.

“It’s okay.”

I rode Rush around inside the tent.

The musty smell of dust and the metallic scent of armor entered my nostrils.

Suddenly, a scruffy-looking boy poked his head through the tent entrance.

“Are you ready?”

He asked.

“Yes.”

“The tournament will begin soon! Please finish your final preparations and come out when you hear the call!”

“Got it.”

The boy finished speaking and hurried off toward the next tent.

There was nothing more for me to prepare. I just needed to focus on not being shaken by the Asena incident.

I don’t want to just take it anymore, and I especially don’t want to be disrespected by the twins. So I’ll show them. Instead of complaining, I’ll prove that I am a Praester.

They’ve only seen me train, but this will be the first time they see me in actual combat.

‘Next! The Praester family!’

As the tournament manager introduced me, jeers erupted from the crowd. I couldn’t help but smile wryly at the passionate booing.

..Was it this bad?

A group with hostility is no different from a single enemy. For the first time, I confirm the voice of the enemy that I must suppress and dominate.

Perhaps being a Praester might help in this regard. After all, we’re the villain family in the novel. Many nobles probably view our family with uncomfortable gazes.

That’s even better.

The greater the enemy you defeat, the greater you appear. The moment I overturn my reputation through my own strength, every student at the Academy will have to acknowledge me.

Then, the twins will have no choice but to acknowledge me too.

‘Caden Praester!’

“Hyah!”

I rode Rush out of the tent.

Like a curtain being lifted, the jeers became more vivid.

I straightened my chest proudly to face those sounds.

I looked around at the spectators, searching for Asena and Kirsy.

Is this what you wanted? I didn’t expect anything in return… but was this the result of my efforts?

At that moment, a woman caught my eye.

“…..”

Yes. Though I had prepared for the twins… I’ll change my mind.

Grandmother Riana’s words came to mind.

‘If there’s a girl you like… try to win her over.’

****

One by one.

Every knight who faced Caden was utterly defeated.

No one could match him.

No one lasted more than a single round.

Whether it was the heir of a famous knight family, a man with an intimidating physique, or a seemingly invincible knight.

Anyone who clashed with Caden was guaranteed to fall from their horse. It was overwhelming.

His unity with his horse made him look like a massive beast, causing even those who had jeered at first to swallow their fear and close their mouths. They were seeing with their own eyes the man they had only heard rumors about and cursed—Caden Praester.

Now there were even people cheering for him.

The adopted child abandoned by the Praester family.

He responded to all jeers and criticism with complete indifference, then proved himself by trampling everyone with his skill. People couldn’t help but feel a quiet swell of emotion, seeing how hard he must have worked.

But Asena’s heart was far from calm.

Every time she looked at him, her heart twisted and squeezed so painfully it hurt.

Her breath stopped every time Caden snapped the reins and fearlessly charged at his opponent.

He was unbelievably handsome, and the urge to want him grew stronger than ever before. As if under a spell, she could see nothing but him.

Nothing else made her heart race like this.

It was his wild yet manly appearance that she had never seen before.

He was already perfect, but now with his martial prowess added, it felt like he was squeezing Asena’s heart tight.

She thought to herself.

If only brother were mine. Then I wouldn’t need to suppress these impulses. I could lead him to my room after this is over, embrace him, and kiss him.

She could only regret not being able to do so. She was anxious with desire for him.

She was confused.

At first, she had hoped he would fall quickly from his horse. She wanted him to be eliminated quickly so he wouldn’t show his face in front of the Academy students.

But seeing him fight in person, she couldn’t feel that way anymore.

Her palms were sweaty, and her legs fidgeted.

Every time he defeated an opponent who seemed unbeatable, she gripped the hem of her dress tightly.

If anyone saw Asena now, they would think she was ill.

Her cheeks were flushed redder than ever before, and she kept exhaling heated breaths.

The only reason this wasn’t noticed was because of Caden.

Everyone was so captivated by his overwhelming presence and radiance that they couldn’t think to look elsewhere.

‘…He really is skilled…’

‘…I stayed quiet even when everyone was criticizing him.’

‘…Wow… he is handsome. That’s a real man.’

‘My heart is pounding…’

Though irritating comments reached her ears, Asena was already struggling to control herself.

To add to this, Caden, as if desperate to torment her, looked in Asena’s direction every time he knocked an opponent off their horse. His expression was hidden by his helmet.

But every time his head turned toward her, Asena felt her heart drop.

It was as if he was asking for her cheers as promised.

Each time, Asena would slightly raise her hand from her knee and wave it. She continued her private cheering, making sure no one else could see. She had to suppress the urge to shout his name.

And then the final moment arrived.

The tournament manager shouted with a voice pulled from deep within:

“The final match!”

There were no jeers to be found.

Everyone was cheering for both knights.

The cheers for Caden were overwhelmingly more numerous.

Everyone held a sense of reverence for the knight who had turned jeers into cheers.

The manager introduced the knights.

“The lady knight on the white horse! Judy Ice of the Ducal House of Ice!”

Cheers erupted.

As the enthusiastic cheers gradually subsided, the manager’s gaze turned to Caden.

“Invincible! No one has withstood this knight. Caden Praester of the Ducal House of Praester!”

Everyone sent out a thunderous cheer.

It was enough to shake the ground.

They seemed to have forgotten that he was the adopted child of the Praester family they had been cursing.

Caden tilted his head on horseback, stretching his neck.

Asena was stimulated by the sound of noble ladies clutching their chests and moaning.

Looking around, Asena’s eyes met with Kirsy’s, who was sitting some distance away. Kirsy also seemed displeased with the situation.

“Begin!”

At that moment, the match started.

Caden’s horse Rush neighed loudly and suddenly raised its legs. Everyone gasped and laughed at the picturesque, magnificent sight.

Immediately after, Rush shot forward.

Caden, mounted on top, gripped the lance that Asena herself had prepared and leaned his body forward.

The match was decided in an instant.

-Crash!

The two riders passed each other with the wooden divider between them.

As expected, Caden did not fall.

Judy Ice fell from her horse and flew through the air.

As everyone drew in a sharp breath, she hit the ground, and the champion of the tournament was decided.

-Wooooah!!

-The Praester is different!

Caden raised his lance and looked at his fallen opponent.

Once again, he did not approach the loser.

Like Asena, he sat proudly on his horse, waiting for the loser to leave. Even this was an action that stimulated women’s hearts.

He appeared like a noble knight.

Not reacting to any provocation, not showing any emotion—he was literally like a knight.

Asena unconsciously bit her lip slightly as she watched him. She wanted him so badly.

At the same time, she felt a sense of superiority without realizing it. Other noble ladies were pining for him.

Though it wasn’t a behavior she liked… Asena knew they couldn’t help it. Caden was that handsome.

And that Caden cherished her.

The brother who had become the protagonist of this tournament loved and cared for her the most. The man who was so firm in front of others would smile, joke, and adore her.

That fact also made her happy.

The loser, Judy, staggered to her feet, mounted her horse, and left.

And at that moment, the tournament manager announced the winner.

“The champion is Caden Praester!!”

Everyone gave an enthusiastic cheer.

In the end, Asena also clapped softly.

Though the plan hadn’t unfolded as she thought, she still felt an undeniable happiness at Caden’s success.

“Caden! Come to the platform!”

Lord Hoslow, who had already climbed onto the central platform, called to him.

Asena could no longer look at him.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

Her heart ached. She needed time to catch her breath.

Still, gathering her courage, Asena looked up at him. This brilliant moment was too precious to miss.

And their eyes met.

“…Huh?”

Ignoring Lord Hoslow who had called him to the platform, Caden was looking at her. Though his expression was hidden by his helmet, it was clear he was looking in her direction.

Then suddenly, he rummaged through his saddle pouch.

And what he pulled out.

A single flower.

She could tell that what he had been growing in the garden had finally bloomed.

The fact that the flower from his saddle pouch was intact showed just how overwhelmingly dominant his performance had been.

Asena swallowed.

It was impossible to maintain a composed expression, no matter how hard she tried.

He slowly rode his horse toward her.

No one made a sound.

-Clop. Clop.

In this tournament watched by hundreds, it was so quiet that the sound of Rush’s hooves echoed.

“…..Haa…….Haa…..”

Careful not to let those around her hear her trembling breaths, she raised her eyes and waited for him.

She had never felt so nervous in her life.

He was coming straight to her, not to Kirsy.

She knew this moment would be of great help to her.

With the Student Council members questioning her relationship with Caden, this event would become another symbolic moment.

If she were to announce a wedding after graduation, everyone would be surprised, but they would nod in understanding, recalling this incident.

Caden had now approached in front of Asena.

Asena carefully raised her trembling hand.

Caden was also extending the flower.

An overwhelming joy filled Asena’s chest.

-Swoosh.

Until he passed by her.

“…?”

Asena looked in disbelief at her hand, which the petals had brushed past.

His shadow passed by her, and the bright sunlight blinded her eyes.

And at that moment, as she couldn’t see in front of her, Caden’s voice echoed in her ear.

“To the most beautiful lady.”

It wasn’t meant for her.

Asena shielded her eyes from the sunlight with her hand.

A single flower was leaving his hand. Slowly floating through the air, it fell onto a woman’s lap.

A woman sitting with the Student Council.

The one who received the flower was… Daisy Hexter.

“……Huh?”

Asena couldn’t believe what was happening before her eyes.