episode_0103

“This. It’s a little different from before.”

Diego opened his eyes wide. Continue. When I wash it again, it is thicker than before but softer.

“It’s called a smoothie. It’s delicious, right?”

surely. Although it is a little sweeter than the previous drink, the refreshing feeling spreads throughout your body.

“Very much.”

“Cheer up, knight.”

Because of that, I had a drink until the match started. Conditions were excellent.

Diego, having won again, returned to the waiting room.

“Congratulations to the driver.”

The blue-haired girl had been taking care of Diego by his side like a servant ever since he reached the quarterfinals.

“I’m so sorry if this happens…”

“Hehe. If you’re sorry, you can stop by our store next time.”

The girl said that and stood on her tiptoes. When I was still able to reach him, I placed one hand on Diego’s shoulder and wiped away his sweat.

“Is that all you need?”

No matter how expensive the store was, Diego decided to stop by at least once.

For Diego, who had to achieve success in this competition for the sake of his younger siblings, this drink and the girl were like benefactors.

“Perhaps. Can you tell me your name?”

“Oh my. Driver, are you hunting me now?”

“Oh, no.”

“Hehe. just joke. My name is Miu.”

Swordsmanship competition. At the same time, it was an opportunity for the nameless knights. It was also an opportunity for wealthy nobles to recruit young and promising knights.

And at this moment. The people closest to that opportunity were the employees who were by their side, not anyone else.

“By the way, what is the mark drawn on this cup?”

The cup that Diego pointed to had a logo that resembled a winking strawberry.

“Ah. That’s our girl’s work, isn’t it cute?”

* * *

Good response.

‘Are we already in the semifinals?’

The drivers, sweating from intense exercise, were drinking smoothies and lemonade like water.

The drink that the knights they support drink.

This is a complete advertising tower.

“What are the drinks the drivers are drinking from earlier?”

“Hmm. Looking at the logo, isn’t this a smoothie sold at Merryland? ah. Here he comes.”

The young lady stretched out her hand. At that moment, employees wearing neat uniforms were dragging trays around.

“Hey, please give me set A.”

“I have the same thing.”

As it is a business trip business, the corners of my mouth turn up when I see nobles flexing without hesitation even though the price is higher than usual.

As the weather is hot, beverage sales are no joke.

‘Still, it’s a bit strange…?’

Should I ask them to investigate?

After a short intermission, the semifinals began.

“Who is the author?”

“You still look young.”

“To be ranked among the best 4 under such poor conditions, the famous knights will be looking to scout that knight in the future.”

“Still, it looks like there is an attendant.”

“Probably not? That uniform is the uniform of Cafe Mary Jane.”

Even though his armor is shabby, he is a knight who is in the top 4 and thus attracts the attention of nobles.

It was the smoothie driver who appeared for the first time, gulping down his drink.

“Large.”

Is this a slightly rude nickname?

Anyway, from what I could see, Miu was taking good care of me by my side.

It seems like there are nobles who are finally preparing to scout knights.

It’s already too late.

‘ah. ‘Like that.’

The smoothie driver’s popularity has also increased considerably, but once again, shouts are heard telling him to leave the store.

As it happens, the smoothie driver’s partner is Cecilia.

* * *

The match was decided in an instant.

As expected, Claude did something really wrong.

As a matter of courtesy, Cecilia took a few attacks from the smoothie driver and immediately struck down her sword.

“Wow. Count Cecil is truly on a different level.”

“Sure. But Count Cecil didn’t even graduate from the Department of Swordsmanship, right?”

“Yes. You are currently enrolled in the general department.”

The semifinals were concluded so quickly that the third place match will be held immediately, and the finals will be held after a short break.

For reference, third place was the smoothie driver.

What did you say her name was… Vergo… Berta…?

In my mind, I call it the smoothie driver… but it’s such a strong image that I can’t remember.

‘What happened?’

Despite the enthusiastic cheers, Ian Ripleton appears on stage with a stern look on his face. Does it look like he just knew he couldn’t win?

‘I gave up even before it started.’

The results were enough to overshadow the excitement of the finals. It collapsed in vain under Cecilia’s attack.

‘That’s called 1 sum.’

Looking at it like that, the smoothie driver looks amazing.

The audience was as quiet as a mouse. But soon huge cheers rang out.

“Count Cecil!”

“Congratulations on winning!!”

Honestly, I was very happy too.

Even though there was a betting limit, I made quite a lot of money by maxing out the bet.

Maybe it’s because it’s my first time gambling.

‘It’s natural to be happy because you won money, right?’

I bet because I vaguely thought Cecilia would win, but in the original, Claude Cabal was runner-up and Ian Rippleton won. But it was already different from the beginning. The crown prince, who was fiercely jealous of the two who were honoring Yuri, was not present.

But I’m not saying this is my article. Wouldn’t Claude have won even if Cecilia hadn’t participated?

I was seriously thinking about what would happen in the future. With a soft voice. I heard my name on the awards ceremony podium.

“I dedicate the honor of today’s victory to my Lady Marianne.”

Cecilia lightly waved the handkerchief she had given me.

“Wow!”

The audience cheered enthusiastically.

And then they all turn their heads towards me as if they were planning something.

‘…It’s not entirely unexpected, though.’

When I actually experienced it, it was quite embarrassing.

Giving the glory of winning to Lady.

As much as I’ve already suffered from Claude. Well, it was kimchi soup.

“That handkerchief must be Marian’s favorite, but that fox somewhere…”

Maria muttered something bloody, but I didn’t have the presence of mind to care about that right now.

Here, I have one of two options.

Just sitting still.

And judging by Cecilia’s expression, it was the latter that she wanted.

‘Yes, I said I would do you a favor. Just one handkerchief is a bit much.’

The worries didn’t last long.

“I’ll be back shortly.”

As if they had expected it, people cleared the way and I was able to head straight to Cecilia’s side.

* * *

The carriage ride back home was as quiet as death.

Just now.

In short, I received the knight’s oath from Cecilia, who knelt at the awards ceremony.

“Marian. Thank you for coming out.”

As soon as she said those words, Cecilia knelt down and placed her hand on her left chest.

‘Thank you…’

Originally, it was a knight’s oath given to the knight who won the swordsmanship contest. This was something that money couldn’t buy.

I took a breath and opened my mouth.

“Are you really okay?”

No matter how fake the identity is, this is truly for the Lady who will serve her for the rest of her life. I pursed my lips. Even though I thought about it. What if Cecilia had done this to someone other than me?

I don’t know.

I’m not sure.

It was unpleasant.

Cecilia held my hand. one word. Her eyes looked earnest as she looked up at me.

“Marian, I like you more than you can imagine, I want to be by your side, I want to be with you. As time goes by and the more you smile, the more I smile, the worse this feeling becomes. But every time you say something like this that makes me doubt my feelings, I don’t know if it’s okay. I’d like to express it a little more, but that’s because you’re not yet…no. i’ll wait. I can wait…”

My eyes swayed like a ship caught in a storm as the words were stuck in my head, one by one.

“Cecilia. I…”

There were huge cheers at the end of Cecilia kissing the back of my hand. I was dragged as if being bossed around by Maria and Dad who appeared soon after.

I couldn’t say that the atmosphere between Maria and Dad was good, even with empty words. He kept his mouth shut as if he wasn’t planning on saying something to me.

Perhaps because of the aftermath, my heart, which had been pounding just a moment ago, suddenly cooled down.

‘What do I want to do?’

As I comfortably close my eyes in the limousine-like ride, the content of the original comes to mind.

Ian Rippleton’s thoughts on winning the championship caused a huge stir.

“I dedicate the honor of winning to Lady Yuri West, a saint who spares no effort in caring for patients at the medical center. Also, I will dedicate my sword to you until the end of my life.”

It could be said to be a passionate confession of love, or a knight’s oath to stay by his side for the rest of his life even if love does not come true.

It was the moment when the protagonist of the swordsmanship competition changed from Ian to Yuri.

If you think about it, Ian in the original must have been really single-minded about Yuri, but despite that, he wasn’t chosen.

But I feel like I’m attracting too much attention without really intending to.

‘I really don’t need this much attention.’

*

“Miss, how is the water temperature?”

When I was lost in thought, Elaine’s voice suddenly brought me to my senses.

“Just right.”

“Yes, lady.”

Elaine smiles prettily. It had been quite a while since she washed me. She chattered as if she was in a good mood.

It would be okay to hire a maid to take care of the bath, but when I heard that the person in charge of bathing was chosen through fierce competition, I was absurd, but they said they liked them, and I also liked the maids who took care of me since I was a child rather than the maids I didn’t know very well.

‘I thought it changed randomly for some reason.’

When I was in such a dreamy mood, I suddenly heard Emilia’s pretty voice.

“Lady. Are you interested in marriage?”

“…marriage?”

However, the topic was beyond my expectations.

“Yes.”

uh. What does this suddenly mean? It’s marriage. I know that it is quite possible for a girl to get married as early as around fifteen.

“I have no idea?”

“Right?”

Emilia nodded with a look that said yes. Still, he massaged my delicate body carefully.

“Ugh.”

I think I just asked without thinking much.

I exhaled hot breath at the pleasant sensation and closed my eyes so I didn’t know.

The maids were moving as if they were spies, following Emilia’s gestures.

The Duke and Maria were waiting in front of Marian’s visit.

“…What happened?”

the duke asked nervously. I was so desperate that I was stamping my feet.

The maid swallowed her saliva and raised her head.

“…The lady says she is not interested in things like marriage.”

Maria called her maids.

“Even when Cecil comes, he says Marian is not there. Entering late at night is absolutely prohibited.”

– And.