Chapter 18 The Unexpected Champion

Gavin politely saluted Willas and said, "Nice to meet you, Lord Willas. My name is Gavin Flowers."

Willas smiled warmly and responded, "I've heard Edmond speak of you before. I didn't expect you to be so skilled in swordsmanship at such a young age."

The three of them walked into the banquet together.

At the banquet, Gavin and Willas were seated next to each other. Initially, Willas spoke to Gavin out of politeness, but as their conversation deepened, the two became engrossed in their discussion. Willas was surprised to discover that, despite his youth, Gavin spoke with maturity and insight.

Whether it was analyzing the current political landscape or understanding human nature, Gavin's words carried wisdom and unique perspectives.

When the topic shifted to territorial development, Gavin's proposals were both pragmatic and visionary, showcasing an exceptional ability to balance practical needs with long-term planning.

Willas watched Gavin with growing admiration. The clarity of Gavin's thoughts and the confidence in his delivery were captivating. Each point he made was well-structured and logical, creating an almost magnetic pull that drew Willas deeper into the conversation.

"This young man is truly a rare talent," Willas thought to himself. "If he could be brought into the Tyrell family's fold, he would be a great asset. It's a shame he's a bastard." Willas began to think of ways to persuade Edmond to let him take Gavin under his wing.

As the banquet concluded, Willas extended an invitation to Edmond and Gavin:

"After the archery and group competitions, Highgarden will host a banquet to celebrate my sister's thirteenth name day. Edmond, be sure to bring Gavin along."

Edmond smiled and agreed.

Later, in the quiet of his spacious tent, Gavin was carefully inspecting and polishing his equipment. Sir Edmond had prepared a fine, well-crafted bow for him to use in the competitions.

Just then, Tommen lifted the tent flap and entered quietly. "Captain, I've got the information," he said.

Gavin looked up from his work. "What do you mean?"

"The odds of you winning the archery competition are 1 to 10. For the group competition, the odds are also 1 to 10, but if you emerge as the sole winner, the odds jump to 1 to 20," Tommen explained in a single breath, his expression a mix of astonishment at the high odds and concern about Gavin's chances.

Before Gavin could respond, Tommen continued anxiously:

"Captain, are you really planning to bet everything?"

Without hesitation, Gavin replied: "Bet."

Tommen frowned, his face tight with worry. "But, Captain, the risk is too great. If something goes wrong—"

Gavin interrupted firmly: "There is no 'if.' Risk and opportunity go hand in hand, and I trust in my abilities."

Seeing Gavin's resolute expression, Tommen sighed and nodded. "Alright, Captain. We'll trust you. The brothers will pool all their savings to support you."

Gavin clapped Tommen on the shoulder reassuringly. "Don't worry. I won't let you down."

Tommen nodded and left to arrange the bets. Gavin returned to his preparations, his face calm but determined. He had resolved to risk everything for his family's honor and his own ambitions.

Edmond had already given Gavin 1,000 gold dragons as a reward for representing the family, and Gavin had decided to bet it all on himself.

On the day of the archery competition, the sun bathed the tournament grounds outside Highgarden in a warm, golden glow. A towering stand was erected for the noble spectators, who sat dressed in resplendent

Gavin politely saluted Willas and said, "Nice to meet you, Lord Willas. My name is Gavin Flowers."

Willas smiled warmly and responded, "I've heard Edmund speak of you before. I didn't expect you to be so skilled in swordsmanship at such a young age."

The three of them walked into the banquet together.

At the banquet, Gavin and Willas were seated next to each other. Initially, Willas spoke to Gavin out of politeness, but as their conversation deepened, the two became engrossed in their discussion. Willas was surprised to discover that, despite his youth, Gavin spoke with maturity and insight.

Whether it was analyzing the current political landscape or understanding human nature, Gavin's words carried wisdom and unique perspectives.

When the topic shifted to territorial development, Gavin's proposals were both pragmatic and visionary, showcasing an exceptional ability to balance practical needs with long-term planning.

Willas watched Gavin with growing admiration. The clarity of Gavin's thoughts and the confidence in his delivery were captivating. Each point he made was well-structured and logical, creating an almost magnetic pull that drew Willas deeper into the conversation.

"This young man is truly a rare talent," Willas thought to himself. "If he could be brought into the Tyrell family's fold, he would be a great asset. It's a shame he's a bastard." Willas began to think of ways to persuade Edmund to let him take Gavin under his wing.

As the banquet concluded, Willas extended an invitation to Edmund and Gavin:

"After the archery and group competitions, Highgarden will host a banquet to celebrate my sister's thirteenth name day. Edmund, be sure to bring Gavin along."

Edmund smiled and agreed.

Later, in the quiet of his spacious tent, Gavin was carefully inspecting and polishing his equipment. Sir Edmund had prepared a fine, well-crafted bow for him to use in the competitions.

Just then, Tommen lifted the tent flap and entered quietly. "Captain, I've got the information," he said.

Gavin looked up from his work. "What do you mean?"

"The odds of you winning the archery competition are 1 to 10. For the group competition, the odds are also 1 to 10, but if you emerge as the sole winner, the odds jump to 1 to 20," Tommen explained in a single breath, his expression a mix of astonishment at the high odds and concern about Gavin's chances.

Before Gavin could respond, Tommen continued anxiously:

"Captain, are you really planning to bet everything?"

Without hesitation, Gavin replied: "Bet."

Tommen frowned, his face tight with worry. "But, Captain, the risk is too great. If something goes wrong—"

Gavin interrupted firmly: "There is no 'if.' Risk and opportunity go hand in hand, and I trust in my abilities."

Seeing Gavin's resolute expression, Tommen sighed and nodded. "Alright, Captain. We'll trust you. The brothers will pool all their savings to support you."

Gavin clapped Tommen on the shoulder reassuringly. "Don't worry. I won't let you down."

Tommen nodded and left to arrange the bets. Gavin returned to his preparations, his face calm but determined. He had resolved to risk everything for his family's honor and his own ambitions.

Edmund had already given Gavin 1,000 gold dragons as a reward for representing the family, and Gavin had decided to bet it all on himself.

On the day of the archery competition, the sun bathed the tournament grounds outside Highgarden in a warm, golden glow. A towering stand was erected for the noble spectators, who sat dressed in resplendent finery, chatting elegantly or watching the field with keen interest.

The competition rules were straightforward. Contestants would aim at a target 100 steps away, each getting five shots. Those who hit the target would proceed to the next round, where the target would move 10 steps farther and shrink in size. This process would continue until only one contestant remained.

"Ready to shoot!" the referee's commanding voice echoed across the field.

Gavin stood poised on the field, bow in hand. His posture was straight and steady, his eyes calm and focused. He blocked out the noise around him, letting nothing distract him from the target ahead.

His striking silver hair cascaded over his shoulders like a waterfall, shimmering under the sunlight. The combination of his handsome appearance and confident demeanor caught the attention of several noblewomen in the stands, who whispered excitedly among themselves.

Willas, sitting in the stands, teased Edmund with a grin: "It seems your nephew has quite the charm. Look at those ladies—completely captivated."

Edmund chuckled, a proud smile on his face. "Of course. That's the blood of my family."

As the competition progressed, Gavin's skill became evident. Every shot he released was precise, his arrows striking the targets with unerring accuracy.

This continued until the target had been moved back to 180 steps, reduced to the size of a small dish barely visible to the naked eye. By this stage, only Gavin and one other contestant remained.

Gavin adjusted his breathing, focusing all his energy on the task at hand. His opponent, visibly fatigued, was struggling to keep steady. The tension in the air was palpable.

At this moment, several young noblewomen in the crowd began chanting Gavin's name with flushed faces. Their enthusiastic cheers echoed across the field, breaking the concentration of his opponent.

Already under immense pressure, the opponent's hands trembled. When he loosed his arrow, it veered off course, missing the target completely.

Gavin, observing the scene, couldn't help but smile wryly. "I never thought I'd win the championship just because of my looks," he thought to himself, shaking his head slightly.

Despite this unexpected advantage, Gavin felt immense pride as he was declared the champion. The cheers from the crowd washed over him like a wave, a triumphant conclusion to his remarkable performance.