80

Elena was nervous.

"Yes?"

"I was worried that I wouldn't recognize you, but I found out at a glance. His Highness's statement that she looks exactly like the portrait Belladonna was true."

The identity-checking knight was well-mannered.

"His Highness asked me to take Lady Lucia to a special seat."

"Me?"

"Yes, I think the people behind you are acquaintances. There was also an order to bring them with you if you had company. Please follow me."

"…"

Elena and her party followed the knight with a puzzled look. The room was next to the room where Veronica watched the semi-final as Veronica a few days ago. As it was reserved exclusively for the royal family, its size was definitely wider.

"When the match is over, His Highness has told me that he would like to see Miss Lucia separately. I'll be waiting outside."

The knight with his head bent down as if he were treating a VIP. Only then, the tension seemed to have eased, so Khalif opened his mouth and talked.

"His Highness is also enthusiastic. Thank you, Lucia. When else would I ever enter a place like this in my life? Don't you think so, Raphael?"

"I know."

Unlike the excited Khalif, Raphael was only smiling bitterly. Unlike Sian, who can do a lot of things as Crown Prince, he felt uncomfortable that he could not do anything for her.

"Thanks to you, I can cheer for him in a good place."

Cecilia smiled with fever. Her smile seemed free from any discomfort towards Sian. The political spirit was broken, but they didn't have feelings for each other. She rather noticed Sian's feelings toward Lucia and wanted to cheer.

"…"

The most confused person at this moment was Elena. It was unclear how to accept Sian's consideration, which was too excessive.

"Hey. I'm talking the third time right now. I'm friends with the kids in there."

Thoughts became complicated, it was noisy as if there was a scuffle outside the door of the special room. It was not long before she heard Ren's voice playing the truth.

"Hey, friends! It's me, Ren. You shouldn't be the only ones watching. Let's watch it together!"

Elena sighed deeply and reluctantly came out. The knight was trying hard to stop Ren from trying to force himself in.

"You're in a good mood. He came here before the game and thought of being a bully."

"Can you be kind to me? We're friends."

In response to Elena's grotesque reaction, Ren pulled the entangled knight off and laughed.

"Don't laugh disgustingly, why did you come?"

"If I win today, do you want to eat out with me?"

Elena looked ridiculous because it wasn't the sound that anyone who was about to make the finals would come this far for.

"Why should I eat out with you?"

"Because I want to?"

"I hate it."

"You can't hate it. I'm attaching all of these reasons for having a meal with you."

Despite being rejected with a single stroke, Ren smiled slyly.

"It's a match soon, so I don't have time? I think you've said yes."

Ren said what he had to say and ran away because he might lose time. Elena shouted in embarrassment.

"Wait a minute! Who said yes!"

"You pick the restaurant. I'll pay for it."

Ren, who was laughing at what was so good, turned the corner and disappeared out of sight.

"That son of a…"

Elena sighed as the ground went out. The sudden suggestion from Ren was greeted with uneasiness.

"Isn't something the same as last time?"

Ren, whom Elena knows, is that kind of person. He's like a hyena that bites the opponent's weaknesses to death. He even had a three-way meeting with Emilio to intentionally put Elena in trouble. So she didn't want to get involved with Ren. When Elena came in with a face full of depths, Raphael asked anxiously.

"Are you alright? You seemed to be arguing again."

"He's getting more creative. If he wins today, he wants me to eat out."

"Just the two of you?"

"I think so. And he wants me to make a reservation? I can't believe it."

Unlike Elena, who regards it as an extension of malicious harassment, Raphael approached it more emotionally. Ren's suggestion to eat out on the premise of winning seemed different from usual.

'There's no way, right?'

Raphael stopped thinking there. Looking at Ren's malicious behavior so far, he thought it was speculation.

"Oh, that's His Highness! Your Highness! You must win!"

Khalif cheered as he watched Sian show up at the stadium as if it was very exciting. Elena tried to concentrate on the match by pushing aside her complicated mind with Ren. Until Ren, who appeared, waved to the special seat where Elena was located and pretended to know her. Khalif was embarrassed by the sudden behavior of Ren.

"We're here to support His Highness, aren't we? I think he's mistaken."

"That's the way he is. Ignore him."

Elena disregarded him as if he wasn't worth paying attention to, and fixed her gaze on Sian. It was in an instant, but Sian's eyes and Elena's eyes collided in the air.

"…!"

Despite being far away, Elena felt like Sian was staring at her right in front of her. It was not long before Sian turned his head to face Ren in front of him and fixed the wooden sword. Ren also responded by lowering his posture. The professor, who was standing between the two, lowered his hand, which was raised high above his head.

"Final round starts!"

There was a quiet silence between Sian and Ren on the square. The two, who did not budge as if the time had stopped, only stared at each other without words. It was not just a war of nerves, it's a search for gaps.

The first person that moved was Ren. Ren's wooden sword, which immediately closed the space with the ground, poured through the opponent's body. Even an experienced knight could not easily respond, and it was a smart and perfect stab. However, Sian's response to the move was also formidable. He slouched down and twisted his upper body down. Then, he struck Ren's wooden sword, which had been pushed in with thrust, and struck him with all his might.

Chang. Ren's wooden sword lost its balance and fell to the floor. At the same time, Ren's body was exposed defenseless. Sian quickly turned his neck and swung at Ren's shoulder. Even though he was wearing light armor, if he ignored it, he had the power to overpower him with a single blow.

Sian could not wield the sword as he pleased with the signal from his instinct. Rather, he used the sword in a straight line to protect his body.

Ren picked up the wooden sword and poured it back into Sian.

Chang, wooden sword collided with wooden sword, and the sound of breaking air spread. Even in a situation where Ren's balance collapsed, he twisted his waist and swung his sword for Sian at an angle. If Sian had not instinctively blocked it, but considered it an opportunity, and aimed at Ren's shoulder, he would have been hit in the thigh without protection earlier. Although it was barely blocked, the power of the wooden sword was so great that Sian's body was pushed back. In that hesitant moment, Ren stopped again on both feet, spinning in midair with his hands on the ground. A loud cheer went up from the spectators who had been holding their breath at the slight closeness of the fight.

"Wooow!"

Whether it was a noble living in the capital city or a commoner, there was little chance to see a battle that made their hands sweat as it was far from war. It was only natural for them to be enthusiastic about the tension that made all the hairs on their body stand on end just watching. However, when it came time to clash swords, Ren did not feel any such tension.

"I'm surprised. I'm afraid it's not the Your Highness I know?"

"…"

"Have you been hiding your skills? Then keep hiding it. Why are you now revealing it and making it difficult for many people?"

Ren spoke in a whisper. He was amazed at Sian's swordsmanship, which was no match for his own, but there was no sign of it. He was confident that he would be victorious in the end.

"Because I had to change."

"Do you want to change? What for? But that's not going to change Your Highness's situation."

Ren cynically questioned the will of Sian to his face. The imperial family had already long since lost its authority. Even if Sian was astonishing, the fact was that it was not easy to find the authority of the imperial family among the firmness and checks and balances of the four major families, including the Grand Duke.

"I was just like you. I knew I had to make a change."

"What are you talking about. I'm a shallow learner, so please understand."

Sian glanced at Elena, who was sitting in the special seat.

"She told me. Times have changed. It's not my job to change the world."

"…"

"I have changed my mind since then. I'm just going to pave the way for the times to go in a better direction."

Ren didn't understand half of what Sian was saying now. However, he could guess who was the mastermind behind Sian's hidden sword technique and made the change. It was Elena.

"I've warned Your Highness before. Don't like her. You can't keep her."

Ren used his chin to refer to Elena, who would be watching the match in the special seats.

"It's none of your business."

"Why can't I care. I'm interested in her."

"…!"

When Ren made a public declaration, Sian's eyes grew bigger. He didn't know he'd admit it this way, even though he wasn't sure.

"Oh, that was too long. I was supposed to eat out with her if I won. You don't want to lose, do you?"

"I will do my best to win."

"The talks are broken."

Even Sian's calm eyes were full of struggle. He never wanted to lose as much as he invited Elena to the final. Even more now that he knew how Ren felt.

The same was true for Ren course. No matter what happens, he wanted to defeat Sian in front of her. That promise, which he unruly made with Elena, was what made him cling to victory.