Chapter 353 (Patreon)

Kana had completely exhausted herself the previous night. What had started as a simple spar with Boris and Rose Light eventually turned into an all-out training session after she somehow convinced Artin and several of the knights to join in. By the time everyone finally called it a night, even the seasoned knights looked ready to collapse. Unsurprisingly, the moment morning arrived, Kana had already claimed one of the couches in the mansion's dining hall and was sleeping peacefully, oblivious to everything happening around her.

Across the room, Suri and Chelle were finishing breakfast. Fresh bread, still warm from the clay oven, rested on their plates beside cups of chilled milk. It was a simple meal by the Empire's standards, yet it was unlike anything they had back in the Northern Kingdom. Suri tore off another generous piece of bread before taking a long drink. She carefully wiped the corner of her mouth afterward, trying her best to appear refined despite having already eaten nearly half the basket by herself.

"It's great," she declared with complete satisfaction.

Chelle glanced toward the servants who had just finished placing another batch of food on the table. They politely bowed before excusing themselves, though none of them looked particularly cheerful.

"I think they're more exhausted than happy after hearing your compliments," Chelle said.

"I rarely compliment anyone." Suri stretched lazily in her chair. "They should feel honored."

Chelle couldn't help laughing. "I don't think that's what they're thinking. They probably woke up expecting to prepare breakfast for fifty people."

She nodded toward Suri's plate. "Instead, they probably feel like they've been feeding an entire army."

Before Suri could defend herself, footsteps echoed from the staircase.

Boris descended first, rubbing the sleep from his eyes as he let out an enormous yawn. Ryle followed close behind, looking only slightly more awake. Boris didn't bother greeting anyone before dropping into the nearest chair and immediately reaching for the bread. Thorne climbed onto the table without hesitation and helped herself to a small piece that Boris absentmindedly handed over.

One by one, several knights wandered into the dining hall as well, drawn by the smell of breakfast.

The comfortable atmosphere lasted only a few moments before one of the Empire's servants hurried back inside.

He stopped beside the table and bowed respectfully.

"Master Sheen Espada has arrived," he announced. "He is asking to see Lady Kana."

His eyes drifted toward the sleeping girl curled comfortably on the couch.

"Would you like me to wake her up?"

Suri stood immediately. "Normally she'll wake up whenever she feels like it. We cannot wake her up."

She walked over to Kana before grinning mischievously. "But let's see if this works."

Without the slightest bit of mercy, she grabbed Kana by both shoulders and began shaking her. 

"Kana!"

Another shake.

"Kana!"

Then, with considerably more volume, "Sheen is waiting for you outside!"

Kana's eyes snapped open. She sat upright so suddenly that Suri nearly lost her balance.

"He's outside?"

The speed of her response left both Suri and Chelle staring. The two girls slowly turned toward one another. Neither of them spoke. Instead, they simply exchanged knowing looks before nodding in perfect agreement.

Kana, completely unaware of their silent conversation, hurried out of the mansion.

Naturally...

Suri and Chelle followed.

Not because they had been invited. Because they were curious.

Outside the gates, Sheen stood beside his horse in his usual white attire. The moment he saw Kana approaching, he smiled and lifted the object he had been carrying.

It was a sword.

The weapon remained inside an elegant sheath decorated with subtle silver engravings.

"I heard about your exhibition duel tomorrow," Sheen said. "I'd like you to have this."

Kana accepted it with both hands. The instant she drew the blade free, the expression on her face changed.

Her eyes brightened.

The curved blade reflected the morning sunlight with a faint bluish sheen. There wasn't a single imperfection along its edge, and despite its length, it felt remarkably balanced in her grip.

Without thinking, Kana stepped into an open space and gave the sword several experimental swings.

The blade sliced cleanly through the air.

Not too heavy.

Not too light.

Almost...

perfect.

She examined the weapon more closely before lightly running her thumb along the flat of the blade. "This is extraordinary."

Her voice had become surprisingly soft. "The smith must have folded and reforged the metal thousands of times."

She looked up at Sheen. "Only someone obsessed with perfection could create something like this."

For the first time that morning, Sheen looked genuinely surprised.

"You're right." He chuckled. "It was forged by the Empire's finest blacksmith."

Kana nodded appreciatively. "Thank you."

Sheen smiled. "I was actually hoping you'd have some free time today."

He gestured toward the streets beyond the mansion.

"I found another restaurant I think you'll like."

Kana didn't hesitate. "Alright."

The two of them left through the gates together, chatting as they disappeared into the busy streets of the capital. Before long, Kana let out a quiet laugh at something Sheen had said.

Suri watched them until they vanished around the corner.

Then she folded her arms. "She's a lost cause."

Chelle tilted her head. "I still don't understand what she likes about him."

Suri didn't even have to think. "The way he fights."

"I don't think that's it." Chelle smiled to herself. "If it were only swordsmanship, she'd be just as interested in Commander Rose."

She paused for a moment before looking toward the now-empty street.

"Should we ask someone to secretly follow them?"

Suri pointed toward the sky. "Uncle Artin already beat us to it."

High above the mansion, a lone bird circled lazily overhead. As though protesting being volunteered yet again, the bird let out an indignant screech before banking sharply through the morning sky, earning laughter from both girls.

….

Kana returned to the mansion sometime in the afternoon. The desert sun had begun its slow descent, leaving long shadows stretching across the courtyard as she stepped through the front gate. She looked perfectly content, the new curved sword resting comfortably at her waist, as though she had simply spent another ordinary day exploring the capital.

The moment she entered the sitting room, however, she sensed something unusual.

Suri and Chelle were already waiting.

The two girls sat side by side on the couch with their arms folded across their chests, wearing identical expressions of disappointment. Neither of them spoke immediately. They simply stared at Kana in complete silence.

Kana stopped walking. "Did something happen?"

Suri slowly shook her head. "Oh, nothing."

Her voice carried enough sarcasm that even Kana noticed. "We just can't believe you abandoned us without a second thought for that guy."

Kana blinked in confusion. "I didn't abandon anyone."

She set the sword against the wall before looking back at them. "I simply wanted to learn more about the Empire. It seemed easier to ask someone who has lived here his whole life."

Chelle narrowed her eyes. "That isn't the part we're questioning."

She leaned forward slightly. "Why didn't you invite us?"

Kana opened her mouth to answer. Nothing came out. She frowned, genuinely considering the question for the first time. One finger rose to her chin as she searched through her memory, replaying the afternoon in her head.

After several long seconds, her eyes widened ever so slightly,"You're right."

She sounded almost surprised by her own realization. "Why didn't I think of inviting you?"

The answer was so completely sincere that both Suri and Chelle stared at her before bursting into laughter.

"I knew it," Suri said between laughs. "Kana has finally reached that age."

Chelle covered her smile with one hand. "I always knew she liked chasing difficult opponents."

She glanced toward the sword resting beside the doorway before looking back at Kana with an amused grin. "I just never imagined she'd approach boys the same way."

Kana looked from one girl to the other. "I don't understand."

"You don't have to," Suri replied immediately, still trying to stop laughing.

Kana studied their expressions for another moment before quietly deciding the conversation no longer made sense.

She shrugged. "Anyway..."

She picked up the curved sword again and walked toward the back door.

"It's time for training." Suri groaned dramatically. "See?"

Chelle sighed as she stood.

"I don't think she's hopeless because of Sheen."

"No?"

"I think she's hopeless because she's Kana."

Suri nodded solemnly. "That's actually much more believable."

Without another word, the two girls followed after her into the backyard, still laughing quietly while Kana remained completely unaware that she had been the subject of the joke the entire time. After all, all she could think now was the duel tomorrow.

……

The third day of the festival was the one everyone had been waiting for.

Unlike the previous two days, there would be no team games, no contests of speed, and no displays meant simply to entertain. Today belonged to warriors.

The arena would host the Empire Academy's strongest student, followed by the champion chosen from the common folk of the capital. After that came the newly announced exhibition match featuring Kana, introduced to the audience as the strongest student of the Northern Kingdom. The celebration would conclude with the Empire's proudest tradition, a showcase between the capital's greatest noble houses.

From sunrise onward, the entire capital seemed to breathe with excitement. Even outside the arena, waves of cheering rolled through the streets as merchants shouted, children climbed onto rooftops for a better view, and spectators hurried through the gates, unwilling to miss a single event.

Amid all that excitement, one person remained completely unaffected.

Kana slept soundly on Boris' back.

Her head rested comfortably against his shoulder while Thorne lay curled across her back, the little lizard apparently deciding that Kana made an excellent second pillow. Neither of them seemed to care that thousands of people around them were roaring with anticipation.

Their group had been given seats near the very front of the arena, close enough that they could clearly see every movement on the fighting grounds. Rose Light had insisted on purchasing the location herself despite the outrageous price.

"There was a reason I chose these seats," she said quietly, her eyes never leaving the arena below. "If something unexpected happens, this position gives us the best chance to react."

Her expression hardened. "Everyone, make sure your [Teleportation] Scroll is somewhere you can reach immediately."

The students instinctively checked the pouches at their waists.

"And don't let yourselves get distracted," Rose continued. "Watch the crowd as much as the matches. If any of you notice something unusual, no matter how insignificant it seems, tell me immediately."

The students answered together. "Yes, Commander."

Their synchronized response sounded almost comically formal, causing Rose to glance at them with narrowed eyes.

"I'm serious."

The humor vanished from her voice.

For a brief moment, she simply watched the sea of spectators surrounding the arena. Thousands upon thousands of faces stared toward the battlefield below, celebrating what they believed would become another glorious chapter in the Empire's history.

Rose saw something entirely different. She took a slow breath. "This festival will end one of two ways."

Her hand rested unconsciously on the hilt of the sword at her side. "Either everyone goes home believing they witnessed a memorable celebration..."

She paused. "...or this arena becomes a battlefield."

Silence settled over the group.

Rose's gaze swept across the nobles' balconies, the Imperial guards stationed along the walls, and the countless spectators packed shoulder to shoulder around the arena.

"If that happens," she said quietly, "there will be blood."

Her eyes finally stopped on Kana, still sleeping peacefully on Boris' back.

"And I have a feeling..."

"...it will be ours."

No one laughed this time. Even Suri lost the playful smile she usually wore.

Boris instinctively adjusted the grip on his spear. Chelle gulped nervously, while Ryle slowly surveyed the crowd with renewed caution.

The old saying from the Northern Kingdom surfaced in every one of their minds.

Never trust the Empire.

Post note:Let’s just say Kana simply followed her instinct. 😂1st chap of the week.

Hope you enjoy the chap! 🙂

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