BOMW 04

Pervin arrived at the tournament registration desk with the children. He had a black cloth covering under his eyes — in case his identity might be revealed among the crowd.

A long line of men stood there. Each man had his wife, girlfriend, or children standing beside him.

Most of the men pointed to the “1st place” printed on the tournament poster and steeled themselves. They answered their children’s hopeful looks with confident promises.

“Dad will definitely win! I’ll bring you the greatest honor!”

“Dad, you’re the best!”

“Do your best, Dad!”

Pervin envied those warm family scenes. He looked down at Seren and Eren.

“Kids. Got anything to say to me?”

When Pervin met their eyes, Seren and Eren held up two fingers.

“Dad, make sure you get second place!”

“For the scarf for Mom!”

His children were really something. While others cheered their dads on to take first place, why were his children uninterested in winning and asking for second place?

Just then, a man who had been laughing and talking with his son in front of them stepped back, slipped, and stepped on Pervin’s foot.

Pervin reflexively pulled his foot away, and the man turned with a puzzled face. A scruffy beard twitched on his face.

“Oh — did I step on your foot?”

“It’s all right.”

“You look like a girl, but you’re quick on your feet.”

The man gave Pervin a quick once-over.

“You look too frail. A real man should be muscular and broad like me. Come on, feel it.”

He dragged Pervin’s hand and placed it on his bulging arm muscle.

“See? What’s the point of being tall like a pole if you don’t have substance like this?”

At that moment, Pervin flexed the arm the man was holding. When the hidden tendon bulged, the man was startled and let go.

Pervin held the man’s hand and offered a handshake. He smiled faintly.

“Words alone are not true strength. Strength has value when it can be proven.”

Pervin tightened his grip on the man’s hand. The man pushed back with all his might, but his face went pale.

Wounded pride made him lash out in emotional words.

“Hey, you! We’ll see about that at the swordsmanship contest. I’m off my guard now, but then I’ll definitely knock you down!”

“Next person, please!”

The loud voice of the receptionist echoed. The man stomped inside, dragging his child.

Seren and Eren watched Pervin with worried faces from the side.

“Dad, are you okay?”

Pervin nodded and calmed himself. But something boiled up deep inside him.

His competitive spirit ignited. He liked being challenged — it had been a while. He bent his knees and asked the children again.

“I’ll buy Mom a better lily-of-the-valley scarf, so if Dad wins, can I? Please?”

Seren reacted as if it were absurd.

“No way! It has to be second place!”

“You must get second place and win that! I want to give that to Mom!”

Pervin sighed. He realized once more that his children’s wish was more important than his competitive urge.

As he grumbled, the line shortened and it became his turn.

“Next!”

The receptionist yawned tiredly but lifted her face. She saw Pervin and the twins and was momentarily speechless, distracted by their looks. Pervin cleared his throat.

“I’m here to register.”

At last the receptionist came to. She blushed shyly.

“Sorry. Um… how many are you?”

“One.”

“You can write your name here.”

She handed him the registration list and a pen.

Eren, who had been staring at her, caught her eye and flashed a cheeky smile — something he always did when someone caught his gaze. She smiled back. Eren nudged Seren, who stared at the receptionist for a moment then turned his head away.

To the receptionist, even that shy scene seemed adorable.

She made a playful comment to Pervin.

“If these handsome young masters compete, I think they’d pass the first round. Their looks might make the opponents let them win…”

Maybe she intended it as a light joke because the children were so pretty — but the receptionist met Pervin’s fierce glare.

“That joke went too far.”

Silence filled the air for an instant.

Pervin wrote with his left hand to avoid revealing his handwriting. His crooked script made the receptionist’s face gradually change.

“Did you hurt your right hand by any chance?”

“No.”

“Then why the left hand…?”

“You’re very curious, miss. I’d appreciate it if you let this one slide.”

Pervin gave her a teasing wink. She nodded as if under a spell.

“Please come in and collect your sword. For fairness, this tournament issues the same sword to everyone.”

“All right. Seren, Eren, wait outside for a bit. It’s dangerous to swing a sword here. Dad will be out soon.”

“We’ll wait under the linden tree.”

The twins nodded and went outside.

While registrations were in full swing, some officials gathered off to one side and whispered about a rumor circulating through the town.

“Is it true? That the Duke of Carlyle came here?”

“That’s what I heard! He came a few days ago and, while enjoying the festival, he decided to enter the swordsmanship contest happening tomorrow.”

“Is that for sure? Really?”

Amid the confusion, one person shouted desperately.

“If Duke Carlyle enters, this place will be flattened! He’ll sweep the whole tournament!”

One of the worried officials suggested something.

“Shouldn’t we inform Youngsik Montague? He’s close with Duke Carlyle; there’s no way he doesn’t know.”

“Actually, Youngsik is over there. Let’s ask him!”

They hurried to find Romeo, who was on the organizing committee for the tournament.

Romeo faced a crowd of people running up to him with flustered faces. He was puzzled by the change in their expressions, but soon understood the situation from what they said.

“It’s about Regent Carlyle — it seems he’s entered our region!”

“What? That can’t be. If he had come here, my brother would’ve contacted me.”

At that moment, someone at the edge of the crowd pointed.

“Over there — that person has Carlyle’s platinum hair!”

“He’s with two children!”

“Where?”

Romeo turned his head toward the linden tree they pointed to, but there was no Pervin, nor anyone who even slightly resembled him.

No man holding twins stood there.

“I don’t see anyone who looks like a noble.”

“I was sure I saw someone….”

“Everyone’s so busy that they’re seeing things. Come on, hold on. Tomorrow’s sword contest is the biggest event in our area; we have to get through it safely.”

Romeo soothed the officials and led them away.

After they left, the big nearby tree rustled its leaves as if mocking them.

Three figures appeared atop the big tree. Pervin and the twins had been hiding among the branches and leaves.

Pervin quickly looked both ways.

“We almost got caught. Seren, Eren, are you okay?”

“Yes, we’re fine!”

“It’s fun!”

The children popped out between the dense leaves. After Pervin had been assigned his sword at the registration desk, the children had told him they thought they’d seen Romeo here. Following Pervin’s instructions, they had climbed up the linden tree nearby.

As Pervin predicted, nobody noticed them. He sighed as he looked at the children.

“Lucky Romeo was oblivious. That was dangerous.”

“It’s more fun that way! Right, Eren?”

“It’s fun, but let’s keep this secret from Mom. She’d worry if she knew. Right, Dad?”

Irwen flashed through Pervin’s mind for a moment — she often worried about the twins climbing the sponsor’s tree.

He hurried down from the tree, picked up Seren and Eren one by one, and told them earnestly.

“This is a secret from Mom. Don’t climb places like this without Dad’s permission, okay?”

“Yes!”

The twins nodded with sparkling eyes.

“How strange, my ears are tingling…”

“Yes?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

At my mutter, the shopkeeper in front of me gave a kind smile. This was a jewelry store, and I was buying gifts for people nearby.

The County of Montague was famous for its jewelry artisans.

I bought a thin ruby necklace for Marianne, a chunky ring for Lady Tilly, and a lily-shaped brooch for the Marchioness Celestine.

After choosing gifts for everyone else, the shopkeeper beamed. With the basket full, she bowed deeply.

“Have a good trip!”

After buying the jewels, I walked the streets in a refreshed mood. It was time to return to the inn.

Then a shop caught my eye.

“Perfume? Made from flowers that bloom only in this county?”

Curious, I stepped in. The shop was barely big enough for three people.

An elderly woman noticed me.

“Looking for something?”

“I heard there’s perfume made from flowers that grow only in this county.”

“Oh, that? You must be a tourist.”

She rummaged deep inside the shop. It felt odd to stand alone in the dim spot for a while. I might have stood there ten minutes when the old woman appeared with a small bottle from the back storage. Unlike ordinary perfumes, this one sparkled in seven colors like a rainbow.

“It’s a scent extracted from the ‘Aria’ flower that blooms in the forest bordering Adenburg. If you plant it in winter, the seeds stay in the earth for almost four years and then bloom on February 29th — a mysterious flower.”

I smelled it. It had a musk-like weight and a fruity freshness at once — an intriguing blend.

“The scent is lovely.”

“Isn’t it? Not only is the scent good, but it has a special effect…”

The old woman pulled me close and whispered in my ear.

“If you spray this perfume in the corners of the bedroom, you’ll only have good dreams and it’ll improve the couple’s relationship.”

“Give me five bottles.”

Hearing that, I bought several immediately. I thought giving one to each married couple nearby would be nice.

And to keep one for myself.

That evening.

Back at the inn, I met Pervin and the twins. They looked flushed from a day of fun with Dad.

After dinner, Pervin said he felt stiff and would take a walk outside. Seren went along. Eren stayed with me in the room. He chattered about the things I’d bought.

Eren eyed the brooch and suddenly exclaimed.

“I should buy gifts for my friends too. I should’ve followed Mom around today.”

“Let’s pick them out together tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?”

Eren’s face went pale in an instant. He stammered, as if hiding something.

“Tomorrow won’t work…”

“Why?”

“Tomorrow…”

I stroked Eren’s cheek. A question asked without much thought, but the child’s embarrassment felt suspicious.

“Why won’t you have time to pick gifts tomorrow?”

“N—no! Dad decided to enter the swordsmanship contest tomorrow. Our whole family has to cheer Dad on.”

“The swordsmanship contest?”

That wasn’t on the schedule. He’d said he wouldn’t enter the contest when we came. He’d said that if he entered a local contest, he might prey on hidden masters.

It could sound arrogant, but his words were true: no one had ever beaten him in a contest of swordsmanship.

So I wondered why he suddenly decided to join.

“You said you weren’t going to before we came. Why is Dad entering suddenly?”

“It’s a secret! But Mom, would you like the Countess of Montague to make you a scarf?”

Eren’s sudden change of subject was suspicious.

But seeing Eren’s eyes sparkle and his earnestness, I answered.

“I’d love it. I’m hopeless at handiwork, and the Countess of Montague makes such pretty things. Lady Stella was boasting about receiving a handkerchief the Countess made as a wedding present — I really want one too.”

“Right? You want it, don’t you?”

“I do. Why? Is our Eren going to get one for me?”

When I teased him, Eren hugged me with a pretty smile. He rubbed his plump cheek against my waist and met my gaze.

“Mom, wait a little! You’ll get it!”

At the time I didn’t understand what he meant. The next day, I would.

On the day of the swordsmanship contest.

Many people gathered at the arena from early morning.

I took the children to the stands while Pervin went to where the contest was held.

I brushed the dust off Pervin’s clothes. He wore only a mask covering his hair and under his eyes, and was otherwise unarmed.

Looking around, everyone else seemed to have brought armor, helmets, and all protective gear. Pervin, however, wore a black shirt and black pants and carried only one sword.

Worried, I asked him.

“Are you sure that will do? Everyone else has heavy armor and helmets.”

“Irwen, you know my skill. This is a penalty for me; it levels the field so I can fight on equal terms.”

He swung the sword lightly and answered confidently.

His nonchalance made me uneasy. Though I acknowledged his overwhelming sword skill, I was nervous that he wore no protective gear at all.

Above all, I was afraid his excessive competitiveness might lead him to get injured. If he had impulsively entered, he surely aimed to win. He himself had said so.

He competed every year in the harvest festival’s lance tournament and now even entered a regional sword contest.

Living with a husband with such strong competitive drive required patience.

“Sigh… You always make me worry. And going out unarmored — are you underestimating the tournament? If you get hurt, it’s your responsibility.”

Pervin looked at me worriedly. Then he suddenly took my hand and asked abruptly.

“Even if I can’t bring you the victory, you’ll understand me, right?”

Why ask that all of a sudden?

Had I been pushing him too hard? Seeing his trembling eyes, my heart softened. Then something welled up inside me.

He had said before we traveled that he wouldn’t enter the contest, yet here he was, going without armor and making me worry. That annoyed me. And he wouldn’t just forfeit — if he lost he’d likely be injured.

“All right then, you must win! You must win without getting hurt even once! If you lose when I’m this worried, I’ll be disappointed in you!”

Pervin’s eyes trembled. Then, as if resolved, he nodded.

“Okay. I never intended to give you defeat either.”

The wavering look earlier was gone. His faint green eyes shone straight and resolute.

There was a flash of competitive hunger in them.

Pervin bowed, kissed me, and hurried among the participants.

I turned to the twins waiting for me in the stands. Sitting between Seren and Eren, I checked their faces.

The way the children watched me was odd. Seren, acting coy, said to me sweetly,

“Mom, you’ll understand if Dad doesn’t win today, right?”

It was strange. Pervin had been talking about winning earlier, and now the kids were like this. Did the children and Pervin have some secret agreement?

“I told Dad to make sure he wins. Why?”

“No! No way!”

Eren ruffled his hair beside me. His green eyes — like Pervin’s — shook wildly.

“You have to get second place so you can give Mom the scarf!”