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Chapter 20
The news of a duel between Cardel Lucio and Abel Delafion caused a stir throughout the royal knights’ order.
To be precise, the attention was focused on “Sir Lucio’s daughter and Sir Delafion’s daughter going head-to-head.”
“Wait, a duel between kids? For what reason? Are they even old enough?”
“Neither of them is even fifteen, I think?”
“They’re bringing back that old tradition? And they’re actually doing it? What would those tiny kids even know?”
“Count Lucio did brag a lot about his daughter, but this is a bit much…”
The location was conveniently set in the palace training grounds.
Knights with spare time began to gather at the training grounds to see if the rumors were true.
Amid the crowd of curious onlookers, the two opponents awkwardly shook hands.
“It’s been a while, Sir Delafion.”
“Likewise, Sir Lucio. Good to see you again.”
They had sent their daughters to a social gathering, only to end up with a duel scheduled.
Cardel’s mother, Sage Lucio of the 2nd Knight Division, let out a weary sigh.
“Never thought I’d live to see a day like this.”
“…Raising daughters isn’t an easy task.”
The two parents of extraordinary daughters exchanged a knowing glance and nodded.
‘More people showed up than I expected.’
Black eyes swept over the scene without much interest.
A kid fight—what was there to see?
“Bel.”
“Dad!”
Dain, who looked like he had aged ten years in the past few days, bent down on one knee.
Looking into eyes that resembled his distant wife’s, Dain managed to mutter a single sentence.
“Don’t get hurt.”
“Okay. I’m gonna beat everyone up.”
“Losing isn’t shameful, so if it gets dangerous, just surrender.”
“Nope, I’m beating them all up.”
“…Right. I’ll be watching with Sir Lucio, so if it looks too dangerous, we’ll intervene. If I say to stop, you’ll listen, okay?”
Who is he even worried about?
After a moment’s thought, Abel shrugged and turned around.
Her high ponytail of pink hair fluttered as she stepped to the center of the training ground.
Her opponent was already waiting.
“No sword?”
“Nope,” she said casually.
“So not only do you disrespect my fiancé, but you look down on me too?”
“You can write those feelings in your diary when you get home.”
Abel truly had no idea.
Before she worried about the First Prince’s loose lips, she should’ve minded her own.
“We’ll see if you can remain so arrogant after the duel.”
“Whatever.”
Swish.
A cold blade pointed in the air.
“I, Cardel Lucio, daughter of the Count, will fight for my and my fiancé’s honor!”
“Then should I also fight for the honor of my lady and my lord?”
“What nonsense is that?”
“As you know, our family’s basically commoners, right? And I’m not even an official knight. What honor would we be fighting for? Let’s be clear.”
“Ha! Fine. If you lose, you’ll offer a sincere apology to me and my fiancé for your rudeness. If I lose, I’ll do the same.”
“No thanks.”
“W-What?”
‘That’s a terrible deal.’
Abel had her pride, but she didn’t just hand it over to anyone.
These people stayed quiet when others insulted her and her father, but as soon as she said a few words to their precious fiancé, they’re ready to throw down?
Her soft pink lips pouted.
“If I win, give me something of yours.”
“…What?”
“And if you win, do whatever you want.”
“That’s…”
“You just have to win. What, scared?”
“You little—!”
Grit. Her white teeth clenched.
‘Tsk, teeth are one of the Five Blessings, you know.’
The knight trainee, holding the gifted sword tightly, straightened her back and declared.
“I, Cardel Lucio! In the name of my house’s honor, vow that if I lose, I will hand over something I possess!”
“Anything?”
“Anything!”
“Hold on… Cardel?”
“Abel Delafion, same here.”
“Bel? Bel?!”
Without waiting for their guardians’ input, the two girls took their places.
The rules were simple.
You lose if you surrender, or step out of the designated circle.
Red ribbons were tied around the circle’s edge, fluttering slightly over the dirt.
“You’ll regret this.”
“Sure.”
Whoosh!
With the sound of a blade cutting the air, the “duel” began.
Cardel’s sword came flying in instantly.
Her movements, though unknighted, were graceful.
But—
‘So what?’
Skill is just skill.
Abel’s small body leapt nimbly through the air.
Tap.
While her opponent hesitated, Abel’s foot lightly tapped the flat of Cardel’s sword—
“Hi there.”
—And she threw a punch.
Pow!
“Oh? Still standing?”
She’s worth remembering. The first person not to fall after a single punch made Abel mildly impressed.
But Cardel’s stance was shaken, and that was enough.
Without Cardel realizing it, Abel had completely closed the distance.
Her hand had already reached the sword’s hilt.
“You—!”
“What.”
Who cares about technique?
Just overpower them.
Abel yanked on the sword handle.
To keep Cardel from grabbing it again—
Clang!
The polished sword fell to the ground. But it wasn’t over yet.
She could always pick it up again, right?
Abel wanted a clean and quick victory.
She now grabbed both of Cardel’s wrists.
As if preparing to dance.
Engaging her inner thigh and pelvic muscles—
She spun Cardel Lucio around—
“W-What are you—! You can’t, this is a duel—! Gyaaaah!”
—And threw her.
Out of the ring.
Dain Delafion buried his face in both hands.
Though they gave it the fancy name of a “duel,” it was really just a power struggle—and Abel had won.
“Looks like I won.”
The training grounds fell into silence. Her youthful voice echoed clearly.
Abel fiddled with her uninjured hand.
Cardel, who had been thrown, lay face-down, twitching faintly.
‘I threw her low, she shouldn’t be badly hurt.’
Her black eyes narrowed.
She walked lightly, almost like she was dancing.
She stopped in front of the dazed referee, who looked no different from the rest of the dumbstruck knights.
“I won, right?”
“Y-Yes? Oh, yes. She was completely out of bounds…”
The knight, roped in as referee, nodded absentmindedly.
But under Abel’s sharp gaze, he finally cleared his throat and shouted:
“V-Victory goes to Lady Abel Delafion!”
Wow…
The spectators blinked like they were breaking free from a spell.
A small frame, untrained muscles—
And immense strength.
With no flashy exchange, Abel had settled the fight cleanly and quickly. She approached the defeated girl brightly.
“Are you okay?”
“H-How dare you do something like that in a sacred duel!”
“Is punching and brawling sacred?”
Cardel Lucio, barely managing to sit up, shouted with a red face.
“T-The whole point of a duel is to uphold one’s beliefs… to engage in the most knightly form of combat…”
“Says who?”
“The Swordsmanship Guide for Royal Citizens! A must-read for anyone aspiring to be a knight—”
“Okay, okay.”
This is why childhood reading is important.
While reflecting on how childhood books shape future beliefs, Abel opened her mouth.
“A promise is a promise, right? Lady Lucio, the paragon of upholding beliefs?”
“…Yes, a promise is a promise.”
Cardel, ears red with shame, lifted her chin and asked firmly.
“So, what do you want?”
“Your sword.”
Riiip.
Her tightly shut mouth flew open.
Her dignified expression crumbled instantly.
“W-What?!”
“Give me your sword.”
Abel’s gaze landed on the blade that had been tossed aside earlier.
Just the scabbard alone looked expensive. Was it a treasured sword? Or a replica?
Didn’t matter.
‘As long as it humiliates her.’
From the look on Cardel’s face, she’d had her fill of humiliation.
“My sword? Fine, I’ll get one that fits your size—”
“Nope. That one. The one you used today.”
Abel smiled as if picking out a birthday present.
“The one with the black sheath and jeweled inlays. A little long for your height.”
The more cheerful Abel became, the more devastated Cardel looked.
“You… want my actual sword?”
