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~Chapter 11~
The knights’ duels were far more exciting than I expected. At first, I only cheered for Lysa, wishing she’d win, but soon I was immersed in watching all the other matches too.
But the heroine is still the heroine.
Like she had wings, Lysa flew around and didn’t falter once—winning the championship.
“Amelie, how was I?”
Lysa wiped the sweat beading on her forehead and asked me. She ran to me right after winning, breath still rough, but her face was flawless. If anything, she looked even more radiant.
“You were amazing!”
I raised both thumbs high in the air.
What more could I say? Cheering her on was worth it.
I had gone all-out with cheering supplies: a giant homemade funnel instead of a megaphone, a hand drum I ordered instead of inflatable sticks, and more. My cheers must have been the loudest of them all.
‘Who would’ve thought my first fangirl experience wouldn’t be for an idol on stage but for a knight in the arena?’
Truly, I was living through all kinds of experiences.
“Because you cheered, I felt even stronger than usual. Today I’ll definitely beat Richard too!”
“Richard? Ah…”
Right, the finale was the winner’s match against a chosen opponent.
A heroine versus the male lead—that was the kind of event romance fantasies were made of.
“Ah… Did I get ahead of myself?”
“Hmm? Ahead of yourself?”
While I was smiling at the thought of watching such a dazzling scene, Lysa suddenly lowered her head.
Who made my girl lose her confidence? Who?!
I burned with indignation inside, already planning how to punish whoever hurt her.
“Maybe you’d rather cheer for Richard than me…”
And the culprit was… me.
Because of past-Amelie, of course.
Lysa, who just moments ago was glowing like a puppy before a walk, now looked dark and uneasy. She still thought I liked Richard more than her.
It was time to set things straight.
“Lysa, listen carefully. You’re my best friend.”
“…Really?”
“Of course!”
Her face brightened instantly.
Seeing that, guilt and gratitude swelled inside me—I wanted to make her even happier.
“No friend is more precious to me than you. How could I ever compare Richard to you?”
“I’m touched, Amelie…”
“Sure, maybe I once thought about getting closer to Richard… but honestly, I know I upset you before. I’m sorry for that. But I mean it—Lysa, I like you a million times more than Richard!”
“Uh… Amelie, thank you for saying that, but…”
For some reason, Lysa looked awkward.
‘Am I too much? Well, too bad—you’re the heroine, you’ll just have to take my devotion!’
Today, I would burn away all the doubt and unease caused by old Amelie’s misdeeds. That was my only mission.
“No, Lysa. Just between us—I don’t think I even need to get close to Richard anymore.”
“What do you mean, Amelie?!”
She stood up in alarm, but I didn’t stop talking.
“Think about it. Having someone you don’t like cling to you must be awful. And me? I don’t want to keep giving my feelings to someone who hates me.”
“Richard doesn’t hate you. That’s impossible.”
“He will. He has every reason to.”
I laughed weakly, remembering the pushy customers at the café who wouldn’t leave the counter until I gave them my number.
Realizing I was in the same position as them—it stung.
“That’s just because he’s bad at showing it.”
“…Still, I think Richard can be a bit of a jerk.”
“What?”
“He should learn to trust people. Has he been tricked all his life or something?”
“…Amelie.”
Lysa called me carefully, glancing behind me.
‘Behind me?’
I almost turned my head, but a sudden chill down my spine froze me.
And then—
“I heard your lovely opinion of me loud and clear, Amelie Garnet.”
Richard’s deadly voice stabbed me in the back of the head.
Oh no.
If only my instincts were sharper—like the real protagonists’—I wouldn’t be in this mess.
“Lady Amelie, are you unwell?”
When I returned to the stands, the knights asked in worry.
They must’ve heard from Lysa about my weak health, because they looked ready to carry me to the infirmary right away.
Just thinking of Richard standing behind me earlier made me shiver, but I forced a smile. I had to hold out until tonight’s festival.
“No, I think I just tired myself out cheering.”
“You did cheer the most. Whenever our focus wavered, we’d hear your voice and snap back into it.”
“Thanks to you, our order won many matches.”
Everyone chimed in, eager to lift me up.
They say praise makes whales dance, and I wasn’t about to sit there without reacting.
‘Well, what’s done is done. Time to move on!’
I picked up the funnel I had set down earlier.
“Then I’ll cheer hard till the very end!”
“Waaah!”
Not the reaction I expected.
It was nice their morale rose, but I didn’t think they’d scream loud enough to shake the whole arena. Embarrassed, I lowered my head.
Fortunately, Richard and Lysa entered the stage for the finale, shifting everyone’s focus.
The thunderous cheers of the 2nd Order blended into the full crowd’s roar.
‘The main characters really do make the scene glow.’
Even in plain sparring uniforms, the two shone with their golden-and-black pairing—the timeless, unbeatable duo.
“Which of them will win?”
I asked the knight beside me.
With such overwhelming presence from both, I couldn’t imagine either losing.
“It’s hard to say. Counting even unofficial duels, their record is 24 matches—11 wins, 2 draws, 11 losses each.”
“So they’re perfectly tied.”
Hearing that made my anticipation climb even higher. There’s nothing better than a heroine who doesn’t lose to the male lead in strength.
Clang!
Their swords clashed sharply as the duel began.
Their movements were so light and natural, it was like they had rehearsed. I was so spellbound I forgot to cheer.
The other knights were the same—quietly watching, waiting to see whose sword would fall first.
I stared, captivated, as Richard and Lysa drew close, then broke apart, again and again.
“…They really do look best with swords in hand.”
It was the same thought I always had watching Lysa fight, but now I thought it watching Richard too.
His face and physique had been striking from the start, but with a sword in hand… annoyingly, I couldn’t look away.
‘If I turn on the emoji view now…’
I blinked twice.
As expected, a whole field of hearts filled the stands.
Bigger and bigger hearts, dizzyingly thick in the air.
I searched to see if any locks or unique symbols appeared, but only Richard and Lysa had locks above their heads.
“Too bad.”
Richard’s heart must’ve grown bigger too.
But all I could see was his serious face. Of course, inside, his feelings were swelling.
How fun would it be to watch the hearts expand in real time as he realized them?
‘Look at that. They’re even chatting while they fight.’
Even while crossing swords, the overpowered hero and heroine had the leisure to talk.
Clang!
Then, after a few more clashes—one blade went flying, clattering to the ground.
“…Huh?”
Before I could process it, cheers exploded all around me.
“Waaah! Vice-captain Lysa wins!”
Lysa had beaten Richard.
