Cartag Amphitheater – Royal Viewing Booth
From his seat, Alex studied the engraved names of those who had advanced to the second round. He glanced at the crowd, then fixed his gaze on Acrisio and issued an order:
Alex: — Make the first match of this round between that slave, "the Abuser," and the Battler heir.
The governor lowered his head with a slight bow at the command.
Acrisio: — As you wish, Your Highness. I'll inform Galio.
Acrisio departed immediately. But one of the consuls seated beside Alex pointed out, almost as if questioning the decision:
Consul Hetgar: — Your Highness, relations with Nordkrieger are… strained. It would be unwise for anything to happen to one of their prodigies, especially after we invited them to this celebration.
Alex smiled as he observed the reactions of the other consuls. He quickly noticed they shared Hetgar's concern to some extent. Even so, without hesitation, he replied:
Alex: — You all know my father holds the absolute advantage in the succession… he was the one who sent the invitations bearing his seal, guaranteeing the safety of young Battler.
Consul Hetgar: — We do not question the support behind the Third Prince, but if Simund Battler's successor is harmed, our relations with the north will become extremely difficult.
Alex paused. He placed a hand on his chin and spoke with boldness:
Alex: — That's impossible, Consul. Remember, the Karnegue Clan is the current Royal Family. The Battlers may be strong, but I doubt they'd dare muster forces at the border… besides, I've been informed the Nordkrieger delegation brought a high priest of Thor's temple—Curda Faction.
The other two consuls remained silent. The prince's boldness was reckless, yet precise.
Consul Hetgar, unwilling to lose credibility before the others, pushed further:
Consul Hetgar: — And what do we gain from the match you ordered?
Alex smiled again and spread his hands with arrogant confidence.
Alex: — You're right to worry, Consul. However… if an unknown slave like "the Abuser" takes down a threat like Battler, or Battler takes down a slave like him… we wash our hands clean either way. No matter the outcome, we win.
The other nobles in the booth rose from their seats after that exchange, applauding in a gesture of reverence and respect toward His Highness. Consul Hetgar lowered his gaze in humiliation, sat back down, and fell silent.
Meanwhile, in the noble stands, Marilyn and Lucia exchanged impressions about the first round:
Marilyn Weston: — Quite the show so far… what do you think, Miss Ducking?
The young woman raised an eyebrow at the question, but answered with courtesy and grace:
Lucia Ducking: — Nothing has caught my interest since that eccentric slave. Though I will admit… your friend's feat surprised me.
Refusing to take the bait, Marilyn played along smoothly:
Marilyn Weston: — Young Leisberg will graduate with honors from Aeris Academy's Fencing Department.
A servant was circulating with drinks among the nobles. Lucia took a glass with elegance, sipped, and replied:
Lucia Ducking: — His skills deserve praise. Landing a lethal thrust on an Orc is no small feat.
Tired of the veiled mockery, Marilyn responded with calm sharpness:
Marilyn Weston: — I do have one question, Miss Ducking.
Intrigued by the social maneuver, Lucia gave a soft, composed smile:
Lucia Ducking: — Feel free to ask, Miss Weston.
Marilyn Weston: — Why hasn't Lord Ducking returned to watch the tournament with you?
The question shook Lucia for a brief instant, but she masked it well. With steady composure, she chose her words carefully, hiding her father's true motive:
Lucia Ducking: — My father is currently… most likely searching for a certain material inside the "Dream Phoenix" dungeon.
Marilyn raised an eyebrow in mild surprise. The rarely explored A-rank dungeon was a major attraction for adventurers—yet Marilyn responded lightly:
Marilyn Weston: — Oh, so that's why he wanted to speak with the Governor.
Lucia's eyes drifted toward the movement in the arena and among the crowd. She needed to steer the conversation away:
Lucia Ducking: — Indeed. Oh—look, Miss Weston, it seems they're about to announce the start of the second round.
At that moment, the bronze drums thundered beneath the arena. The second round was about to begin.
Hearing the signal, the prince rested his chin upon his fist and smiled.
Alex: — Now we'll see which of those two dies first.