────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Chapter 35
Daisy took the pictures drawn by River and Luciana to bed.
She decided not to say thank you. It had been a while, and both of them agreed to call it even. She wouldn’t have been hurt if it wasn’t for his dark aura.
‘Should I sleep after looking at the paintings of my little artists?’
Tomorrow is a big day. She would use Xandarvan to motivate Carlyx and dispose of the servants.
Thus, her mind slowly drifted off.
“Madam! Marquis Chatul’s carriage has arrived!”
“I just heard from Tyler.”
Standing in front of the mirror, Daisy smoothed out the creases in her dress. An elegant scarlet dress with a ribbon fixed on sleeves and cascading ruffles from her bust to knee.
“You’re so elegant today.”
“Because I must.”
Xandarvan was different from Logan and Jeffrey. He will become the turning point for the Marquisate of Jean.
She must garner public attention and use that to the fullest. And to do that, she needed to maintain her dignity as much as possible.
Daisy turned her back and asked quietly.
“What about the jewelry box? Is it ready yet?”
“Yes, Madam. I have it ready.”
May opened a jewelry box in front of Daisy. There were a variety of expensive jewels in it, and she chose some that stood out the most.
A white diamond bracelet and necklace set that contrasted with her red dress.
“Madam, those jewels were gifts from Master! Are you really going to do that?”
“Yeah. Because I received them at my wedding. After all, creating a narrative is supposed to come from meaningful things.”
May nodded even though she looked sad.
What they were trying to do was to replace all of the servants at once. She had to pay that much to dismiss many people.
Daisy sat at her dressing table.
“Help me.”
May gathered the jewels and carefully draped them on Daisy. A beautiful necklace decorated her flawless neck, and a bracelet adorned her thin wrist.
“The match will begin soon.”
“Don’t worry. You won’t miss anything even if you’re late. Master and Marquis Chatul’s matches usually lasted for more than 40 minutes.”
“Usually the match will be concluded after an hour.” Daisy murmured.
This was also the information contained in the documents of her investigation.
When Daisy rose, May handed over a wide-brimmed hat and a pair of white gloves.
Daisy turned around. A beautiful noble figure oozed elegance and splendor at the same time.
The news of Xandarvan’s imminent arrival had spread amongst the knights in the last few days.
As the match was about to begin, the knights gathered in the sparring hall. Some were amazed and some were confused. Some seized this opportunity to bad mouth Carlyx.
“Why is Commander Xandarvan coming here? There’s nothing to gain!”
“There is. Carlyx always lost to Commander Xandarvan in the past.”
“That’s true! What if he was bribed? Because I heard Marquis Jean is quite wealthy.”
“That’s possible. Otherwise, why would he come to the Zistanter Knightly Order, which only brings nothing good to him. Every noble knows better than to get involved with this family.”
The knights used prickly words to hide their anticipation. Of course, there were knights who were purely looking forward to seeing the match. However, most of them felt uncomfortable with the sudden changes.
“It’s also helpful to watch different battles to survive the war. Maybe he’s coming with such a noble intention.”
“Yes. As expected from Commander Xandarvan!”
The conversation was heavily influenced by one’s reputation. Overhearing this unpleasant exchange, Jeffrey grimaced.
Ferderick crossed his arms as he watched his friend twitch in anger.
“Stay still. Let’s just watch the match.”
“I will stay still even if you don’t tell me. I don’t want to embarrass my commander and Madam Daisy!”
“Oho, look at this nobleman! Since when did you decide to call her Madam Daisy?”
Jeffrey rolled his eyes at Ferderick’s playful question.
Shortly after, Carlyx and Xandarvan entered the sparring hall. The two figures entered with heavy steps as the light illuminated their backs.
“How many years has it been?”
“It’s been eight years. Eight years and four months to be exact. We don’t have many opportunities to spar after you became the commander of Manefartal Knightly Order.”
“I’m just asking how have you been, but as you answered so stiffly, I see you haven’t changed at all! And you still have the sword you received when you become a commander!”
Xandarvan slowed his steps as he glanced around and asked.
“I know that there’s another guest. I guess she’s not here yet.”
Other guests? Carlyx wanted to ask if he referred to someone other than Daisy, but he decided to remain silent.
He didn’t want to waste his breath on Xandarvan. When training as knights together, Carlyx had felt that Xandarvan wasn’t a good colleague to him.
His sarcastic tone and sharp eyes. Carlyx couldn’t respect an arrogant person like him.
‘I’m sure she’ll come with Tyler soon.’
Xandarvan climbed the stairs, followed by Carlyx. They were using one of the sparring rings there. The rectangular sparring ring was about 15 meters on each side and surrounded by an iron-like fence.
Xandarvan greeted Logan on the way up to the sparring ring.
“Long time no see, Logan!”
“I’ll look forward to a good fight, Commander Xandarvan!” Logan smiled candidly.
“By the way, I asked you to join my Order! Why did you insist on staying in this Order anyway?”
“Xandarvan. Let’s get started.”
Before Logan could answer, Carlyx cut him off. Logan naturally backed away from them.
A suffocating tension filled the arena.
“I don’t know what makes your ‘new’ wife so confident that you will beat me!”
Xandarvan spat out the word ‘new’ sarcastically. He thought Carlyx’s ‘new’ wife wouldn’t be so different from his ex-wife anyway. The rudeness was clearly intended.
“It was inappropriate for you to call her my ‘new’ wife when we’ve been married for months already. I don’t think it’s wise to reveal that you have a poor perception of time.”
With a blunt voice and fierce expression, Carlyx added.
“She’s not my new wife. She’s the Marchioness, the Madam of Marquisate, and my Wife.”
With a cold voice, he gave emphasis to the phrase ‘my wife’.
“Tch! Your new wife will soon cry watching me knock you off!”
Disgusted with him, Carlyx responded sharply.
“I guess you’re obsessed with the word ‘new’. Seems like you have poor language ability.”
Usually, Carlyx just endured anything Xandarvan said, but he really couldn’t let him slide this time. The way Xandarvan looked down on Daisy was infuriating.
“Well, I just think that she must hate being involved with an illegitimate child like you!”
Shing-
Carlyx drew his sword and took a step forward threateningly.
‘I won’t allow anyone to swear at her.’
A small fire lit up in his eyes. He didn’t know why he felt this way.
The day when she forced herself to lift the sword and hold her ground against him was still vivid in his mind.
‘Why?’
Perhaps because she was straightforward with her purpose. He trusted her more than anyone because her sincerity was evident.
He felt that she cared about him even a little bit.
Even though he was in denial for a few days, he became weary of the overwhelming emotion and decided to acknowledge it.
Suddenly, the desire to defeat Xandarvan flared within him.
He knew his battle experience over the past few years wouldn’t betray him today. He tightened his grip on the sword.
“Let’s start the fight, Sir Xandarvan.”
A voice that suppressed his emotion resonated in the arena.
Now his enemy also drew his sword.
Thirty minutes had passed. Carlyx leaned over, gasping for breath.
A sharp sword swiftly passed by his ear and fell back. The sharp sound lingered in his head.
‘At this rate, I’ll lose.’
Judging from their breathing pace, Xandarvan was in a better state than him.
Carlyx bit his lips, raised his sword and charged ahead. This time, his sword passed by the side of Xandarvan.
‘If I don’t finish it in five minutes, I’m doomed.’
Carlyx quickly avoided Xandarvan’s sword and cooled his head. He clenched his sword and looked straight at Xandarvan.
Clang, clang, clang.
Their swords clashed relentlessly and there was no time to blink. Carlyx and Xandarvan were probing to find each other’s weakness.
A single mistake. That alone could determine the result.
“It reminds me of the last time we fought.”
Clang, clang.
The two swords hitting each other made a sharp sound as they were drawn back sharply.
Briefly disengaging, Carlyx thrust his sword forward again.
Clang, clang, clang.
Time and again, the sharp sounds of metal on metal echoed and the voice mocking Carlyx got even louder.
“Both then and now, your eyes haven’t changed!”
Their swords clashed again. When Carlyx twisted this sword, Xandarvan also did the same. The sound of their swords clashing changed over time.
Xandarvan flashed a mocking smile and said.
“You’re so dead inside! That’s why you can never beat me!”
Xandarvan countered his attack easily.
“You were called the War Demon. That’s why I was expecting something great. How disappointing.”
Carlyx leaned down when Xandarvan suddenly changed his stance. There was a clear difference in speed, and Xandarvan’s sword brushed past Carlyx’s cheek.
Red blood flowed down his white skin.
‘Just as I thought, the winner is….’
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────