Some great men were bound to suffer large and small wounds. Even if the wound could be treated because the priests were always on standby, they couldn’t fill the mental strength consumed by life and death fighting for several minutes. This was the reason it took several days from the preliminary round to the final.
Today was the day of the Round of 16 and quarterfinals.
The ticket bought two days ago could only be used on the same day, so spectators had to buy a new ticket today. This caused a lot of complaints. They didn’t mind spending money, but it was difficult to get the tickets in the first place. And this applied not just to the commoners, but also to the nobles.
Some aristocrats and royals from other countries who came to celebrate the Founding Day had invitations, so they didn’t have to fight for a seat… Or they shouldn’t have to. If anything, their fight was more intense if not less. It wasn’t a question of whether there was a seat or not, but rather a question of “who do you sit next to”.
People returned after enjoying a break after the Round of 16 in the morning. As the empty seats were filled one by one, they could find a particularly striking figure. It was Prince Haqab, the influential heir of Balta, who was not in the previous match.
To Haqab’s right was his sister Ganje, but the seat to his left was empty. The Crown Prince of the small kingdom of Maram, who had been watching him, sneaked up to take the empty seat.
Haqab felt a presence approaching and turned his head, which had been facing Ganje, in the opposite direction. The hesitant Crown Prince greeted him with an awkward smile.
“Ah, it’s a pleasure, Prince Haqab.”
Haqab frowned slightly at his words and smiled.
“Oh? Have we ever met?”
The man’s face turned red. They had met in a foreign country in the past, but Haqab seemed to have completely forgotten. Haqab made a low laugh when he was in conflict over whether he should introduce himself again.
“I’m kidding, Alse Maram. How can I forget the Crown Prince’s face?”
Despite the unpleasant jokes, the Crown Prince of Maram smiled at the fact that Haqab remembered him. Ganje looked at Haqab with a surprised expression. One has to be careful with every word he says. He’s just playing with you.
Meanwhile, Alse Maram asked Haqab if he could sit next to him.
“Oh, my dear prince. My apologies. I know I should avoid reserving a seat, but I’m waiting for someone. Can you forgive me?”
“But of course. Haha.”
“How considerate you are. Let’s meet when we meet at the banquet.”
“Ah, that’s-”
“Have a good time.”
Haqab drove the Crown Prince away with a smile. The Crown Prince glanced back at him as he left. He seemed to want to make a specific appointment, but when Haqab turned his head toward Ganje again, he lost his chance.
Afterward, several contenders approached Haqab, unaware that Crown Prince Maram had been almost treated as a peddler and driven out. However, not a single person could exceed one minute and have to leave for another seat.
Even though there was a lot of noise next to her, Ganje looked down at the stage with her arms crossed. Haqab wrapped his arm around Ganje’s shoulders and placed his head on her head.
“It’s tiring to be popular. Come to think of it, Ganje. The game hasn’t even started yet.”
“I’m just…”
“Just what?”
Haqab gave strength to his hand wrapper around her shoulders. Ganje frowned and shook his hand off.
“I’m just looking at people’s heads. Don’t bother me, Brother. It’s annoying.”
“People’s heads? Why? Would you like to rip them off?”
“They’re fascinating because they’re colorful. There’s only black in Livita.”
“I know, right? I’m not used to it either.”
Haqab laughed as if it was funny and stroked her head wildly. Ganje neatly trimmed her messy hair again with a grumpy expression.
“Ganje. Can you guess who will sit next to me?”
“Baiferm.”
“You are smart.”
“The one who doesn’t know is stupid.”
“That’s right. There are too many… stupid people.”
Haqab looked around with a short sigh. Eyes coveting an empty seat were still floating around. Ganje read the true meaning of his smiling expression. He looked like he wanted to rip off their heads, as he had told her before.
“Yes, Baiferm,” Haqab continued what he was saying earlier.
“Which one do you mean?”
Which one? The “Baiferm” that Ganje spoke of was, of course, Dimla. The fact that the current Baiferm Guandite was nothing more than a puppet of Dimla could be known without thinking deeply. However, Ganje now realized that the “Baiferm” that her brother spoke of was referring to Guandite, not Dimla.
You’re waiting for that kid? Ganje asked suspiciously.
“Is Baiferm Guandite old enough to speak?”
Guandite would be 11 on her upcoming birthday. Although she looked a couple of years younger than that young age, she was naturally able to speak, even if she were seven or eight. Ganje was asking not because she thought of the girl as an infant, but to question whether the little girl had grown up to understand and think about words and give a proper answer. Haqab smiled as if he understood the meaning.
“She babbles, but… I don’t know. We’ll have to meet her first.”
“It would be hard to say a word with the Regent presents.”
“I heard yesterday’s news that the priests of Illavenia had stopped by the castle where the Lagos delegation was staying. Looks like the Regent’s health isn’t good, sadly.”
Sadly. But the man who said that seemed to be very happy. Ganje’s expression was a bit distorted.
“Stop smiling, Brother. I can’t stand you.”
“You punk. Where did you learn to speak like that?”
Then a group appeared from the entrance. It was Baiferm Guandite who had brought some of her servants. As Haqab had expected, Dimla did not appear.
Haqab, who found Guandite searching for an empty seat, jumped up from his seat. As he approached, the attendants took one step closer to Guandite. The girl’s eyes widened, and looked surprised, then raised her hand to the attendants. The servants took a step back with dissatisfied expressions.
“Oh, isn’t this the Baiferm? What a fateful encounter.”
“Prince.”
The girl tilted her head slightly as she looked at Haqab, who looked almost twice as tall as herself. A vigilant light appeared on her face.
“If you don’t mind, may I guide you to your seat?”
The girl’s gaze turned to the servants behind her. She shook her head resolutely. Blink. Blink. Guandite’s large eyes fluttered. One could easily read the conflict in it. She was well aware of the dangers of Haqab, but it seemed that she was troubled by rejecting the polite request.
The girl nodded her head eventually.
“Please, Prince.”
Haqab grinned. He guided Guandite to the seat next to him as if it was natural. Except for the uncomfortable company, it was a good place to watch the show from, even for the short Guandite. The problem was that the big chair was high enough for her to whine. The dignity of the king was on the verge of falling to the ground. When Guandite hesitated, Haqab bent one knee.
“Baiferm.”
Then he reached out his large hand and touched it around his knee. Anyone who saw it would understand he was offering her to step on his knee. Guandite’s eyes fluttered.
“I told you I’d guide you. It’s okay, Baifrem. Just grab my shoulder and go up.”
As he bent his knees, their eyes were almost at the same level. The girl lowered her eyes slightly as if embarrassed. She hesitated, then grabbed Haqab’ by the shoulder and stepped on the hand underneath. Even though Guandite put weight on him, his hand still supported the girl. Haqab raised his hand to help the girl sit before taking his seat.
Ganje greeted Baiferm with a smile. Guandite also greeted her lightly. Haqab opened his mouth as he watched the two greet each other.
“Did you come to see Sir Rosaline, Baiferm?”
Guandite raised her chin proudly as if she’d never been tense.
“I came to see the brave warriors of Illavenia.”
“There’s no man braver than the warriors of Lagos who overcome the cold.”
The girl, who tried to calm down, showed a little emotion as if she were happy. Ganje looked at the attendants who had followed Guandite, thinking they must be crazy. What on earth were you thinking of bringing that unguarded little child to the snake’s den? It is said that Lagos raises their children harshly. It doesn’t seem to be empty words.
Guandite didn’t clear the boundaries very much, but she had fun talking to Haqab. He left out hard words and political terms but talked about the trivialities, such as the snow-capped mountains of Lagos he had seen, crystals of ice that hardened like jewels, and the bones of whales left on the shore. How deeply the amazing scene was engraved into his heart. He slowly unraveled them as if he were telling an old story to a child.
As Haqab’s story progressed, Guandite, who had raised her fur like an animal, softened her vigilance.
“I went out to the terrace once, and then the ice frozen from above… I heard the name, but I forgot.”
“You mean an icicle.”
“Right, an icicle fell and hit my head, and then I stumbled and slipped on the frozen floor. It is a relief that no one has seen it.”
“Ahaha!”
The girl covered her mouth with her hand and laughed. Haqab smiled bitterly as he laughed after the girl.
“That was the first day I met Ploeto, Baiferm.”
Guandite’s expression hardened. When the story of the imprisoned former Baiferm came out, the light of vigilance began to rise again.
