章節 47: Guests (1)
July 10, 1437. Shining Palace. Ten Days Until the Tournament.
Mia Earhart
— Hurry up, or we'll be late, — my older brother urged.
We walked briskly through the long corridor of our residence. The warm rays of the early summer sun filtered through the windows, casting intricate shadows of the garden trees on the floor and walls.
From outside came the gentle rustle of leaves, and a light breeze slipped through the partially open doors, brushing against my skin with a refreshing coolness. For a moment, I thought how pleasant it would be to pause and savor this fleeting serenity. But there was no time for that.
Eric had woken me at dawn, announcing that one of the elders had summoned us for an important meeting. He added that my presence was essential for both Theo's sake and my own.
How many times had I heard those words over the years? Likely more than I could count. Yet instead of arguing, I simply let myself be persuaded by my brother's insistence.
After a few minutes, we arrived at a massive door leading to someone's study. Since I had never been particularly interested in the layout of the house, I wasn't sure who it belonged to. But one thing was clear—this was where we were expected.
Eric knocked lightly on the door, but there was no response. We waited, and after about half a minute, the sound of footsteps reached us from the other side.
The door opened, revealing a knight from the Grimwave unit.
This unsettled me. Wasn't the entire Grimwave unit supposed to be engaged in the war in Solaris? Why was one of them here, in a place where their presence seemed unnecessary?
The knight gestured for us to enter. Without hesitation, Eric stepped forward, motioning for me to follow.
Inside, we found a spacious and well-appointed study. Massive bookshelves lined the walls, filled with volumes, while a comfortable sofa occupied the center of the room. Near the window stood a desk, behind which sat a middle-aged man.
— A pleasure to see you, Lord Eric, Lady Mia, — he greeted us politely.
— Likewise, — Eric replied with a curt nod.
I simply responded with a silent nod, saying nothing.
— Please, have a seat, — the man gestured toward the sofa.
Without hesitation, Eric sat down, and I followed his lead.
— Would you like anything? Wine? Juice? — the man offered with a faint smile.
— No, thank you. If possible, we'd prefer to get straight to the point and return to training, — Eric said firmly.
The man's expression betrayed no displeasure at the directness. His smile remained as soft and unbothered as before.
— Of course, I understand. The tournament demands your time and energy.
He settled into the chair across from us, his gaze sweeping over us as though evaluating something.
— Well then, let's get to it. My name is Nevan Bloodridge. I am one of the family elders and the secretary of the council.
Eric nodded, signaling his understanding.
— Today, I am here on behalf of the council's deputy head. My task is to assist with your... complex situation.
Nevan chose his words carefully, though Eric's irritation showed plainly on his face. Still, Nevan seemed unperturbed and continued:
— As you know, the Initiation Tournament is one of the continent's most significant events. It will draw many influential guests.
He paused, letting the weight of his statement sink in.
— Raphael Earhart, your half-brother, will be the center of attention for all these guests.
I noticed Eric's jaw tighten at the mention of our younger brother. I, however, remained composed. Nevan's intention was clear—he was trying to provoke us by invoking Raphael's name.
When he saw Eric's reaction, a fleeting smirk crossed his lips before vanishing just as quickly. He might not have even realized it, but I caught that subtle expression.
— On one hand, his prominence might irk you as his elder siblings. But on the other, it could serve as an opportunity, — Nevan said calmly.
Eric tilted his head slightly, his interest piqued, and gave Nevan his full attention.
— What do you mean?
Nevan's smile widened slightly, his demeanor exuding confidence.
— If Raphael succeeds, he will become the family's hero, even if he doesn't win the tournament outright. But… what if he loses in the very first round?
Eric leaned forward, his brows furrowing in thought.
— Then… he'll be a disgrace to the family.
— Precisely! — Nevan said with enthusiasm. — To elevate you and Theo's standing, we need Raphael to lose in either the first or second round.
The elder's plan sounded logical. If Raphael, in whom so much effort had been invested, were to fail immediately, the spotlight would turn against him. At the same time, it would provide an opportunity for other family members to rise.
But to me, it seemed the elders were underestimating Raphael's abilities.
— And how do you propose to ensure our younger brother's defeat?
— Unfortunately, the tournament is a high-profile event for the family, so we cannot act overtly, — Nevan replied.
He retrieved a sheet of parchment from his spatial ring and spread it across the table. It was the tournament bracket—information that should not yet have been made public. Clearly, the council had leveraged its connections to obtain it in advance.
The chart showed two brackets, each containing 32 participants. Raphael was placed in the first bracket alongside his bodyguard, Theo, and the bodyguards of Aurora and Eric. The second bracket listed myself, Eric, Lucius's bodyguard Cedric, and my own bodyguard.
But the most striking detail was the first pairing: Raphael versus Theo. This meant their confrontation would happen immediately in the opening round.
— So Raphael and Theo will fight each other right away, — Eric remarked, scrutinizing the parchment.
— Yes, — Nevan confirmed. — And that is our best opportunity. If Lord Theo can defeat Raphael, not only will it diminish Raphael's reputation, but Theo's own status will soar.
— Agreed, but... how realistic is that? — Eric asked, casting Nevan a skeptical glance.
His doubt was warranted. We, who had been closest to Theo all this time, knew his abilities better than anyone. Frankly, I had serious reservations that Theo could even make Raphael break a sweat.
— I understand your concerns, which is why I've brought this, — Nevan said, retrieving a small vial of crimson liquid from his dimensional ring and placing it on the desk before us.
— Give this to Master Theo before the match, and he'll have no trouble defeating Raphael.
My gaze settled on the vial as I tried to discern its nature. Judging by its appearance, it was likely a stimulant designed to enhance physical and magical abilities. Still, without a proper analysis, I couldn't be sure.
— Is it safe for Theo?
— Absolutely, — Nevan assured with a faint smile. — The only risk is that Raphael might end up permanently crippled.
Eric's face instantly lit up with a broad grin. My brother's desire to rid himself of Raphael, the one who had stolen the family's attention—and often that of Lucius—was finally within reach.
— Perfect, — Eric declared, snatching the vial. — Then that's what we'll do.
His mood had noticeably lifted.
— I'm glad to have pleased you, — Nevan replied, his smile growing sharper. — But be cautious. If anyone uncovers this interference, the consequences will be severe.
— Don't worry, — Eric said with a dismissive wave.
I had remained silent throughout the conversation, but a single thought kept gnawing at me, prompting a question I could no longer hold back:
— What if Raphael still defeats Theo, even with this?
Both Nevan and Eric turned to me, their expressions marked by surprise, as if they couldn't fathom the possibility. Nevan spoke first:
— That won't happen, my lady. This potion is potent enough to push Master Theo beyond his limits. Talented as Raphael may be, he's still just a child. He can't compete with the experience and strength of an academy-trained combatant—especially one enhanced like this.
I nodded silently, withholding further comment.
They hadn't even considered a backup plan in case of failure. Even a cursory glance at the tournament bracket was enough for me to see that if Theo were to lose, Raphael would breeze through to the semifinals without much effort. There, his opponent would be none other than Aurora's bodyguard.
Such an outcome wouldn't just mark a failure for the elders, Eric, and Theo—it would signify an outright triumph for Raphael and deliver a crushing blow to their reputations.
Still, I chose not to delve deeper into these thoughts or bring up the topic.
— Very well. We'll be on our way. Thank you again for your assistance, — Eric said as he rose to leave.
I stood as well, following my brother's lead.
— All for the good of the family, — Nevan replied with a knowing smile, standing to see us out. — Best of luck with your training.
— Thank you. Farewell, — Eric responded curtly.
As we walked through the corridor toward our quarters, Eric finally broke the silence:
— Let's head to Theo.
His voice betrayed his eagerness to hand over the vial and share the supposed guarantee of Raphael's defeat. I, however, had no interest in this scheme.
— Go on without me, brother. I want a proper breakfast, — I said with detached indifference.
Eric scowled but didn't argue, his displeasure evident.
— Suit yourself, — he muttered before turning and heading in the opposite direction.
Alone now, I decided to change course. Instead of going to my room, I made my way to the garden in the courtyard of the estate. The weather was too pleasant to ignore. For a while, at least, I wanted to savor the peace that those "pseudo-geniuses," believing they could best Raphael with such primitive tactics, nearly robbed me of.
Settling onto a bench, I leaned back against the cool wood, letting the sunlight warm my cheeks. The gentle rustling of leaves filled the air, a soothing melody that helped ease my thoughts.
From my dimensional ring, I retrieved a small candy, unwrapped it, and popped it into my mouth. A pleasant tartness spread across my tongue, refreshing and invigorating.
A few days ago, I had begged Alice to share one of these sweets with me after learning that Raphael frequently gave them to her. I had been curious about what captivated my younger brother so much about them. Now I understood. The flavor was quite enjoyable.
Footsteps approached from behind, but I didn't bother to turn.
— My lady, you summoned me? — a familiar voice asked.
— Yes, — I replied, still gazing ahead. — In the semifinals, you must give it your all.
— I will uphold my promise. And you must uphold yours.
I opened my eyes slightly, letting them wander over the clear summer sky stretched endlessly above.
— Of course. If you defeat Raphael, I'll help you get closer to Aurora.
— Understood. May I go now?
— Yes, — I answered simply.
His presence faded, along with the sound of his footsteps, leaving me alone once more.
Ten days remained until the tournament. What will my younger brother show me?
Closing my eyes again, I allowed myself to bask in the serene morning's quiet warmth.
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