‘This is a duel for the honor of our Houses.’ A flame of fighting spirit ignited within Rosaria’s chest.
If it’s a battle to decide which House will claim honor, then she cannot afford to lose, for the pride of her family.
That alone was not the only reason that set Rosaria’s heart ablaze.
It was because her opponent was Annamaria Furlanet.
Annamaria usually appeared to be nothing more than a slender, elegant young lady, composed far beyond her years.
Yet the moment she herself wished for a duel, the presence that radiated from her body became suddenly heavier and more forceful, as though something invisible had condensed around her.
Perhaps this was the magical power she kept hidden from others.
How intriguing, Rosaria felt a thrill close to joy, her fighting spirit soaring, excitement coursing through her.
She licked her lips briefly.
‘Annamaria is strong.’
The desire to fight the strong was a primal instinct inherited by those of the Romano Family.
She had no wish to insult or belittle her opponent.
Purely, simply because she was strong, she wanted to defeat her.
A knight of true ability could usually size up an opponent’s capabilities before crossing blades.
Rosaria was no different.
Facing an easy opponent was dull to the Romano blood within her.
But against a formidable adversary, one whose strength rivaled her own, her blood rejoiced.
From long ago, and even now, the only one who could truly excite Rosaria in a confrontation was Annamaria.
Both Count Romano and Count Furlanetto had turned pale.
“Annamaria. If you don’t hold back, the manor will—”
“Rosaria, you mustn’t go all out, either.”
Yet the two young ladies did not avert their gaze, answering each other without hesitation.
“I cannot possibly hold back, not against Rosaria.”
“If I don’t give my all against Annamaria, I’ll be the one who dies.”
Upon hearing their daughters’ replies, both Counts barked sharp commands to those around.
“Step back, everyone! Don’t get caught in the crossfire!”
“Duke of Karana, please stand back as well!”
With elegant poise, Rosaria drew her sword and took her stance.
Annamaria lightly stepped back with her right foot, both hands loosely extended in front of her.
“How shall we decide the victor?”
Rosaria grinned, “Until one of us stops breathing, would be ideal—but that won’t do.”
“Then, until either of us draws blood, perhaps?” With a faint smile, Annamaria suggested.
Those watching from a distance turned pale.
They had expected a more peaceful end, like someone admitting defeat or dropping to their knees, so it was only natural.
But Rosaria understood Annamaria’s thinking.
If they were fighting for the pride of their Houses, nothing lukewarm would satisfy them.
“Very well. Then… let’s begin!”
A sharp crack echoed through the grand hall.
The marble floor where Rosaria stepped split in a spiderweb of cracks from the force.
‘She’s fast.’
Rosaria lunged at her with blinding speed.
Annamaria brought both hands forward, focusing her mind into her palms as she began her chant.
“Weave, my cocoon of protection!”
With a whoosh, delicate golden threads shimmered to life at Annamaria’s feet, rising all the way to the ceiling.
The glowing light swayed the chandelier’s glass, sending out a high-pitched chime.
Several glass shards fell, making people nearby scream.
The golden threads encircled Annamaria’s body.
Rosaria’s sword thrust at the gaps between the threads.
With a flash, golden light burst apart, the sword rebounding with a hard clang.
But the golden threads were also cut through, scattering and disappearing into the air.
“Incredible. She pierced a defensive spell with her sword.”
Galileo murmured, and beside him, Count Romano groaned.
“Can she cast magic fast enough at that speed?”
“If it were me, I wouldn’t make it in time—I’d be skewered,” said Count Furlanetto, drawing his shoulders up.
Rosaria pulled back her sword and leapt aside.
Her jump was so high it startled the crowd, but she landed behind Annamaria, digging into the marble floor with such force that she charged straight at Annamaria’s back.
“Expand!”
Annamaria spun and thrust out her hand, and a bundle of shining golden threads shot straight out.
The people behind her shrieked as the light passed through them harmlessly, the threads deflecting only Rosaria’s blade before their astonished eyes.
“It reacts only to a single thing. Is this Directional Magic? The precision is astonishing.” On the dais, Jeremiah murmured.
Once again, Rosaria leapt aside, soaring high.
Annamaria raised both hands toward her and commanded, “Go, spiders!”
The tips of the golden threads transformed, each becoming a tiny spider.
The swarm of golden spiders, trailing light, shot toward Rosaria near the ceiling.
Twisting in midair, Rosaria dodged them all.
The spiders embedded themselves in the ceiling, sending plaster raining down.
As people scattered to avoid the falling debris, Count Samboni huddled with his son.
“Is that all you’ve got, Annamaria?!”
Rosaria landed, pressing her foot down to leap again, the floor cracking beneath her.
Annamaria began another chant, “Spiders, go…!”
“That’s enough!”
A commanding voice, accustomed to giving orders, cut through the air.
Both Rosaria and Annamaria startled, turning to the dais.
Jeremiah was watching the two of them with a troubled smile.
“Well done, young ladies. Your devotion to your Houses’ honor is fierce, noble, and beautiful. However, if you continue any further, the manor may be half-destroyed.”
The guests, who at first had been giddy with excitement, now cowered by the walls in terror.
All the Counts except Count Romano and Count Furlanetto were huddled up in fear.
The battle had lasted only ten, twenty blinks of an eye.
But in that brief time, more than half the marble floor had cracked, and in two places it was deeply gouged.
Half the chandelier’s glass was shattered, and a large swath of ceiling plaster had fallen to the center of the room.
Jeremiah bowed gracefully and said, “I must ask your pardon, Count Romano, Count Furlanetto, and your daughters as well. It was my oversight. I should have prepared an extra statue, but I failed to do so. The fault lies with me. I wish to bestow equal honor and respect upon both Houses, so I will send the same gift to each at a later date. Will you accept this?”
Annamaria and Rosaria each straightened their posture and dropped to one knee.
Count Romano and Count Furlanetto bowed as well.
“Such gracious words, Duke of Karana,” said Count Romano.
Count Furlanetto followed, “We are deeply grateful for your consideration.”
“Thank you, proud Counts of both Houses,” Jeremiah smiled.
‘This man… he might truly be someone exceptional.’ Annamaria stared at Jeremiah in surprise.
He wished to rule the Parsa State better and yet also respected the pride of his lesser lords—no past governor had ever done this.
If a man with such qualities truly loved his wife, he would surely listen to her words.
‘This could work!’ She clenched her fist inwardly.
If she could win this young man’s heart, Annamaria could secure protection for her people against disease, and perhaps propose reforms that would revitalize the whole of Karana Province.
At that moment, she sensed a strange heat beside her.
Startled, she turned and saw Rosaria gazing at Jeremiah with the intense eyes of a hunter stalking prey.
The fierce aura radiating from her entire body was like that of a wild beast.
‘Rosaria!? No way—’
Though Rosaria hadn’t opened her mouth, Annamaria felt as if she’d heard her voice.
‘I will not let this man escape!’
Was this, perhaps, love at first sight?
Compared to the aura of infatuation that girls often gave off at Magic Academy, Rosaria’s was so intimidating… but—
The young man before her certainly had good looks, high status, and seemed to be of good character.
But could someone really fall in love so suddenly?
‘But now that I think about it, I did know someone like that at Magic Academy.’
Every time they went to town, one friend would fall madly in love with a florist’s apprentice or a passing knight, making a commotion for months.
She was usually rejected out of hand, and it always fell to Annamaria to comfort her.
Surprisingly, Rosaria might be that type as well.
After criticizing others for hidden motives, could she herself suddenly be showing hers so blatantly?
It was exasperating, but also made Annamaria anxious.
‘If that’s the case… Wait. I want to make him my husband.’
If someone as beautiful as Rosaria confessed her feelings, there wouldn’t be a man alive who wouldn’t fall for her.
Unlike her friend’s string of defeats, Rosaria would most likely be victorious every time—
‘Will I lose to Rosaria and miss this great chance?’
Unpleasant thoughts raced through her mind.
Annamaria had been running herself ragged in the Padova Mountains every day, growing anxious and frustrated as Groanwood supplies ran low, exhausted to the bone.
And then Rosaria and Jeremiah, all smiles, would show up together at the Fullranet Manor on a white horse, passing messages between the families.
“Today, I’ll deliver the message.”
“I can’t let the Duke do something like that. I’ll go, so please wait for me.”
“No, I won’t let you.”
“Oh, you really are…”
She would have to watch them flirt endlessly.
And when Annamaria begged, “We need more Groanwood, please help for the sake of the people,” Rosaria would laugh, “Military power is the responsibility of House Romano, but that sounds like a lack of magic from House Furlanetto. Don’t you think?” and ride off with Jeremiah—while still flirting.
‘Just because you’re newlyweds, doesn’t mean you can flirt in front of me!’
She screamed at her own imagination inside her head.
The very thought made her furious.
‘I absolutely cannot lose.’
She wouldn’t care if she lost in gathering acorns, or in an ultimate funny-face contest, but she couldn’t lose in something that affected her people’s safety.
‘No. It’s not ‘I don’t want to lose.’ ‘
Secretly, she clenched her fist, and steeled her resolve, ‘I will not lose.’
After that—thanks to Jeremiah’s masterful management of the atmosphere, the ball began in a pleasant mood, but soon came to a close.
The floor was in such a state, dancing was utterly impossible.
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