Chapter 34: 34

As if seeing through Lloyd’s boredom, he received an invitation to a royal jousting tournament. Of course, as a participant who would excite the audience.

Lloyd had participated in the royal tournament several times in the past and had won all of them.

What made this year’s tournament different from the previous ones was that the use of magic was completely prohibited. Apparently, they were competing on the basis of pure martial arts skills.

At first, there were no restrictions on the use of magic, and then it was segregated into divisions for magic users only, but none of those divisions could change the winner, so it was finally banned.

Lloyd smiled thinly and sent in his response to participate.

The skies were blue and clear, as though the heavens had blessed the tournament.

The plain southwest of the royal capital was designated as the stage. The normally tranquil site had now been transformed into an arena with partitions for the stage, a tent for the participants, and spectator seating.

Knights and swordsmen gathered one after another in beautifully decorated armor and with their horses in tow. The participants were mainly of the nobility class, but to make the tournament more exciting, those who were skilled were allowed to participate, regardless of their rank.

Lloyd noticed that the participants were more enthusiastic than usual.

At this tournament, good performances were rewarded with a prize, of course, and it wasn’t a mere dream to be promoted from the commoner class to a knight rank.

This time, however, it seemed that wasn’t all.

The other participants in the tent that served as a waiting room were glancing in a certain direction.

Lloyd followed their gazes while pretending he wasn’t.

A short distance away from the stage, which was surrounded by a fence, there were seats set high enough for the audience to see the whole thing. The seats for royalty were especially high.

There were women who were wearing gorgeous dresses that could be seen even from a distance. They were the queen and princesses. The participants’ eyes were fixed on them.

Among them, there was a princess who drew the most attention. She was chatting with her sisters in profile. Her hair was tied up in a flaxen knot and she was dressed in a bright green dress. Her figure was dignified, upright, and beautiful.

(…Is she the “White Rose”?)

Aileen, the proud third princess, was known to brush off the advances of noblemen and even foreign royalty and aristocrats who approached her with sweet words and faces. Because of her outstanding beauty, even King Marcialle was cautious about how he should use her as a pawn.

Suddenly, the White Rose turned her face to the waiting tent.

Her bright green eyes pierced directly in his direction. Lloyd’s breath caught for a moment.

——The princess certainly had a beautiful face. But what caught his eye more than anything else were her fresh green eyes.

Her slightly small lips seemed to part a little.

But the next moment, she was no longer looking at him.

(…Was I mistaken?)

Lloyd blinked several times. He felt like the princess had smiled at him. But the participants around Lloyd were all animated as though they were the ones who received her gaze.

Lloyd was accustomed to meaningful glances, heated gazes, and flirtatious smiles. But the princess’s gaze seemed different from any of them.

“The victor is Lloyd Allen Reuning!”

The referee announced solemnly, and there were cheers from outside the fence and from the stands. ——The cheers, however, seemed to be mixed with a little bit of apathy.

Lloyd was breathing lightly as he handled the reins and slowly brought his horse back.

His opponent in the final was the son of the knights’ commander. He was dropped from his horse, let go of his spear, and looked up at Lloyd, stunned.

Even after seeing him like that, Lloyd thought nothing of it. Amidst the cheers, he heard the words he had heard so many times before.

“As expected of the son of Lord Bright——”

“The talent of the ‘living jewel’ is truly enviable——”

“——He can even defeat demons with ease, so perhaps human opponents won’t be much of a challenge.”

His heart cooled down immediately. It felt like the slight heat he had gained from the match was taken away in one breath. If he was in his teens, he might have thrust the spear in his hands before him and silenced those annoying mouths.

The top few winners, including Lloyd, dismounted and lined up in front of the audience–the royalty’s seats–in their armor.

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The king and queen gave them words of encouragement along with the prizes.

The princesses handed out cloaks and ornaments to the winners, starting with the lowest rank.

When it was finally Lloyd’s turn to receive his prize, a green hem appeared at the edge of his vision, which was blocked by his bowed head.

“I gift this to the most honorable winner, Lloyd Allen Reuning.”

The voice was firm but a bit high-pitched.

Lloyd looked up slowly.

White hands extended from long cuffs that was transparent in the sun. The two graceful hands reverently held a magnificent sword, which was given only to the winner.

But the splendor of the sword wasn’t the thing that stole away Lloyd’s awareness.

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Beyond that–he met the eyes of the “White Rose” who was looking down at him.

Her small white face was framed by fine wavy flaxen hair. Her well-shaped nose and rather small lips were surprisingly innocent, strengthening her girlish impression.

However, her lively eyes were clearly staring at Lloyd.

Eyes like fresh green leaves bathed in the summer sun.

In this blurry world, only that color seemed to stand out.

How rare, Lloyd thought.

When was the last time he had seen such vivid eyes? Or maybe this was the first time.

They were staring straight at him. There was no passion in them, nor were they expecting anything.

It was as though they were challenging him.

Lloyd’s mouth turned up at the corners.

He looked right back into the green eyes that were staring at him.

“A sword from the beautiful hands of a noble princess is the greatest honor.”

He extended his hands and accepted the sword reverently.

Their gazes didn’t diverge from each other’s during this moment. The princess’s lips were also smiling.

After that, Lloyd’s actions were decisive and swift.

He completely transformed, frequently going to social gatherings to form connections, and he almost always attended events hosted by the royal family to seek contact with Princess Aileen.

The transformation of the young man, who was known to have many lovers but was mostly passive, came as a surprise to those around him.

But what caused even more of a fuss was the fact that the “White Rose,” who seemed to reject all who approached her with her thorns, didn’t turn her thorns on Lloyd.

Boldly, but never discourteously, Lloyd made contact with Aileen.

The noble White Rose’s words caught his interest more and more.

“I know my worth. I’ve been looking for someone who can match that value for a long time.”

Men who don’t know their own value, men who only want to indulge in love, men who only think about power, men who misunderstand their own worth–I have no interest in associating with such men, the third princess said.

She then gazed at Lloyd with sparkling green eyes. As though she was trying to determine his value.

“Lloyd. Can you prove your own worth? I want you to prove your desire for me, your passion. I despite vagueness. I want certainty.”

Those words and manner caught Lloyd’s interest more and more.

He liked the fact that she wanted definite proof, unlike with any of his former lovers.

Just as the princess saw the value of herself and Lloyd, Lloyd also saw the value of the princess.

The third princess, Aileen, would have no inadequacies as a companion.

She was different from the others. He also liked the fact that she wasn’t easily obtained.

(I want her.)

He felt his heart stir for the first time in a long time. He wanted to have this princess, with her uniquely vivid colors, by his side.

If he did so, he might be able to keep away the tiresome monotony and boredom, even just a little bit.

What this noble White Rose seeked as proof of his passion couldn’t be allowed to be half-hearted.

Lloyd himself searched for something sufficient to prove himself and his passion.

When he chanced upon the holy sword <Salutis>, which had existed since the age of myths, chose its own master, and had long allowed no one to possess it, he knew it was the one for him.

Lloyd didn’t hesitate.

On the occasion of their temporary parting, he reverently accepted the hand of the White Rose that was gracefully offered to him and dropped his lips to the back of that hand. This was the first time that Aileen had allowed it.

There was no concern in her green eyes, just arrogant expectation.

“I look forward to your return, Lloyd.”

Aileen’s voice was calm, but her words were firm.

She had the face of someone who didn’t doubt Lloyd’s victory and knew that he would bring back something that was worthy of her.

They both wanted the same thing, and they both knew it.

“Yes. I will surely return to you with the proof in my hand.”

Lloyd only said that and smiled.

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