Chapter 107

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 107

Chapter Title: Mock Battle Opportunity

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After finally polishing off the ice cream and jelly too, and waving my arms with a spirited "Hooray!", I was at last set free.

Back in my room, I flopped onto the sofa like a ragdoll.

The chief steward, who had arrived at the mansion after finishing his talk with Ceria, shook his head at the sight of my utterly exhausted face.

"You should consider other options, Little One. You might be endlessly softhearted, but when it comes to safety, you're always resolute, aren't you?"

"What kind of options?"

The chief steward couldn't answer right away.

If there were other ways, I wouldn't be drawing all this public attention on myself.

Besides, acquiring the deer antler relic through any other method would draw the temple's eyes straight to Duvered.

Things were quiet now, thanks to Adolf's execution and the fallout with the Empress Dowager, but anything involving Etwal would set their eyes ablaze.

'I still need to avoid clashing with the temple for now.'

Even Duvered couldn't easily fend off the Pope's direct intervention.

'What was that incident where Mina seemed to use Etwal...'

Just counting the major events, there were six in total.

First, resolving the great drought.

Then, repelling the Mage Tower's attack.

Healing.

Finding the holy relic for the ritual.

Slaying the dragon.

'And that power that got Mina hailed as the Saintess.'

The demon or its kin that blocked the Mage Tower's assault—I had to find it first, no matter what.

At that time, Mina had deployed a vast and powerful barrier that even the court mages and the Papal Court couldn't manage.

If I had that, then in the worst case—even if full-scale war broke out with the Empire—Duvered could be protected.

"If the deer antler relic might be the strongest barrier, then even if I have to roll on the floor begging, I need to join in."

As I widened my eyes fiercely, the chief steward let out a small sigh.

"Times like this, you really seem like Duvered blood."

"Times like this?"

"That stubbornness where once you decide, there's no looking back."

I pouted my lips, and the chief steward chuckled before continuing.

"While you convince His Grace, Little One, I'll look into some capable soldiers within Duvered."

I nodded, and the chief steward bowed deeply before leaving the room.

A few weeks later, the announcement for the mock battle tournament went out.

Since it was one of the events that got the kids all riled up, the capital was abuzz once the details were revealed.

Henri, sitting beside me, draped a blanket over my shoulders and said,

"I've heard rumors that the imperial princes are joining the mock battle this time."

"Just rumors,"

my aunt said as she lifted her teacup.

"As expected?"

"But there's something to sink their teeth into regarding the princes."

"What is it?"

"They're forming exclusive guards for the princes, all under 17. The winner of this year's mock battle will likely become the captain."

"Drooling at the chance to tie a line to the next sun, no doubt."

Henri smirked wryly, and Ishak drawled indifferently,

"If it's under 17, it's just for show. The imperial family always gets red-eyed over flashy nonsense with no substance."

"Who knows. Ostentation isn't always bad. The public always wants the Empire's symbols to look the part."

While the family chatted, I—who'd been waiting for an opening—perked up.

'Now's the time.'

I clapped my hands with a loud "Wow!"

"I heard from the young ladies at Auntie's mansion that the mock battle is super fun."

"It's a flashy spectacle, that's for sure."

"Should be worth watching."

Henri and Ishak chimed in one after the other.

"Can people who aren't competing watch too?"

"They set up huge magic screens in the market square so commoners can view it. Among the central nobles, those with speaking rights in the council gather at the palace to watch."

"I see."

"It's an event where nobles can make their kids stand out, so they prep desperately. Should be entertaining to watch. They say the winner's house claims a millennium of glory."

I widened my eyes in feigned innocence.

"Then we should join too!"

Henri chuckled and said,

"We can't. We're aura users."

"I'm not?"

At that, the eyes of the family and all the servants snapped to me.

I smiled with pure innocence.

"And I'm only nine."

Daddy shot back immediately at my implication that I could join.

"No."

"But it's good for the family. Our soldiers are super strong, so we can win."

As I looked at the capital forces' vice captain and said, "Right?", he started to grin broadly but caught the family's glares, flinched, and stiffened his lips.

"Even in mock battle, they use live blades. Some wield mages too. Plenty of noble kids get hurt and lose."

"I have holy power, so I'm fine. I can protect myself."

"Leblain."

Daddy called my name sternly, as if to say no way. I drooped my brows and clung to his arm.

"You said chances to join mock battles don't come often. I wanna do it!"

My aunt said,

"It's every four years, so you'll have another chance next time."

But the chance to snag the deer antler relic was only this year.

I gazed at Henri, Ishak, and Yohan with teary eyes.

"Big brothers..."

Henri smiled kindly but dodged by sipping his tea. Ishak awkwardly looked away for real. Yohan gave no response, as usual.

As I deliberately put on a downcast face, Henri soothed me,

"If you want to try mock battle, do it with us. We'll have the capital soldiers hold wooden swords. We can ask Father for prizes."

"But prizes from Daddy aren't a millennium of glory."

I shrugged with my prepared line.

"People called Duvered villains. They said it's not honorable."

Honestly, I thought being a filthy rich family where I could blow money, stuff myself with delicious food, and laze around was better than any millennium of glory, but I made an adorably pitiful face.

Ishak scowled fiercely.

"Which son of a bitch told you that crap..."

"But I know. Our family is super strong and cool!"

At that, the super strong and cool family members somehow looked smug.

"So I wanna show people that too. That we're not villains—we're just strong."

"......"

"Daddy's an awesome lord who'll do anything to protect his people, and Aunt and brothers value things more precious than honor. I wanna let everyone know that."

Daddy met my eyes and said,

"You understand well. There are values more precious than honor. For me, protecting you all is more precious than honor. And just by knowing that value, you already bear something weightier than honor."

"......"

"So there's no need for you to risk yourself for something like honor."

I groaned inwardly.

Ah, I shouldn't have brought up 'precious values'.

I couldn't win against Daddy's silver tongue, honed from brutal mind games with crafty nobles.

'What now? Should I just cry?'

Okay, I'll flop to the floor crying.

I recalled the pose the grand duke's son pulled in the toy store and was slyly starting to slide off my chair when—

"But it would be a good experience for Leblain."

my aunt said.

Daddy's icy gaze turned to her, and the brothers shot her displeased looks too.

"Putting a kid in danger for 'experience'?"

Ishak narrowed his brows, and my aunt set her teacup on the saucer before saying,

"Didn't Henri say it? Ostentation isn't always bad."

"That's different from this...!"

"With folks starting to creep up, it's a good chance to flaunt Duvered's might."

'Nice one, Aunt!'

I cheered her on inwardly with glee.

"Not just you boys—even His Grace shows off so blatantly, so when nobles are cornered, this child will be the first they think of."

Henri retorted coldly,

"Unless they've lost their minds, unlikely."

"Even the Emperor constantly battles treason threats. Do you think rebels dream of improbable uprisings because they're brainless?"

"......"

"When people are desperate, they'll try anything—that's human nature. You boys, having lost Lisette, should know that best."

She meant not to get complacent thinking they wouldn't target me, when they'd even dared assassinate the Duvered Duchess.

Thrilled by the unexpected backup, I flinched and glanced at the family.

Yohan said,

"We can flaunt our power other ways. No need to risk this child to show it."

"You'd oppose it even if it were Henri or Ishak competing?"

"Henri and Ishak—"

"Right. They can protect themselves. That's why you'd let them join. Which means you don't trust Leblain."

"......"

"Why not? Because she can't use aura like Ishak? No special tactical talent like Henri? Or because she's a girl who can't protect herself?"

Henri and Ishak cried out,

"Aunt...!"

"Auntie!"

My aunt looked at Daddy with a composed expression.

"Building a safe fence isn't the whole of raising a child, Your Grace."

"......"

"Believing in them and letting them grow is part of parenting too."

Daddy silently toyed with his teacup handle, and I met my aunt's eyes with a bright smile.

'Gotta tell the chief steward to get ready.'

The mock battle team was twenty soldiers total, all 17 or under.

I'd locked in nineteen from the chief steward's list.

That left one spot...

I smirked inwardly.

'Time to show him to the world.'