CH 12
Today, the capital of the Empire, Glory-Road, was buzzing. It was more lively than usual.
In the streets, a red eagle wearing a golden crown, symbolizing the Empire, fluttered proudly, and the delicious aroma of street food wafted through the air as vendors set up their stalls.
“Mom, I want to eat chicken skewers!”
“Kids, let’s take it slow.”
“Should we watch while drinking beer today?”
“Won’t it be over quickly anyway?”
“After the knights fight, there’s a celebratory performance. There’s plenty to see.”
Children and adults alike enjoyed the festive atmosphere of the bustling streets.
In the hands of the children were toy swords and shields.
Some kids even wore costumes resembling knights’ armor.
The reason so many people were out on the streets today was simple.
Today was the day of the knight mock battle, one of the festivals held in the capital.
Originally, it was just a light event to showcase the duels of ordinary knights to the citizens, but after many flocked to witness the prowess of the current knight commander, the Iron-Blooded Knight Yuris, it became one of the Empire’s representative events.
A knight who never loses.
She was a symbol of the Empire’s victory and a steadfast wall that allowed the citizens of the Empire to live their daily lives without worry.
Naturally, she became an idol for the citizens and was one of the most popular figures in the Empire.
Today, the central training ground of the Empire was filled with people eager to see her.
“It’s packed again today.”
Jeco remarked as he looked at the wide spectator stands filled with citizens near the training ground.
“Today, we have to smash those 2nd Knights properly, right?”
Jeco chuckled as he asked.
“Don’t take it lightly. A mock battle is still a battle. Train as if it were real.”
“Of course, Commander. As you said, everyone will be on high alert.”
Listening to Jeco, she checked her equipment one last time.
“By the way, Commander, is that man you mentioned who you’re interested in coming today?”
“W-What do you mean by that!”
“You said last time that you had someone you were interested in.”
“I never said that!”
Yuris was flustered by the sudden ambush question.
Someone she was interested in?
That’s not true, so why do you keep saying that?
“Wasn’t it? Your expression was that of a noble lady who has a crush on someone.”
“Jeco, how do you know such things when you’re not even of noble birth?”
“Ha ha! Before I started losing my hair, I was quite popular with the ladies. I made many noble ladies shed tears.”
“…Are you saying that after I saw you with long hair?”
“Come on, Commander.”
Regaining her composure, she sighed.
“There’s really no one. Even if there were, I would tell them not to come.”
The faces of a bandit and an illusionist briefly crossed her mind, but Yuris shook her head.
They were not the men she was interested in.
One was an illusion reflecting her desires, and the other was merely the owner of a shop providing that service.
They had no relationship at all.
“Are you really sure there’s no one?”
“Why do you keep asking? It’s like you’ve made a bet on it.”
“……”
“Did you really bet on it?”
As Yuris narrowed her eyes and asked, Jeco waved his hands and shook his head.
“W-Who would bet on that!”
“How much did you bet?”
“……I bet 5 gold that there is.”
“5 gold? That’s enough to buy a decent sword!”
“That’s how sure I am! Commander, you really do have someone, don’t you? That expression couldn’t possibly come out if there wasn’t!”
Yuris sighed again.
“Looks like that 5 gold is going to be wasted.”
“Ugh!”
As they chatted, the time for the battle among the knights approached.
Today’s mock battle was divided into two parts.
A team battle among the members.
And a personal duel between the commanders.
The team battle was a chance to prove how well they could perform in the absence of their commander.
At the same time, it was an opportunity to demonstrate the abilities of the current vice commander of the knight order.
If a knight commander who achieved great results were to leave the order or die in battle, the vice commander would take over.
Yuris was confident that the 1st Knight Order would win.
Jeco was a knight more capable than anyone else, and the knights under her were the best in the Empire.
The 1st Knight Order was not the strongest simply because she was strong.
It was the combined strength of everyone fighting alongside her that made them the strongest in the Empire.
From the highest seat set up in the training ground, the Empress was giving a speech to the citizens of the Empire.
Her voice, the highest flower of the Empire, melted the hearts of the citizens.
– I hope the noble fight of the knights, who have not ceased their training to protect the glory of the Empire, serves as an example to all. I will watch this battle with you. I will personally crown the victor with a laurel wreath.
On her head, braided red hair shone more beautifully than the red eagle symbolizing the Empire, adorned with a golden crown like a symbol.
Her golden eyes looked down upon all the citizens of the Empire, and those who met her gaze smiled with joy as if they had received a blessing.
That was charisma.
Yuris recalled the moment she decided to pledge her loyalty to the Empire when she saw the Empress like that.
She too had been captivated by the beautiful smile of the Empress, vowing to dedicate herself to the Empire and protect her.
What a remarkable person she was.
The Empress, who claimed to be married to the Empire, had never married anyone else, dedicating herself solely to the Empire.
But then again.
‘I don’t feel the same impact as when I first saw her.’
What could be the reason?
As Yuris fell into thought, a man came to mind.
– Your husband.
– That’s not really Yuris, is it?
– Spread your legs.
A man who had ruthlessly dominated her.
The bandit.
And the illusionist who exuded the same scent.
As the images of the bandit and the illusionist surfaced in her mind, she found it impossible to concentrate on the speech.
Oh no, this isn’t good.
If she suddenly got aroused on such an important day…
Her heart raced.
If everyone here knew what she was imagining right now, how would they look at her?
They would surely look at her with contempt.
They would say they believed in her, but never expected her to be like this.
Just imagining it made her hands sweat.
Was it because she hadn’t been able to visit that shop due to the mock battle practice and training?
Her breath was much heavier than usual, and her heart raced faster.
Just imagining it made her feel…
‘Wet.’
She had never felt this way before.
To have such lewd thoughts before a mock battle.
If the goddess knew, she would surely punish her for being lewd.
‘Focus, Yuris. Today is an important day.’
As she squirmed, squeezing her thighs together, she bit her lower lip to strengthen her resolve.
But once the wave of imagination broke, it didn’t stop and only grew larger.
The knights looked at her with disdain as she knelt before the bandit.
The citizens of the Empire, disappointed as much as the expectations they had placed on her.
And the Empress looked at her as if she were trash.
– Yuris Beletaon. I am disappointed in you. How could a knight representing the Empire…
No, this can’t be.
If this continues, I’ll be lost in illusion…
But that thought couldn’t continue any longer.
“Commander, I’m heading out.”
After the speech ended, Jeco called out to her as he prepared to go out.
Returning to reality, Yuris patted Jeco on the back.
“Fight well and come back.”
She sent him off, maintaining her composure.
“I’ll bring victory to the Commander!”
Even at this moment, she felt as if she could hear the bandit’s voice.
It was then.
“This time, we’re going to win, right?”
A man approached Yuris, who was lost in thoughts of being dominated by the bandit.
It was Beron, the commander of the 2nd Knight Order.
The handsome man with silver hair tied back smiled with one lip curled, his blue eyes sparkling.
“Oh, it’s been a while, Beron.”
“That cheeky tone of yours hasn’t changed, huh?”
“Same to you.”
“Tch! By the way, it seems you’ve been training hard today? Your face is all red.”
“I-I ran a few simulations in my head.”
“How did they turn out?”
What simulations? Until just a moment ago, strange thoughts had been playing in her head.
“I won them all.”
Yuris had no choice but to lie.
A strange sense of guilt from the lie pricked at her heart.
Beron, clad in sleek armor, stood beside her, watching the 2nd Knight Order emerge from the opposite side.
“Today, we’re going to win.”
“You sound quite confident.”
“Of course. I have solid grounds for it.”
“Grounds?”
Beron continued as he looked at the spectator stands.
“My little sister came today. I can’t show a pathetic side in front of her, can I?”
“Your sister?”
“You must have seen her. The Empire’s best spirit mage.”
“Oh, if it’s that arrogant noble lady, I saw her before. Unlike you, she was beautiful.”
“Arrogant, you say?”
“Talking informally on the first meeting and saying she would beat me surprised me because she looked just like you.”
Yuris knew Beron’s sister.
Helen, a famous spirit mage recognized for her spirit sensitivity by elves.
Though Beron claimed she was the Empire’s best spirit mage, Yuris knew her to be the strongest among human spirit mages capable of summoning the most powerful spirits.
She had only met her a few months ago, but she certainly remembered her impression.
– Are you the one who has beaten my brother every time?
That venomous expression as if she didn’t know Yuris.
The fierce look she had, as if she were grinding her teeth at the fact that she had beaten her brother.
– Don’t get too cocky just because you beat my brother. I’ll beat you soon.
– I’ll be joining the Empire soon too. Let’s have a match then. I’m looking forward to seeing if you can remain the goddess of victory then.
Her personality was just like Beron’s.
“Is that so? Ha ha! That sounds just like my sister.”
Beron chuckled at what she said.
“Oh, I absolutely can’t lose now! I must win.”
“Don’t get your hopes up.”
After their brief conversation, Beron left, saying he would run through the simulations one last time.
As she talked about the match with Beron, the thoughts of the bandit dominating her faded away.
Thank goodness.
She was able to regain her composure.
She stood quietly, watching the flow of the team battle.
The team battle ended with the victory of the 1st Knight Order.
As expected, Jeco’s performance stood out.
He was a talent who could have been a commander in any other knight order, so it was perhaps a natural result.
‘Excellent.’
And then came the individual matches.
“I will put on a good fight.”
“Glory to the Empire.”
Fully armed, she faced Beron.
Boom!
The duel between the two swordmasters ended with.
“Winner! Yuris Beletaon!”
Naturally, it was awarded to Yuris.
“Damn, I showed something embarrassing in front of my sister…”
Once again, I won.
I should be happy about this.
I should be grateful for winning for the glory of the Empire.
I should be pleased to maintain the title of the goddess of victory.
‘I’m not happy.’
It felt strange.
Even though she had achieved victory, she didn’t feel the same joy as before.
She wasn’t happy about the glory and victory.
“Congratulations. As expected, she is the symbol of victory that the Empire boasts.”
Even at the moment when the Empress adorned her chest with a medal using her beautiful hands.
‘Empty.’
Yuris couldn’t shake off the feeling of emptiness.
She should be grateful for the Empress’s blessing.
This should have been her joy.
She should have been filled with satisfaction from the cheers of the citizens.
Why?
Why exactly?
– Aren’t you just a whore who wants to be violated by your husband?
Why do I feel happier at the bandit’s voice echoing in my head?
Why do I imagine them looking at me with contempt?
Perhaps it was due to the continued questions.
Yuris didn’t notice the gazes from the spectators glaring at her until the end.
In a festival where all the knights were reveling in victory.
‘This is insufficient. This isn’t… right.’
Only Yuris couldn’t enjoy the victory.
And as if entranced by something.
“I have to go.”
She left the training ground, which was in full swing with the festival.