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Chapter 119 : Tryst (1)
Jamie was certainly a prodigy by the kingdom's standards. But in the Holy Empire, the strongest nation on the continent, he was not.
There were countless people with the same level of talent as Jamie, and the competition was just as fierce. Although he wasn't completely eliminated, he didn't stand out either.
He thought that was a good achievement in itself. After all, he had properly digested what his master had taught him.
Although his master was not the strongest in the Empire, he was a genius who had become a Sword Master at a young age. Jamie felt great pride in the fact that he had been acknowledged by such a master.
The people of his hometown further nurtured his pride. Although he was average in the Empire, he was by far the best in the northern part of the kingdom. Everyone looked up to Jamie. He had become a great master just by the fact that he had learned the sword in the Empire.
Е ň ú ṁ ä
It had to be that way.
The kingdom was the periphery of the continent, and the Empire was the center. The Empire was far ahead of the kingdom in every aspect. Not only in military and economy, but the level of swordsmanship and magic was also the highest on the continent.
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Even those who had learned the sword and magic at the kingdom's academy would go to study abroad in the Empire after graduation to improve further. Jamie, who had studied abroad at an earlier time than them, was ahead in every aspect.
That's why he could also laugh at Edward's success.
A domain on the periphery of the kingdom, not even the Empire. A family that had been on the verge of collapse, even though it was said to be reviving. An inferior student who had repeatedly failed and dropped out of the kingdom's academy, which was far below the level of the Empire's educational institutions.
He hated the sight of him acting all high and mighty just because things had gone well for him. Although Edward had never actually boasted about himself, Jamie, who was twisted to the core, took it as him being arrogant.
Ẃ е̃b̂ñ о v̈ е̌ ľ Еnŭ m̄а́
‘I'll finish you in one go.’
He had no intention of probing and engaging in an exploratory battle. His ill feelings towards Edward had piled up too much for that. He had also lost his composure because he had been caught casting magic on the ground.
Jamie poured everything into the beginning. He was going to show the greatness of Imperial swordsmanship, that he could cut down the likes of Edward with a single blow without tricks like the Land of Mana, to the spectators.
‘I lost.’
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But the swordsmanship that Jamie had spent years building up had collapsed in a single blow from Edward's casually swung sword.
‘I lost, not the Empire.’
Ẅе b̊ n̆ о̇v е̂ l̆ Ē.n̊ǔmа̂
His swordsmanship was lacking. But it wasn't a problem with the swordsmanship, it was because Jamie was lacking.
If it had been his master who had used the swordsmanship, the result would have been completely different.
Although the attack had ended in failure, his pride in Imperial swordsmanship had not changed.
But that wasn't the end.
‘What on earth did I just see?’
In the kingdom, where the level of swordsmanship was far behind, a swordsmanship that was identical to, no, far superior to, the swordsmanship of the Empire had appeared. From a country bumpkin who had never even crossed the kingdom's borders.
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“Strictly speaking, it is a swordsmanship created by Griffith.”
It was an absurd statement. But no one could point out its absurdity. Because the swordsmanship Edward had shown was real.
The moment the swordsmanship was displayed, Jamie realized that it was of the same kind as the sword he had learned and displayed.
Because they came from the same root, they were a pair that were destined to be compared forever, where if one became real, the other had to become fake.
‘My sword was a fake…’
The core of the swordsmanship he had learned in the Empire was to create realistic illusions. Because each of the illusionary swords contained aura and killing intent, it was impossible to recognize the real sword. It had to be that way.
Еn̄ û m̆ а
Edward had proven what was real by perfectly dismantling the Imperial swordsmanship and by showing a similar but far superior swordsmanship.
“The core of this swordsmanship is not to create realistic fakes, but to create multiple real ones.”
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The illusions Edward had created were not simple illusions. Because they inflicted the same damage as the main body.
“Why is Griffith’s swordsmanship in the Empire…”
“They must have stolen it when the kingdom lost its power.”
At Edward’s statement, Jamie recalled the sense of unease he had felt in the Empire.
W̌eb n̂о̊ṽе l̄ E núm а̇
The history of the Empire was not very long. If you only considered history, the kingdom was much longer. And yet, the people of the Empire insisted that they were the origin of all combat techniques and magic, and even culture like clothes, food, and bardic songs.
The reality was that they had destroyed other countries through wars of conquest and had plundered their cultures, but no one pointed that out. As time passed, the original owner would be forgotten, and the Empire would be remembered as its origin. A considerable number of things that were considered to be of Empire origin would be like that.
Jamie had also known that fact but had turned a blind eye. Because the Empire was the root of his pride.
‘I, I…’
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The time he had spent in the Empire was more shameful than the urine that was soaking his pants.
He didn't know how hard he had tried to admire the people of the Empire and to be like them. And how much he had swaggered around in his hometown with the half-baked skills he had obtained that way.
Ӗ num̈ а̃_. і̀ d̈
The swordsmanship itself had been stolen by the Empire from his hometown. Jamie, not even knowing that, had defined his life with it.
“The match is over. Young Master Jamie, do you have anything to say?”
Robert asked.
“I have nothing. It is my defeat.”
Jamie bowed his head deeply.
He had picked a fight first and had suffered a crushing defeat. He had even wet himself in fear. Now he wouldn't be able to show his face in the capital's social circles.
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He wasn't resentful. Rather, he was grateful to Edward. It was a miracle that he was still alive.
He could have left a wound that a priest couldn't fix and made him unable to hold a sword for the rest of his life. Even though he could have done so, he hadn't.
He had shown mercy.
‘That sword…’
Jamie recalled the swords that had been aimed at him. His sword was nothing more than a technique to deceive and kill the opponent. The reason people admired it was also because of its practicality and power.
But Edward’s swordsmanship was different. Not only was it powerful, but it was also elegant and beautiful. It was a technique to kill the opponent, and at the same time, it was a dance that had reached the level of art.
Еṅ um̊а̌
Jamie, who had been closer than anyone, had felt a sense of wonder at Edward’s sword dance. It was as if he had been born and raised to see that sword. Because he had seen that swordsmanship, he had no regrets even if he died.
“It was a truly beautiful swordsmanship.”
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“I just came because I was curious about the result, but I got a real treat for my eyes.”
“Griffith is surely the master of the swordsmanship. Anyone who has seen Young Master Edward’s sword even once would say so.”
The reactions of the people were no different from Jamie’s.
“Young Master Edward.”
Е nu̇ m а̇.id̈
Jamie called out to Edward.
“I tried to pour wine on you at the ballroom.”
At Jamie’s confession, the people murmured. Edward was, as always, nonchalant.
“Why?”
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“I disliked your arrogance.”
“You think I’m arrogant?”
Ẅ êb̈ n.о v̀е̌ l Еn üṁa
“That’s how it looked in my eyes.”
“That’s regrettable.”
“I’m sorry. I was wrong.”
Edward seemed to be lost in thought for a moment, then smiled faintly.
“Your heart is stronger than your sword. If you don’t lose that heart, your sword will also become stronger.”
Edward added a word as he turned away.
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“I accept your apology.”
Edward, who was walking away with his back turned, felt like a mountain whose peak could not be seen.
* * *
That evening.
The drawing room of the Knox mansion.
“Maria!”
Е́ n̈ ü m̈ а. ĭ.d
“Welcome, Georgiana.”
Georgiana ran and hugged Maria.
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“I missed you. How are you feeling?”
“I’m fine now. Thank you for worrying.”
She had also come to see Maria yesterday, but she had sent her back with the excuse that she was sick.
It wasn’t that her body was particularly uncomfortable, but she was so distraught that she wasn’t in the mood to meet anyone.
Ĕnŭ mа̇ . іď
“Were you sick since the ball?”
“Yes. I suddenly felt dizzy not long after I arrived at the ballroom… I’m sorry. I should have said goodbye before I left.”
“Nothing happened with Young Master Edward, right?”
Georgiana asked with narrowed eyes.
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“Of course not. It was just a coincidence. I feel sorry for the Young Master. A strange rumor started because of me…”
Maria was uncomfortable with the situation of having to lie to her closest friend, but she had no choice.
Е ṅū ṁ а̂
“Did you hear about the duel?”
“A duel?”
“Young Master Edward and Young Master Jamie of the Waters family had a duel.”
“Really? When?”
It was the first time she had heard of it.
“Before you came to the ballroom, Young Master Jamie had picked a fight with Young Master Edward.”
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As expected of Georgiana, who got excited whenever Edward’s name came up, she poured out the story without a break.
“Did you go too?”
“Of course. All the women in the capital probably went.”
Duels were a matter of interest for men. There were no cases of women going to watch a duel. It was probably because the duelist was Edward.
“If you hadn’t been sick, I would have told you too. It would have been nice if you had seen it…”
“It’s okay. I probably wouldn’t have been able to go anyway. How did the duel go?”
E ń um̂ а̊
Maria was worried about Edward’s well-being. Georgiana talked about something else.
“Young Master Jamie had cowardly cast magic on the ground. But Young Master Edward figured it out in one go. Do you know what’s even cooler? He didn’t have to fight, but he gave Young Master Jamie another chance for his honor.”
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“How did it end?”
Maria, who was getting frustrated, asked again.
“Of course, Young Master Edward won. Who would beat our Young Master.”
Maria felt a sense of relief.
Ẇе b n оv̌ ē l̈ Е n̈u m̄ а
“That’s not the important part.”
Georgiana talked endlessly about how threatening Jamie’s swordsmanship was, how Edward had neutralized it, and how splendid and beautiful Edward’s swordsmanship was.
It seemed that listening to Georgiana’s story was more vivid than going and seeing it in person.
“Young Master Jamie was also impressed by Young Master Edward’s swordsmanship and confessed his wrongdoing and asked for forgiveness. And Young Master Edward said that the Imperial swordsmanship Young Master Jamie had learned was originally created by Griffith. So everyone is in an uproar right now.”
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Georgiana was as happy about Edward’s victory as if it were her own. Watching her, she suddenly realized one thing.
‘There’s no mention of me.’
Е̊ nu m̀а̃ .id̊
Georgiana was, by her own and others’ admission, the biggest social butterfly in the kingdom’s social circles. It was through Georgiana that she had been invited to Deborah’s birthday party.
Maria had been reluctant to go to Herbert’s sister, Deborah, but Georgiana got along well with Deborah too. There was probably no one in the social circles who was not Georgiana’s friend.
Therefore, what Georgiana was saying was highly likely to be the public opinion and interest of the social circles.
It had been just two days since the social world had been turned upside down by Maria and Edward’s elopement, but Georgiana was no longer talking about it.
The interest had shifted in a single day due to Edward’s duel. If things continued like this, Maria’s incident would be quietly forgotten.
‘Did he do it on purpose?’
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When a duel request was received, the duel was usually held a few days, or at most a few weeks, later for preparation.
This duel was excessively fast. Perhaps Edward had intentionally done so to cover up the love affair with Maria.
‘I’m indebted to him again.’
Although she still didn’t know Edward’s identity or purpose, she was able to relieve some of her mental burden thanks to his performance.
* * *
“I’ve confirmed that you’re okay, so I’ll be going now.”
W̃ ë bnӧ v́ĕ l_ Ĕňu m̈а̇
Georgiana didn’t stay for long. She came, talked endlessly about Edward, and then got up.
It seemed she was itching to go somewhere else and spread the news about Edward.
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“Goodbye. See you tomorrow.”
Maria, who had parted with Georgiana, greeted the night with a much lighter heart.
Yesterday, she had been so confused that she couldn’t even sleep properly, but it seemed she would be fine today.
Knock, knock, knock.
Wе bn̄ оṽе̂ l Е̇ň û m а̌
When she was getting ready for bed and had lain down on the bed, someone knocked on the window.
‘Who is it?’
Curiosity preceded fear.
Maria carefully opened the window, holding her staff so that she could use magic at any time.
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“Lady Maria.”
A familiar voice was heard.
Ẇ е̇ b ǹ_оv̀ èl̀ E ń ũm̂a
“Young Master Edward?”
Although it was a visit that was against etiquette, she was not at all displeased. Because Maria had also been eagerly waiting to meet him.
“I’m sorry for visiting so suddenly.”
“Where are you?”
Even when she looked around, she couldn’t see him. She couldn’t feel any mana either.
“I am hiding myself. I thought you would be in trouble if people knew I came here. Could we talk for a moment? It’s fine like this.”
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“No. Please come inside. Ah! Please give me a moment.”
“Then please close the window and come in first. And draw the curtains. When you’re ready, please turn off all the lights in the room and knock on the window. I’ll take care of the rest.”
“Okay.”
Maria closed the window and looked around the room.
‘It’s a mess…’
Since she only received guests in the drawing room, she had never cleaned her room.
W̃é b̈ nо̌v еl̆ Е nu ṁа̄
She left the miscellaneous tools she used for magic research and only cleaned up her personal belongings. Although they took up the most space, it would take a lifetime to clean them up.
She also changed her clothes. She combed her hair, which was a mess from lying down, and put on some simple makeup.
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After finishing her preparations, she blew out the candle.
Knock, knock, knock.
And she knocked on the window.
A moment later, the window was still the same, but Edward appeared from the darkness.
Еnū mа̊
As if he had been in the room from the beginning.
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