Myrcella’s POV
The tension within the castle was palpable, growing thicker with each passing day. Ever since my father, the King, declared martial law in the kingdom, the entire castle and the surrounding lands had been shrouded in this heavy atmosphere.
Outside the castle gates, Johanne awaited me, with a carriage parked behind him. Today was the King’s Game, and it was time for us to make our way there.
“Everything’s set, Princess Myrcella,” Johanne said. “Mr. Harold and Miss Hertrude will be waiting for us at the venue.”
Johanne gallantly helped me into the carriage, his actions reminiscent of a chivalrous knight aiding his princess. Today, I eschewed the traditional trappings of royalty, opting instead for practicality. After all, I was heading into battle. Wearing such fancy attire would only hinder my movements and draw unwanted attention. Instead, I opted for my student uniform: a sleek black military outfit. It was crafted from the tough hide of a high-grade monster, providing both durability and some protection against magical attacks. It was the perfect choice for the occasion.
Johanne was dressed in attire that mirrored my own, donning the same hues as my military uniform. A sheath adorned his hip, concealing the blade of his sword. Johanne held a unique position as the only son of Duke Whitlock, a figure revered as a sword saint throughout the kingdom. The title of sword saint was reserved for warriors of unparalleled skill in swordsmanship, and Duke Whitlock held the esteemed reputation as the mightiest swordsman in the land, perhaps even across the entire world. Consequently, Johanne possessed an exceptional mastery of the blade. If his magical abilities matched my own, he could very well ascend to the pinnacle of the gold class, eclipsing even my standing. Yet, such a prospect didn’t trouble me in the slightest.
While lost in thought, the coachman, responsible for steering the carriage toward the venue where the King’s Game would unfold, carried on with his duties. The King’s Game was slated to take place at the very fringes of the kingdom, within the Knowledge City. Nestled upon a solitary island amidst the vast ocean, this event would see one hundred participants pitted against each other in combat, with the last one standing declared the victor.
As the carriage trundled along, I gazed out the window, contemplating recent events. Julius had yet to return to the castle, and rumors swirled among the nobles, clamoring for his exile. While the King had yet to issue any formal decree, it seemed he was entertaining the notion. Julius held a tenuous claim to the throne compared to myself and our older brother, who was considered the heir apparent. However, being a prince of the realm, the King couldn’t simply cast him aside without consequence. After all, he was still his son.
It was only natural for him to ponder over this for a while. However, unrest was brewing among the nobles, and the commoners were on the brink of revolt. It seemed inevitable that a coup d’état would soon occur if the King didn’t decree the Prince’s exile.
“…Don’t worry, Princess,” Johanne reassured me, sensing the turmoil I was going through.
“Thank you, Johanne,” I expressed with gratitude. Yet, a lingering worry persisted within me. I pondered how everything would unfold in this game. As I glanced out the window, thoughts swirled in my mind. What fate awaited our kingdom now? Would it crumble before us? Honestly, I had no clue. “I suppose I’ll just have to wait and see…” I murmured to myself, the words drowned out by the rumble of the carriage in motion. Johanne couldn’t hear my whispered musings over the noise.
***
Julius’s POV
I woke up feeling refreshed, unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before. It was the first time in my life I felt so alive. Maybe it was because I did something new for the first time. I glanced at the woman lying beside me. She was a gorgeous prostitute I had hired for the night. Honestly, it was a pleasurable experience.
I had been trying to save my virginity for, you know, that woman who I don’t even want to mention anymore. But since she betrayed me, I guess it was only natural to toss my virginity away with other women.
I got up from the bed and stretched, feeling an incredible sensation in my waist. The scent of sex lingered in the air, so I headed to the shower to wash away the residue. After cleaning up, I returned to the room, grabbed my clothes, and dressed myself. Leaving five silver coins on the bedside table as payment, I exited the room.
As soon as I stepped out, a man appeared before me.
“It’s about time,” he said. “The King’s Game is about to begin.”
“Right,” I replied. “It’s time for me to take the stage.”
***
Shredica’s POV
“Nghah?!”
My eyes flew open with a sudden jolt. I let out a somewhat undignified yelp as I regained consciousness.
“Mm…?”
Sitting up in bed, I ran a hand through my unkempt hair, scanning the unfamiliar surroundings with bleary confusion.
“Where…?”
This wasn’t my usual waking place. The room and everything in it were entirely foreign to me. It definitely wasn’t my dorm room. Then, it hit me.
“Oh, right… I rented a room for the night in Knowledge City,” I muttered to myself.
The reason for that was simple: I couldn’t afford to be late for the event. Missing out on this opportunity wasn’t an option. If I skipped it, my chances of becoming a magic knight would plummet. I’d be at the mercy of Lord Gaspard, facing expulsion from the academy. Then, my dream of returning home would vanish into thin air. I was determined to win at any cost, hence why I arrived in the city so early.
I rose from the bed and made my way to the shower. Studying my reflection in the mirror, I noticed my disheveled appearance. My bed was a mess, as usual, but today it looked like a hurricane had swept through it. There was dried drool at the corners of my mouth, giving me a less-than-ladylike appearance. But I didn’t care. In fact, I preferred not to be seen as some prim and proper lady.
After cleaning up in the shower, I returned to the room in the nude and slipped into my usual white uniform, a symbol of my status in the bronze class. Sure, I’d probably get some laughs if anyone saw me wearing it at the game, but I couldn’t care less.
Grabbing my phone, I checked the time. It was only 6 o’clock, with the game starting at 9. I had three hours to kill. As I glanced at the screen, a message popped up.
“Princess Myrcella and Johanne are already there. They’ll be waiting for you. I hope you don’t act rude,” it read.
It was a message from Mr. Leon that flashed on my screen. My initial impulse was to fire back a retort, telling him not to dictate my actions. However, after a moment’s hesitation, I reconsidered. With a decisive motion, I deleted the message I had drafted and replaced it with a more diplomatic response: “I’ll make an effort to maintain decorum.”
The reasons behind my sudden change of heart were unclear. Perhaps it was a rare instance of wanting to show appreciation to Mr. Leon. Whatever the motivation, I couldn’t deny the invaluable support he provided. Losing his guidance was a risk I couldn’t afford to take.
With my resolve solidified, I completed my preparations and set out for the venue, anticipation coursing through my veins.
***
I rode in a carriage towards the venue. When the coachman mentioned we were nearing our destination, I couldn’t resist sticking my head out of the window to catch a glimpse.
“Don’t do that, miss. You might lose your head,” the coachman warned.
“I doubt I’ll lose my head over this, but thanks for the concern,” I replied nonchalantly.
The coachman sighed, clearly exasperated by my disregard for his warning. As I peered ahead, a solitary island came into view on the horizon – the venue for the King’s Game. Upon reaching the port where contestants were ferried to the island by boats, I stepped out of the carriage and paid the coachman three bronze coins.
I scanned the surroundings, searching for Princess Myrcella. Eventually, I spotted her amidst a small group of people, Mr. Leon conspicuously absent. Rather than calling out to them, I decided to approach quietly. We were all strangers here, after all. As I drew nearer, Johanne, the young man with striking white hair, noticed my presence and informed Princess Myrcella of my arrival.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Shredica,” Princess Myrcella greeted me with a graceful curtsy.
I felt a bit out of my element, unsure of how to respond. Etiquette lessons weren’t exactly my forte, so interacting with royalty wasn’t something I was prepared for.
Remembering that it was customary to bow, I inclined my body at a 90-degree angle. “The pleasure is mine, Princess,” I replied.
