Chapter 53

"Uwa...!"

"Isn't it amazing? People have gathered from all over, even families supporting from outside the capital."

My stepmother and I are sitting on a plush sofa under a thick fabric canopy, but when I look straight ahead, I can indeed see commoners sitting on makeshift benches in the open, using straw hats and other items to shield themselves from the sun.

It seems that the entrance for the nobility in the circular Colosseum has a fixed number of visitors, and special seats have been set up accordingly. Despite the circular design, the noble seats are separated from the commoners' area, with restrooms on one side and a place to enjoy cold tea on the other, ensuring that the two groups do not mix.

Even with all the sun protection and the cold tea and slightly salty biscuits provided, the heat from the Colosseum is intense. Despite wearing a dress made of cool material, I wish I had asked for my corset to be a bit looser.

"If you feel unwell, tell me right away. There's a first aid room, you know."

"Yes... No, but I was asked by Sir Percival to watch. I'll be fine."

Under this intense heat and sunlight, the royal guards are clad in armor and are about to clash swords.

Sir Percival is no different. I can't betray his words, asking me to watch, even with all the care and hospitality shown to me.

Not long after my stepmother and I sat down, a loud trumpet sounded.

Standing at the center of the Colosseum is my stepfather, the commander of the royal guards. He walked in, his armor gleaming, and his cloak, embroidered by my stepmother, billowing behind him.

His presence is so powerful that it reaches me even from this distance.

The noisy voices of the commoners sitting across the Colosseum gradually fade away. The center of the Colosseum becomes so quiet that you could hear a pin drop as my stepfather draws his sword and raises it to the sky.

"We, the royal guards, are the knights who protect the royal family and, by extension, the nation! In times of war, we may be dispatched to the frontiers! After rigorous training, today, thirty knights will clash swords, staking their pride and lives to demonstrate the strength of our honorable knightly order before all! I demand respect for all knights, regardless of rank! No matter their profession, they are comrades in arms, protecting the nation together! Please bear witness to the fruits of the royal guards' training, who stand at the forefront and protect the rear!"

With that, my stepfather, or rather, the commander of the royal guards, saluted the king and queen, who were seated above us, pledging his loyalty.

My heart is already pounding. This is the power of a man who commands countless soldiers, and his words make me feel as if I, too, have become one of them.

After sheathing his sword and bowing deeply, my stepfather moved aside. He will be watching from near the king and queen.

"...My stepfather was really impressive, wasn't he?"

"Yes, he's very handsome, isn't he? ...Really... a wonderful person."

In the suddenly lively venue, I leaned in and whispered to my stepmother, who, despite her usual nonchalance, looked somewhat复杂的, but still smiled as she gazed at where my stepfather had stood.

She must have been imagining my stepfather on the battlefield. The strong pressure, the intensity of someone willing to risk their life, the image of a beloved person.

The blades are blunted, but even from his speech alone, I can feel the power of a warrior.

Sir Percival is also striving to become like that. And he is, even now.

Staking their pride and lives... it's a martial tournament, and no one will truly be killed, but the battle is about to begin.