Jane's gaze shifted from the Queen to Gregor, her expression unchanged, though the pressure lingering in the air had yet to fully dissipate.
"Then how about you, Captain Gregor?" she asked, her tone steady, almost casual despite the weight behind her words. "Interested in a spar?"
The question sounded simple, yet no one present mistook its meaning.
Gregor did not answer immediately.
He didn't need to.
In terms of experience, Gregor Halstein stood as a veteran among veterans, a man whose years of service and countless battles had long since solidified his reputation within Dresden. His seniority alone placed him far above most individuals in the arena.
But experience and age were not the only measures that mattered here.
Jane's position carried a different kind of weight.
Vice President of Kizen.
Even with the word "vice" attached to it, the significance of that title did not diminish in the slightest. If anything, the mere mention of Kizen was already enough to shift the balance. This was not just any institution, but Kizen—the very place known for producing individuals who stood at the forefront of power, whose influence extended far beyond a single kingdom.
That alone placed Jane in a position Gregor could not simply overlook.
And beyond status—
there was something else.
Gregor could feel it clearly.
The pressure emanating from Jane had not even been fully directed at him, yet it was already enough to tell him that the gap between them was not something that could be ignored or brushed aside. It was a difference that revealed itself not through words, but through presence alone.
For the first time since the confrontation began, Gregor found himself hesitating, not out of fear, but because he understood that whatever answer he gave now would carry consequences far beyond a simple duel.
Before Gregor could respond, Knox's voice cut in from the side, light and completely out of place with the tension still lingering in the air.
"Now, now, Professor Jane, calm down first. Besides, look—aren't I perfectly fine? Hehe."
He spoke with that same sunny smile, as if the situation moments ago had not nearly escalated into something far more dangerous.
The effect was immediate.
The pressure surrounding Jane did not disappear entirely, but it softened, the suffocating weight that had filled the arena easing just enough for those nearby to breathe again. Her expression remained cold and aloof as ever, yet the sharp edge of her presence had dulled slightly, as though something within her had been restrained.
At the same time, Knox's words left her in an awkward position.
For a brief moment, Jane found herself unsure whether she should reprimand him… or simply sigh and let it pass.
"…Sigh."
Before that thought could settle, Knox continued, turning his attention toward Gregor with an easy tilt of his head.
"Captain Gregor, how about you fight me instead~?"
The casual suggestion hung in the air, completely disregarding the weight of everything that had just been said.
Jane closed her eyes for a brief second. Then she exhaled slowly.
Her hand moved without hesitation.
Thok!
A light knock landed on Knox's head.
Not hard. But enough.
When she opened her eyes again, her gaze shifted back toward Gregor, her tone returning to its usual calm, measured state.
"Captain Gregor, I hope you will consider my offer from earlier… seriously."
There was no hostility in her voice.
Yet the weight behind it had not lessened.
"And I expect a proper explanation regarding your Fourth Knight Order."
A brief pause followed, her eyes steady.
"If that explanation fails to satisfy Kizen…"
She did not finish the sentence. She didn't need to.
Gregor understood. The King understood.
And the Queen—
felt it most clearly.
Because the meaning behind those unfinished words carried far more weight than anything spoken aloud.
After the tension gradually settled and no further words were exchanged, the King made his decision without delay.
The sparring event was brought to an immediate close.
There would be no continuation, no further matches, and no room for anything that might escalate the situation again. The unease that had spread across the arena had not fully disappeared, and the King had no intention of allowing another spark to ignite what had already come dangerously close to becoming a diplomatic disaster.
His orders were clear. The event was over.
Gregor received a direct warning on the spot, the King's tone leaving no room for interpretation. While no public humiliation followed, the message was unmistakable: what had happened under his watch could not be repeated, regardless of circumstance.
As for the Fourth Knight Order, the consequences were immediate.
Captain Alaric Voss and Vice Captain Ingrid Weiss were stripped of their positions, their authority revoked without hesitation. The decision was not announced with unnecessary ceremony, yet its weight was enough to send a quiet shock through those who heard it. Within the order itself, it was nothing short of a severe blow.
The responsibility did not end there. Behind closed doors, the Queen was also addressed.
The King was well aware of the connection between her and the Fourth Knight Order, and while the matter was handled privately, it was clear that this was not something that could simply be overlooked. The reprimand was firm, though controlled, aimed not only at the actions taken, but at the consequences they had nearly brought upon the kingdom.
By the time everything was settled, the atmosphere within the palace had changed.
The earlier excitement of the banquet had faded, replaced by a quiet tension that lingered beneath the surface, as if everyone present had become acutely aware that what had occurred was far more than just a display of skill.
With the situation settled, the banquet resumed with surprising smoothness, as if the earlier chaos in the arena had been nothing more than an unfortunate interruption that everyone collectively agreed to forget.
Music returned, servants moved gracefully between tables, and polite conversations slowly filled the hall once again.
At the Kizen table, Jane and the assistant professors continued their meal in silence, their composure restored as though nothing unusual had occurred.
Knox, however, quietly stood up and left. No one stopped him. After everything that had happened, it wasn't strange for him to step away for a moment.
A few minutes passed.
Then—
he came back.
At first glance, it looked normal. He was carrying a plate.
Then another.
And then—
someone noticed something floating behind him.
A third plate.
Then a fourth.
Then more.
The number kept increasing the closer he got.
What initially looked like a simple trip to get food slowly revealed itself to be something else entirely, as more dishes appeared in an orderly line behind him, all suspended mid-air through telekinesis.
By the time he reached the table—
it had already gone too far.
There were main dishes.
Side dishes. Desserts. Drinks.
And somehow, everything was still neatly arranged, following him as if they had been assigned to him personally.
One of the assistant professors froze mid-bite. Another blinked, then leaned slightly forward, clearly attempting to count.
He stopped after a few seconds. It was no longer a reasonable number.
Knox arrived at the table without the slightest hint of embarrassment and began placing the plates down one by one. The floating dishes followed, lowering themselves neatly into place with precise control.
The table filled up quickly.
Then ran out of space.
And yet—
more plates continued to arrive.
At some point, one of the assistant professors quietly moved their own plate aside to avoid being pushed out entirely.
Another leaned back slightly, as if trying to create distance from what could only be described as an advancing wave of food.
Jane finally stopped eating. Her gaze shifted slowly toward Knox, lingering on the growing collection in front of him.
For a brief moment, she said nothing. Then she looked at Knox. Then back at the food. Then at Knox again.
It was unclear which one she was more concerned about.
Meanwhile, Knox had already started eating, completely unbothered, as if the amount in front of him was perfectly normal.
The contrast was… difficult to process.
Moments ago, he had stood in the center of the arena, overwhelming the entire Fourth Knight Order with a level of skill that defied understanding.
Now—
he was calmly working through what looked like enough food for an entire table.
One of the assistant professors quietly adjusted their glasses.
Another gave up trying to make sense of it.
And Jane—
simply exhaled, a faint trace of disbelief slipping through her otherwise composed expression, as though she had just been reminded that no matter how extraordinary Knox could be in battle…
some things about him were even harder to explain.
As the night gradually drew to a close, the lively atmosphere of the banquet began to fade into something calmer, more orderly. Conversations slowed, guests rose from their seats, and one by one, the nobles of Dresden prepared to depart, their earlier excitement replaced by a more subdued mood that still carried the lingering weight of the day's events.
The Kizen delegation did the same.
Servants had already made the necessary arrangements, and not far from the palace grounds, the carriage prepared for their return stood ready, positioned near the designated teleportation point that would take them back to Kizen.
Before leaving, however, formalities had to be observed.
Jane, along with the assistant professors and Knox, approached the royal side to offer their farewells. The King stood to receive them, his expression composed, though far more measured than it had been at the start of the banquet.
The Queen was absent. Knox noticed it immediately.
For a brief moment, he wondered whether she had chosen not to appear out of embarrassment, or if she was currently dealing with the consequences of everything that had happened earlier. Either way, her absence spoke enough on its own.
Standing near the King was Molly.
Unlike before, her expression carried a different kind of brightness now, something more personal than the polite demeanor she had maintained throughout the event.
When her gaze met Knox's, she stepped forward slightly.
"Knox…"
There was a brief hesitation, as though she was choosing her words carefully.
"Before today, I was already a little interested in Kizen."
Her voice was softer now, but steady.
"But after seeing you fight…"
Her eyes held a quiet spark.
"…I think I want to try even harder to get in."
There was no exaggeration in her tone. No flattery. Just genuine determination.
Knox looked at her for a moment. Then, he smiled.
Not the teasing smile he often wore, nor the playful one from earlier, but something simpler and more sincere.
"Well, Kizen's entrance exam isn't exactly easy," he said lightly, though there was no mockery in his voice. "But if you've got that kind of motivation, I'd say you're already off to a good start."
He tilted his head slightly, the smile still lingering. "So do your best, Princess. I'll be waiting on the other side~."
The words were casual. But encouraging.
And for Molly—
that was enough.
Molly's eyes lit up almost instantly, the hesitation from before disappearing as if it had never been there.
A bright, unrestrained smile spread across her face.
"Yes! I will!" she said with clear enthusiasm, her voice carrying a cheerful energy that stood out even in the formal setting. "Thank you, senior~!"
The way she said it came naturally, without overthinking.
Knox blinked.
There was a brief flicker of surprise in his expression, as though he hadn't quite expected that particular choice of words.
"…Senior, huh?"
A soft laugh escaped him, light and amused, the kind that came without effort.
"Alright, I'll take that," he replied casually, still smiling.
Not far from them, Jane watched the exchange unfold. Her expression remained as composed as ever, her posture unchanged, but her eyes lingered on the two for just a moment longer than usual.
Then, quietly—
she let out a small breath.
…Looks like Lorain just got herself another rival.
The thought passed through her mind with a faint sense of resignation, though there was the slightest hint of amusement hidden beneath it, as if she had already decided not to interfere… at least for now.
With their farewells concluded, the Kizen delegation made their way toward the carriage prepared for them. The night air had grown cooler, and the palace grounds had quieted down considerably now that the banquet had ended, leaving behind only the faint sounds of movement from departing guests.
One by one, they stepped inside.
Jane entered first, followed by the assistant professors, while Knox lingered just a moment longer. Before boarding, he turned slightly and gave Molly a small, casual wave, the same easygoing smile still on his face.
Then he stepped in. The carriage door closed.
Molly remained where she stood, her expression still bright, clearly in high spirits after everything that had happened. Her gaze lingered on the carriage, as though she was still replaying the earlier conversation in her mind.
Beside her, the King stood in silence.
His eyes were fixed on the carriage as well, or more precisely, on the person who had just entered it.
His expression slowly shifted, his gaze narrowing ever so slightly as a certain thought crossed his mind.
From his perspective, it felt less like watching a group of guests depart… and more like watching a pig that looked very capable, very dangerous, and very shameless, getting just a little too close to his precious cabbage.
Molly, of course, remained completely unaware of the comparison forming in her father's mind.
The King exhaled quietly, his arms crossing as he continued to stare at the carriage for a moment longer.