"For the Battle of the Houses, the match list has already been placed inside each of your tents," Professor Darius announced, his voice steady as it carried across the arena.
"You will only know which house you are up against. All matches will be conducted simultaneously and in secrecy."
"In secrecy?"
"So no one will know who's winning until the end?"
"It's my first time hearing such a thing!"
Professor Darius smiled at the comments. He knew that the nobles would react immediately at that.
"If you lose, you are eliminated. If you win, you advance to the next round, where you face someone from another winning house. This will continue until only one house remains."
Now the reaction from the nobles grew louder.
"That sounds intense."
"We won't even know who's ahead of us!"
"It's like a hidden war."
"Exactly," someone muttered from the crowd, clearly thrilled.
"The final results will only be revealed during the closing ceremony," Professor Darius added. "And a special award will be granted to the ultimate victor."
That was enough to fully ignite everyone's excitement.
"A special award?"
"Now I really want to win."
"No way I'm losing that!"
Determination replaced the earlier hesitation of the people. Even nobles who had looked relaxed earlier were now standing more seriously.
The idea that this whole game would be hidden only made the competition more exciting. In this way, too, there would be no way to predict outcomes and no crowd to judge if they lost.
In this game, only true strength and skill would matter this time.
Professor Darius glanced around at their reactions before giving a small nod.
"You may use the rest of the day to practice as you see fit," he said. "Prepare yourselves well. This fun duel was done to inspire everyone to do even more before…" He paused for a brief moment before continuing.
"Lunch will also be provided individually today. There will be no group gathering, so all of you can focus."
A few nobles exchanged looks at that. They seemed surprised by it, but they looked like they didn't mind it at all.
"That's all, everyone. You may go now."
With that, the crowd slowly began to disperse. Some nobles who were close bid goodbye to each other after offering their good lucks. As they walked back alone to their tents, everyone became silent.
Everyone knew that the real challenge was about to begin.
- - -
"My lord? How was the fight?"
As soon as Lionel arrived at his tent, he was greeted by Diana's worried gaze. The woman has been waiting in the tent since they weren't allowed to stay in the arena earlier.
Since they couldn't do anything, they just cleaned around and prepared what Lionel might need once he arrived back.
And truth to it, as soon as Lione's gaze swept his tent, he noticed how spotless it had became.
"It's fine. I won," Lionel muttered before a small smile crossed his face.
"The academy said they have placed our match list here. Where is it Diana?"
As soon as Lionel said hose words, Diana's eyes slightly widened. She immediately went near the desk and took something from it.
"Is this it, my lord?" Diana extended her hand and showed a piece of parchment in it.
Lionel quickly took it from her hands. He turned the paper around, and when he did, he saw the house he was supposed to fight.
"House of Vaeloria…" Lionel's eyes lingered on the parchment, his fingers tightening slightly around its edges.
"House of Vaeloria…" The name of it tasted bitter in his mouth.
For a moment, he just stared at the name, as if trying to make sure he had read it correctly. Then his brows slowly furrowed.
Vaeloria?
In his past life, he never recalled facing Cassian at this time of his life. In fact, he never even crossed paths with his cousin at all. Not even once.
So why now?
Lionel's gaze darkened slightly as the question appeared in his mind. The more he thought about it, the more something felt off.
Then, the scene he witnessed earlier flashed in his mind. It was when he saw Cassia going near and talking to a professor of the academy. They looked serious that time so he knew they were talking about something.
He didn't expect it to be for this.
"Ah..." Lionel's eyes widened just a fraction as everything clicked into place.
"Hahaha," an amused laugh sound escaped his lips.
"I already knew it…" he muttered under his breath, shaking his head lightly.
That guy never really wants to let me go.
No matter what changes, Cassian still found a way to interfere with his life and make him feel inferior to him.
He wanted me to lose, does he?
Lionel let out a deep sigh at that.
Fine. If that was how it was going to be, then so be it.
"My lord?"
Diana's voice pulled him out of his thoughts. She was looking at him with clear confusion and a hint of worry in her eyes. "Are you okay?"
Lionel blinked once, then the look in his eyes softened. He folded the paper neatly and kept it in his palms.
"It's nothing," he said with a small smile. "No need to worry."
Diana hesitated for a second, as if she wanted to ask more. But in the end, she simply lowered her head.
"Understood, my lord."
A brief silence passed before she spoke again, this time in a gentler tone.
"Would you like to have some snacks? I prepared some tea and the academy's pastries arrived earlier."
"Not right now." Lionel shook his head lightly. "But can you call Eiden and Rylan instead? I have something to discuss with them."
Diana nodded immediately. "Of course, my lord."
Without another word, she turned and stepped out of the tent to fetch the two knights.