Chapter 99
Chapter 99
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 99
Chapter Title: Polo Match Mayhem
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After touring the stables under Saskia and the manager's guidance, the equestrian training was already drawing to a close.
A servant soon arrived to relay that the polo match would be starting shortly and we should come watch.
We followed him toward the spectator seats.
The arena managers were visible, clearing the ground. It seemed they'd done training called obstacle jumping, where riders navigated vertical hurdles and water puddles on horseback.
"Did you get a good look at the equestrian training?"
"They only showed the apprentice knights leaping obstacles, skipping the core drills."
"That's to be expected. The training details are military secrets unique to Duvair County, after all."
Dietrich grumbled, but his face looked brighter than expected—he clearly hadn't hated it.
The apprentice knights were mostly around Dietrich's age.
Watching his peers train must have given him a good jolt of motivation.
"There—Gila and Peter!"
Once the managers finished clearing the ground, the players for the friendly polo match rode into the arena one by one.
Gila and Peter, mounted on warhorses, approached our side and waved.
Polo matches consisted of teams of four.
Including Gila and Peter, the other two selected knights were familiar faces—commoner knights we'd seen before.
"Wack!"
What?
I shot up from my seat and peered down at the arena.
A Duvair Knight Order knight had snuck up behind Gila, who was waving cheerfully toward us.
Pretending it was a joke, he swung his polo stick at her.
'Lucky for them Gila's so skilled.'
She instantly sensed the hostile intent, ducked, and evaded the stick's arc.
But Gila hadn't escaped unharmed because of anything the attacker did right—it was purely her skill and luck!
"What the hell was that?"
"Oops, my mistake."
"A mistake?"
"Hey, she was stretching right in front of me. What did you expect?"
What nonsense is that?
Gila had come over first to greet us, and you approached her!
"What nonsense is that? You approached her!"
For a split second, I wondered if I'd voiced my inner thoughts aloud and touched my mouth.
One piece of luck and one misfortune.
The good news: it wasn't me who'd said it. The bad: it was my own brother, Dietrich.
Florian was holding Dietrich back by the shoulders—he looked ready to leap into the arena any second.
Thanks, Florian!
"Dietrich, let's hold back for now."
"Didn't you see what that bastard tried to do to Gila?"
"We're here on Erich's official duty. And the place is crawling with Duvair County knights."
"Trash like that doesn't deserve the name 'knight.'"
"Still, hold it in. Unless you want to ruin Erich's first assignment."
Only after hearing my whisper did Dietrich finally calm down and sit properly again.
Only then did the sharp glares from the countless Duvair Knight Order members ease off us.
They're way more hostile toward us than I expected.
'Why?'
Public inspections were mostly formal procedures.
Yet the sudden hostility they'd shown us stung like needles.
'Count Duvair's in the uncle's faction, but he's never openly clashed with Dad.'
Dad was always aloof, but Duvair's sociable personality meant he'd approach with a friendly smile every time.
Whatever his true feelings, they appeared as normal as any direct vassal-lord relationship on the surface.
So why flaunt their dislike for us so openly?
There was only one likely reason.
They're hiding something they absolutely can't let us discover during the inspection.
'I need to assign all the knights to Erich.'
Of us, Erich was the most at risk—he had to conduct the inspection personally.
I was mulling over whether even attaching all fifteen knights to him would be enough when the polo match began.
Despite being billed as friendly, the enemy team's knights stuck to Gila like glue at breakneck speed.
Of the eight knights competing, Gila was the only woman.
'Gila's incredibly skilled, but her smaller stature is unavoidable.'
The burly enemy knights exploited the size difference, herding Gila into a corner and slamming their mounts into hers.
"Watch out!"
As our screams echoed, Gila—who'd been driven into a dead end—suddenly leaned low.
Using her petite frame, which the foes saw as a weakness, she broke through their defense in one fluid motion and smacked the ball on the ground for the first goal.
'That's Gila for you!'
True to form as one of Dad's closest aides!
Flashing her canines in a grin at the stunned enemy knights staring at the scoreboard? That was the perfect finishing touch!
"Why not chase the ball instead of me?"
Her blatant taunt turned the faces of the Duvair County knights—who'd been solely focused on blocking her—beet red.
The match pressed on at a furious pace.
And it grew increasingly dirty.
The enemy knights kept swinging their sticks wildly at Gila under the pretense of mistakes.
"Father..."
"Knights' matches are always rough, Saskia."
"But still, they're our guests."
"Don't worry. They're winning anyway, aren't they?"
Even Saskia looked flustered as she tried to dissuade the count, but he showed no sign of calling the match.
That's when the accident happened.
The same enemy knight who'd menaced Gila up close earlier, during our greetings, swung his stick viciously.
Peter jumped in to shield Gila, who was in no position to dodge. His knee collided squarely with the stick in a sickening crack.
"Eek! Let go! Aaaagh!"
Peter grabbed the attacker, and the two tumbled from their horses, rolling across the ground.
The Duvair County's warhorses—barely battle-tested—panicked, rearing and kicking wildly.
A few more riders couldn't hold on and fell.
Dust billowed from the ground amid knights' groans and horses' whinnies.
Even the Duvair knights in the stands, who'd been cheering raucously for their side, fell silent.
"What are you standing around for? Call the physicians now!"
Count Duvair—who'd been watching our knights get pummeled with evident glee—shrieked.
The stunned managers finally scrambled into action.
Erich, who'd stayed silent throughout, slowly turned to fix Count Duvair with a stare.
"Is this the hospitality of the count's house?"
Ice laced Erich's voice.
"It—it was an accident. These matches get rough..."
"When you lured us here with this farce under the guise of obstructing the inspection, I endured it out of respect for you."
"What are you talking about? Obstructing the inspection?!"
"Is that so? His Majesty will judge your intent."
Erich rose, locking eyes with Count Duvair.
"We'll take our leave now. Save your excuses for when His Majesty's secret inspectors arrive."
"H-Hey, Erich! You can't say that! It was just an accident!"
Count Duvair flinched under the cold gaze and looked away.
Grandfather's secret inspectors had a fearsome reputation.
They came for lords who resisted public inspections.
Identities unknown—no names, faces, or ages. They ignored due process, infamous for ruthless methods.
They never let prey slip once caught.
This was leagues beyond a standard, mutually agreed inspection.
"My apologies. We'll punish those involved severely and handle the Rommel knights' treatment ourselves."
Erich watched Peter struggle to his feet with Gila's help, teeth gritted.
Then he turned a chilling smirk on Count Duvair.
Erich only smiled like Grandfather when he had no intention of letting someone off easy...