03
03
Freddie Sirius.
He had not the slightest interest in the banquet held at the Imperial Palace today.
His only interest was Bathory.
His lovely younger sister who filled the void in his heart after his mother passed away.
Three years ago, when he first saw her, he truly hated her.
Because the Grand Duke had adopted her and brought her home without consulting anyone.
And that wasn't all.
She had a face that looked exactly like their late mother.
Pink hair and green eyes.
Even her voice felt similar.
The moment their father saw Bathory at an orphanage he happened to visit, he could immediately understand why he had adopted her.
The men of the Sirius Grand Duchy had always missed their wife, who had passed away ten years ago.
That was why.
Not just Freddie, but all the young masters except for the Grand Duke did not welcome Bathory at first, as she resembled their mother.
Because the reason their mother had passed away was a sudden carriage accident on her way to visit an orphanage.
And of all things.
For her to be a girl from the very orphanage their mother was headed to last—it was only natural that the children would feel a sense of rejection.
However, it did not take long for the young masters, including Freddie, to open their hearts.
Because as much as the young masters rejected and refused her, Bathory approached them even more.
Since their hearts had been empty and devastated for so long due to the sorrow of losing their mother, it was no easy task to keep rejecting and ignoring her touch, which resembled their mother's.
Not just her appearance, but her gentle actions, every single warm word.
All of it was exactly the same, enough to naturally remind them of their mother...
No, it was even more than that.
Unlike their mother, who would always leave her place, saying she would volunteer for children in orphanages or slums, Bathory was always by their side whenever the young masters wanted her to be.
Though recently.
That time had been trending downward a little because the number of wolves falling for Bathory's charms kept increasing.
However, unlike their mother, their younger sister prioritized her family.
That was why.
It was only natural that Freddie, too, had no choice but to cherish Bathory more than anything else.
Perhaps that was why.
The fact that the undead legion had disappeared didn't really stir any emotion in him.
Because rather than the peace of the northern region, his younger sister's peace was being threatened day by day by bastards like wolves.
However, there was one thing that bothered him.
'She looks like someone I've seen somewhere...'
The man named Roy who was granted a title by the Emperor.
For some reason, he looked familiar.
But he soon dismissed his interest.
'Well, it must be my imagination or a mistake. What kind of connection would I have with a guy like that?'
But he couldn't help but pay attention again.
"Wow... it's truly amazing that you defeated the Lich King...!"
Because Bathory was looking at the guy with her green eyes shining.
At this, not only Freddie but all the men around them simultaneously furrowed their brows.
But since everyone didn't want to look like a narrow-minded bastard in front of her, they tried hard not to show it.
'Tsk, what's such a big deal about some Lich King...'
Freddie clicked his tongue inwardly.
The Lich King.
He knew it well because everyone around him was making such a fuss about it being a high-level monster that had resurrected after hundreds of years.
But seeing that it was subjugated by a guy who looked like he was nothing special, it was obvious that its notoriety was exaggerated.
Since they said it was a monster that created undead legions, it was clear that it was a monster with nothing to offer besides necromancy.
'If I had known this, should I have participated in the Princess's expedition... No, no. If I did, I wouldn't know what my older brothers might do to Bathory while I was gone. The wolf bastards, too...'
Freddie felt a moment of regret, but he soon changed his mind.
Since the Princess had the Barenhoff Duchy, which was not on good terms with the Sirius Grand Duchy, as her maternal relatives, the option of cooperating with her didn't exist in the first place.
'But... I don't like it...'
Because Bathory's green eyes showed no sign of leaving Roy.
"Ah..."
She even looked slightly flushed.
It made his heart anxious.
No, it felt ominous.
'Don't tell me... Bathory... No way...?'
Freddie felt that things couldn't go on like this.
He wanted to shout that the Lich King was nothing, and that this oppa could easily do something like that too.
But the older brothers and wolf bastards around him must be thinking the same thing.
It was clear that everyone was holding back because if they opened their mouths here for no reason, they would only lose points with Bathory.
'Still... I can't just leave it like this...'
It was just then, as Freddie was feeling restless inside.
"Ah! I think the Third Young Master of Sirius over there would be good!"
A noble was pointing at him.
Smirk-
Freddie's lips curled up on their own.
He didn't even know the noble's name, but he thought he should find out later and reward him.
However, his smile.
Pfft-
It twisted immediately at the words of Roy, who let out a scoff.
###
'What are you grinning at...?'
Does the bastard not remember who I am at all?
Looking at his state.
How to look good to his younger sister...
It seems the bastard's brain is filled with nothing but thoughts a sister-complex would have.
'Even better.'
Didn't the nameless noble just set the stage for me?
I was worried he might run away, but it seems that will never happen.
"Proof, you say... Good. Very good."
Pfft-
"Besides, the Third Young Master of Sirius, you say. I actually had business with you anyway. Very good."
"Huh, business? With me?"
I ignored the question from Freddie, who was pointing at his own face, and immediately turned my body to bow deeply to Empel again.
"Your Majesty. Before I prove it to the vermin who dare to argue with the decision of the Empire's master, may I ask for one favor?"
"W, what did you say...!?"
"Vermin!?"
As I even pointed at them with a sidelong glance, the nobles all distorted their faces and got angry at once.
However, I didn't care in the slightest.
It was impossible to get along with those bastards in the first place, and I had no intention of getting along with them from the start.
I'm just saying a few words on behalf of what the Emperor wants to say.
"Heh... A favor. Alright, let's hear it."
Empel seemed to like what I said and nodded readily.
At this, I immediately brought up the main point.
"Could you allow me to replace the place where I prove my ability with a Trial by Combat?"
Trial by Combat.
A judicial system where, when there is a lack of witnesses or clear evidence, the parties involved in the dispute fight a duel to determine the winner.
It is a trial method mainly used when problems between nobles show no signs of being resolved...
The Emperor's approval was essential.
This is because there is a concern that it could be abused by the noble side, who has overwhelmingly high status or martial power.
"Hoh... A Trial by Combat...?"
Should I say that the Emperor of the Empire is not just anyone, as expected?
He must have already heard the contents from Sion in advance, but Empel naturally put on an expression as if he hadn't expected it at all.
"It seems the opponent is the Third Young Master."
"Yes, that is correct, Your Majesty."
As I affirmed.
"W, what, a Trial by Combat!?"
"And the Third Young Master of Sirius at that!?"
The banquet hall immediately started to become noisy.
Trial by Combat.
A system that hasn't been implemented for a long time.
Moreover, since he pointed out a young master of the Sirius Grand Duchy, not just anyone, everyone seemed quite confused.
"Ang...?"
Freddie, who was pointed out, also couldn't hide his embarrassed expression.
At that moment.
"Count! What on earth are you talking about!?"
Bathory shouted loudly and asked me.
"A Trial by Combat with Freddie oppa!?"
This was a bit unexpected.
To think that the younger sister, who wasn't the party involved, would ask first.
Empel also asked me with an intrigued face.
"Hmm, Roy. This seems to need an explanation. Since not only the Lady of Sirius but everyone is curious. Ah, of course, that includes me."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
I bowed my waist politely to Empel once again.
It's a story I don't want to bring up...
But it seems I have no choice but to do it here.
"The reason I am asking for a Trial by Combat is..."
###
I was abandoned by my parents the moment I was born.
But it was okay.
No, I was actually happy.
Even though I lived as a vagrant wandering the back alleys.
There was one person I could rely on and love.
My only family, my noona.
But ten years ago.
When I was ten years old, misfortune arrived without warning.
"It's all because of you guys... If only there weren't beggar trash like you...!"
A young noble appeared in the back alley, heavily drunk.
"Just die! Everyone die!"
Puck-!
"Aaargh!"
Puck-!
"Kyaaak!"
He assaulted the vagrants indiscriminately as soon as he saw them.
There was no way children living in hunger could withstand the violence of a young noble who had been eating many medicinal herbs and training since childhood.
Literally.
The bastard swung his fists and kicked as he saw them.
Even though they were young children, he didn't show any mercy, let alone hold back his hands.
That was why.
"Keuh-!"
There were even children who died instantly on the spot.
And unfortunately.
I was also a target of that assault.
"Beggar trash like you are the problem!"
Puck-!
"Keuk-!"
I had only been hit once, but I couldn't regain my senses.
It was to the point where I thought I might really die if I got hit even one more time here.
But at that moment.
There was someone who shielded me.
"Roy!"
It was my noona.
"What is it?"
"P, please stop..."
Puck-!
"Get lost! Where do you think you are, you beggar trash, interfering and acting like a pain in the ass!"
The bastard pushed noona away and tried to beat me again.
But noona immediately got back up.
"Roy!!!"
She hugged me.
"Haa... beggar trash are really annoying."
The bastard's eyes changed.
In an instant, I intuited it.
It's dangerous.
No, this is death.
It seemed noona felt the same.
Tight-
She hugged me even tighter.
"Roy, it's okay... because noona is here..."
The will to protect me, even if she were to die.
"N, no, noona...!"
I hurriedly tried to loosen noona's hands.
However, not only did she hold on even tighter as if she would never let go, but.
"Fine, I'll kill you both as you wish!"
Because the bastard's ruthless violence continued immediately, I couldn't loosen them.
Puck-!
'No.'
Puck-!
'Stop...'
Puck-!
'Please stop...!'
Puck-!
'Noona, please...!'
Puck-!
Even though the bastard kept punching and kicking, noona never let go of me.
With her small body, she hugged me tightly to protect me, the even smaller me, no matter what.
How much time had passed?
"What are you doing here."
A middle-aged man's voice was heard.
"Heuk...! Heuk...! Father?"
"Stop there."
"I don't want to. Because of this beggar trash...!"
"...You know well that these children didn't kill Rachel."
"But...!"
"Stop. It seems someone reported it, so we can't be here anymore. If more witnesses increase, things might get complicated, so let's go back."
"Tsk...!"
"Freddie."
"...Understood."
Just like that, the bastard left with the middle-aged man.
Thump, thump...
As the sound of their departing footsteps faded away.
Sli-de-
Noona's arms, which had been hugging me, loosened powerlessly.
"Noona! Are you okay? The bastard finally left..."
"...Noona?"
"Noona!? Noonaaa!!!"
I called out to noona endlessly.
But I couldn't hear noona's answer.
Forever.
How much time had passed?
Holding noona's cold body in my arms...
I muttered quietly.
"...Freddie."
That hateful three-syllable name.