Chapter 48
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: Shadow Blade Day Ceremony
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Men clad in translucent dance robes that let the light shine through adorned the center of the tournament grounds.
Amid the men dancing with swords, a long path unfurled to the beat of drums, and the emperor—dressed in garments as red as blood—slowly made his entrance.
It was a magnificent spectacle. Trailing behind the emperor were the flags symbolizing each of his meritorious vassals.
At the forefront among them stood the banner of the Setia Ducal House, which had indisputably dispatched troops to the kingdom's widest border expanse in Cheiker. Following it came Marquis Tantinus, and then the nobles in order of rank.
Those who had entered in neat formation took their places arrayed among the dancers.
The dancers raised long white cloths, draping them overhead to envelop the emperor and his retainers in a vast canopy.
As if waiting for that exact moment, the sunlight that had blazed blindingly over the arena suddenly dimmed harshly. Then, from one end of the vast, bowl-shaped circular coliseum, shadows raced across it in an instant.
“Ooooh.”
“Shadow Blade Day has begun!”
Like all the other spectators, Charlotte tilted her head back to gaze at the sky.
The sun's round shape was gradually devoured, until it was fully trapped in shadow, emitting only a thin ring of light around its edge.
……So this is Shadow Blade Day.
Charlotte rediscovered the true nature of the phenomenon called Shadow Blade Day.
This wasn't the first time she'd witnessed it. She had seen it before in the martial world.
It was a bizarre natural occurrence, but since she'd heard it happened regularly, it hadn't surprised her back then.
As she stared blankly up at the sky, the shadow slowly passed, and the sun revealed its full circular form once more.
At almost the same moment, the dancers parted to either side and pulled at the white cloths.
The instant the emperor and his retainers in their red attire were revealed again, the sunlight poured down, shining brilliantly upon them.
“Waaaaah!”
“Waaaaaaaah! Long live His Imperial Majesty the Emperor!”
“Long live!”
A massive roar cascaded into the arena.
The vast array of dancers filling the coliseum had crafted an exquisite work of art, something overwhelmingly awe-inspiring.
It was as if the emperor and his vassals had vanished from the world itself, taking even the light with them.
Charlotte found herself admiring it unconsciously.
I never really thought deeply about the emperor because he exited the story so quickly…… But it's clear this man has considerable political acumen. To utilize a mere natural phenomenon to this extent.
The thunderous cheers pouring into the arena—loud enough to tear one's eardrums—further proved the emperor's popularity.
If loyalty to the current emperor runs this deep…… there might actually be a chance. If only Joseph can catch the emperor's eye……
If that happened, it might ripple through the prevailing sentiment that the throne should naturally go to one of the first or second princes.
That was exactly what Charlotte wanted.
One stone.
Just one stone to shatter the firmly established framework.
As Charlotte scanned the arena's atmosphere, pondering that slim path forward, the emperor quietly raised his hand high.
The spectators, who had been pounding their knees and shouting raucously, instantly fell silent as if gagged.
The once-noisy arena grew utterly still.
“The treasure of our great Cheiker Empire, Shadow Blade Day, has returned. The heavens, the god of the blue earth, and the war god Saint watch over us.”
The emperor's dignified voice, delivering his address in the eerily quiet arena, carried clearly to every corner.
“Now, before me and all our people, I hereby declare the commencement of the tournament to measure the valor of Cheiker's warriors on this sacred Shadow Blade Day.”
Charlotte felt it once more, deep in her bones.
Cheiker Kingdom truly…… truly reveres the martial path above all.
She knew this atmosphere all too well.
It's like every citizen in the nation is a soldier.
It reminded her of the emperor's army from her past life.
The martial world was filled with such strong-willed individuals that unified control like this was impossible, but the emperor's army—tasked with governing and protecting the nation—operated under strict discipline.
Having been confined to the Setia household until now, she hadn't had a chance to feel the kingdom's overall atmosphere so viscerally.
A slow, thrilling tension wrapped around her body, delightfully electric.
She could feel the true importance of this tournament.
It wasn't just some novice martial contest that would end there.
Winning here would make one an existence no one could ignore anywhere in this kingdom.
Undoubtedly, a hero.
I won't let that position go to Ricardo, the second prince.
If Isaac faced the second prince in the finals, Isaac would surely yield the win for Ricardo's sake.
First and foremost, Joseph mustn't let the second prince reach the finals.
Ricardo couldn't claim victory—it had to be Joseph.
Failing that, Charlotte herself would have to win.
“Nervous?”
As she clenched her fist tightly, her mind racing through complexities, a voice suddenly came from her left.
Charlotte turned her head to look.
Russell, with his short platinum hair and a Great Bear-embroidered band tied around his forehead, was gazing at her with a gentle smile.
“No need to be.”
Ever since the incident at the Great Bear Knight Order's training grounds last time, Russell had been unusually friendly toward Charlotte.
His consistent demeanor had gradually led her—from initial suspicion and discomfort—to start accepting his goodwill a little.
She hesitated, then—after repeatedly reminding herself she didn't need to act strong in front of everyone like in her past life—slowly nodded.
“I'm not nervous.”
Russell laughed and patted her head.
Judging by how broadly he smiled, he seemed delighted that she'd spoken casually to him.
For Charlotte, it was amusing to see him, who had grumbled at first, now watching her expressions so carefully—and she wondered how long it would last.
“It's your first time competing, so of course you'd be nervous. Why overthink answering that?”
“Yeah.”
“Even I get nervous coming into the arena. Can't be helped.”
“You too, Brother?”
“Of course. Unless you're Isaac, everyone gets nervous.”
At that, an exasperated chuckle came from her right.
Turning, she saw Isaac—who had just been listening—twisting his lips into a somewhat chilling smile. With platinum hair reaching his nape, draped in a yellow cape while warming up, he exuded the leisure of someone not competing immediately.
“Think about making me nervous, then.”
“……No, the tournament hasn't even started, and you're already killing my spirit like this?”
“Me? No idea. If your spirit's killed, go home and tend to the hunting dogs.”
“Brother!”
Charlotte looked up, alternating her gaze between Russell and Isaac.
The first time she'd seen them together at the dining hall, she'd sensed a strange distance between them. It felt like Isaac was unilaterally ignoring Russell.
Despite sharing the Setia platinum hair, masculine jawline, moderately prominent cheekbones, and sharp nose—making them look quite alike—the two had an oddly estranged air.
Yet here they were, conversing so casually.
In the novel, Russell was sent abroad under the pretext of a dispatch after Isaac became duke……
Why had their once-fiercely hostile relationship in the future mysteriously grown closer?
As Charlotte pondered, gazing up at her two brothers—who kept their eyes fixed on her even while talking—the emperor declared in a booming voice.
“All courageous youths of Cheiker Kingdom wishing to enter the preliminaries, rise.”
The preliminary participants seated side by side in the first row stood up in unison.
In the four empty seats meanwhile, the imperial family's children took their places.
Charlotte spotted Prince Joseph entering behind Prince Ricardo.
Perhaps due to the formal occasion, Joseph was dressed more elegantly and properly than usual. Like the emperor, empress, and other two princes, he wore a tablion of embroidered silk around his shoulders, with a wreath of woven leaves on his head.
Under the sunlight, Joseph's pale skin stood out even more, accentuating his jet-black hair and dark eyes.
He looked just like a fairy, and Charlotte smiled to herself.
It's not a scene from the book, but getting to see Joseph at this young age feels like a good thing. He's too cute.
Prince Joseph gazed quietly back at Charlotte.
The two, standing at opposite ends of the distant arena, exchanged a silent look.