Chapter 59
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: Victory Over Lancelot
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Shing-.
Lancelot's sword was a fairly long and thick two-handed blade.
Charlotte responded in kind, drawing her own sword and gripping it lightly in one hand.
Unlike the sparring match where Lancelot had treated her as just another opponent without a care, Charlotte's mindset was entirely different this time.
Thump. Thump.
Her heart raced with joy.
She had thought a bout against Lancelot would just be something boring to get through.
'To think that being seen by your opponent as someone they truly want to surpass feels this thrilling and exciting.'
"Haaah!"
Lancelot charged at Charlotte first, letting his bastard sword—a weapon meant for two hands—droop to one side.
'It's completely different, as expected.'
The swordsmanship Lancelot displayed now was worlds apart from their sparring match, starting with its sheer ferocity.
Whoosh-.
A low murmur of concern rippled through the stands as his massive blade came crashing down with enough force to cleave the small girl before him in two.
Clang, clang, clang!
In an instant, their swords clashed three times.
Though shorter in both height and reach than Lancelot, Charlotte wasn't pushed back in the slightest.
On the contrary, she shook her blade tip to make him lose grip on hers, or pulled him in deep to exaggerate his movements and buy herself time.
Clang, clang, clang, clang!
Roooar-!
Roooar-!
The crowd, which had watched tensely at first, began erupting into ecstatic cheers after just a few exchanges as the blades met.
This wasn't mere sympathy for the underdog or a desire to root for someone rising from the bottom against a powerhouse.
It stemmed from the ripple Charlotte's display of chivalry in the preliminaries had left in their hearts, however small.
At first glance, to eyes unfamiliar with the sword, it might have looked like Lancelot was overwhelmingly dominating Charlotte.
But as time passed, the gap became visibly clear to everyone: Charlotte was smoothly leading Lancelot along.
While Lancelot's breathing grew ragged, Charlotte remained calmly composed, her expression utterly serene.
Clang, clang!
How many fierce clashes had passed between the long, slender blade and the massive sword that seemed ready to snap it at any moment?
Once more, Charlotte shook her sword tip, drawing Lancelot's blade deep toward her side.
"...Hup!"
"Good momentum, but you're still too hasty."
Whispering those words, Charlotte abruptly twisted her sword ninety degrees in a single motion.
Swords followed predictable paths.
Ones that could be inferred from the arm's movement and the blade's prior trajectory.
But Charlotte's sudden shift was something entirely unpredictable. And it was lightning-fast—too fast to react to.
Lancelot couldn't even attempt to counter her finisher; he simply yielded his neck to her blade.
His own sword hadn't even reached Charlotte's side yet.
"...I yield."
Lancelot, who had clenched his eyes shut and opened them again, declared his defeat cleanly.
The referee, who had been preparing to intervene between them, nodded and stepped forward to separate the two.
Then, he raised Charlotte's arm high toward the sky.
Roooar-!
Roooar-!
Whiiiistle-!
Long live Charlotte Setia!
Long live Charlotte!
The arena shook as the crowd's roars filled the air.
Charlotte's eyes sparkled as she looked up at the spectators.
For some reason, His Imperial Majesty the Emperor had descended to a platform so low it nearly touched the arena floor to watch the matches.
The crowd waved the flags of their favored houses, and though it was unclear if it was for her, the sea of yellow banners rippling like waves made for quite the spectacle.
Looking up was so dazzling she had to lower her gaze quickly, but it didn't feel bad at all.
"...A fine match."
Lancelot approached Charlotte and extended his hand.
It was something the old Lancelot never would have done.
Charlotte gladly took the unexpectedly gracious hand he offered today.
Gazing at her hand atop his own, Lancelot declared clearly.
"Next time, it won't be this easy."
"Anytime."
Lancelot nodded at her response without a hint of displeasure and turned away first.
Charlotte watched his back as he trudged toward the waiting room.
Another person here seemed destined to diverge completely from the story in Western Fantasy Romance Collection Vol. 11 - Princess of Pure Love Wants to Be Loved!
He would probably change a great deal.
Thinking that Lancelot's future held promise, Charlotte drew a pleased smile.
The clash between Charlotte Setia and Lancelot Setia had ignited the stands—not just with its high level of skill, but with its shocking outcome that defied expectations.
Chants of Charlotte's name echoed everywhere.
That fervor carried over into Isaac's match against the First Prince.
No matter that the First Prince, Kegan, was so frail and fainthearted that no one saw him as a contender for the throne—he was still imperial blood.
He had undoubtedly inherited some talent through his lineage, yet Isaac forced his surrender in a mere five exchanges.
The match ended in the blink of an eye, only fueling expectations for the top contender, Isaac Setia.
Several more matches passed amid the blazing excitement, and the announcer called the next pairing.
- This next match... is a clash between princes. We ask Second Prince Ricardo Veros Cheiker and Third Prince Joseph Veros Cheiker to please enter the arena now.
Roooar-.
The crowd clapped and cheered out of habit, but the heat from before had noticeably cooled.
A showdown between the Second and Third Princes.
In truth, it was too predictable to even call a clash.
Compared to the others, this felt like a breather match.
A restless buzz spread through the stands.
Those who had been holding their breath in rapt attention now took the chance to sip water or munch on snacks they'd prepared.
'The outcome's basically set in stone. Ricardo His Highness skipped the prelims, so this must be perfect warm-up fodder for him.'
'Alright, I'll bet 30 hass on Joseph His Highness forfeiting right at the start.'
'Then I'll put 30 hass on him getting one-sidedly thrashed and ending inside ten exchanges.'
'Don't be so harsh. Even Joseph His Highness was rumored to have talent once... Who knows? Maybe there'll be a decent moment or two.'
'Sigh, it's still kinda pitiful. Too predictable, that's the problem.'
'Enough already. Don't jinx it by defending the Third Prince, and just have some of these stir-fried peas.'
Sympathetic glances toward Joseph poured amid the murmurs.
Even those who thought his wretched life was well-deserved pitied him for drawing a top contender like Ricardo as his very first opponent after the prelims in such a grand tournament.
Since those who had advanced past the prelims and one more round now had private rooms, Charlotte watched the arena from her assigned space, peering through the window.
Her sharp attention wasn't on the nonchalant Ricardo descending into the arena, nor on the sharply intense Joseph approaching him.
Charlotte's gaze was fixed on the stands.
'Everyone's faces say they've already decided the result.'
She actually thought that was for the best.
She hated how the Emperor and crowd held zero expectations for her son Joseph—not even a fingernail's worth.
But separately from that, if they started with such low hopes and she shoved the exact opposite in their faces, wouldn't it shatter their perceptions explosively?
Scanning the stands, Charlotte's eyes locked onto the Emperor, who had finally sat down after standing the whole time.
'He really does look quite a bit like Joseph.'
Emperor Sanchez's ash-gray eyes, the neatly combed ash-gray hair peeking from under his sparkling crown, and even his features bore a strong resemblance.
'...Though he doesn't share that utter lack of dignity or his wandering ways at all.'
Recalling tales of Joseph's mother, Charlotte clicked her tongue even as she stared at the Emperor for a long while.
Emperor Sanchez was thoroughly enjoying the tournament with great enthusiasm. He laughed with the cheering crowds and jeered along with their boos in amusement.
Even now, with his two sons facing off, he joined the crowd in munching fat grapes and fanning himself while chuckling heartily at the notion they were "resting up."
'If I can draw out the crowd's reaction... it might create far more impact than expected. If I can just show them the talent Joseph has that the Emperor has never once recognized...'
Charlotte swallowed hard, hoping the advice she'd given Joseph earlier in the waiting room would prove effective.