“…We will now proceed with the match between Master Hugo Grenville and Knight Kenneth Rogers. Will both men please step forward?”
“Understood.”
“Yes!”
At those words from the captain of the knights, my opponent and I both stepped forward, swords in hand. This time around, I would face him in earnest.
It didn’t come as much of a surprise—I had already found myself in this very situation six times before, after all—but my family were letting me, a boy who as far as they knew had never held a sword in his life, face off against an active knight. This alone was proof enough that they didn’t care a whit what happened to me.
On top of that—
“Get out there! Go for it, Kenneth!”
“Oh-ho… Don’t hold back, Sir Rogers…”
—Louis was excitedly cheering on my opponent, while my stepmother dished out instructions to him, covering her mouth behind a folding fan.
Why had I been so desperate to win these people’s affections, always buttering them up and trying to earn their approval?
“Ready…”
My opponent and I pulled our swords from their sheaths. Holding them out, we each aimed the tip of our blade at the point right between the other’s eyes.
And then—
“Begin!”
“Heh-heh… Don’t take this personally, kid.” Kenneth chuckled, his lips curling in a grin.
Right back at you, Kenneth… I’m in a particularly foul mood at the moment, so don’t resent me if I end up killing you.
Whoosh!
Gripping my sword’s hilt with both hands, I hit the ground running and closed in with one swift motion.
“Whoa! You’re quick, huh?”
Kenneth was impressed, but his tone was still full of confidence and composure. He must have believed he could parry my attack with ease.
But he was wrong.
“…Ugh!”
Without warning, I dropped low to the ground and lashed out at my foe’s shins. As usual, his defenses around his feet were sorely lacking.
And yet… Ha-ha. Unlike Kenneth’s, my weapon’s blade had been purposely dulled, and it failed to cut through.
There was something seriously wrong with my family, going this far to thwart a fourteen-year-old kid who had never once held a sword. Not that it mattered.
“Damn you!”
After taking the blow to his shins, Kenneth was fuming mad. Blood rushed to his face as he angrily brought down his blade at a steep angle—leaving his shoulder completely open.
Kshck.
“Gaaauuugggh!”
Without the slightest hesitation, I gouged a chunk out of his left shoulder.
“Whoooaaa?!”
“Eeeeeeeeeep!”
Louis and Anna both screamed at the top of their lungs as Kenneth’s blood spattered over the ground. If they were that squeamish, what were they doing watching a sword fight in the first place?
“…Hugo!” my stepmother screeched, quivering with rage as she jumped to her feet. “How dare you harm one of this family’s most crucial retainers?!”
She was the one who had arranged this as a legitimate match, of course.
“…Captain!” Covered in blood, I called out to the leader of the knights to declare the bout over.
“Th-that’s enough! Master Hugo is the victor! Wh-what are you all doing?! Get Kenneth to the healer at once!”
“R-right!”
Several knights, dumbfounded by the contest’s unexpected conclusion, rushed Kenneth away to tend to his wounds. The cut I’d made in his shoulder was rather deep, however. Even with a healer’s services, he was probably finished as a knight.
But that was none of my concern. I had something more important to attend to.
“I dedicate this victory to you, Father, and to all of House Grenville.”
Without betraying my emotions, I dropped to my knees and bowed my head.
“I didn’t know you had such talent,” he replied. “It seems I underestimated you.”
Now then…if my first life was anything to go by, he would probably want to raise me as an assassin…
“…You’ve successfully defeated one of our most skilled knights. I suppose I ought to grant you some kind of reward.”
“Y-your Lordship?! You mustn’t praise him for such a thing…!” Taken aback, my stepmother cried out in anger, only to fall silent when my father fixed her with a baleful glare. “N-never mind… My apologies…”
“Was there anything in particular you wanted as a prize?” he asked me.
As if he didn’t already know. He must really like these stupid theatrics.
“…I only have one request.”
“Then speak.”
Throughout all my previous lives, I would have wished only to be recognized as a member of the family. But now…that dream was dead.
“Yes… I ask that you consider using me, a boy with nothing else to offer, to build a relationship with another noble house.”
“…What cheek!” exclaimed my stepmother. How amusing, coming from a lowly baron’s daughter.
“Hmm… You’re saying you want me to marry you off to some nobleman’s daughter?” asked my father.
“Yes, if you agree. And once I’ve settled into the family and gained control of their fortunes…”
“I see… If you’re that determined, I’ll say no more.” My father grinned. How careless for a marquis to let his ambition show so brazenly.
From his perspective, of course, I had just presented him with a win-win opportunity. Even if I failed, he would be rid of an unwanted son. Either way, he came out on top.
“Very well. I will find you a suitable partner,” he said. “Until then, continue your studies at your residence.”
“Thank you, Father.”
Nodding to himself in satisfaction, my father headed back to his mansion. My stepmother, still red with anger, and my pale-faced half siblings followed him.
“Ah-ha-ha…!”
Success.
After this, my father would surely approach Archduke Woodstock—and until I entered the archduke’s household, no one, not even my stepmother, would dare lay a hand on me. They couldn’t risk losing their chance to sell me off to such an important buyer, after all.
I sheathed my sword and rose to my feet, ignoring the glares of the remaining knights as I made my way back to my cottage.