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“Haa… I feel so heavy…”
The morning after the party to welcome the delegation, I changed into training clothes and let out a huge sigh.
Well, even though I’m going to lose on purpose, having to spar with Carla is like stepping on a landmine.
I mean, there are still more than two years until the main story starts, and I’ve already encountered three of the main heroines? Where did my initial goal of not getting involved with the protagonist and heroines go?
“Halu… are you sure it doesn’t have to be me?”
“Yeah. Even though it’s a match, the opponent is using a wooden sword, and I’ll be using a wooden shield too.”
Caz rubs her cheek against mine and asks worriedly, but if I were to use ‘Jet-Black Shield Caspary,’ the kingdom might take notice and try to requisition her.
I won’t let those guys take my precious partner.
“Caz-san, that’s why you absolutely mustn’t talk today, okay?”
“Okay…”
Monica needles her, and Caz’s shoulders slump.
Seriously… even if you make that face, I can tell you’re worried about me and cheering me on… I really can…
“? What’s wrong, Caz?”
“Ehehe… Hal is really absent-minded sometimes, isn’t he?”
“Prince Harold, you said it out loud, you know? ‘I can tell you’re worried about me and cheering me on.'”
“Gah!?”
I can’t believe my thoughts leaked out, how embarrassing. I want to crawl into a hole. Or rather, I should dig one myself.
Well, Caz looks so happy that her face is all soft, so I guess it’s okay. Monica will probably tease me about this for a while, though.
“Prince Harold, it’s almost time for the Young Lady to arrive.”
“Yeah.”
We head to the entrance to greet Sandra.
Just in case someone is watching, I remind Caz to stay quiet.
And then.
“Lord Hal, good morning.”
Sandra gracefully curtsies as she gets out of the carriage with my help.
Yes, my favorite fiancée is as wonderful as ever today.
“Then let’s go to the training grounds right away. We should warm up before the match with Carla-sama.”
“Indeed.”
So, I take Sandra’s hand and head to the training grounds… but.
“Hmm… Prince Harold.”
“Lady Carla.”
Carla was already at the training grounds.
It seems she had the same idea and was warming up.
“Fufu, I look forward to working with you today.”
“Likewise.”
“Although, I will be the one winning.”
“Ah, haha… please be gentle.”
We shake hands with smiles.
Her hands are rough with calluses from holding a sword, showing how much she has swung it… how sincerely she has faced the sword.
Haa… I was planning to lose on purpose today… things aren’t going as planned.
I look at Sandra next to me and give a wry smile.
She seems to understand my intentions and nods with a smile.
I should have known that Carla is a respectable heroine full of chivalry.
To remember that by holding her hand, even though I was so engrossed in ‘Engage Hazard,’ I’m a failure as a fan.
Therefore.
“Actually, I’ve decided that I will be the one to win.”
“Oh… I look forward to it.”
Strengthening her grip, Carla smiles happily.
Oops, I might have said something unnecessary.
But it’s precisely because she’s like that that I felt I had to fight seriously.
Otherwise, it would be disrespectful to her.
So, we warmed up thoroughly until the match time.
To fight in perfect condition.
“Oh… you two are already here.”
Just before the match time, Christia appeared escorted by Wilfred.
Behind them were not only the members of Lorenzo’s delegation, but also Cardis and Raphael.
I mean, they were whispering something to each other even when they were dancing at yesterday’s party. Maybe they entered a ‘Romance State’ before the start of the ‘EnHaza’ main story, like Marion. This protagonist is getting his hands on the heroines sooner than I thought.
“Today’s match is about the prestige and pride of both the Dehauvalz Kingdom and the Barthian Holy Kingdom. Therefore, I will be the judge representing the kingdom, and His Eminence Salvatori will be the judge representing the Holy Kingdom.”
Haa… I don’t remember putting the kingdom’s prestige and pride on the line.
Besides, for Cardis, who dismissed me as useless, to suddenly impose such a thing now, what is he thinking… oh, I see.
In other words, in this place where the members of the Holy Kingdom are present, he’s trying to corner me by making me expose a disgraceful figure befitting the ‘Incompetent Rascal Prince.’
Whether it’s Cardis’s scheme, Wilfred’s doing, or both.
In any case, they’re using their petty cunning to bring me down.
“Fuh… I don’t care about anything else. I will simply spar with Prince Harold with all my strength.”
Carla raises the corner of her mouth and holds up her wooden sword.
That’s right. The surroundings don’t matter.
I will just respond to her sword.
“Hmm? Harold. What about your weapon?”
“I don’t need it. This shield is enough for me.”
I told Cardis, who asked curiously, calmly.
“Ufufufufu! Could it be that Prince Harold intends to unilaterally receive Carla’s sword!”
“Hahahahahahaha!”
Starting with Christia, who burst out laughing, the members of the delegation, including Wilfred and Cardis, laughed heartily.
The only ones not laughing are Carla in front of me, Raphael who is looking at me with interest, and Sandra and the others.
No, rather, Sandra and Monica are giving the laughing people absolute zero stares, and Caz is bristling and looks like she’s about to pounce on them any second now.
“Prince Harold, the peanut gallery doesn’t matter. Let’s fight with all our strength.”
“Yes!”
“Fuhaha… b-begin!”
With Cardis’s signal, who is desperately trying to hold back his laughter, the match between me and Carla began.
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