~CHAPTER 42~
Was he making that suggestion on purpose to give me the advantage?
I glanced at Sian.
It was a pretty extreme method to be coming from coolheaded Sian.
This was used when a conflict between houses escalated and both sides’ claims clashed but evidence was too thin for a formal trial.
It was popular long ago but had fallen out of favor among nobles for being barbaric.
Of course, it wasn’t bad for me.
I wasn’t the one fighting anyway.
“Fine.”
With a smile on my lips, I opened my mouth at an unhurried pace.
“But as you can see, I am a woman, so I must appoint a representative according to the rules.”
Naturally, I planned to have Illay act as my representative.
Unlike me, who had lost my strength, Illay was still powerful and listed under the same Pavrein house as me.
Was Illay registered as my relative on the family record?
I wasn’t sure.
Either way, he had the perfect status to stand as a representative in a duel trial fought for family honor.
But Sian seemed to have a different idea.
The moment my words ended, he spoke as if he had been waiting.
“That is correct, Jerena. So I will act as your—”
“No.”
The one who cut Sian off was Illay.
“I know a thing or two about duel trials.”
“…?”
“If the participant is a woman, her direct knight or a member of her house steps in for her.”
“That is true, but—”
“By that logic, I seem far more suitable than you.”
Illay slipped off the glove he was wearing and threw it past the bars.
“Illay Pavrein. I request to stand as representative for Jerena Pavrein in the duel trial.”
The glove landed at the lord’s feet, but Illay’s eyes were fixed solely on Sian, strong enough to make it seem like the duel would be between the two of them.
“V-very well. You will fight in her stead!”
Did he think this was an opportunity?
Accepting so quickly suggested he found Illay easier to face than Sian.
Well, it was only natural for him to prefer Illay, whose origins were unclear, over Sian, an evidently trained knight.
Illay looked like a thinker rather than someone who relied on brute strength.
But even if Illay really was the intellectual type, could that lord defeat him?
The lord didn’t look capable of lifting a sword properly.
I don’t think that greasy lord can win no matter who steps in. Where was that confidence coming from?
While I swallowed my confusion, I heard Sian’s voice at my ear.
“…Fine. Then I shall serve as witness for the duel trial.”
“I’ll have my own witness! One of the knights here will serve!”
“As you wish.”
When Sian withdrew from directly participating, the lord’s face lit up.
“The duel will take place here in two days! The loser acknowledges his guilt, and the winner will be granted anything he asks for!”
“Fine.”
I nodded, and the lord strutted off proudly.
The guards who had come with him faded awkwardly from sight.
Two days later…
I wasn’t worried at all.
After all, the lord’s opponent was the Demon Realm’s second-in-command.
Even if I regained all my strength right now, I couldn’t fight Illay without getting injured.
As I turned to head in for my unfinished meal, Sian’s sharp voice cut through the air.
I turned back.
Sian still stood outside the bars, like a complete outsider.
Only when I faced him did I realize his question wasn’t aimed at me, but at Illay.
“I should be the one asking. On what grounds were you going to stand in Jerena’s place?”
“That was why I brought up the duel trial. Since Jerena and I are seen as a married couple in this village…”
“A married couple? You dare?”
Illay’s lip curled up, his tone making it clear he found the idea laughable.
I immediately understood what Sian meant.
He was recalling the excuse I gave Bella when we first arrived here.
“That lord seemed to think you had nothing to do with Jerena. Sounds like delusion.”
“…At the very least, the children Jerena brought here believe we’re married. And I hear the people of this house have been spreading rumors about the wealthy couple living here.”
“Oh, really? Then all you need is the appearance of a married couple. Without those kids, no one would object no matter who Jerena gets paired with.”
“…You.”
“Don’t get involved.”
Illay warned him in a low voice.
“This is our matter.”
He was drawing a clear line.
“By ‘our,’ do you mean Pavrein? Or do you mean demons?”
“So you knew. And you still stayed beside Jerena.”
Illay murmured as if realizing something new, then let out a short laugh.
“What does it matter which it is? Either way, it has nothing to do with you. So stay out of demon business.”
His tone began relaxed, but the end dropped cold and low.
No more words passed between them.
I knew they didn’t get along, but this was… well, a holy knight and a demon weren’t exactly natural companions.
Sian treated me kindly only because he thought I was an unfortunate human who had turned into a demon.
If he knew I was the Demon King, would he still treat me this way?
My mouth tasted bitter at the thought.
…Huh? Why?
Then I was startled by the fact that I felt that way at all.
***
Time slid by, and the day of the duel arrived.
I woke up around late lunch and headed to the front gate of the mansion.
What should I ask for if we win today?
I didn’t feel even a little worried.
Illay must have felt the same since he’d calmly prepared our dinner like usual.
With such a tiny territory and barely any people left, the lord didn’t have much to offer.
There’s really only one thing worth taking from someone like him.
It would be easy to just demand his life.
But even in a duel trial, they wouldn’t accept that.
The winner could request anything, but that didn’t include lives or titles.
Life belonged to the gods, and titles to the emperor.
Though for some reason, dying during the duel itself is considered acceptable since it’s “the gods’ domain.”
As I followed my thoughts, I saw someone already waiting ahead.
“Ah, Sir Sian.”
It was Sian.
For the past two days, he had avoided staying near Illay and me for long.
He’d been busy going in and out of the mansion as if his work wasn’t finished.
I assumed it had something to do with the temple matter.
It was hard to even catch sight of him these last two days, so I stepped a little closer.
“You seemed busy. We didn’t have much time to talk.”
“Yes…”
Awkward silence settled between us.
It was strange to feel this awkward around Sian, so I scratched the back of my neck.
We aren’t going to stand here in this atmosphere until the lord arrives, right…?
I sweated nervously but felt relieved that Illay hadn’t come out with me.
Sian and Illay always fought when put together.
Sian was the one who broke the silence.
“Um, Jerena…”
“Jerena! Sian!”
But a lively voice cut him off almost immediately.
“Zahar?”
Why was he awake at this hour?
I looked at him, puzzled.
I clearly saw his lab lights on until dawn yesterday.
Zahar noticed my expression and spoke as if it were obvious.
“You’re having a duel trial! No way I’d miss something this fun!”
I wanted to smack his back for the thoughtless comment, but I held myself back.
The lord would arrive any moment.
“They’re coming.”
Sian reacted quickly to the distant sound of hooves.
The lord was on his way.
