Chapter 21
The Reason for Acting
It wasn’t until the sun had completely set that practice ended. Sue was used to seeing the evening sky from the academy.
After changing, as Sue was dragging her exhausted body out of the locker room, she heard Noel’s voice.
“Looks like you’re done.”
“Noel.”
Noel was standing in front of her, leaning against the wall, a playful smile on his face. She looked around, wondering if he had run into her by chance, but he was alone. Sue asked, bewildered,
“Why are you standing here? Waiting for someone?”
“Yes, I was waiting for you.”
Noel answered immediately. His clear, refreshing voice rang in Sue’s ears.
“For me?”
Sue pointed at herself, her brow furrowed, staring at him in disbelief. Noel chuckled and looked at her directly, as if he found her reaction amusing. Sue quickly averted her gaze, feeling his intense stare.
“Let’s go back together.”
Unlike his serious expression earlier, Noel was back to his usual self.
Sue stared blankly into space for a moment, then chuckled and looked up at him.
“I have to take the carriage.”
“Really?”
Noel shrugged nonchalantly.
“Yes. What about you?”
“Hmm, I need to stop by the Knights’ headquarters for a bit. How about we walk to the gate together?”
“…Okay, sure.”
They walked side by side down the hallway. As they walked along the quiet, marble-paved path, with only the sound of birds chirping in the air, Sue kept thinking about Leo. More precisely, she remembered what he had said.
He said he was going to the Knights’ headquarters. But didn’t he abandon his Knights training? He doesn’t even go home, so is he really going to the Knights’ headquarters? And why was he waiting for me?
“…Oh, right. How’s the Golden Lion Team’s practice going?”
Sue forced herself to start a conversation, both to distract herself from the confusing thoughts swirling in her head and to lighten the mood.
There was nothing more inefficient than worrying about the family affairs of someone from an insignificant family.
“Our team doesn’t practice that much.”
Noel replied with a carefree laugh.
“Hmm… Well, that’s understandable.”
Sue smiled wryly at his answer.
The Black Eagle Team was essentially practicing every day for Fritz’s victory. So, it was only natural that if Fritz wasn’t on the team, the amount of practice would decrease.
“Hmm, come to think of it, Lady Enzhe is on the Golden Lion Team too.”
She mumbled to herself, suddenly remembering. Fritz and Acrea, as well as Sue and Melaine, had expressed their displeasure at not being on the same team.
“How’s Lady Enzhe doing?”
She asked casually. But when she glanced up at Noel, she saw a shadow fall over his face, and she realized she had made a mistake.
Noel always reacted strangely whenever Enzhe was involved. As if he were lost in thought.
“Lopetrefer is always doing well. You know her better than I do.”
“I’m not on the same team as Lady Enzhe, so I don’t know how she’s doing in the team.”
“Is that so…”
Noel mumbled absentmindedly, staring into space. Sue watched him for a moment before lowering her gaze.
As she was walking, looking at the ground, she suddenly realized they had slowed down.
“Byron.”
“Yes?”
Sue answered without looking at Noel, who had called her name.
“This morning, what did Leo… tell you?”
He asked. His voice was firm, as if he had been thinking about it all day.
So Sue simply answered. As if she had been waiting for the question.
“That you haven’t been going home. That you left the Knights without permission.”
“…”
When Noel didn’t respond, Sue continued.
“I didn’t say anything earlier because I thought it wasn’t my place to interfere.”
“…”
“Noel, is something bothering you?”
Sue finally asked. She didn’t want to pry, but she couldn’t help but ask, worried.
“If you have any problems, you can tell me. I can’t solve them for you, but… we’re friends.”
Friends. She felt a strange, uncomfortable dryness in her mouth at those two words. Sue waited for Noel’s answer.
“…I don’t know.”
What does ‘I don’t know’ even mean? Sue tried to decipher the meaning of his words. Naturally, there was no clear answer.
“But thank you, Byron.”
Noel turned his head slightly and looked down at her. His blue eyes, obscured by the moonlight, were fixed on Sue. Sue, who was still looking down, didn’t notice his gaze.
After walking for a few minutes, the carriage bearing the Byron family emblem came into view. Nine, instead of Ten, was standing stiffly in front of the carriage, probably because she was handling the aftermath of the accident.
“Well then, goodbye, Byron. See you later.”
Noel disappeared beyond the gate before Sue could even say anything. Sue watched him walk away for a moment before turning around and getting into the carriage.
Time flew by, and the Sports Festival was just around the corner. Today was the day all the students participated in practice in preparation for the festival, which was to be held the day after tomorrow. This so-called ‘general practice’ was not only a practice match, but also a final check to make sure all the equipment and timelines for the various events were working properly.
Since receiving advice from Fritz, Sue had gained some confidence and focused even more on her Ribbon Race practice.
The result of the general practice match was a landslide victory, a testament to her efforts. Sue still couldn’t fly very fast, but she managed to finish the course without being overtaken by the other teams.
Melaine, the fourth runner, had almost been caught up, but Ricelancer, the last runner, who had an exceptional talent for the Ribbon Race, crossed the finish line with a large lead.
‘At least I finished the course, so it’s a win.’
Sue consoled herself as she landed.
Since the Ribbon Race was the only event she was participating in, Sue spent the rest of the time looking after Enzhe, who was relaxing on the garden terrace.
“Sue, do you have anything to report…”
“No, Lady Enzhe! Everyone is looking at Master Fritz with admiration, but no one seems to have any ulterior motives!”
“Hmm, is that so?”
Sue spent her time appeasing Enzhe, who was contentedly sipping her tea, and then headed to the Grand Training Hall at the appointed time.
The Grand Training Hall was the largest training hall in the academy, slightly different from the one at the Knights’ training ground. It resembled a coliseum, with a circular arena surrounded by spectator stands. It was used not only for training matches, but also for performances by orchestras and theater troupes.
The opening ceremony of the Sports Festival was also held in the Grand Training Hall. First, the orchestra would play, and dancers would perform, captivating the audience’s eyes and ears. Then, the teams participating in the Sports Festival would enter the arena.
The team representatives would march into the arena, carrying flags with their team emblems, followed by the athletes participating in the events.
Sue, who would normally have spent her time with Enzhe on the garden terrace, had to participate in the opening ceremony this year because she was competing.
Arriving at the Grand Training Hall, Sue joined the waiting line in the inner corridor.
‘Ugh… it’s cold.’
The sunlight didn’t reach the inner corridor, and the shadows cast a chilly air.
It was her first time standing in the corridor instead of the spectator stands since she had participated in an event in her second year.
“Let’s go!”
At the sound of drums from outside, Fritz, who was standing at the front of the line, raised the flag and entered the arena. Sue, who was standing somewhere in the middle, quickened her pace, following the movement of the front row.
“….”
“….”
“….”
She could see her Ribbon Race teammates, like Ains and Vercia, whom she had been practicing with for the past two weeks, but there was no conversation between them. Melaine, the only one she talked to, seemed to be at the front of the line, so there was no opportunity for Sue to speak.
They had spent their afternoons together for two weeks, but there hadn’t been much chance to bond.
As they reached the entrance to the arena, Sue squinted at the sudden burst of sunlight. She blinked repeatedly, and her vision gradually returned.
She could finally see the vast expanse of the Grand Training Hall and the towering spectator stands.
It’s huge.
She felt a sudden sense of awe, almost suffocating.
She was only participating in the opening ceremony, but she could understand how the athletes who would be competing here felt, standing on this ground.
Once all the teams had entered the arena, the drums announcing the start of the festival echoed loudly through the Grand Training Hall.
While others grimaced and covered their ears, Sue listened intently to the deafening sound of the Sports Festival drums.
The Sports Festival is really starting.
The general practice concluded with the rehearsal for the opening ceremony. As the final sound rang out, the large crowd began to disperse.
Coughing from the swirling dust, Sue followed the crowd out of the Grand Training Hall.
Sue moved to a spot a short distance from the entrance and took a moment to catch her breath. The sunlight beating down from the sky was scorching hot. The corridor had been so cold she had wanted to wrap herself in a blanket.
Every time she participated in the general practice, she was reminded that spring was coming to an end.
“Byron.”
She heard Noel’s voice. She didn’t know when he had come outside, or when he had noticed her.
Sue looked up slightly. Noel was walking towards her with a wry smile.
“I saw the Ribbon Race earlier. You did well.”
Sue chuckled wryly at his words, unsure if he was being sincere or mocking.
“It’s something everyone else can do, and I’m just doing it now.”
“Haha, I guess so.”
He laughed, not denying it. Sue started walking slowly, and Noel followed her.
“Noel, you said you were participating in the swordsmanship competition, right?”
“Yes, I had a practice match earlier.”
“Really? Who won?”
It must have been while she was with Enzhe at the garden terrace. She had wanted to see Noel’s swordsmanship skills firsthand.