Instigating a Fight?

Silence permeated between the three. It got to the point it became suffocating to the poor Lillian, who still continued to lay against the tree writhing in pain.

However, surprisingly, Marionette was the one to break the silence first.

"... This is surprising..." She says, but her face doesn't really show it, "I didn't expect to find a Royal Family Member in my little stroll... what do I owe the pleasure, Sir Lionbright?"

The blood sticking to her clothes soon disappeared into pixels—revealing her clothes that bore not even a single cut, tear, or dirt stain on them.

The Second Prince glanced towards Lillian with a suspicious gaze before looking back at the Lady of Roses with a tense expression.

"I'm merely chasing after this one you see before you."

Marionette turned to face Lillian, who smiled at her wryly. She stared at her face with an aloof expression before turning back, "Is there a reason to? Time is very little now. And I'm sure you had already passed far, long ago." (2)

"What you say is indeed correct. But my partner, who should be arriving moments later, had suggested I spend my time doing this."

"Are you so low to chase after a harmless girl?"

Lillian's lips twitched at Marionette's words. 'Harmless!? I'm as fierce as a tiger I have, you know!' As much as she wanted to exclaim that, she knew drawing the attention of the two strongest in the exam would be the worst thing to do currently. (2)

"Are you disrespecting me, Lady Roselle?" The Second Prince's brows furrowed—a surprised expression appearing on his face before shifting to a more stoic and firm one, "I have you know disrespecting me is considered an offence..."

"I've heard you mattered not of what others thought and the status as a royal."

"You may be right, and that's why I do not care if you do. But doing so in public would catch their eyes."

"I am firmly aware, Sir Lionbright."

Marionette's tone remained the same—making it harder to make out if she had become either more respectful or less than before.

"DANG! You run hella fast!"

Passing through the trees and into the large clearing they were in, Millis appeared—huffing tiredly.

The three drew their attention towards her.

Millis stared at them with a flustered look. She then began to make various provocative poses.

"Hehe~ I know I'm beautiful and all, but if you guys stare that much, I'll get all bashful and flustere—"

Before she could finish, they all drew in their stares and back at each other—leaving Millis to pout.

Lillian watched as the two engaged in yet another conversation. Her body felt jittery—she was extremely anxious.

Who knows when the Second Prince or Marionette would suddenly turn towards her and eliminate her from the exam—her elimination would be her end!

She had to think fast, so while they converse, she put the hilt of her sword in her mouth and snuck her working hand behind her back—summoning her last grenade.

'Could I take them out with a single grenade? A two-in-one?' It was highly unlikely.

Gram Savage was able to survive two point-blank explosions. Considering that these two are far stronger than him, the likelihood she would die before it even went off was high.

'What do I do!?'

How could she get away and drink the health potions stored in her inventory? How could she... get away without bringing harm to herself...?

"Hey Marionette~..."

"Hm?"

Marionette turned towards Lillian, who gave her a soft and warm smile. She raised a brow at that.

"Are you perhaps bored~?"

"..." Marionette turned her eyes towards the sky, pondering for a brief moment before staring back at Lillian and answering.

"Somewhat... why do you ask, Miss Arius?" She asked while folding her arms.

"Well~... wouldn't fighting someone as strong as Sir Lionbright here be quite an entertaining thing to do to wait out the exam~?" Using her head, she gestured towards the Second Prince, who widened his eyes at her.

The cold-hearted woman stared at Lillian with her red eyes. Her arms untangling.

She then held her chin with a thoughtful expression.

"Interesting solution to my boredom... but one issue..."

"Yes...?"

"I'm under strict orders not to engage with the Second Prince..."

"..."

'That was a thing!?' Lillian felt like her world was crashing down. Her plan of getting the two to the fight was now flushed down the toilet.

That was until...

"Pfft..." The Second Prince started laughing. Although it wasn't a full-blown cackle, a laugh is a laugh.

"What may be so humorous, Sir Lionbright?"

"Do let down the formalities, Miss Roselle. I'll do the same..." He calmly offered, only to get flat-out-rejected.

"... I'd rather not."

"I see... well anyway... I merely found Miss Arius's attempt to instigate a fight between us very amusing." He then gave a broad and bold grin, "So much so that even she had convinced me in the sake of relieving my boredom."

"... Even so... I am still under strict orders to avoid any such confrontations with you, Sir Lionbright."

"Forget about them."

"..."

The Second Prince's eyes lit up. His eyes glowed with an intense light, "A royal's words is law."

"... And here I thought you would avoid using your privileges as the Second Prince."

"If it benefits me, then I should use it whenever I see fit." The Second Prince shrugged casually—brandishing his sword at the Lady of Roses.

Marionette gave a short and deep sigh before pushing her hand out to the side.

From the spot on the ground beneath her hand, a pool of darkness appeared in the world, spitting out the long shaft of a guandao from it.

Clutching her imposing weapon, she pointed it towards the Second Prince, who gazed at it with interest.

"I don't see many opting to use an eastern weapon much."

"I am not well-versed in this type of weapon. I am merely using this exam as training."

"... Is that so...? I should really adopt that mindset of yours..." He glanced down at his plain steel sword.

Silence soon returned. The atmosphere became stiff and heavy as the aura of the two fighters leaked into it.

And like a thunderclap, they shot towards each other, their weapons clashing.