Commoner

Recalling what had happened earlier, Mereoleona couldn't help but frown deeply, her fingers digging into her arms as she crossed them tightly over her chest. The memory of her humiliation still burned vividly in her mind, fueling the intense glare she directed at Eren. Her amber eyes smoldered with pure hatred, as if she wanted to set him on fire just by staring.

Eren, as usual, seemed completely unaffected.

Back at the center of the training grounds, the duel was about to begin.

Commander Gareth, a middle-aged man who had already crossed into his fifties yet still carried the youthful energy of someone in their thirties, strode forward to address both fighters. His short white hair was neatly combed back, revealing sharp, piercing blue eyes that had witnessed countless battles. Despite his age, his presence remained as commanding as ever, his tall and muscular frame exuding authority.

Standing before the two combatants, Gareth let his gaze first fall upon Bolder, the young knight of House d'Armand. The knight stood tall, his grip firm around the wooden sword provided for the duel. Unlike Eren, he was clad in his own polished armor—though he had foregone a helmet, allowing his determined expression to be seen clearly. His jaw was clenched, his body tense like a coiled spring, ready to strike.

"Are the two of you fully prepared?" Gareth's deep voice cut through the air.

Bolder was the first to answer, nodding sharply without hesitation. His eyes never left Eren, burning with intensity and purpose.

Then, Gareth shifted his attention to the young master.

His thoughts were complicated when it came to Eren. Unlike his longtime friend Oswald, who had been serving the Marquis' household for decades and understood the boy more personally, Gareth had only a limited impression of him. From what he had observed, Eren was a spoiled noble son—weak, fragile, and tragically hindered by his illness. It was no secret that the Marquis favored his youngest son greatly, and as a father himself, Gareth understood why.

Yet, the stories he had heard over the years, the rumors that painted Eren as arrogant, irresponsible, and unworthy of his noble status, made him conflicted.

But what truly unsettled him was Eren's decision to accept this duel.

It made no sense. This was not the behavior of the boy he had come to know through whispered gossip and half-truths. Either the rumors were false, or Eren had changed in ways Gareth could not yet understand. Whatever the case, he had resolved to keep a close eye on the duel. If things turned dangerous, he would step in without hesitation.

His sharp blue eyes observed Eren carefully.

The young master stood there, holding the wooden sword in his hand, lightly swinging it as if testing the weight. His gaze lingered on the blade for a few moments, his expression unreadable. Gareth felt like he was looking at something invisible, and not the sword.

Then, finally, the boy looked up at Gareth and gave a small nod.

"I'm ready." His voice was calm, almost lazy, as he lowered the wooden sword slightly.

Unlike Bolder, who stood fully armored except for his missing helmet, Eren had made no effort to change his attire.

He wore only a pair of simple leather vambraces on his forearms and greaves on his legs—yet underneath, he was still clad in the same loose, comfortable sleepwear pajamas he had been wearing since earlier that morning.

A wave of disbelief spread through the knights and trainees watching from the sidelines. Some of them exchanged glances, unsure whether to be shocked or amused. Others barely held back their laughter.

But no one had a stronger reaction than Mereoleona.

The moment she laid eyes on Eren's ridiculous appearance, her entire body tensed, and an uncontrollable rage surged within her, burning so hot that even those standing nearby instinctively took a step back.

The maids and staff who had gathered to watch immediately retreated, keeping their distance as she began to radiate a thin but deadly red aura.

'I hope he trips ad breaks his hand' she muttered in her mind, her hands clenched into trembling fists.

Eren, feeling her glare stabbing into the side of his head, only smiled smugly, as if intentionally provoking her further.

Seeing that both combatants were ready, Gareth cleared his throat and raised his voice.

"The rules of this duel are simple." His voice rang out across the training grounds.

"Victory is determined by disarming your opponent's weapon. The first to knock the other's weapon out of their hands wins."

A murmur rippled through the audience. The conditions were straightforward—this wasn't a duel to the death, nor was it about causing injuries. It was a test of skill.

"No magic is allowed," Gareth continued, his expression serious. "This will be an all-sword duel—nothing more, nothing less."

Then, his gaze landed on Bolder, his blue eyes narrowing slightly.

"…And aura usage is strictly forbidden."

Bolder tensed.

He gulped, quickly nodding in understanding. He wasn't surprised Gareth had called him out specifically—everyone knew that, as a knight, someone like Bolder must have the ability to channel aura like any fully knight. And Gareth can tell he was an Aura user. Even if it was only a fraction of what the elite knights could do, it would have given him an overwhelming advantage over Eren.

"Lastly," Gareth added, "if I sense that this duel is becoming dangerous, I will intervene immediately. Is that understood?"

He turned his gaze to Eren, who he was addressing the most, watching for any reaction.

Eren, who had been absentmindedly twirling his wooden sword, simply shrugged.

"I don't mind," he said nonchalantly. Then, with a taunting grin, he added, "After all, I believe he's just as weak as his master."

A vein popped on Bolder's forehead as his grip on the sword tightened. He clenched his jaw, barely restraining his anger. Before they had stepped onto the training grounds, Lady Mereoleona had given him clear instructions—not to injure the boy, and just to win, no matter what. She had also reminded him of the consequences he actually does it. But now, after hearing those words, his patience was wearing thin.

Before the knight could say anything, Eren tilted his head and spoke again, his tone light yet mocking.

"By the way, commoner, how long have you been training to hold a sword? How long has it taken you to become a knight?"

Bolder's frown deepened at the word "commoner." It wasn't unusual for nobles to refer to lower-status individuals that way, but coming from this arrogant boy, it grated on his nerves more than usual.

"…Four years," Bolder replied in a low, irritated voice.

He had joined the d'Armand's Knights four years ago, recruited by the General, who was a close friend of his father. It had taken him two years to master the basics of d'Armand swordsmanship and graduate from a cadet to a full knight. The next two years had been spent refining his skills and learning to wield Aura, though he had yet to fully master it.

Unlike Lady Mereoleona, who had shown exceptional talent from a young age and mastered the Aura with ease, Bolder was still in the process of refining his control. not to mention, the lady was an Awakener, unlike him who haven't awakened yet. Even though he can awaken at any time just by visiting the church to receive his blessing—but his teacher had advised him to wait until he had complete mastery over his Aura before taking that step.

Eren raised an eyebrow at Bolder's answer, his expression turning from mild curiosity to something more unreadable. Then, a mischievous smirk curled on his lips.

"I see," he said. Then, as if a thought had just struck him, he added, "Before we start, let's make this more interesting. We haven't decided on a reward yet, have we?"

Bolder's eyes narrowed in suspicion. Mereoleona, standing in the distance, also tensed, sensing something unpleasant coming.

Eren raised a single finger.

"Since this duel is for the lady's honor, let's make a bet. If you win, I'll apologize for everything I said to her—and I'll even bow my head to her."

Gasps echoed through the training grounds.

The knights, the butler, the servants—everyone stared at Eren in disbelief. Even Mereoleona herself seemed momentarily stunned by what she heard.

But Eren wasn't done. His smirk widened as he delivered the second half of his proposition.

"But if I win, you will bow your head to me and apologize for your dumb actions… oh, and also, you'll kiss my feet."

Silence.

Then, rage.

Mereoleona's eyes flared with burning fury. And her knight, equally enraged, clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white. The very idea of submitting to Eren in such a humiliating manner made Bolder's blood boil.

Eren, unbothered by the hostile stares, turned to Gareth.

"Well, that's all from me. You may begin, Commander."

Gareth, who had been momentarily stunned by the unexpected turn of events, quickly collected himself. Clearing his throat, he raised his arm between the two fighters.

"Both contestants, take your stances!" he commanded.

Bolder inhaled deeply, shaking off his anger to focus on the duel. He adopted the d'Armand stance—feet firmly planted, knees slightly bent, his wooden sword gripped tightly in both hands, positioned diagonally across his body. This was the signature stance of the d'Armand Knights, emphasizing both offensive readiness and strong defense.

Eren, in contrast, took a far more relaxed posture. He stood straight, his wooden sword loosely held in one hand as he raised it in front of him, while his other hand rested idly behind his back. His expression was unreadable, his gaze lazy yet unwavering. His stance was almost casual—unbothered, unguarded.

The contrast between them was striking.

Eren's lips curled into another smirk.

"Show me what you've learned in the past four years, commoner," he taunted.

Bolder gritted his teeth, his grip tightening around the hilt of his sword.

Around them, the knights and trainees watched in anticipation, eager to see how the duel would unfold. Some of the servants were just as excited, while others, including the head butler Oswald and the maid Marie, exchanged worried glances.

Meanwhile, Mereoleona remained silent, arms crossed, her expression unreadable—but her gaze never left Eren.

Gareth glanced at both fighters once more, ensuring they were ready. Then, with a sharp motion, he swung his arm down.

"Begin!"

—BOOM!