Chapter 55: A Lunch Adventure... You Can Cry, Keithwood

Abel was on a roll.

His next two matches were against older students, and he won them both. With three straight victories under his belt, it was time for lunch. He made his way toward one corner of the courtyard. Bathed in the gentle sunshine, the soft grass radiated a comfortable warmth. Anne and Chloe had placed a mat on the ground, on top of which they were laying out food. Beside them stood Mia, who beamed at him as he approached.

"That was absolutely amazing, Prince Abel!"

She waved both arms at him, her expression brimming with excitement.

"Thanks," he said with an embarrassed smile, "but I couldn't have done it without you cheering for me the whole way through."

"Don't be so modest, now. It's the fruit of all your hard work," she replied, though the way she hummed gleefully to herself suggested she wouldn't be too upset if his modesty continued. "I must say, though, you really are very good. I had absolutely no idea."

Abel's remarkable performance had been completely unexpected for her.

Who would have thought he'd be this strong. At this rate, maybe he'll even manage to knock Prince Sion off his high horse! What a sight that would be!

Mia was not particularly interested in getting back at Sion or Tiona; that kind of drastic action was simply too dangerous, as she would risk incurring their wrath. One wrong move, and it'd be the guillotine all over again. She'd rather just keep her distance. However, if she didn't need to put herself at risk... If the Anti-Sion Party could find itself a new champion, she'd be all over that in a heartbeat. Heck, propriety was the only thing stopping her from holding up a big "Let's go Abel" sign and screaming her support at the top of her lungs.

"At this rate, first place seems well within your reach."

"Uh... That's maybe aiming a little too high. I mean, Prince Sion is still in the tournament. Let's not get ahead of ourselves."

"You'll be fine, Prince Abel. I know you'll win. Believe in yourself," Mia declared with overblown confidence. She pumped her fist at Abel. "You are strong, so please, when Prince Sion shows up, give that good-for-no—"

"Hm? What was that about me, Princess Mia?"

"Wha—?! Prince Sion?!"

Mia jumped in surprise before wheeling around to discover Sion, Keithwood, Tiona, and Liora standing behind her.

Wh-Wh-What in the moons are they doing here?!

She'd already given Sion's sandwich to Tiona to deliver. By now, they should have been eating lunch elsewhere. She threw a questioning glance at Tiona, only for her to give Mia a thumbs up and a winking smile that seemed to say, "Don't worry. I got you covered."

"Lady Rudolvon here suggested that since you all had a hand in making these, we might as well join you in consuming them. I hope I'm not imposing?"

"N-N-No, not at all. F-Feel free to join us... Ohoho."

Mia felt the muscles in her face twitch as she forced herself to smile.

Why you little... After turning me down over and over in the other timeline, now you just casually show up and invite yourself on in?!

Indeed, in the previous timeline, as a result of having her request declined by Sion, Mia was forced to spend the whole tournament day alone, sniffling miserably and eating the lunch she'd prepared all by herself. Taking that into consideration, Sion's current attitude was... understandably grating. The way he smiled softly as he chatted with Tiona and Anne lit a fire of indignant anger in Mia's heart, which...

"Hey, what a funny sandwich."

...immediately dissipated upon hearing Abel's comment.

"M-My, you noticed?"

In the blink of an eye, Mia reverted to her nervous, fidgety self. Seeing Abel pick up the sandwich she'd made gave her butterflies in her stomach.

He's... He's looking at my sandwich. Oh! Please! Don't stare at it like that! It makes me nervous.

Mia gulped. Her expression hardened into an intense stare as she awaited Abel's reaction. Her eyes grew wider and wider until...

"Oh, I see! It's a horse," he said with a laugh before taking a big bite out of it. "Mmm. Delicious. This is a really good sandwich."

Her wide-eyed stare was immediately replaced by a bright smile.

"That's wonderful to hear. I'm glad you like it."

Hearing her sandwich praised made Mia feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside. She felt an urge to throw her arms up in glee. After all, the most distinctive feature about the sandwich was obviously the fact that it was shaped like a horse. And who was the one to propose that brilliant idea? It was, of course, Mia herself. Was it not reasonable, then, to interpret all the compliments made toward the sandwich as being made toward her? Thus was the questionable logic taking shape in Mia's head.

Never mind that the meticulous selection of ingredients, careful consideration of their placement, and painstaking application of edible adhesive was all carried out by Keithwood. All his blood, sweat, and tears had amounted to nothing, their significance so trifling to Mia that they'd been wiped clean from her memory.

...You can cry, Keithwood. It's okay. We understand.

"Prince Abel, do you have a moment?"

After bantering with Tiona and the girls, Sion approached Abel.

"Prince Sion? What is it?"

Abel frowned, wondering what the rival prince wanted from him.

"I'm somewhat late in saying this, but congratulations on your first victory over your brother."

"Ah, well, thank you very much," replied Abel with an honest smile.

Then, Sion lowered his head.

"I also owe you an apology."

"Hm? What for?"

"I thought for sure that you would lose. The difference in skill between you and your brother had seemed far too apparent."

My! How rude! There's no way Prince Abel would have lost to a bonehead like his brother!

Mia's opinion of Sion decreased by a few points. Abel, however, simply smiled and shook his head.

"No, I think your assessment was correct. I'm only winning because I keep getting lucky. I'm not winning through my skills like you are."

My, how modest!

Mia's opinion of Abel increased by a few points.

"Luck is an important factor, Prince Abel. I couldn't have made it this far on pure skill alone either."

Well, of course you couldn't. That goes without saying. You're only winning because you keep getting lucky!

Mia agreed with Sion's assessment of himself.

"It's a privilege and an honor to hear that from you, Prince Sion. I'll take it to heart."

Though Mia objected to that statement pretty strongly.

It totally isn't, Prince Abel! So what if this jerk praised you? Who cares what he says? There's no need to make a big deal about it!

"Regardless, let's make the next match a good one."

Sion held out his hand, projecting a natural confidence with his easy smile. It was a gesture of many things: trust, rivalry, and mutual respect — an honorable pact between two young men to each give his all in their upcoming duel. In that moment, a new friendship was born. To Mia's side, Chloe let out an enraptured sigh.

"...So dreamy."

Anne and Tiona seemed equally mesmerized by the two princes as they watched with wide, spellbound eyes. As for Liora... She poked at the meat in the sandwich, confirmed that it was well-roasted, and nodded to herself in satisfaction.

Liora, you see, was a girl who knew what was important.

Likewise, Mia also had little interest in the boys' burgeoning friendship. If anything, she was rather upset that just when things had been getting good between her and Abel, Sion showed up and robbed her of his attention. So, in a display of petulance characteristic of her age, the young princess produced her angry-puffer-fish cheeks and quietly sulked as she nibbled on a sandwich.

Then again, for someone who was technically twenty, her behavior was rather ridiculous...

And Prince Abel had just complimented my sandwich, too! Would you stop getting in the way already? fumed Mia as she gave Abel's sleeve a quick tug. When he turned to her, she looked straight into his eyes. Remember my sandwich? Remember how good it was? Why don't you praise it some more, hm?

Mia, you see, was a girl who... was actually just kind of annoying.

Seeing Sion extend his hand, Abel defaulted to his usual innocuous smile. It was a smile of convenience — one that said nothing and committed nothing. It made no enemies and created no hostility. But that was all. It had no further substance.

Wearing his usual smile, he had intended to say, "Yes, let's make it a good match."

He'd imagined himself losing.

"I don't know how much of a fight I'll put up, but I'll try my best. If nothing else, it'll be a good learning experience for me," he'd say in advance. It helped him to stop hoping. To stop caring. That way, he wouldn't feel the pain when he ultimately failed.

It was a part of him — the lens through which he saw the world and the way in which he navigated it. He'd done so since childhood. It was how he'd survived. But now...

Hm? What?

He felt a tug. Turning around, he found Mia's fingers on his sleeve. He looked at her. She held his gaze, her eyes beautiful and intense and filled with emotion. They seemed to speak to him. Words echoed in his mind.

You are strong, Prince Abel.

He heard her voice. He remembered what she'd said.

You are strong. Trust in yourself. I know you'll win.

She'd told him so.

Then I...

Something shifted in his mind. A gear, perhaps, or a spoke. And then the clockwork of logic reversed its torque.

...have no choice but to win.

To keep her words from becoming untrue... To protect the sanctity of her unwavering trust...

"Prepare yourself, Prince Sion."

Words flowed from his lips, the voice familiar but the tone foreign. What was this? He'd never heard it before. Then, he realized — it was determination.

"Prepare yourself, Sion Sol Sunkland."

"Hm?"

Sion gave him a puzzled look.

"I... Abel Remno... will not lose."

Sion regarded the young prince, who'd responded to his promise of sportsmanship with a declaration of war... and grinned.

"Is that so? Challenge accepted then, Abel Remno. Let us duel to our hearts' content. It would be my pleasure to crush you with all my might."

Faced with these fiery exchanges, the spectating trio of Chloe, Anne, and Tiona couldn't help but swoon and sigh. Even Liora, who'd been poking at her sandwich meat again, couldn't help but swoon and sigh... at how well it was roasted.

B-But... my sandwich... what about my sandwich...?

Mia, meanwhile, also mulled sadly over her sandwich, at the tragedy of it being ignored, and let out a helpless sigh.