Chapter 42: 42 Duel.

The atmosphere thickened, an unseen weight pressing down on everyone’s presence. Duke Frost, Ryan, and Marina sat in silence, their faces frowning in deep thought. Jin watched them, his brows knitted in throbbing pain, holding back his twisting stomach.

Unbothered by the heavy atmosphere, Jin’s hand moved like a shadow as he snatched another cookie from the plate. He tossed it to his mouth, savoring the sweet taste as a blissful grin spread across his lips.

Reaching for his silver cup, he took a sip to wash away the lingering taste in his tongue, ’I think that’s enough! Any more than this, the other will notice the disappearance’.

A gentle knock on the door shattered the heavy atmosphere. They turned toward the door, and it creaked open to reveal a figure of a girl around Jin’s age.

“Excuse me, Father.” A clear, bell-like voice rang out as she entered the room gracefully and approached the Duke’s seat.

“Oh, Silvia, I’m glad to have you here. Are you finished with your training?” The Duke’s face softened, and he turned to his daughter, who was currently sitting beside him.

“Yes,” Silvia nodded as she turned toward the guests seated before her.

“It’s been a while, Lady Silvia”.

Ryan and Marina switched their minds; they loosened their stiff facial muscles and parted their lips to greet the girl.

Silvia stared at the spouses before her eyes flashed, then opened her lips, “Um, you are Mr. Ryan and Mrs. Marina from the Viscount Midnight family.”

“Yes, thank you for remembering our name”. Ryan flashed his white teeth and nodded his head.

After greeting the parents, the girl shifts to the side. Her brows twitch as she notices a black-haired boy calmly sitting without being flustered, overseeing her figure.

From her experience, most guests, whether old or young, especially around her age, would stumble over their words and shower her with awkward flattery in a desperate attempt to win her attention. Yet, the boy was unbothered; he seemed rather irritated.

Silvia darted her eyes, trying to trace the boy’s figure. When their eyes met, she parted her lips and greeted him with a courteous smile.

“It is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Silvia Frost, second daughter of the Duke Frost Family. May I know who you might be?”.

“My name is Jin Midnight, Third Son of the Viscount Midnight family. I am Pleased to meet you.”

“The pleasure is mine”.

The two kids stopped as their gazes lingered on each other. Silvia exhaled softly, then glanced at her father before speaking.

“So, Father, these are the guests you mentioned before?”.

“Yes, Viscount Midnight, a former Mithrirank adventurer, the slayer of the Dragon”.

Duke’s eyes blinked with twinkling gleam while the Viscount spouses parted their stiff lips to force a dry smile.

Jin turned to his parents, his eyes shrinking in glee to see his flustered parents. He leaned back and let the soft mat envelop his stiff back. ’I wonder when this will end?’.

“Silvia, recently, you seem to have reached a wall in your training”.

Silvia pursed her lips before answering in a hesitant tone, “…Yes, I am… How do you know?”.

“Tsk, tsk, don’t underestimate your father. I might not look like it now, but your father was also a holder of Swordmaster talent. Did you forget that?”.

“…I see”.

Silvia’s shoulders slumped as she raised her palm. Her eyes shrank to see a hardened, calloused skin that shouldn’t be present in the hand of a Lady as gracious and gifted as her.

However, her talent forced her to wield the sword, swinging it from early dawn to noon while soaked in sweat and dripping blood. Even so, she never regretted the effort she spent. In fact, she felt grateful for the talent she possessed.

“So I think, why not test your skill against him? He might be able to help you overcome the wall you are facing? How about that?”.

The Duke’s eyes turned to the man calmly watching the father-daughter duo. He forced a smile while briefly apologizing in his mind, ’I’m sorry for this abrupt request; I will compensate you later. I promise’.

Ryan’s eyebrows twitched as he understood the meaning of the Duke’s gaze. He looked at Marina, and soon both burst into small laughter, livening the place.

“Pfft, I’m sorry, Your Highness, but if it’s that, I think my son would be a perfect choice for the occasion.”

Jin’s slouched posture stiffened as he felt a glare from his mother’s side. He exhaled while straightening his posture.

After hearing the adult talk, Jin shifted his gaze toward the Duke’s family. He receives two pairs of eyes watching him, the gaze of doubt and curiosity.

’A wall, huh…’. His thought flashed, peeking into a thick fog that clouded his memories at that time. Jin’s gaze limp, staring into the void with vacant eyes.

He felt hollow, and the unbearable gap still gnawed his heart like a persistent bug. A fleeting voice called his name in, breaching out from the black cloud that shrouded his mind.

“…Jin! Are you alright?”. Marina’s cries brought his consciousness back from the abyss.

Jin turned to his side and found Marina was inches closer to his face, tightly gripping his shoulder; it made his face contorted in pain.

’Again! What is wrong with me?’. Jin shook his head, unable to process what had transpired to his state. This always happened when he tried to dive into the void in his chest that seemed to have no end.

“Oh, I’m alright, mother. It’s just…”. His eyes darted, trying to search for a solution.

*Groowl!

His stomach twisted and squeezed out a growl that echoed throughout the place, attracting the others’ attention. Jin scratched his cheek as he patted his stomach, feeling deep gratitude for helping him in the tight situation.

“Jin, you…!”.

Marina’s body stiffened like a statue, and Ryan, who watched from the back, averted his gaze and covered his mouth, trying to hold his trembling body together.

The room remained silent; sound ceased to exist, except for the Duke and his daughter staring at the event that unfolded before it broke.

“Pfft, ahahaha”. The Duke burst into laughter while his daughter averted her gaze.

Silvia covered her lips and held tight to her stomach, trying not to laugh in the presence of a guest.

“It seems I’m hungry. Can I have the biscuit?”. Jin’s eyes peek beyond his mother’s face toward the golden brown cookies gleaming in pink, tempting him to take another bite.

“Huff, Jin, you already ate three of them, yet…”. Marina pinched her bridge nose as her eyes frowned.

“Is that so? Ahahaha…”.

“Ahahaha, Don’t hesitate, Jin. You can enjoy the sweets I prepared for you guys.” The Duke’s hearty laughter rang inside the palace. It attracted the servants’ attention, and they decided to have a light meal before continuing the conversation.

*****

The Midday sun glared over the land, bathing everything in warmth. A cold breeze swept across the vast white Arena, carrying the tension built within. It was one of the Duke’s private training grounds, built specifically for his family.

It was where he and Silvia frequently used it to hone their swordsmanship.

Beyond the white stone of the Arena, a green carpet stretches, its grass rustling under the breath of winter wind.

The Duke, Ryan, and Marina stood at the edge of the Arena, watching the two people in the center. Jin and Silvia faced each other, holding wooden swords as the wind flowed gently, lifting her silver hair.

Jin observed the girl. She was tall, around 165 cm, with sharp azure eyes that reminded him of the blue sky. Her straight silver hair cascaded down her back, framing her delicate doll-like features.

She wore a casual light blue outfit that was suitable for movement. Silvia’s beauty could even rival Iris’s in her Elvish form.

However, Jin’s eyes frowned upon something he felt instinctively. He could sense it, a mismatch between her figure and aura.

Her stance is perfect, and her feet are aligned perfectly to accommodate her style. The grip on the sword is also firm but not too rigid, showing her experience in handling her form.

And yet, something was off.

Jin’s eyes narrowed his experience in honing blades for centuries, whispering that the opponent before him was nothing but a mirror. He looked down and exhaled sharply, ’…Dismiss the thought. Let’s do this, and get some rest’.

Silvia’s eyes shrank, and seeing Jin’s demeanor had chance. In response, her aura spiked like a sharpened blade. She tightly gripped the wooden sword hilt with one hand and stood poised like a veteran.

She planned to face Jin with everything she had. Yet, she felt something was amiss; despite showing the overwhelming pressure she exerted, the boy was unperturbed and stood still like a mountain.

A moment passed as Silvia locked eyes with Jin’s emerald eyes. Her body flinched as she felt a sudden chill creep up her spine.

Her fingers tensed around the sword hilt. She could see the fleeting shadows of a sharp blade gleaming on her neck, ready to slit her throat.

Silvia swallowed hard, shaking her head to clear the illusion, ’Huuf.. calm yourself’.

Ryan came forward and volunteered as a referee. He glanced at both sides, tension rising as he lowered his hand.

“Begin!”.

Silvia exploded forward; her wooden sword shot toward Jin’s neck. Her eyes gleamed in anticipation before in the blink of an eye.

’No response!? ’ she thought, a flickering light of disbelief painting her mind. ’It seems Lord Midnight thinks too highly of his son!’

However, before the sword touched the boy’s neck, his figure blurred like a mist. Jin stepped forward while tilting his head to dodge the thrust, letting her smooth arm rest on his left shoulder.

A chill crept up on her spine as Silvia felt the tips of Jin’s wooden hilt resting on her solar plexus. Her other arm jerked, trying to push away the distance between them, which was so close to each other. But Jin’s other hand moved first, catching her wrist with an eagle grip.

“You lost”.

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