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Episode 72

"I'm sorry about earlier, Janet. I was so embarrassed about falling that I took it out on you."

Luna squeezed her eyes shut and held out the canteen she'd been clutching.

"This is my apology. Please accept it if you're willing."

"What is it?"

"Cold-brewed herbal tea. Actually, I brought it to share with you, but……"

Kicking the ground with her toes, Luna muttered sullenly.

"Because of what happened earlier, I missed the chance to offer it."

Janet silently gazed at the canteen Luna was holding out.

She could feel Luna's anxiety, as if afraid Janet might refuse.

Oh, well.

"Thanks. I'll drink it well."

Janet wasn't the type to be cold toward someone who apologized first.

If there was a fight, she'd fight. If she needed to apologize, she'd apologize. If she could forgive, she'd forgive.

The earlier commotion had been quite disconcerting, but if the other person apologized first, it was something she could let go.

"It's hot out—have a drink now."

As if she'd never been sullen, Luna beamed and said cheerfully.

'I'm not really in the mood to drink before a match.'

Still, ignoring a drink offered as an apology would be rude.

So, in front of Luna, Janet took a light sip.

---

When the time came, Janet and Samuel stepped onto the ring.

Because of the earlier commotion, the crowd had doubled. Though other matches were ongoing, only Janet and Samuel's ring was overflowing with onlookers.

Before the match began—

The two met at the center of the ring and shook hands briefly.

"What was my grandfather thinking, choosing someone like you? You're not even cute or friendly."

Samuel sneered in a low voice. Janet, with a cold face, whispered back.

"Maybe your grandfather has lost his mind."

"What? What did you just……!"

"Raising your voice won't do you any good. It would be quite embarrassing if it got out that your grandfather wants to marry an eighteen-year-old girl, wouldn't it?"

"……."

At that, Samuel had no choice but to shut his mouth. Janet gave him a gentle smile and released his hand.

"Let's give it our all, Samuel."

"I won't let you off. I'll make you regret this."

After their brief exchange, the two returned to their positions and gripped their wooden swords.

Peep—.

And so, the real match began.

---

Samuel was overflowing with confidence.

He'd seen the professor occasionally call Janet over to praise her, but he'd assumed it was just encouragement—"good for a girl."

After all, across all three years, there were only eight female students in the Swordsmanship Department.

He'd simply thought the professor favored the few female students.

But—

'What's going on?'

Whoosh—.

Samuel swallowed hard as Janet's wooden sword whizzed past his nose.

At first, the two had been evenly matched. The shock transmitted through their clashing swords had been stronger than expected, surprising him, but he'd thought that was it.

If they kept clashing, the one to tire first would be her.

That's what he'd believed.

But—

"Ugh."

The reality was the opposite.

Even as the match dragged on, Janet didn't let out a single ragged breath.

If anything, her eyes seemed to grow sharper as time passed.

It was Samuel who first tired and staggered.

"What's up with her—she's all talk."

"Still, she moves really well."

"Yeah, and she's strong too. Was there a first-year this skilled?"

The spectators' murmurs reached Samuel.

Damn it!

Cursing under his breath, he gripped his sword with both hands. He had to win this match.

For the sake of his pride!

"Raaagh!"

Gritting his teeth, Samuel swung wildly as he charged at Janet.

"What is he doing?"

"……Good grief. I can't bear to watch."

At his obviously flawed attack, the onlookers clicked their tongues.

If Janet dodged this and counterattacked, the match would be over.

That's what everyone thought as they watched Samuel's pathetic display.

But—

"……!"

Janet dodged Samuel's attack with more difficulty than expected. Worse, she couldn't counter—she could only stiffly evade, barely moving.

Amid the murmuring crowd, Theo wore a serious expression.

'What's this? Why is she suddenly like this?'

Something was wrong.

She was moving as if her body wouldn't obey her.

He could see Janet gasping as she barely avoided the incoming attacks.

Sensing his attacks were working, Samuel grew bolder.

'What—was she just pretending to be good?'

With a sneer, he raised his sword high again.

"Raaagh! I won't let you off!!"

With an ugly battle cry, Samuel charged again.

But this time was different.

As if her earlier sluggishness had been a lie, Janet flowed like water, deflecting Samuel's clumsy assault.

"Wh-what?"

As Samuel lost his balance and staggered, Janet seized the opportunity and slammed her fist—still gripping the hilt—into his back with full force.

With a grunt, Samuel crashed to the ground.

A moment later—

"Janet wins!"

The referee's decision was met with cheers from the crowd.

Janet gasped for breath amid the noise. She felt a faint glow seeping from her left wrist, hidden beneath her sleeve.

She gripped and released it—the glow faded and disappeared.

But—

'What was that earlier?'

During the match, her body had suddenly grown stiff. Her limbs had felt heavy, as if weighted down with lead.

The abnormal sensation had only disappeared after the light enveloped her left wrist.

Rolling her wrists and ankles to check them, she looked up—

Among the cheering crowd, she saw Luna's pale face.

Startled, Luna's eyes met hers—she flinched and looked away.

'Why that reaction?'

Before she could ponder further, she remembered the herbal tea Luna had given her.

Could it be?

Leaving the ring, Janet immediately checked her belongings—but the canteen Luna had given her was nowhere to be found.

---

That evening.

Janet secretly called Theo out.

"Theo. Can you investigate someone for me?"

"Just say the word. Who is it?"

"Luna."

"……."

At the name, Theo paused.

"May I ask why? The reason you want her investigated."

At his question, Janet hesitated briefly, then recounted what had happened during the match.

The canteen Luna had given her. The abnormal symptoms during the match. And her strange expression, along with the missing canteen.

As the story went on, Theo's expression grew colder.

"Certainly suspicious."

"Yes. I'd apologize if it's just my imagination, but no matter how I think about it, it seems like Luna's doing."

To be honest, it didn't make sense.

Though they'd had a small quarrel, it was exactly that—"small." Not enough to warrant tampering with a drink.

'Still, if Luna really orchestrated this……'

To be honest, she was worried about Richard.

He'd cared enough about Luna to meet her parents separately.

'And earlier, Luna definitely called Richard "brother."'

She had no intention of driving a wedge between them.

But for Richard's sake, she wanted to know who Luna really was.

"……Understood. I'll investigate her."

"Thank you."

At Janet's thanks, Theo's expression grew complicated. His lips moved as if hesitating to say something.

"What's wrong? Do you have something to say?"

Catching his hesitation, Janet asked carefully.

In fact, Theo was in the midst of a great dilemma.

Whether to tell Janet about the Marchioness's lost daughter.

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