Chương 97: Chapter 92: Instigating 104

The following morning, the library was unusually quiet. Prince Lyth had not yet arrived, nor had the noble youths who normally followed him around. Prince Aric and Sir Deren had obviously found more pressing matters at hand, which left Lady Luxia as the sole visitor, happily curled up in one of the reading chairs, devouring a romance novel. She seemed completely oblivious to the growing tension hanging over the palace, both hands wrapped around the novel Lira had recommended the previous day.

Every so often, she let out a dreamy sigh before turning another page, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

"I knew it," she declared triumphantly before slamming the book closed. Lira looked up from the stack of returned books she was sorting nearby.

"Knew what, my lady?"

"The prince falls in love with her."

"He does, indeed." Luxia hugged the book against her chest.

"I knew the fake courtship wouldn't stay fake forever."

"That tends to happen in romance novels." Lira smiled.

"It's such a wonderful premise." Luxia sighed again.

"The brother's best friend slowly realizing he had loved her all along..."

"It is certainly a popular one," Lira chuckled quietly.

"And, dare I say, close to many young ladies' hearts."

"I think this might be my favorite book."

"In that case..." Lira walked toward one of the nearby shelves. She ran a finger across several worn bindings before pulling out another volume.

"You might enjoy this one." Luxia's eyes lit up.

"Another one?"

"This one begins with a fake engagement instead of a fake courtship, but the premise is similar." Luxia eagerly accepted the book before reading the title. My Fake Bride-to-Be. She was already opening the first page when the library doors burst open.

"Lira!" Tessa hurried inside so quickly she nearly stumbled over the entrance rug. Her cheeks were flushed from running, and she barely paused long enough to catch her breath.

"You are never going to believe what happened!" This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Lira calmly set another book onto the shelf.

"What happened?"

"Sir Deren challenged Sir Salvek to a duel!" The library fell silent. Luxia dropped the novel in her hands.

"... What?" Tessa nodded vigorously.

"A duel to the death!" She drew in a deep breath before proudly repeating the announcement almost word for word, as though she had spent the entire walk memorizing it.

"He challenged him for the honor of Lady Luxia Valis, Lady Paige Sollaris, Lady Ruby Maxwell, Lady Darcia Corvana, Lady Kiressa Evergreen, and Lady Tristana Cooper!" The color drained from Luxia's face.

"My brother..." She rose so quickly the chair nearly tipped backward.

"My brother is going to fight to the death?"

"I'm afraid so..." Tessa hesitated at the look on Lady Luxia's face.

"... my lady." The young noblewoman picked the book up from the ground and clutched it tightly against her chest.

"But... why?" Lira tilted her head in apparent confusion.

"What could Sir Salvek possibly have done to provoke such a reaction?" She made certain her voice sounded genuinely puzzled. After all... she certainly wasn't the person who had forged six incriminating letters. Tessa lowered her voice despite there being no one else in the library.

"Apparently Sir Salvek got completely drunk and sent insulting letters to every noble girl making her debut this season." Luxia blinked.

"... Including me?" Tessa nodded.

"You most of all."

"Do not repeat the contents in front of the lady," Lira warned.

"I don't know them myself." Tessa shrugged apologetically.

"Everyone says they were so disgraceful that the families involved refused to repeat what was written."

"They must have been awful..." Luxia whispered.

"Why would Sir Salvek do such a thing?"

"Old Marga the cook often says that Salvek is an evil man who hates women," Lira said.

"The world would be a better place once your brother is done with him."

"You say that as if you are sure Deren will win."

"Your brother is the strongest knight in Helthar." Lira smiled, reassuring the young noblewoman.

"You have to believe in him."

"But why does it have to be him..." Luxia said in a worried voice.

"It didn't," Tessa spoke excitedly, clumsily missing the mood in her eagerness to spread more gossip.

"I heard Lord Sollaris arrived at Sir Salvek's house intending to challenge him too. Then Sir Maxwell showed up as well. Lord Corvana even brought an arena champion with him. Apparently everyone discovered they had received almost identical letters." Lira rested her chin lightly upon one hand.

"That sounds almost unbelievable."

"I know!" Tessa threw both hands into the air.

"Can you imagine? Six noble families all arriving at the same house at once." Luxia looked down at the book she still held.

"Why did the letter come to my brother instead of me? If it was meant to insult me, I would have burned it and kept it quiet so as not to cause trouble."

"Apparently, in his drunken state, Salvek addressed it only as 'To Valis,'" Tessa shrugged. Luxia stared silently for several moments before slowly sitting back down. Lira was somewhat glad that that bit of planning had worked. She didn't want Luxia to read a single line of that letter.

"Did they set a date for the duel?" Lira asked.

"This afternoon."

"So soon?" Luxia gasped.

"They're using the Royal Training Grounds near the palace keep," Tessa nodded eagerly.

"The palace?" Lira raised an eyebrow.

"It has to be witnessed." Tessa lowered her voice again, clearly enjoying every moment of recounting the gossip.

"Sir Salvek is still a knight, and Sir Deren challenged him publicly. Both of them were summoned before the king late yesterday evening, and His Majesty ordered the duel to take place inside the palace so there could be no arguments afterward."

"I've never seen an honor duel before," Lira admitted quietly.

"Neither have I," Tessa said.

"Half the servants are already trying to find excuses to finish their work early." Lira looked out the library window toward the military keep beyond. She had orchestrated this whole mess, and now it was up to Deren to win it. She really hoped she wouldn't regret it.