113 - Pieces of the Broken Glass Slipper
Shattered Glass Slipper Shards Episode 113
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The beginning of the founding day festival was truly ordinary. People trickled into the stalls, and that was it.
Although it was the empire's biggest anniversary, there were no speeches in the square to gather people.
It was said that just a few years ago, the Emperor himself would come out and announce the start of the founding day festival, but now he was skipping it under the pretext of poor health.
But no one was disappointed. Who would actually enjoy standing in the square on a cold winter day listening to the Emperor's speech? It would be even worse if it snowed.
Anyway, commoners enjoyed the festival on the streets, and nobles went into the palace annex for parties. It was the same event, but the experiences were clearly different.
At this time, even the most famous courtesan could not enter the palace with a client (noble). This was because it was against the law. Therefore, the only time the two distinct classes could gather in one place was during the swordsmanship competition.
The arena where the swordsmanship competition was held was large and spacious. The competition, which had been held to boost the morale of soldiers and knights, continued after the founding of the empire and had now become an event in its own right.
Even before the competition began, people were shouting at the stage, expressing their excitement for the day's tournament.
It was deafening. I couldn't understand why they were cheering so much for a barbaric act of pointing swords at each other and fighting.
I sighed and pulled my coat tighter. My cheeks were already white from the cold wind.
I had brought a hot water bottle filled with hot water in advance, but I couldn't hold it in my arms in such an unseemly manner, so I was just barely warming my hands.
I was wearing a dress that exposed my neck to show off my femininity, so the cold wind mercilessly crept into the gaps and scratched my body.
So no matter how thick my coat was, I couldn't help but feel the cold. I desperately needed a cup of hot tea.
Michael Ayres got up from his seat immediately after receiving the kiss on the back of his hand and said that he had to prepare for the competition. And he asked me to watch from the first match. His determined attitude, repeating that he would win for me, was quite solemn.
So I said I would. Considering the rest of my family, who would be sitting in the arena from the beginning because of Sir Halberd, it wasn't that difficult.
But if I had known I would be coming to the arena this early, I would have said I'd think about it more. I glanced at my mother, who was sitting next to my stepfather, looking down at the stage.
After Sir Ayres left, she rushed into the drawing room and insisted that we had to go cheer him on. And then she made me arrive this early and shiver in the cold.
Oh, what am I going to do with my mother? I sighed deeply once again. Because I had always been obedient and submissive to her because of other people's eyes, she was now trying to manipulate me without thinking or considering anything.
My mother's perception was focused solely on meeting a good man and getting married, and she wanted to seize the opportunity of Sir Ayres.
But my opinion wasn't included in that. Would my mother have been better when she was afraid of me?
"...Why are you trying to be my wall?"
"Yes? What did you say just now, Young Lady?"
"No, nothing."
I tried to hide my complicated feelings and looked down at the stage. It looked like the competition was about to begin.
Since I didn't know anything about swords, there was nothing essential to appreciate even if I watched the swordsmanship competition. I just thought that the same monotonous thing would be repeated, with two people shouting and colliding, and then one person falling down.
But even to me, Sir Ayres and Sir Halberd's movements were different. They were faster and more agile than the other participants, and there was something flashy that caught people's attention. It wasn't for nothing that they were mentioned as candidates for the championship.
People, especially many women, screamed at Sir Ayres and Sir Halberd, confessing their love. There was even a young lady who fainted just because she made eye contact with them.
"Which knight do you think will win, Young Lady?"
Marie asked me, handing me a glass of warm wine. This was prepared by the imperial palace for the shivering nobles, and it had a definite effect on melting the frozen body. Except for the fact that I would have to urinate frequently and could get drunk.
"The better person will win."
"Oh, come on, Young Lady, shouldn't you be saying Sir Ayres?"
"...Marie."
"Yes, Young Lady. I spoke carelessly. I'm sorry. I'll be quiet."
Knights from many prestigious families came out, but the difference in their levels was so great that some matches ended in a single breath.
There weren't many matches that showed a thrilling fight with exchanges of blows. Thanks to this, only 16 knights were left in an instant.
I was getting sleepy from watching the uninteresting matches. I secretly yawned and looked at the royal family's seats of honor.
The Crown Prince, who came out in place of the Emperor, who was said to be in poor health, was talking to his mother, the Empress. Next to them, the Crown Prince's siblings and relatives were sitting in a row.
"His Highness the Grand Duke isn't here this time."
Marie opened her mouth, perhaps having looked at the place where the imperial family members were sitting, following me.
I asked her, "Grand Duke?" and Marie nodded her head greatly and continued.
"I'm talking about His Highness the Grand Duke, who wears a dark mask because he was burned all over his body when he was young. Don't you know, Young Lady?"
Grand Duke? Grand Duke... Come to think of it, the reason I was able to take control of the Bishvarts Family in the past was because a man named Grand Duke had started a rebellion.
As a result, knights and elders from each family were drafted in large numbers to wage a bloody war to protect the throne. But I had never seen him in society, so I didn't know what kind of person he was.
"Have you ever seen His Highness the Grand Duke?"
"I heard from another maid that he came to watch the swordsmanship competition last year. Black clothes, black mask, black coat... They said he was all black, so it was creepy. If it weren't for his blue hair, they would have thought he was a undertaker."
Marie's face, who was whispering in a low voice for fear of being arrested for insulting the imperial family, was full of disgust.
"Rumor has it that he has a strange and gloomy personality and can't get along with anyone. But he's very lewd and always has prostitutes with him, but everyone who goes into the Grand Duke's castle dies."
"Is that so?"
Someone came to mind with blue hair, but I had to dismiss it because he was said to be burned all over his body. The hands of Theodore Vitraice, whom I saw, were smooth as anything. I couldn't find any scars or burns anywhere.
Then I can't know who that Grand Duke is...
"Oh, Young Lady. It's Sir Ayres' turn."
Marie made a fuss and pointed to the stage with her finger. Michael Ayres was just about to come up on stage to compete. At the same time, I heard other noble young ladies whispering.
"Is that girl Cis de Bishbalz? The one Sir Ayres is in love with?"
"She's pretty enough. But compared to Roena Bishwartz Young Lady, she's far behind. So it's not like he fell in love with her because of her looks... I'm sure I would have chosen Roena Bishwartz even if I were a man."
"Oh, think about her mother. Then the answer is obvious, isn't it?"
I turned my head slightly to where the voices were coming from, and the women were closing their mouths and pretending not to know. I clicked my tongue softly and turned my gaze back to the stage.
Michael Ayres overwhelmed his opponent with his overwhelming skill without any difficulty. His expressionless face as he wielded his sword was truly the Knight of Ice himself.
"He's going to make it to the finals without any problems. Young Lady, when are you going to give him the handkerchief?"
"I already gave it to him."
"Ah, was it when he visited earlier?"
"Yes. Marie, why don't you go get another glass of wine?"
"You'll get drunk if you drink too much."
"Or go change the water in the hot water bottle."
"Yes, I understand."
A moment later, the sound of Sir Ayres' victory was announced. People screamed and shouted his name. Next is Lustewin Halberd's turn.
There are three temples in the imperial capital, each dedicated to a different god.
Callistus, the god of abundance and wisdom, Richardis, the Goddess of Fate, and Archibald, the god of war and knights.
Since there is no state religion, most people freely believe in various gods, but the three gods above have the most followers.
In particular, the god of abundance and wisdom, Callistus, had the largest and most splendid temple because he was a god that many nobles believed in.
There was no word that stimulated the nobles as much as the words 'abundance and wisdom'. Most people in society believed in Callisterus, thinking that they were enhancing their own intelligence.
So they took pleasure and pride in memorizing his teachings.
But today, it was Archibald, the god of war and knights, who was attracting people's attention. It was customary for knights to visit Archibald's temple and offer prayers before the competition.
Roena boasted that she had gone to Archibald's temple to pray for Sir Halberd's victory before leaving for the arena. And she also recommended that I go there. For Sir Michael Ayres.
But I politely declined - because I don't believe in gods - and said that the person with the best skills would be the final winner.
Roena looked a little disappointed at my words, but soon said in a cheerful voice, 'Then I can't help it.'
The handkerchief that Roena gave to Sir Halberd would have been sprinkled with the holy water of Archibald, the god of war. He used it to win the swordsmanship competition.
This time, he would kiss the handkerchief in front of everyone and express the joy of the winner.
Before long, Sir Halberd's victory was declared, and people shouted as if they were sure that he would be the winner.
After that, several knights came out and repeated winning and losing, but they could not get as much response as Michael Ayres and Lustewin Halberd.
As the competition continued, and the winners and losers were decided, people's reactions became more and more intense.
When the two people who would be on the final stage were decided, the heat rose as if it would pierce the sky. As everyone expected, the final was a match between Michael Ayres and Lustewin Halberd.
"I hope it's a good match."
Roena, who was sitting next to my stepfather watching the match, suddenly came and sat next to me and said these words. Her words were strange, as if she was competing with me.
Did she think that the match between Michael Ayres and Lustewin Halberd represented her and me?
Unable to bear it, I said to her, 'Those knights are the ones competing. You and I just have to cheer,' Roena closed her mouth with an embarrassed expression and turned her gaze to the stage.
The final was just about to begin.
