Chapter 44
“What’s going on over there?”
Riana asked, pointing toward the noisy crowd while chewing a marshmallow.
One of the nearby knights answered,
“Gray’s starting another arm-wrestling challenge.”
“Arm-wrestling?”
“Yeah. Before he was knighted, he beat all of us at arm-wrestling. Everyone’s been begging for a rematch, so he decided to put money on it.”
The mention of money made Riana’s eyes narrow.
“Money…?”
“Mm-hm. He’s charging an entry fee—one silver coin if you want to challenge him.”
She glanced over and saw Gray grabbing a big log to use as a table. Even from here, she could practically see the smug grin on his face.
“They already lost once, so why pay to lose again?”
“Because Gray said if someone beats him, he’ll give them a whole chest of gold coins. You know, the ones the Duke gave him as a contract fee.”
In truth, those gold coins weren’t a contract fee—they were the bribe he got for being a witness. The infamous 1,000 gold. Apparently, people thought it was contract money.
“So you can see why everyone’s tempted. Of course, only Gray’s pocket is getting heavier.”
Even as the knight spoke, a line had already formed in front of Gray. One by one, challengers dug into their pouches for silver coins.
So… he’s been stockpiling silver on the side, huh?
Riana’s leg bounced as she stared at the growing pile of silver coins in front of Gray.
And the reason was clear—this was her Spes Island at stake.
Riana, ever the gambler, couldn’t just walk away from this.
“…Is it one round?”
The knight looked surprised at her interest.
“Best two out of three. Gray likes savoring his wins.”
“Hm.”
Riana flexed her biceps.
Pretty modest.
But with mana arts…
It just might be possible. Besides, this was a good chance for real practice.
Decision made, Riana shot her hand into the air and shouted loud enough for the camp to hear,
“I’m challenging!”
All eyes swung toward her.
“The maid?”
They scanned her up and down. She had put on some weight since leaving the orphanage, but she was still slim.
The doubtful mood didn’t last long. One of the “Knights’ Aunts” maids spoke up,
“I’ve seen her move heavy boxes with ease. Miss Riana’s pretty strong.”
Having lived their whole lives training without bias, the naive knights nodded.
“Well, they say even Lady Genevieve had a delicate frame but incredible strength—so who knows? Miss Riana might be the same.”
“True, you can’t judge by looks these days.”
“This could be interesting.”
The line split in two, clearing a path for her.
At the end of it stood Gray, wearing a crooked smile and giving her a narrow-eyed look.
“Yoooouuuu—?”
His drunken tone dragged on until the vice-captain smacked him on the back of the head.
“Don’t ‘you’ a lady, idiot.”
“Whatever…”
Gray’s red eyes gleamed as he crooked a finger at her.
“Come here, then.”
Riana popped the rest of her marshmallow into her mouth, savoring the crisp outside and soft, sweet inside as she walked toward him.
The crowd’s “Oooh” added a tense undercurrent to the air.
“You do know arm-wrestling doesn’t involve weapons, right?”
At his mocking tone, Riana tossed her marshmallow stick to the ground. Her lips curved in what she thought was a very cool smile.
“Mm’course.”
Still chewing, her words came out muffled.
Clink. She tossed a silver coin onto the log, swallowed, and said firmly,
“Of course I know.”
Her loud, confident voice rippled through the crowd.
The hostile maid and the knight clasped hands over the log.
“Rea—”
The vice-captain began, and everyone fell silent.
“—dy!”
Bang!
“…Huh?”
“Whaaat?”
“What just—?”
The crowd rubbed their eyes. They couldn’t believe what they were seeing.
It took Gray a little longer to process.
What the…?
The back of his hand was already halfway buried in the log.
Winner of the first round: Riana.
“Woooooo!”
The knights erupted as if they’d just won a war. She was the first to beat Gray in even a single round.
“Hey, it’s not over yet. Don’t get too excited,” Gray said, forcing a smirk that didn’t hide his surprise.
Meanwhile, the victor’s smile now belonged to Riana.
“Let’s go right to the next round?”
She looked to the vice-captain, who happily signaled for them to prepare.
When Riana raised her hand, Gray gave a short laugh and got into position.
“Hey… I was off guard last time, okay? You’ll get hurt.”
“You talk too much. Ever won with just words?”
Her easy taunt made his eyebrow twitch.
The vice-captain, more hyped than either contestant, called out,
“Get ready… Start!”
Riana’s face turned serious.
Gray glanced at their joined hands.
Small, slender, delicate. Unlike his, calloused from years of training, hers were pale and smooth.
A maid’s hands, with no sign of labor or hardship.
Some knights whispered wild theories nearby—hidden martial arts master, possessor of extremely compact fighting muscles…
But Gray knew the truth.
That explosive power earlier was a mana-user’s trick.
He snorted.
So she’s desperate enough to expose her secret just to win his gold chest.
And with that, he decided he couldn’t lose—Spes Island’s auction was his to win.
Thud!
“…Gray wins.”
The vice-captain’s voice was flat with disappointment.
“Not even going to pretend to congratulate me?”
“Did you pretend to feel bad when you beat me?”
“….”
“Hang in there, Miss Riana!” the vice-captain cheered, pumping his fists.
“Oh my, thank you~” she said with a sweet smile, making the exchange look ridiculous.
Gray, fed up, urged them on.
“Come on, let’s start the last round already.”
The vice-captain gave the signal, and the two locked hands again.
One to one. The final match would decide the winner.
The crowd held its breath.
Riana swallowed, the sound just audible, and Gray caught it.
“Nervous?”
“The one nervous is you.”
Her spirit hadn’t dimmed after losing once—if anything, she was even more provocative.
He could see what she was trying—get him to drop his guard again so she could win with a burst of strength.
“Won’t work twice. I’m not falling for the same trick.”
“Who said I’d use the same one?”
A strange smile played on her lips, and then her thumb shifted slightly.
A subtle stroke traced from the dip between his thumb and forefinger up to the tip of his index finger.
“…!”
The alcohol haze vanished instantly. Every nerve in his body seemed to focus on his palm.
The touch was foreign yet so pleasant, a sensation so brief and gentle that it sent shivers through him.
No one had ever touched him like that.
Heat rose from deep inside him.
If I meet her eyes right now…
He’d look like an idiot blushing in front of everyone.
But no one else noticed what was happening—only Riana smiled knowingly.
“Start!”
At the signal, their joined hands tilted toward Riana’s side.
“Oooh!”
“Miss Maid!”
She had the advantage—Gray’s hand was inches from hitting the log.
“Let’s finish this, yeah?”
She pressed down with all her strength.
Gray, face twisted with effort, glared at her.
“You’re so dead.”
“What did I do?!”
“This is a dirty move.”
With a grunt, he suddenly poured on more power.
Bang!
Riana’s hand slammed into the log.
“Ah…”
“Knew it.”
“Figures.”
The crowd groaned and went back to their drinks.
Shaking bits of wood off her hand, Riana grinned.
“Guess I lost, huh?”
Her bright tone left Gray speechless.
I knew she was strange…
But maybe she was outright insane.
And over the next moments, she proved it.
“Alright, everyone, line up!”
With her pink hair tied back, Riana called the knights over.
The crowd around her buzzed with energy—while Gray, standing apart, felt a chill.
What the hell is she planning now…
He felt sober just from the worry.
