Chapter 15
“Clothes for tomorrow’s match. You weren’t really thinking of going out like that in front of the guests, were you?”
I looked down. A plain training outfit with no decoration was all I had on.
From rolling around on the ground during strength training, the elbows had worn out and even torn in places.
It was comfortable, but definitely not suitable attire for a noble lady.
Just then, someone knocked on the door.
“Come in.”
“Young Lady, about tomorrow’s match… Oh, the head maid is here too?”
Mary entered, eyeing the head maid suspiciously as she walked toward me.
“She said she came to drop off the outfit for tomorrow.”
“Ah, I see.”
Still wary, Mary subtly pulled me behind her.
The head maid gave a dumbfounded smile at the gesture.
“Well, whatever. I’ve delivered what I came to deliver, so I’ll be going now.”
“Alright.”
As soon as the head maid left, Mary and I opened the box together.
Inside was a white uniform accented with red.
Mary clapped her hands in admiration as she saw it.
“Oh wow, how pretty! If it’s from Glendishas, it’s a famous boutique even in the capital. I heard the wait time is at least three months because of the demand!”
“Three months? It hasn’t even been a week since they measured me.”
“The Duke must have pulled some strings.”
I couldn’t imagine what kind of methods one would use to get something that takes three months made in under a week.
“Just look at this smooth collar line and the unique patterned lining! Ah, it’s so beautiful. I was actually worried about what you’d wear to the match, but Lord Orwell told me not to worry. And now, he’s sent such a gorgeous outfit!”
I just nodded along as Mary excitedly rambled.
To me, it looked like a normal uniform. But apparently, Mary saw it differently.
I was going to wear my training outfit, but I didn’t expect the Duke to care this much.
‘Well, I suppose it would look bad for the Duke’s heir to show up in a torn-up training outfit when all eyes will be watching.’
“Would you like to try it on? In case we need to make any adjustments.”
“Sure.”
The clothes were much more comfortable than expected.
I sat down, stood up, stretched out my arms, and mimicked a sword swing. Nothing felt tight or uncomfortable.
It might even be more comfortable than the training outfit I usually wore.
“How is it?”
“Super comfortable.”
“I’m glad to hear that. I wish tomorrow would come already. It’s such a shame I’m the only one who gets to see this adorable side of you.”
I smiled quietly, and Mary beamed, her expression melting into a soft grin.
“Your cheeks have filled out since you first arrived. You’ve become even cuter. It’d be perfect if you gained a bit more weight overall. Should I try tying a ribbon?”
Mary leaned forward and tied a red ribbon around my neck.
Then, she pulled out a round pendant from the box.
The ruby-red pendant was large and sparkly—so pretty that even I, with no sense of aesthetics, found it beautiful.
“And if we attach this to the center of the ribbon… it’s complete! There’s also hand oil. Should we try that now? I noticed your nails were a bit damaged, and it bothered me.”
The bottle, designed with a ribbon motif, looked like a work of art.
Even applying lotion after washing felt foreign to me—now hand oil?
I’d always just ignored my nails, whether they chipped or broke…
For some reason, I felt like I’d become a proper noble lady.
‘But why hand oil? The Duke said something about my hands last time. Is it because of that?’
Nah, no way.
The Duke couldn’t possibly be that considerate.
As soon as Mary dropped a few drops of oil onto the back of my hand, a sweet scent hit me.
‘…I’ve smelled this before somewhere.’
“The scent is really strong. But I think I like it. It’s sweet and has a slight fruity note. What do you think, Young Lady…? Young Lady?”
Mary paused, noticing my strange expression.
“Are you okay? Is the scent bothering you?”
“No, hold on a second.”
I brought my hand to my nose and sniffed again.
“I’m sure I’ve smelled this somewhere…”
Where was it?
Had I smelled it on Rigan?
No, Rigan liked masculine scents. He’d never use something this sweet.
‘I’m certain it was… somewhere…’
“Should I open the window in case you get a headache?”
“Ah!”
A memory suddenly flashed, and I shouted without realizing it.
Then I stared coldly at the glass bottle.
‘Of course the Duke wouldn’t prepare something like this. So, this is how you want to play it?’
“What’s wrong, Young Lady? Is something the matter?”
“Mary, don’t use that. Also, I need you to get something for me…”
I lowered my voice in case someone overheard and whispered to Mary.
“Can you get it?”
Mary looked puzzled but asked again.
“That’s all you want me to prepare?”
“Yeah.”
Since they made the first move, I might as well use it.
Thanks to that, tomorrow’s match was about to get very interesting.
The day of the match against Denson arrived.
I woke up early, changed clothes, and ate the meal Mary had prepared.
“It’s match day, so you need a hearty meal!”
The soup, made from whole beef bones, with plenty of vegetables like potatoes and carrots and chunks of meat, was delicious.
On my way to the match location, I overheard hushed whispers from vassals and relatives who had gathered to watch.
“That’s the girl, isn’t it…?”
“The one the Duke brought from the orphanage…”
“The Duke’s finally lost it. Trying to make some little girl of unknown origin his heir.”
“But they say she beat Denson, who’s five years older…”
I walked calmly, ignoring the words around me.
“Who would use a cheap sword like that? Then again, it suits someone like you—an orphan with no background.”
I stopped at the spiteful voice—Denson stood in front of me.
‘Wow.’
Looking him over, I couldn’t help but be impressed.
‘He’s dripping with money head to toe. How many enchantments are on those clothes?’
I didn’t know the exact current value, but judging from the market thirty years ago, it looked like he had at least a million gold’s worth on him.
Enough to buy a decent house near the capital.
“You might as well quit now. Spare your life. You don’t have any parents, right? If you die, who’s even going to bury you?”
Who would believe a twelve-year-old was saying that?
A normal kid would’ve burst into tears or cowered at this point…
‘Even the monsters outside the castle are scarier than this brat.’
I’d lived far too rough a life to be intimidated by the likes of him.
I stared at him and asked with a sweet smile,
“Are you scared you’ll lose again?”
“What?”
“You dressed up in all that expensive gear because you’re afraid you’ll lose to me again, right?”
“You little…!”
Denson grabbed my collar.
I could’ve dodged, but I let him grab me.
Then I discreetly slipped a small glass bottle out of my sleeve—something Mary had prepared.
A few drops of the oil dripped onto Denson’s shoe.
‘Too much and he might notice. This should be enough.’
Luckily, he was too busy yelling to notice what I’d done.
“You really think just because you won once by chance that you’re something? I let my guard down last time. Don’t think you’ll get lucky again. Know your place.”
I looked straight into his eyes and tilted my head.
“Let your guard down? Say what you want, but the truth is, you’re just not as good as me.”
“You…!”
He gripped my collar tighter.
His face was flushed red with rage. If this kept going, I might’ve been hit before the match even started.
I thought about slipping out of his grip—when an unexpected person intervened.
The Commander.
“Denson, there are many watching. Calm yourself.”
“But Grandfather!”
“She’ll be lying at your feet soon enough. Defeat her fair and square, then punish her for her insolence.”
Before I could respond, Duke Clasta’s voice rang out.
“I don’t know. Looks more like your grandson will be the one paying for his rudeness.”
He walked leisurely through the crowd.
He was merely walking, yet his overwhelming presence made everyone fall silent.
His gaze landed on Denson’s hand gripping my collar.
“When do you plan on letting go of her?”
His tone was light and amused.
But everyone here knew he wasn’t actually smiling.
The moment the Duke appeared, Denson began trembling like a lamb before a predator and let go of me like he was throwing me aside.
The Duke glanced down at Denson, then stepped closer to straighten my rumpled collar.
“Such a pretty outfit, all wrinkled now. What punishment suits a commoner who dares lay hands on a noble lady, hmm?”
While Denson paled under the Duke’s pressure, the Commander stood upright and asked,
“Do you truly believe this girl, Ariel, will win?”
“Isn’t it obvious?”
“I doubt it. He only lost last time because he let his guard down.”
“Funny. Judging from all the rare ingredients I saw delivered to your estate, I was worried the foundation of your house would collapse. You fed him every expensive thing under the sun.”
“A grandfather’s care for his grandson.”
The Commander said, placing a hand on Denson’s shoulder.
“Wouldn’t this be a good time to speak with your girl? Who knows what’ll happen during the match—it might be your last chance.”
“That goes for your grandson too, doesn’t it?”
“Well, our Denson is different from a girl with no background.”
“Oh, right—he’s the one who got his jaw broken and rolled on the ground.”
The Duke smiled leisurely at the Commander, whose face was turning red with veins popping on his forehead.
Then he placed both hands on my shoulders and said,
“If you have more to say, wait until after she beats him. Right now, anything from the loser’s side just sounds like barking.”
