Saved By The Mad Duke
Chapter 46: The Champion

Chapter 46: The Champion

"You appear to be trembling, Your Highness. Is the cold getting to you? Mornings in the Capital are growing colder with each passing day, signaling the imminent arrival of winter."

Tillian shifted abruptly in the coach seat, edging closer to Aideen, who was indeed quivering like a leaf in the wind. The princess recoiled at this unexpected movement, then released a long, heavy exhale and shook her head.

"No, Your Grace, it’s not the cold that is troubling me. I am terrified beyond belief! Aren’t you nervous at all? Soon, you will face another man in the jousting arena, gripping a sword in your hands! I can’t help but tremble with fear... What if you sustain severe injuries?"

The Duke responded with a loud, almost joyous chuckle.

"Ha! At least you are not entertaining thoughts of my demise today, which means you still have some faith in me, Your Highness. I’m flattered!"

"Please, Your Grace, do not jest about this. I am scared to death. I feel like I could jump out of my skin at any moment now!"

Pouting her lips in a rather playful manner, the lady turned her face away, tightly clutching her hands in front of her stomach, as if preparing for a silent prayer. Duke Valentine found her reaction adorable and had initially planned on teasing her some more. However, he decided to relent since he, too, recognized that Aideen’s distress was practically eating her alive.

Gently, he covered her joined hands with his left hand and attempted to reassure her once more.

"I promise you, Your Highness, I will not allow anything serious to happen to me. Whether my opponent is the old Count Crueder or the most formidable Royal Knight, I will emerge victorious. I must. After all, it is your honor for which I fight, leaving me with no option but to emerge triumphant."

Aideen felt a rush of hot blood surging up to her cheeks. Once again, Tillian exhibited the finesse of a skilled magus—everything he did, every word he uttered, felt like an attempt to cast a spell on her. She could not help but ponder, perhaps it was he who should be delving into the realms of magic, and not her.

’If he isn’t a magus himself, then he must be a charmer. When he speaks to me like that, my heart has no power to resist.’

However, the Duke was absolutely correct. The princess had no valid reason to feel apprehensive for him. After all, the rumors circulating about his prowess and strength were not unfounded. Even those within his castle could not help but boast about his skills, and they undoubtedly had a reason for doing so—after all, a feeble man would not have been able to single-handedly protect The North for such an extended period.

Tillian was undeniably an exceptional warrior, and now he stood by her side, fighting for her honor.

As the carriage came to a halt, the coachman’s rusty voice announced that they had arrived in front of the jousting arena.

Aideen’s entire body flinched, but Tillian gently took her hand in his and whispered,

"It will all be over soon, Your Highness. Just trust in me; I will bring this to an end."

The princess released another long exhale and nodded; if there was someone she could trust, it would only be Duke Tillian Valentine.

As they descended the steps of the carriage, they were immediately greeted by one of the royal ushers and guided to the jousting arena, where others were already eagerly awaiting their arrival.

The day was far from perfect for a fight. Just a few hours before dawn, there had been a profound rain, and now, every step they took echoed with the splashing sounds of the large puddles underfoot.

The princess had never ventured into the jousting arena before. Situated east of the Royal Palace, snugly behind the knights’ quarters, it served as the official venue for the Knight Tournaments held annually during spring. However, Aideen Ruan had never been extended an invitation to join the rest of the Royal Family in attending.

The Knight Tournaments, as per Aideen’s old governess, were always lively and honorable events intended to entertain the nobles and challenge the strength of both the Royal Knights and young noblemen eager to showcase their skills.

However, today marked a departure from the norm.

There was no lively, cheering crowd; there were no distant sounds of trumpets or the neighing of impatient horses.

The platforms surrounding the arena stood deserted, with only the special seats designated for the members of the Royal Family occupied. King Euris, Prince Yanad, Prince Valon, and, of course, Count Constantine Crueder were the sole occupants of these distinguished seats.

And now, ironically for the first time in her life, Aideen found herself among them. She was to occupy the very seat designated for Princess Catriona Ruan.

"I see you also fell victim to the unfortunate weather this morning, Your Grace. The roads were damaged by water; it must have been quite tiring to get here today."

The King acknowledged Tillian with a brief nod and a casual remark about the morning’s weather, as expected by proper decorum. The Duke nodded in response, then assisted Aideen in ascending the platform. However, he was halted by Prince Yanad, who took the princess’s hand and guided her to her seat, casting a rather sharp glare at her escort.

Unwilling to waste time on unnecessary arguments, Tillian silently observed as the Crown Prince assisted the lady in taking her seat. He then shifted his burning eyes to Count Crueder and began,

"The weather is indeed not on our side today; however, I don’t believe it should be a problem. We are not only defending Her Highness’s honor, but our own as well. The more obstacles we face, the better. I am confident in my abilities."

Count Constantine furrowed his eyebrows, inviting even more wrinkles on his already wilted face. However, he quickly composed himself and forced a polite smile as he replied,

"Indeed, now I feel it’s rather unfair to let His Grace fight today, as whimsical weather appears to be more of his ally than a foe. The harsh conditions of The North must have seasoned him into a gloriously strong warrior."

The Duke could not help but release an annoyed scoff.

"Regardless of the circumstances, a man should not merely revel in wealth and enjoy the benefits of a privileged life. What is the point of being a man if he recoils at the sight of a few rain puddles? I firmly believe that one’s prowess can truly be tested in unflattering conditions."

The Count stretched his thin lips into another forced grin, giving Tillian a somewhat disgusted expression. Then, the old man rose to his feet and gestured for one of the servants, who bowed and quickly disappeared behind the platform. The Count continued,

"I guess you are right, Your Grace. However, I am sad to admit that the days of my glory have already passed. This old, trembling hand can no longer handle a sword like it used to. Therefore..."

Count Crueder paused and turned his head to his left, grinning widely as the servant reappeared in the arena, followed by an enormously tall man with a somewhat menacingly strong build. Tillian’s previously relaxed expression turned into one of serious concern. Constantine, satisfied with the effect made on the Duke by his unexpected action, continued in a more cheerful tone,

"Since the law allows me to assign a champion to fight in my stead, this young fella will be defending my honor today."

’He did it... He assigned a champion.’

As the Count’s words reached the royal seats, Aideen brought her right hand to her chest and clenched her fist, a new wave of shuddering washing over her body. Hoping to find at least some kind of concolation, she turned to Yanad and whispered,

"Your Highness, who is it? Is it a Royal Knight?"

The Crown Prince leaned closer to the princess and whispered back,

"No, I have been training with the Royal Order since I was eleven, and I don’t think I have ever seen this man among the knights. Moreover, the Royal Knights are not allowed to be champions for others; it’s against the law. This man is most likely a mercenary. Judging by his build and the black cape on his shoulders... He is from the Black Flame."

"Oh my..."

There was probably not even a single person in the entire Capital who was not familiar with the Black Flame. Just like the Royal Order of Knights was famous for having only the best noble soldiers from all over Geraldion, Black Flame, the only peasant mercenary organization in the Capital, was renowned for hiring the most ruthless, cruel, and blood-thirsty fighters. They were willing to do any kind of job for those who did not want to get their hands dirty, as long as they received a worthy payment, of course.

Their seemingly illegal activities were not banned simply because their services were employed even by the most renowned nobles, but also because they functioned as an information guild. Their leader, the mysterious "black-masked man," remained elusive and impossible to identify or catch.

They constituted a group of skillful, shady, yet incredibly strong and brutal individuals. And now, one of them stood before Duke Valentine as his opponent.