Chapter 7: A Name Forgotten
The two stood on the balcony in comfortable silence.
The orchestra's music drifted softly from inside the ballroom.
"So..." the girl said, gazing at the moon. "Tomorrow, you leave for the Royal Academy."
Vee nodded.
"Yeah."
"Are you nervous?"
He smiled.
"A little."
She laughed.
"Good."
"Huh?"
"If you weren't nervous, I'd think you were either a fool... or unbelievably arrogant."
Vee scratched his head.
"I've been called both before."
The girl covered her mouth as she laughed.
"You really are strange."
"So I've been told."
For nearly half an hour, they spoke about everything and nothing.
Books.
Training.
The stars.
Their favorite foods.
Not once did they ask about each other's status.
To them...
They were simply two strangers sharing a peaceful night.
Finally, music from inside changed.
"I should go."
She straightened her dress and walked toward the ballroom.
"Good luck at the Academy, Vee."
"You too."
She waved without turning around.
"Don't die."
"I'll try."
As she disappeared into the crowd...
Vee blinked.
"...Wait."
His eyes widened.
"...I never asked her name."
He rushed into the ballroom, looking from face to face.
White dresses.
Blue dresses.
Golden dresses.
She was gone.
"...Seriously?"
He sighed.
"I'll probably meet her again..."
"...Right?"
---
The rest of the evening passed quickly.
One by one...
The guests approached Vee with farewell gifts.
An elderly count presented him with an old compass.
"It belonged to my grandfather."
"It always pointed toward hope instead of north."
Vee smiled politely.
"...I'll treasure it."
A marquis gifted him a beautifully crafted fountain pen.
"For writing letters home."
His mother immediately smiled at that.
"You'd better use it."
"...Yes, Mother."
A famous knight placed a pair of black leather gloves into Vee's hands.
"They'll protect your palms during sword training."
"Thank you."
Several merchants presented him with travel supplies.
Healing medicines.
Camping equipment.
Rare maps.
Even books filled with knowledge about the Academy.
The gifts piled higher and higher.
By the end of the night...
Vee stared at the mountain of boxes.
"...Am I going to the Academy..."
"...or opening a shop?"
His father coughed to hide a laugh.
His mother failed completely and burst into laughter.
Even the servants couldn't keep straight faces.
The Duke finally stepped forward.
The ballroom fell silent.
He raised his glass.
"My son leaves tomorrow."
"I cannot promise he will never fail."
"I cannot promise he will never suffer."
"But I can promise you this..."
The Duke looked directly at Vee.
"He will never stop standing back up."
The hall erupted into applause.
Vee lowered his head respectfully.
Then, for the first time that night...
He looked beyond the lights of the mansion.
Beyond the walls of the duchy.
Tomorrow...
His real journey would begin.
The Seventy-Second
The applause had barely faded when a voice echoed through the ballroom.
"How disappointing."
The room fell silent.
Every noble turned toward the entrance.
A young man, no older than seventeen, walked into the hall with measured steps. He wore a crimson noble uniform, and a silver crest rested proudly on his chest.
He didn't bow.
He didn't smile.
His eyes remained fixed on Vee.
"So..." he said. "This is the Duke's precious heir."
Whispers spread through the ballroom.
"It's him..."
"The seventy-second claimant."
"Why is he here?"
Vee frowned.
"Seventy-second claimant?"
His father answered quietly.
"Our family is enormous. There are many distant relatives with a claim to the Ashford name."
"This boy is seventy-second in line to inherit the duchy."
"In other words..."
"He has no realistic chance of becoming Duke."
The young man overheard.
His expression darkened.
"My name is Rylan Ashford."
"I may be seventy-second today..."
"...but one day this family will know my name."
He pointed directly at Vee.
"And defeating you is where I'll begin."
The hall erupted into murmurs.
Vee blinked.
"...You've been thinking about this speech for a while, haven't you?"
Several nobles struggled not to laugh.
Rylan's face reddened.
"I'm serious!"
"I can see that."
Vee sighed.
"But tomorrow is my departure banquet."
"Can't we do this another day?"
"No."
Rylan stepped into the center of the ballroom.
"I challenge you."
"Right here."
"Right now."
The Duke's eyes narrowed.
Before he could speak...
Vee took a step forward.
"I accept."
His mother grabbed his sleeve.
"Vee..."
He smiled reassuringly.
"It's okay."
"I won't go overboard."
The servants quickly cleared the center of the ballroom, transforming it into an improvised dueling arena.
The guests formed a circle.
Excitement filled the air.
Some wanted to see the Duke's son fight.
Others wanted to see him humiliated.
Rylan drew his sword.
Its crimson blade reflected the chandelier's light.
"I won't hold back."
Vee calmly accepted a wooden practice sword from a nearby knight.
"You brought a real sword."
"I brought wood."
"If I lose..."
"I'll have no excuse."
The room became perfectly silent.
Then—
"Begin."
Rylan exploded forward like an arrow, his sword slicing through the air with surprising speed.
Vee didn't move.
He simply watched.
His father's training echoed in his mind.
"Don't chase the sword."
"Read the swordsman."
The blade flashed toward his shoulder...
And Vee took one small step to the side.
The sword cut through empty air.
Rylan's eyes widened.
"What—?"
Tap.
Vee's wooden sword lightly struck Rylan's wrist.
Not enough to injure him.
Just enough to show...
"I saw that opening."
The smile on Vee's face vanished.
"So..."
"Show me what the seventy-second heir can really do."
The atmosphere instantly grew heavier.
This was no longer a noble's tantrum.
It had become a true duel.
To be continued