“Ooooooh—!”
As Harvis walked onto the stage with his eye-catching broadsword, the audience erupted in cheers.
The Kingdom’s noble and the Empire’s prince stood facing each other on the stage under everyone’s gaze, exciting the crowd.
It couldn’t be helped.
“It seems everyone is looking forward to our performance.”
Harvis didn’t look around, but smiled at Shien, who was standing opposite him.
“Performance?” Shien stopped yawning and said noncommittally, “They just want to see how well we can fight, right?”
That was the case.
Many people had used this stage before.
Every day, they showcased their abilities in various ways, some amazing, some unimpressive, but without exception, none of them achieved any results in the end.
Lucy hadn’t raised anyone’s score, making them a candidate for her husband, so the audience had long since lost hope.
Moreover, there were also quite a few people who were just there to make up the numbers or cause a commotion. Therefore, recently, fewer and fewer people came to watch the performances around the stage.
But today was different.
Today, two highly topical figures were on stage.
One was the Viscount rumored to be formidable, the current top candidate in the husband selection competition.
The other was the Empire’s prince, a legitimate descendant of the Hero.
People wanted to know how capable the former was and what the latter could achieve.
Compared to these two figures with numerous titles, most of those who had been on this stage before were just clowns.
And this time, there were also many things others wanted to know.
If Shien, the top candidate, lost, would the Kingdom lower his score and raise Harvis’s?
Did the Kingdom’s treasure prefer a husband with greater martial prowess?
What kind of partner did Princess Lucy want?
Someone with a background? Someone capable? Or someone with strength?
These were the things others desperately wanted to know.
Under such circumstances, regardless of whether Shien, the top candidate, won or lost, the outcome would reveal a lot of information.
For example, if Shien lost, but his score wasn’t lowered, and he didn’t lose his position as the top candidate, it would prove that the Kingdom didn’t value strength. ȒÁNȎbƐș
Conversely, if Shien lost, and Harvis’s score increased, replacing Shien’s position, it would prove that the Kingdom valued strength.
This was what people wanted to see.
After all, the outcome of the husband selection depended entirely on the princess’s preferences.
Without a standard, people could only search for the rules themselves, strive to climb up, and finally win both fame and fortune, and the beauty’s hand.
Therefore, in the eyes of many, whether Shien or Harvis won, they weren’t interested.
Because both Shien and Harvis were their rivals, their love rivals. They naturally couldn’t support either of them and even hoped that both would lose.
They were only concerned about the outcome of this duel.
Of course…
“For those commoners of the Kingdom, they really want to see our abilities, or rather, how capable I am.” Shien curled his lip. “Your Highness is also being evaluated, so you better put on a good show.”
“That’s only natural.” Harvis said frankly. “After all, we’re dueling in the Kingdom’s capital, in front of everyone in the Kingdom. I can’t lose face.”
Otherwise, the Kingdom’s people would show no mercy when mocking the prince of their rival, the Empire.
“You’re really straightforward.” Shien chuckled, but there was a meaningful look on his face. “Alright, let me see how capable the Empire’s prince is compared to that neurotic Valkyrie.”
These words made Harvis narrow his eyes.
“Could you be…”
Harvis wanted to say something, but he didn’t succeed.
The reason was simple.
“Look… look…!”
“It’s Princess Lucy!”
“Princess Lucy is here!”
With these ecstatic shouts, the entire venue erupted in cheers that soared into the sky.
On the open-air platform above the main gate of the palace, Lucy had appeared at some point, overlooking the stage below. Her snow-white hair fluttered in the wind, her crimson eyes shining with an exquisite light. Her posture was elegant, her aura outstanding, making people feel as if a goddess had descended, captivating their hearts.
“Is… is that Roselucia Mitra?”
Wolram, who had been looking at the stage with a playful expression, gasped, his eyes filled with astonishment and passion as he looked at the beautiful princess who had suddenly appeared.
“Such terrifying magic power…”