Chapter 14: Chapter 14 : Duel
The Royals Selection took a break after the gathering. Almost all of the knights and nobility already leave the hall. Only Royal Selection candidates and the Council Of Wise Men left.
"Reinhard." Kyoko stopped in front of her knight, "Could you go see my brother? I have bad feeling since he leave this hall.... Beside, that nobility asshole keep mumbling about Emilia's lineage."
"As you wish, milady. If you need any helps, Flamm and Grassis will be your best choices."
"Thank you, Reinhard."
After the Sword Saint taking his leave, Kyoko returned to the candidates line.
"You really love your brother, hah? Perhaps, the reason you joined this election is because of your brother?" Anastasia opened conversation between them.
"Well, that fool isn't mature as you see. It's my duty as her older sister to protect him. That's why I think this kingdom security in worse state, feeble if you see. In rude language, it's so fucking worthless that I don't think we should pay those knights."
"You shouldn't judge from their appearance, Kyoko-sama, as your knight said. It's true that Lugunica's army is lacking that we're careless when Bowel Hunter still roaming free. But, doesn't mean they're not useless." Said Crusch with confident.
"Yeah. I agree with your opinion. The knights isn't useless too much but for nobility, what's your opinion about them?"
"For me, as long as they give me a good benefits, I don't mind they working into rotten." Anastasia answered.
Crusch nodded, "In my opinion, nobility faction maybe rude as you see. But, some of them can give various advantages from different perspectives. For example, our kingdom's economy."
"Even though they can be such insolence. That's the only good thing about them. For others, they're nothing more than flies who flying around beautiful tiara." Suddenly, Priscilla joined the conversation.
"You hate them too?" Kyoko asked.
"Hmph! Why would I have to wasted my time on those foolish things? They will eventually crawling into my feet when they become worms."
"You mean they will come to you when they're in desperate situation but they will not come when they're happy and enjoy their luxury while other people suffered?"
Priscilla fanning herself before looked at Kyoko with sharp gaze, "You could said like that. Perhaps I'm misunderstood your intellectual. Kyoko, isn't right? What will you do in order to discard corrupted authority?"
"Burn all of them."
Kyoko said in serious face, only for her to be responded by a long silent from the royal selection candidates. They all looked at Kyoko with confusion as if they don't know if Kyoko is telling truth or joking.
"That's so barbaric." Comment from Anastasia.
"It's a joke, you know? Woah, you guys isn't fun. Finee.... In my opinion, I will investigate those corrupted person background. Their crimes, their hidden secret and everything. Even though it will taking long time for complete the mission and we know that we can't dispose all of them in short time. But at least, we could prevent more damage from before, right?"
Priscilla covering her lips with her fan, "Such a low confident. That's not how you claimed your hatred against nobility and knights earlier."
Kyoko replied in mocking tone, "Excuse me, lady Priscilla. I'm still learning here, okay? I thought you willing give me a lesson just like before. I bet this lesson much better than my first lesson."
"Hmph! Know your place, commoner."
Anastasia stepped forward, "Alright, alright. You two could be a good friend if you guys aren't fighting each other, right, Crusch-sama?"
"I agree with Anastasia-sama words."
Priscilla and Kyoko looked Anastasia and Crusch with disgusting look. Both of them looked each other before turned around and crossing their arms. Of course they don't like when people thought they could be friend when they almost kill each other earlier.
Far from this group conversation, Emilia remaining silent. She get lost in the middle of their talking and don't know what to say. She only stand beside of the group like a alone girl.
She watching Kyoko who keep the conversation with others candidates. Kyoko really acting different from what she said. That black hair girl could have casual conversation despite the whole commotion she caused, especially with Priscilla.
'Just like Subaru....'
Suddenly, the door of hall opening and a single knight running panicked towards them, "Reporting!! The knight Julius and Natsuki Subaru-dono are having a mock battle with wooden swords in training ring!"
Kyoko's eyes widened open. She know something wrong will happen, "That stupid idiot..."
Emilia also was surprised by the news, "How did this happen? I have to----"
"I just wanna know one thing. Which one of them who issued this challenge?" Anastasia asked out of blue.
"I was told that it the knight Julius. Natsuki Subaru-dono accepted it, leading to the fight! The fight is heavy from Natsuki Subaru-dono side!!"
"Well, I'm against stopping them, then." She answered.
Emilia refused to believe what she heard, "But your knight and my..... friend are fighting! Aren't you worried?"
"Worried? About what? That Julius boy will go far and I'll have to pay for your boy's treatment?"
"Anastasia-sama, "Kyoko called the purple hair girl, making the whole Royal Selection candidates looked at her, "I have one question for you."
Anastasia response without guilty, "What is it?"
"You don't mind if I hit your knight, right?"
"Thats very threatening words. I don't mind since Julius is strong. Are you going attack my knight because he attack your brother?"
Kyoko smirked, flipping her hair on air confidently, "No, I'm going beat their both ass for being such a headache."
Right after she finished her words, Kyoko immediately lifted her skirts slightly and running out from hall. Emilia who see Kyoko's action, following her from behind.
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At training ring, these Knight of Royal Guards watching pitiful by the pathetic duel in front of them. Julius, Anastasia's knight, have not mercy when he keep beating and hitting Subaru with his wooden sword.
Meanwhile, Subaru's face already filled with bruise, black and blue mark as he try his best defending himself. Unfortunately, for someone who don't even have swordsmanship knowledge unlike his sister and fighting one of strongest knight, Subaru the one being disadvantaged here.
Dang!!!
His face getting hardest strike he have experienced from Julius's wooden sword. Subaru slammed into ground, with painful injuries. He once experienced, suffering from his sister's bamboo sword when they have arguments but Julius? That guy is the whole different realm from his sister's strength.
"Subaru!!?"
He turned towards the owner's voice, only to found Kyoko and Emilia stand on the balcony. His distraction give Julius a chance, send final blow to Subaru. Lastly, Subaru feel around his world become darker, losing his consciousness and fall into the ground.
"Subaru!!!" Emilia screaming with horror while Kyoko already take a action.
She lifted her blue skirt and jumped off from second floor, making the whole knights there shocked, especially Reinhard on the side of training ring. Thankfully, she landing safely with her high heels, immediately running towards Julius who about to send another final attack to Subaru.
Thud!!---- Crackkk!!
With one hand, Kyoko stopped Julius's wooden sword in one grab, Her eyes full hatred, gripping the sword furiously before breaking it into pieces. This is showed how strong Kyoko is than normal girl's strengths.
"Stop right that, Julius Juukulius. My brother already lose, so why you keep swing your sword?"
Julius remain silent as he looked at his broken wooden sword. He turned back to Kyoko, answering as well as bowing slightly to her, "My apologies, I don't realised that he already passed out."
Emilia and Reinhard arrived on the spot. While Emilia check Subaru's condition, Reinhard returned to his mistress's side. The Sword Saint could see fury inside his mistress's face, and her will to protecting her brother.
"Reinhard, Explain what happen here---"
"No, Reinhard don't have explain to you. I the one who decided this duel. He don't have any connected with this situation." Said Julius, defending his friend's pride.
"Julius, I----"
"Then, explain, Julius Juukulius. Why the fuck you challenge my brother? You know he don't even have any talent holding sword." Kyoko cutting off her knight's word, displeased tone in her voice.
"He insulted our worthy, the knights of Royal Guards, as knighthood's honor. As the knight who swore to protect Lugunica, this is shouldn't be seen as small things."
This is time, Kyoko was silent for several second before continue, "Reinhard, is that true?"
"Yes, milady. As I failed to stopped Subaru from provoking the knights, I couldn't do anything since this is duel between knight and knight. As witness, I'm terribly sorry for being rude but, Subaru claimed he's Emilia-sama knight and disrespecting the whole knights here, said that knights here only born for this position without any hardships."
"That's why he can't stop this fight. Because this is how knight fight, Kyoko-sama. You shouldn't blamed Reinhard for his incompetent action." Julius added, to supporting his friend.
"I never said that I blamed Reinhard for whole this headches. I just asked for situation. I know you trying to protect your friend's honor, still you shouldn't mistake me for some tyrant." Kyoko replied before sighed. She placing her right palm on top of her left chest and bowing slightly.
"As his sister, I'm would like to apologize for my brother's behalf. He still immature and have many things to learn. You may dislike him but, please, don't hurt him anymore."
The knights who wanted this situation, whispered each others. Either, they accepted Kyoko's apology or decline it, remain as unsolved mystery.
Reinhard, who stand beside his mistress, feel his pride crushed when he saw Kyoko's action. He feel he just do the worst mistake he have done, making his mistress's reputation rotten like that in the first day.
"Kyoko-sama.... I appreciate for your apology but.... I don't think you should do this. Instead, your brother should apologise to us. Even though you're his sister, you shouldn't protect him again and again, taking over everytime he did mistake. This is no more than spoiled him." Said Julius in soft and respect tone.
"Is that so? Then, I will take your advice in the future." Shockingly, Kyoko accepted Julius's words instantly. She turned around and looked at Emilia who trying healing Subaru.
"Reinhard, take my brother to guest room after Emilia finishing her healing process."
"...."
Kyoko turned her face towards Reinhard, confusedly, "Reinhard? You're hear or not?"
"Yes... Milady...."
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