The person who had attempted the attack had already been dragged out of the stadium, and it was only natural that there were no more danger elements. The task that Franz, who had pretended to be bought by Devlin, was supposed to handle was to bring that man into the stadium. I was caught off guard. There must have been an accomplice. A series of attacks followed. And Aiden's face, which looked startled as he looked at me.
'Was there someone from Devlin near me?'
The surroundings turned into chaos again. People who were injured by the unexpected explosion screamed.
"Your Majesty, are you alright?"
"I'm fine."
Thanks to Aiden's protection, I was unharmed. Aiden, holding me in his arms, whispered quietly so others couldn't hear.
"There was a Devlin mage near Your Majesty."
"Is he gone now?"
"Yes, he fled."
After breaking free from Aiden's embrace, I immediately assessed the situation. Thanks to the knights and my father and Oscar, who had released their sword auras to minimize the damage when the explosion occurred, it seemed there were no fatalities. However, there were injured people, so I healed them all with divine power.
"Receiving healing from Your Majesty is an honor for our family!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
I smiled brightly in response to the people's gratitude, but my mind was quite complicated.
'Veron, you're clever.'
Choosing a crowded event to plan the attack was to show everyone. Two consecutive attacks at the annual national event? Even if the damage was minimal, it wouldn't be difficult for the news to spread and create public unrest. That's how crowd psychology works. Upon hearing that a Devlin mage had mixed in with the crowd, my father immediately took command of the knights. When the commotion finally subsided, Gustav stood before us with a tired look.
"What should we do, Your Majesty? It's probably best to cancel the tournament—"
"No, we'll continue."
I firmly cut off Gustav's words. Gustav looked around awkwardly.
"But didn't the audience see the attack?"
"Exactly, that's why we must continue. If we stop now, what will everyone say when they go home? They'll say the Emperor was attacked by an unsavory force."
Ending it now would only earn us the stigma of a failed tournament. We had to succeed and erase the memory of the attack from people's minds.
"Yes, but..."
"Don't worry, Gustav. I have a plan, just proceed!"
I pounded my chest with my fist, signaling that he should trust me.
'I'll show them something even more spectacular than the attack.'
Hehehe.
*** Aiden quickly understood the intent behind this attack.
'He's warning me.'
Veron wanted Aiden to return to him. This attack was an indirect warning that if Aiden didn't return, he would somehow threaten the Emperor of Ermanno.
"Veron Arthur Devliska."
Ever since Aiden first opened his eyes and began to think, Veron had been by his side. He was a swamp-like existence who had bound Aiden and wanted to use him as a loyal servant. Aiden had barely escaped such a life, but even after several years, Veron still lingered around him like a shadow. If he continued to stay by Mabel's side, these incidents would keep happening. He would constantly plant people, follow, eavesdrop, and threaten.
'If I stay, it will be dangerous.'
Just as Aiden was thinking this, Mabel, who had been comforting the worried Esteban, secretly grabbed Aiden's finger. Even the warmth of a single finger was enough for Aiden. He didn't want to leave Mabel's side, even if it was selfish. He just needed to protect her. He needed to watch over her and ensure she was safe.
'Besides, Mabel isn't that weak.'
Aiden's lord was young but strong, capable of protecting herself. *** Under Gustav's worry, the tournament resumed. However, Mabel had overlooked one thing: the final match had already started. Naturally, stepping out of the stadium and onto the stands meant Aiden was disqualified.
"Sir Aiden's disqualification by default makes the winner of the tournament Sir Nathaniel Bursley of the Bursley family!"
"..."
Despite the selection of a worthy winner, a heavy silence filled the stadium. Aiden gracefully acknowledged his defeat, recognizing the judges' decision.
"I violated the rules, so I lost."
People looked at each other, holding back their words. Among them, one person was ecstatic.
"Hahaha! Thank you, thank you!"
It was the winner, Sir Bursley. He had been so terrified of facing the monster-like demon of Devlin that he almost wanted to forfeit, but he didn't want to tarnish his family's honor, so he ran hard. Suddenly, his opponent left the stadium, giving him an easy win, which he couldn't help but be happy about.
"Ahahaha! I won, I won!"
Only Sir Bursley didn't realize that winning without a proper match was dishonorable. Even the Bursley family members sighed and covered their faces. After laughing excitedly for a while, he noticed the cold gazes of the people and quietly closed his mouth.
"I, I won..."
But he couldn't help muttering to himself, unable to contain his joy. The final match ended with such a hollow conclusion, and the only things left were the award ceremony and the closing ceremony. Gustav suggested skipping the closing ceremony, but Mabel insisted. Thus, the award ceremony began. Amid controversy, the final winner, Sir Bursley, stood confidently on the podium.
"This tournament was a disaster..."
"Sir Aiden should have been the winner."
Murmurs and whispers. While there was much talk about the winner, Sir Bursley was just happy. Finally, he could obtain the wish he had longed for! The young empress, who had been sitting solemnly, came down to the stadium with a laurel wreath. Aiden and Lysandro, her guards, were also there in case of any unforeseen incidents. Mabel's congratulatory speech, amplified by magic, echoed throughout the stadium.
"I congratulate you on your victory. I hope you will remember the valuable victory you won by respecting your opponent and fighting with all your heart, and I crown you with the laurel wreath."
The embarrassment was solely the audience's.
"Respect the opponent? Fight with all your heart?"
"Valuable... victory...?"
Because the actual winner, Sir Bursley, was just happy. The power he had longed for was right in front of him.
"Thank you, Your Majesty. It's all thanks to fighting for Your Majesty. I dedicate this glory to the noble and beautiful Your Majesty!"
He winked at Mabel. Mabel involuntarily took a step back.
'What, a wink?'
If he was going to attack, he should have warned me first. Mabel shuddered and quickly placed the laurel wreath on the kneeling man's head, then stepped back. It was almost as if she had thrown it. Now, the moment everyone had been eagerly awaiting had arrived. Many people, including Oscar and Esteban, who were watching from a distance, gritted their teeth.
"The winner of the tournament will be granted one wish by me. What is your wish?"
"My, my wish is!"
Aiden, who was standing next to Mabel, slightly raised his gaze. A power began to seep out. Lysandro saw the behind-the-scenes work but pretended not to notice. Sir Bursley, unaware of this, opened his mouth in excitement.
"My wish is to sit beside the noble Emperor, cough!"
But before he could finish his wish, Sir Bursley suddenly clutched his throat with one hand.
'I can't breathe!'
After a few seconds, the pain quickly subsided.
'My body must be weak lately.'
He dismissed it and started to speak his wish again.
"My wish is to marry, cough!"
Again, his breath was cut off. The audience began to murmur as they watched him clutch his throat in agony.
"Huff, huff..."
Only then did Sir Bursley realize something was wrong. When he tried to speak his wish, his breath was cut off, as if someone was covering his mouth. Turning his head, he saw the Emperor and his son Oscar sitting in the most prestigious seats.
'Are you trying to kill me?'
"Ah, ah!"
Feeling the vivid threat, he clenched his fists.
'The Emperor is covering my mouth!'
Sir Bursley, who had misinterpreted the situation, trembled in fear and fell into deep thought. He had expected backlash when he proposed to the Emperor, but facing it was nerve-wracking. Moreover, the Emperor would really kill him!
'But I still want to be the Empress!'
Determined to finish his sentence before his mouth was covered again, Sir Bursley opened his lips.
"I propose to the Emperor, cough!"
Clank, swish, thud, bang. The sounds of weapons being drawn from all directions made him give up his dream. The royal guards, the demon of Devlin, and the royal family were all brandishing their weapons.
"...I want to be rich."
Thus, the winner of the tournament became rich. The royal family, who had averted a major life crisis, smiled contentedly.
"Fortunately, Father. We won't have to get our hands dirty."
"Blood will be spilled."
"Ah, right. We must take revenge."
Oscar smiled angelically, agreeing with the Emperor. Nearby, people doubted their ears. As Mabel returned to the stands,