Razel sat down in his resting place.
It was Cid's turn.
Cid's steed was one specially made only for him. Because he was the fourth prince.
It was blue, had two horns, one below the other, and they named it Mordred.
He watched Lambert bow to Regulux.
He couldn't hear what they were saying, but he could imagine they were talking.
"Your Highness, I deeply apologize for those incompetents. I will win; you can rest assured."
"Thank you, Lam. Try not to hurt Cidfert too much."
"Understood."
Lambert's steed was a beautiful gray one; it was special like Cid's, as it was also built exclusively for its owner.
On one side, you could see its name, Lancelot.
Razel touched Cid's shoulder.
"Hey, are you okay?"
"Yes. Just thinking."
"About what?"
Cid's mind recalled things from his childhood, related to Lambert.
◇◇◇
Cid met Lambert shortly after joining the imperial family.
He was terrified; he didn't know anyone, and the adults scared him. He could hear their barely disguised voices about their political interests.
"I heard that child is the fourth prince."
"Him? It seems the imperial family is in need of relatives, hahaha."
"Don't mock him. A boy like him could have a lot to offer."
Cid covered his ears so as not to hear the ministers and other important men.
In a corner, there were two boys.
As it was a welcome party for him, he thought he could make friends his own age.
As he approached, he was stopped by a maid.
The maid told him.
"I'm sorry, but you are forbidden to approach the third prince."
Cid didn't understand until the maid said a name that didn't sit well.
"It's an order from the substitute empress. She said she didn't want the son of a mistress near her son. I'm sorry."
From that day on, Cid understood that it didn't matter if it was his own house. No one was going to look out for him.
For that reason, he kept quiet; he only felt and did what he was told.
At one point in his life, a dark feeling was born.
Why only him? Why does everyone pamper Regulux?
That dark feeling was envy.
Just like in the game, that feeling grew, but one day.
It disappeared forever.
It was because of meeting Razel.
That day, Cid understood that tragedy affects everyone, not just him.
Razel was poor, but he lived happily.
Then, he met his friends. Poor upstart barons.
Cid wasn't foolish enough to think poverty was only for him.
But he never knew that nobles could be poor. That day, Cid understood that way of thinking was very childish.
Then he learned about Elize's case; he couldn't do anything since he had never met her in person, only by name.
Cid, seeing what his half-brother was doing to his fiancée, became very angry.
That's why he wanted to help her.
Because he couldn't stand seeing a girl cry at the hands of someone from the imperial family once again.
And, because the sword that protects the prince is a very sharp one.
Cid mounted his steed, ready to fight.
Once he was next to Lambert, the referee asked them if they were ready.
"Yes."
Cid replied, but Lambert said nothing, only nodded as if mute.
The referee took that as a yes and shouted with all his might.
"The penultimate round is about to begin! Cidfert von Bryes vs. Lambert von Attley! Begin!"
Lambert accelerated, but Cid did not.
Lambert flew until he was sufficiently far away.
Then, he noticed that Cid hadn't left his spot.
No one understood what was happening; Cid just stared at Lambert.
◇◇◇
In the stands, the audience didn't understand what was wrong with Cid.
"What's wrong with him? The duel has already started."
"Does he have a stomach ache?"
"I say he's just scared. The Attley son was knighted at such a young age."
"Is that true? I mean, a child being knighted is very rare."
"Yes. You see, I was present that day. It was the most incredible thing I've ever seen."
Hearing the voices of the audience, another memory about Lambert came to Cid's mind.
This was the day he met him.
◇◇◇
"Alright, children, welcome to the Lyonnet Style Academy."
"For the next five years, you will be students here."
Cid turned 10 years old.
As was customary, the children of nobles were sent to learn the official style of the empire's swordsman academy.
Cid had closed his heart to others long ago.
His primary school education wasn't over yet.
But it was mandatory to learn fencing at this age.
The instructor gathered the children in one place.
Then, he asked them to find a partner to begin.
Cid didn't know anyone, so he didn't know who to pair up with.
Since it was an even number, there should be someone without a partner.
A boy approached Cid; that boy was...
"Hey, you don't have a partner. Practice with me."
Lambert.
His gaze was as cold as his tone.
Cid accepted; he felt he had seen this boy before.
And so, time passed.
The months could be counted on one hand.
But...
"So weak."
Lambert pushed Cid against the canvas floor.
Cid hit very hard, even though the floor was covered in cotton.
"Attley-kun, what are you doing?!"
The instructor approached Lambert directly.
Lambert, with his wooden sword, pointed at the instructor.
"Instructor-dono, I'm sorry. But these past few months, I've felt that I am superior to everyone present."
"W-What are you saying?"
"Are you deaf? I told you I completed the basics long ago. At my house, clearly. That's why I feel I don't need this anymore. I only came because my father said I must be certified. Please, don't waste my time anymore and give me my certificate."
The adults and other children didn't understand what this child was saying.
"Hey, don't be so conceited!"
"He's just a kid, but he talks like an adult."
"You may be the son of a margrave and related to the imperial family by friendship, but that doesn't make you untouchable."
"... Should I demonstrate it to you?"
The instructor was speechless.
Then he thought.
(I must teach this conceited child a lesson. He needs to know reality.)
The instructor called the three best students who were about to graduate.
They were all future knights due to their talent; they were known by everyone.
"Poor kid, but he deserves it."
"Someone needs to bring him down from that cloud."
"Teach him a little humility; we entrust them to you, young men!"
The adults were happy because a spoiled brat would be punished.
Many knew the current head of the Attley Household.
So, deep down, maybe it was a way to secretly mock him.
Three students with good muscles and wooden swords came to face Lambert.
They looked at him mockingly.
Lambert, in turn, went to change his weapon.
He swapped his wooden sword for a pencil.
Not just any pencil, a colored one that a small child would use.
The child was crying while many watched Lambert walk to the center.
Before the duel began, Lambert said.
"Attack me, all three together if you wish. No, I beg you. That would be better so you can give me my graduation certificate."
Students and adults alike showed veins on their foreheads from anger; a wild comment was heard by everyone.
"Don't show mercy just because he's a brat!"
No adult said anything, but they seemed to silently nod.
Everyone was ready; at that moment, the duel began.
One young man moved his sword straight at Lambert's head, another aimed at his body, and the last one aimed at his feet.
"Eat this, brat!"
"Time to learn some manners!"
"Apologize in the hospital!"
But, in a fraction of a second, it was all over.
No one saw what happened.
Not even the best swordsman teachers present.
The three young men were knocked out in one move.
Lambert said.
"It's over. Can you give me my certificate now?"
A man shouted.
"I won't allow it!"
He was a tall, corpulent adult.
He was a retired swordsman master.
Someone who once fought side-by-side with a retired sword saint.
His nephew was training, which is why he was here.
"This child not only lacks manners. He thinks that the sword, training, and hard work are useless."
The man approached the instructor directly.
"Please, let me fight him. I'll show him that there will always be someone stronger than you in the world."
Everyone made a big "oh" of surprise.
The instructor was hesitant; he handed him a wooden sword since this guy was soiling his dojo.
Lambert looked at him, not caring who he was.
Cid watched Lambert.
For a moment, Cid thought.
(If I'm not mistaken, I think I saw something.)
The big man swung his wooden sword.
Everyone had their mouths open, waiting for this match.
They truly wished for that child to get a beating.
The instructor asked them both if they were ready.
Lambert said nothing, but the man did.
"Kid, I'll show you a little humility. Remember this: there will always be someone stronger than you in the world. And if there isn't, the world will see to it that you learn that lesson."
The match was about to begin.
The man released an intense aura of magical power.
Lambert did not move.
At that moment, the match began.
"Let me show you the attack I used to hit the—!"
But, at the same time, it ended.
Everyone present only saw the big man with a broken neck and white eyes, falling on his back.
Cid opened his mouth as he thought.
(I saw it. I think I saw it. That boy... used a simple and straightforward footwork. He jumped towards his opponent and hit him in the neck.)
(But that's not all. That boy... was smiling. A wicked smile formed as he hit his opponents, almost as if he was enjoying their pain at the thought of how they lost.)
When Lambert fell to the ground, he turned to look at the man.
He spoke words that made the other children cry.
"Pathetic. Is this all the masters of the Lyonnet Style can offer?"
Cid watched the corners of that boy's mouth show a horrendous smile.
A child came screaming for his uncle, who was foaming at the mouth.
The next day, Lambert was summoned with his father to the palace.
Cid thought they would scold him.
But instead, the emperor himself, at the age of 10, named him a prodigy of the sword, for which he was granted the title of knight and a nickname.
The Gray Knight.
That day, Lambert became the last person to belong to the 12 candidates for the next sword saint.
At the same time, he is part of the Three Swords. Those who have the most chance of becoming one.
Cid understood that no matter how hard he worked, no matter how much he tried.
Lambert was an unattainable wall.
He even sent requests for duels against the current sword saints.
The palace rejected them for fear that he might be capable of defeating them.
To Cid, Lambert was a monster born with innate talent for fencing. He didn't know if he was the strongest in the world with a sword.
What he did know was that Lambert was the most dangerous person he knew.
For that reason, Cid made a decision.
To face Lambert.
He developed his own style, since the capital's style was very annoying for him.
He didn't want Razel to face him because he knew he couldn't beat him.
But he could.
Cid showed his determination to beat Lambert in the most logical way possible.
He accelerated as much as he could, and his steed flew directly towards Lambert.
He was ready to attack, drawing his sword, waiting for Cid to make some move.
But...
"Huh?"
Lambert's head stopped thinking for a fraction of a second.
While in Cid's, there was only one thought.
(There's only one way to beat this guy. And that is...)
(With such a stupid ambush that even he himself can't believe it!)
Cid's steed had two horns for that reason.
At full speed, the horns impacted Lambert's steed.
Because Lambert is a person who uses logic over reason. Something like this is unimaginable for him.
As Cid's steed crashed into Lambert's, both were destroyed.
Cid hugged Lambert so he couldn't try to escape.
Lambert only reacted after the madness he witnessed.
"What the hell are you doing?!"
"Showing you what everyone wanted to do! To make you look up as they see you!"
Lambert tried to separate from Cid to jump to a floating rock, but he couldn't.
Cid was determined to do this, therefore. They were both going to lose.
"Let me go!"
"Never! Together we lose!"
"Noooooooooo!"
Lambert stretched out his arm as he and Cid fell towards the ground at great speed.
"Your Highnesssssssssssssssssssss!"
Both were caught just in time.
No one could believe what was happening; the referee shouted.
"Both participants fell! It's a draw!"
"The next and final round will begin shortly after an emotional break for me."
No one could contradict the referee as everyone was confused.
Three people were staring intently at Cid and Lambert being brought in on a floating bed.
Lambert was angry, biting his lips. While Cid just laughed, holding his stomach.
Elize watched Cid, who had eliminated the most dangerous opponent with a crazy strategy.
Razel watched how Cid gave him a direct pass to a trouble-free victory.
While Regulux was...
"... That idiot Cidfert."
Cursing his brother while showing a terrifying face for someone so attractive.
The next duel will be the decisive one.
The one that will mark the fate of the villainess and the victory of one of the two sides.
Razel versus the future white knight.