Three Against One
I’ve always struggled more with swordsmanship than academics, and now I have to face three people at once… But that’s not even the real issue right now. What really matters is why those guys seem to hate me.
A three-on-one match? That has to mean they dislike me. Even if they don’t, it’s clear they want to defeat me, and that’s reason enough.
As I sat there lost in my thoughts, Florence-san, who was beside me, suddenly spoke.
“Lux-sama, I don’t believe you need to concern yourself with people like that.”
“B-But… why do they want to spar with me in the first place?”
When I asked, Florence-san glanced down at the ranking sheet and replied.
“It’s likely for some petty reason. Frankly, I don’t think you even need to accept their sword spar challenge.”
A petty reason… For her to put it like that, does Florence-san already know what that reason is? Or at least, has she guessed it? But even so…
“Maybe I did something wrong without realizing it. So I think I’ll go ahead with the spar challenge. If I get a chance to talk with them during it, I’ll try. And if it turns out I was in the wrong, I’ll apologize right away. If there’s been a misunderstanding, I’ll do everything I can to clear it up.”
“I see… If that’s what you’ve decided, Lux-sama, then I have nothing more to say.”
Florence-san smiled at me, gently, as she said that.
Floria’s Side
Sitting beside Lux, Floria watched him quietly.
Lux is just too kind… He doesn’t understand how dark people can be. And yet, at the same time—
That purity, that untainted beauty… I love that part of you with all my heart, Lux-sama. Please don’t worry. If anyone dares to strike at you, I will protect you without fail. I won’t forgive anyone who tries to hurt you.
As she looked at Lux’s faintly troubled expression, Floria made that vow to herself, firm and unwavering.
Lux’s Side
Third period.
Third period was finally the start of swordsmanship class. I’d been looking forward to this, curious about what kind of techniques we’d learn. But now… it felt different.
My eyes met those of the three boys who’d challenged me to a match. They were glaring at me again. D-Did I really do something to deserve that?
Just as that anxious thought crossed my mind, the teacher began explaining the lesson.
“In this swordsmanship class, you’ll mainly be using wooden swords to study technique and handling. Today, we’ll be holding mock battles so everyone can gauge each other’s skill.”
Mock battles… That might actually be a good opportunity.
After receiving our wooden swords, we were told to choose our partners and begin the matches as soon as we were ready.
And then, the three boys approached. Still glaring, they closed in and surrounded me.
I looked at them and asked,
“Um… why are you doing this?”
One of them, the same one who’d spoken to me earlier this morning, answered.
“Because you humiliated us.”
“Humiliated…? I-I don’t really understand. Did I do something wrong?”
“Yeah. You’re from a count’s family, and you placed second on the academic exams.”
“Just because I’m from a count’s family…? I mean, what do my test scores have to do with rank?”
“Everything. Florence is a duke’s daughter, so it’s fine if she takes first place. That only proves the superiority of her status. But if a mere count’s kid gets second, it trashes the dignity of us marquises.”
Rank superiority? Dignity…? I understood the words, but the logic made no sense at all.
Exam results should be about how well you solve the problems. Titles shouldn’t matter.
“Even if the scores came out how they did, what really matters as nobles is making sure the people in our domains live happy, prosperous—”
“Shut up! I don’t care! I’m gonna crush you right here, right now! Get him!!”
With that shout, the other two, who’d been silent until now, stepped toward me, raising their wooden swords. But as I watched them move, I knew I wouldn’t lose to them.
The moment they raised their swords, I targeted the tips and knocked both weapons clean out of their hands.
“Wh-What?!”
The two stared in shock as their swords flew. Just then, I felt movement behind me. Spinning around, I saw the one who’d done all the talking coming at me, sword raised. I blocked him just in time.
“You little—!”
His muttered curse sounded frustrated, but in that clash, I realized something: his technique was less refined than mine.
“P-Please stop! This has gone far eno—”
“Shut up! I can’t stand guys like you!”
He swung his sword wildly now, carelessly, but his posture gave everything away. I dodged all of it easily, then knocked his sword flying too.
“Tch… Damn it! You’ll regret this!”
With that final threat, the three of them turned and stormed off.
“W-Wait! Please, let’s just talk—!”
“Lux-sama, I believe further conversation is no longer possible.”
Just as I called out to them, Florence-san came up beside me and spoke. And honestly, maybe she was right. Maybe talking with them any further really was impossible.
“Florence-san… I don’t get it. Titles, test results, are they really that important? So important that people think it’s okay to hurt others over them? I still don’t understand.”
I asked, and Florence-san wrapped her arms around me, her voice soft and warm.
“You don’t need to understand such things. Lux-sama, you’ve done nothing wrong.”
“Florence-san… Thank you.”
Not long after, the teacher came over, having heard there was a problem. But I didn’t want to make a scene, so I told him nothing had happened.
I hope those guys will change their minds by tomorrow… but judging from their faces, I doubt it.
And so, with a cloud of worry hanging over my heart, another day at the noble academy came to a close.
Floria’s Side
Back at home, Floria flipped through documents in the mansion study.
“All the cards are in place. Now it’s time to take action to protect Lux-sama.”
Murmuring that to herself, she stepped outside into the night, a dark smile curling her lips as she climbed into the carriage, her mind still filled with the image of Lux’s downcast expression, and a rising hatred for those who had caused it.