Please give the novel a rating or a review on NovelUpdates
———-

Chapter 9: Today’s Morning Bulletin: Duel for Love

The carriage rolled along the road to the academy just like any other day.

Suddenly, the three inside heard a news stall vendor shouting.

“Extra! Extra! Today’s morning bulletin: Rein of House Gray and Damon of the Mick family duel for love!”

Hearing the cry, Rein opened the carriage window and looked out at the crowded news stand with some puzzlement.

It’s just an honor duel, not a death duel, so why is it drawing so much attention?

Honor duels happen a dozen or so times each year, so it shouldn’t be such a big deal.

What Rein didn’t know was that the Mick family was behind all this hype.

The Mick family hoped to boost Damon’s reputation with this duel so he could propose directly to Sophia after winning.

Even if they couldn’t marry immediately, at least an engagement would be acceptable.

“Drake, buy a copy of the morning bulletin and let me see it.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

Drake gently brought the carriage to a halt, leaped down, and headed toward the news stand.

The crowd parted for Drake as they recognized his fine attire and the carriage bearing the sigil of House Gray.

This allowed Drake to easily purchase a copy of the morning bulletin.

Drake handed the bulletin through the window to Rein and then resumed driving.

Rein opened the paper and, along with Emily and Cecily, examined its contents.

The bulletin recounted all of Damon’s glorious exploits.

For example, leading the knights to slay monsters near the royal capital and training alongside common soldiers.

Any commoner reading it would certainly assume Damon was a down-to-earth noble.

Rein’s portrayal, however, was far from flattering, accusing him of brawling with various nobles, peeping on the grand princess bathing, oppressing peasants, and having an affair with an assistant instructor at the academy.

The contrast between the two was instantly clear.

Reading the report, Rein finally understood why this duel was causing such a stir.

It turned out the Mick family was pulling the strings.

Emily and Cecily both knitted their adorable brows when they saw how Rein was described.

“Young Master, they are slandering you… quick, let’s get off and demand an explanation!”

Rein folded up the bulletin, shook his head, and embraced them to reassure them.

“Alright, let them say whatever they like… I don’t care about reputation. As long as you two know the Young Master is good, that’s enough.”

“Besides, they weren’t wrong… I, Rein, am a rogue after all.”

He rather liked the term “rogue.”

First, it meant he didn’t have to follow any of the tedious noble etiquette.

And second… since everyone already calls me a rogue, isn’t it only fitting that I, Rein, am lecherous and take advantage of both men and women?

“Young Master, we have arrived at the academy.”

Drake set his stool aside and tapped on the carriage door.

As the carriage of today’s duel protagonist, House Gray’s arrival immediately drew a crowd of students and commoners.

Rein was the first to disembark, followed by Emily and then Cecily, each helped down by his hand.

With an arm around each of their slender waists, he strode into the academy under the gaze of the onlookers.

Only after seeing Rein’s back did people dare whisper among themselves.

“Young Master Rein is as charismatic as ever, always accompanied by beautiful women.”

“Exactly… I’ve heard that all the maids of House Gray are Rein’s personal attendants. Personal attendants, you know what that implies.”

“Shh, keep your voice down… you do see the coachman is still here.”

……

Rein led Emily and Cecily into the Mage Tower, and both girls were stunned by its wondrous and grand decorations.

“Wow, so this is the Empire’s most luxurious Mage Tower… it’s incredible.”

“Mm-hmm, Emily, look… there’s a rotating object like a Rubik’s Cube, and it looks ancient.”

The two girls glanced around like curious toddlers.

Most of the mages in the tower were in their labs doing research, and the girls didn’t touch any of the strange magical devices.

Rein did not stop them from exploring.

After a while, once they’d seen enough, Rein brought them to his own room in the Mage Tower.

Upon entering Rein’s room, luxury and grandeur were evident everywhere.

The floor was covered with the hide of a Phantom Scent Beast, faintly scented with fresh grass.

Several permanent magic crystal lamps on the walls glowed brilliantly.

Besides the magical research devices, every kind of furniture imaginable was there.

The three of them removed their shoes and stepped inside, and Rein told the girls to amuse themselves while he collected his thoughts.

The two nodded and sat quietly whispering. Cecily asked Emily about the intimate things that happened with Rein the day before.

Emily blushed scarlet at the question.

Sneaking a glance at Rein meditating with his eyes closed, she whispered into Cecily’s ear about the previous afternoon’s events, making Cecily clamp her legs together in a blush.

The morning passed quickly as the sun climbed high overhead.

Rein led the two out of the Mage Tower and strolled toward the dueling arena, unfazed by the stares around them.

Neither Emily nor Cecily had ever been to the academy before, so Rein gave them a proper tour of its campus.

They gave no thought to Damon’s duel.

……

Dueling arena.

The academy’s dueling arena resembled the Blue Star football field, with a central platform for combat and spectator stands all around.

Because the Mick family had built up publicity for this duel, the commoners’ enthusiasm to watch was very high.

The academy had no choice but to open part of the dueling arena’s seating to commoners.

On the platform, Damon stood tall with his chin up.

Not for any other reason than to catch a few extra glances from the goddess Sophia watching nearby.

As the seconds ticked by, the crowd’s excitement began to wane.

“Where is Rein? He wouldn’t be chickening out, would he?”

“Impossible. If he backed out now, his father would kill him. Losing on stage only costs face, but cowardice would have Fude, the ever-warrior-like head of House Gray, beat him to death.”

“So where is Rein? Didn’t he say noon? What time is it now?”

“He did say noon, but he never specified what time in the afternoon that meant.”

“Huh? A play on words?”

Some newly arrived students explained, “I saw Rein; he’s showing two girls around the academy.”

“What? The duel is about to start, and he’s still flirting? I’m speechless.”

The grand scale of this duel had even drawn the idle heads of many noble families to come watch and join the spectacle.

In attendance were the academy’s Dean, Cliff Ever.

The head of House Gray, Fude Gray.

The head of the Mick family, Brent Mick.

The head of the Ward family, Fabian Ward.

Along with several royal Duke Ashton members.

Even some of the mages from the Mage Tower who rarely left came to watch.

They were curious to see how the young mages at the academy had grown in recent years.

And those dignitaries in the stands murmured complaints to Fude.

“Fude, when is your guy going to arrive? He wouldn’t be chickening out, would he?”

Mick family head Brent Mick took a puff on his cigar, his tone tinged with impatience.

Fude’s face darkened as he too felt uncertain; given Rein’s capricious nature, he might really pull some stunt.

Ignoring Brent’s words, he whispered to Jonas beside him.

“Old Jonas, go find that brat in the academy. It’s almost noon and he still hasn’t shown up.”

Jonas had just nodded to leave when the crowd at the base of the stands suddenly grew more raucous.

“Look, Rein is here.”

“Where? Where?”

“Over on the east side.”

Following that direction, everyone saw Rein arrive at the dueling arena with the two girls, looking every bit the rakish playboy.

Rein led the two girls to his guard Blair, gave a few instructions, and then prepared to step onto the field.

———-
Support the Translation! 🌐✨

Your donations not only show appreciation but also keep the translator motivated! Every contribution helps continue bringing you more of what you love. Thank you for being a part of this journey! 💖

https://www.ko-fi.com/maxoofie