"I promise I won't make any trouble before we become the Holy Knight and save Ivy."
Ciel told Ash before they left Junon for the capital five years ago. But now he has already broken his promise. Ciel was completely oblivious to the consequences of his actions from now on. He doesn't regret it either. Now he knew Ivy's reason when she did not hesitate from breaking the Canon to protect something, even if it meant breaking the law. The only thing Ciel regrets is his inability to get in the way of Ivy being taken away
After taunting Ciel, Eron glanced at Balt and his friends, who held back laughter. "If you win from me, I will give a letter of recommendation for swordsmanship tournaments."
Ash's eyes widen. He looked at Ciel clenching his fist. "Ciel, you're not going to accept it, are you?"
Ciel does have a right to refuse, but he needs the letter. The prerequisite for a swordsmanship tournament is split into three. First, those who made it to the academy's final level. Second, those who scored their way through the academy. Finally, those who receive a recommendation letter from the nobles, regardless of the nobility or sword master.
Even though caste rules were often considered burdensome for commoners, there were times when beneficial things like this would happen. If a noble challenged a commoner to a duel or ordered him to do something threatening to life, they had to give something in return if the person ordered succeeded.
This was a risk for Ciel. Challenging a duel meant risking his honor, especially since Eron wanted to give him a letter of recommendation for the swordsmanship tournament for him and Ash. If Eron lost, he would be completely shamed. If Eron won, Ciel would be his servant for the rest of his life.
There are records of students who were born as commoners defeating students from noble families. But the privilege of status that one is born with cannot be broken. Therefore, a disciple from among the commoners who received a duel challenge from a noble was tantamount to taking away his honor.
For a while, Ciel looked at Sien who was sitting on the floor with an amazed look mixed with confusion. What should he do now? If he refused Eron's duel challenge, surely this kind of incident would happen again. Especially now, he had already added one problem that made the teachers would consider giving him a tournament recommendation letter. It would be good if he accepted the challenge and won it. That way, his path to Iris would be even faster.
"I can't fail here." These thoughts crossed Ciel's mind. His dream of seeing Ivy again and spending a peaceful life with Ash would disappear forever if he gave up. Although Ciel might become a cruel person after this, as long as that dream could be achieved, he would not mind.
Ciel turned his gaze back to Eron, then spoke in a serious tone, "If I can successfully defeat you, would you be able to provide two letters of recommendation for me and Ash?"
Laughter broke out from Balt and his friends. Of course this would be a laughable sight. Because Ciel's words just now seemed to imply such confidence. However, Ciel was deliberately utilizing the minds of Eron and the others. They would definitely think that he was too arrogant to ask for two letters of recommendation as a reward. However, Ciel also knew that a noble with high self-esteem like Eron would not refuse.
" Well then." Eron replied without hesitation. "That will happen if you manage to win over me. Then after the classes end tomorrow, come to the training arena on the left wing of the academy. If you are even one minute late, I will consider you defeated and you will have to become my servant."
Having said that very fluently, Eron turned around and rejoined his friends. Ciel also slowly straightened up, staring resentfully at the white backs that began to move away. After the crowd disappeared behind the cafeteria door, there was a long sigh from Ash.
"Come on, let's go back first." Ciel quickly spoke before Ash could say anything.
Ash relented. For a moment, Ash turned to a commoner academy student helping Sien up. He smiled awkwardly as the student and Sien bowed respectfully, then hurried to follow Ciel out of the cafeteria.
The sky was already dark when they walked the long corridor to the dormitory rooms. Even so, there were still some students practicing with the senior counselors, while others seemed to be whispering with their gazes fixed on them.
Well, Ash and Ciel had gotten used to those stares since entering the magic academy. The privilege of the status obtained from birth cannot be denied. The sight of ordinary students being bullied by nobles was common, though never severe. However, a duel was a difference.
Academy duels are often between students who are at the same level. Either a sophomore or a third-year senior, while freshmen are more likely to see duels as a form of training.
Academy duels are also different from swordmanship tournaments. The academy's duel rules were that the two parties fought each other until the Health Points of one of them remained at seventy percent. That meant that even attacking the opponent to win the match would not violate the Canon rules.
It was just that in this situation, the loser would definitely receive some injuries. Moreover, they were not dueling with wooden swords, but with real swords. Ciel had seen Eron duel in the exam six months ago, so he had an idea of the style of sword Eron used.
Ciel turned to Ash who had been silent the entire walk. Apparently, Ash was really worried about the stakes between him and Eron. Of course, being a servant wasn't too bad. Although a noble, Eron wouldn't be able to hurt or ask Ciel to do anything unnatural.
"Hey, your gaze can pierce my back, you know," Ciel said curtly when they reached the dorm room.
"What the heck were you thinking? If you lose, you can't get a letter of recommendation from the academy teacher!"
Ciel turned his head with a wide smile. "But, if I win, this will be a shortcut for us, you know."
Ash sighed, then rubbed his temples. "It's a miracle that you've been able to keep yourself out of trouble all this time. But, what shortcut do you mean? If you lose, not only will you become a servant, you'll also-"
"Okay, don't worry about it." Ciel interrupted Ash's words immediately while patting his twin brother's shoulder. "I trained for almost five years not to be humiliated like this. Besides, I'd like to occasionally kick the yellow head of that haughty trash noble."
Ash took a deep breath, then shook his head. He didn't know what to say to stop Ciel's dumb choice. He didn't doubt Ciel's ability, because it was true that Ciel was much better than him at using a sword. But he was also worried because his twin brother was not someone who could easily control his emotions.
" No matter how Eron provokes you later, don't be provoked, okay? If you get provoked, I'll make sure I come down to the arena to stop you."
"Of course! I'm not doing this for no reason either. It'll take too long if we have to wait for a recommendation letter from the teacher. I don't want to wait that long."
"And you always say the same thing every time you cause trouble."
Ciel giggled for a moment before he finally shifted his gaze to the photo of the three small children on the nightstand. Between Ash and Ciel, there was a silver-haired little girl standing with a big smile.
"Ash, I don't regret it at all. And now, I'm starting to understand how Ivy felt back then."
Ash followed the direction of Ciel's gaze. Instantly, his face became gloomy when Ciel brought up the matter five years ago. Neither Ash nor Ciel had ever forgotten the last words Ivy had spoken before the girl was captured by the Holy Knight.
"I'll be waiting for you at the highest peak of this world."
That's right. The only peak in this world was the Celestial Cathedral.