A stifling sensation welled up in Caren's chest as she noticed Juda's disappointment, Sophia's glee, and Noah's indifference.
She couldn't fathom how everything had turned out so wrong.
Her career as a knight had always been something of an open road. She never encountered trouble in her progression as a Knight, and she constantly outperformed her peers such that winning became natural.
It didn't even matter if she wasn't born a noble if she could hit-and-deal just as, or if not harder than other noble's her age. In the first place, to be a Noble was to be strong.
Although she possessed no last name, or honorable mention of status now she was confident that she'd carve out her own path.
Losing to Adam Kelart of the renowned Spear Knight's lineage was acceptable, but to some no-name peer in a border town was ridiculous…
It was like she could see the honor she'd built in her career crumbling away as the Capital Knights Sir Juda led began whispering quietly in the background.
But what did it matter?
Caren's highly trained senses could make out exactly what they were saying. Words of disparagement and dismissal caused her to ball her hands into fists, but she couldn't cry or show emotion. There were many in her cohort who would delight in her misery, not the least of which was her fellow Knight of the Third Princess's Floral Order, Helen.
The both of them were dispatched with Sir Juda to garner experience and foster their growth. The Third Princess's position in the Royal Family was ambiguous, so she'd pulled favors to hurriedly draw up her share of the Kingdom's talents under her wing, banking on the future rather than the present.
Which was to say, Helen was just as exceptional as Caren, and that the two were competing for a better future position.
Caren could practically feel that G-cup bimbo gloating at her from behind; barbarian savage she was to wield a Greatsword rather than something more refined.
Bitch was likely stifling a laugh and waiting to tell Caren that her 'toothpick' finally broke. Helen had always said it would happen, and now that it did, Caren wouldn't hear the end of Helen's gloating about flimsy steel.
Caren's expression hardened.
It was called elegance.
To be noble was to also 'appear' noble.
Wielding a sword larger than one's own body gave the impression of a brute!
In any case, Caren stared hollowly at her broken sword. That indication alone decided who had won and lost this bout.
"...I yield," Caren spat the words out before Noah retracted his spear's blade with relative ease.
Caren gnashed her teeth, glaring at Noah. "I'll remember you."
"I was betting on that." Noah replied. "Chase me all you like."
["I like this guy!"]
Caren's mouth twitched as Helen jeered from the crowd, but Noah was serious.
In the revelation he'd seen, he knew what sort of Knights Caren and Helen would become under the Third Princess, and although not as capable as they will be in the future, he could use their help now.
A horde would soon sweep over the land, and Noble Amaranth of the Six Border cities must not fall.
The Lord's hand was not without its wisdom. Revelation was a choice, and Noah reluctantly made his.
Noah pointed his spear at Juda before nodding at Sophia who understood Noah was asking her to be the guarantor.
Sophia nodded, fully intent on keeping Noah in Amaranth rather than letting Juda take him to the Capital.
"I won." Noah said to Juda. "Now keep your promise."
/-/
Putting away the spear, Noah rolled his shoulders and tried to make the best of his situation.
Meanwhile, Juda began briefing his unit of Knights about a temporary prolonged stay in Amaranth.
As per the details of the agreement, Juda would extend their stay by another two weeks, and in that time, Noah had to make further preparations for a siege.
"When was the last time Everbright maintained Amaranth's walls?" Noah asked.
Annette gave Noah the most peculiar look, not understanding why he'd be asking that, but she still turned to her brother Henri for answers.
After the duel, Noah had been shuttled into a waiting room to avoid being challenged by other Knights of Juda's contingent eager to try their hand to regain lost honor, or out of vested interest. Caren was particularly icy in her demands for a rematch while Helen was more playful in her attempts to shout for a duel.
Vaguely, Leah's shouts of 'leave alone!' and 'bad people!' were drowned out in the clamor of clinking steel.
John and Realyn also tried to reach Noah, but they were stopped forcibly by Mary who held them back and assured them that Noah would be fine under the young lady and lord's hands.
Neither John or Leah were decidedly assured, only Raelyn grew at ease.
Leah wailed louder about 'Corruption!' echoing John who first yelled the term.
Threatened to be swarmed, Noah had no choice but to enter a waiting room under Annette and Henri's direction.
Pressing the bridge of his nose, Henri glanced at Annette who was still waiting for an answer to give to Noah.
Henri still had his suspicions, but beyond that was gratitude. Noah represented the burgeoning hope of his father's recovery, and Henri didn't want to risk that by playing a poor host.
"It was checked last week based on the most recent reports. Everything is in order and in sound structure." Henri said.
"Have you checked the northmost wall?" Noah asked, tone growing graver. "There's a hole there that's concealed by shoddy patches of wood."
Henri blinked, recalling the information in the reports and frowning. "Everything was reported as properly maintained."
The question of how Noah would know about the wall's condition in the first place was left unasked.
"Please do a personal check," Noah requested, the gravity in his voice too certain to dismiss.
Sighing, Henri nodded his head. It was the least he could do. His eldest brother would be shocked to return home from the front lines to see their father hale and healthy again.
If that meant keeping Noah happy, then Henri would do it just as his mother did.
Noah was the one holding the most important card right now.
Easing in relief, Noah refocused his priorities to Amaranth itself. The breached walls in the revelation were one thing, but it was another thing entirely for all defenses to fail because of self interests.
Selfish people like them would only care about saving their own lives, and would rather break the walls keeping them in to flee to safer pastures; uncaring if it doomed the rest who couldn't flee to their deaths.
The Old Hag of the slums and the organization under her had to go, but Noah couldn't do it on his own. Too many would escape his pursuit, but where was Noah now?
In Everbright with access to both local and capital knights.
The filth must be uprooted beforehand.
"Ever heard of the Witch of the Slums?" Noah asked.
Annette knit her brows.