July 19, 1437. Less than 12 hours before the Tournament begins.
Raphael Earhart
The corridor leading to the patriarch's office was illuminated by luxurious lamps alternating with opulent chandeliers mounted on the walls and ceiling. The dark night sky, visible through the large windows, shimmered with stars, while the cool air seeping in carried a faint sense of tranquility. I walked steadily forward, heading for my meeting with Alonzo.
This late-night summons was for one final conversation before the tournament commenced at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow.
In my past life, there had also been a conversation with the patriarch on the eve of the tournament, though it was a brief one. To be precise, it consisted of a single question: why was I refusing to participate?
At that time, I had seen no reason to compete. Perhaps if I had trained harder and stepped out of the shadows cast by the other children, I might have garnered some attention from the aristocracy. But such recognition had never mattered to me.
Still, Erin had chosen to compete. She advanced to the round of sixteen, where she was ultimately defeated by Cedric, Lucius's bodyguard. It was an unusual case—a bodyguard competing while a family member abstained.
I had tried to dissuade her, insisting it was unnecessary trouble. Yet I still remember the smile she gave me when she said:
— If you won't stand up for yourself, then I will.
Her efforts hadn't gone unnoticed. The family acknowledged her worth, and for a time, we were left alone. But those efforts came at a steep cost—severe injuries.
Looking back now, I realize how foolish I had been. My shallow thinking blinded me to the deeper consequences of my actions—or lack thereof.
Now, Erin was competing again, but this time, her goal was to prove to everyone that she deserved her place by my side. To me, however, she had nothing left to prove.
If anything... I hoped I was worthy of her.
Lost in thought, I didn't realize I'd arrived at the massive oak doors to Alonzo's office. Pausing for a moment, I took a deep breath and pushed them open.
The doors creaked as they swung inward.
Inside, Alonzo Earhart stood with his back to me, holding one of the many books from his collection. His imposing figure was framed by the grandiose décor of the office.
The room resembled more of a hall than an office. At its center was a long table, capable of seating at least twenty people. Towering bookshelves lined the walls, filled with rare tomes, while a luxurious carpet covered the floor. A grand chandelier, encrusted with gold and gemstones, hung from the ceiling, its radiance lending the room an air of majesty.
Anyone entering this space for the first time would be struck by its sheer opulence.
But I wasn't here to admire the furnishings.
— Raphael Earhart, present, — I announced, bowing my head.
— Good. Take a seat.
Closing his book, Alonzo sat down behind his massive desk.
I stepped forward and took the chair to his side, as directed.
— So, have you reviewed the tournament brackets? — he began, his voice calm and measured as he folded his hands on the desk.
— Yes. My first match is against Theo.
Truthfully, I was surprised by the pairing. Given the strained relationship between us, I had expected the organizers to keep us apart in the bracket, perhaps ensuring we didn't meet until the finals. But instead, they had pitted us against each other in the very first round.
This was no coincidence. It was a deliberate choice, likely meant to settle our conflict once and for all. Even so, it raised numerous questions.
— I understand that your relationship with Theo is less than ideal, but I hope the two of you can resolve things in an honorable fight.
— Of course. I'll do my best, — I replied, keeping my tone composed.
Alonzo fell silent, as if deliberating over something significant. His gaze shifted slightly downward, lingering on an indeterminate point in the air. It was unusual—normally, his aura of authority and confidence was almost suffocating. But now, he seemed... vulnerable.
A strange sensation.
— Raphael, — he finally said.
— I'm listening, Patriarch.
He paused, his words seemingly caught in his throat.
— Try not to kill Theo.
— What? — I couldn't hide my surprise.
The statement was so unexpected that, for a moment, I questioned whether I had heard him correctly.
— I'm speaking to you now not as the patriarch, but as a father, — his voice softened, a rare glimpse of humanity piercing through his usual stoic demeanor. — I won't order you or impose my will, but I ask this as a favor: do your best to leave him alive.
Was this... concern? Parental affection? I never would have thought Alonzo was capable of such sentiments. But he was right—kills were permitted in this tournament. No one would bat an eye if a participant died, and the same rule applied to me.
— Why do you think I'm capable of such a thing? — I asked, keeping my voice steady. — I'm just the youngest member of the family. Theo is older, trained at the academy, and surely stronger than me.
— I keep track of all my children and know the extent of each one's abilities, — Alonzo replied, his tone turning cold, almost calculating. — I also know your strength. You've proven yourself worthy of this family name. I can say with confidence that Theo cannot defeat you in a fair fight.
Then why haven't you guided him down a better path? The thought flitted through my mind, but I chose not to voice it.
— You're rather harsh on your children, Patriarch, — I remarked with a hint of irony.
Alonzo leaned back slightly in his chair, as if shedding some of the weight pressing on his shoulders.
— Perhaps you're right, — he admitted. — As the patriarch, I must treat all my children impartially. But as a father... I still wish no harm upon them.
His words weren't surprising, but that didn't make them any less heavy.
Were we an ordinary family, he wouldn't have to maintain such cold impartiality. But as the patriarch, he bore the honor of the entire Earhart lineage.
Children, in this family, were more than heirs. They were the face of its future. If they were weak, the family as a whole would falter. But if even one child proved strong enough to stand out, they would attract the right kind of attention, allowing the rest to breathe more freely.
After a brief pause, during which Alonzo seemed to weigh his words carefully, he continued:
— When Theo loses to you, the disappointment in him will reach its peak. He'll be expelled from the academy.
His statement made my eyes widen in shock.
Expelled?
Hearing such cold words from a father about his own son was unsettling, though under the circumstances, it felt strangely ordinary. In my past life, Theo had continued his studies, eventually graduating from the academy, even if not at the top of his class. But now he faced expulsion?
Was this due to my victories over him, or had the circumstances shifted for another reason?
Alonzo didn't let the silence linger for long.
— To spare him the humiliation of expulsion, I'll compel Theo to withdraw voluntarily. Upon returning, he'll train at the castle. Over the next three years, he'll learn the basics of service and eventually be appointed an Honored Knight. Unfortunately, that's the most I can do for him.
The irony wasn't lost on me. In my previous life, Theo, who never missed an opportunity to mock me for my lowly status, would now take on that very role himself. Strangely enough, I felt a sense of relief rather than satisfaction.
— Very well, Patriarch. I promise I won't kill him.
Not that I ever intended to...
— Thank you, — Alonzo nodded, signaling the end of that particular discussion. Then, his tone shifted:
— Now, on to the next matter. What reward would you like to claim?
Without hesitation, I replied:
— The rapier of the Third Patriarch, Adelais.
For the first time during our conversation, Alonzo's expression softened into a smile.
— I see. So you are truly set on following her path. Very well, I'll grant it to you—if you win the tournament.
I bowed my head silently in gratitude.
But Alonzo wasn't finished.
— By the way, after the tournament, you'll be going to the academy. You may take your bodyguard with you.
— What? — The words stopped my thoughts mid-flow.
Really? First, "Don't kill Theo." Then, "Greet the guests." Now this? Am I the only child in this family?!
— I've been planning to send you there regardless, to complete your training as a Guardian, — Alonzo continued calmly. — But with Theo returning, there's no better opportunity than now. I expect you to graduate as part of Class Alpha.
— ...You hold me in far too high esteem, Patriarch.
— Nonsense. I have full confidence in you, — he said, with an infuriating note of encouragement.
Easier said than done.
There was nothing I could say in response. Struggling to suppress a sense of despair, I focused on processing everything he'd told me.
The academy was already a daunting prospect. Adding the expectation to graduate from Class Alpha—a feat reserved for only the most exceptional students—made it all the more overwhelming.
Would spending four years at the academy be harder than training under Aurora?
For a fleeting moment, I felt as if Alonzo was well aware of the pressure he was putting on me, but the glimmer of amusement in his eyes suggested he didn't mind.
— That's all for now. You've got a long day ahead of you. Get some rest, — he said, rising from his chair and clasping his hands behind his back.
— Understood, — I replied tersely.
Recognizing the dismissal for what it was, I stood, bowed, and made my way to the door.
But before I could close it behind me, his voice stopped me:
— Good luck, Raphael Earhart.
I froze for a moment, then turned and nodded before stepping out and shutting the door behind me.
My footsteps echoed down the empty corridor as I made my way back. The lavish lanterns cast long shadows along the walls, but I barely noticed my surroundings. My thoughts were too preoccupied with the past and the future.
Five years.
It had been five years since I woke up in the castle, realizing I had returned after death. At first, there was shock, then slow acceptance. I'd been given another chance to see those who mattered most to me—Kazimir, Erin, Alice. To discover another side of Aurora, who had once seemed cold and unreachable. And to forge unexpected bonds—with Alea, Renald.
I had spent these years training relentlessly. Every day, every hour was devoted to preparing for this moment. For the tournament that would decide my fate.
If I win, I'll become the pride of the family. No one will be able to deny me freedom or the right to exist. If I lose, I'll return to the shadows of my previous life.
But now, things were different.
I had done everything in my power, given everything I had to ensure there would be no regrets.
Pausing at a window, I gazed at the night sky, its stars scattering like shimmering fragments of hope.
The tournament begins.