"Dinner… in my room?"
I frowned as the butler, Jail, relayed the message.
"Yes," Jail confirmed, his expression as neutral as ever. "Lady Carla will bring the meal to your quarters shortly. Lord Dawson has requested that you take your dinner privately tonight."
"Ah, I see."
Understanding dawned on me. This wasn't the first time I'd been gently excluded from family gatherings, and it likely wouldn't be the last.
Jail watched me with his calm, impassive gaze, waiting for my response.
"This dinner is an important occasion for Johan and, by extension, the Nazzario family," he continued, his tone as measured as always. "We ask for your understanding."
"Understood." I waved a hand dismissively, forcing a smile. "I care about Johan too. I'll stay in my room and keep out of the way."
"Thank you."
Jail gave a short bow, then turned and left, the door clicking softly shut behind him.
I sighed, running a hand through my hair as I sat on the edge of the bed.
It wasn't as if I didn't understand their reasoning. Johan, my younger brother, was a prodigy—a shining beacon of talent and potential. His presence elevated any event, while mine… diminished it. A failure of a firstborn was better left in the shadows, where he wouldn't cast a pall over the family's reputation.
Still, understanding didn't make it sting any less.
If only I were more competent. If only I could have been someone worthy of the Nazzario name. Then, perhaps, I could sit at the table with my family without feeling like an intruder.
But those thoughts were useless, weren't they?
I lay back on the bed, exhaustion settling over me like a heavy blanket.
It had been a long day. From pouring over magical tomes with Johan's help, to the unexpected encounter with Lady Fiolette at the door, to my trip to the shrine where I met Seiryu—the self-proclaimed water spirit.
Seiryu…
I shook my head, a wry smile tugging at my lips. What a ridiculous day. Just this morning, I'd been puzzling over the principles of magical physics, and now I was having conversations with mythical beings.
Life truly had a strange sense of humor.
I woke to the faint sound of voices.
Blinking groggily, I sat up, the room bathed in darkness. Outside the window, the night sky glittered with stars.
"How long was I asleep…?" I muttered, rubbing my eyes.
I reached over and lit the room's lamp, its warm glow illuminating the tray of food on my desk.
"Carla must've brought it earlier."
The bread was slightly dry, the soup lukewarm, but I didn't mind. I ate quickly, washing it down with a glass of water.
Judging by the silence in the house, it must have been well past midnight. The world outside was still and quiet—save for the faint murmurs that had stirred me awake.
Frowning, I moved to the window and opened it, letting in the cool night air.
"Voices…?"
The sounds were faint, but distinct. They came from the direction of the back garden, where shadows danced under the pale light of the moon.
It took me a moment to recall Johan's earlier conversation with Marduk, the knight accompanying Lady Fiolette.
The two had arranged a secret duel for tonight.
"So that's what this is about," I murmured, a faint smile tugging at my lips.
I shouldn't watch. Johan would hate it if he knew I was spying.
But… the chance to witness a live duel between a renowned knight and my genius brother was too tempting to resist.
Grabbing a cloak to shield myself from the night chill, I quietly slipped out of my room and made my way to the back garden.
The garden was cloaked in shadows, the tall hedges and trees forming a natural arena. Moonlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting a silvery glow over the clearing.
In the center stood Johan, his youthful frame tense with anticipation, and Marduk, his tall, imposing figure radiating calm confidence.
"Shall we begin?" Marduk asked, his voice low.
Johan nodded, his lips curling into a determined smile. "Let's get this over with before someone notices."
Marduk chuckled softly. "Very well. But remember, this will be our only match tonight. I won't entertain an encore."
"Fine by me. Just don't hold back."
"Of course."
I crouched behind a large rock at the edge of the clearing, careful to stay out of sight. The excitement in the air was palpable, the tension crackling like static electricity.
Marduk set his sword aside, planting it upright against a tree. Johan mirrored the gesture, leaving both combatants unarmed.
"The rules are simple," Marduk said. "No swords. No excessive damage to the surroundings. The match ends when one of us is knocked out or concedes defeat. Agreed?"
"Agreed."
"Then let's begin when the moon emerges from behind the clouds."
The two fell silent, their gazes locked as they waited for the signal.
High above, a thick cloud slowly drifted past the moon, casting the garden into near-total darkness. The only sounds were the rustling of leaves and the faint whisper of the wind.
My heart pounded as I watched, my breath caught in my throat.
Then, the cloud moved, and a beam of moonlight pierced through the darkness.
In an instant, the duel began.
Johan was the first to strike, launching forward with startling speed. A flicker of blue light appeared in his hand, coalescing into a small orb of water. With a flick of his wrist, he hurled it at Marduk.
The knight sidestepped with ease, his movements fluid and precise. The water orb splashed harmlessly against a tree, leaving a dark stain on the bark.
Johan didn't relent. He summoned two more orbs in quick succession, sending them hurtling toward his opponent.
But Marduk was unfazed. He evaded each attack with practiced grace, his expression calm and unreadable.
"Not bad," Marduk said, his voice carrying across the clearing. "But you'll have to do better than that."
Johan smirked, leaping into the air with a burst of mana-enhanced strength. He twisted mid-air, aiming a spinning kick at Marduk's head.
The knight ducked just in time, the force of the kick whistling past him. Johan landed lightly on his feet, already preparing his next move.
But Marduk was faster.
Before Johan could react, Marduk closed the distance between them and thrust his palm forward. A pulse of air erupted from his hand, striking Johan square in the chest.
The impact sent Johan flying backward, crashing into a nearby tree.
"Gah—!"
I winced at the sound, my heart lurching as my brother slumped to the ground.
But to my relief, Johan quickly staggered to his feet, brushing dirt from his clothes.
"Not bad," he muttered, wiping a trickle of blood from his lip. "But I'm just getting started."
"Impressive resilience," Marduk said, nodding. "Most would have stayed down after that."
"Most aren't me," Johan shot back, his grin sharp and determined.
The two squared off once more, their mana flaring in the cool night air.
And from my hidden vantage point, I couldn't help but feel a surge of pride.
This was Johan—the genius of our family, the pride of the Nazzario name.
And tonight, he was shining brighter than ever.