Chapter 296: An Unexpected Invitation

“And that’s a wrap! Another impressive showing from Ravilenna of Class Bison!”

The crowd roared as another exciting match came to a close.

Though my face wasn’t really showing it right now, I was actually smiling.

Ravilenna stood in the center of the arena, her two wooden swords still firmly in her hands. Her opponent lay several paces away, defeated fair and square.

Just as I'd hoped, Ravilenna had made it through another round. Which meant we were one step closer to finally meeting on the grand stage.

I leaned back in my seat, feeling a little more hopeful about the rest of the tournament than I had a few minutes ago.

“I still can’t believe that’s the same Ravi I knew…” Lionne muttered beside me. “From how she fought yesterday and even today… It’s like she’s a whole new person at this point.”

“Hmm.” Eve crossed her arms, watching Ravilenna as she left the arena. “I'm not sure that’s quite right.”

Lionne turned to her. “What do you mean?”

“I believe this might be closer to who she really is.” Eve tilted her head slightly. “Perhaps something happened after... well, you know.”

“Ah…”

“She clearly had the talent,” I joined in. “She wouldn't have made it into Honors otherwise. Perhaps whatever happened simply gave her a reason to stop holding herself back, or made her realize she needed to put in true effort.”

Eve nodded in response. “I believe Lady Carine is right. People can change so suddenly under the right circumstances, you see.”

“Hmm…” Lionne grumbled to herself, her eyes closed tight, clearly still not believing this was the same Ravi who had her undergarment “stolen” by Feyt.

Not a lot of things could change a person that drastically in such a short time, but whatever it was, I was kind of glad I found a worthwhile opponent for the tournament because of it.

…

Gentle knocks echoed into my ears.

I looked towards my dorm room door as Feyt, as another set of knocks came.

“Sir Feyt? Are you currently present?”

“Coming!”

I lifted myself off the floor and put on a simple shirt before opening the door. Leila was there, holding two neatly packed lunchboxes in her hands.

“Leila! Good to see you!”

“It is reassuring to see that you truly are training as Lady Carine had speculated,” she said before extending one of the lunchboxes towards me. “I have brought your lunch.”

“Oh. Thank you! I’ve been waiting for this!”

I accepted the lunchbox, my stomach slightly growling.

Leila gave a small bow. “I apologize that Lady Carine was unable to assist with preparing it herself today. She had other matters to attend to.”

I paused, slightly confused. “...Okay?”

What is she talking about? Of course I wouldn’t be able to help. I had a match!

“Uhh, thank you for the food, Leila! I’ll be sure to enjoy it.”

“It is my pleasure, Sir Feyt.”

Leila turned and began walking away, carrying the other lunchbox with her.

Well, it would probably take a few minutes for her to reach the arena, so I didn’t mind waiting until both of my bodies had the boxes.

…

Leila eventually appeared with the second lunchbox in front of me again at the arena.

“Lady Carine, I have arrived,” she announced, towering over the three of us.

“Ah, welcome, Leila,” I responded. I gestured toward the empty spot right beside me, the one Lionne helped secure as per my request. “Come, have a seat.”

Leila gave a polite bow before sitting beside me. Her maid uniform was sorely sticking out amongst the crowd of students, guests, and nobles, but I didn’t pay it too much mind.

Leila silently extended the lunchbox towards me, and I accepted it in kind.

Lionne's eyes immediately drifted toward it.

“Wow…That smells really good.”

“It does, doesn't it?” I said with an almost smug tone, but that didn’t really mean much coming out of Carine’s mouth.

Lionne turned to Eve. “Well then, I suppose we should go find ourselves something to eat too!”

Eve nodded in response. “Let’s.”

The two of them stood up and prepared to leave.

“We’ll be back soon, Lady Carine, Miss Leila!” Lionne said with a wave.

“Please, excuse us,” Eve said with a slight bow.

The two parted through the spectator crowd and eventually descended the stairs, fading from view. Now, I finally had the peace to enjoy my food…

Or so I thought.

Leila was… sitting rather rigidly. Not stiff or awkward per se, but…

She totally bought into the bodyguard thing.

I mean, even before the academy, even before my first ever kidnapping, Leila was always there as my protector. I saw no other reason why Mother would employ someone skilled in combat, such as her, as my personal maid.

But I couldn’t help but notice how she was eyeing everyone around her with the utmost suspicion, like I was about to be stabbed in the back at almost any second now.

Thinking back on it, the excuse I'd given her really hadn't been all that far-fetched. The one where I was at risk of sabotage.

…Oh well. Nothing wrong with her being protective. Much better than me being kidnapped again…

—

Lunch passed without incident. But I was proud to say that Leila truly did not disappoint with the lunch.

I felt like I could go for three more matches as Carine with how perfectly filling that was.

But I had no time to spare at the moment, since Feyt’s match was supposed to be soon. So, as soon as I closed the lunchbox as Feyt, I got up and ready and headed out of my dorm, heading towards the arena.

I had been spending the entire time in my dorm as Feyt, warming up while making sure I didn’t push myself too much. And now, especially after lunch, I felt more than ready for the upcoming match. I could only hope my opponent felt the same.

But then, whilst I was walking towards the arena as Feyt, a figure approached Carine in the arena.

A girl I didn’t know personally, but recognized as a member of class Bison. She looked rather nervous standing before me and Leila, but what caught my attention the most was the thing she was carrying. An envelope.

“Uhmm, Lady Carine?”

“Yes?”

“A friend of mine asked me to give this to you.”

She extended the envelope toward me.

Before I could reach for it, however, Leila summoned herself between us, already standing up, blocking the girl from my line of sight.

“I shall take it.”

“Oh. Um… sure.”

Leila accepted the envelope. She turned it over. Checked the front. Checked the back. Ran her eyes along every edge. Then she held it up slightly to the sun, examining it from another angle.

Okay, she’s taking this role seriously. Not that I mind it, though.

After apparently determining that the envelope posed no immediate threat to my life, Leila finally handed it to me.

“This letter should be safe to open, Lady Carine.”

“Thank you, Leila.”

The girl gave another nervous little bow.

“Then… I'll be going. Excuse me.”

The girl left at a relaxed pace without much fanfare. Leila eventually returned to her seat as well.

I turned my attention to the envelope I held in my hands. It had no name, no sender details, and I wondered who it could possibly be from. But then I remembered what the girl said. A friend of hers gave it to her.

If she’s from class Bison, then could it be?

I carefully opened the envelope and unfolded the letter within. My eyes immediately scanned the words, and immediately, my suspicion was right.

—

Carine Sareid,

I would like to request a spar before our next match.

There is still some time before the round of eight, and I believe it would be beneficial for both of us to warm up properly.

If you are willing, meet me in the practice chamber on the third floor of the main academy building.

I will be waiting.

Ravilenna Loredein

—

My eyes frantically scanned the letter from top to bottom, then back up again.

I still couldn't believe what I was reading.

Ravilenna, who I had been desperately inviting for a spar, had suddenly sent me an invitation herself.

I had to resist the urge to immediately stand up and rush over.

But then, I looked down at the letter again, and I asked myself:

Why does she want to spar now?

I thought she was saving our fight for the grand stage. We'd both already agreed that we'd be waiting for each other in the arena. So why bother fighting beforehand? Wouldn't that ruin the hype between us?

Then again, the “agreement” between the two of us had been… wordless. Maybe it was I who had misunderstood something or assumed too much.

Maybe she wanted to warm up.

Maybe she wanted to get a feel for my fighting style.

Maybe she simply didn't want to wait.

Well, whatever the reason was, I wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth. Especially when the gift horse was a good fight.

I prepared myself to stand up and gracefully rush over to the main building…

…Only to run into Ravilenna as Feyt, who was walking out of the cafeteria, nowhere near the main building.

Huh?

Isn’t she… waiting for me in the main building?

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