In This Life, I Will Be The Lord - Chapter 198

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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This Life, I Will Become the Clan Head Episode 198

“A duel, Lady Lombardi?”

Eventually, one of the Imperial Guards stepped forward as if to stop me.

“No, that’s a good idea.”

But he was quickly blocked by Astana, who wore a sinister smile.

He looked Ramona up and down as she stood beside me.

Even drunk, Astana’s face as he smiled while scheming was vileness itself.

“The loser will apologize to the other party. Sincerely, without holding anything back.”

“Yes, good.”

At my words, Astana nodded without much thought.

“Sir Sloan, you will be my representative in this duel.”

Astana called out to the most experienced-looking knight among his four escorts.

“Pardon? But, Your Highness…”…”

The knight called Sloan broke into a cold sweat as he looked back and forth between me and Ramona.

“A duel fought over honor requires representatives of similar skill.”

It wasn’t particularly malicious words.

That knight Sloan probably held quite a high position.

So it would be awkward for him to duel over the prince’s honor against a female knight who appeared to be in her early twenties.

I glanced at Ramona.

Ramona had an unusually expressionless face as she stared straight ahead.

She seemed very angry.

I casually asked such Ramona.

“What do you think? They’re saying such things.”

Ramona looked at Astana and Sir Sloan with a hardened face and said.

“If you’re not looking down on me, then let’s proceed with the duel, Sir Sloan.”

“That’s absolutely not the case…”

Sir Sloan, who had been trailing off awkwardly, finally let out a deep sigh of resignation.

“Don’t go easy on her and crush her, Sir Sloan.”

Astana wore that sinister smile again as he whispered to Sir Sloan.

As if we couldn’t all hear it anyway.

Sir Sloan looked at me with a very uncomfortable expression and asked.

“Are you really sure about this, Lady Lombardi?”

Now this was getting a bit annoying.

While consideration was nice, Sir Sloan’s words and actions were nothing but disrespectful to Ramona.

I crossed my arms as I answered.

“What exactly is your full name and position, Sir Sloan?”

“Yes. I am Edian Sloan, Vice-Captain of the 3rd Imperial Knights Division.”

“Ah, I see. The Imperial Knights train very deeply in Imperial swordsmanship, correct?”

“That’s right, Lady Lombardi. I myself have been training in Imperial swordsmanship for 15 years since joining at age twenty.”

Quite proudly, Sloan patted his chest as he answered.

“Is that so.”

They said the more thoroughly someone learned Imperial swordsmanship, the weaker they became against Ramona.

Sure enough.

Ramona’s tightly hardened face had somehow relaxed slightly.

“Let’s proceed.”

At my words, Astana chuckled.

The sight of him sipping wine he’d found somewhere since Gallahan wasn’t around really made me want to punch him.

“I say.”

Sir Sloan addressed Ramona in a polite voice.

“What is your name? I should at least know that much.”

“I am…”

Ramona looked straight at Sir Sloan as she answered.

“My name is Ramona Brown. You may call me Sir Brown.”

The way Sir Sloan’s pupils shook violently as if hit by an earthquake was quite a sight to see.

* * *

“Did you hear? There’s going to be a duel!”

“A duel?”

“Yes! Between the Crown Prince and Lady Pirenthia Lombardi, they say!”

Rumors were spreading quickly among the nobles.

“Why so suddenly?”

“Well, the Crown Prince said to Lady Lombardi…”

The aftermath of the Brown family’s reappearance after decades hadn’t even fully settled.

“My goodness, this banquet is truly the best!”

“To think such interesting events would happen one after another!”

The nobles each let out cheers of excitement as they gathered in groups and hurried to where the duel would take place.

“Shouldn’t we be heading over soon, Your Highness?”

Tedro asked Peres, his body heated with impatience.

Ramona was a close friend who had shared hardships together for six years at the Academy.

He wanted to be present for every moment as such a dear friend finally took the first step toward fulfilling their family’s long-cherished wish.

“We should.”

Peres began walking with leisurely steps.

Before long, Peres and his trio reached the meadow where people had gathered in a circle.

When he arrived—the Second Prince and Pirenthia Lombardi’s fiancé—people whispered and competed to clear a path for him.

“The duel preparations are already finished.”

Lignite whistled softly as he spoke.

It was uncommon for a duel to take place on the same day rather than setting a separate date for the showdown.

Cases where duels began immediately without even hours of preparation were even rarer.

“His Majesty doesn’t seem inclined to stop it either.”

No, perhaps he couldn’t stop it.

The insult the Crown Prince had uttered was that tremendous.

Emperor Yobanes had taken a seat right in the front row to watch the duel.

Beside him were Rulak Lombardi and Gallahan Lombardi as well.

They were witnesses to a duel that was spectacular beyond gorgeous.

“There’s no backing out now.”

Since everything was thoroughly planned, it was perhaps natural.

Lignite muttered quietly as he looked at the gathered nobles, the Crown Prince with his confident face knowing nothing, and the two knights facing each other with swords drawn.

“What a frightening person, Your Highness’s fiancée. To think all of this is one person’s work.”

At those words, Peres slowly turned to look at Lignite.

As if asking what kind of obvious statement that was.

“It’s Tia.”

Then he looked back at the dueling ground with eyes full of anticipation.

His sparkling pupils were also filled with deep affection for his beloved.

“You two are exactly alike, exactly alike.”

Lignite shuddered slightly.

* * *

“To be able to cross swords with someone from the Brown family, what an honor.”

Sir Sloan said quietly while looking at Ramona.

It wasn’t empty words.

Not only Sir Sloan, but all the knights of the Imperial Knights who had gathered after hearing the news wore the same expression.

“…Thank you.”

Ramona answered, trying hard to hide her complicated feelings.

Then Emperor Yobanes rose from his seat with a somewhat stiff expression.

No matter who won, this duel would bring no benefit to Yobanes.

If he could follow his heart, he would want to lock away Astana somewhere immediately for causing this situation.

Emperor Yobanes spoke briefly to Ramona and Sir Sloan.

“Begin when you’re ready.”

At the imperial command, the two knights bowed to each other.

Shing.

Two swords revealed themselves with a chilling sound.

The nobles, who rarely had the chance to see knights’ real sword duels, concentrated with sweaty palms.

Step, step

Ramona and Sir Sloan began moving slowly toward each other with swords pointed at one another.

Each step was heavy and cautious, as it could directly lead to victory or defeat.

Then, Sir Sloan advanced first.

It was a movement showing he wouldn’t drag out the duel.

One step, two steps.

With his large strides, the distance between them quickly closed.

“Hah!”

With a short battle cry, Sir Sloan swung his sword toward Ramona.

It was a simple but perfectly executed veteran move that exploited an opening.

However, Sir Sloan’s sword was blocked by Ramona’s blade that deflected it with a short parry.

Ramona’s following attack was equally formidable.

Swoosh!

In an instant, she slid up along Sir Sloan’s sword in reverse.

Her sharp sword tip aimed for Sir Sloan’s throat.

Ping!

The experienced Sir Sloan didn’t panic and wound around Ramona’s sword.

It was a technique frequently used in Imperial Swordsmanship, using the opponent’s force to transition directly from defense to attack.

However, an unexpected situation occurred after that.

Clang!

With a sharp metallic sound, Ramona’s sword came thrusting in threateningly once again.

“…Huh!”

Sir Sloan gasped and leaned his body backward.

Thanks to this, he barely managed to break Ramona’s offensive, but deep wrinkles were carved between his brows.

He couldn’t understand it.

Clearly his technique had worked.

But in an instant, Ramona’s sword moved as if ignoring that flow.

“Huh…?”

The same reaction flowed from the Imperial Knights watching the duel.

“Just now something…”

The sword-wielding nobles attending the pre-festival gathering all showed identical expressions.

It was clearly a duel where Sir Sloan had the advantage, yet Ramona’s sword instantly reversed it.

“Haah!”

As soon as Sir Sloan regained his center, he charged in once more.

Clang! Clang! Claang!

The sound of the two swords clashing was fierce.

Especially Ramona gritted her teeth and faced Sir Sloan’s heavy sword.

However, the difference from superior stamina and experience was unavoidable.

Ramona began to be pushed back little by little.

“Ahh…”

Regretful sighs flowed from various places.

At the same time, a bloody smile spread across Astana’s face.

He was anticipating his victory.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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