25 Aftermath: 6

The day of the duel came, and like promised I met Greg at the training grounds.

This place was open to all students whenever they wished for it.

'Hmm?' Looking to the side, I saw the usual crowd of students, all here to spectate our match. Like last time, I was represented in blue while Greg was red.

Different from then, however, the crowd wasn't flooded with just red votes, instead I'd say around 5% of people were betting on me.

"What the hell? Why are you in your uniform?" Greg yelled from the opposing side.

"It'd be annoying to change out of it just to put it back on a second later." I shrugged as I turned away and over to the crowd once again.

My gaze ran over the Prince's entourage. Jilk and Brad had come out in wheelchairs to spectate, though their eyes seemed to be stuck across the field.

Following their gaze, I turned to see Marie, who I almost missed from how short she is. She had a fallen expression, looking down at the ground with a melancholic look.

'Too bad, so sad.' I internally chuckled before I turned back to the other side where Angelica and Livia were. Clarice had apparently decided not to come because Jilk would attend.

In her place though, was someone different. Someone I hadn't seen before in the academy. Her hair was long and flaxen blonde, looking almost white, and her eyes a lighter shade of blue. She wore a white dress with a black band around her waist. She was beautiful incredibly so.

She didn't look like a student, and looking around it seemed like no one recognized her. Well, at least everyone except Angelica as she chatted away.

I could tell from here she was being very prim and proper, almost…reverent.

'The Queen?' I guessed.

"Stardia! Are you not listening?!" My thoughts were broken by Greg as he screamed for me.

"What?" I asked, I was sure he was just boasting about how he was going to destroy me and whatever.

"Tch, never mind, ref, let's start this thing," Greg grumbled before a middle-aged man came onto the field.

'Let's get this over with.'

"Fighter's ready." Greg lowered into a stance, I couldn't be bothered. I was cocky, but I knew when I could afford it.

"Begin!" The man said before backing away.

Greg immediately rushed forward. The rule was I had to incapacitate him or make him admit defeat.

"FOR MARIE!" He said before using all the physical power he could muster and swinging his fist at me.

Instead of dodging, I caught his fist.

His surprise was inevitable, but before he could even attempt to break away, I used his arm and spun him around so he was facing the other direction.

"Good night."

I spoke before my fist impacted the back of his head. The fruits of my effort showed themselves as Greg hit the ground the next moment.

The ground had cracked around him and he lay there motionless.

Like in the first duel, everyone was silent staring slack-jawed.

"It is over," I called to the referee before pulling Greg out of the small crater and flipping him over.

The guy to his benefit had successfully blocked his face with his hands before he impacted the ground.

Though, his arms were most likely broken from the sacrifice. As I had said, it was over, Greg was out.

"Winner, Noir Fou Stardia." The announcer sounded pained to say that.

The usual "The hell" and "No way" followed after my win, but this time there were a few people who cheered. Looking around it was generally those who had bet on me to win.

"That was…fast." That was the first thing Angie said when I approached Her, Livia, and the possible Queen.

"Congrats Noir." Livia nodded as she took my right hand, the one I had punched Greg with.

She examined it looking for any marks. "Does it hurt?" She asked.

"Nope, I hit him at the part with no bone." I shook my head as I rubbed her hair in a sign of wellness.

She nodded before she left and went towards where Greg was being surrounded by his friends and doctors trying to pick him up.

"Please, let me." She said as she bent down with her hands outstretched.

'Typical Livia, wants to help everyone.'

"What are you doing?" Julius shouted before he in shock watched as the green light poured from her hands.

Looking off into the crowd I could see Marie looking like she was about to explode from anger.

Livia's magic couldn't heal everything, but she could heal surface-level stuff, such as the cuts on his arms he sustained, and relieve a little of the pain.

"You're like Marie," Julius spoke in a dumbfounded stupor.

'The fuck did this dumbass just say, my saintly Livia is nothing like that bitch.' I screamed as I was two seconds away from knocking some sense into him.

I stopped when I saw Livia shake her head so fast it blurred. "No." She said so coldly, like the thought itself was inconceivable.

"…My magic only healed surface-level stuff… He is still injured." She said as she stood up and walked back to us.

"Oh my." The silver head beauty behind me said. "Healing magic is quite rare, and you seem to be quite skilled."

"Thank you, I've worked hard at it." Livia bowed slightly as she said.

"Noir… stop staring at her so hard," Angie said as she stood in front of the two of us.

"Ehm, is there something on my face?" The woman said with a nervous chuckle.

"So then, where would you like to meet, Your Majesty." When I was absolutely sure I spoke.

Angie looked shocked, the same was the case with Livia.

"The…Queen?"

"How?"

Of the three, the Queen looked the calmest as she tilted her head.

"You knew? I don't believe you have been to the royal castle before." She questioned and waited for my response.

"Context clues, Angie said you wanted to meet, and I don't think I've ever seen her so nervous and respectful."

"That so… Angie huh." She looked between the two of us with a contemplating expression.

"Hey wait, nervous, Angie… you're nervous around me." This woman was really expressive, you could read her emotions just from her face.

"N-No my Queen, it's just… I haven't seen you in so long." Angie refuted, waving her hands in the air.

The Queen, or Mylene Rapha Holfort, pouted in dissatisfaction.

"Please follow me." Angie sighed before she started walking back towards the school.

Surprisingly, no one recognized who was with us, even Julius was too distracted to pay attention to our group.

…

"Well for starters, I have some complaints…" Mylene started as she took a sip of some tea I made. Her serious expression devolved as stars shone in her eyes. "This is really good."

"*cough* Ehm, anyway. While I applaud that you were able to put an end to his ridiculousness, I am very disappointed in the cruelty you displayed to do it." Her voice wasn't condemning.

"From what I have been told, you are more than strong enough to win without as much violence." She continued though her face fell a bit.

"Of course, I understand how this sounds. Especially knowing that if they had as much power as you, they would have done the same if not more."

"But, I still cannot allow it just because of that."

"More than just him being my son, your own position may be affected. I'm sure you're aware, there are a lot of people in the Royal Palace who wish for your downfall." It was hard to refute her when she genuinely cared. It was weird I've never even met this woman.

"I am, I've talked about this with His Grace and Angie." I nodded.

She nodded as well before she continued. "Then I won't say anymore… instead let's talk about why I am here."

"Well, to get it out of the way, I plan to do everything I can to drive away any punishment from you." She sat up taking another sip of tea afterward.

"I thank you." I nodded. It was… unneeded but welcome nonetheless.

"Do not thank me, you have earned it. I am happy Julius has expressed an interest in a girl, you see he has never done so before. But, I am dissatisfied with the one he chose. I can tell she is hiding a lot, more so her fraudulent nature."

"That is why I am happy that they are now separated, and that Julius may have learned something from this."

"I apologize, but, I doubt he has." I shook my head. He definitely hasn't.

"He still loves that girl, and I would not be surprised if he is still trying to find ways to meet her."

To my words, Mylene nodded. "That is probable, though I suppose I'd like to think otherwise, as a mother it really is a saddening sight." She closed her eyes and breathed heavily.

"Which is why, Julius has been disinherited." She dropped that like a bomb, but it really wasn't that surprising.

Angie shot up in surprise, her gaze pleading with Mylene to say more.

"Is it that surprising. He showed an inability to control his impulses, lost tragically in a duel, and openly declared in front of his father and other Royal Court Nobles that he hated being a Prince and that he'd give it all up to be with Marie." She didn't seem too saddened by the outcome.

"That much?" Angie was surprised.

With that silence took over, there was nothing left to say.

"Well… as much as I would have liked to stay here and get the academy experience, I must return to the palace," Mylene said as she finished her cup and placed it down on the mini plate.

…

We took her to her escort before we walked back to the academy.

Greg was still unconscious so his living up to the terms of the deal today was unlikely. I really didn't care that much, I just enjoyed smashing the dude's head in.

Tomorrow would be the start of our summer break, and we'd be leaving rather early. Angie had said she still needed to pack before she was good to go and so we dropped her off before returning back.

"I'm so excited, I can't wait." Livia had more than once declared her excitement, it seemed the idea of a vacation with just the three of us was like a dream to her.

"I'm glad you're coming." I chuckled, my hands with a familiar movement reaching up to her hair.

Soon enough we reached our apartment and Livia didn't even consider the idea of going to her apartment.

She had packed days in advance, her excitement just being that great. All her stuff was already in my place.

It would still be a few hours before it'd get dark and we went to bed. In that time she made me tell her all about the island and its facilities.

She cooked for us and as always I basically engulfed it.

When night came I taught her a card game and we played until drowsiness overcame us.

After brushing our teeth and taking a bath the bed was our next destination.

Sleeping that night was nice, though Livia made it hard when she decided she'd rather lay on me rather than the bed.

I woke up the next morning with my hands on her butt and my length buried between her cheeks.

I couldn't ignore the wetness I felt on my member, the cause of it being easy to identify.

'I wonder how much longer I'll be able to last.'

…

A/N: Powerstones. I'm close to 1,000. So, may have lied about one more chap. I'll end this arc after the vacation. Prob will do a bit of slice-of-life and dungeon exploration.