After Leesa's victory was officially proclaimed, Flavian stepped forward to make an announcement. "Tomorrow, the fourth day of the tournament, will be designated as a rest day for the finalists," he declared. "The final round will take place on the fifth and last day of the tournament. In the finals, there will be a battle among three participants: Hendricus from the commoner's team, Greig from the mage's team, and Leesa Marlene from the noble's team." Flavian continued, explaining the format of the final round. "It will be a one-on-one match, with each participant having a chance to fight against the other two. The one who accumulates the highest points out of the three matches will be crowned the overall winner of the competition. Furthermore, the winner of the tournament will be appointed as my bodyguard and attendant."
With Flavian's announcement, excitement surged among the crowd, eager to witness the ultimate showdown between Hendricus, Greig, and Leesa on the final day of the tournament.
While Leesa on the other hand was with her mouth agape "No one told me about this, I absolutely did not enter the tournament to be the crown prince's attendant."
"I told you my lady but it seems you did not hear any word after I said about the fight and rushed off to search for the duke."
"What? When?"
"Never mind, what's wrong with being the crown prince's attendant though?"
"EVERYTHING! I participated to test out my strength and skills. If I had known about this stupid thing, I would not have participated in the first place."
"Come on, my lady, how bad can it be? And now that I think of it, the crown prince has taken a slight interest in you, so why not just try to get close to him and aim for becoming the Empress of the Astandra empire?"
"You are delusional Wienne, shut up."
As Leesa made her way back home, she couldn't help but groan audibly. Meanwhile, Wienne was already in her imaginary world where she would enjoy her role of a personal maid to the future empress, embracing the authority and responsibilities that awaited her. Amidst the contrasting emotions and tension in the air, Byrant found amusement in observing the divide. Riding alongside Leesa and Wienne in the same carriage, he couldn't help but laugh at the dynamic unfolding before him. While the duke and Duchess undertook their own journey, in another carriage.
[Meanwhile in the royal palace...]
Several fighters from the commoner's team stood out and were chosen as trainees for the Royal Army. Additionally, a few mages who were not initially listed in the tower's records were also recognized for their potential and were extended invitations to join the mage tower. Flavian, in his search for a suitable candidate to adopt the role of the new commander, found that none of the contenders were particularly impressive compared to Leesa, who possessed immense power and skill. Her capabilities far exceeded those of the other potential candidates.
Seeing a serious expression on Flavian's face Elzar asked softly "What happened Your Highness?"
"Ah, Elzar I found none suitable for the position of the new commander."
Hearing this Elzar was even more confused; he thought that Flavian already had someone in mind regarding the position that was not the case. He paused for a moment to judge Flavian expression again and asked "Lady Marlene showed amazing skills today, wouldn't it be alright to give her the position, Your Highness?"
Flavian's expression filled with surprise as the thought of appointing Leesa to such a risky position was unexpectedly brought to his attention by Elzar. The idea had not even crossed Flavian's mind until that moment. As he processed the suggestion, Flavian decided to take some time to ponder on the matter further. He recognized the weight of the decision and the potential implications it held for both himself and Leesa. Wanting to make an informed choice, Flavian resolved to give the proposal careful consideration before reaching a final decision.
Soon the finale day arrived, all three finalists were confident and in good shape and ready to fight and win. The match starts, and the first round is between Leesa and Hendricus. The fight between the commoner and a noble sparked unbearable amusement among the audience. As the fight started Leesa took out her knives and tightened through her slim long fingers, seeing this Hendricus twitched "What are you doing playing with these small blades, draw your sword?"
"No, these are my companions for this match."
"Even though I was looking forward to having a nice sword fight with you."
"Well sorry for the disappointment but this is what I plan to go with."
"Okay, if you say so but I am not going to take you lightly just because you have smaller weapons"
"Sure, taking me lightly will just bring your loss faster."
"Hah, you think I am weak, I think you are the one who will lose for taking me lightly."
The match seemed challenging for Hendricus as he struggled against Leesa's top-notch agility she gets when fighting with her knives. Leesa, on the other hand, found that wielding a sword slightly hampered her speed, but it provided an advantage when facing opponents who engaged in long-distance battles. After carefully analyzing her opponents, Hendricus and Greig, Leesa made a tactical decision. She chose to fight Hendricus with her knives, knowing that he possessed superior physical strength. Engaging him with a sword would have turned the match into a contest of sheer power, potentially draining her energy for the next battle.
In her match against the mage, Greig, Leesa opted to use her sword instead. Recognizing the presence of magic in Greig's arsenal, Leesa believed that her sword would provide a more effective countermeasure. By strategically adapting her choice of weapon, Leesa aimed to maximize her chances of success against each opponent, capitalizing on their strengths and weaknesses.
As Hendricus grew increasingly tired from Leesa's relentless and unreachable attacks, he found it increasingly difficult to keep up with her speed. Leesa, recognizing her advantage, had managed to chip away at Hendricus's health points, bringing them below half. With one final decisive strike, she could secure victory. However, Leesa deliberately held back her strength, aware of her assassin skills from her past experiences. She feared that a lapse in focus or an increase in power could inadvertently result in the death of Hendricus, a consequence she wished to avoid.
While Leesa prepared for her final attack, Hendricus, believing he had become adapted to her speed, mustered his own attack. Yet, in a fleeting moment, Leesa swiftly struck, leaving Hendricus laying defeated on the arena floor. The match concluded with Leesa as the winner of the first round, her victory achieved in the blink of an eye with her last strike.