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It didn't really matter if Zachary was in the tournament for Bianca or not. Either way, Bianca would attend the tournament. Bianca sighed softly.
Zachary said it wasn't honorable for Bianca to attend and suffer, but Bianca's participation depended not only on the honor of the Arno family but also on the Blanchefort family. There would probably be many inflated rumors behind the scenes.
Although Bianca didn't care much about what others said, there was no reason to be deliberately criticized. Moreover, even if she didn't care about other gossip, she didn't want to hear criticisms about her family upbringing.
Bianca reaffirmed her determination to go and participate, even if she falls and collapses. Of course, that promise never left her mouth.
----
As everyone in the castle eagerly awaited the tournament, there was a lot of noise here and there. Servants passed by with a large basket full of fruits, and servants came and went with wooden planks and tools. It was to create a tournament stadium on a wide plain near the capital.
The main purpose of this tournament was to promote friendship with the Knights of Castile who attended Prince Albert's engagement. The Castile delegation had also arrived in Lahoz, so foreign knights were often seen.
The guests were not only foreign knights. Many minstrels and bards were invited to participate in tournaments and banquets. Some minstrels were dragged by the whims of children and performed tricks, and adults also stopped for a moment and watched them.
This tournament had a different scale than the previous one, so whenever three people gathered, they talked about the tournament. Many people were interested in it, so some started betting pools, but it wasn't a very effective method.
Usually, the highest bets are placed on who will be the ultimate winner, but since there were rumors circulating that the Iron Blood Knight, Count Zachary de Arno, would participate in this tournament, everyone naturally thought that Count Arno would win, so the bet was meaningless, and people bet on who would reach the semifinals.
As people's attention focused on them, the knights participating in the tournament started getting nervous one by one. You could make your name known in tournaments, but at the same time, be ridiculed. The knights who staked their lives in this tournament accelerated their practice.
The lance used for jousting was long and heavy, and it was difficult to accurately hit the opponent's shield because they had to be on horseback.
So they used to train by hitting targets with lances, piercing trees, or striking the shield held by a scarecrow with their lance, and then quickly ducking and avoiding it before the scarecrow could counterattack.
However, training for one or two days didn't improve their skills.
They spent a day or two in that state, and soon the day of the tournament arrived.
Of course, it wasn't just knights dedicated to training. The tournament could enhance the honor of a knight but at the same time deepen their courtship with a lady.
You could receive a gift from the lady you are in love with and, in return, dedicate the victory in her honor, or you could confess to the lady you've always held in your heart. It didn't matter if she was married or not. Because it was literally just an elegant and honorable tribute based on chivalry to adore a lady by sacrificing one's life.
The ladies were also excited, imagining the moment when their lover or suitor would play an active role in the tournament and place a crown of victory flowers on their head.
Some young women were eagerly waiting for the handsome knight to stand before them victorious and confess their love.
For such women, Bianca was the most envious. Her husband, Zachary, was almost confirmed as the winner of the tournament, and there was a rumor that three knights from the Arno estate would compete.
As knights from the Arno family, there would be no debate about their skills. Furthermore, since none of them had lovers, of course, the honor of the victory would be for Bianca. They felt envious just thinking about how she would constantly receive praise from the knights.
But to Bianca, who was the one truly involved, she didn't actually care how others looked at her. There were too many other things to worry about.
Bianca still feared the future. The moment she was expelled from the Arno family without a successor still stuck in her eye like a thorn. It was natural for her to feel even more anxious after encountering Jacob and Viscount Huegh. Because they were the ones who devised the plan to expel her in the past.
She was afraid of their plans and whether they would bribe Fernand again this time. It would still be better if they used Fernand. At least she could prepare for it.
"The reason I keep getting sick is probably due to mental fatigue..."
Bianca was particularly afraid of Zachary participating in the tournament. Just thinking about the tricks they might be hiding made her anxious.
On second thought, it didn't make sense for Zachary in her previous life to die so futilely in the war. Until now, she hadn't been very interested, but seeing how they treated Zachary in the capital, she realized that he was a very good knight, and her doubts grew even more.
She didn't know how dangerous and difficult the war in which he died was, but considering Jacob's insidious intention, it was more accurate to think that he ordered someone to assassinate Zachary during the chaos of the war. Of course, this was just Bianca's hypothesis, but...
"What if he played some tricks in this tournament? Maybe with his horse or weapon..."
However, this time there were many eyes watching, so he couldn't openly do anything too suspicious. Besides, Jacob seems to be hiding his ambitions, so he won't act hastily. Bianca reassured herself over and over again.
Still a little nervous, Bianca forgot to meet Zachary before the tournament to give him the lace handkerchief. Originally, it was customary for a lady to give sleeves of clothing, veils, hair, or handkerchiefs to the knights participating in the tournament on her behalf.
On the day of the tournament, Bianca headed to the arena, fidgeting with the handkerchief that she couldn't deliver to Zachary.
"I'll have to pass by there later when I have time."
She wasn't sure if Zachary would be happy, but it was uncomfortable to see him enter the field without anything from her.
Until now, Zachary has never forced Bianca to fulfill her duty as a wife, but she has to do the bare minimum. Bianca sighed and neatly folded the handkerchief.
There were already many people in the stadium.
It wasn't necessary for the nobles to arrive early because they had a separate podium to watch the tournament, but those who had to arrive early to get a seat were the commoners.
To sit near the field, spectators headed to the stadium just before the morning sun rose, and among them, alcohol vendors came and went.
Bianca climbed up to the podium. Yvonne, who looked at her seat, pulled Bianca to the side.
"Madam, this way. You'll look better from this side."
"I don't care about the place."
"You can't sit anywhere! Today, most knights will give flowers to the lady."
A smile filled Yvonne's face as if she were proud just thinking about it. Bianca, unable to pour cold water on Yvonne, silently sat in the seat where Yvonne had guided her.
The tournament takes place over four days. Zachary will compete today and on the third and fourth days. Of course, under the assumption that he will win all matches. She doesn't have to be on the field all the time, but that doesn't mean there's nothing else to do. Bianca leaned back in her chair as she pondered.
At that moment, the sound of a lute playing was heard at the end of the podium. It seemed that a minstrel had arrived. The podium was a space for nobles, but if the ladies deliberately requested it, there could be minstrels to entertain them. Bianca glanced at the playing field without paying much attention.
But she couldn't fully concentrate because of the sound that reached her ears. As she silently listened to the lute strings, Bianca realized that the melody was very familiar to her.
"Well, all songs are the same..."
As soon as the prelude ended, the minstrel began singing. The man's voice was as sweet as honey drizzled with melted butter.
As soon as she heard the minstrel's voice, goosebumps spread all over her body. Bianca trembled at the terrifying and unpleasant feeling of being thrown into the nightmare of the past.
"It's not possible. How could he...?"
But she couldn't ignore it. She had to check. She had to confirm with her own eyes the reality she never wanted to face. Bianca slowly turned her head towards the place where the song was coming from.
And as she expected, there was her former lover, Fernand.
Tags:
TWB (Novel)