The entire venue is shook by the unexpected turn of events: The current future heir to the Blueseva-family has decisively lost in a duel that staked his authority on the line. The implications of that are huge; in the worst case this loss might have barricaded his path to the top.

The guest’s following actions vary vastly:

Esteban is staring with a baffled expression at the scene. He is surprised most about Imogyeran’s high level of technique presented in the match. Originally, Esteban thought that Imogyeran was this confident in his win due to the ability of partial possession, which every competent spirit-channeler acquires, but it seems like the boy had prepared a different ace in the hole: Diligence and Devotion to the craft.

The boy must have been interested in the art of dueling before this happened and trained himself on his down-time. This would also explain his constantly tired out expression and body language.

The former commander of a military fleet, who is quite talented in the art of dueling, would evaluate Imogyeran Ashenwald’s progress about one year ahead of Ricardo, which is surprising, because Ricardo already started his Dueling training specifically around one year ago.

But his eyes never deceived the old man, which is why he is sure about Imogyeran’s proficiency.

Esteban manages to calm his expression while driving his fingers through his slightly disheveled hair(due to sleep deprivation) and makes his way to console his grandson. The conversation between him and Imogyeran would wait. Also, Esteban can’t shake the feeling, that Imogyeran is preparing to act strangely again and he wants to pull Ricardo out of the situation as a precaution for his already wounded mentality.

Most guests talk within themselves and interpret this loss as a sign of a power-instability in the Blueseva-family. This incident has had a profound impact on the social hierarchy of the Blueseva’s. Thus the representatives from noble families currently reevaluate their standing to them. By using this drop in status as grounds to reestablish lost negotiations between noble families, they might get better rewards for themselves, which could have huge implications on the future of Estica itself. Thus, a large amount of guests quickly excuse themselves from the venue and make their way back to their families to report today’s happenings. One of the people being Gracio Gricielo, who has already started making arrangements to cancel the marriage-proposal between Ricardo Blueseva and the his niece, Bellza Gricielo.

Some of the old-allied friends of the family choose to remain as spectators and to observe the situation before making an opinion about the matter. These people have shown a higher interest in Imogyeran than in the duel itself and they are trying to gather information about the boy.

Ideally, they want to ascertain the boy’s current allegiance and the possibility of winning him over.

The servants of the mansion have receded into the corners of the yard to hide their happy expressions from the guests and their masters. Most people thought, that Imogyeran being treated this way wasn’t proper conduct and thus are quite relieved that he is able to escape from his fate after all this time. Most of the attendants inside the manor are people, who are trying to earn money to feed their own family, meaning that they have something similar to parental feelings to the boy, who always looks to be living a desolate life. These people are intently watching the boy’s actions from a hidden position.

Then there is Elise Blueseva: She is feeling a mix of confusion about the situation and happiness, that her friend can be free. It is not like she didn’t notice him being uncomfortable with being treated as her friend even though he was considered basically the same as a slave by the family. Elise tried to make it her best effort to treat him like her best friend, because this girl didn’t really have many friends outside of him. Thus, right now, she Elise is feeling an unfamiliar feeling: fear that her friend would leave her.

Nevertheless she makes her way to Imog, who is currently kneeling with one knee to the judge of this match. The girl makes her way to a close place to the scene, where she wouldn’t directly disturb the ceremony.

And then there is the main attraction of this entire ordeal. Imogyeran is watching the ground while listening to the judge’s verdict.

<>

The judge stops himself before continuing

<< and your adversary, Ricardo Blueseva! By prevailing against any adversity, that we have challenged you with, you - the lowest ranking member of the Blueseva household – have proven yourself time and time again! Such determination shall be honored with a befitting reward!>>

..

The judge goes through the predetermined movements of this ceremony and drapes a red, braided strand of hair, that is braided and concocted into a thin rope, around my left shoulder.

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

<>

I slowly rise up by straightening my front knee and looking up at the sky, both of my shoulders widened to the utmost maximum.

<>

On this declaration I raise up my right arm and tear at the red rope. I throw down the teared hair and look up at the crowd.

I am greeted with a sumptuous amount of applause. I am finally free.

<>,

I hear Elise coming up to and trying to congratulate me from the side but her voice simply drowns inside my head as I let myself fall onto the ground and stare at the clouds with a content smile.

I take a couple of deep breaths and simply stare at the beautiful sky.

In the corner of my vision I can see the small face of Elise coming into view. She is making a confused expression but I really can’t be bothered right now. Why?

BECAUSE I’M FREEE!

I jump up and give Elise a tight hug resulting in her shrieking from surprise and the other onlookers being shocked.

I jump around and swing Elli from side to side while loudly giggling.

<>

<>,

I guess that I got a little too happy because it seems like she is about to vomit from all the spinning around on a spot.

I let go of her and continue on my own.

One forward roll here, one back handspring there. Now a Back-flip and then a cartwheel to the left. All the while happily laughing and singing about.

<>

Finally, I can do my own thing now. I don’t need to always stay inside this cramped cell. I don’t need to feign etiquette anymore. I don’t need to do things I don’t want to do. I can go wherever I want.

I run up to the manor and I climb up the facade of the exterior before anybody can stop me. Then I scramble up next to the flagpole of the Blueseva-family before twirling around the pole and shouting in an ecstatic voice:

<>

…

It took around 10 more minutes of clamoring about before I finally calmed down a bit.

I let out one last, elongated sigh before starting to watch my surroundings.

And what I see is quite the sight to behold.

I once heard the phrase of the jaw ‘dropping onto the floor in pure bafflement’ and I wondered how close a standing person’s jaw could get to the floor.

Today, I finally got my answer. All around my field of view, all I seem to find are people competing with each other, whose jaw can drop the lowest. From the attendants to the family members and even the guests. Everybody is flabbergasted beyond belief.

The answer should be obvious. >

I walk up to the nearest person I recognize: Agave Layerstone

Then I ask her with a voice loud enough for the surrounding people to hear

<>

She needs a few moments before registering that I spoke to her.

<>

Wow I must have completely destroyed her with that last performance. I almost feel bad about what I am about to do now. Almost.

I make my best expression of an innocent child and ask her

<>

<>, she seems to have got things under control again.

Miss Layerstone is looking at me with confused eyes.

<>

It’s time for the final blow. Throughout this small exchange I have purposely increased my voice’s output so that now everybody in the vicinity is focused on what I am going to say next.

<>

I turn my head around for everybody to see and speak up with a sheepish grin.

<>

They look down on me, still processing what I just said. In the meantime I throw my cackling self onto the ground before erupting in a fit of laughter. I know that, what comes next, is going to hurt a lot but it was worth it.

..

The next few minutes flew by in a flash.

The onlookers managed to catch themselves again and most of the male ones started spanking the impish boy for making fun of his superiors and their master. The spanking hurt like hell and Imogyeran constantly gave what could only be considered a combination of a painful wail and a broken laugh while things proceeded.

Next were the women of this household, who each pinched his ears until they almost fell off from his head. At the end of it all, his right ear especially had a slight bent to it, which would go on to accompany him for the rest of his life.

Next was Elise, who gave him a kick against his shin for being a jerk.

Imogyeran knew that he would be punished but making that joke was worth the punishment.

This was the first time he noticed his piece-of-crap-personality for what it really is.