The deep shade of the blue sky, the warm rays of the scorching sun, the earthly scent of the green grass, the vibrant colors of the beautiful flower...such characteristics told many of gradual change in season from early spring to late spring, knocking on the door of the early summer.

The Manors of the Langston family were as quiet as ever. Not a commotion could be heard from both the outside and the inside. What had taken place days ago was like an illusion given the tranquility, particularly of the Sixth madam's manor.

However, this tranquility did not last for long at the arrival of Hibro, the personal of the Grand duke in the manor of the sixth madam

His presence alone, without a word, confirmed one thing.

The awaited life and death battle between the fourth young master and the fourth young lady. This entire moment shook the entire walls of each manors of the Langston family, and words of the battle spread around, with many expectations and favor leaning to the fourth young master.

None expected the fourth young lady to win. In fact, most had already expected her funeral that would definitely be coming soon after this death.

In the familiar battle grounds, Raven could be seen standing slightly ahead of jane with her ruby eyes darting around in little curiosity. At the moment, she just realized that this place where she and Edwin first met actually belonged to the Grand duke, her dearest father.

Sizing up the large space, Raven couldn't help but compare to the small spaced battle grounds of the sixth madam's manor.

''Young lady, don't be afraid, this maid will be cheering for you.'' Jane's shaky voice pulled Raven out from her thoughts. Her ruby glanced to the side, briefly sighting the strained smile on the maid's lips, and fearful yet misty eyes, certainly exposing that fact of her teary moment in the carriage.

It was very obvious that Jane did not want to be here.

''Hmm...'' In response, Raven only gave a hum taking her gaze back. Console the scared maid? Absolutely not! She didn't even know how to console someone.

Besides, why exactly should she console Jane?

This family was a place where weak died and strong survived. In Raven's opinion, Jane's words and fear were unnecessary and a disturbance. It was very out of place.

A subordinate represented the face of the leader. This could also be the same of a servant and the master.

In Raven's eyes, Jane was giving her a bad name in front of the siblings of Langston family who were undoubtedly her opponents.

'Finally...' At the sight of a familiar of the black haired man in his usual solemn aristocratic clothes above with the butler trailing behind, Raven's ruby eyes lit up, pleased to know that this man was finally present. Without him, the life and death battle could not commence, even if the necessary attendance of the wives and children were fulfilled.

Besides all that, she was an impatient person to begin with.

With the Grand duke finally present, all chatters ceased, and everyone present revered him with a deep bow and curtsy. Following this uniformed actions, the grand duke sat down without a word of acknowledge. Seeing that, the wives took their designated seat, followed by the children with each personal maids and butlers standing by their sides, erected yet conformed with etiquettes without a flaw in their posture.

The only children standing were the opponents of the day, Raven and Edwin each with their personal maid and butler at a distance.

''Fourth young master, Fourth young lady, present yourselves in front of his excellency!'' Hibro was the first to break the silence of the battle grounds. At his words, Raven and Edwin marched up to the center of the battle ground, leaving their personal maid and butler behind, and simultaneously facing each other.

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At the same time, something phenomenal happened that caught Raven's gaze. Like blazing fire with its flames swirling and fading into thin air, surrounded only her Edwin and Raven leaving them with a large space for themselves. It was as though a barrier was set for them only on the stage.

Though...this color of this barrier similar to the flames of fire, was shadow-like like the midnight sky...similar to what she had seen on the day she first sighted the Grand duke.

'I wonder....' Raven speculated if this was from the Grand duke. Judging how no one reacted to the strange phenomenon, it was very obvious that this was not their first times of seeing such.

However...it was a first time for her...and the original owner as such had never happened in these memories of hers.

How strange.

In these memories, the original owner had attended the succession battles between her siblings in the past, yet she had never seen something like this barrier.

Was there something the original owner missed?

Was there something, that she, herself missed about this barrier?

In the moment of curiosity and wandering thoughts, Raven was quite tempted to tilt her head to the side, and give a fleeting questioning glance to her dearest father, the grand duke.

However...

With this stiff atmosphere surrounding the battle ground, Raven was smart to know that she couldn't bring out a flaw, just because of curiosity. Reluctantly, she forced not to look at the Grand duke and focus her gaze on her opponent.

Facing Edwin got her gaze stuck on him, and the sight of his conceited smirk, elicited an amused feeling within her. Only her cute fourth elder brother would give such arrogant stare like this, as proud as a flamboyant peacock with its feathery tail up in the air.

'Don't disappoint me, Edwin...' If her fourth elder brother was this confidence, then she had high expectations for him naturally as the Grand duke's son and also a swordsman.

''Fourth young master, Fourth young lady...his excellency wishes you both good luck in this life and death battle.'' The personal butler, Hibro said, his voice penetrating through the barrier. Following this, there was a brief silence....a tensed one.

Ruby eyes belonging to the Grand duke fixed straightly at his two children facing each other.

Blank eyes hidden with unspoken thoughts belonging to the wives and the children focused on the pair about to begin a battle.

Twinkling pale green eyes filled with confidence belonging to the fifth madam, eyed her son with a proud look as though the outcome of the battle had already been decided.

Warm brown eyes belonging to the sixth madam were the same as the fifth madam. Though they were focused on Raven and particularly empty unable for anyone to decipher her thoughts.

Finally...Raven and Edwin stood face to face, watching each other with hidden thoughts. They waited patiently yet vigilantly for the next words from Hibro.

The atmosphere...the air...was still as a dead mouse, and nerve-wracking, sending slight intimidation to the hearts of the personal maids and butlers, even if this was not their first time witnessing such atmosphere around the Langston family.

''You may begin, fourth young master, fourth young master.'' The expectant words from Hibro came, and not a moment later, after its ending, the sound of clashing blades followed after.

This was obviously between Raven and Edwin below the gazes of the everyone.

Looking at his weakling of a sister blocking his sword with a pair of daggers, Edwin had a brief surprised look on his face.

Daggers?

His fourth sister?

''Pfft! I see fourth sister has a new toy to play with.'' He teased with a tormenting smile. Earlier, he thought the two sheathes hung from his fourth sister's waist belonged to two swords, but they were unexpectedly daggers.

One of the lowliest weapons in the empire's nobility, just like the small knives he had seen with his fourth sister playing with the other day.

Swords were the standard weapons in the empire among nobles. Seeing his fourth sister confidently wielding daggers against his large sword, was quite comical to watch, especially when she would eventually struggle against his strength as a mid-rank swordsman.

''You want to kill me with daggers...I suppose this is what you can only do as the weakling you are.'' Edwin continued his harassing taunts. ''So much for agreeing to my challenge, fourth sister.''

Edwin already had lower expectations for his fourth sister. The sight of daggers caused them to even lower more. In order to impress his father, Edwin decided to kill his fourth sister from early moments of the battle.

Especially when he was on the breakthrough between a mid-rank and a high rank as a swordsman. A rank known as the medial mid-rank.

This rank also gave him access to a skill used by a high rank swordsman. According to his mother and tutor, this skill would surely impress his father, given his young age.

'Is he done?' On the other hand, Raven wondered if her cute elder brother was done gloating about her misfortune. His confidence gave her higher expectations that this battle between them would definitely be exciting in her favor.

Raven's lips twitched at the thought of it, tempting to widen them into a smile. But...the reason for this confidence of her fourth elder brother suddenly came without warning...in flames.

In literal burning flames of a fire.