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𝐑𝐨𝐲𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐭. 𝐀𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐚𝐬
“I should have refused many times already!”
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In the back alleys of St. Arrogas, the capital of the Kingdom of Arogas, a young woman’s voice echoes.
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“I am satisfied with my current job. I have no intention of accepting your invitation.”
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“You’re as stubborn as ever, Miss Bastille.”
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A young man’s frivolous laughter follows.
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The woman’s voice belonged to Alma Bastille, Luke’s close friend.
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She is dressed in the uniform of the St. Arrogas Guard.
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The three men blocking Alma’s path were Tommy, Thomson, and Thomas of the Trinal Triples, former classmates of Luke and Alma.
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Unlike Alma, the three were in full regalia of the Royal Palace Guards, with Tommy’s armor bearing the emblem of a squad leader.
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“Is this a situation where you can say such things, given your current status?”
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“Tsk. . .”
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Alma struggles for words as Tommy smirks in satisfaction.
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“The daughter of the esteemed Margrave of Rampart, once hailed as the top student of our 250th class at the academy, now reduced to a guard, the lowest job for academy graduates. This is out of kindness, as a fellow classmate, wanting to help.”
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Tommy’s words prompt suppressed chuckles from Thomson and Thomas in the background.
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“Who would’ve thought you’d ‘deplete’.”
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“It’s not that I’ve ‘depleted’. . .”
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Alma retorts desperately, but her words lack conviction.
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“It’s hardly any different. After all, you can’t use your innate magic anymore, essential for a magical knight. Consequently, your recommendation to the Seraglio Guards was revoked, relegating you to the role of a mere guard.”
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Tommy’s taunting leaves Alma speechless.
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It was, after all, entirely true.
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After Luke’s departure, Alma’s magical power drastically waned.
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Initially thought to be psychological due to loneliness, her magical power did recover over time, but her innate magic had become unusable.
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Innate magic, indispensable for a magical knight, rendered unusable meant her recommendation to the Seraglio Guards was withdrawn.
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Thus, post-graduation, she joined the St. Arrogas Guard.
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The Arogas Royal Academy of Magical Knights, as the name suggests, trains magical knights, with students obligated to serve a military term post-graduation.
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Most students, hailing from noble families, receive honorary military posts, but even there, noble hierarchies persist.
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The Royal Palace Guards, to which the Trinal Triples belong, nominally protect the palace, but the actual duties are performed by the inner guards, serving primarily as a temporary position for academy graduates of noble descent.
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Typically, they serve for three years before returning to their families, leading a life of noble luxury and leisure.
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In contrast, the St. Arrogas Guard is the first assignment for students from commoner backgrounds or impoverished nobles who can’t afford the entry fee for the Royal Palace Guards.
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They maintain the peace of the capital on meager wages, a genuine military role, but their status is the lowest among academy graduates, often disregarded.
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Alma’s father, a prominent local noble, was financially struggling, so instead of the expensive Royal Palace Guards, he chose the St. Arrogas Guard, a near-certain post for graduates, to aid the family finances.
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And that had allowed the Trinal Triples to grow increasingly arrogant.
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“Heard about it, did you? Your house is in a mess right now, isn’t it? It’s getting hard to maintain the family headship this way.”
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Alma widened her eyes at Tommy’s leering grin.
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It was a secret even within the Bastille family.
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“What. . . How do you know that. . .”
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“Hey, hey, my family is the prestigious Trinal family among the court nobility. I can hear as much of that kind of talk as I want.”
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Tommy puffed up his nostrils proudly.
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“That’s why I’ve come all the way here to see you. Listen, it’s not a bad deal to get engaged to me. If you become family with the Trinal house, your family’s debts will be easily settled. Besides, you’re the only daughter, right? If I become your husband, the Bastille family will be secure.”
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“Exactly, you should listen to what my brother says.”
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“Rather, you should be grateful that Tommy is offering this.”
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Thomson and Thomas egged on from behind Tommy.
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“You may have a gloomy personality, but you look good. And your family status matches that of the Trinal family. If you just stay quietly as my wife, I won’t treat you badly. Your body isn’t bad either. . .”
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Tommy leered at Alma, playing with her glossy black hair.
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“Don’t touch me!”
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Alma shuddered in disgust and brushed his hand away.
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Tommy’s face twisted in anger at the strong rejection.
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“. . .Gale Force!”
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With a click of his tongue, the gust generated from his swung arm blew Alma away.
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Tommy’s unique magic was to manipulate the wind.
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“Guh!”
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Alma, who hit the fence hard with her back, writhed in agony and collapsed.
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“Even though I’m humbling myself here, you’re getting carried away.”
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Tommy muttered disdainfully, rubbing the hand Alma had brushed off.
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“It’s a husband’s job to discipline his wife. I’ll teach you thoroughly now so you can’t defy me later.”
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Alma stood up shakily, drew her sword, and glared at the approaching Trinal Triples.
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Seeing this, a sadistic smile appeared on their faces.
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“Flame Control.”
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Thomson’s unique magic enveloped Alma’s arm in flames.
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“Ahh!”
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Alma screamed and dropped her sword.
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“Water Bullet.”
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Water spheres appeared around Thomas, attacking Alma.
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Alma, pummeled all over her body, fell to her knees on the ground.
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Unique magic is nearly impossible to defend against without using the same kind of unique magic, as it doesn’t require chanting like regular magic.
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“Hey, hey, she’s still going to be my wife. Don’t scar her face, at least.”
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Tommy approached Alma with a smirk.
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“But with this, you understand what happens if you defy us, right? Just obediently listen and at least the minimum life of a noble’s wife will be guaranteed.”
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“I refuse. I’d rather die than follow you.”
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Alma, though breathless, hadn’t broken.
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It was better to die than to submit to such cowardly people.
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Seeing Alma like this, Tommy’s face twisted even more hideously.
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“It seems education is still lacking. Then, I’ll make you taste the ultimate humiliation.”
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A powerful whirlwind materialized in the palm of Tommy’s raised hand.
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It was a blade of wind that cuts anything it touches.
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“First, how about a naked stroll through the streets?”
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Alma gripped her sword.
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Not for attack, but to pierce her own throat if necessary.
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The image of Luke appeared in the back of her eyes.
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When she was told Luke had died, Alma’s world had ended.
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The world she saw lost all its color, and everything she ate tasted like vague, bland sand.
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There was a time when she thought of giving up on becoming a magic knight and ending her life as a nun.
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She didn’t, because of a promise with Luke.
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But now, without Luke and unable to use magic or even swordsmanship, she wondered what was the point of clinging to being a magic knight.
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(I’m sorry, Luke. . . I guess I can’t keep the promise to become a magic knight and meet you. . .)
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“You will atone for your mistakes with your own body!”
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Alma closed her eyes to the onslaught of the wind blades.
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However, Tommy’s magic never seemed to reach her.
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Opening her eyes hesitantly, she saw three people with expressions of astonishment.
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(What’s happening?)
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“Who are you? Don’t interfere!”
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The three, with tense faces, yelled towards something in their line of sight, and Alma followed their gaze to see a man standing before her.
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It was a young man with white hair, clad in a tattered cape.
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“Aren’t you three cowards for ganging up on one person?”
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Luke, standing protectively in front of Alma, responded.