Chapter 12: The Imperial Guard Entrance Exam

The hall was overflowing with countless examinees, a sea of anxious faces and nervous shuffling filling every corner.

But from a bird’s-eye view, three conspicuous gaps stood out. At the center of each of these clearings, the vice commander and two squad leaders were conducting the examinations.

“Try again next year. Your potential is there,” one said.

“That was an excellent strike, but you’re still one step short of becoming a royal guard,” another commented.

“Your sword still feels too light. I recommend starting over from the basics,” a third advised.

The examinees were all skilled, yet none could compare to an active royal guard. Each one’s blade was effortlessly knocked aside, as if twisting the hand of an infant.

Many of the failed examinees trudged out, dejected, overwhelmed by the sheer gap in skill. Yet some lingered, watching the three royal guards’ every move, hoping to glean even a fragment of wisdom to carry forward.

Al murmured quietly,

“Those are the ones whose chances of passing next year will skyrocket.”

“Exactly,” came the reply. “Opportunities to see the royal guard’s swords in action are rare. And the vice commander’s blade? That’s even more precious.”

Royal guards usually served by the emperor’s side. They wielded their swords in the city only when assigned a task. According to Seles, the examinees leaving now simply lacked sufficient passion. Their failure was inevitable.

The remaining examinees were down to less than a third. The vice commander fought each candidate while quietly sighing to himself.

(Sigh… perhaps this is a lean year. There are a few promising talents scattered among them, but none yet possess that special light worthy of the royal guard. I suppose we’ll have to look to next year.)

Then, finally, a voice called her name.

“Examinee number 358. Selestaria Levian. Step forward.”

The speaker, of course, was none other than—

“Barnes…”

“As expected. Alright, Seles. Go show him exactly what you’ve got,” Al said.

“Leave it to me. I’m going to pass no matter what.”

A ripple of whispers spread through the gallery.

“Levian…? Isn’t she from one of the Empire’s four great ducal families?”

“I’ve heard Selestaria is the next head of the house—a formidable lady.”

“Let’s see her give the royal guard a run for their money!”

“That’s impossible. The opponent isn’t just any guard—he’s a squad leader.”

Everyone was eager to see how far she could go. Among the spectators, only Al watched with unwavering trust, not mere expectation.

(Tonight, we’re celebrating your victory when we get home.)

Barnes wore his signature practiced smile.

“Oh, my dear Seles… our duel begins for the first time. Shall we consider this mock battle our wedding rehearsal?”

“I’m not doing that… gross.”

“Ha ha. Even your stubbornness is charming, Seles.”

The surrounding spectators, however, were bewildered.

“What are they even saying?”

“I can’t hear from this distance.”

“Hurry up and start already!”

“Why isn’t the referee giving the signal?”

From their behavior, it seemed the referee had likely been bribed—whistling nonchalantly while looking away.

Barnes’s smile narrowed slightly as he spoke.

“You know the conditions for passing, don’t you, Seles?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“The annulment of your engagement with that detestable Al Dragals, and the engagement to me… Then you would officially join the Barnes squad and we could work together, side by side, every day as a married couple.”

“Absolutely not. I refuse.”

“…Very well. Once the exam starts, I’m sure you’ll be begging me instead.”

Barnes’s confidence in his sword was absolute. Though he seemed a bit unsettled, he nodded to the referee.

“Take your stance!”

Finally, the two drew their swords.

(Oh my… that stance is the Empire-style “first strike wins.” As expected of my Seles—already mastering an intermediate technique. But against someone of my level… you’ll be read too easily.)

Barnes’s smirk returned.

“Begin!”

They lunged from the ground.

(When the enemy uses a “first strike” technique, the correct counter is to take the initiative in turn. Basic strategy!)

Barnes launched his attack first, but—

“Huh?”

Just as Seles had intended. She stepped back, parrying Barnes’s strike with a sharp flick.

“You fell for it beautifully.”

“Grr…!”

Yet even as the blow was deflected, Barnes, a proper royal guard, held fast to his sword, smoothly recovering his stance.

Al grinned slyly.

(Good, Seles. That first move wasn’t meant to strike Barnes—it was a setup to rattle his mind.)

Cold sweat ran down Barnes’s cheek.

“V-Very well… I shall take you seriously…!!”

“I’ll crush you head-on!!”

What followed was a flurry of sword strikes, a battle fought openly and honorably. Barnes had the edge in power and speed—but why did Seles manage to keep up?

(What is this swordsmanship!? I’ve never seen anything like it in any foreign style!)

Barnes employed Empire-style techniques flawlessly. But Seles had trained with Al, mastering those moves. She knew Barnes’s style, but he could not read hers.

The squad leader, wide in his experience, faced a swordsmanship completely unknown to him.

“Could it be… a self-taught technique?”

“Correct. It’s still rough, but I’ve practiced a lot with Al.”

“That’s unorthodox! Stop this nonsense at once!”

“But look—I’m matching a squad leader of the royal guard!”

Still, her swordsmanship remained imperfect. She was showing signs of strain, and it was only a matter of time before Barnes would adapt. She was beginning to be pushed back.

“I… will not lose!”

“Seles, pledge your engagement to me! Then I’ll grant you an immediate pass!”

“I’ll never leave Al, and even if I pass, it won’t bring me any joy!”

(I promised Al I’d win.)

Her strength wasn’t only in technique. Her heart, passion, and resolve poured into her strikes, pushing Barnes back.

“Haaaaaaah!”

“Grr… I… as a squad leader… cannot…!!”

And then—

Seles finally deflected Barnes’s sword, sending it flying. A high-pitched metallic clang echoed through the hall, and for a moment, silence fell.

Someone in the gallery whispered,

“W-wow… she really did it…”

No amount of bribery could overturn this victory now.

“Winner: Seles!!”

The hall erupted.

“Ugh… how… could this happen to me…”

Barnes stood frozen, defeated by a mere examinee, his engagement with Seles dissolved, his shame permanent.

Seles planted her sword into the ground, kneeling on one knee.

“Haa… haa…”

She had truly given everything, sweat-soaked and marked with a few cuts.

From the back of the gallery, a stern voice rang out.

“I heard everything, Barnes.”

The vice commander Rendon and squad leader Orise stood, their faces red with anger. The cheering had paused the exam long enough for them to intervene.

Barnes’s forehead glistened with uneasy sweat.

“V-Vice Commander… it’s not what you think…”

“The exam is suspended. Any dishonesty in this strict test is strictly forbidden by imperial law. Even a squad leader cannot be exempt.”

He looked around. Every eye bore into him with righteous fury.

…Suddenly, everyone was an enemy.

“Eh…?”

“Guards. Arrest Barnes Berry.”

“Yes, sir!”

Barnes was restrained and led to the back exit.

“S-Seles…”

“Don’t you dare call my name with that filthy mouth.”

But it wasn’t over yet.

“Oi, Vice Commander!”

In this tense moment, someone dared speak rudely to the vice commander. All eyes naturally turned.

“You… must be Al Dragals, the court magician,” the voice declared.

“Yes. Sorry for the trouble at the medal ceremony.”

A figure greater than even the vice commander had arrived, leaving spectators agape.

“His crimes aren’t just cheating: bribing referees, stalking Seles, threatening me… and surely more. Strip him of his knighthood and exile him at minimum. Otherwise, Seles cannot live safely.”

“…U-understood. I’ll report it to His Majesty.”

(Stalking a duke’s daughter, threatening a court magician… depending on the other charges, the death penalty might apply. Investigation must be careful.)

“And Seles is injured. Bring healers immediately, all three!”

“Understood! Call the healers!”

Finally, Al ran to Seles’s side.

“You did great. That was amazing.”

“Hehe… I may have overdone it a bit. I might not be able to stand on my own for a while.”

Of course, Seles’s success was confirmed, and the two set off on their way home.

◇◇◇

Now, Al carried Seles on his back, walking down a quiet street.

“Sorry… I’m so dirty… and heavy, right?”

“No problem. In fact, you’re too light—it worries me. Also… your softness against my back is… enjoyable.”

“…Maybe I should break off our engagement now,” she said, utterly ruining the mood with those words.

“Please, not that. I’ll apologize.”

“Hehe. Just kidding.”

Seles smiled softly, burying her face in Al’s back.