"Kamitafiraaa! Today I will blow off your face!"
"Oh, try it then."
One month had passed since the duel on the first day of the entrance ceremony. Since that day, Gustavo had been bothering Eleonora like this every day. Each time, Eleonora would beat him in a duel, so no one in class reacted anymore.
"Gustavo is bothering Ms. Eleonora again."
"He keeps going even though he keeps losing."
"Shut up! This time, I might even win! You guys gave up from the start, so I'm better!"
Gustavo, with a vein bulging on his forehead, lost his temper. Actually, his skills were improving, and many areas under Eleonora's uniform were turning blue with bruises. Still, Gustavo was even more covered in bruises.
"Come on! Get ready! I will never lose!"
"Well, you've done your best."
Eleonora left Gustavo, who was all bruised, and walked down the corridor. Finally, class was over, and she was completely free after this. She thought about searching for a book in the library when two people stood in front of her.
One was Vittoria, the daughter of the Grand Duke they met at the school gate. She looked a little troubled. The other was a very small, cute girl with shoulder-length blue hair that was well-kept.
The girl was glaring at Eleonora with teary eyes—her drooping eyes made her look even more adorable—and had a determined expression.
"Good day, Ms. Eleonora. May I have a moment?"
(Who can refuse when asked by the Grand Duke's daughter?)
Thinking that, Eleonora smiled kindly and responded.
"Of course, Lady Vittoria. And who is this lovely young lady?"
"This is Clarissa, the Marquis Avenetti's daughter."
"Umm, that is, ah, I am Clarissa of the Avenetti Marquis family, Acting Knight of Kamitafira. I hope you are well..."
Eleonora felt hostility, but she still liked the girl who maintained proper etiquette. Maybe because she was a man in her past life, she already had a high fondness for beautiful girls. However, she could not hate a girl who could greet properly.
(She's cuter and more together than Japanese kids, so I can forgive most things.)
Smiling gently, Eleonora knelt to match Clarissa's gaze and prompted her to continue.
"It seems you have something serious to discuss. Did this Eleonora do something to disturb you, Lady Clarissa, without realizing it? If so, please let me hear your story."
"My, my fiancé, Sir Gustavo, and the Acting Knight of Kamitafira... is your relationship unjust?"
"Unjust..."
Glancing at Vittoria, Eleonora shook her head with a bitter expression. They were just hanging out with friends, but still, her fiancé spending a long time with another woman... it's true that she and Gustavo were like that. This wasn't sweet lover time; it was a no-holds-barred, real fight, not a training exercise.
"It seems I have caused the lovely Lady Eleonora to doubt me. I apologize, Lady Clarissa. However, he and I are not in such a relationship. Rather, we are more like bitter enemies."
"Bu, but, Sir Gustavo always, always mentions Kamitafira when we meet..."
"Well, even if I'm healed with magic, if I get punched hard enough to break my cheekbone, it will be on my mind day and night. I swear, I would never share a bed with a man for my brother's inheritance rights."
Wiping away Clarissa's falling tears with a handkerchief, Eleonora smiled.
"While being engaged to such a lovely young lady, what on earth is Count Retonto's son thinking, calling another woman's name? Well then, let us do this. Please bring Lady Clarissa to the next duel, and then that dense fool will truly understand who the woman he should be looking at is."
If he does not understand, just beat it into him with a wooden sword until he does. She smiled slyly as she said this.