The guest chambers provided by Wilhelm Palace were surprisingly quiet compared to the tension filling the rest of the capital.
Outside the palace windows, snow slowly fell across the dark city while light burned along the massive walls of the fortress-like kingdom.
John sat alone near the window inside his room, silently staring at the distant training grounds where tomorrow’s duel would take place.
A knock soon echoed from the door.
“Come in.”
The door opened, revealing Nick and Sir Carol.
Nick immediately walked inside while Sir Carol remained near the entrance with a serious expression.
“We need to discuss tomorrow’s fight,” Sir Carol said calmly.
John already expected this conversation.
Nick crossed his arms before speaking first.
“Are you really okay fighting that guy tomorrow?”
John could feel Sir Carol carefully watching his reaction.
At that moment, John understood something important.
If he acted too calm…
too confident…
they would eventually begin suspecting him.
The current John should not possess the experience, skill, or composure of the man who had already lived through war once before.
So he lowered his gaze slightly and forced hesitation into his voice.
“To be honest…” he said quietly, “I am nervous.”
Nick’s expression softened slightly.
“But I think I can handle it.”
Nick suddenly stepped forward.
“Then let me fight instead.”
John looked toward him silently.
Nick continued seriously.
“That Rudolf guy isn’t ordinary. He’s probably one of Wilhelm’s elite young knights.”
And deep down-
Nick still believed he was stronger than John.
Normally, he would have been right.
If John had not returned from the future…
this duel would have been impossible for him to win.
But now-
John possessed years of battlefield experience none of them knew about.
Even elite knights no longer felt untouchable to him.
Still, he could not reveal that.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
“You worry too much about me.”
Nick frowned.
“This isn’t a joke.”
“I know.”
Sir Carol finally spoke again.
“You can still refuse tomorrow morning. King Magnus may respect courage, but he also respects honesty.”
John calmly shook his head.
“If I refuse now, Aerith will look weak in front of Wilhelm.”
The room fell silent for several moments.
Then John slowly stood from his chair.
“You both look exhausted,” he said calmly.
“You should get some rest for tomorrow.”
Nick still looked unconvinced.
But eventually, Sir Carol nodded once.
“Very well.”
As they turned toward the door, Nick glanced back at John one last time.
“…Don’t do anything reckless tomorrow.”
John gave a small nod.
After they finally left, silence once again filled the room.
The faint smile on John’s face slowly disappeared.
His eyes turned cold.
Tomorrow’s duel was not something he feared.
In his previous life, he had fought starving soldiers, assassins, mercenaries, and battlefield veterans far worse than Rudolf.
Compared to them-
This was merely a test.
John quietly removed his sword and placed it beside the bed before lying down to rest.
Outside the palace, snow continued falling over Wilhelm Kingdom.