I’m In Trouble Because My Husband Is So Cute - Chapter 66

Chapter 66

“Knights carrying the honor of each family, may you become the owner of the Asha’s branch!”

The Emperor, standing on a high podium, gave a congratulatory speech. The people next to him were as colorful, like peacocks with their tails inflated. However, Iellie’s gaze was focused solely on the riders who were at his feet.

‘Zachary…’

Her heart swelled as soon as she saw Zachary standing under the flag of Hessenweitz. Iellie smiled secretly at him, too.

‘…Now, you don’t seem like a little brother to me anymore.’

At that moment, Zachary, who was holding the long spear lightly as if he did not even feel the weight, gazed straight at her.

‘Len.’

The blue eyes that resembled glaciers were slanted and curved. At the same time, a smile full of confidence.

‘Because you’re watching… I will never lose.’

It was just before the contest started. Having received the Emperor’s congratulatory remark, it was now time to receive the blessings of the ladies.

“Receive now, the rider who will be congratulated by the ladies!”

The servant’s voice resounded. As soon as those words fell, Zachary came towards Iellie.

“Zachary.”

Iellie smiled unknowingly. His posture of holding the spear was so firm that there was not even a needle-width gap.

“Lady. For today’s jousting victory, I would like to hear a word of blessing.”

“….”

Zachary politely opened his lips. It was sweet like sugar.

Iellie shook her head, “Even if you don’t rely on my blessings, my knight will surely keep his promise to me.”

At those words, a warm smile spread across Zachary’s face. She continued her words to him in a soft voice.

“Because I have no doubts that my knight will make me the owner of the Asha branch.”

The Emperor kept his silence while listening to Iellie’s answer while Elysee looked at her coldly. Nonetheless, the two did not care at all about the reaction of those around them. Iellie then whispered as she looked at Zachary.

“I will wait for you, as the owner of the Asha branch.”

Hearing those words, he smiled and turned his body around as she just watched his back.

“Then… everyone, into positions!”

The servant cried out loudly. Each rider who paid homage to the emperor found their place.

“Is this your first jousting event, Lady Hessenweitz?”

It was the Princess who brought Iellie, who had seen the scene frantically, to reality. She nodded her head.

“It’s my first time. You know, at Zachary’s coming-of-age ceremony, there was a hunting contest, right?”

Iellie’s eyes softened slightly as she thought about that time. At that time, Zachary had hunted the finest and rare silver fox. She had not yet forgotten the soft feel that touched her hand as she brushed the fur away.

“Then, Lady, you must not know the rules of jousting.”

“It’s embarrassing, but it is.”

“Even if it’s not enough, can I explain a little bit?”

The Princess smiled brightly. Seeing that, Iellie felt grateful to her, who kindly continued the conversation.

“If yes, I would be very grateful.”

“Well, I hope it’s not a boring explanation to Lady.”

Coughing heavily as she looked at Iellie affectionately, the Princess explained in a soft tone.

“In the early days of jousting, each rider was running with a spear pointing directly at each other. It was a tournament format in which the competitor had the goal of taking down the opponent on horseback.”

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“But, isn’t that too dangerous?”

“Right. In the process, more people get injured, and in some cases, they actually lose their lives.”

‘…It was not enough to get injured… they lost their lives, too?’

Hearing her words, Iellie’s face hardened without realizing it.

“It has been criticized for being too dangerous for a friendship contest, so the rules have changed in the past.”

Perhaps, it was to appease the nervous Iellie, the Princess shook her head lightly. The explanation that followed was this.

First, the knights on well-trained horses stood at the starting line.

Second, the knights’ destination was a loop fixed to a long pole — Poles stand between the long main roads, and loops are fixed to each pole. The loops fixed to the ten poles gradually became smaller in size to a certain standard.

Third, to get points was to pass the blunt end of the spear on the loops. The smaller the loop, the higher the score. The smallest loop was almost the size of a woman’s ring, so it became difficult to get inside the loop without delicate movements.

Fourth, running speed was also necessary. Reach the finish line as quickly as possible to get a high score.

Iellie’s face, who had listened to her explanation, gradually distorted vaguely.

‘Then, the riders are sprinting down the main road at full speed, aiming their spears towards the loop…’

…Wouldn’t this alone increase the number of casualties?

The next moment, the Princess added her words in a calm tone, “The current jousting contest has changed to consider horsemanship, spearmanship, and speed.”

“Still, I think that method alone will cause a lot of casualties.”

“Yes. In any case, the current jousting competition is an advanced form to reduce casualties.”

As she narrowed her eyes and looked at the knights standing in the distance, the Princess added calmly.

“If they are inexperienced in handling horses or spears, they may be seriously injured.”

Iellie hardened her shoulders.

‘…Could be seriously injured… Could it be that Zachary participated in the contest knowingly?’

“So, it is said that attending the jousting contest itself proves the competence of a knight.”

“…I see.”

She couldn’t possibly smile. Iellie narrowed her brow, feeling that she shouldn’t have let Zachary go. However, the Princess waved her hand gently, telling her not to worry.

“Don’t worry too much. They are the unparalleled representatives of each family when it comes to horsemanship and spears.”

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“….”

“There is no serious injury unless there is a collision between the riders or the horse falls over.”

Iellie bit her lips tightly.

Perhaps, to reassure her, the Princess smiled at her.

“I don’t know how this sounds, but the Young Duke is the best knight in the Empire, right?”

“Even the best knight in the Empire… can get hurt.”

“It’s a pretentious statement, though the Young Duke will keep his promise to the lady no matter what.”

The Princess shook her head at Iellie’s words that were full of worry. And, she continued her words with a voice full of confidence.

“He got the Lady’s handkerchief. He will give you the Asha branch in return.”

“…Yes. He promised.”

When she listened to her words, Iellie was a little comforted. Just then, the Princess raised her voice as she pointed to a point.

“Ah, the riders are just standing at the starting line. Can you see it?”

To find Zachary among the riders, Iellie opened her eyes wide. Her upper body was bent almost as if she would fall forward. Because of that, the Princess had to hold her shoulders so that she wouldn’t fall in front of her.

‘…Oh, there he is.’

Each rider was clothed in well-tanned leather armor and had a leather cap on their head. Everything was prepared to minimize injuries. Under the hat, Zachary’s silver hair shimmered in the sunlight.

“Still, I’m a little worried that he might get hurt.”

Iellie, who gazed at him without even blinking, said worriedly. The next moment, the Princess answered coolly.

“Because the title of the best knight in the empire didn’t come out of nowhere. There seems to be very little competition.”

“Do you think so, Princess?”

“Of course. He was a candidate for the championship, so it would be rude to talk about him getting hurt.”

The Princess gently closed her eyes. She thought she could see why Iellie was so drawn to the Young Duke. It was because the blue eyes tinged with a calm light were only lovingly looking at Iellie.

‘If the Young Duke had been a man without a wife, I might have been a little excited as well.’

Zachary, who stood at the starting line, glanced back at Iellie. His eyes meet with the pale green eyes. He then lifted his wrist with the handkerchief on it before kissing it briefly over the bow knot.

“….”

Iellie’s face lit up. At the same time, the flag to announce the departure was fluttering loudly.

“Depart!”

Each rider lowered himself and started running. The Princess looked at the riders with a curious face.

“Most of them look like great knights, but Young Duke Hessenweitz is unique among them.”

Zachary lowered himself and spurred his horse. His hand, with his spear straight out, was firm and unshaken.

“It’s amazing that there are people who can move like that.”

“Is that so?”

“Sure. Rather than worrying if the Young Duke would be defeated…”

She opened her eyes and watched the knights as if observing. After a while, the Princess smiled before finishing her words, “…I think it would be better to worry about all the other knights getting injured.”

It was then that Iellie was relieved a little. A silver spear stretched straight above the black horse. Hanging from the spear, the blue embroidered coat of arms of Hessenweitz fluttered madly in the wind.

“Haa…”

Zachary, who was running in the lead, threaded a loop with his skillful movement. Iellie, who looked at it, let out a shallow sigh. Seeing him move swiftly like a fish in water, she could put her worries down.

“Are you feeling better now?”

“He has to go to the end to know.”

Even as she replied that way, Iellie could not hide her smile. The Princess said in a calm voice.

“Well, I think the runner-up will be Sir Kyle.”

It seemed to be the case in Iellie’s eyes as well. Zachary was clearly in the lead, and there was another young rider following him with two loops in between. It was the Emperor’s knight, Sir Kyle.

“Kyle was a strong contender for the championship… It’s a bit disappointing because of the Young Duke.”

The Princess narrowed her eyes and opened her mouth. The other riders sagged far behind and ran at a distance, and didn’t even get a loop. The championship and runner-up were probably shared between the two of them.

“By the way, what family is that knight from?”

Then, Iellie tilted her head and asked. The Princess pulled her head out and glanced out at the arena.

“That person…?”

The closest follower behind Zachary was Sir Kyle. A knight followed after Kyle, spurting his horse. It was far away, so they couldn’t even see an expression, although his movements seemed strangely impatient.

“I do not know… I heard at first glance that it was from Baron Wester.”

Even the Princess who said that looked unsure. The Wester family has been in decline for a very long time and was now a Baron family close to being destroyed. In the first place, they did not have the power to send out a knight to the jousting contest.

“Of course, in principle, all noble families could send out knights to jousting, but…”

Several conditions were required to participate in a jousting event. There had to be a knight proficient in horsemanship, spearmanship, and a good horse — that alone cost a lot of money, and not a few families could afford it.

‘Above all, it’s a place where they can catch the eyes of the Emperor, so they’re surprisingly competitive.’

In such a place, the declining baron family sent out a knight? She honestly didn’t understand.

‘…Something is strange.’

Right then.

Whoooaaa— a shout rang out. Astonished, she paid her attention to the playing field.

“There, look at the Young Duke!”

The Princess happily opened her mouth. Zachary, who had just pierced the last fifth loop, was dexterously grabbing the horse’s reins. A silver ring reflected the pure white sunlight from the edge of the spear held tightly.

“It’s the fifth…! The Young Duke is leading the way!”

“I hope he returns safely without getting hurt.”

Without realizing it, Iellie clasped her hands on her chest.