Chapter Sixty Four
"…How?"
Kaelen stood still, staring at the broken wooden handle left in his hand. Small splinters lay scattered on the ground between us. The clearing was completely quiet.
What? They're already done gossiping? That Lil brat must be celebrating, huh.
"You lost, Kaelen."
I didn't lower my shortsword. The blunt wooden tip rested firmly against his throat, right over his pulse.
"If this were a real fight," I said calmly, "you would already be dead."
"…Did—did His Grace just—"
"No way…"
"That was it? That's how it ends?"
"Does that mean Zein won all our money!?"
"Damn it!"
Kaelen's legs wobbled.
He didn't fall outright. Knights are stubborn like that.
Instead, he leaned forward, like the weight of the sky had suddenly decided to rest on his shoulders. His breath hitched. His jaw trembled.
His eyes watered as he stared up at the sky.
