# 92
The word “duel” caused a stir among people.
"A duel? How long has it been since we've heard of one?"
“I've never seen someone ask for an actual duel before.”
Dueling has become a thing of the distant past, a legacy of antiquity.
Especially here, in the Imperial Palace, where the highest nobles gather.
If everyone who felt insulted asked for a duel, no one would survive.
But the word has already been said.
The man who said it felt some remorse, but it was too late to retract.
“Can a duel really be held?”
“If someone dies during a duel, is that considered murder?”
The attendees showed great interest in what was happening, as for them it was “other people’s business.”
Plus, no one expected someone to actually die. If it happens, it is just “a matter that does not concern them.”
Legally, the duel still stands.
If Sirius agreed, the two would have to fight with swords to the death.
It would have been better if Arien had retreated, expressed her sadness, and said: “Please, do not sacrifice your life for me...!”, to end the situation in a dramatic and beautiful way.
But Arienne had no intention of that.
“Oh my god, for me?!”
The man wasn't worth her effort to stop him.
In fact, if he died from a sword stab, it would be better for her.
She will gain the title of the woman for whom a man sacrificed his life, and get rid of an annoying person.
Even more, there would be a chance that Sirius would be more involved if he killed the man during the duel.
“So, what happens now?”
“If he apologizes, it will be over, and if he doesn’t, there will be a duel, right?”
The atmosphere was tense.
Will Sirius bow, or will it lead to bloodshed?
“One moment!”
Dearyn entered the situation suddenly, as she had no reason to remain silent in this chaos that involved a duel and honor.
"Sirius came to the palace to rest. How can you ask a sick person to duel?"
"sick…?"
Arienne looked in amazement at Sirius from head to toe.
He did not appear to be ill.
“What hurts him?”
"He's suffering...from his heart! Because of a woman!"
Deyarin did not lie. She is also a woman, so she can be considered part of the story.
“How do you ask someone who is heartbroken because of a woman to fight a duel for another woman? You are so cruel!”
This was a careful intervention, based on Deyarin's deep understanding of the dynamics of palace society.
In the palace, “love” was a magic word that solved everything.
“Oh, is that that person?”
There were many who had heard rumors of the man who had lost in the morning bet and was suffering from the pain of love, but they had made no connection between him and the handsome and noble Sirius.
With one word from Dayaren, everyone understood.
“Oh, he drank alcohol because of the pain of love!”
“That's why he hates women!”
That was a very simple explanation.
People's looks turned to sympathy and love towards Sirius.
“…Let's go, Sirius. Sorry for the inconvenience.”
Dearyn pushed Sirius out quickly.
“Please, wait!”
But Aryan's urgent voice stopped them.
Diarin looked at her with eyes full of hostility.
“Do you have anything else to say?”
Arienne approached, looking as if she was in great pain, as if her heart would stop beating at any moment.
Her face even went pale for a short moment.
'Is it possible that this person is the singer in the opera today?'
The change in her features was so great that this idea crossed Deyarin's mind.
“I feel sad that I may have opened your love wounds because of what happened,” Arienne said, her voice sounding full of regret, “I know this is not enough compensation, but...”
She took off the earring she was wearing and held it out to Sirius.
“Since you were looking at my earrings and not at me, it means that my earrings reminded you of that beloved. I may not be able to return your love, but at least I would like to give you a memory that compensates you.”
“….”
Deyarin groaned with a frown, wondering what was happening.
'This is not what happened at all. Very far from the truth.'
Sirius was only looking at the earring because it was striking and dazzling, and for no other reason.
Even after reviewing the events, it was clear that Arienne took it wrong and started acting on it.
Now, instead of being embarrassed or trying to hold back, she has wrapped the story in a beautiful and poignant way.
“Is it possible that skills in high society are at this level?”
Deyarin admired Arien's ability to embellish the story in this way.
Sirius looked at the earring Arienne was holding for a moment, then finally extended his hand.
Arienne gently placed the earring in the palm of his hand.
With a slight sound of swaying metal, the earring became Sirius's.
At the same moment, Dearyn noticed that Arienne's fingertips deliberately touched Sirius' palm.
Deyarin's eyebrows immediately furrowed.
“So, with this, you'll forgive my insolence, right?”
Arienne smiled sweetly at Sirius, ignoring that no one had noticed that simple gesture.
Sirius shook his head with a small nod.
Finally, the crowds let out a sigh of relief.
Some even started clapping warmly.
As for the man who requested the duel, he left the stage humiliated and defeated.
While Deyarin, who was observing the entire scene, found herself unable to express herself in any way.
—
When they entered the cabin and closed the door behind them, people's voices died down noticeably.
As people's gazes faded, the tension constricting Sirius' body eased.
But Dayarin felt constant confusion inside her mind.
There was no need to think too much, as what happened was just a small incident with a beautiful ending.
Ceres gained people's sympathy, which further improved his reputation.
However, Dayaren couldn't get rid of the strange feeling bothering her heart.
“Dyaren.”
“Ah, what?”
Sirius called out to Dearyn three times before she regained consciousness.
Even after Sirius called out to Dearyn twice, the voice to her sounded like it was coming from underwater, and she didn't realize she needed to respond.
When she quickly turned around, she saw Sirius extending his hand towards her.
"What?"
Unconsciously, she received what he was holding, only to find that it was the earring that Ariane had given him a while ago.
After she had begun to calm down, Deyarin felt uneasy again.
“Why are you giving me this?”
“I wanted to give it to you.”
Diarine lost the ability to speak.
Although she was expecting it, she couldn't believe it when she held it in her hand.
“What can I do with this blind feeling?”
Sirius' feelings were like a wild animal, completely ignoring other people's feelings or opinions, and focusing only on what he felt.
It made him more honest and pure, but it was also completely inappropriate for someone of his status as a “young gentleman.”
"That's not possible, Sirius," Dearyn said in a firm voice."This earring is a symbol of Arryn's feelings for you. You can't give it to someone else so easily."
"It's just an earring," Sirius replied simply.
“When she gave you the earring, she was also giving you her feelings.”
Sirius paused, seemingly thinking.
He didn't understand that there were feelings attached to this earring.
Although Djaren herself did not think that Arienne put that much emotion into the earring, she knew that Arienne at least had some admiration for Sirius.
“When someone loves you, even if you can’t feel the same way, you have to treat their feelings with kindness,” Deyarin said.
Sirius then looked at her with eyes full of determination and said, “And you?”
"What?"
Sirius's voice increased in intensity: “You didn't treat my feelings kindly, did you?”
Deyarin unconsciously backed away, as if trying to get away from something scary.
She couldn't escape because she was sitting, but her heart wanted to get away from him.
"You didn't appreciate my feelings, did you?" Sirius said in a pained voice.
“This is not love,” Dearyn whispered.
But she stopped before she could say the words, wondering if it was real.
If it wasn't love, maybe it was a simple crush?
In this case, she was wrong.
Sirius' feelings were hurt, but she played it down.
She realized she shouldn't have done that.
She looked at Sirius silently, unable to find any words to defend herself.
Then Sirius said boldly: “I love you, Dearyn.”
“…”
“I only want you.”
“…”
“When I saw this earring, I thought it would look better on you.”
"to stop."
Dearyn barely managed to utter that word.
But Sirius didn't stop.
“I want to kiss you, Diarren.”
“No, this is not allowed.”
Dearyn closed her lips tightly, but Sirius did not back down.
"i want to kiss you."
“I said no.”
Deyarin spoke coldly to draw clear boundaries between them.
It wasn't possible, she was a priestess and Sirius was a young nobleman destined to become someone great, and their worlds were completely different.
If she didn't refuse now, she would hurt Sirius more later.
"I don't want to. This is unacceptable."
But Sirius answered boldly: “Even if you say no, I still want to.”
Dayaren got angry: “Aren’t you ashamed? Do you want to become a shameless dog?!”
Sirius smiled and said confidently, "I'll be the badass dog if that's what you want."
Then he suddenly approached her, put his hand around her waist, and grabbed her chin to steady her.
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