The End of First Love - Chapter 23

“I’ve been dancing in Heinz’s palm all along, haven’t I…?”

On the day of the swordsmanship tournament, inside the carriage heading to the royal palace, Elizabeth recalled her conversation with Miranda and Iris.

She had always felt a sense of unease.

(Even though my engagement with Lord William was annulled, there’s no way Father wouldn’t take any action, right?)

The Baker family was a ducal house. Even if her engagement with a prince was broken, as a duke’s daughter, Elizabeth still held considerable value. There were undoubtedly many noble families eager to form connections with the Baker family.

And yet, during the six months she was sent to recuperate in the territory, before Heinz appeared, not a single word about a new engagement had been mentioned.

Since her father had entrusted the decision regarding Heinz’s proposal entirely to Elizabeth, it was unlikely that he had conspired with Heinz. That meant there was only one possible reason why no engagement proposals had come to the Baker household—Heinz must have secretly maneuvered things from behind the scenes.

According to Miranda and Iris, they had once planned to invite Elizabeth to the swordsmanship tournament to help her cheer up after her engagement was annulled. Since their partners were members of the Royal Guard, they had consulted them about the idea.

However, both of their partners had responded with the same warning: “Under no circumstances should you bring Lady Elizabeth to the swordsmanship tournament.”

At the time, neither of them could have imagined that Heinz and Elizabeth would become engaged. Curious, they pressed for an explanation.

Both Kyle and Louis had given the same answer: “You will incur Heinz’s wrath.”

(My future is being shaped within Heinz’s schemes. I can’t shake that feeling…)

Previously, Heinz had told her that he knew everything about her. But what if that wasn’t all? What if he was controlling and manipulating everything around her?

The anxiety in her heart spread, morphing into fear.

“Would it be too selfish of me to wish that I were your first in everything?”

She still vividly remembered the sensation of her hand being gripped tightly as he spoke those words. She didn’t want to believe that even those words had been mere deception meant to control her.

Heinz had once said that he fell in love with the girl he saved. Even after realizing that she loved someone else, he still couldn’t give up on her.

(Could it be… that Heinz was behind the annulment of my engagement to William?)

She shook her head to erase that sudden thought.

(My relationship with William is over. The day he annulled our engagement was the day my first love ended.)

No matter who was involved in that engagement annulment, shouldn’t she focus on the present?

Though her engagement to Heinz had started under duress, deep within her heart, a small warmth was beginning to take root. Whether to nurture it or let it wither— that choice was hers alone.

Doubt could always come later. Now was not the time for it.

Following her heart…

As Elizabeth gradually became aware of her growing feelings for Heinz, the carriage carried her toward the royal palace, where the swordsmanship tournament awaited.

“Kiiiin!!”

The sharp clash of swords echoed, followed by high-pitched screams that blurred the line between excitement and terror. The arena, where the swordsmanship tournament was being held, was steeped in an electrifying atmosphere.

“Lady Elizabeth, what do you think?”

“Ah… yes. This certainly is quite thrilling.”

Upon arriving at the royal palace, Elizabeth was guided to the arena and seated in a special viewing room—one that Heinz had undoubtedly arranged.

Unlike the other spectator seats, this VIP room was a private chamber. Elizabeth could see outside, but those outside couldn’t see her.

(I thought Heinz would be here to watch with me…)

Contrary to her expectations, she found herself watching the tournament not with Heinz, but with Miranda and Iris, who had arrived earlier.

Not that she minded, of course. In fact, Elizabeth was quite happy to be enjoying the event in the company of close friends, free from any formal constraints.

What did bother her, however, was Heinz’s audacity to invite her and then not even bother to show up.

(Well, if he’s going to be that indifferent, then I might as well have fun. Maybe I’ll even find a knight to my liking!)

With that thought, she refocused on the heated battles unfolding before her.

“By the way, aren’t Lord Kyle and Lord Louis participating in the tournament?”

“Kyle said this morning that he would be serving as a referee. He regretted not entering when I told him I was attending. But as the commander, he’s not allowed to compete. Honestly, if he were participating, I don’t think I’d be able to handle the tension.”

“Louis, as the vice-commander, is fighting in the final match. Now that I think about it, he looked a little pale this morning. I hope he’s all right. He’s usually good under pressure, so he should be fine, but still…”

Oh, that’s right… they’re both married women with husbands they adore.

The casual remarks about their husbands—almost bordering on showing off—made Elizabeth flush. But what startled her more was that she felt envious.

(If I get married… would I also…?)

Just then, she imagined a man standing by the window. As he turned toward her, his silhouette against the morning sun gradually took the shape of a familiar figure.

She nearly gasped out loud.

Panicking, she clamped her hand over her mouth to avoid making a scene.

(That was close! I almost shouted Heinz’s name!)

Ever since realizing her feelings for him, every passing day seemed to turn all her thoughts toward Heinz. Even if she had resolved to follow her heart, this was getting a little out of control.

(Get it together, Elizabeth!)

She gave herself a mental pep talk, but a loud cheer from the audience quickly snapped her back to reality.

“No way! That… that can’t be…”

“Lady Elizabeth! Look! Isn’t that Lord Heinz?!”

Standing in the center of the arena, ready to fight, were Louis—and, to Elizabeth’s shock, Heinz.

Unlike the previous combatants, neither of them wore full armor, only chest guards.

For Louis, this wasn’t a problem. As one of the finest swordsmen in the knights’ order, he could fight skillfully even in light armor. But Heinz wasn’t a knight. His skills couldn’t possibly match Louis’s.

(Why…? Why is he fighting in light armor? What is he thinking?!)

“Oh… now it makes sense why Louis looked so uneasy this morning. If his opponent is Heinz, it could go either way—or worse, he might lose.”

“Lord Louis… lose to Lord Heinz? Lady Iris, that’s impossible! Lord Louis is one of the top swordsmen in the knights’ order. Heinz isn’t even a knight! We must stop this at once—no, I will stop this right now!”

As Elizabeth stood abruptly, ready to storm out of the room, Miranda and Iris held her back.

“Please wait, Lady Elizabeth. You don’t need to worry. Heinz’s swordsmanship is on par with Lord Louis’s. No, he might even be better. He’s certainly above Lord Kyle.”

“Exactly. If anything, Louis is the one in trouble. Heinz would never hold back while fighting in front of Elizabeth. This is just another one of his elaborate schemes. Ugh, I hate that man!”

“Lady Iris?”

What did she mean by that?

“Sorry, Elizabeth. I know you don’t want to hear bad things about Heinz, but I need to say this. If you ever truly want to leave that man, I’ll help you no matter what. Even if my husband can’t defy Heinz, I will. Never underestimate women’s friendship!”

Iris glared at Heinz as he clashed swords with Louis.

To see the ever-calm Iris say such things—and Miranda enthusiastically agreeing—made Elizabeth burst into laughter.

“Even if Heinz arranged for them to be my friends, I’d never cut ties with them. He shouldn’t underestimate women’s friendships!”

As she watched the heated battle unfold, Elizabeth felt reassured.

“Thank you, both of you. I’m so lucky to have you as my friends. If I ever do part ways with Heinz, promise me you’ll be on my side?”

“Of course! And when that time comes, we’ll utterly crush him!”

While the arena roared with excitement over the battle, the VIP room remained a place of camaraderie and unshakable friendship.