Chapter 111 Three Women in a VIP Box

Kira was Ella now, head of the Malvo Chamber of Commerce.

She sat on a leather sofa in a shared VIP box at the top of the arena. The room was cool, the view of the field unobstructed. Macarons, fruit, and chilled champagne filled the table in front of her, and an attendant waited in the corner.

Ella barely noticed any of it.

Of all the people she could have been seated beside, it had to be Seraphina Waldrich.

She had seen that name in Brigade reports often enough. This was their first meeting, though. And this was the woman the Scribe had confessed his love to.

A cover story. It was only to keep her safe.

That didn't help. Ella had written three versions of that confession in her diary and spent nights squirming under her blankets just imagining it.

In her versions, Seraphina wasn't the heroine.

"Miss Ella, your sparkling wine has gone flat," her maid murmured from behind the sofa. A fresh bottle of peach sparkling wine stood in the ice bucket she carried.

Ella handed over her glass for a refill. She took a sip and glanced at Seraphina.

The count's daughter was leaning forward to watch the match. Her dress fit her perfectly, which was irritating. Ella looked away with a small huff.

"Lady Seraphina." She put on her most pleasant business smile. "Is that from the new collection on Savile Street in the capital? It suits you. Though isn't it a little tight?"

Seraphina turned to her without answering at once.

Ella kept smiling. Nothing to say? Hit a nerve, did I?

"Perhaps I've been looked after too well," Seraphina said. "Good food, plenty of rest. It's easy to stop paying attention."

Ella's smile froze.

Is she saying the Scribe's been pampering her? That little—

Seraphina took a donut from the pastry stand, placed it on a napkin, and offered it to her with a small fork.

"Something sweet might help." She smiled politely, as though Ella were simply a stranger having a bad day.

Ella stared at the donut. Seraphina hadn't even risen to the bait.

She set it on her plate without eating it. At least the exchange reminded her that she had work to do.

Why is she here? If she's competing and wins, she'll meet the pontiff.

If the Cult had infiltrated the church, that audience could put Seraphina in danger. The missing winners had all met the pontiff. Ella needed to keep an eye on her.

A stir at the entrance interrupted her thoughts.

Attendants hurried to the door. Several nobles rose as a young woman in a formal gown entered, escorted by Royal Knights.

Ella looked up.

Princess Angelica.

The princess spotted Seraphina, nodded to Ella, and came over to their sofa.

"Seraphina, it's been a while." She sat beside her, then turned to Ella. "And you must be Miss Ella of the Malvo Chamber of Commerce. I've heard so much about your success in the capital. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Ella rose to return the greeting. By the time she sat down, her back was damp.

A princess. An actual princess.

Angelica and Seraphina. Both had been targeted during the academy raid, and now both were here for the Hero's Ascent.

Of course. This is why the Scribe sent me to the VIP area. I'm here to protect them.

Ella sat straighter. She picked up the donut and took a bite.

She could do that. She gave Angelica a polite smile and shifted a little closer to Seraphina.

They watched the matches and talked. Angelica kept the conversation moving easily, from sword techniques to Trido's dessert shops. Then she turned to Seraphina.

"By the way, how's your boyfriend?"

Ella's ears pricked up. She lifted her wineglass to hide her face and nearly caught the bridge of her nose on the rim.

Seraphina sipped her tea. "He's fine."

Angelica leaned closer and lowered her voice. "I heard... did you two break up?"

Seraphina's fingers twitched against the handle. The tea rippled, but her expression stayed the same. She put the cup down and met Angelica's eyes.

"Yes. We did."

Ella bit her lip to keep herself from grinning.

They broke up. They actually broke up!

He only agreed to date her so he could protect her. Now the danger's passed, he's ended it. As long as I keep her safe, he won't have to do that again!

Angelica's shoulders relaxed. She sank back against the cushions, then looked down, winding a strand of golden hair around her finger.

"Then... what sort of person is Uriel? What do you think of him?"

Below them, a contestant was knocked off his feet by a heroic spirit. Seraphina looked toward the field, though she no longer seemed to be watching.

"Easygoing, usually. A little unreliable sometimes. He likes to smooth things over when there's trouble. And he's stingy. We split the bill all the time. Sometimes I even have to treat him." She paused. "There are things I don't understand about him. He knows much more than he lets on. But when it matters, you can count on him."

The fork bent in Ella's hand.

Yes. Exactly. You can count on him. That's the first sensible thing you've said.

The rest of the assessment was harder to take.

Bullshit. You're the stingy one. You've dated him for a month and you think you know him? He's hiding his abilities, you spoiled brat!

Angelica cupped her cheeks and sighed. "That sounds lovely."

Ella caught herself just before she said, "Of course it does."

Then she saw Angelica's expression.

Oh, no.

She knew that dreamy look. She had caught it on her own face in the mirror while writing in her diary late at night.

Eventually, they returned to the matches. Angelica and Seraphina were both scheduled to compete later. They discussed one contestant's strength-focused spirit, another fighter's poor footwork, and a match that had nearly gone the other way. Ella added an occasional comment, careful to sound like an ordinary spectator.

It didn't take Angelica long to return to her real subject.

"How strong is Uriel?"

"Average," Seraphina said. "Though I can't tell if he's holding back."

Ella helped herself to a slice of cake, then stabbed at it with her bent fork.

You have no idea. If he weren't worried about innocent people getting hurt, he'd have kicked the pontiff out of his seat and taken it himself by now.

The announcer's voice rang out.

"Next contestant: Uriel!"

Seraphina blinked and set down her cup. "He entered? Then let's see what sort of opponent he summons."

Ella sat up.

The Scribe's going to fight! I'll finally get to see what he can really do!

Beside her, Angelica leaned forward too, hands clasped against her chest and eyes fixed on the competitors' entrance.

No one appeared. The announcer called Uriel's name again.

"Perhaps he's nervous and went to the bathroom," Seraphina said.

Angelica looked down and twisted a lock of hair around her finger. "Actually... I may have disrupted his plans."

Seraphina and Ella both turned to her.

"He saved me during the academy raid," Angelica said. "He took me somewhere safe, then ran back to help. I keep thinking about that."

"So you signed him up?" Seraphina asked.

Angelica nodded, then hesitated. "I found out his name afterward. When I heard he was in Trido, the deadline hadn't passed, so I... registered him. I wanted to see him in action again. I didn't realize I'd be interfering with his plans."

Ella stared at her.

You. How dare you.

I'd thought about signing him up myself at first, but decided he needed a rest! And you just went ahead and did it?

She tried to keep her expression composed. Inside, she was screaming at Fenria volume.

Seraphina sat back, her voice cooling. "Even if you are a princess, you shouldn't make that decision for someone else."

"Exactly!" Ella nodded, forgetting to keep her business smile in place.

The announcer made one last call for Uriel, warned that he would forfeit if he failed to appear, and waited. The entrance stayed empty.

Then came the next name.

"Next contestant: Tian!"

Ella's indignation vanished. She straightened her skirt, folded her hands in her lap, and watched the entrance.

The Witch! What kind of spirit will she summon? She could win this whole thing and get us straight to the pontiff!

After all, Ella had registered Tian herself.

When she had later seen Uriel's name on the list, she had assumed he had entered himself. After all his work in Trido, surely he could use some help. So she had added Tian's name too. If the Witch won, the Scribe could sit back and rest.

Then Ella went still. Only now did she connect Angelica's admission with Tian's entry.

Wait. He didn't sign himself up.

He had come dressed as an ordinary student. He had refused the VIP seats. He had meant to stay in the crowd.

And I've put the Witch in front of the entire arena.

The color drained from her face.

I'm finished. I should just fall on my sword.

"Sorry! I need the bathroom!"

Ella fled the box.