The fight at the dueling grounds sparked widespread discussion over the hours that followed.
People had assumed that today's main attraction would be either Hughes or Ammdar, and that the result of their duel would be the biggest story of the day.
But no one had expected the real spectacle to come afterward.
You could say the audience there had truly been shown what a real surprise looked like.
Ammdar's defeat meant House Laurent had now suffered six straight losses at Hughes's hands, and because he was the heir, the impact of his loss was even more severe than the previous five put together.
If things had ended there, House Laurent would probably have had no face left in Demacia while still calling itself a sword house.
It would have been fair to say their reputation had been utterly swept away.
But then, at that very moment, Fiora, who had always remained unnoticed within House Laurent, stepped onto the stage.
During those first few minutes after she appeared, people treated it as nothing more than a laughable challenge. No one believed she could possibly be Hughes's match.
After all, he had defeated her brother Ammdar without taking a single wound.
And yet, less than a minute after the duel began, jaws dropped all across the stands.
With dazzling beauty, grace, and movements swift as thunder, she defeated Hughes and let people witness true Peerless Swordsmanship once again after so many years.
In less than a minute, she left an unforgettable impression on everyone present.
And just two hours after the duel, the Royal City Bulletin rushed out a special edition devoted to the event. The moment the paper went on sale, people nearly tore it from one another's hands.
Instead of fading, the excitement only grew hotter.
Thanks to the paper's coverage, the name Fiora Laurent spread across the entire capital in a matter of hours.
After reading the detailed account in print, countless people lamented that they had not gone to the arena in person to witness the duel for themselves.
But compared to the lively buzz filling every street and alley of the capital, Luke's courtyard was quiet and peaceful.
When Luke returned to the courtyard from the newspaper office, he found that the person currently being discussed throughout the capital was lying back in a rocking chair with an easy, relaxed air. Even the usually cool expression on the duelist's face held a rare trace of contentment.
Ever since leaving the duel, Miss Duelist's overall presence somehow seemed different.
Fiora sensed Luke's gaze and opened her eyes. "Is there something on my face?"
"No." Luke walked toward the rocking chair and said, "You just seem different somehow. More alive."
Fiora asked, "Different how?"
Luke smiled. "You look more at ease."
"Do I?" Fiora listened, and a faint smile curved at her lips. "I really do feel much lighter."
Before, she had felt like a bird trapped in a cage, wrapped in countless chains that left her suffocated and oppressed.
But today, she had swung her own sword and cut every one of those chains apart.
She had sharpened that sword for twelve years, and at last it had found a place to be used.
She had imagined this day countless times, but when she truly did it, what surged through her heart was an exhilaration even greater than anything she had imagined.
She liked the feeling of swinging her sword on the stage. She liked no longer having to care about other people's eyes on her, liked the freedom of being utterly unrestrained.
She liked the way everyone's gaze turned toward the victor.
All of that was something she should have had in the first place.
From this day forward, her fate would be hers to control.
And as she thought of that, Fiora's gaze drifted toward Luke beside her, her blue eyes trembling faintly.
The courage she had found today to step onto that stage, the overwhelming strength she had displayed in defeating her opponent, none of it had happened without him somewhere in the picture.
Thinking back carefully, ever since the day they met at the swordsmanship training camp a few months ago, her fate had already begun to change.
Meeting the duelist's gaze, Luke asked, "By the way, when did your sword intent break through to perfection?"
"A few days ago." Fiora smiled and looked at him. "I was originally planning to use it on you."
After pushing her Peerless Sword Intent to perfection, her understanding of Peerless Swordsmanship had reached an even deeper level. (TN: I'm still not sure if this refers to a canon ability. Maybe I'll replace it with Duelist's Dance)
She had originally wanted to give this guy a little surprise, but she hadn't expected to end up using it on the dueling stage first.
"Miss Duelist was amazing! Those moves this afternoon!"
At that moment, Lux and the others came running in from outside the courtyard, their faces still glowing with excitement.
Luke had been the first one to call her Miss Duelist, and after the others realized the name suited Fiora surprisingly well, they all started calling her that too.
Fiora herself had never objected to it.
"Right now the entire capital is talking about you."
Kahina was smiling too, genuinely happy for her.
They had all seen Fiora's swordsmanship with their own eyes, and in Kahina's heart, the guidance Fiora had given during these past days practically made her half a teacher already.
So seeing her make a name for herself in the capital today made Kahina truly happy from the bottom of her heart.
She had always believed that someone like Miss Duelist should never remain unknown.
Not long after that, another carriage pulled up outside the courtyard.
The one who stepped down from it was Panis.
She looked at Fiora and sighed. "I didn't make it in time to watch the duel this afternoon. It's a shame I couldn't see Miss Fiora fight in person, but congratulations on defeating your opponent."
She genuinely regretted missing the duel.
Fiora smiled at her. "Thank you."
Over the past two days, they had all grown closer with Panis.
But she seemed very busy. Aside from the day before yesterday, when she had spent the whole day shopping with them, she had only come late yesterday afternoon, stayed briefly, and then left again.
And today it was even later, nearly evening before she arrived.
Fiora's sharp eye had also noticed that Panis looked like she had not been sleeping well these past few days.
Especially today, there was a weariness about her that was impossible to miss.
As far as Luke was concerned, there was only one thing to say about that. If you kept going out in the middle of the night, came back with barely enough time to sleep, and still had to keep up appearances all day, then after repeating that for several days in a row, of course you were going to be exhausted.
"We're putting together a small banquet tonight, and I was just about to invite you."
Luke looked at Panis as he spoke.
"Really? Then it looks like I arrived at exactly the right time." Panis turned toward Luke, and a smile appeared on her face.
Very soon, though, her attention was caught by the painting in Luke's courtyard, and she stepped closer to study it carefully.
From it, she could feel the delicacy of Luke's brushwork. She became so absorbed in the painting that she almost looked like someone obsessed with art.
As time passed and the sky gradually darkened, more and more carriages began arriving outside Luke's courtyard.
Jarvan IV, Garen, Navis, Cithria, nearly everyone familiar to him had shown up.
The courtyard became far more lively than usual.
Looking at the familiar faces filling the yard, Fiora glanced at Luke. "When did you invite so many people?"
"Obviously while you weren't paying attention." Luke wore a warm smile. "I figured today was a pretty important day for you, so I wanted to make it a little grander. You don't mind, do you?"
Fiora didn't answer. She only let a faint smile appear at the corners of her lips, while something warm seemed to pass through her heart.
The feeling was like a summer breeze brushing by, unbelievably comforting.
Then she gave a slight nod.
Today really was important to her.
Before long, one grill after another had been set up in the courtyard.
For the evening banquet, they had chosen barbecue, the option that had received the most votes on the spot.
Everyone loved barbecue for the same reason, easy and delicious.
A few barrels of alcohol were brought up from the basement, and everyone stayed out in the courtyard, grilling and drinking to their hearts' content.
Since it was a banquet made up entirely of close friends, no one acted stiff the way they would at other noble gatherings. All of that so-called etiquette was tossed aside completely.
The point was simple.
Have fun.
Jarvan IV hefted a barrel of beer and thumped it down in front of Garen, looking at him with open challenge. "Feels like it's been ages since we went at it like this. Has your alcohol tolerance slipped these past few months? Let me check what you're really made of."
Faced with Jarvan IV's provocation, Garen simply said.
"You think too highly of yourself."
He might not drink much in everyday life, but in terms of tolerance, he had clearly inherited his father Pete's monstrous capacity.
When the two of them used to train together in the military, they often snuck drinks from Tiyana's stash and got thrashed for it every time.
Once they got older, that kind of thing happened less and less.
Now, sitting in the courtyard and listening to the laughter all around them, both of them felt a little nostalgic.
"Then let's do it!"
Jarvan IV grabbed an oversized mug and unceremoniously filled one for Garen.
So the two of them each held one giant mug, exchanged a look, and tipped their heads back to chug.
When the beer finally went down, both of them let out deep, satisfied breaths, rare expressions of pure enjoyment on their faces.
"I've got to say, the beer my second brother brews is absolutely incredible!"
Jarvan IV said that and immediately poured himself another mug.
Garen nodded in agreement.
After that, the two of them did not just drink straight. They added in some little drinking games and started throwing hand signs at one another.
The Demacian way of playing looked more or less the same as what Luke remembered.
Sure enough, anywhere there was drinking culture, there would be something like this.
As more time passed, Garen, once he'd had a bit too much, was no longer as steady and composed as usual. He loosened up a great deal.
He was even shouting louder than Jarvan IV.
Meanwhile, Lux was going around clinking glasses with everyone while drinking fruit beer, proudly showing off her excellent "tolerance."
Anyone who didn't know better saw her going cup after cup and immediately praised Miss Crownguard for her unbelievable drinking capacity.
The moment Lux heard that, she became absurdly pleased with herself.
Poppy, on the other hand, mixed up the fruit beer and the regular beer. She had originally been tailing Miss Crownguard around like a little shadow, but after taking one mistaken drink, she dropped flat on the spot.
Being the first one to get drunk, she was carried straight into the house.
Fortunately, Luke had prepared some sobering soup in advance. One bowl later, Poppy immediately came to.
Then she returned to the courtyard, though this time she behaved herself and stopped following Lux around everywhere.
The atmosphere in the courtyard was incredibly cheerful.
Feeling the mood around her, Panis sat off to one side, taking small bites of grilled skewers, a smile unconsciously rising at her lips.
When she saw Luke walking toward her carrying a bowl, she said, "I really like an atmosphere like this."
When she was in Granlott, she had almost never attended a banquet this enjoyable.
"I'm glad you like it."
Luke sat down beside her and handed over the bowl. "Give this a try."
"This is..."
Panis caught the scent first, accepted it curiously, and looked down to see a bowl of bright, clear broth.
Luke said, "Fresh chicken soup. Try it and tell me what you think."
Panis nodded, lifted the bowl to her lips, blew on it gently, and took a careful sip.
A rich, savory flavor spread across her tongue, carrying the taste of tender meat along with the clean fragrance of several seasonings, all blending into one intensely fragrant bowl of chicken soup.
Before long, the broth turned into a wave of warmth that slipped down into her stomach.
That warmth then slowly spread through her whole body, like a large, gentle hand brushing away the exhaustion clinging to her.
"It's good."
A spark lit up in Panis's eyes, and after saying that, she could not help taking another sip.
After that, she stopped chatting with Luke entirely. All of her attention went to the bowl of soup in her hands.
When she finished it, her whole body felt warm and comfortable. The fatigue from going out in the middle of the night for several days in a row and barely sleeping had faded by quite a bit.
"As long as you like it. There's plenty more in the kitchen. Want another?"
Luke smiled at the sight.
"Mm." Panis nodded immediately and obediently handed the bowl back to Luke. A faint sheen of oil reflected on her rosy lips, making their color look even richer.
Luke took the bowl and stood up, heading into the house.
Chicken soup also had a sobering effect. He had made it while preparing the sobering soup, though of course he had not made it specifically for Panis alone.
It was just that after finishing it, he had thought of her condition and brought the first bowl to her.
Over the past two days, it had become clear that this princess from a neighboring kingdom was indeed a very kindhearted woman.
But whether she was truly good or bad, he still couldn't make a final judgment until he figured out what exactly she had been doing during those nighttime outings.
Panis's eyes lingered for a long time on Luke's retreating back.
When Luke stepped into the sitting room, he saw Sona sitting alone on the sofa in quiet stillness, as if all the noise outside had nothing to do with her at all.
From where he stood, he could see the peaceful beauty of her profile. Her blue hair draped down like flowing water, creating a scene so still and lovely it almost looked like a painting.
Luke asked, "The chicken soup's done. Want some?"
The moment Sona heard that, she looked over and instantly nodded, a foodie smile appearing on her lips and shattering the quiet elegance of the moment.
A short while later, Luke came out of the kitchen carrying two bowls of chicken soup. He set one down in front of her. "There's more in the kitchen. If you finish it, you can go get another yourself."
Sona nodded again, immediately picked up the bowl, and took an eager sip. Her sparkling eyes made their judgment at once.
Delicious.
Then Luke returned to the front courtyard and handed the other bowl to Panis.
By then, night had already settled in for some time, but the barbecue outside was still going strong.
Jarvan IV and Garen were both swaying all over the place from drinking, and it looked like neither of them would last much longer.
Miss Crownguard was showing off the grilling tricks she had learned from Luke while teaching them to other people, all while grilling and eating at the same time, fully embracing the joy of self-sufficiency.
Lately she had invented a new favorite way to eat, wrapping all kinds of grilled meat in flatbread, brushing on sauce, and then taking huge bites.
It made her incredibly happy.
The inspiration had come from the meat sandwiches Luke had made some time ago. Ever since trying them, she had developed a habit of wanting to stuff everything into bread before eating it.
Even steamed buns weren't safe. She would split them in half and tuck her favorite dishes inside.
When it came to having fun with food, she really knew what she was doing.
Kahina and Cithria were sitting off to one side chatting.
From the look of it, Kahina was asking Cithria for advice and pointers.
Young as she was, Cithria had already joined the Dauntless Vanguard and even managed to match the record Garen had once set, which was enough to prove she was already an exceptionally outstanding knight.
And becoming that kind of knight was exactly Kahina's goal, so Cithria was definitely the right person to ask.
The evening went on until nine o'clock.
At that point, Fiora had to go home.
After all, what had happened today had been fermenting for so long that she could not just leave the entire family waiting forever.
And around then, the banquet had more or less reached its end anyway.
Everyone had eaten and drunk their fill. Jarvan IV and Garen had both drunk themselves flat on the spot, so far gone that there was no need to bother with sobering soup.
They were simply sent home.
Everyone else said their goodbyes and left one after another.
"Then I'll head back too."
Standing at the courtyard gate, Panis waved goodbye to Luke and the others.
"Take care, see you."
Lux waved back as well.
Even after she got into the carriage, Panis still held up the curtain and looked back at the courtyard with a happy smile on her face.
She had been very happy these past few days, and she had made so many new friends too.
Once almost everyone had gone, Luke and the others started cleaning up the courtyard.
There was no way they could leave all that work to Yurna alone. If they did, who knew how long she would be stuck cleaning.
Working together, the few of them managed to get the courtyard spotless in only half an hour, until it looked no different from usual.
And at that point, there was nothing better than soaking in the hot springs.
As he slipped into the warm pool, Luke let out a long breath, and his whole mind finally settled into calm.
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