Chapter 96: Shelley · Vicious · Bell (Real)
Without picking up the silk white glove on the floor, Darcy said, “…You’re challenging me?”
On the surface, Darcy was angry, but inwardly, he was ecstatic.
Yes, yes! This is it! I’ll make you humiliate yourself!
Polly’s eyes lit up. She and the people around her quietly retreated, her whole being filled with anticipation.
“Let me see what kind of person you really are.”
Kicking Shelley’s white glove with his foot, Darcy looked down at him and said loudly, “Challenge me!?”
“Do you think you’re qualified?”
“I am Darcy Kevin! The Flash of Doran!”
“Unlike the proud and arrogant humans, half-elves are humble!”
“Put away your ridiculous arrogance!”
Darcy’s voice grew louder and louder, until it was almost like a battle cry.
Is it an ability to sway people’s hearts? Or just simple empathy?
The atmosphere in the hall began to quietly change under his roar. Some of the more excitable male nobles even placed their hands on the hilts of their swords, unable to restrain their urge to fight.
“I will teach you how to be a low-key noble!”
“A true noble is humble!”
He drew his longsword. In its sheath, the sword was unremarkable, showing no signs of being special. But once drawn, its blade was inlaid with colorful gems, its design extremely ornate. And the moment it was unsheathed, it emitted a dense magical aura and began to glow on its own.
Wow! A wave of gasps went through the crowd.
“It’s that sword!”
“Heavens! How could his father have given him that sword!?”
“That’s one of the best pieces of equipment below legendary, isn’t it?”
“The Kevin family truly is an old noble family. Their foundation is so deep!”
“A high-level magic item! As expected of Marquis Kevin’s son!”
Hearing the gasps from the crowd, Darcy was secretly pleased. But some chattering also reached his ears.
“I think Darcy has become much more handsome!”
“Exactly! He’s much more charming!”
“But Lord Shelley is still much more handsome!”
“Really! His aura suddenly changed!”
“…”
Hmph! Gold-digging bitches! A bunch of vulgar women who only care about looks!
Looking at the unarmed Shelley opposite him, Darcy’s anger grew.
“It’s all because of you! Her gaze has moved away from me!”
Hmm? A magic weapon?
Shelley was also a little surprised. He hadn’t sensed the aura on the sword just now.
“Is there something special about it?”
“The techniques of the half-elves are quite interesting.”
“And…”
His peripheral vision swept across the entire hall. Shelley had a rough analysis in his mind: His fighting spirit is not low, and his combat power should be decent. If they can still be defeated by half-orcs like this… there’s a traitor. There’s definitely a traitor.
“Now let me see who will be the first to show their true colors.”
Faced with Darcy’s soaring fighting spirit and sarcasm, the serious expression on Shelley’s face didn’t change. He walked toward the crowd and said, “Arrogant? Is that so.”
Walking up to a voluptuous noblewoman, Shelley bowed and said, “Lady Mudley, may I borrow your sword for a moment?”
Mudley’s eyes widened. In disbelief, she drew her decorative lady’s sword and, with some surprise, handed it to him. “You… you remembered my name?”
Taking it with both hands, Shelley nodded with a brilliant smile and said softly, “Of course. It’s hard to forget the name of a beautiful lady.”
“I will return it to you in one piece.”
After thanking the flattered Lady Mudley, Shelley held the sword and faced the poised Darcy. He said in a low voice, “If you retract your doubts and insults, I am unwilling to fight you.”
Darcy crouched low, then suddenly stomped the ground and charged at Shelley.
“Enough talk! Let me see what you’re really made of!”
To make her keep looking at you!
Standing his ground with the sword, Shelley chuckled, his expression turning into a half-smile.
“If the Queen’s knight and lover is not qualified to challenge you…”
“How noble you must be.”
That’s right! His status!
The distance between them closed rapidly. Everyone in the hall watched the development nervously. Many of them held their breath, afraid of an accident.
That’s right! We were just thinking about testing his character! How could we forget his status! He’s not just an illegitimate son of a noble! He’s the Queen’s man! If anything happens to him… none of us who fanned the flames and pushed this along will be able to escape! Even the most benevolent monarch has a temper!
Ah!
Some of the ladies let out a cry.
Shelley, holding the sword with both hands, suddenly threw it when Darcy was two meters away.
“What!?”
The people in the hall only saw Shelley’s incomprehensible move, but Darcy, in front of him, had a completely different feeling. When Shelley was holding the sword, he gave off a serious, but righteous and stubborn feeling. Although he was not to be trifled with, it was easy to find a way to deal with him. A gentleman can be deceived by playing by the rules. A stubborn paladin was the easiest for an enemy to find a weakness to exploit.
But in that instant, Darcy felt a terrifying presence appear before him.
[Charming Gaze (Divine)!]
His movements paused for an imperceptible moment. Darcy himself didn’t even react before he found that Shelley had disappeared from his sight.
Not good! Where!?
“Where are you looking?”
A faint voice, filled with confusion, sounded from behind him.
Behind! No.
A calm voice appeared in front of him.
Right in front!
Darcy felt a huge force on his hand, followed by a dizzying spin.
Clang!
Clang!
Just then, the sword Shelley had thrown happened to slide back into Mudley’s scabbard at her waist.
“Ah!”
Mudley let out a flustered cry, then covered her blushing face, feeling that her situation was not good. She forced herself to remain calm and squeezed her legs together slightly.
“I… I think a little leaked out…”
Falling heavily to the ground, Darcy’s head was spinning. He was just about to get up when he felt a sharp pain in his jaw.
“Don’t move!”
“Don’t be reckless!”
Panicked and chaotic voices sounded in his ears. Darcy gradually came back to his senses. He only felt a sharp pain in his wrist, as if it had been bitten off by a wild beast.
“Aaargh!”
With his foot on Darcy’s chest, Shelley held the sword with one hand, its tip at Darcy’s throat. Shelley’s calm, almost cold expression left no one in doubt of his killing intent.
“Please don’t shout like that, Lord Kevin. It makes you seem very ungraceful.”
“Arrogance and conceit, these are qualities that will destroy a person.”
“And, I think that by slandering humans like that…”
“Shouldn’t you apologize to all the half-elves with human blood?”
