In This Life I Will Be The Lord Novel - Episode 199

“Haap!”
Sir Sloan, perhaps thinking the same thing, quickly launched an offensive.
Ta-hat!
With a light sound, Sir Sloan’s large body moved nimbly with his footwork.
It was a classic, fundamental movement, without any unnecessary flourishes.
It was an achievement befitting the Deputy Commander of the Imperial Knights.
Sir Sloan, who charged forward in an instant, was as threatening as if he would cut Ramona down at any moment.
But.
Something strange happened again.
“Oh, no?”
Ramona also began to create distance at the same time.
And the two people’s steps were exactly alike, as if reflected in a mirror.
“Wh-what is that?”
Someone cried out in astonishment.
It wasn’t simply reversing footwork.
The footwork Ramona displayed was similar to Sir Sloan’s, yet different.
It was a little more precise and more mature.
And.
Gk-k-k! Karang!
Everything happened in an instant.
Ramona’s eyes seemed to sharpen, and then she executed the very same deflecting technique Sir Sloan had shown just moments ago.
But this time, it was different again.
Exactly half a beat.
The defense turned into offense half a beat faster than Sir Sloan had shown.
Hwooong!
A strong gust of wind seemed to blow along the sword path, and then.
“Haah, haah.”
Ramona’s sword was already stopped at Sir Sloan’s neck.
Sir Sloan, who blinked twice, stared at Ramona’s blade reflecting the banquet hall lights for a moment, then said, “I… I lost.”

“Waaah!”
“Amazing! Truly amazing!”
Cheers erupted from all directions.
Clap, clap, clap!
Applause poured down.
Even the Imperial Knights, forgetting that their superior had lost, stared blankly at Ramona with wide eyes.
“Who in the world is that knight?!”
“She’s Lady Lombardi’s escort, so she must be a Lombardi knight!”
“Anyway, she’s incredible!”
Everyone seemed to have forgotten that this was a duel fought for honor.

“Just now, that… No, everything…”
Sir Sloan muttered with a confused expression.
It was such an intense defeat that it even made him forget the fact that he had lost.
And then, with intense eyes that seemed to shoot fire, he asked Ramona, “How in the world did you do that?”
This was a question that everyone who had trained with a sword in that place was asking.
Because Ramona’s movements had transcended ‘common sense’.
“Teach me, Sir Brown.”
Sir Sloan approached and said.
His heavy breathing hadn’t even properly returned.
The knights held their breath.
However, there was not much expectation.
They didn’t expect such an incredible secret technique to be readily taught in such a public setting.

“The deflection technique Sir Sloan first showed was a half-measure.”
But Ramona opened her mouth in a calm voice.
“You shouldn’t end it with just this turning motion, you need to pull the sword back one more time. That way, you can completely disrupt the opponent’s breathing…” She even picked up her sword again to demonstrate, showing great kindness.
The knights, though flustered by her actions, unconsciously moved a step or two closer, not wanting to miss a single word.
Even the nobles, who had been continuously cheering at the sudden shift from a duel to a teaching session, felt something strange and tilted their heads.

“Then what about the footwork?”
One of the knights, who had been quietly listening to the lecture, asked.
“That is…”
Again, she was unhesitant.
Ramona explained in a soft, clear voice.
The more she explained, the more the Imperial Knights’ faces showed a fervent desire to learn.
Every word from Ramona Brown was precious.
It was advice that nourished the knights’ skills and experience.
Among them, some had even broken through a wall that had been blocking their progress for several months.

“Just now… what exactly did you mean by ‘half-measure’?”
Sir Sloan asked Ramona.
“Are you saying that the Imperial Swordsmanship we know is an incomplete ‘half-measure’?”
Ramona instead looked to one side.
She saw Florentia, sitting relaxed in a chair and smiling.
As if waiting for a final command.
Nod.
Florentia subtly nodded her head.
Whoosh.
Ramona exhaled briefly and said, “That is correct. The Brown Swordsmanship, which was passed down as Imperial Swordsmanship, is an ‘incomplete version’ with many parts omitted.”
“Oh, really…”
“The ancestor of the Brown family, who created this ‘Imperial Swordsmanship,’ improved the Brown Swordsmanship so that more people could learn it safely and quickly. In that process, parts that were not essential or difficult to master were omitted.”
Ramona’s clear voice echoed in the night air.
“But successive Brown Patriarchs learned the unedited Brown Swordsmanship and used it to lead the Imperial Knights as commanders and teach the knights.
But…”
“Ah, so that’s why…”
People understood simultaneously.
The reason why the Brown family, who had served as Imperial Knight Commanders, disappeared, and at the same time, the Imperial Knights’ achievements subtly began to decline.
“Furthermore, many of the things I know are the results of the strenuous efforts and research of the Brown family survivors, including my father, over the past forty years.”
A stir went through the audience.
And the gazes that had been on Ramona naturally began to shift to another person.

“I will announce the result of the duel.”
It was Emperor Jovanes with a stern face.
“The result of the duel fought for honor, …Florentia Lombardi’s representative has won.”
Jovanes’s cold eyes turned to Astana.
It was a pitiful sight, sitting there, his face bright red, unable to escape with so many eyes watching him.
Just then, Ramona moved.
She picked up her sword and walked.
And stood before Florentia.
Srrung.
Ramona, holding her sword with both hands, slowly knelt on one knee before Florentia.
And solemnly said, “Ramona Brown dedicates victory and honor to the Lady.”
It was a common ritual for a victorious representative in a duel.
But for it to be Lombardi and Brown, of all people.
The atmosphere around them became strange.

“Thank you for fighting bravely, Sir Brown.”
Florentia Lombardi slowly stood up and received Ramona’s sword with both hands.
And then, looking at Astana, she said, “Now, I would like His Highness to apologize.”
Astana’s body flinched greatly.
“An apology for insulting my mother and disparaging my honor, Florentia Lombardi’s.”
“I didn’t make anything up…!”
Astana sprang to his feet and shouted.
His attitude was that he had done nothing wrong until the very end.
“First Prince.”
But before Jovanes’s cold voice, his momentum quickly broke.
“I, I…”
Astana clenched his fists tightly.
Whatever was making him so resentful.
He glared at Florentia, who waited calmly, and squeezed out, “I-I’m sorry. I… misspoke.”
The apology, obtained through a duel, was meager at best, but Florentia merely shrugged.

“Damn it!”
Astana, sobered by shame, cursed and left his seat.
Hundreds of gazes piercing his back seemed to push him away.
“His spirit is broken.”
Emperor Jovanes said so and rose from his seat.
And he asked Ramona, “What was your name again, young one?”
“Ramona Brown, Your Majesty.”
Ramona knelt again and replied respectfully.
“Your relation to the Brown Patriarch?”
“He is my father.”
“I see…”
Jovanes’s words trailed off.
And he subtly glanced at her right hand, which held the sword.
Her intact, unharmed hand.
“Are you participating in the hunting competition, Sir Brown?”
“Yes. Although my skills are lacking, I will participate in the name of the Brown family, Your Majesty.”
“Very well. I wish you good luck.”
Jovanes said only that and turned away.
There was no mention of the superior swordsmanship Ramona had just displayed.
Ramona’s shoulders slumped slightly.
But the Imperial Knights following the Emperor looked back at Ramona.
Their eyes were full of lingering regret.

As the crowd slowly dispersed, a hand gently took hold of Ramona’s shoulder, who stood alone.
“Lady Lombardi.”
“Don’t worry, Sir Brown. The Brown family’s glorious return has successfully taken its first step.”
Tia’s green eyes sparkled vividly as she smiled.
“Just trust me.”
It was strange.
With just those words and that smile, strength surged within Ramona’s heart.
She truly felt secure.
Whether she knew Ramona’s feelings or not.
“Astana, that pathetic, humiliated face.”
Tia wore a somewhat villainous smile.
“Serves him right, serves him right.”
Her shoulders, making an incomprehensible remark, bounced as if dancing.