VIO Ch 35 – Joint Training (III)

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Translator: mii

editors: sleepchaser, chiizuholic

tlc: chiizuholic

Once the friendly match had ended, Night and Legion returned to the red tent where Vio and the others waited for them. 

Full of excitement, Liona said, “Both of you were amazing! So the battle between fellow prodigies is deeply moving, huh?! Even just watching it made my blood boil.” She reached out and ruffled Night’s hair into a mess. “Well done, Night! I’m so proud of you!”

“Wait, Princess. Please stop praising me like a pet!” said Night, his face red, perhaps due to the close proximity of Liona. When she finally released him, he swiftly created distance between them, sighing in an awkward manner. 

Vio understood Night’s feelings. Liona was wearing a dress that showed off her cleavage. At that distance, he was too close to her voluptuous breasts. Of course he would feel embarrassed. Vio was familiar with this feeling, as his mother Viola would on many occasions do the same thing. Those moments left him awkward.

Legion greeted Ars and Liona, then made his way toward Vio. Since he had already taken off his helmet, Vio could make out the sweat running down his cheeks. “Legi, good job. You looked dashing.”

“Thank you very much! Your praise is the highest reward for me!” replied Legion with a bright smile. 

It might be his imagination, but Vio thought he saw an image of a dog wagging its tail. Amazed, he said, “You’re exaggerating it, really.”

Ars was also shocked. “Legion, you sure idolize Violant a lot.”

“That’s correct, Your Highness. I have found my master for life. Naturally I cherish him!” said Legion, cutting an earnest figure. 

Vio could only smile bitterly. “You’re saying something embarrassing again… The pay in the Royal Knights should be higher than what I give you, right? How about using this match as an opportunity to return there?”

His question dumbfounded everyone around them. Before Vio could wonder why, Legion asked with a sorrowful expression, “Why are you still saying that, Lord Violant? Am I perhaps inferior to Erik?”

“Why are you mentioning him now? You’re different from him. You know that, don’t you?”

“Then, when will you deem me as acceptable?!” It was rare for Legion to burst out in fury like this; he immediately came to his senses and bowed in courtesy. “…I’m sorry. I will go take off my armor. Please excuse me.”

“H-hey, Legi…” Although Vio tried to stop him, Legion was too quick. With his back turned to Vio, his refusal to listen or stay proved evident. As such, Vio was reluctant to call him back.

“Wait, Legi! Hey!” Cheval ran after Legion in Vio’s place.

“What happened to him all of a sudden?” Despite lack of understanding, Vio knew that he had hurt Legion. As he tilted his head in contemplation, Lantz asked, “Please excuse my rudeness. Lord Violant, are you forcing Sir Legion to be your knight?”

“Me? No way. It’s too much of a waste to let that talent rot in the countryside. I refused him from the beginning. I told him I would release him from his debt, but he wanted to work for me. In the end, I lost to his enthusiasm.” Vio was puzzled. “What’s so good about me? In any case, I still think he should return to the Royal Knights. In fact, I’m even more convinced after witnessing the match.”

Ars muttered, “I would certainly appreciate it if he came back…”

“Ars!” said Liona in a threatening tone. 

Raising a hand to placate her, he looked straight at Vio. “Think of his feelings a bit more. He’s too pitiful otherwise.”

“That’s right! Well,” said Liona with a bitter expression, “it’s not like I don’t understand Lord Violant’s feelings.”

Night said, “With all due respect, I am the same as him. A knight. For us, the most sorrowful thing is to be rejected by the person we wish to serve, because they believed themselves unworthy of accepting our goodwill. We can work hard to gain our master’s approval if they hated us, but Lord Violant doesn’t seem to be giving him a chance.” His gray eyes shone in earnestness, staring straight at Vio. “Please have confidence. Sir Legion wouldn’t pick the wrong master. I fully understood that after we crossed swords.”

Night’s words echoed in Vio’s heart. He had always found himself unworthy. Unworthy of Legion. Yet Legion was of the opposite opinion and wanted him as his master. Vio’s chest swelled with warmth.

“…Thank you very much, Sir Night. I was wrong. You’re really strong, aren’t you? And gentle as well. A suitable knight for the Princess.” Vio bowed politely towards Ars, Liona, and Night. “I’m sorry. I’m going after Legi. Please excuse me.”

“Yeah, just go.”

“Do your best, Lord Violant!”

Buoyed by Ars and Liona’s encouraging words, Vio left the red tent with quick steps. Lantz, Jill, and Rille chased after him at once.

⋆̩☂︎*̣̩ ✢ ⋆̩☂︎*̣̩

“Night, you say some really great things these days,” Liona teased as soon as Vio had left.

Hiding his embarrassment, Night replied in a calm manner, “What are you talking about? I always say great things.”

“Hah! So you say,” said Liona, light and airy as she laughed. She glanced at Ars. “Oh? You look happy.”

“No…” Ars covered his mouth with a hand. Cleared his throat. “I also found it a waste to have Legion serve the Lesserhain family, but… I don’t think I have to worry anymore. They seem to take good care of him.”

“You just noticed that now? It’s obvious by looking at Sir Legion’s face. It shines so brightly now, doesn’t it?”

“Shut up. I didn’t want to admit it.”

Laughter again spilled from Liona’s lips. “The jealousy of a man is unsightly, Your Highness Crown Prince Ars.”

“I like him, so it can’t be helped. Just look at his ability.” A sigh escaped from Ars.

“Yes, yes, I understand,” said Liona, bursting into laughter once more, bright and echoing. Beside her, Ars sighed yet again, chagrined.

Legi acting like that reminds me of the protagonist of shoujo manga running away after finding out their boyfriend is cheating~ ?₍ᐢ. ̫ .⑅ᐢ₎?↝