CHAPTER 177: PROVOCATION: SO EASY, PRINCESS!

First step. Complete.

Mel smirked; little information other than Luria’s abilities was shown in the game. However, as Mel recalled the lazy Luria baited by Selaria’s offer of tickets back then, the Second Princess was easier to read.

Tapping her cheek with an index, Mel’s waist curled a little sideways; her smile widening with a curved gaze.

"Said Sister, who also horsed you around a lot back then, as I recalled?"

Luria froze, her knuckles loosening as she flashed a taunting grin.

"Any problem with that?"

"Nope."

Mel shook her head. "Ah. But the sight of you bolting with an offer of a mochi ticket is hilarious."

She then settled her hands on her head, fingers holding together except the thumb.

"Like a doggy." The hands then swayed like dog ears. "Would you bark for me if I throw a ticket like a treat?"

"You!"

Loria then pursed her lips; her seething teeth causing others, Juniors and Seniors, to all back away.

"Enough of this charade." She drew her rapier. "You just want to pick a fight. Fine!"

Her finger snapped at the three figures, undaunting. "Even your feet wouldn’t be worth the ground I walked on. So come on!"

As Mel flickered at the visible sigh from Samantha and the strained smile from Vernon, she pumped a fist.

As she expected, Luria was a natural narcissist. Not unlike the ones she handled at the university back then.

Challenge her naturally? And she may not accept it, even with a few taunts and quips, which Mel was sure she would laugh off.

Openly provoking her, though, in Public? She would swiftly resort to violence as an option.

"Miss Samantha!"

Under Luria’s quivering glare, she then performed the deepest bow with her arm stretched exaggeratedly aside.

"I’ve no more issues now. Thanks!"

For handling the aftermath? Samantha exchanged a knowing glance with the tired Vernon. Yep. They began to get used to it.

"Mel."

Lila just sighed and scooped Mel back up by her armpit. "Don’t trouble others. Our grudge was only with that bi- I mean, Loria."

"Aw." Rosana only petted Mel’s hair. "Let her be, Lila. Though I don’t recommend calling the Second Princess a doggie."

Her lips curled up with smiling eyes, though neither wide enough to hide the flicker of irritation burrowing within her drumming heartbeat.

"A nobility that failed to contain emotions was worse than hounds without a leash."

And upon facing Mel’s questioning stare, that ire soon melted away in amusement.

"Ah. But Lila’s our unique little puppy that knew how to leash herself now, right?"

"Hmph!" Lila pouted. "Only Mel could call me that. Stop it."

"Sure~"

"You all!"

Those three stares, turning flat and indifferent, then shifted to Luria, who now wore a flushed face.

"You’re all dead, you hear?!" Loria stomped her foot. "Comparing me to a dog was worse than treason. I’ll execute you on the spot!"

Samantha raised a brow at that, her fingers sliding against each other in preparedness.

The Academy’s long history has granted it absolute autonomy and equality for all students.

Loria’s words were nothing but a challenge to that; Samantha could subdue her on the spot.

Yet as she scanned the three’s unfaltering figures, then at the Juniors and Seniors, all huddling together-

A flame burned inside her chest, kindled by memories of the { Unprided Crusade }, and she began to confuse the trembling soldiers with the equally terrified students.

"Samantha. We should-"

"Mr Vernon."

She snapped a warning glance at both Loria and the three troublemakers.

Then, she soon scowled at the Juniors and Seniors. Pathetic. To be so scared of the Second Princess alone.

"Let’s allow this duel to happen."

"Ha?"

"You hear me." Samantha held her head. "Allow it to happen."

This match alone would surely drill in the necessary mindsets into those cowards.

As Samantha huffed, she only left Vernon with unsteady legs, threatening to fall under the pressure of the soon-to-happen complaint documents from the Emperor.

-----------------

Eventually, seats circled around the hall with anticipating yet cautious gazes; particularly, a Vernon with all energies lost hunched at the side, already counting his years before his hair will be bold like Colin.

"Then."

Samantha held up a hand; Rosana, Mel and Lila stood a few miles away from the opposite side, all chattering with their staff, stave and waraxe drawn.

Mel, in particular, elicited more wariness from the crowds as she whispered with her palm covering her lips, along with a few teasing chuckles.

In contrast, Loria stretched herself with a focused expression; her limbs cracking and popping as they elongated, the noise from the gestures more to herself than to the spectators.

Taking a deep breath, she took a stance by bending her left knee with a right leg stretched.

Holding the rapier on her right, her palm faced outward as she aimed the tip of the sword forward, with left palm pushing into the pommel.

A thrust readied, and her smirk confident at her presumably lacking, arrogant opponents.

"On my count."

Seniors and Juniors. The vast experience gap of one year was not so easily unreachable.

"Three."

Mel, Rosana, and Lila. All the strongest from Juniors.

"Two."

The Second Princess had no plans to underestimate, as she scanned at the three readying their postures as well.

"One."

She dared not to underestimate. So scary~

Luria mocked inside as she widely grinned.

"Begin."

So, she shall start with her strongest strike.

Winds gathered at the bottom of her feet, before she lunged at a sonic speed; her vision blurring as her ears even failed to catch the surprised gasp.

And at the last second, she thrust towards Mel’s neck.

Sharp gusts sliced at the air, as her rapier’s tip grew a glowing, purple-tinged green.

The Power of the Void sang to her. Liola felt her best-

Plung!

"Tch."

Yet Rosana’s axe struck the Rapier’s blade and plunged it deep to the ground, shattering the floor into bits and pieces.

Rosana taunted her with a smirk.

"Your Old habit never changed, Princess."

Loria’s lips parted for curses and fowl words, yet a cold sensation demanded her attention.

As she snapped her white eyes to an icicle flung right beside her-