Chapter 11

I Won’t Give the Male Lead Love Advice!

* * *

The knights’ sparring matches were far more exciting than I’d expected.

At first, I was only cheering because I wanted Lysa to win.

But before I knew it, I was completely absorbed in everyone else’s matches too.

Still…

A heroine was a heroine.

Lysa flew around the arena as though she had wings, never once being pushed back, and ultimately claimed the championship without losing a single bout.

“Amelie, how was I?”

Lysa asked while wiping the beads of sweat from her forehead.

She had rushed over the moment she’d won.

Even though she was breathing heavily, her face was still flawless.

If anything, the slight sheen of sweat only made her look even more refreshingly beautiful.

“You were incredible!”

I replied with two enthusiastic thumbs-up.

What was there even to say?

Cheering for her had been absolutely worth it.

Since I was completely serious about supporting Lysa, I’d come prepared with every cheering prop imaginable.

I’d even made my own giant cheering cone to replace a megaphone and had custom-ordered a hand drum instead of ordinary inflatable cheering sticks.

Mine was probably the loudest cheering voice in the entire arena.

Who would’ve thought the first idol I’d ever become a fan of wouldn’t be a pop star… but a knight fighting in an arena?

Life really was full of unexpected experiences.

“Having you cheering for me gave me even more strength than usual.”

“I’ll definitely beat Rihardt today too!”

“Rihardt?”

“Oh, right.”

As the grand finale, the tournament champion got to challenge someone of their choosing to a special match.

A showdown between the heroine and the male lead.

Now that was a proper romance fantasy event.

“…Ah…”

“Was I getting ahead of myself?”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

I was happily imagining the spectacular fight that was about to unfold when Lysa suddenly lowered her head.

Who upset my girl?

Who did it?!

Internally fuming, I began wondering how I’d punish whoever had made Lysa look so dejected.

“…I just thought…”

“…maybe you’d rather cheer for Rihardt.”

The culprit…

Was me.

The original Amelie had managed to create another misunderstanding.

The cheerful excitement that had filled Lysa’s face only moments ago vanished instantly.

She still believed I liked Rihardt more than her.

I should settle this once and for all.

“Lysa.”

“Listen carefully.”

“You’re my very best friend.”

“…Really?”

“Of course!”

The moment I said it without hesitation, Lysa’s face brightened again.

Seeing that only doubled both my guilt and my gratitude.

It made me want to make her even happier.

“There’s no friend more precious to me than you.”

“So how could I possibly compare Rihardt to you?”

“I’m so touched, Amelie…”

“Sure, I did briefly want to become friends with Rihardt, but…”

“…well, not exactly.”

“Anyway, I know I’ve done things that hurt your feelings before.”

“I’m really sorry.”

“But I truly mean this.”

“I like you a million times more than I like Rihardt!”

“U-Um…”

“Amelie…”

“Thank you…”

“But…”

Lysa suddenly wore an awkward smile.

Am I being too much?

Too bad.

That’s simply the burden of being an overwhelmingly lovable heroine!

Today, I was determined to burn away every bit of anxiety and doubt the original Amelie had planted inside Lysa.

That was my one and only goal.

“No, Lysa.”

“To be honest…”

“…I don’t think I need to become friends with Rihardt anymore.”

“What do you mean, Amelie?!”

Lysa shot to her feet in alarm.

But I had no intention of stopping now.

“Imagine someone you don’t even like constantly trying to get close to you.”

“Wouldn’t that be awful?”

“And I don’t want to keep chasing someone who hates me either.”

“There’s no way Rihardt hates you.”

“He does.”

“And honestly…”

“…he has every reason to.”

I laughed awkwardly.

It reminded me of the occasional customers back at my café who stubbornly demanded my phone number and refused to move away from the counter.

Thinking that I was now in exactly the same position as they had been…

It was a little depressing.

“That’s only because you’re clumsy at trying to become friends.”

“But honestly…”

“I think Rihardt’s kind of petty.”

“Huh?”

“He should learn to trust people once in a while.”

“Has he really spent his whole life being deceived?”

“Amelie…”

Lysa called my name cautiously.

Then she glanced behind me.

Behind me?

I instinctively started to turn around.

Then…

For absolutely no reason…

A terrible sense of dread washed over me.

This timing.

That chilly feeling creeping up my back.

“I heard your evaluation of me quite clearly…”

“…Amelie Garnet.”

Rihardt’s icy voice stabbed into the back of my head.

…

Oh.

I’m dead.

It was one of those moments when I deeply resented the fact that, unlike the protagonists, I possessed absolutely no danger instincts.

* * *

“Lady Amelie…”

“Are you feeling unwell?”

When I returned to the spectator seats, several knights immediately asked with worried expressions.

Since Lysa had told them my health was fragile, they looked ready to carry me straight to the infirmary.

Just remembering that Rihardt had been standing behind me moments earlier made me shiver.

But I had to survive until tonight’s festival.

So I forced myself to smile.

“I’m fine.”

“I just used up all my energy cheering earlier.”

“You certainly cheered harder than anyone.”

“Whenever my concentration started slipping, I’d hear Lady Amelie’s voice and snap right back into focus.”

“Exactly.”

“Thanks to you, our order won several matches today.”

Apparently I really had looked exhausted.

Everyone around me hurried to encourage me with compliments.

People always said praise could make even a whale dance.

And I wasn’t about to disappoint them.

Well… he already heard me.

Nothing I can do about it now.

Forget it!

I picked up the giant cheering cone I’d set down beside me.

“Then I’ll cheer with everything I’ve got until the very end!”

“WOOOOOO!”

“…”

I hadn’t expected that much enthusiasm.

It was great that the knights’ spirits had risen, but I hadn’t imagined they’d roar loudly enough to shake the arena.

I was so embarrassed I couldn’t even lift my head.

Thankfully…

Just then, Rihardt and Lysa entered the arena for the grand finale.

The deafening cheers from the Second Knight Order naturally blended into the applause echoing throughout the stadium.

Putting the male and female leads together really changes the picture.

Standing face to face with swords in hand…

Even dressed in simple training uniforms…

The two of them practically glowed.

Honestly, the classic blond hero and black-haired heroine combination never got old.

“Who do you think will win?”

I asked the knight sitting beside me.

Both Rihardt and Lysa had such overwhelming presence that I honestly couldn’t imagine either one losing.

“Hmm…”

“It’s impossible to say.”

“If you include unofficial sparring matches…”

“Their record is exactly the same.”

“Twenty-four matches.”

“Eleven wins.”

“Two draws.”

“Eleven losses.”

“So they’re completely evenly matched.”

Hearing their record only made me more excited.

There was nothing more satisfying than a heroine who could match the male lead in combat.

Clang!

The sharp ring of steel echoed through the arena.

The final match had begun.

The two exchanged attacks with effortless grace, moving as though they’d rehearsed together countless times.

I became so absorbed watching them that I completely forgot to cheer.

The other spectators were the same.

Rather than shouting excitedly, everyone watched with bated breath, wondering whose sword would fall first.

Listening to the occasional gasps from the crowd, I followed Rihardt and Lysa as they advanced and retreated across the arena.

“They really do look coolest when they’re holding swords.”

It was exactly the same feeling I’d always had watching Lysa.

Now I found myself thinking the same thing about Rihardt.

Sure, I’d already admitted he had an incredibly handsome face and amazing physique.

But somehow…

Watching him wield a sword made it impossible not to keep looking at him.

At a moment like this…

I blinked twice, turning my emoji vision back on.

As expected…

The audience was overflowing with hearts.

Large heart emojis floated everywhere, so densely packed they almost made my eyes hurt.

I carefully scanned the crowd, wondering if perhaps I’d spot any different-colored hearts or lock emojis.

But the only locks I could find…

Were still the ones floating above Rihardt and Lysa.

“What a shame.”

Rihardt’s heart had probably grown larger too.

Outwardly he looked completely focused on the duel.

But inside?

His feelings had to be growing.

Wouldn’t it be hilarious to watch his heart physically expand in real time as he slowly realized his feelings?

Look at them.

They’re even chatting while fighting.

Our ridiculously overpowered male and female leads somehow had enough composure to carry on a conversation while their swords clashed.

Clang!

A few more exchanges rang out.

Then—

One of the swords flew from its owner’s hand and skidded across the arena floor.

“Huh?”

Before I could even process what had happened…

The spectator section around me erupted into cheers.

“WOOOOOO!”

“Vice Commander Lysa won!”

Lysa was victorious.