Is it not being young if you're not passionate?

"How did you know Fiora would break off the engagement?" Lux, with a face as grim as a storm cloud, asked on the way back to Crown Guard Manor, her heart filled with curiosity. "You calculated this from the very beginning!"

"If you were Fiora, what would you do?" Karya didn't answer directly, instead posing a question. "Marry someone you don't know? Or stand up and resist?"

"...I would resist!" Lux hesitated for a moment, then said firmly, "Especially someone like Gao Kan—but then again, Mom and Dad wouldn't be like that!"

"The latter half isn't important," Karya's voice seemed to lighten considerably. "The first half is enough. In a sense, Fiora is very much like you; she wouldn't accept fate so easily. So, something like this was bound to happen sooner or later."

"Then, I should prepare for tomorrow's duel, right?" Lux nodded. "As for the outcome of the duel, I'll need to go easy a bit?"

"Get your attitude straight, Lux," Karya interrupted her. "With your current swordsmanship, even with my help, you won't be able to control the outcome of the duel. So, just do your best."

"I feel like you're saying I'm definitely going to lose," Lux narrowed her eyes. "Don't you have confidence in me? I already cleared the second part of the practical simulation..."

"See, you're forcing me to be more blunt," Karya said in a tone of helpless innocence. "That Ms. Fiora's talent in swordsmanship is quite astonishing, while yours is just mediocre."

"But their family's Mind's Eye Swordplay is famously flashy and impractical," Lux said with some surprise. "I remember Auntie once commenting on their swordplay, saying it was less swordplay and more like dancing..."

"It seems Ms. Tiana was similar to you when she was studying," Karya chuckled. "Actually, a hundred years ago, Laurent's Mind's Eye Swordplay was renowned. It's just a shame that as they moved into the Imperial Capital, the nobility's life washed away their diligence, leading to a decline from generation to generation, and their swordplay became dance."

"There's such a history?" Lux blinked, surprised. "That's hard to believe."

"So, tomorrow, bring all your strength," Karya reminded her again. "This is also the final exam for your three years of Spellcasting and five years of simulation!"

"Just watch me!"

While Lux was quietly communicating with Karya, she had already returned to Crown Guard Manor.

A messenger had arrived at the manor ahead of them, informing Ogesha and Tiana of the news. Now that they heard Lux had returned, they immediately sent someone to bring her to the reading room.

"Luxanna!"

As soon as she entered, Ogesha hurriedly stood up and shot a fierce glare at her troublesome daughter.

The matriarch of the Crown Guard family wanted to raise her hand and give Lux a smack, just like she did with Garen. But seeing her daughter's bare hands tightly gripping the hilt of her sword, she couldn't bring herself to do it. In the end, she reluctantly lowered her hand, reached out to close the reading room door, and then pulled Lux into a hug.

"Silly girl!" Ogesha hugged Lux tightly. "You didn't have to—"

"I must," Lux managed to break free from her mother's embrace, sighing with a hint of helplessness. "Even if Gao Kan is truly an idiot and unworthy of Miss Fiora... this involves the entire family. Countless eyes in the Imperial Capital are watching us, watching our every move."

"You—"

Lux's words left Tiana and Ogesha dumbfounded.

"I'm well aware of the family's current situation," Lux spread her hands, acting as if she had no choice. "Although Dili isn't exactly presentable, he's still an asset to the family. When something like this happens, I naturally have to do my best to help."

"..."

"I've actually been thinking a lot lately, about the family, about the future," Lux continued. "We're at a crossroads, and unfortunately, because of Miss Fiora's impulsiveness, we no longer have the chance to make mistakes—Crown Guard is nobility, after all."

"It's... wonderful that you can think this way," Lux's words brought Tiana immense surprise, but along with the surprise came a deep sadness. "But you absolutely didn't need to fight Fiora yourself—we could have hired a duel representative. The Fearless Vanguard has many skilled duelists."

"A duel representative isn't honorable enough," Lux's face broke into a confident smile when the topic shifted. "Trust me, it'll be absolutely fine!"

"..."

Ogesha wanted to say, "How can I trust you?" But looking at the confident Lux, the words wouldn't come out. She could only hug her daughter again, as if trying to meld her into her embrace.

Tiana could only sigh helplessly—at this point, anything she said was meaningless. She could vividly imagine how those nobles, who had finally seized an opportunity, would eagerly publicize this "duel to defend the honor of the Crown Guard." If possible, these people would surely be delighted to see Lux fall in the Duel Hall!

As for not requesting His Majesty the King's witness now, but instead seeking the intervention and mediation of Jiawen III...

Tiana didn't believe Jiawen III would be willing to do such a thing.

Unlike her brother, who was loyal to the King, Tiana preferred to think from the family's perspective.

In her opinion, Jiawen III would prefer the Crown Guard family not to grow any stronger—such an "isolated minister" who had poor relations with other nobles was probably what His Majesty the King wanted to see the most.

Lightshield needed a Crown Guard who didn't get along with other nobles but was loyal to his own family.

If the Crown Guard were to truly expand its branches and relationships in the Imperial Capital's political arena, Jiawen III would probably lose sleep over it!

What a shame.

This marriage alliance was supposed to be the trumpet blast for the Crown Guard family's independent expansion, but it was ruined by a hothead.

And now Lux even had to step in herself...

Dili... Gao Kan!

You father and son are quite something, to be so universally disliked that you'd get publicly dumped. I actually thought you were promising and intended to help you out!

In the current situation, the only thing that brought Tiana some slight relief was that Lux's swordsmanship was indeed solid.

Tiana herself had been involved in the incident in Silvermine City.

Thinking of this, Tiana hesitated for a moment and finally handed a small Amulet to Lux.

"Take this, my dear," Tiana sighed. "Your uncle obtained it from the Illuminati. It will protect your safety—and victory."

Lux hesitated, then reached out and took the Amulet, wearing it around her neck as Tiana had instructed.

"This is quite something," Karya exclaimed after Lux put on the Amulet. "Although your aunt is a thoroughly selfish noble, she truly loves you—this Amulet comes from Kayle and looks quite old. If I'm not mistaken, it's probably the wedding token between your aunt and uncle."

"..."

Lux's fingers brushed over the Amulet, feeling the wondrous power contained within, and didn't immediately respond to Karya.

She felt her aunt's care for her.

But it only strengthened her resolve to temporarily leave Demacia.

Lux knew her aunt had no children and genuinely loved her, as if she were her own daughter.

Likewise, even though Lux clearly knew she and her aunt were not the same kind of person, she still loved Tiana.

When they couldn't convince or change each other with words, it was better to stay apart for a while.

Just you wait, Aunt!

I will prove that I am the one who is right!