Chapter 36 – Ridiculous
MARCIA’S PERSPECTIVE
The ground was still littered with splinters of wood. My staff lay in ruins, my pulse beginning to slow—but there was no triumph in the silence that followed. No euphoria. No peace.
Only the sound of Eunice’s wheezing breaths, and the echo of Dravic’s voice still hanging in the air.
“The challenge is over.”
I should’ve stepped away.
But I didn’t.
Because for one horrible, cracked second, I’d wanted to finish it. Wanted to raise my hand, drive every last shard of the broken staff into her and end what she started a year ago.
I could feel it—how close I had come. My magic had answered me. Not like a spell, but like something raw. Primal.
If Dravic hadn’t spoken, I might’ve done it.
I clenched my hands at my sides and looked away.
The soldiers erupted. Not with cheers, but stunned murmurs. Some full of admiration, others full of guilt. I caught a few of
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Chapter 36 – Ridiculous
their words.
“She didn’t even use a blade.”
“I thought it was a rumour…”
“All this time, we believed Eunice’s side.”
“General Marcia is dangerous. Who would not want her on their side?”
My name was being whispered like something fragile and
sacred.
I hated it. I wasn’t a symbol. I wasn’t a legend.
I was a woman who had nearly lost control.
Eunice, still crouched on the ground, let out a strangled sound—a cough, a sob, I couldn’t tell. Then she screamed.
“You think this was fair?“she shrieked, eyes red, face twisted in rage. “You’ve always had everything! You were born to command. Born with a perfect bloodline. And you used magic. How am I supposed to fight a witch?”
The tension snapped. But not how she expected.
One soldier of her own spoke up. “You were born a general’s heir. Your uncle is a duke. What more did you want?”
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Another growled, “Her family died for this kingdom. She fought to restore it. Don’t twist that into privilege.”
Whispers of agreement followed. Condemnation. Shame. No one was fooled by her tantrum. Her lie couldn’t survive the truth of what they’d just seen.
Kael pushed past the ring of warriors and hurried to Eunice’s side. He touched her arm, urging her to quiet down. She shoved his hand away, her glare still fixed on me.
Dravic stepped forward, voice calm but finál.
“Lady Marcia Xendale is the victor. Her command of the Royal Guards remains intact. Eunice Hale’s rank will be suspended pending a full review after the war.”
His words silenced the crowd. Even Eunice stopped moving, her breath caught.
But the quiet didn’t last.
“You set this up!” Eunice cried. “You staged your match against that elite warrior, Jareth, just to provoke me! You wanted this duel! You planned it from the start to strip me of my merit!”
Tired sighs rippled through the field. But Kael’s eyes snapped to
- me.
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“Is that true?” he demanded. “Was this your scheme all along?”
I turned slowly to face him, jaw tightening.
The word merit echoed in my mind, and with it came the
memory. The image of a city burning. The ruins of my family estate. The bodies. The blood.
All of it because of her.
Because of Eunice.
“Do you think so highly of yourselves?” I asked, my voice soft but cold.
Kael blinked.
“You think I’d go through all that effort, all that training, all that pain, just to put on a show… for the likes of you?” My gaze swept over both of them. “Ridiculous.”
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