For a moment, such a thought crossed everyone's mind.
And not far off, Eunice, witnessing the river-like spread of fresh blood reaching her feet and glimpsing her own pale face and trembling legs through the glistening red, questioned herself.
No, that's impossible!
Eunice took a deep breath, trying to appear proud and indifferent.
But at this moment, it was clear to anyone that Lynn was the one in control of the situation, while she was nothing but bluster.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the Fourth Prince was the first to break the silence.
"The Council Hall is currently holding an award ceremony for the valiant warriors returning in triumph," he said, adjusting his glasses, "I'm very curious, in front of Father, what kind of excuses are you planning to find to defend yourself?"
Clearly, as a subordinate of the Third Imperial Princess, the events of this evening had likely already reached the ears of Saint Laurent VI.
One could imagine his rage at that time.
"Your Highness need not worry about that," Lynn replied, glancing at his white glove stained with blood and slowly pulling it off, "at the moment, there are more important matters for me to attend to."
"Miss Mosgla, where do you think you're going?"
Lynn suddenly called out to Eunice as she tried to leave.
At his words, she stiffened and took a deep breath, "The banquet has ended, I'll go wherever I please."
"Lynn Bartleion, you have no right to restrict my freedom to move."
Upon hearing this, Lynn patted the small hand tightly wrapped around his waist.
Eleanor immediately looked up.
Gazing at the corpses strewn about, a flicker of pity crossed her eyes, yet there was a trace of satisfaction, mingled with concern for the storm her brother was about to face.
She timidly looked up at her brother's reassuring eyes.
"Has she been bullying you all this time at the academy?"
Lynn caressed her head.
After a long silence, Eleanor lightly shook her head, instinctively withdrawing her wrist into her sleeve.
She didn't want to cause unnecessary trouble for her brother.
It was good enough that the family could be together.
But Lynn was not willing to let them off the hook just yet.
Seeing Eleanor's demeanor, he frowned slightly and then gently caught her slender wrist, lifting the sleeve to take a look.
Upon seeing the dense patch of needle marks, a barely perceptible murderous intent flashed in Lynn's eyes.
He slowly lifted his head, casting a gloomy look towards the Fourth Prince and Eunice.
Sensing the approaching storm, Eunice instinctively took a step back; "What... what are you going to do?!"
Lynn did not respond but instead threw something at her.
It was a white glove that had just been removed from his hand.
Watching the white glove fall to the ground, a foreboding sense crept into Eunice's heart.
The next second, the premonition came true.
"I, Lynn Bartleion, in the name of the current Family Head of the Bartleion family, issue a mortal duel challenge to the Mosgla family's successor, Eunice Mosgla."
"To defend your family's honor, you'll undoubtedly pick up the glove without hesitation, right?"
Lie Swallowing, activate.
The invisible power of deceit surged forth, immediately influencing Eunice's thoughts.
I am the Mosgla family's successor!
How could I possibly shrink back just because of some second son from a fallen family?!
My sister Irina is the Empire's youngest Valkyrie, as her kin, I certainly can't drag her down!
Besides... this guy has been a cripple for a long time!
All sorts of thoughts flooded her mind.
The next second, to the Fourth Prince's astonishment, she slowly crouched down and picked up the glove from the ground.
This was the Empire's most traditional and ancient way of dueling.
Yet it has been passed down to this day.
For those great nobles that the Grand Court or officials couldn't handle, the older generations often uphold family honor and choose to battle this way, integrating all conflicts into a duel to the death.
Glostit even had a specialized dueling ground for nobles to settle such affairs.
However, it required strict procedural verification, and only a sacred duel free from outside interference could thus take effect.
The conditions at the moment were far too rudimentary, and by all accounts, it was illegal.
But the problem was... Eunice had accepted.
The next second, regaining her senses, Eunice suddenly felt an unprecedented absurdity.
Why, why did I agree to his duel?!
This is illogical, what on earth was I thinking?!
Sensing the admiring gazes from all around, Eunice suddenly felt she was about to lose her balance.
She steadied herself with a nearby table and took a deep breath, "This has no legal effect, I can choose to terminate the duel at any time, you..."
Just as Eunice was trying to find some noble excuses for herself.
A flurry of urgent footsteps sounded again.
Everyone instinctively looked up, only to see a group of heavily armed knights brutally forcing their way into the hall.
Leading them was a tall figure in silver armor, majestic and imposing.
Lynn couldn't help but narrow his eyes.
In the gaze of everyone present, the knight commander-like figure in silver armor spoke calmly, "Lynn Bartleion, Miss Eunice, and Fourth Prince, the Council Hall has been informed of the situation here, and His Majesty is very angry. He has specially ordered me to stop this farce and then to bring you all to see him."
"So, please, the three of you, come with me."
(ps: I wrote nearly ten thousand words today, as an extra chapter for the Alliance Leader, thank you Jun Bu Jian Huang He!)