CHAPTER 96 - PEACE OF MINDArai swung her sword back in a low movement, and Liam did the same again.
CLANG!
"Ugh!" Arai's arm got pushed back. Instead of just blocking her attack, this time, Liam added pressure to the impact of the tip of his sword so there was more thrust from the collide. Arai furrowed her brows. That was not all that made Liam's attacks so amazing.
But also because…
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Arai panicked, she blocked Liam's barrage of attacks with her sword.
"You…"
Arai couldn't contain her admiration and fear. Every time Liam's sword tip hits her blade, Arai could feel that the man was aiming for the same point on the blade. Arai furrowed her brows deeper. His defense and even his attacks were aimed specifically at the same area on her sword blade, it was as if the man could predict the trajectory of her movements.
Arai couldn't even see Liam's movements and couldn't judge his actual fighting style when suddenly their sword clashes made a different sound than before.
DING!
Liam lowered his sword and was about to make an upward slashing motion. Arai didn't quite realize what was happening as she reflexively prepared to block Liam's attack by coating her sword with
However, Liam's figure suddenly blurred into an afterimage, and Arai's eyes faltered instantly.
'Ah, I'm going to die…' in Arai's heart, a feeling of horror rose to her head, clouding her judgment and catching her off guard.
CLACK!
CLING-LING-RING!
Silence.
Arai's sword had broken, flung onto the floor behind Arai with a sound like an old bell. Arai realized when she felt the weight of the sword in her hand had turned lighter. Liam broke her sword by striking one point repeatedly with his sword. The man's precision and attack speed were unmatched.
Arai's face paled. Her legs were shaking.
This was the first time she had felt an overwhelming sense of fear beyond when she faced her father, the leader of the Padparadscha Duchy.
"Monster…" she mumbled.
Liam smiled gently. He admired Arai's courage and agility. She was able to accept his every attack. Perhaps apart from Heath, for him, Arai was a knight worthy of praise. Liam looked at his own sword which had also become dull. The sharp tip he used continuously had cracked, and no blacksmith would be able to repair this damage.
"I will pay compensation for this sword," Liam said to the man who threw the sword earlier.
"Oh, don't worry, Sir Wolf, the sword is the property of this building," said Penelope as she quickly approached. As the caretaker of this club and the main moderator here, she quickly asked Liam to shake hands with Arai who was still rooted to the spot.
Liam extended his hand to Arai, and awkwardly, Arai extended her hand to him.
"…Hmph! I-I'll let you win this time because you're Madame Serpent's partner," she grumbled as she shook hands with Liam.
Hearing that, Liam laughed inwardly. He began to understand why Harriet liked Arai. She had an adorable side that ordinary people couldn't see. And besides, Liam realized that there weren't many people in this place who could get close to Harriet other than Penelope and Arai.
He had the feeling that everyone was deliberately distancing themself from Harriet. What was the real reason?
Liam led Penelope and Arai back to Harriet's side who had been sitting in her place, and when Liam approached, Harriet immediately stood up to greet him.
"Are you okay?" Harriet asked Liam.
"Hey! I am the one who lost, but you're worried about him instead?!" Arai protested. She groaned in annoyance and went to the bar for a bottle of liquor that would make her forget what had happened. Her pride was hurt after losing to a dying man who often coughed up blood.
Harriet's attentiveness didn't escape the spectators' eyes, especially when Harriet gently tugged Liam's hand.
"Tell me if you feel anything uncomfortable," Harriet said softly.
Liam just smiled. He crossed his legs, holding Harriet's hand in his lap and not letting it go at all.
When Arai returned, Penelope immediately teased her with her defeat. The longer it went on, the more Penelope felt relaxed and got used to Liam's affectionate attitude to Harriet, with Arai's presence who doesn't care about the atmosphere.
They could also chat more freely, attracting a few other party guests to come over and join their chat. For some reason, Harriet felt a little more relieved than usual. By the side of her friends and with Liam, she didn't feel like she had to be the perfect woman with a flawless demeanor.
It was a new feeling that made her feel that she had gone through one of her life's ordeals and returned to her normal life before the rumors from a year ago spread.
Maybe because in the end, she allowed herself to be judged at will by others. She allowed others to speculate about her without the need to worry about what they might be.
Because she knew the truth.
That she didn't have an affair, and that she was innocent. And no matter what happened, Liam, Arai, and Penelope would still be Liam, her lover, Arai, her best friend, and Penelope, her eccentric friend from work.
Harriet tightened her grip on Liam's hand.
At that time, Liam was engrossed in listening to Arai's story about her, but the man immediately turned to Harriet. He saw Harriet raise her hand as if to whisper something to him. So he lowered his head slightly to receive her whisper.
He raised his eyebrows at Harriet's gentle words.
"Thank you for accompanying me to today's party."
Liam felt something as sweet as honey spread from his chest to the rest of his body hearing his wife whisper in his ear. He realized this is what happens when someone falls in love. He lifted Harriet's hand to his lips and kissed it deep and long.
"You're welcome, Madam."