Succubi Chapter 234. Enchanted

Succubi Chapter 234. Enchanted

We stepped outside onto a wide terrace overlooking an open field behind the mansion.

Yup, they had a duel field.

Why wouldn’t they?

Normal people had gardens.

Nobles had lawns specifically designed for polite violence.

The field stretched under moonlight, perfectly flat, surrounded by low stone borders and trimmed hedges. Mana lamps stood at intervals, brightening as servants activated them. The grass looked too flawless to step on, let alone bleed on. At one end stood a rack of practice weapons and formal duel blades.

I looked around.

No surprise. No hesitation.

But internally, I took notes.

Terrace behind us. Balcony above. Field open, thirty meters wide maybe more. Low stone border not high enough for cover. Lamp posts possible obstacles. Weapon rack to right. Servant doors on both sides. Cassian’s butler had probably gone to announce the duel and prepare the viewing area.

Then I realized.

One by one, nobles were appearing on the balconies above.

Some stood with glasses.

Some leaned over railings.

Some brought chairs.

Chairs.

They had chairs ready.

Oh, so that was what he whispered to his butler.

He wasn’t just preparing weapons.

He was preparing an audience.

Cassian wanted spectators.

If he won, he humiliated Alyra’s mysterious expensive boyfriend in front of everyone. Proved he was stronger. Reclaimed the room. Made Alyra look foolish for bringing me.

If he lost?

Well.

He probably had not considered that possibility deeply enough.

Rich boy mistake.

Alyra stopped near the edge of the field, her fingers brushing my sleeve. “Cassian trained at Vale Martial Hall,” she said quietly. “He’s not weak.”

“Good.”

Her eyes sharpened. “Evan.”

“I heard you.”

“I’m serious.”

“So am I.”

I turned toward her fully for half a moment. The lamps painted her face in gold and shadow. She looked beautiful. More than beautiful. Tense, proud, trying not to show concern because showing too much would give Cassian another weapon.

I smiled slightly. “Don’t worry, my lady.”

Her breath caught at the title.

I leaned closer, enough for the balcony to think romance, enough for her to hear the truth. “I won’t lower my dignity.”

Something in her eyes shifted.

Relief.

Maybe admiration.

Maybe something warmer that had no place before a duel.

Cassian’s voice cut across the field. “Blackthorn.”

I stepped away from Alyra.

The butler approached with two swords on a velvet tray. Real blades, but polished ceremonial style. Light enough for speed. Sharp enough for blood.

Cassian picked his first, twirling it once with practiced confidence.

The weapon in his hand wasn’t a normal sword.

At first glance, yes, it looked like a noble dueling rapier. Slim blade, elegant guard, polished steel catching the moonlight like a line of silver water. The kind of weapon nobles loved because it made stabbing someone look like dancing with manners.

But even without my system, I knew.

That rapier was enchanted.

Heavily.

Not “minor noble heir likes expensive toys” enchanted.

The mana around it was too smooth, too dense, too obedient. It wrapped around Cassian’s wrist and forearm like invisible silk threads, sinking into his grip, reinforcing muscle reaction, sharpening movement, correcting balance. It was subtle enough for untrained guests to miss, but not hidden enough from someone who spent his life getting slapped by unfair circumstances.

A rich-boy weapon that didn’t just cut, it made the owner look more talented than he was.

I glanced at the second sword resting on the velvet tray.

Plain.

Good quality, sure. Sharp. Balanced enough. Fine steel. No cracks, no rust, no visible sabotage.

But zero enchantment.

Against Cassian’s rapier, that sword would last maybe a couple hard clashes before it cried for its mother and snapped like my patience in Professor Callahan’s heartbreak class.

‘Ah. I see.’

So that was how he wanted to work.

Friendly duel.

But one side held a mana-boosted noble heirloom, and the other side received a pretty stick with confidence issues.

Rich people.

They didn’t cheat loudly.

They made cheating wear etiquette.

Cassian noticed I wasn’t taking the sword. His smile widened. “What are you afraid of now?”

I looked at him.

Then at the plain sword.

Then back at him.

“I don’t like the sword.”

A murmur went through the balcony above us.

Cassian laughed under his breath. “Of course.”

Alyra, standing near the field edge, narrowed her eyes. She had noticed too. Not the full details maybe, but enough. Her expression remained elegant, but her fingers tightened around her glass.

Cassian pointed his rapier lazily toward the weapon tray. “Let’s cut the bullshit, Blackthorn. If you make that excuse to send your assistant back to your mansion to fetch your own weapon, I will assume you lose.”

“My own weapon is with me.”

His brows lifted. “Oh?”

I raised my hand slightly.

Mana stirred under my skin. “Shadow Blade.”

The darkness gathered around my palm, folding and stretching into shape.

I muttered, “Rapier.”

The shadow thinned into a long, elegant blade, narrow and dark, with a guard shaped like curled smoke.

The field went quiet.

Cassian’s eyes widened.

Just for a heartbeat.

Then he smirked.

“Oh… a mage, huh?”

“Not really.”

“Summoning a weapon out of mana looks fairly magical to me.”

“I’m complicated.”

“That is one word for it.” His gaze dropped to the rapier in my hand. “This is a sword duel. Not a magic duel.”

“I know.”

“So you better understand,” Cassian continued, raising his voice so the balcony could hear, “you may use that skill as a weapon form, but no magic attacks. No projectiles. No tricks. Only movement, swordsmanship, and body reinforcement.”

I smiled faintly.

He was trying to control the rules after his advantage got balanced.

“Deal,” I said.

His smile returned.

“But that also applies to you.”

For a second, his expression paused.

Tiny.

Almost nothing.

But I saw it.

Alyra saw it too.

Several nobles leaned forward.

Cassian’s grip shifted around his rapier. “Of course.”

“Good.”

“Then we understand each other.”

“Perfectly.”

We created distance again, the officiant stepping back between us. The balcony above had become lively now. More nobles had gathered. Some servants moved with trays. A few older men stood near the railing with sharp eyes, evaluating stance and weapons. Young noble girls whispered behind fans, and some looked at me like the suit and shadow rapier had just upgraded me from “mystery partner” to “dangerous mistake.”

Then I noticed another thing.

Bets.