𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐎 𝐖𝐎𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐃 || ᵗʷˢᵗ ˣ ᵐ!ʳᵉᵃᵈᵉʳ

【𝐇】𝐓𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐲-𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐫

• 𝐄𝐏𝐈𝐒𝐎𝐃𝐄 𝐎𝐍𝐄 •
The Crimson Tyrant
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"Hey, did you hear? Someone challenged the housewarden Rosehearts to a duel!"

"The housewarden himself? I can't imagine it. It would probably be over in a flash."

Murmuring caught your ears from the students who greeted you with disdainful expressions and the others upon entering the rose gardens of Heartslabyul. Students from the said dorm had already gathered together to watch and were already betting on the duel's outcome. You avoided the constant gaze of others and looked from afar at Riddle's back, accompanied by Trey and Cater who looked across the field to you in worry and disbelief.

"Ah~! Well if it isn't my trustworthy supervisor~!"

The familiar voice of headmaster Crowley rang through your ears and you turned around to see him approaching you with a large grin etched on his lips.

"Headmaster, good afternoon." You bowed your head in greeting before lifting it up again and watched the grin never leaving his dark cherry lips.

"I'm very much delighted to witness this experience in a lifetime with you as your first~!" He exclaimed rather cheerfully as if your friends weren't on the line on this duel.

"Well then, I'm looking forward to it." Looking up to him, his golden eyes squinted back at you with a sly grin and he walked away not before tipping his top hat to you.

Now settling himself in the middle of the field, standing with such authority as the headmaster and the host of the duel.

Crowley cleared his throat, which caught everyone's attention. "I shall be watching over the duel that's about to take place here in the Heartslabyul dormitory. The challengers are Ace Trappola and Deuce Spade and the one who accepted the challenge is the current Prefect Riddle Rosehearts."

"Nervous?"

You crossed your arms, turning to Ace and Deuce who had finished warming up. A slight huff left your lips. "Me? Nervous? You should ask yourself instead, Ace."

"Can you at least pretend?" He sighed exasperatedly at your bluntness.

"Do I have to be worried?" You gestured your head to the dueling grounds where the headmaster and Riddle stood. The two of your friends picked up the signal and walked in the grass field, staring at Riddle and thought of nothing but victory.

"In any event, a historic duel for the right to be a housewarden is about to commence!" Crowley spoke aloud. "As per the rules, please remove the collars in order to start the duel."

Riddle nodded and with the wave of his golden scepter, the large collars on Ace's and Deuce's necks vanished out of thin air. You can hear Ace sigh in relief from the weight being lifted off his shoulder.

"Phew, I'm finally free!" He exclaimed.

Riddle scoffed. "Savor this freedom while it lasts. You'll be wearing it soon enough. But are you sure you want this?"

"Of course."

"We will never challenge you as a joke."

You drowned out the rest of their conversation when a pair of green eyes of worry caught yours. Yet you only smiled at Trey with a thin line on your lips who seemed worried about what's to come. That was until you heard choruses of cheers begun to erupt from the students who obviously were rooting for their redhead housewarden.

"Get them, housewarden Rosehearts!"

"Put them in their place!"

Those unnecessary comments had somewhat made your blood boil for disrupting the confidence of your two friends. In the meantime, you remained silent and crossed your arms and gave them both a look of encouragement when Deuce spoke.