The duel was a mess. It was simply a sloppy fight between children who had just learned how to use a sword. The problem was that Prince Baltian, who came here to represent the Voltiz Kingdom, showed that childlike fight. Everyone already heard that I was a weak prince who just woke up from a coma; that topic lasted a long time in the flow of conversation. At this point, everyone would know my situation, even the royalty from other countries who had no interest in me.
Baltian was well-known for his talent in swords. However, he fell to the floor under my sloppy attacks. No one in the banquet hall seemed to want to break the silence in this ridiculous situation. The advantage of the drunken, or entertainment, sword was that my level couldnât be grasped in the eyes of others. It was a randomly wielded sword, one that could be avoided easily.
However, it was said that giving a lesson was different from doing it yourself. It seemed like they could easily avoid it, but they still couldnât. It was one of the strongest aspects of the entertainment sword. Originally, it was a sword technique that could distract the opponentâs attention, but it wasnât just left to spontaneous luck.
âOh, my arms and legs are sore.â
When I stumbled weakly, dropping my sword, Winley rushed over to help me.
âDavey! Are you alright?!â She shouted in dismay, looking up at me as she checked if I was hurt.
âBrother!â At the same time, Barris, who had been sporting a blank expression this entire time, followed a moment after her.
âWhy were you so reckless?â
âI was lucky. Haha.â
âBrother!â
He let out a short sigh when I smiled awkwardly at him.
âThe game is over,â Ileana said quietly, breaking the silence.
âPrincess Ileana! This was a mistake.â
In response, Baltian hurried to get up and tried to find an excuse, but the cold beauty only gave him a colder look.
âDoes one of the knightâs vows intend to reverse the outcome?â
âIt wasnât a fair game!â
âYes, it was a very dirty game, far from justification that the Prince Baltian promised. Do you think you have the right to complain about it after you lost?â
It was a straightforward way of speaking that one could rarely see among the ladies in the social life. She stared at Baltian, standing by with a dumb expression, and soon turned to me. Then, she looked momentarily puzzled before she turned away.
âHuh, Iâd better go.â
At that, she walked away as if she lost her interest. Oh, she was indeed an ice queen. I appreciated her beauty and her favor, but that stern look wasnât my cup of tea. Except a few who were leaving behind her, the remaining soon turned to Prince Baltian.
âYou have to keep your promise no matter what.â
His face flushed red with shame and anger as I spoke.
âUghâŠâ
âIt is too late to say no.â
ââŠâ
He frowned at my words.
âThatâsâŠ!â
âAre you saying that you would go against what you said as the representative of the Kingdom of Voltiz?â
His body flinched at the calm words. The young aristocrats who followed Baltian from the Voltiz Kingdom looked growingly concerned since they could not stop the situation.
âI deserve an apology from you.â
He clenched his teeth as I said this. He looked like he was holding back his anger to kill me right away.
âKeep your promise! Prince Baltian.â
Barris shot back with a stern look on his face, which made Baltian clench his teeth and put his head down after he looked around. Then, he slowly knelt.
âI was disrespectful to Princess Winley and Prince DavidâŠIâm sorry.â
Losing face, he ground his teeth so hard that it wouldnât be strange for him to kill a single person right away. But what could he do? A deal was a deal. It wouldnât be easy for him to apologize to me, who had humiliated him in front of so many people.
There was an unbearable humiliation at the sight of his mumbling. Winley, who would normally have accepted the apology, grabbed my hand in anger. âHuh, letâs go back, Davey.â
âLetâs go, brother.â
It seemed difficult to stay in the banquet hall any longer because of the discord. I had no patience when it came to my precious sister, especially if anyone treated her disrespectfully. Turning around with a soft smile inside, I left the banquet hall, ignoring him with a clenched fist. I didnât know what kind of spite he might have against me, but it was beyond my interest.
A monster.
âBrother! You were reckless!â
âThatâs right! Did you know you couldâve been in big trouble?â
Watching the two twins made me smile as they voiced their complaints as soon as we got to the carriage.
âIt is all good now.â
He was a guy with that kind of personality, but he was still famous in the Voltiz kingdom for his talent.
âDo you know him?â
âYes, Iâve seen him before during a joint event.â
Feeling offended, Winley swept her arm.
âSince then, he has constantly been pushing for marriage. He isnât just stupid, but bad-sighted as well.â
âHey!â
âHehe!â
I didnât know that he had harassed her before. If I knew, I would have broken his arm. It wasnât easy for a sword trainer to feel Mana without talent. But it was also not easy to train and enter the expert rank. It was like saying that most knights couldnât reach the master rank, even if they tried during their entire lives.
There were three Sword Masters in the kingdom of Al Rown, but even if the entire continent were combined, the number of Sword Masters would amount to less than 50. Despite this, the continent had a bigger population than expected.
âDavid, did you get hurt anywhere? Are you alright? With a tearful face, Winley held her tightly and asked.
âWell, I didnât get hurt for sure.â
He couldnât hurt me; he was dancing to my tune the entire time. However, I would have seemed to be in danger to the audience. It was the entertainment sword that I chose to humiliate the opponent without revealing my presence. The results were a little childish but quite satisfactory. It was possible that the conflict with him could worsen the cold war between the Voltiz and the Al Rown Kingdom.
âMy stomach dropped! If you got hurt, how was I supposed to see you again?â
As Barris spoke wildly, I flicked his forehead without hesitation. I then smiled at him when he began shrieking in pain. I was thankful that they cared about me; that was probably why I cared more about these two.
âBrother, where the hell does your power come from?â
âItâs just a trick. And Iâm not that patient, so I just did it without thinking.â
âHumâŠthat isnât true.â
Barrisâs gaze was the look of someone who knew me to some extent. That was how he looked.
âAs long as it worked. Itâs all right, isnât it?
âWhoaâŠwell, since youâre not hurt, I wonât say anything anymore. But please donât do this again. Iâll do it for you. Brother.
âGod helped you. You stumbled because you couldnât bear the weight of the sword, which let down his guard.â Winley murmured in curiosity.
âSure. He probably didnât see what was coming.â
âHa! To tell you the truth, I was grateful. You were amazing!â
Barris didnât add anything to Winleyâs remark, but his mouth was twitching, so perhaps he felt the same.
* * *
âAhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!â
A furious boy threw everything in his room, breaking everything into pieces.
âPrince Majesty, please calm down!â
âLet go!â
The boy shouted coldly as if he were going to cut down the man right away.
âHow dare he! I am the next Emperor of Voltiz Kingdom.â
âPrince MajestyâŠâ
âGet lost.â
âPrince!â
The boyâs shout made the aristocrat who had been blocking him tremble.
âGet out of here before I kill you!â
ââŠâ
No one could stop him anymore. The aristocrats went outside with their heads down without another word, leaving the boy to his rage.
âIâll kill him. Iâll kill him!!â
His anger was aimed towards Davey, who mortified him in a great deal.
âSighâŠsighâŠâ
âDo you want to kill him?â
It was thenâŠ
He stopped, unquenchable anger burning in his eyes. The boy, frowning reflexively, turned his head, and a red-eyed woman was sitting by the window. She looked like she was in her early 20s. The womanâs red hair and red eyes were the only things shining in the darkroom in the night.
âWho are you?â
âDo you want to kill him?â
It was an alluring voice, perhaps meant to prey on those who gave into its charm.
âI asked who you are!â
Baltian, shouting furiously, pulled out the long-sword that was beside him. However, she didnât seem to care. The woman simply lifted herself and walked towards him from the window.
âI can help you.â
Like a mother who comforted a child, or a sister who took care of her little brotherâŠlike a woman whispering loveâŠ
Baltian didnât say anything as he saw her coming toward him.
âI can help you, baby.â
His trembling hands slowly began to stop with the seductive voice. At the same time, his eyes began to turn blank.
âKillâŠ?â
âYes, your anger called me out. Iâll help you rip his flesh and take his bones.â
âYourâŠname is??â
âSharis. Please remember my name.â
Baltian, who was looking at her with blank eyes, nodded unconsciously. Looking at him, the woman, her eyes shining red, gradually showed a cold smile. Then she moved closer, hugging Baltian and murmuring as she buried her face in his neck.
âGood boy. Leave it all to me. You just have to do what your heart tells you.â
Simultaneously, her mouth slowly opened, and her canines sank relentlessly into his neck within the darkroom.