If You Take the Enemy Prince as Your Knight Chapter 114

✦

It was a day that ought to have been painful and unbearable. The one who betrayed the royal family and the people, personally took the life of Elrich, his close friend and cousin, drove a sword into the right side of Regen’s chest, and shattered his mana core. That person was Emilio Hwibrik.

 

Every moment in which Regen had to restrain the impulse to crush his fists while glaring at the back of that treacherous traitor felt like an eternity. Hatred that could not be completely suppressed, even by the anesthetic called the Authority of Dominion, burned through Regen’s heart. It felt as though molten iron, not blood, coursed through every vein in his body.

 

Even Regen, who had tempered his mind through relentless hardship, had his limits of patience tested again and again today. And amid all that, the traitor revealed the feelings he had long concealed, staining even their past friendship black. The close companion he had once believed shared his heart so perfectly, someone with whom he had never even argued, turned out to be nothing more than an illusion, no, a delusion. In Regen’s memories, that friend was replaced by a sly man who merely flattered those in power while hiding his inferiority complex.

 

Regen’s eyes darkly sank. Encountering the traitor dragged his psychological time backward, violently throwing his mind into the coldest, most desolate winter of his life. The despair he felt while watching the castle gates open meaninglessly. The countless humiliations he endured as the prince of a defeated kingdom. The desire for annihilation after becoming nothing more than a wingless insect. All those horrific memories tried to pull him downward like a swamp and drown him. But—

 

“That must have been very hard.”

 

When he looked at the princess, Regen could breathe again. Because she was there, somehow everything became bearable. She was the savior who had pulled him out of that despairing winter.

 

Looking back, that had been the most miserable period of Regen’s life. He had lost his status and his power. His body hadn’t merely been battered. It felt as though it had been torn into pieces entirely. What remained of him, shattered as he was, was only a dying heart. And she was the one who embraced that heart and restored him to the person he is now.

 

Was it because those desperate memories resurfaced? Or because today she wore a wine-colored dress capable of seducing half the men in the world? His heart burned with anxiety. And because of that, he said it.

 

“Don’t extend your hand to the traitor. Don’t let him brush against you, even under the excuse of fallen leaves. Don’t even allow a single strand of your hair to be touched by those filthy lips.” Even this alone crossed the line, yet Regen felt fortunate he had managed not to say the very last words. Please let me be the only one allowed to have you. Because he had barely restrained himself from saying that. Having impulsively revealed his feelings, now it was time to wait for the princess’s response.

 

“Regen.” Sasha’s voice, calling his name, was unexpectedly calm. “I don’t like being close to that man either. He’s dangerous, so I’m keeping my guard up.”

 

Regen, who had prepared himself for reproach, instead felt almost disappointed at her composed and ordinary attitude. The tension that had reached his throat loosened. Suppressing a strangely hollow sigh, he joined the calm conversation. “Yes. That is wise.”

 

“Thank you for worrying about me.”

 

“It was nothing.”

 

They resumed walking toward the detached palace. The side of Sasha’s face that Regen observed was deeply immersed in thought. She was reviewing her meeting with Emilio Hwibrik.

 

“He was someone whose inner thoughts were impossible to read. Even when I tried to understand his intentions, it wasn’t easy, so I don’t know how much of what he said I should believe. So, Regen.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“May I ask for your advice?”

 

“If you require my opinion, of course.”

 

Regen forgot everything that had just happened and listened seriously. Since he had been asked for counsel, it was only natural to respond sincerely. He failed to notice the brief sparkle in Sasha’s eyes at that moment.

 

“Do you think what Marquis Hwibrik said was true?”

 

“Which statement do you mean?”

 

“That he liked me.”

 

“…”

 

“What do you think, Regen?”

 

“…”

 

For a moment, Regen felt the urge to become insincere. He didn’t want Sasha to become conscious of Emilio. If it were up to him, he wanted to simply tell her to ignore it.

 

“You know him better than I do. Tell me. Coldly, and honestly.” But Sasha was asking for his opinion for an official purpose. Moreover, she was gathering information to help punish the traitor. He could not mix personal feelings into it.

 

After intense agony, Regen reached a compromise. He would speak honestly and coldly while erasing Emilio Hwibrik entirely from his answer. “There is no man who would not be swayed by Sasha.”

 

“So that means he really does like me?”

 

“…Yes.”

 

Sasha succeeded in drawing an uncomfortable admission from Regen. “Then.” Suddenly, she stopped walking. When Regen turned back, her light sky-blue eyes interrogated him in earnest now. “What about when he said you have the same taste?”

 

“…”

 

“Was that true too?”

 

“Taste in women.”

 

Because of the traitor’s unnecessary remark, the context had shifted into emotional territory. Regen felt completely cornered. And Sasha looked as though she wouldn’t release him until an answer came from his mouth.

 

Was this her real objective from the beginning? Only now did Regen realize she had deliberately lowered his guard and advanced step by step through her interrogation.

 

“Regen?”

 

He could not lie. In the end, Regen confessed with resignation. “Generally.”

 

“…”

 

“It… tended to be that way.”

 

“…”

 

He wished she would say something, but Sasha merely stared at him, eyes wide and silent. Her quietness made him anxious. He felt as though he should explain himself. To speak of ‘taste’ to the princess felt irreverent. Because it sounded like something crude and shameless, said by people interested only in the body. His feelings were not that shallow. Even now, the heavy weight pressing upon his heart proved it. He could swear upon his name and honor.

 

Since Sasha remained blankly silent, Regen finally sought an opportunity to explain himself. “Sasha, it is only like preferences in music or food. Not toward a person.”

 

“…”

 

“Sasha?”

 

“…”

 

Unfortunately, she was not listening at all. It wasn’t only Regen’s voice she ignored. Even when a chilly fall wind mixed with the fallen leaves blew past, Sasha showed no reaction. Letting out a quiet sigh, Regen removed his uniform coat and draped it over Sasha’s shoulders.

 

“Ah.”

 

“The wind is cold.”

 

“…Thank you.” Only then did focus return to Sasha’s eyes as she closed the coat with her hands. “Let’s head back.”

 

“Yes.”

 

As was often the case with people deep in thought, their steps toward the detached palace were slower than usual. Still, for Regen, it was a moment in which he could briefly forget his hatred toward the traitor. And as always, the only person who allowed him to breathe easily was the princess.

 

✦

The third competition was decided suddenly.

 

“Marquis Osbond has announced it. The next competition will be in three days. The location is…”

 

“There’s no need to drag it out, Hamel.”

 

“…The imperial martial arena.”

 

The name of a cruel entertainment venue where sl*ve gladiators were handed swords for the spectators’ amusement was spoken aloud. Years ago, princes had died there humiliatingly, reduced to spectacles for their own subjects.

 

“Since it’s the martial arena, combat will obviously be the foundation.” At my muttering, the atmosphere in the residence grew heavy. I could feel Demia and Shione glancing back and forth between Regen and me with gloomy expressions.

 

Hamel continued her report. “Unusually, the competition format has been announced in advance. The third competition is called the ‘Knight Wheel Battle.’ Each personal knight will consecutively face up to ten imperial guard knights.”

 

“Ten, you say.”

 

One person must fight ten opponents without rest. Even if sequential, it was an utterly unknightly and cowardly duel.

 

Suppressing my emotions, I analyzed it. “If it says up to ten, does that mean fewer are possible? By what criteria are the imperial guard knights selected?”

 

“According to the number of volunteers.”

 

“They volunteer instead of being drafted? Is there some reward?”

 

“An imperial guard knight who defeats a personal knight during their turn may take the position of the personal knight of the princess.”

 

“…Ha. The mad emperor.”