If You Take the Enemy Prince as Your Knight Chapter 125

“…”

 

“…”

 

Across the great distance, the imperial princess in the spectator stands and the knight in the arena locked eyes.

 

“…Ha.” The one who let out a hollow laugh was Ciel. “Ha, haha… Haha!”

 

At his uncharacteristic sound of laughter, Shumel, who had been standing rigid with tension coursing through her whole body, jerked violently in shock. The youngest imperial princess looked so pale that she might collapse at any moment. Had Sasha, seated beside her, not quietly clasped her hand tightly, she surely would have crumpled to the floor.

 

“Hng.” Just as Shumel barely gained enough strength to endure a little longer, the hardest moment arrived for her.

 

Ciel dragged his tattered body toward the edge of the arena. Leaving behind a long trail of bloodstains, he finally reached the front of the special viewing seats and dropped to both knees as if collapsing. Only after bending his head far back could he meet her gaze, revealing the cruel difference in height between them.

 

“Your Highness.”

 

“…”

 

“Most noble Imperial Princess.”

 

Resentment filled the eyes that had once been warm. Twisted bitterness stained the lips that had once smiled. Mockery seeped into the voice that had once been gentle. Shumel was no longer surprised by how much Ciel had changed. After all, she had changed first. Still, she endured in silence.

 

“Do you think this is what I wanted?”

 

“…”

 

“No. I didn’t want this. I never wanted it. You probably know that too. So why… Why on earth…”

 

“…”

 

“Why did you do it?”

 

Barely managing to hold herself together, Shumel couldn’t say a word. It wasn’t like Ciel had expected one.

 

“I will resent you, Your Highness. I will resent you for not even allowing me to die like a knight.”

 

“…”

 

“I said I’ll resent you!”

 

“…!”

 

With that anguished cry bursting from his ruined throat, Ciel lost consciousness and collapsed. Only then did Shumel sink into her seat as though falling apart herself. Tears poured endlessly from her eyes, yet not a single sob escaped.

 

Sensing the spectators turning their eyes toward Shumel to watch her reaction, Sasha silently extended one arm. Her wide ruffled sleeve spread out, shielding Shumel’s soundless weeping from the view.

 

“Leave the aftermath to me. And…”

 

“…”

 

“Before long, the mark will be undone.”

 

“…I know.”

 

Because she had made an evil covenant, the goddess’s wrath would diminish Shumel’s authority. Shumel had never been born with especially strong authority to begin with, so there was a high chance she would lose all the powers of the imperial bloodline.

 

As if sharing the same thought, the mad emperor atop the platform curled his lips into a grin. “Without a personal knight, you can’t participate in proxy competitions. I never expected there’d be an elimination even in the exhibition matches.”

 

Shumel didn’t care about such matters.

 

“I was prepared for this. Please take care of Ciel, Sister.”

 

Shumel had reached her limit as well. Only after burying her face into Sasha’s shoulder and fainting did her tears finally stop.

 

Nanaen immediately rose from her seat and turned toward the mad emperor. “Father, I wish to take Shushu with me and care for her. Please permit us to return to the imperial palace.”

 

“Do as you wish, Nana.”

 

Following Orlette, who had already departed, Nanaen and Shumel also left early. Thus, only Sasha and Lilliana remained in the princesses’ seats. An inexplicably awkward atmosphere lingered between the two princesses sitting a seat apart.

 

Lilliana awkwardly offered an excuse. “If you were left here alone, people would think it looked strange. I’m only staying because I have no choice.”

 

“…”

 

“What? Why are you looking at me like that? Got a problem?”

 

“No. I’m just touched. I almost called you ‘Sisteeer.’”

 

“…”

 

“…”

 

The conversation between the sisters who did not get along ended there.

 

At that moment, the figure of a new personal knight walking toward the center of the arena came into view.

 

Regen. Sasha quietly inhaled.

 

“And now, only the final knight wheel battle remains! Sir Regen, who achieved two consecutive victories in the previous competitions! We look forward to another magnificent performance!”

 

Shrring, as the clear ring of the famed sword echoed through the arena, Sasha’s heart resonated with it. Now it was time to wait for him to dedicate victory to her.

 

✦

What taught Regen swordsmanship was countless real battles. By experiencing a wide range of situations, he learned how to use the sword best suited to each need. Its varieties encompassed everything from sparring to annihilation to assassination, and many other circumstances besides.

 

Standing at the center of the circular arena, he instinctively understood once again what kind of sword he needed now. A dazzling, powerful sword dance that would satisfy the audience.

 

Ooooh—! Every time Regen swung his sword, exclamations erupted from the stands. He connected each movement to the next with disciplined rhythm, while his broad motions and leisurely pace allowed the audience to follow his attacks with their eyes. With the sound of slicing wind, the sword’s graceful arc came to a halt as if it had reached its final destination. It was right beneath his opponent’s chin.

 

“Sir Regen, victory!”

 

Only after hearing the judgment did the opponent, entranced by the elegant swordsmanship, realize he had lost.

 

The eighth battle had already ended. Even while displaying swordsmanship like a dance performance, Regen overwhelmed every opponent with an absolute difference in skill, building victory upon victory.

 

“He’s the best!”

 

“This is what I wanted to see!”

 

“Show us more!”

 

The audience showered him with cheers and applause as though they had come to watch an artistic performance rather than a duel.

 

Uooooooooh—! An especially long wave of excitement rippled through the stands. Because the appearance of the ninth challenger promised to add thrilling tension to the duel.

 

“Yes, he never disappoints. A giant has appeared as the ninth challenger! His Majesty’s first sword. The strongest knight in the Magnarod Empire. A living monument of war itself. Marquis Dominic Mizekal!”

 

Waaaaaaah! The handsome young marquis with his dazzling titles naturally had countless admirers. Their passionate cheers seemed capable of shaking the blue sky itself.

 

Marquis Osbond gladly elevated Dominic further. Praising him was equivalent to belittling Regen. “This must be the greatest honor imaginable for Sir Regen. After all, he is being allowed to cross swords with Sir Dominic, who is praised as the strongest knight since the founding of the empire.”

 

“…” Regen, who had been praised as the strongest knight since myth itself, swallowed his laughter. Marquis Osbond looked especially clownish and ridiculous to him.

 

It took five long strides. The two sword-bearing knights stopped facing one another at a distance neither too close nor too far.

 

“…”

 

“…”

 

Time passed with neither man even touching his sword. Sunlight slanted down from where the clouds drifted aside. Perhaps it was because the light reflecting off silver and golden hair dazzled the eyes. Regen closed and reopened his eyes with a sigh, while Dominic furrowed his brow.

 

“I had a small expectation, but it seems I overestimated Sir Dominic.”

 

“What exactly were you expecting?”

 

When Regen spoke first, Dominic answered as though he had been waiting.

 

“I thought you would refrain from participating in something as dishonorable as a knight wheel battle.”

 

“For whose benefit? Why would I do something that helps you?”

 

“Your participation neither benefits nor harms me. It will not greatly affect the outcome.”

 

“…” Dominic let out a hollow laugh. “No one’s ever beaten me when it comes to arrogance, but you really are a formidable opponent.”

 

“This is the first time I’ve heard such words in my life.”

 

At that moment, the fall breeze swept between them. Their hair and the hems of their uniforms fluttered lightly. Among them, the ribbon tied to Regen’s scabbard also streamed long in the wind. It was sky-blue, the sort of color that called someone’s eyes to mind. Dominic’s mood darkened as much as his gaze while looking at the ribbon.

 

As if aiming precisely for that moment, Regen pressed further. “There is one thing I’m curious about.”

 

“What?”

 

“What’s this I hear about you slashing the princess across the cheek?”

 

“…You b*stard.”

 

“Is it true?”