If You Take the Enemy Prince as Your Knight Chapter 64

Gwendellin shouted irritably, mocking Sasha. “You think I’m an idiot? That won’t work. If you want to die, die alone.”

 

“…” Sasha didn’t respond.

 

Shumel and Nanaen, whose turns were next, didn’t go against the flow either.

 

“I fold as well.”

 

“Fold.”

 

“Oh dear, looks like I’m the only one left.”

 

The only player still in the game was Sasha. Sitting in front of the table stacked with 140 chips, the princesses all shared the same wish.

 

Please, not number 5.

 

Anything but number 5. Please, any other number.

 

God, please let Sasha be wrong.

 

It would be better if all 140 chips just disappeared. I can’t stand the thought of Sasha sweeping them all!

 

Gwendellin looked the most desperate among them. Her unblinking eyes, staring into the air, seemed almost as if she were casting a curse with her menacing aura.

 

“I will now reveal the answer.” Marquis Osbond, who was undoubtedly enjoying the situation the most, opened his mouth. “The correct answer is number 5. Congratulations. All the chips go to Princess Silver Bird.”

 

“My goodness. She actually got it right!”

 

“Three wins in a row? That’s just too much.”

 

“How can someone have such luck…”

 

It was then.

 

“Aaaah!” A scream, losing all reason, tore through the air of the pavilion. It was Gwendellin.

 

“G-Gwen, calm down.”

 

“Princess New Moon, please compose yourself.”

 

The voice of those around her didn’t reach Gwendellin’s ears. She shot up from her seat, sweeping everything in front of her onto the floor. It looked like she had lost her mind.

 

All the chips that originally belonged to her were taken by Sasha, and now she had lost the means to support the gravely injured Heinz. If Heinz were to die like this, it wouldn’t just be a game of chips she’d lose, but she’d be disqualified from the life-or-death competition altogether. It made her despair.

 

“Rosasia!”

 

Gwendellin’s eyes burned with a hatred that seemed to embody all the malice in the world, and Sasha responded as if she had been waiting for this moment.

 

“Tell me what poison you gave to Sir Regen.”

 

The more unhinged Gwendellin became, the more of an opportunity it was for Sasha.

 

“Shut up!”

 

“So, you’re saying you won’t talk.”

 

“Of course not! Do you think I’d tell you? I’ll never tell you, not even if I die. No, not even after I’m dead.”

 

It was practically a confession.

 

“Si-Sister Gwen… Did you really poison Sister Sasha’s knight…?”

 

“How could you do something so cowardly…”

 

“What’s so cowardly about it? I just poisoned Sir Regen first before she could poison Sir Heinz…!”

 

Everyone was at a loss for words.

 

“…Are you serious right now?” Orlette’s words spoke for all the other princesses’ feelings.

 

As shock and confusion filled the table, Sasha’s quiet voice stirred the air. “I’ll sponsor.” She straightened her back between the towering stacks of chips. Then, she delivered a fatal blow to Gwendellin. “Potions for the six personal knights, excluding Sir Heinz.”

 

“…!”

 

While Gwendellin was in shock, Marquis Osbond grinned.

 

“As expected of Princess Silver Bird. You understand the sponsorship rules well.”

 

“For every 50 chips, you can sponsor one item for the personal knight.”

 

There was no restriction stating you could only sponsor your own personal knight. As long as they were a personal knight, you could sponsor anyone.

 

With it now revealed that the injured knight number 5 was Heinz, it was clear he needed the potion most. But Sasha gave potions to everyone except him. A benefit for six was the same as a penalty for one. It was blatant retaliation. Yet, there wasn’t a single princess who would side with Gwendellin. Why would anyone risk angering Sasha by siding with a fool when they could receive potions just by staying neutral?

 

“De-Despicable…” Gwendellin’s shoulders shook violently.

 

Sasha pressed her again. “It’s not too late. Tell me what poison it is.”

 

“No, it’s too late.” Gwendellin’s trembling lips curled upward. It wasn’t mere bravado or stubbornness. “You’ll find out what kind of poison it is soon enough.”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“An hour has passed, so soon, you’ll be able to perform an autopsy.”

 

“Watch your words, Gwendellin.”

 

Just then, it was time for the broadcast again. The servants moved the pieces on the board.

 

Gwendellin was certain that the number 3 would still be in the same spot as before. After all, it was an incredibly rare poison, far too precious to use on a mere prisoner of war. Its effectiveness was renowned, so with over an hour passed, there should have been results. It doesn’t matter if Sir Heinz is injured. Even if his life is on the line, it’s fine, as long as that Regen dies first!

 

But the revealed state of the board shattered Gwendellin’s expectations. The number 3 black knight had slowly but steadily moved all the way to the Bridge of Oath.

 

“H-How can that be? Why is he still alive?”

 

“…”

 

“H-He should be dead by now…!” Her panicked outburst lacked even the slightest filter.

 

The princesses wore expressions of shock. Sasha, too, finally let her pent-up anger surface.

 

“I told you to watch your words.”

 

Her hand knocked over the chip in front of her. Somehow, the sound of it falling drew more attention than Gwendellin’s hysterical cry.

 

“Marquis Osbond.”

 

“Yes, Princess Silver Bird.”

 

“Give me a moment to rest. I want to get some fresh air.”

 

“We’ll take a 10-minute break.”

 

The clown, who thrived on chasing amusement, was cooperative with Sasha. Even if his servile attitude was repulsive, she had to make use of what she could.

 

Sasha stood up, indifferent to the disapproving looks from her sisters. However, as she left the pavilion, she didn’t forget to tap lightly on one person’s chair.

 

✦

Regen was walking, overtaken by the effects of the poison. His usual disciplined step and reserved demeanor were as disheveled as a weary traveler. Even his eyes, though facing forward, were unfocused. Anyone could tell he wasn’t in his right mind. At this point, his instincts were practically dragging his body along.

 

I must return to Sasha…

 

At a glance, he seemed like a vulnerable and defenseless prey. But in reality, it was the opposite.

 

At the faintest rustle, Regen immediately swung his sword. Though he didn’t use magic, the ground was gouged deeply, and a mound of dirt fiercely covered the bushes. The ambushing soldiers, hit by the shower of dirt, recoiled in panic. They quickly realized Regen was not someone they could handle.

 

“…”

 

Regen began walking again. That warning strike seemed to have flipped a switch, and a more overwhelming aura than ever radiated from his body. This was, in fact, Regen’s true nature. He didn’t have the luxury to consciously suppress and control his magic and presence, so now it all came out unfiltered.

 

The ambushers gave up on attacking and retreated. It was a wise choice. Human instinct tends to prioritize survival over chivalry. Moreover, Regenhart Lohengrin was a knight worthy of being called a war god, leaving no reason to spare any enemy who dared to challenge him.

 

Before long, Regen arrived at the stone bridge over the canal called the Bridge of Oath. The tip of his sword, dragging on the stones, made a grazing noise, and then Regen suddenly stopped.

 

“…”

 

The dazed look in his golden eyes cleared away. He was faced with a scene that, even for a moment, brought back his focus and awareness.

 

“…Sir Heinz.”