Lewd King's Bucket List

"I agree. My father was a righteous warrior. One who, if he were to fall, deserved only to do so in battle."

Ixion looked taken aback, then shouted:

"Someone agrees with me on something?! Truly! The Artoris line is one of my most loyal followers! Even if there's only one of you left, you still uphold your noble values!"

Reina sneered, but unlike Porter and Illium, she kept her cool.

"Just like my father, I've sworn an oath to these lands."

Reina stepped forward, clad in silver armor lined with gold trim. She'd purposefully worn no helmet so her face could be seen.

Ixion cheered and clapped, then turned to the spectators.

"So noble! Do you see that, my people?! Look at how faithfully the last heir of Artois serves me! Take notes!"

A bright, unrestrained peal of laughter burst from Ixion.

Reina ground her teeth and clenched her jaw as she placed a hand on the pommel of her sheathed blade.

***

'How dare this foolish king mock my family? The very man who took them all away.'

Reina wanted to yell at the man, to scream that for her to uphold her loyalty would mean to seek his end, as her loyalty was only to Catatran.

Yet, her tongue stayed petrified.

She could sling those insults after the throne was no longer his to sit upon.

The tessellated barrier rose back up, signaling the fight was to start upon Ixion's word, yet the man showed no inclination of drawing his sword at the moment.

Instead, he planted his sword in the ground, then leaned on the pommel.

"Tell me, Artoris girl, where have you been? I looked long and hard for any remnants of your family, but found none. Odd, no?"

Reina bit her tongue.

'Oh, I'm sure you looked for me. I'm sure…'

Still, she rested her hand on the pommel of her blade, desperately working to hold back her unbridled fury.

***

'Ah, perfect…'

Ixion had riled her up quite a bit.

From when he trained her as Veritas, he'd learned that while Reina lacked the grace and finesse of her father, she most definitely shared his mind. Her ability to study and absorb was top-notch.

If she had control over her emotions when facing Ixion, it wasn't entirely impossible she'd notice Ixion letting her land a hit.

'I have to be utterly thorough in how I get hit!'

Ixion smiled mischievously.

'Shall I add more fuel to the fire?'

"How'd you get that scar, little girl?"

Reina touched her face, then grimaced.

"I'm not sure. I've had it for as long as I can remember."

'Is that so?'

'Then why did you get so tense when I brought it up?'

"Ah! To think Drath would be so careless as to let his child be scarred! How unexpected of my late friend. You learn something new every day!"

With a barely audible huff, Reina spoke a word dripping with indignation.

"Friend…?"

"What was that, dear Artoris girl?"

"Nothing, Your Majesty. I was simply trying to remember if my father ever called you his friend."

'Oh… she's angry now.'

It took a bit, but she only held a semblance of her typical composure.

Ixion laughed.

"Of course your father called me his friend! He put his life in my hands. Now, would you put your life in someone's hands if they were not your friend?"

Reina growled, failing to hold back the venom staining her voice.

"My father's gone. Seeing that his life slipped through your hands, I don't know how much stake your claim has."

Ixion chuckled, his shoulders bouncing up and down. Then, his laughter abruptly ceased.

"Girl, do you think I don't hear the insolence and irreverence in your tone?"

Reina's face paled slightly. Perhaps she had just realized what she'd done. But a moment later, the fear washed away, as if she'd said to herself, 'what's done is done.'

A smile spread across Ixion's face, and he continued:

"If I didn't know any better, I'd think you had some ill will pointed toward me. But, knowing your father, it must have been a figment of my imagination! You must have had a bad breakfast or something!"

"Your Majesty," Reina declared, her voice laced with scorn, her chin held high. "I was indeed lacing my words with the ill will I feel toward you."

'Oh ho? How bold.'

The spectators gasped. A few of them looked like they were about to throw up from their nerves.

There were also some who looked upon Reina as a hero.

"Is that so?" Ixion sighed as he slowly pulled his sword out of the ground. "Well, I guess it can't be helped. No matter how magnificent and glorious one is, jealousy rises with them."

Reina drew her sword. Then, she proclaimed:

"I, Reina Artoris, third daughter of Drath Artoris, challenge you, King Ixion of Catatran."

'Oh?'

How provocative.

To challenge the king and dictate the duel's start after disrespecting him, all the while thinking he was already after your life?

'Absolute lunacy!'

Nobody in their right mind would be so… stupid!

Ixion raised his blade.

"There's a thin line between stupidity and courage, Artoris girl. But, very well. I accept 'your' challenge."

Reina pointed her blade as well.

"Good. I hope you don't underestimate me."

'Ah, should I help out, a bit?'

Hope spread from the peasants in the slums to the highest of nobles.

Ixion's gaze sharpened, his pupils contracting.

"Hope? What does that have to do with any of this?"

"Oh? You haven't heard. Hope's name has been made into a word."

Ixion cocked his head to the side.

"I see… it must mean traitorous bastard then. Or something along those lines."

Reina expressed her disapproval with a click of her tongue.

"Far from it."

Ixion prodded.

"Well, what does it mean?"

Reina's stare hardened.

"I think it's better I show you."

Then, she engaged the first steps of Blade Waltz and charged at Ixion.

Ixion responded by stepping forward with a manic grin.