Chapter 149 : Chapter 149
Chapter 149. The Princess’s Two Faces (3)
The Sword Dance began slowly and naturally.
However, as the atmosphere gradually ripened, our swords grew so fast that the eyes could no longer follow them.
SWISH! SWISH, SWISH, SWISH!
I danced the Sword Dance by applying the Merdiang Sword Art, while Sir Cassiopeia unfolded a sword art I had never seen before in my life. Judging by it, it seemed to be the swordsmanship of House Hazard.
After leaving a brief pause, we looked at each other and aimed our swords.
The corner of Sir Cassiopeia’s mouth rose slightly.
An obvious provocation.
After taking such a perfect sword form, she was telling me to come in that direction?
Then I had to go.
I disliked fighting, but I disliked losing even more.
I strode forward and thrust my sword.
SWISH!
However, it came to nothing. Instead, Sir Cassiopeia spun once clockwise, dodged the attack, and embroidered the air with her Sword Dance.
Exclamations poured out from the people.
This was not skill she had displayed only once or twice.
No, before that, she was fundamentally skilled. She gave off a feeling similar to Arthas, but it felt as though her fundamentals were extremely well established.
However, fundamentals alone did not allow one to perform a Sword Dance well.
Splendid technique was necessary as well. In any case, since it was a dance meant to be shown to someone, one needed techniques that captured the other party’s gaze more than the power or accuracy of the sword being swung.
Even so, we were exhausting far too much strength.
As though we were having a Duel.
SWISH!
My sword, which had seized the timing of the attack, entered with a sharp frictional sound and stabbed toward a gap in Sir Cassiopeia’s defenses.
CLANG!
Sir Cassiopeia’s sword, carrying a faint Aura, easily blocked my attack and began unfolding a brilliant movement toward the air.
The exchange continued that way.
However, I could not break through Cassiopeia’s defensive line.
It was a clear difference in skill.
To overcome this difference in skill, I would have to use Mana, but unless this was a Fight to the Death, pouring out Mana had no meaning. And I could not very well send my weapon flying either.
Fortunately, Sir Cassiopeia also seemed to have no intention of going all out, and the Sword Dance entered its final stretch.
Was she postponing the rest until next time?
We no longer exchanged attacks and defenses, and each of us swung our sword in our own place. Then it ended.
“Amazing!”
Princess Ophelia gave a standing ovation. The others also responded with applause.
Naturally, I was breathing hard, and so was Sir Cassiopeia, who had crossed swords with me.
If we had released Sword Aura, everything around us would have been completely smashed. Injured people would have appeared one after another as well, and there would not have been anyone who could walk out unharmed.
Sir Cassiopeia, who had taken a breath and sheathed her sword, spoke calmly.
“As expected, you are remarkable, just as I heard. I understand why Arthas lost.”
“I learned a great deal as well, Sir Cassiopeia.”
It had truly been a domineering sword art. Since it was a sword art I had never seen before, it seemed to be her exclusive swordsmanship, the sword art of House Hazard.
In any case, it felt somewhat strange to speak of a result in a Sword Dance, but this had been my defeat.
It was a pity that I could not use my strength fully, but the difference in our fundamental Swordsmanship was far too obvious. I was in the middle of receiving the secret art of House Merdiang, but I had not yet reached enlightenment.
By contrast, Cassiopeia’s Swordsmanship had no unnecessary movements at all. It was like a single work of art. I wanted to learn it if the opportunity came, but would that be possible?
“You are truly remarkable. If this had been a real Sparring match, I might have been badly injured.”
“Surely not. If it were you, Sir Dilen, I do not think you would be defeated so easily. I have at least seen through the fact that you are hiding your strength.”
I smiled without a word and sheathed my sword.
My hand throbbed.
Although I had wrapped it in Mana, her Aura showed the level of the Royal Guard exactly as it was. Even if it had not pierced through, the impact had been transmitted, and it hurt enough to make me think I needed more training.
In that sense, this Sword Dance had been satisfying.
If I had not done it, I would not have properly experienced the skill of the Royal Guard. As expected, the world was wide, and there were many experts.
“As thanks for gifting me a good experience, I have prepared some wonderful quilting materials. I will give them to you later.”
“That sounds interesting.”
After finishing the conversation, I offered a simple bow and returned to where the Princess and the Young Lady were.
“Your Highness. How was the Sword Dance? I hope it satisfied you.”
“Yes! It was very fun. If possible, it would have been nice if you had fought a little more fiercely. Next time, let us do it at the Training Ground. Understood?”
“If you grant me the opportunity, I will follow your will.”
However, that opportunity would not come very often.
Sapiela’s expression gave me the answer.
She seemed deeply disappointed by another side of the friend she had believed she was close to. After all, the Princess, who had seemed innocent and even somewhat airheaded, had shown another aspect of herself.
It was a very faint change that an ordinary person would not notice, but Sapiela’s intuition as a five-star talent would have identified it precisely and then some.
The Princess would likely find it difficult to receive Sapiela’s invitation in the future.
Even if she suggested visiting first, Sapiela would avoid it with various excuses. This was an inference I could make precisely because I had served by the Young Lady’s side for a long time.
However, that time came sooner than I had expected.
Sapiela suddenly rose from her seat. Everyone’s gaze turned toward her.
Usually, a Banquet and Tea Time came as one set. Since the after-dinner tea had not even been served yet, rising from her seat was not something one often saw.
“It was good to see such a wonderful Sword Dance. However, I am tired, so I will excuse myself. I have prepared good tea, so please enjoy yourselves until the end.”
Ophelia’s eyes widened at the Young Lady’s sudden action.
“Hm? What do you mean, Ella? Are you going to sleep already?”
“I am sorry, Your Highness. I am feeling a little unwell…… I think I should go upstairs now. Brother Hamel, I am sorry, but please take good care of Her Highness.”
“All right. Do not worry, and go rest upstairs.”
Sapiela gave a slight bow and left the table. Princess Ophelia looked regretful, but I was not sure whether that expression was real.
Then again, that was not the important matter right now.
I also turned around and politely greeted the gathered guests.
“Then I will take my leave as well. I hope you enjoy the rest of the Banquet.”
Young Master Hamel glared at me. He was conveying that I should take good care of his sister. I answered with the same look in my eyes and followed the Young Lady outside.
We returned to her room.
As soon as the Young Lady entered, she sat down as though collapsing. It seemed her words about being tired had not been empty.
“Are you all right? If you feel unwell, I will call a Doctor.”
“I am all right. I will feel a little better if I rest.”
Sapiela let out a small sigh. Her expression was not good, weighed down by worry and distress. I roughly understood why. It was probably because of the Sword Dance.
She had once worn a similar expression before.
It was a memory now, but there had been a time when I sparred with Arthas because Young Master Hamel had tried to test me. Back then, she had also felt sorry like this.
Sapiela lightly waved one slender hand.
“Only Sir Dilen will remain. Everyone else, leave.”
“Yes, my lady.”
The maids moved one by one. Arwen also went outside, full of worry.
In the end, only the Young Lady and I remained in the room.
Lately, I had been having private audiences with the Young Lady like this more often. Given the circumstances, it was not exactly good. When things were good, at least Arwen had been with us.
“If you intend to rest, I will prepare bathwater. If you soak yourself in hot water, your tension will ease.”
“That can wait a little. More importantly, I am sorry, Sir Dilen.”
“No matter how I think about it, I do not believe you have done anything you should apologize for, my lady.”
“The Sword Dance must have been very difficult. I did not know Ophelia would go that far. Truly…… I was startled.”
“It was unexpected for me as well. However, one cannot judge a person only by their appearance. The world is wide, and in a world that wide, there are many people, are there not?”
“I think I misjudged someone.”
“Why did you feel that way?”
Sapiela silently recalled that moment, then clasped both hands tightly and brought them to her chest.
“When she told you to spar, Ophelia’s smile at that time gave me chills. As though she enjoyed fighting…… That is not her image at all, is it?”
“You saw it properly.”
“What?”
I stared intently at Sapiela and spoke. It was better to make such things clear.
“Princess Ophelia is someone whose outside and inside are different. For example, do you remember how she said earlier that she could not drink alcohol?”
Sapiela nodded. She could not have failed to remember it. The very fact that there was food or drink that did not suit the Princess’s taste was itself an issue.
“That was why Brother poured her juice.”
“No. That was not juice. It was wine from Port Bellium. It is famous for being extremely strong.”
“What?”
“The bottle had no label, so everyone else may not have known, but that wine was something I personally prepared, so I am certain.”
The Young Lady was startled. She could not continue speaking for a long while. It must have been difficult for her to understand why the Princess had done that.
I was the same.
If I had not been able to see the Princess’s Status Window, I would have thought the same as her. But now I knew. I knew the ambition and desire hidden in the Princess’s heart.
“Young Master Hamel will use the Princess to mediate the dispute between our house and Count Astria’s House. That is why he treated her with such sincerity.”
“I noticed that. He worked very hard to win her favor.”
“As you know, my lady, politics fundamentally requires give-and-take. If we want something, we must pay a price equal to it.”
“Are you saying Her Highness also wants something?”
“It likely means they found common ground. The fact that the Young Master poured her strong wine instead, and that she drank it, probably means they will share the hardships ahead. They recognized each other as the same kind of person. In that brief time.”
The Young Lady could not continue speaking. She likely had not imagined that those small scenes she had dismissed had held such meaning.
All of this was because of Princess Ophelia.
“The Princess is truly a frightening person. She is someone who becomes dangerous if one remains by her side. At times, you may be able to gain benefits from her, but fundamentally, she is someone who brings misfortune. It would be best to keep your distance from her.”
“But would she not think it strange if I suddenly did that?”
“It is fine to meet her, talk pleasantly, and have fun. However, keep a suitable distance. When she asks you to do something, it would also be good to show that you are thinking it over each time. Making suitable excuses or reducing points of contact is also a method. Then, the other party will naturally lose interest.”
“Could you perhaps be judging her wrongly?”
I smiled broadly. I knew she would say that. When a lingering doubt grows, it tends to turn into suspicion and paralyze a person’s thoughts.
“I have given you many pieces of advice until now, my lady. I do not know whether you remember them all…… but there has not been even one time when you suffered harm because of them. If anything, they were helpful.”
“That is true. Rather, I suffered trouble because I did not listen to you.”
The timing to change the subject had arrived.
“If it pains you too much, stopping your studies and returning to your hometown is also an option.”
“Would Father not be disappointed?”
“Not at all. It depends on how it is presented. If we say that you rushed back to comfort the people of the territory, you will not only capture the public opinion made uneasy by the dispute, but also receive praise from the Head of House and the retainers.”
The Young Lady nodded. However, I left her some room. Her emotions were intense right now. And I also still had some things left to do in the Royal Capital.
So I suggested,
“It would be best to decide after attending the Princess’s birthday party for now.”
“What is your opinion?”
“We should decide after seeing the atmosphere then.”
“Then let us do that.”
I bent my arm and bowed, showing my will to obey her command.