Chapter 250: 250, have a fencing match with me
Sending someone you’ve cultivated to serve under someone else is hardly an unusual move.
In a medieval world that cared little for human life and rights, not to mention my previous modern world, this tactic was a common practice among those in power.
Only, they didn’t do it so openly, and the people they sent weren’t called attendants, but spies or undercover agents.
In comparison, the royal practice of sending someone to serve as an attendant seems honorable, and the presence of a contract makes the execution and feasibility even higher.
Therefore, Reiger was not surprised by the royal tactics.
He frowned for only one reason.
"For something like this, would the royals really send a princess to serve as someone’s attendant?"
Reiger murmured.
Yuri’s response was straightforward and blunt.
"What could be more enticing than ’sending a princess’?" Yuri shook her head, "Of course, it’s not something just anyone can convince the royals to do. In all of the Ginas Kingdom, probably only two people have such qualifications."
It wasn’t too difficult to guess who these two people were.
After all, only magicians can make attendant contracts.
And among the many nobles of the Ginas Kingdom, there are two supreme Strategic Level Magicians.
They are the most fearsome weapons on the battlefield, and to prevent their rebellion, the royal house might indeed send a princess to serve as their attendant and use a contract to keep them loyal.
"You..."
Reiger looked at Yuri with eyes filled with astonishment and shock.
Yuri, as if oblivious to Reiger’s gaze, gently turned to the side.
"Although you are a Sword Saint, you are also a magician, and a Tactical Level Magician at that. Considering your age, the royal house will value your potential, your future achievements, and find it quite normal to send a princess to be your attendant in their usual manner."
"Princess Liz, though young, should qualify as an attendant, being one of the most outstanding descendants of the royal house this generation."
"Whether you want to accept it or not is up to you."
Yuri offered no advice, simply laying out all of Reiger’s thoughts before leaving the decision to him.
Reiger promptly pushed aside the various thoughts in his mind.
To accept or not, was such a decision even necessary to consider?
"Let’s return."
Reiger spoke these words and then returned to the parlor.
Yuri watched Reiger’s back, only following after a while.
...
In the parlor, Liz and Marilyn were still locked in a standoff, the atmosphere growing increasingly tense.
One shrank into the sofa, while the other stood as still as a statue, presenting a stark contrast.
The return of Reiger and Yuri broke the uncomfortable silence, noticeably easing Liz’s expression.
Then, without waiting for Reiger and Yuri to speak, Liz stood up first and addressed them.
"I apologize."
Another apology, another bow, but this time Liz was not as agitated as before.
"I was too nervous earlier, and things got chaotic inadvertently, leading to some nonsensical talk. Please forgive us."
It seemed Liz had calmed down, yet the expression on her face remained tense and unrelaxed.
But seeing that the princess could converse normally, Reiger, too, was somewhat relieved.
At least, there was no longer any need to worry about her making any shocking statements—that was a good sign.
Yuri took a seat, observing both Reiger and Liz with an attitude that clearly indicated she did not intend to interfere in their business, effectively leaving the stage to them.
Reiger glanced at Yuri then sat down in front of Liz.
"I understand why you’re here, Your Highness," Reiger said as he motioned for Liz to sit again, "To be honest, I’m not very keen on the idea."
Liz froze.
"Of course, I’m not saying you are not suitable, or that you don’t qualify," Reiger quickly clarified, lest the princess become further distressed, "It’s just that, firstly, I never thought of taking an attendant, and secondly, I don’t like being bound by some inexplicable ties, so I’m sorry, but I have to decline this offer."
Upon hearing Reiger’s words, Liz looked as if she wanted to say something but was unsure how to express it.
This little princess was clearly not accustomed to interacting with others, the nervousness and shyness almost reaching the point of being a flaw.
Seeing this, Reiger had no choice but to continue the conversation himself.
"If you came under the orders of the royal house, then please relay back to them that I do not plan on doing anything," Reiger suddenly smiled, adding lightly, "Of course, this is under the condition that they also do not intend to do anything to me."
This was quite clearly a warning.
"So, let’s leave it at that."
Having said this, Reiger stood up and turned to leave.
Yuri and Marilyn exchanged a look, seeing the complexity in each other’s eyes.
But neither said nor did anything, only silently watching everything unfold.
Liz was also watching Reiger, her pale grey eyes seemingly filled with emotions others couldn’t understand.
Just as Reiger was about to step out of the parlor, Liz suddenly spoke up.
"I have a request."
Her words made Reiger stop in his tracks and turn around.
With that turn, Reiger saw it.
He saw a seriousness in Liz’s pale grey eyes that wasn’t there before.
"Would you duel with me?"
To his surprise, the princess made such a request.
"Duel?"
Both Yuri and Marilyn were taken aback.
"Hmm?"
Reiger also slightly raised his eyebrows.
Liz took a deep breath and stood up again.
"...I am very timid, and not good with words, I don’t know how to speak, nor how to win others’ favor, and for that, I am truly sorry."
Clutching that conspicuously visible sword in her arms, Liz looked at Reiger and said so.
"But in my life thus far, there is one thing that I have been doing continuously, and I have the utmost confidence and trust in it."
What could it be?
It was simple.
"That is, wielding a sword."
Liz’s voice resonated with a completely different sentiment than before.
"When I can’t figure something out, I wield my sword."
"When I can’t complete something, I wield my sword."
"I only know how to wield a sword, and that’s all I do."
In Liz’s eyes, as she gazed at Reiger, an astonishing fighting spirit was displayed.
"So, could I ask you to have a sword duel with me before you make your decision?"
These words not only made Yuri look at Liz with a newfound respect but even Marilyn seemed to see Liz in a new light, staring intently at her.
Reiger, while looking into Liz’s eyes brimming with combativeness, laughed.
"Interesting."
Reiger turned around, his back now to Liz.
Just as Liz thought Reiger might refuse, he spoke.
"Then, let me see your swordsmanship."
...
About five minutes later, Reiger and his party moved to a corner of the mansion’s courtyard.
"Here will do."
Reiger, as he had done countless times before in the face of challenges, first created a blade with construct magic, placing it beside him, then turned with a smile toward his opponent.
"I’ll give you the first move, Your Highness."
If Reiger went first, the outcome would likely be an instant defeat.
Thus, since the challenges from Marco and Old, Reiger had always given the first move to his opponents, giving them a chance to strike.
"......"
Liz didn’t speak but instead released the sword she had been clutching to her chest all this time.
Only upon being released, did those present realize that the sword in Liz’s arms was quite substantial in size.
The blade was approximately 44 inches in length and 2.5 inches in width, and if including the hilt, the entire sword was nearly 130cm long, which for Liz’s stature, was quite large indeed.
"That sword..."
It seemed that Yuri was seriously appraising the sword for the first time and upon doing so, she immediately noticed something was amiss.
Marilyn, too, watched the sword in silence.
From the sword emanated an unmistakable, magnificent magic power that all present could feel, albeit subtly.
Particularly for Reiger, who bore the brunt of it, he even judged instantly.
"This sword might be stronger than the magical weapon Albert used last time."
And apparently, by a significant margin.
"Being a princess of the royal family, you do bring out quite an impressive item casually."
Albert’s magical weapon was on par with a first-class special armament, and Liz’s sword was naturally no less powerful, perhaps even surpassing that category.
The moment Liz drew the sword, this feeling intensified even more.
The blade shone with a brilliance akin to pure gold, exuding an air of nobility and luxury.
Even if it were not a magical weapon, just a mundane sword, it could probably fetch a sky-high price on its appearance alone.
"...I’m going to begin."
Once Liz gripped the sword, her whole demeanor changed, becoming like that of a sharp-edged swordsman, her gaze incredibly sharp.
"Come then."
Reiger found himself unexpectedly looking forward to it.
In contrast, Yuri, who was watching from the sidelines, felt a hint of unease.
She didn’t believe that the royal family provided Liz with that sword.
Evidence of this was when she initially accepted the royal princess to be her attendant, there was no such "dowry" brought along.
Intuition told Yuri that there must be some secret concerning Liz.
"What do you know about this Ninth Princess, Your Highness?"
Yuri couldn’t help but turn her head and inquire of Marilyn.
"...I know very little," Marilyn remained silent for a moment, then expressionlessly said, "She rarely appears in public, hardly even in front of her own siblings, and the King has never let her show her face at public events, resulting in her very low profile. Many princes and princesses probably don’t even remember having such a sister or a sister."
"But there is one thing that once caused a stir in the royal palace."
Upon hearing this, Yuri instinctively asked.
"What is it?"
To that, Marilyn closed her eyes and revealed a secret.
"She was not born in the palace, nor did she grow up as a princess there."
"She was a blood relative brought back from outside by His Majesty when she was 7 years old."
"She is an illegitimate daughter."