Chapter 252: Your Highness, please go back.
"Tssk..."
The thunder gradually faded away, letting the lightning surrounding the standing Reiger fade away as well.
"Bang!"
Like shattering glass, the sword Reiger had just sheathed suddenly shattered, causing him to stare at the fallen blade pieces on the ground before he finally turned to look behind him.
There, Liz sat collapsed on the ground in a squatting position, her chest heaving slightly, her hands empty as she stared at the sword that had fallen not far away, her face showing confusion.
Clearly, Liz had not yet grasped what had happened.
"It seems the outcome has been decided."
In the distance, Marilyn, who was protecting Yuri, lowered her hand and announced the result.
Yuri also imperceptibly sighed in relief, glanced at the sword that Reiger had knocked away, feeling something was amiss, then walked forward.
Ai En, Ian, and the others, seeing the courtyard littered with sword and knife marks, were left speechless.
In such a situation, Reiger also came in front of Liz.
"Are you alright?"
Reiger asked.
Liz then came back to her senses.
"I, I’m fine!"
The little princess shook her head vigorously, but upon realizing her defeat, she couldn’t help but show a slightly dejected expression.
Yet in the heart of the princess, the last streak of lightning that she saw was deeply etched in her mind, leaving her endlessly fascinated.
"A flash of lightning spells defeat."
This rumor, which had been fiercely circulating in the palace these past few days, only now made Liz understand its significance.
"Can you stand up?"
Reiger reached out one hand towards Liz.
"Yes, I can...!"
Liz looked at the hand extended in front of her, her face flushed imperceptibly with a trace of embarrassment, her expression also showing a bit of hesitation and struggle. Eventually, with a blush, she extended her hand and placed it in Reiger’s palm, letting him help her up.
"You are very skilled." Reiger released that delicate and seemingly boneless hand, that was too smooth to frequently wield a sword, and said, "It’s hard to tell you’ve just become a True Knight."
Reiger was indeed surprised by this.
In his view, Liz’s strength was definitely not just that of a newly-promoted True Knight.
Whether it was the sword skills she displayed or her strength, both were far superior to a typical True Knight.
To put it in Reiger’s words, this princess was probably akin to a Level 5 senior fighter, not very far from the likes of Ais and Marilyn, who were top Level 5 fighters.
With her capabilities, coupled with the War King Sword Skill that could utilize Spiritual Power, if she encountered an opponent with a less robust inner strength, she might well be a match for a veteran True Knight at Level 6.
This was tantamount to a challenge beyond her levels under specific conditions.
Such a highly skilled swordsman, had she really just become a True Knight this year?
Could it be that the quality of royal family members was so high that they had to reach such an advanced Level 5 before they could receive the True Knight Medal?
Moreover...
"That sword." Reiger’s gaze flicked towards the golden sword he had knocked away, and he said to Liz, "You didn’t bring out its real power, did you?"
Reiger felt that the sword was no ordinary one.
He had been mentally prepared to switch to his real weapon for the fight after his blade was broken.
Who knew that Liz hadn’t unleashed the sword’s power but merely swung it normally.
"I’m sorry."
Upon hearing Reiger mention this, Liz immediately bowed in a full apology.
"I still can’t harness the power of Moslo, so it’s not that I didn’t want to use it, but that I couldn’t."
Upon hearing this, Reiger showed a look of comprehension while curiously inquiring,
"Moslo?" Reiger said, "Is that the name of that sword?"
Liz nodded and reached out towards the direction of the sword.
The next second, something miraculous happened.
"Hum!"
The thrown golden sword suddenly trembled, then floated up and flew towards Liz.
Liz opened her palm and promptly caught the sword.
Simultaneously, the scabbard she had set down at the beginning also flew over, landing in her other hand.
"Clank..."
With a slight metallic friction, Liz sheathed the sword and held it close to her chest again.
Witnessing all this, Reiger and Yuri glanced at each other in astonishment.
However, at that moment, Liz spoke again.
"I lost." Liz, with her eyes downturned, said in a dejected tone, "Even though I knew someone like me couldn’t possibly win against the Sword Saint, I didn’t expect to lose so easily..."
This seemed to be a significant blow for Liz.
She probably had never lost so cleanly before.
"You are already very strong." Reiger had to shift his focus from the sword in Liz’s arms to its owner and said, "For someone your age to have such sword skills, among those I know, there is only one who can match you."
Naturally, Reiger was referring to Ais.
Ais was 16 this year, already a top Level 5, and also the strongest female swordsman in Maze City Orario.
Liz was 15 this year, a year younger than Ais, yet she already possessed the strength of a Level 5 upper rank. Her swordsmanship was not much less than Ais’s, and even had a slight advantage due to the War King Sword Skill.
Her performance was already very good, impeccable in fact.
At least, Reiger admired this seemingly timid princess who actually possessed extraordinary swordsmanship and strength.
"Then I..."
Liz’s eyes brightened as she looked at Reiger with hopeful eyes.
Her expression was truly pitiful, stirring an impulse in one to pamper her without another word.
Unfortunately...
"You are excellent, there’s no doubt about that," said Reiger, looking at the princess, "but I’ll repeat what I said, I have no plans to take on an attendant, nor do I want to be subject to inexplicable constraints."
The meaning of his words was clearer than clear.
Liz’s hand holding the sword unconsciously tightened, her head lowered, seeming somewhat sad and disheartened.
Yuri and Marilyn, who had come near, looked at Liz with a complex expression on their faces.
Reiger felt somewhat guilty, but he did not intend to change his mind.
"Go back," Reiger patted Liz on the shoulder, saying, "Just be your royal highness, there’s no need to adhere to some unreasonable demands and serve as someone else’s attendant."
Saying this, Reiger turned and left.
"...Go back, your highness."
Yuri opened her mouth as if to say something but ended up with just this phrase.
As for Marilyn, she seemed to have nothing to say at all, only looking at Liz with a hint of obscure pity in her eyes.
Before long, the mansion’s servants began to gather, starting the repair of the courtyard that had been damaged in the fight.
Liz stood among the crowd; despite attracting many admiring and infatuated gazes from the servants and guards, nobody knew she was the kingdom’s ninth princess, so no one approached her, making her seem helpless and a bit lonely.
After a long while, Liz finally left.
Yuri and Marilyn personally escorted the young princess out, watching her depart.
......
Today’s arena challenge was ultimately canceled due to the sudden visit of the ninth princess.
The swordsmen and crowd gathered outside the Fransel mansion could only leave with deep regret, dispersing like birds and beasts, making the usually bustling mansion suddenly seem a bit desolate.
When Liz walked out of the Fransel mansion, an extremely luxurious carriage also arrived and stopped right in front of her.
"Come aboard, your highness."
A chilly voice rang out, causing Liz to pause her steps, standing blankly for a while before getting onto the carriage.
Inside the carriage, there was nobody else.
Liz shrank her shoulders and then sat down.
As the carriage started moving, that chilly voice suddenly echoed in the empty compartment.
"Failed?"
Accompanied by the voice, a vague dark shadow flickered into appearance behind Liz.
It was Rom, indeed.
"I-I’m sorry..."
Liz did not turn her head, shrunk her shoulders even more, and bowed her head in apology.
"There’s no need for you to apologize, your highness," Rom said indifferently, "It’s just unexpected that Reiger Brillhaut would have the resolution to reject even a distinguished talent like you. This is truly beyond our expectation; his majesty will surely be surprised as well."
"What should I do?" Liz said in a quiet, helpless voice, "Should I go back to the palace?"
"...No." Rom paused for a moment before continuing with an unemotional tone, "The existence of Reiger Brillhaut is too important. For such a figure to become an enemy would indeed pose a serious threat. Please try again, your highness."
"But he doesn’t like me," Liz said, sounding quite discouraged, "A person like me, I really can’t win anyone over."
Hearing this, Rom seemed to frown, yet also seemed to recall the princess’s treatment in the royal palace, unable to articulate any rebuttal.
"In any case, please make another effort, your highness," Rom said, suppressing his emotions, "It is also his majesty’s wish."
Liz said nothing more.
Neither did Rom speak anymore; his figure flickered and disappeared, leaving it unclear whether he had left or just concealed himself.
The luxurious carriage thus drove out of the vicinity of Fransel mansion, heading in the direction opposite to the royal palace.
......
The next day, in the morning.
As Reiger, as usual, came out of his residence and headed to the arena outside the main gate to welcome challengers, something unexpected happened.
"Hey! Who is that female swordsman?"
"So, so beautiful...!"
"Is there such a beautiful female swordsman in the royal capital?"
"She... She... She... She... Her... she’s so impressive...!"
Indeed, in the crowd surrounding the arena, whether they were swordsmen or civilians, at this moment, they all erupted into genuine tumult and discussion.
They stared intensely at the young female swordsman on the stage, their eyes nearly popping out of their sockets.
"Please, let me learn from you!"
Princess Liz appeared there, her face tensed and she yelled with her eyes closed.
"....."
Reiger stood on the stage, looking at the female swordsman opposite him, falling into silence.