“Lars Gothberg!!”
A high-pitched voice pierced through the peaceful imperial sky.
The uninvited guest who approached Lars, an honored guest at the Mokhwi Palace, was none other than Acella von Württemberg, the owner of the Moonlight Palace, who was strongly predicted to be the next emperor.
“It’s my palace. Lend me your ears, Acella.”
“Step aside, Heike. You have the audacity to bring a traitor akin to a dark shadow of the kingdom into the imperial family.”
Lars understood the situation quite well. Acella’s already sensitive relationship with Heike was further strained. Thanks to Lars, whom Heike had brought along, the emperor had barely escaped death, resulting in Acella being further away from the throne.
Acella had ample reason to view the unfolding events as Heike’s political machinations.
Before things escalated, Lars stepped forward, accompanied by his guards, directly addressing Acella.
“After a long wait, I see the star of the empire. It’s been a while, Your Highness.”
“Lars Gothberg, daring to wag your tongue in front of me…”
Acella paused upon facing Lars. It had been five years since they parted ways in childhood.
He was completely different from the wild boy of the marquis family she once knew. He had a solid physique and eyes brimming with confidence. Focusing on his noticeably taller figure momentarily distracted Acella, but she quickly regained her composure and glared.
“What are you plotting? I’m well aware that you’ve been active as an adventurer in the kingdom. How dare you interfere with the empire’s internal affairs?”
“I mean no such thing. If the emperor has made any choices, they must surely be for the safety of the continent.”
“What a brazen lie!”
With a dangerous glint in her eyes, golden magic flared to life. It was all over in the blink of an eye. A spear of ice erupted from behind her head and shot toward Lars with lethal intent.
Kwa-chik!
The attack missed Lars. In an instant, a massive figure charged at Acella, deflecting the spear.
Thud! Gishta boldly tackled Acella. As if proving that her name wasn’t a joke, she bared her sharp teeth as if to devour Acella.
“Oh golden lady, heed my warning.”
Grrr, the feral woman growled like a beast ready to pounce.
“This man, Gishta, is my food. Hurt him, and I’ll return the favor twofold.”
“How dare you!”
For a moment, Acella appeared overwhelmed by Gishta’s bravado. However, she quickly regained her senses and unleashed her mana to escape the scene, her eyes filled with madness.
Lars Gothberg, their connection was long and complicated. Her feelings for him were confusing even to herself.
The uncertainty in his attitude made her feel nothing but resentment.
Not good.
The probability of a bad ending swirled chaotically in the status window. It wouldn’t bode well if Acella and Gishta remained adversaries.
To diffuse the tension, Lars stepped forward.
“Your Highness, it seems there has been a misunderstanding.”
“Misunderstanding, you say? Explain which piece of news I heard is a misunderstanding. Are you really going to marry me off to the bastard son of a marquis? What other intention could that be if not to strip my claim to the throne?”
“Lars, what does ‘wife’ mean?”
“It means wife.”
“Oh, wife?! Lars, are you marrying that guy?!”
“No, nothing has been decided yet.”
Gishta’s expression became as serious as Acella’s. She looked back and forth between Lars and Acella.
Mana swirled around Acella’s body, dark and heavy enough to distort the surrounding air. After diagnosing her, Lars understood the situation.
Danger. She’s not in her right mind. The curse has already infiltrated her entire body.
The occurrences of bad endings were partly due to Acella becoming the emperor but also because of her immense magic.
If treating the curse rendered her incapable of using magic, wouldn’t the same result apply?
Having made his decision, Lars stepped toward Acella.
“What if I were to treat your curse? Would you then accept the emperor’s decree?”
“What arrogant words. Do I look like someone bedridden with illness?”
It might have been too late to turn back. Acella had already accepted the curse that consumed her body as part of herself.
To justify the dangerous power that had killed her mother, Camilla, she was prepared to commit even more cruel acts.
“Let’s do this, Acella.”
Heike interjected, stepping into the never-ending tension between them.
“This duel is for our succession rights. If I win, you’ll peacefully accept the treatment proposed by Commander Lars and follow the emperor’s decree.”
It was a proposal Lars never anticipated.
Yet it was a reasonable solution.
Heike found it increasingly difficult to control the growing power of the Moonlight Palace. If things continued as they were, it was only a matter of time before Acella would seize power.
The timing was ripe for a decisive contest, and now was the perfect moment.
Acella must have been waiting for the collapse of the emperor. She would have been ready to raise troops to seize the emperor’s crown.
Now that Lars had saved the emperor, her plans had undoubtedly been thrown off course. She might consider executing a coup if she didn’t accept the emperor’s decree. Hence, it was best to draw her into the rules and bind her with Geass’s pact.
Upon hearing Heike’s challenge, Acella slitted her eyes.
Then she twisted her lips into a smile.
“The terms of the duel will be war between the palaces. Anything beyond that is not allowed.”
The loser would face annihilation. It was a confident declaration to turn the other into an irrecoverable mess.
Things are getting out of hand!
Lars wanted to stop them, but Heike readily agreed without missing a beat.
“Very well. Let the pact be formed.”
Pfft.
After detailing a few conditions, the duel was established.
Acella laughed, as if unable to imagine her defeat, and returned to the Moonlight Palace.
“Commander, may I also join?”
At Tanya’s suggestion, Lars tried to dissuade her. Acella would likely participate directly on the battlefield. It was far too dangerous.
“The third princess Acella is a crucial figure for forming an alliance, you said.”
“Correct. Acella must not become emperor. She would dismantle the united forces in an instant.”
Listening to the conversation, Gishta became curious about the relationship between Lars and Acella. She had once speculated they were at least former lovers based on their childhood interactions.
Gishta’s heart was still racing. It always did when she was with Lars. It was a feeling she had never experienced before, one that was impossible to come by elsewhere.
She knew the solution. Gishta had seen how the other tribesmen treated outside men barbarically.
But when it came to that, she couldn’t act like her proud name. She couldn’t just swallow it whole.
Lars had that golden girl, and for some reason, she didn’t want that.
Spending too long watching the lower world, had she somehow developed an odd longing?
That’s why she found herself confused when Acella attacked Lars earlier.
‘…Sigh.’
No matter how much she thought about it, her limited intellect hit a wall. Finally, Gishta decided to ask Lars openly.
“Lars, what’s your relationship with the golden lady?”
“The third princess Acella, huh? She was promised to me by our families. To put it simply… it’s a relationship where we are both anxious not to kill each other.”
It was the same now as it was then. Lars added softly.
“…Pfft.”
His response cleared her mind.
She felt foolish for having worried alone until now.
Then there was only one thing left to do.
To break through and claim victory as she usually did.
Gishta thumped the ground with her axe handle. She threw an arm around Lars.
“I’m going to join the war! I’ll make the golden girl kneel before you!”
“What? No, Acella is more dangerous than she looks. There’s no need to put yourself in danger against the imperial family feud.”
“You think I’ll lose to danger? You imperial folks always talk too complicated. Just grab what you want!”
Thanks to Gishta, it felt as if Lars had suddenly gained clarity. He gazed intently at his fingertips.
There was no hesitation.
Indeed, as Gishta said.
He could simply grab the disobedient princess by the collar and beat her into submission until her temper cooled.
“I like that proposal. Let’s try it.”
“Alright! Just you wait!”
Tap, tap, Gishta patted Lars’ shoulder reassuringly.
*
The duel took place a month later on the Bismarck Plains in central empire.
“The visibility is awful.”
A typhoon struck, unleashing a torrential downpour. Heike clicked his tongue, but there was nothing to be done. With the pact established for battle, there was no backing out.
One side must meet total demise for it to end.
“All forces, advance!”
The cavalry charged through the mud. Two main divisions of the imperial knight order were mobilized for this great conflict.
This was no mock battle; it was real warfare. Thousands gathered to engage in melee combat, where swords would pierce flesh. The cheers and screams drowned amid the rain.
“Casualties!”
“Move them over here!”
In the blink of an eye, countless casualties emerged. Though it was a temporary position, Lars was dedicated to treating patients alongside the healers from the inner palace.
“The Moonlight Palace shows no mercy!”
Reflecting the brutal nature of the Moonlight Palace’s iron fist, the combat of its knights was nothing short of ruthless.
Seeing the constant stream of casualties from the Mokhwi Palace side, Lars desperately hoped that Gishta would not be among them.
Boom!!
To consume Lars’ worries, thunder clapped, and lightning struck from the sky.
The flashing light in the enemy’s midst clearly indicated where she was.
“Ah— Ra-ra-ra-ra!!”
The one who summoned the lightning, Gishta, smashed through the wall of knights like a siege engine, reaching the frontlines led by Acella.
“You lack dignity, barbarian.”
Facing Gishta, Acella unleashed her cold fury.
As the axe slammed into shields, they bent like taffy. When it became evident that they couldn’t stop her, Acella drew a magic circle.
Five sigils appeared. In an instant, with high-tier spells, she aimed to snuff out Gishta’s breath.
Ka-ka-ka-terra!!
Lightning and ice collided, creating an explosive sound.
As the exchanges continued, Gishta’s arms grew heavier from wielding her axe. The freezing spell was paralyzing her body.
“You must know how to wield strength to become a true force.”
Acella crossed her arms, and from the ground, a colossal spear of ice erupted aimed right for Gishta’s heart.
The savage woman completely froze, unable to move.
For a brief moment, the princess smiled in victory.
Clang!
Just when she thought she had pierced the heart, the ice shattered, and Gishta soared into the sky.
“Damn—”
With a click of her tongue, Acella immediately channeled another spell. But without hesitation, Gishta’s descent was unstoppable.
“Haha, ha, ha, ha—!!”
When her laughter suddenly stopped.
Boom!!
The axe sliced the ground, and the falling raindrops seemed to defy gravity, reversing toward the sky.
The massive savage woman pinned the fragile princess back down against the earth, her face bubbling with irritation.
“You ignorant fool! How can you still move after being hit by my magic! It was to be expected that your heart would freeze solid!”
“How foolish you are, golden lady. You have remained in your narrow household and know nothing of the world!”
Whack, Gishta revealed her chest. Scars from sword cuts and sutures stood out clearly.
“What on earth is that?”
“Within here beats my mother’s heart, the heart of an ancient dragon! No matter how powerful a wizard you are, can you freeze a dragon’s heart?”
“Ha! A heart of the Creator God. What nonsense! How can you be alive after replacing your heart?”
“Lars can do it!”
Acella’s brows twitched.
With her tightly sealed lips unyielding, Gishta leaning in closer.
“The treatment from Lars is costly. You must pay the price!”
“The price, you say.”
Mana flickered in Acella’s conflicted eyes.
The two souls clashed, struggling for dominance.
“And remember one more thing. It’s crucial.”
“What is it?”
Unaware of Acella’s current state, Gishta added a line as if she were scraping her insides.
“You are a concubine.”
“This is absurd!”
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