The wind blew stronger as the band started playing more fiercely around Elise.
‘The vibe is different.’
The moment I saw Elise’s stance, I immediately felt it.
Unlike me, who developed my swordsmanship fighting for my life and grew wild,
Someone had carefully refined and crafted her swordsmanship.
Not like a flower in a greenhouse, but a diamond shaped with care by an artisan.
Elise’s swordsmanship was just that.
‘So it wasn’t just a fluke that she beat Ares.’
Ares’s defeat in the practical exam before vacation wasn’t just a coincidence. Plus, the magic embedded in her ring.
With 2 on her left hand and 2 on her right, a total of 4 magics strengthened her, each of them being so outstanding that it felt like she turned into a different person in an instant.
“I know how strong you are, Daniel. So let’s go full throttle from the start!”
The golden sword swung right at me.
With the screams of the party participants, I pulled back and quickly scanned the surroundings.
I hadn’t expected such an aggressive approach, so I hadn’t brought my weapon…
“Wait! Young lady! What is the meaning of this?”
“First, restrain her!”
The guards of the Sermon family, the party hosts, rushed in, unsheathed their swords, and surrounded Elise.
Since it was a masquerade, they didn’t know Elise was royalty, so they tried to restrain her immediately.
“Get lost, you insignificant pests!”
With a mighty swing of her sword, Elise sent the guards flying, rolling across the ground.
Seeing that, the nobles who were still watching turned pale and began to flee.
Despite this chaos, the musicians didn’t stop playing. Since they had heard from a maid about Elise’s true identity, they judged that stopping now would be even more dangerous.
‘She hasn’t died.’
I grabbed two swords that the guards had dropped.
And I was certain.
“It was you.”
“Excuse me? What do you mean?”
“You killed Apviel.”
Elise’s expression showed she still didn’t understand, but I was convinced.
In my past life, when I went deep into the Forest of the Demon Realm and encountered ancient beasts, Apviel was already dead, with only his bugs wandering around honoring him.
Ancient beasts rarely left the Forest and had been forbidden to fight among themselves, meaning they wouldn’t die unless their lifespan ended.
Yet, in my past life, Apviel was already dead.
I had guessed someone might have killed Apviel when he came to murder Adriana, but seeing Elise’s power now, I was certain.
She killed Apviel in her past life.
For this moment, when the magic was maintained, she clearly exceeded Apviel’s power.
‘Of course, she must have had help from others.’
I thought perhaps Eris or the Dean-like professors who came to find Ares had joined forces to help her, taking my stance.
“You didn’t go all out during the exam, did you? This time, you need to give it your all. Because I want to possess you entirely if possible.”
“Are all royals twisted like you?”
“An insult to the royal family! You’re truly the best! One thing I wish is for you to bring a proper sword. Should I tell Bertia to do that?”
Elise looked at the two swords I was holding with a feigned disappointed expression.
They weren’t exceptional swords, but I smirked and replied.
“This is too light of a handicap. How about I win using only one hand?”
“Ah! Please make it just thrilling enough! I feel like my heart’s gonna explode!”
I muttered ‘crazy girl’ and realized that continuing this conversation was exactly what she wanted.
Charging forward and swinging my sword, Elise parried my blow with a smile, relishing the moment.
“Ah, it’s weighty. Indeed, you adjusted the power back then.”
“Just play nice.”
“How can I? This is the most thrilling moment of my life! Is this what love is, Daniel?”
“……”
Don’t respond.
As we exchanged blows, I gradually started pushing forward, and Elise flashed a strange smile.
“I’m not just skilled in swordsmanship, you know?”
Suddenly, a gigantic sword rose from the ground.
It seemed she genuinely intended to cut my legs off, but I barely twisted out of the way, just grazing my waist.
“……”
“Do you think a princess only learns swordsmanship? I’m also overflowing with talent in magic.”
Right, Elise was among the top in both swordsmanship and magic at the Academy. Her hiding her sword skills meant she had concealed her magical prowess as well.
Countless golden magic circles formed on the ground and in the air, and golden swords continued to rain down towards me.
‘A magic taking the form of a sword.’
This too must have been learned from a magician of considerable skill. It was like looking at beautiful transparent glass crafts.
I wrapped my hands in mana, swinging them to deflect the magic, while Elise, smiling, tore her dress’s hem and dove towards me.
“The path ahead is clear!”
Crack!
I crossed my swords like scissors to intercept her approaching executioner’s sword, wedging her sword between them.
With the violent friction, sparks flew from the clashing blades, and the sword I held broke.
But knowing it was going to happen, I thrust the broken end towards Elise.
“Ah!”
The broken sword lodged into her shoulder.
Typically, it’s not well-known that a broken sword can be more painful for the opponent. Shards can embed in flesh and cause even more damage with its jagged edges.
Elise, bleeding from her shoulder, stepped back and slowly placed her hand on the injury.
She seemed to react as if it were the first time seeing her own blood, and then she grinned brightly.
“It hurts! Good! So good! This is my first time! Hahaha!”
Feeling a bit queasy now, Elise nodded at the sight of her blood and regained her stance.
“Now, this can’t go on.”
I had intended to go gentle, but seeing her current state, I felt it couldn’t end like this.
Now I could tell just how pampered she had been, so I thought it might be time for a bit of a wake-up call.
“I’ll try not to kill you.”
*
The moment I uttered that phrase, the atmosphere in the banquet hall changed. The band, previously absorbed in playing, faltered at once, and Elise’s smile twisted.
‘What is this?’
It was definitely the Daniel McLean from just a moment ago.
An exhilarating, wild man who could bounce anywhere but,
The vibe he was giving now was utterly different.
“A magical beast?”
Yes, a magical beast.
It felt as if a huge, overwhelming force was standing before her.
“Ha, ha ha ha!”
You still had hidden power left?
Elise felt a jolt in her belly.
Feeling the unnervingly damp wetness between her legs, she gripped her sword tighter.
“……Huh?”
She couldn’t react.
The beast with black fur was already swinging its sword before her.
She was dead.
Yes, she thought she was definitely dead, but—
“Your Highness!”
A maid, Bertia, fluttering her skirt, had drawn her sword and was blocking the way.
Bertia, the maid assigned to assist Elise, was formerly the leader of an underworld organization organized by the previous king. Due to injuries sustained during a mission, she now acted as Elise’s maid and protector.
Originally, she was advised to retire, but Bertia and Elise were bound by their shared fate, leading her to become a maid.
It was Bertia who had taught Elise swordsmanship.
And that Bertia—
“Cough!”
Spitting blood, she hit the ground.
No matter that she had retired due to her injuries, she was once called the “Left Hand of the King,” former leader of the underworld.
In an instant, Daniel McLean had subdued her like hopping over a hurdle, not stopping there as he stomped on her, breaking her spine.
“Grrrgh!”
“Don’t barge in carelessly.”
A murderous intent mixed in.
For the first time, the bone-chilling fear washed over Elise’s whole body like chains, causing her to kneel unconsciously.
“Ah, ah…”
Realizing she had completely lost her will to fight, Daniel lowered his sword and reached for her long necklace sticking out.
As if it were yanked, her neck bent back.
The necklace, being a high-quality item, resisted even his rough handling.
“Behave yourself and grow up. It should have been you lying on that floor.”
“……”
“Well done at keeping this servant. It got hurt instead of you.”
“……”
With a flick, Daniel let go of the necklace, and Elise collapsed in exhaustion.
Thud, thud.
The dull sound of Daniel’s footsteps faded into the distance as Elise slowly lifted her head to gaze at the chandelier.
“Bertia, are you okay?”
“Cough, yes… I’m fine.”
Bertia, despite having sustained more severe wounds, pulled out a potion and handed it to Elise, but Elise shook her head.
“I’m fine; you use it, Bertia.”
“……Your Highness.”
“Hurry, you saved me after all.”
At her words, Bertia’s expression showed a hint of emotion as she drank half the potion and sprinkled the rest on her wounds.
“I failed. He’s not a man I can hold onto.”
“……”
Bertia also slightly nodded, gazing at the terrace where Daniel had exited.
What could his identity be?
How could he reach such heights at just 18 years of age?
‘It feels like he’s beyond human…’
Even Bertia, who had worked in the underworld, couldn’t help but shrink under the immense pressure and fear she felt for the first time.
This wasn’t just a problem of overcoming through training.
No matter how brave a rabbit might be, it would still tremble in front of a tiger.
This was that kind of problem.
“If I can’t have him…”
Elise suddenly smiled like a broken doll, laughing softly.
She stroked the deep marks on her neck that Daniel had left, as if it were a collar.
“Maybe it’s enough if I become his.”
For a moment, staring blankly at Elise, Bertia silently wished.
‘Could you please hit our princess just one more time?’
