The Sword Master’s Son-in-Law

– A Duel For Honor

The place I shouted at was the terrace on the second floor.

It should have been empty.

On the surface, no sign of life could be felt.

But—

“He’s there.”

I could say it with certainty.

A subtle presence tickled my senses.

He was clearly trying to conceal it.

And furthermore.

The three women beside Asia.

Their expressions betrayed the Prince’s presence.

Visibly anxious.

“Does he intend to remain hidden until the very end!”

Did he not realize he’d been discovered?

Or was he contemplating an escape?

I decided to wait a little longer.

If he refused to show himself,

I would go up there myself.

But then–.

“Ahem! Uninvited guests arrive, a truly lamentable lapse in party management.”

The First Prince revealed himself.

Not at all as I had imagined.

The First Prince, known for his unsavory reputation.

I’d pictured a pig, bloated with fat, but it wasn’t so.

Surprisingly, perhaps he’d been training, his physique was quite trim.

“So… to survey the situation, you must be Asia’s prospective fiancé.”

“…”

“And why are you suddenly crashing the party, causing such a ruckus?”

He possessed a calm, unruffled air.

As if he had nothing to hide.

Seeing his composure, my anger surged.

On the way to the party hall.

I had heard the full details of the prophecy from the Saintess.

If I hadn’t come here…

Asia would have fallen victim to the First Prince’s scheme,

Drugged and defiled.

And that event would have become her personal hell,

A future loomed where she would live out her life burdened by a dark memory.

‘To plot such a thing… and then act as if nothing happened?’

I couldn’t bear it.

That this creature was a Prince of the realm.

One who would likely become King if nothing changed.

That he was such a being.

I felt a wave of disgust.

“First Prince Nute Detiosque, I challenge you to a duel.”

A duel, upon honour.

For the aristocracy, honour was paramount.

The Royal Family, no less.

Therefore, a duel upon honour, I figured the First Prince would have no choice but to accept.

Beside me, Asia attempted to dissuade me.

“A d-duel? What is this all of a sudden…? And I don’t even understand what’s happening right now. Please, explain.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of everything.”

Reassuring Asia, I glared at the First Prince.

I waited for the First Prince’s answer.

But then-.

“Kyahahaha!!!”

The First Prince suddenly burst into laughter.

A reaction I couldn’t comprehend.

Laughing, out of nowhere.

Was this not an act of utter disregard towards me?

“A duel… now that’s a comical thing to say.”

“Comical? What’s so comical about it?”

The First Prince’s gaze, which had been mocking me, shifted in an instant.

A look of utter loathing.

“You honestly think a commoner can vie for honour with the First Prince of a kingdom?”

A commoner.

As the First Prince said, I was a commoner.

The nobility were the ones who cared about honour; commoners did not.

The First Prince’s words were true, but-.

“Would you still say I have no honour, even as the Sword Saint’s disciple?”

Before being a fiancé candidate to Asia, I was the Sword Saint of the Detiosque Kingdom.

His disciple.

Even as a commoner, that was enough to warrant some semblance of honour.

“Ah, that story…”

The First Prince continued, feigning disinterest.

“I did hear something about it. But wasn’t that all just coming from your own mouth? Frankly, I don’t even believe you’re the Sword Saint’s disciple. Not until the Sword Saint himself comes to verify it.”

The First Prince, demanding proof.

Of course, I brought the White Bloom Sword and the family’s ring as proof to the Messiah family.

That should have been enough to prove it.

But I didn’t think the First Prince would believe it.

In the first place, there was a high chance the First Prince already knew this fact.

“In any case, you carry yourself with quite the audacity. To dare speak that way before the First Prince of a nation.”

The First Prince nullified my challenge for a duel.

Then, he tried to pressure me by flaunting his status.

A murderous rage threatened to boil over at such an attitude.

Before I knew it, my hand had strayed to the sword at my hip.

The First Prince saw my action.

A sneer twisted his lips.

“Oh-ho, surely you wouldn’t dare draw a blade before the First Prince of this nation? You… are remarkably quick-witted, aren’t you?”

The First Prince’s tone dripped with mockery as he called me out.

I even considered simply ending his life right then and there.

Such thoughts only fueled the burgeoning homicidal urge.

But-.

‘So this is the ability the Hero possesses.’

A calming sensation began to wash over me.

The murderous intent subsided.

It must be because of this that I hadn’t succumbed to panic, despite this being my first brush with taking a life.

I glared at the Prince.

And just as I was wondering what to do next-.

“I can vouch for his honor!”

At the entrance to the ballroom.

Standing there, already clad in a nun’s habit, was the Saintess.

*

The Saintess had delivered the prophecy to Arthus.

And-.

‘I’ll need my position.’

She felt that her status as the Saintess would be crucial to resolving this incident.

That’s why she’d changed her attire.

It was also the reason she had been forced to arrive later than Arthus.

And just before entering the party, belatedly.

The Saintess first surveyed the situation.

‘So that’s how it is.’

Having grasped the circumstances within the ballroom, the Saintess.

She had a brilliant idea to resolve the situation.

“I can vouch for his honor!”

The Saintess proposed one thing as a solution to the predicament.

A duel between the Prince and the Hero.

She believed that if that could be arranged, everything would be resolved.

The First Prince seemed momentarily taken aback by the Saintess’s sudden appearance.

But quickly, he regained control of his expression.

“Oh-ho…! I had heard that the Saintess was residing in our capital. I should have paid my respects sooner….”

The Saintess offered a smiling greeting.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, First Prince Nut Detioske.”

“However, for you to vouch for this man’s honor… what are you implying?”

The Saintess wore a smile that hinted at a turning point.

“This very person is the hero foretold in prophecy.”

“Huh?”

The First Prince blurted out, a vacant expression on his face.

The information was simply too abrupt.

To the bewildered Prince, the Saintess spoke again with a kindly tone,

Clarifying the situation.

“Sir Arthas has been appointed as the Hero. A Hero and a Prince of the realm. While the Prince may find himself somewhat lacking in a contest of honor… well… since the Hero desires a duel…”

The Saintess met Arthas’ gaze.

Then, with a slight wink, she smiled.

As if to say, leave it to me.

“It seems best to proceed with the duel as is.”

At the Saintess’ words,

The people in the banquet hall,

Especially Asia –.

“A, a Hero… is this truly the truth?”

She seemed the most astonished of all.

*

It was just before the duel.

The First Prince had been given a brief reprieve under the pretense of preparation time.

To this Prince, Verdi spoke.

“Oh, Your Highness. Wouldn’t it be better to simply flee? Your opponent *is* the Hero, after all…”

Terrified, Verdi attempted to dissuade the Prince.

The First Prince offered Verdi a smile.

“Do not fret.”

“But…”

Verdi began recounting anecdotes concerning Arthas.

That he had defeated the Knights Commander of the Messiah Family, that he was a disciple of the Sword Saint, and even rumors of a skirmish with a Sword Master from the Mercenary Kingdom.

Despite these reports, the First Prince remained composed.

“You are quick-witted, but plagued by excessive fear.”

“My apologies…?”

“Do you truly believe all those rumors to be the truth?”

Verdi nodded.

The First Prince regarded Verdi with something akin to pity.

“This is all politics. Perhaps this Arthas is a fabrication of Count Messiah to prevent my betrothal. Naturally, he must be elevated above all others.”

“Ah…!”

“That Sword Master from the Mercenary Kingdom was said to have crossed blades with the Sword Saint some time ago. They are likely in league. In any case, it is important to only believe what you have witnessed yourself. That is the nature of politics, you see.”

Verdi nodded, as if having learned a valuable lesson.

“Ah? Then how should we interpret the claim of him being a Hero?”

“Hero? Frankly, even more important at the moment than being the Sword Saint’s disciple. Truthfully, I see it as coincidence. The one Count Messiah propped up just so happened to be a Hero.”

“Oh.”

“I heard the Order had already found the Hero. So, the truth is, that Arthas fellow got tired of the Hero’s training and ran away, and just happened to get mixed up with the Count’s family.”

“Thinking about it that way, it certainly seems that’s the case!”

The First Prince flashed a triumphant smile.

“Therefore, my conclusion is that Arthas is a no-good who deserted his training.”

“In that case, it’s certain Your Highness will be victorious in this duel…!”

“Indeed! And this whole affair might even lead to Lady Leia making me the Hero.”

Berdi cast admiring glances at the First Prince.

The First Prince, noticing the look, began to laugh loudly.

“Oh, in that case, should we be calling you Hero from now on?”

“Aren’t we friends? Keep calling me Your Highness.”

And so, the two painted happy fantasies, rejoicing.