The Sword Master’s Son-in-Law

– A Duel for Honor (2)

Asia stared at Arthas with a blank expression.

Whenever she asked Arthas for an explanation, the only answer she got was “later.”

Asia glared at the Saintess.

‘Why all of a sudden the Saintess… more importantly, Arthas is the Hero?’

Her mind was endlessly complicated.

But – what complicated Asia even more was.

The duel between the First Prince and Arthas.

“You must have been waiting for quite some time.”

The First Prince appeared, exhibiting the same composure as when he first arrived.

A duel between the First Prince and Arthas.

Asia had never once imagined that such a situation would unfold.

So, this situation felt like a dream.

“If you lose this duel, don’t lay a hand on Asia ever again.”

“Understood. Then if you lose, hmm… what would be good… Ah, yes, voluntarily withdraw as a candidate for fiancé, and leave the kingdom.”

“Understood.”

Asia’s heart began to pound like crazy.

She didn’t even consider the possibility of Arthas losing.

Wasn’t the outcome of the duel already decided?

‘If that’s the case…!’

The condition for Arthas’ victory in the duel.

It meant that she would now be free from the First Prince’s advances.

But-.

‘Then what about Arthas…?’

There was only one reason for this false engagement.

The First Prince’s advances.

It was an engagement to avoid them.

Although looking at the current situation, it seems it was all for naught.

If the First Prince loses like this, how will his relationship with Arthur change?

Asia felt her head begin to ache with complexity.

The Saintess had inserted herself between Arthur and the First Prince.

“Then, I shall officiate this duel.”

The First Prince still maintained an air of composure.

“I trust you’ll be impartial.”

His tone implied a warning against favoritism.

The Saintess did not deign to respond.

“Begin the duel.”

As the Saintess announced the start,

Arthur vanished in a heartbeat.

Having lost sight of him, the First Prince frantically searched for Arthur.

And then—

“What in the…!”

The First Prince discovered a sword already pressed against his neck.

Arthur had moved behind him with lightning speed.

He was holding the blade to the First Prince’s throat.

The duel had ended with unbelievable swiftness.

The First Prince wore a dazed expression.

He was about to say something when—

“This duel is invalid…!”

A tickling sensation, akin to pain, bloomed on his neck.

The edge of Arthur’s blade had cut his skin.

Simultaneously, the First Prince detected a killing intent from behind him.

And he immediately altered what he was about to say.

“I…I yield.”

“You accept the results of the duel, then.”

“Y-yes. Of course. So please, just get that sword away from me.”

“Say it again with your own lips. What will you do from now on?”

“From this day forth, I will never again lay a hand on Lady Asia. I swear it on my honor.”

Only then did Arthur withdraw his sword.

The killing intent dissipated, and the First Prince collapsed where he stood.

And Verdi, who had observed the entire spectacle.

He hastily disappeared in an unknown direction.

And Asia, who could be said to be the biggest beneficiary of this duel.

Even though the duel was over, her mind remained troubled.

But—.

In the joy of escaping the clutches of the First Prince, who had tormented her,

She wept, and threw herself into Arthur’s arms.

*

In the Kingdom of Detiosque, there existed two princes.

The First Prince, and the Second Prince.

However, the First Prince was already designated the next king.

Due to something called primogeniture.

But—

“Is that truly so?”

“Indeed it is!”

Verdi had witnessed the First Prince’s defeat in a duel.

And he went directly to the Second Prince.

To the Second Prince, Verdi relayed the results and details of the duel.

“His Highness, the First Prince, dueled the Hero and was defeated. Moreover, he attempted to steal the Hero’s woman, you say?”

“That is correct.”

The Hero.

A being revered as even greater than a hero.

And for good reason, for he stood against the Demon King, who threatened the continent.

As such, his influence was immense.

Across the entire continent, in fact.

In other words, the Hero was a benefactor to every nation on the continent.

Therefore, one should never risk offending the Hero.

And yet, his own brother had done such a thing.

The Second Prince was overjoyed.

His brother’s reputation was already less than stellar.

That such a brother would dig his own grave.

For the Second Prince, this was an opportunity to shatter the seemingly unshakeable tradition of primogeniture.

“Thank you. I must go see our father at once.”

“It is merely the duty of one loyal to the Kingdom.”

Verdi spoke of loyalty to the Kingdom.

Verdi had realized that the First Prince, whom he served, was aboard a sinking ship.

And so, he promptly changed ships.

But there was one thing he did not know.

That the Second Prince had no intention of taking him in, given his already established reputation as a backer of the First Prince.

Unaware of such a fact.

“Heh heh heh, First Prince… in politics, speed is more important than what you see.”

He was satisfied with the choice he had made.

*

After all the events had concluded,

he told Asia the whole story.

But—

“More than that, Arthas-ssi is the Hero? What are you talking about?”

Asia seemed more intrigued by the fact I was a hero than by my own crisis of identity.

“It… it just turned out this way.”

“Wait… you knew all along…?”

“No. I only just found out too.”

The Saintess chimed in from beside me.

“That’s right. The Hero-nim only just found out as well. Ah… forgive my tardiness! I am Letti, a Saintess of the Lea Order.”

She introduced herself with an air of refined grace.

Watching the Saintess, Asia wore a rather disgruntled expression.

“Ah… yes. I am Asia, of the Messiah family.”

“The Messiah family… Ah! You are the family of the Sword Saint of the Detiosque Kingdom.”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

An awkward air hung between the two of them.

But there was something more important at hand.

“About the Saintess…”

“Just call me Letti.”

“Then… Letti-nim.”

“Lose the ‘-nim’ too!”

“Even so…”

Wasn’t it rather impolite to a Saintess?

“Come now, even though I am elevated and called a Saintess, how could I ever compare to the Hero-nim!”

“Ah… then, Letti? You mentioned a deal. May I hear the terms of that deal now?”

I had already received the information regarding the prophecy that could save Asia from the Saintess.

However, the Saintess had yet to voice what she wanted from me.

I had to hear it.

Frankly… I was worried.

‘What if she asks for something impossible?’

But considering she was a Saintess, she wouldn’t ask for something completely absurd, right?

“Hmm…, first, I require you to accompany me to the Holy Nation of Heivis. And…”

“And…?”

“Please, drop the honorifics too!”

“U… uh, okay.”

Asia cut into the conversation.

“Wait a minute! Where are you taking Arthurs-ssi?”

“Hmm? I plan on taking him to the Holy Nation.”

“Says who!”

“Says me.”

Asia turned to me, her eyes pleading.

As if urging me to refuse.

But—.

“A deal is a deal.”

“Even though it’s the Saintess herself…”

Still–.

“I’ll take you as far as the Messiah Territory.”

Since the Count of Messiah asked me to.

Asia hesitated, then sighed deeply.

“Alright…”

To Asia in that state, the Saintess offered.

“How fortunate. The Messiah Territory is on the way to the Holy Heavis Kingdom.”

Asia, upon hearing those words, made a face as if she felt wronged.

*

Asia arrived at the Messiah Estate.

She holed herself up in her room, clutching her head.

“Ugh…!!!”

She simply couldn’t shake off her anger.

The cause was the Saintess.

It was all because of her.

Constantly clinging to Arthas,

Making physical contact.

Because of their recent awkwardness, Asia couldn’t bring herself to stop it.

She kept suppressing her anger.

Then, finally unable to endure it, she’d spoken to the Saintess.

“Um… Arthas is my fiancé!”

She’d said it secretly, only when they were alone, afraid Arthas might see.

But–.

“What does that matter? The human race takes multiple wives, doesn’t it? And historically, all the past Heroes embraced many women.”

“W-What are you saying…?”

“They say heroes are always womanizers, aren’t they?”

Asia recalled the Saintess’s nonchalant expression as she said those words.

From the very start, the Saintess hadn’t even considered hiding her feelings.

Because of that Saintess, Asia was furious.

But–.

‘I couldn’t hold him back, couldn’t stop her.’

Arthas no longer needed to keep up the charade of having fiancé candidates.

The First Prince, the root cause, had been cast aside and vanished.

Asia felt she no longer had any justification.

As she wallowed in dejection, someone came to find her.

“My Lady, it’s me.”

It was Melia, Asia’s personal maid.

“What is it?”

“I have something to tell you.”

Asia ushered Melia into the room.

Melia, now inside.

She had already heard the gist of the story from Asia.

“My lady, we must leave for the Heavis Kingdom right away!”

“Huh? What are you talking about?”

“Are you really going to let Arthurs slip away like this?”

“What…?”

Melia, with a serious expression, pointed out a historical fact.

“If you look at who the hero ends up with in stories, it’s always the saintess.”

“Ugh….”

Asia felt an inexplicable surge of anger.

“Why is that, you ask? Because they were always by their side. And you, Lady Asia, also have something you need to tell Arthurs, don’t you?”

“Something to tell him…”

Asia recalled.

The reason for their awkwardness.

She now wanted to tell Arthurs the story involving her mother.

But-.

Asia couldn’t help but worry.

Arthurs was now the Hero.

Wouldn’t her presence only hinder his work?

“Wouldn’t I just be a nuisance if I went…?”

“Absolutely not! How is a party usually formed when the Hero goes to defeat the Demon King?”

“Hero, Saintess, Mage…”

“And?”

“Warrior.”

“Yes, that’s right!”

The Saintess position was already filled.

Having never learned magic, that spot was impossible.

That meant the role of the Warrior was still open.

That’s what Melia was trying to convey to Asia.

In truth, Melia’s words were bordering on forced logic.

But it was her sincere desire for Asia to be near the one she loved, even if it was like this.

“I understand…! I’ll leave right away!”

“That’s the spirit, my lady!”

And so, Asia belatedly decided to follow Arthurs.