4.
A heavy silence fell.
An unexpected Knight’s Duel.
In fact, this term is quite difficult to hear in everyday life.
Even knights selectively use words like sparring, a brawl, a fistfight, or a duel; they never rashly or thoughtlessly utter the words "Knight’s Duel."
That signifies just how heavy the weight of the term "Knight’s Duel" is, and that once spoken, it cannot be taken back.
The will of knights passed down from their predecessors.
And the symbol of their nobility.
Knights recognized by the Kingdom, and officially recognized by the Empire, are worthy of respect.
No noble can treat a knight like a servant, and although they are not nobles, the weight of their pride exists above even that of a king.
This becomes the driving force that allows a knight to endure harsh training and carry out unjust orders, and at the same time, it becomes a promise to throw away their life for their lord at any time.
A duel where such people stake their pride and use their lives as collateral.
Naturally, it only ends when one side dies.
Since a knight’s pride is more valuable than their life.
Having suffered a wound to their pride, how could they forgive their opponent?
They either kill the enemy who insulted them to restore their pride, or they take their own life, unable to bear the disgrace.
It’s almost at the level of fanaticism, but that is how knights are.
So, Viscount Hatata had no choice but to feel faint.
“If... if you could just let me off once...”
“Shut up. You’ll have to be my sacrifice.”
“...Please.”
’Surely he won’t kill me?’
Putting that thought aside, Marquess Haines, who was glaring at him with a displeased expression right now, was showing him that his life would end here.
He didn’t exactly have a connection; he had climbed this far solely through flattery. Since he had made the situation so complicated and large, the future was clear to him, quick-witted as he was.
Han Simin, who was swinging his hammer in the air with a beaming smile, was also escalating the situation as if he had been waiting for this.
“I will surely win and protect the honor of our beautiful Princess!”
Honor, my ass. He was the type who would dirty his own name with infamy if it meant money, yet he shouted it shamelessly.
Then he approached.
The countless nobles and Marquess Haines did not block him.
Even the knights didn’t.
His heart naturally swelled with pride at the successful setup.
’As expected, rather than getting hit and enduring it, it’s more comfortable to strike back.’
There was no need to go this far.
Anyway, the moment selling the Emperor’s name worked effectively, the immediate crisis was considered passed.
But Han Simin looked beyond that.
The future.
The fact that those who had lived as nobles retreated after being tricked by an adventurer was not something that would just be glossed over.
Since they were bastards who tried to kidnap a person in the middle of the capital, retaliation would surely return in some form.
Whether it was direct force or pressure through their position.
Whatever it was, it wouldn’t be a good result.
That was why he struck first.
’I’ll show you what happens if you dare touch me.’
Han Simin, who only displayed genius at times like this, quickly formed a plan and deliberately used informal speech.
That wasn’t very difficult.
He just had to spit out whatever came to mind.
“Just come here and get hit. It’s your destiny for taking the bait I threw.”
Viscount Hatata remained silent.
Viscount Hatata dodged Han Simin’s attack as he approached while loosening up his body.
After all, he was an NPC who was at least a Viscount!
He could sufficiently dodge a roughly swung attack.
“Oh? You dodge?”
Viscount Hatata did not reply.
The problem was what came next.
“Aaaagh! Ugh!”
Desperate screams rang out.
A scene of low-grade assault where the sword dance of knights staking their noble pride could not be found!
But the intention worked precisely.
“He’s going to die at this rate.”
“Ouch. That must hurt.”
’A person could really die from a beating.’
While he was being beaten to the point where watching people frowned:
“Gasp! The Princess!”
“It’s the princess! Show respect!”
A guest arrived.
* * *
“What is going on?”
Marquess Haines did not answer.
Marquess Haines and his group of nobles were certainly flashy.
An aura that one dared not approach emanated from them, and the knights guarding him exuded a spirit that was on a different dimension from mediocre mercenaries.
Because of that, the citizens of the Empire watched but couldn’t think of approaching rashly, and they felt anew, ’Ah, so that is what the high-ranking nobles of the Empire are like.’
But the moment the princess appeared, strangely enough, the wall created by Marquess Haines’s group crumbled.
The Princess emerging from behind the lifted curtains of a carriage made of gold!
The Imperial Knights escorting her!
It was different.
Even though they were both knights, the knights in Marquess Haines’s group looked like nothing more than apprentices.
The material of their shining armor was different, and there was no need to even mention the swords, the symbols of a knight.
The knights on Marquess Haines’s side must have felt it too, as their expressions hardened.
Of course, not as much as Marquess Haines, who intuitively sensed that the situation was flowing in the worst possible direction.
’...Why is the princess?’
’Why is she here?’
After the curse was lifted—no, ever since she was cursed—the princess had never once come out of the Imperial Palace.
Since it had been several years, one might expect the princess’s existence to be forgotten from people’s minds. However, the countless citizens prostrating themselves as soon as they saw her face proved that her beauty remained the same even after several years—in fact, it had bloomed even more.
It wasn’t something to just laugh off as being recognized solely for her appearance.
* * *