You guys don’t even qualify as worthy opponents!
“Prince Rudolf, may we ask for a bout with you as well?”
The people who appeared were Edgar and Ronnie, the two who tried to quarrel with me before class.
Not only that, they were in full training gear, and had wooden swords in hand.
“……….I’m currently sparring with Liz. Sorry, but ask me again some other time, will you?”
“Are you running away?”
With an almost flaunting expression, Ronnie tried to instigate me.
It was so utterly clichéd that I almost burst out laughing.
“Lord Rudy you needn’t bother wasting time with them. Allow me to deal with them.”
“”!?!””
When Liz glared at them with kiling intent filled in her aquamarine eyes, both of them suddenly lost their earlier bravado and gulped in fear.
Just that little interaction alone was more than enough to show the different in class between them.
“Y-you really are okay being defended by your fiancée like this!? Prince Rudolf, do you feel no shame?!”
“Th-that’s right! Is this really how a prince of the Empire should be!?”
ohhh…….just because you’re scared of Liz, don’t try and shift the blame on me, will you?
Or rather, from my perspective, you two are the ones that should be embarrassed of yourselves right now though.
Ah but well.
“haah…….Fine, let’s do it.”
“!! Lord Rudy!? You needn’t waste your breath dealing with trash like these!”
When I replied while sighting, Liz instantly drew close to me while complaining.
“It is indeed as you say my dear, but, even I can’t remain silent if they are going as far as to say all that now, can I? And also…..”
“also…….?”
“I don’t mind showing off in front of Liz every once in a while either.”
“auu………mou, seriously………..”
Hearing my words, Liz cheeks reddened.
But, seeing her current expression, it doesn’t seem like she was dissatisfied with it either. That’s good to know.
“fufu………….you may act all eager as you want in front of Lady Lizbeth while you have the time……..but, are you sure you want to do this?”
“Hey, you guys are the ones who came here picking a fight. Do you even want to actually fight or not? Which is it?”
Understanding what Edgar was implying, I couldn’t help but speak out in objection.
How dare they talk like that when they’re the ones who suggested this.
“…………well, whatever. So, which one of you fools wishes to fight me first?”
“I will!”
Mister Ronnie puffed his chest and stepped forward confidently.
He was a size bigger than Edgar………meaning he was almost two sizes bigger than myself who was about 164cm tall right now.
And matching his body physique, the training weapon he brought was also a two handed, wooden zweihander.
“Then, let’s begin. Liz do you mind refereeing the duel for us please?”
“Of course. Leave it to me.”
She put her hand to her chest, and gave a respectful bow. How cute.
“Then,……….Begin!”
“OOOOOOOOOHHHH!!!”
With Liz’s signal to start, Ronnie lifted the wooden sword on to his shoulders and charged at me while raising a warcry.
Both the loudness of his roar and his momentum were impressive.
All that said.
“Gahh!?!”
I easily avoided Ronnie’s sword swing, and then slammed my sword on his large back.
Well, he was just completely full of openings in the end. It’s like he’s basically asking me to beat him down.
A far cry from both Marquis Fahlcrantz and Liz. He didn’t even match their feet……..no, fingernails even.
“Sh,Shiit……..!?”
“Still wanna go? Then, I’ll stop holding back as well though.”
Right as Ronnie was about to stand back up, I pushed my sword’s edge down on the nape of his neck.
If he moved again, I was going to hit him down with no hesitation.
Even if it was just a wooden sword, he would still get quite the heavy injury from it.
“Lord Rudy, that’s enough.”
With Liz’s single sentence, I pulled my sword away.
“Next up, it’s your turn mister Edgar.”
“ughh…………”
Under my glare, Edgar groaned as he tried to step back and run away.
Ronnie was one thing who didn’t really need to spend that much time learning swordplay but, as the son of the knight commander, surely you can’t be acting this pathetic.
If and when danger approaches the Emperor, it is the job of the knight commander to put his life on the line to keep him safe after all.
If it was me, I’d be too scared to trust a guy like him with such an important duty.
“I mean, if you want we can stop here……….or rather, we can call this a draw, or even my loss if you really want it.”
“Lord Rudy!?!”
“!? R-really…….?”
Hearing my sudden suggestion, Liz exclaimed loudly and Edgar suddenly seemed eager to talk more.
“Of course, not without a price that is. Why did you suddenly wish to challenge me like this, mind telling me your real motive behind it?”
“ah……….uug…………”
Edgar began to stammer in place.
Normally no noble kid would intrude a fourth prince and Liz��s training and ask for a match as well talk so rudely like this.
Which meant, they must have a reason to really get a duel against me.
The only reason I can think of would be to defeat me and make it a scandal inside the academy.
That too, must be on someone else’s suggestion I imagine.
“Hurry up, if you keep standing like this, my beloved Liz will catch a cold. Answer me already.”
“We-well, um……..Prince Rudolf, you were training with Lady Lizbeth so I was asked to show my strength as the son of the knight commander and beat you………..”
“Ohh………And, by who exactly?”
“uu…………”
Edgar averted his face, and shut his mouth.
Judging by his actions, whoever asked him must be of someone higher rank than his own family………meaning someone close to royalty rank.
And a certain someone, that was here, in this Academy.
“Having a hard time saying his name? How about I make a guess instead?”
“…………………….”
“The son of the Svalier house, Wilhelm, right?”
“”!?!””
Hearing my answer, not just Edgar, even Ronnie gulped in shock.