262. Fox’s Prey (1)
There was an announcement of the sparring impressions.
Rize restored the messed-up sparring ground to a smooth, level surface, and thanks to that, I was able to stand in the middle.
“Please wait a moment.”
I stretched out my hand and asked for understanding from Archduke Luke and the princess.
And then, he gestured to Arthur, the Southern First Sword that was in disarray.
“… ?”
As a loser, the Sword Master intended to stay as far away as possible.
He followed me and stood in front of a crowd of thousands of people.
“Now let me say it again.”
I raised my voice through the loudspeaker spell that Margo gave me.
And, he calmly shouted to the southern citizens who were hostile to the empire.
「Did you see it well?」
They gave no answer to my short question.
There were many people who gave me a harsh look, as if they thought they were making fun of me.
「What do you mean you saw? “You mean you win?”
One spectator shouted in a loud voice.
Then, the atmosphere became turbulent as if anger exploded.
According to this, Archduke Luke thought I was pouring oil on a burning house and tried to take over the speech instead.
Leah stopped him and suggested that he listen in silence for now.
“Let’s listen first. “I don’t think that kid opened fire like that because he was thoughtless.”
“….”
「Yes, I won. The Southern First Sword was defeated by the Imperial Guard of the Leon Empire.”
I looked at Arthur standing side by side.
He didn’t show any signs of displeasure even when I pushed him.
I thought he had an intention, as he had caused the guards to come to his aid by collapsing the rock a little while ago.
And, his guess was exactly right.
「The empire is this strong. Even if all the city-states in the south join forces, it will be difficult to fight against them.”
Some of the crowd even stood up from their seats as if they didn’t want to hear the repeated unpleasant remarks.
However, they could not leave the sparring grounds.
Because my words that followed immediately caught their ankles.
「But do you know why the empire did not conquer the southern countries?」
The citizens were silent for a moment in response to my question.
And then, he started to listen to me again.
As if to reciprocate, I opened my mouth.
「This is because the people of the South have tremendous ‘power.’」
Like Archmond, whom Irina admired, she had the tenacity to believe in herself and persevere even in the face of a losing battle.
Arthur even tried to fight me until the end even after realizing that I was the Grandmaster.
「Lord Arthur, who is standing next to me now, also showed that kind of attitude for victory.」
I pointed to the Nambu First Swords standing side by side.
Then he opened his palms to the vast crowd and shouted.
「No matter who the opponent is, he always does his best to protect his country and family. “That aspect is highly regarded in our empire.”
I extended my hand to Arthur.
「Our empire is strong. However, I will not look down on the South.”
I held my palms together and raised them into the air.
「I promise to value your potential and become a reliable friend.」
We are strong.
However, I respect you and will be your ally on equal footing.
At those words, the crowd stopped walking, perhaps regaining some of their self-esteem.
「The best country in the South and the best country on the continent have joined forces, so what is there to be afraid of?」
Applause began to be heard little by little from afar.
The sound grew louder like a crashing wave and soon turned into cheering.
「Thank you to Archduke Luke and His Highness Leia for providing this opportunity for unity. And, I will give the glory of victory to all of you gathered here today.”
Thanks to this, the best swords of the two countries standing in the middle of the sparring hall were able to look at each other.
And then, we smiled softly and shook hands repeatedly.
A scene that could possibly be left in history.
The two leaders in the royal seat also looked down silently at the scene.
“I guess I have no choice but to admit it.”
Archduke Luke clearly looked disappointed.
In the end, he acknowledged the difference in power between the empire and the kingdom.
I can’t believe I even had the knight who overpowered the Southern First Sword as a guard.
He humbly raised his head when he realized that there were many strong men lurking in the central continent.
“Thank you for reminding me that the Empire is so strong, Your Majesty.”
“I am also very satisfied to know the power of the Southern Best Sword and the loyalty of the magic swordsmen, Grand Duke.”
She shook hands and said she understood why Hawthorne Kingdom was the representative of the Confederacy.
“I now understand why my father always told me to be careful of the South.”
After the sparring ended, the empire respected its own country.
At this, Archduke Luke seemed to have relaxed a little and shook off the bitterness that remained on his lips.
Afterwards, he looked resigned as he looked at Leah’s brilliant golden long hair reflected in the sunlight.
Realizing that in order to embrace such a perfect woman, she must become a man capable of defeating the best sword in the South, she clearly admitted defeat.
“Are you planning to go back tomorrow?”
“I thought so.”
Luke looked at Leah with a selfless and relieved expression.
Then he politely left a suggestion.
“I understand. “I’ll have to see you at the party to celebrate the conclusion of the alliance.”
“Sure, I’ll see you later tonight.”
Leah slowly got up from the royal seat.
And then, she leisurely turned around in her white uniform.
“Tell Bale to rest until the party.”
“What will Your Highness do?”
Leah quietly closed her long eyes as if she was tired.
And then, as she was about to yawn, she suppressed it resolutely like a soldier and spoke.
“I need to get some rest too. “I’m tired.”
「――――――」
This is how the friendly sparring between the two countries came to an end.
As Arthur walked down the stadium stairs alongside me, he said he was going to visit his father, General Manager Archmond.
“The qualifications of leader you mentioned. “I should say I knew what it was.”
“Yes, I guess it’s because he’s the best sword, so he has a good sense of touch.”
I chuckled and went down the stairs with him.
“If you become a leader, take a shot. “It’s thanks to me.”
“You’re really sly about things like this.”
He looked at me indifferently with his lifeless white eyes.
It’s a little creepy seeing it up close like this….
“Don’t worry. “When I become leader, I will be the first to let you know.”
Arthur soon lost his expression and smiled.
And then, he headed to the family mansion to receive recognition from his father.
“Then, let me get some rest too.”
Afterwards, Margo and I rested comfortably in our private room.
Leah said that the atmosphere between the two countries is good, and that she can take care of herself well on her own, so she asked him not to worry.
Thanks to this, I was able to get the entire room right next to her, a luxurious state guest room.
“Keuuu-. Relaxing!!”
I lay down on the king-sized, soft bed.
It was sturdy and comfortable, as if it wouldn’t collapse even if two people climbed on it and played to their heart’s content.
With her arms spread wide, she just looked up at the beautiful chandelier ceiling.
And then, I was lost in thought.
“Is this really the end?”
There is no longer any threat to the empire.
An alliance was formed with Bakal and the South, and the Crown Prince was also elected.
“Peace has finally come.”
Perfect peace that will last at least as long as I live.
And, even freedom.
Imagining that comfortable future, I stretched out in joy.
“….”
Quiet rooms.
Only the sound of the clock hands could be heard at regular intervals.
There are still over 5 hours left until the party.
With nothing to do until then, I decided to take a nap, which I loved so much.
I laid my face to the side and gently closed my eyes.
And little by little, I began to enjoy this silence.
“….”
But.
Is it because I became more sensitive to mana after becoming a Grandmaster?
Suddenly, my eyes widened.
And then, following the subtle feeling of mana, I raised my head.
‘Is it a watchdog…? ?’
I looked at one wall, following the reverberation of mana.
There, I felt a vague mana that I would not have felt before.
‘It’s strange, the atmosphere in both countries was obviously good.’
Suspicious of eavesdropping, I slowly got up.
Then, I slowly approached the picture frame depicting the sea.
“Artifact… ?”
It’s not strange to see a picture frame on the wall.
However, it is usually placed at eye level.
It was a painting of a blue sea that was subtly low in height and did not match the warm atmosphere of the room.
I slowly stretched out my hand.
And the moment when the grand aura is imbued into the frame.
“… !!”
The picture of the sea in the frame began to shimmer.
Then, the next room was slowly revealed.
Like a transparent secret door.
‘I’ve heard of a structure like this to rescue royals who are in trouble inside….’
Normally, only officials at the official residence can deal with it in an emergency, but it appears that I forcibly activated it with an auror.
I tried to restore the frame to its original state with an embarrassed expression.
However, as humans are creatures of curiosity, my eyes suddenly fell into the transparent room.
And, there….
「I’m tired….」
At about the same time, Leah returned to the room and tried to rest.
She is wearing a tight-fitting white uniform.
I slowly took off my hat and began to roughly hang my jacket on the chair.
「Whew….」
He was usually very noble and always wore gloves when touching something.
I roughly threw away my jacket and loosened my dress shirt and tie.
With such a human appearance, I kept staring at her blankly without even realizing it.
Beyond the wall.
When I took off my jacket, I noticed a dress shirt soaked from the sweat inside.
Hot heat emanated from between her voluptuous skin.
「….」
The princess took off her black skirt as well.
Her buttocks were barely covered by the long Y shirt, making her look dizzying.
In that state, she placed both hands on her chair.
She then stretched out her body and relaxed her back, which had become stiff from sitting for a long time.
Her voluptuous buttocks stood up straight and her slim waist sank down.
And then, the rich skin that fell further below her waist caught my eye.
Because her shirt was undone, her bare skin was not visible.
However, just looking at the reflection inside, it was very desirable.
“….”
I blinked my eyes at her sensual body.
Then, the moment when I was about to fall out of the frame.
「Hmm… ?」
I was so startled by the princess’s short voice that I stopped in my tracks.
「Oh my…. “You forgot to hide it.”
Leah let go of her chair and lowered her body to the floor.
Her brilliant golden hair fell to the floor, giving off a strong pomegranate scent.
The princess elegantly brushed her flowing bangs and picked up something that had fallen on the floor.
I stared at that object.
Because it was my first time seeing something in my life.
‘Rabbit… ?’
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What Leah picked up was a headband that completely contradicted her image.
Originally, her symbol was a golden lioness….
「Is this really effective? .」
Leah stood in front of her full-length mirror, holding rabbit ears.
She was wearing only her sensual underwear and a shirt.
「Is it like this….」
She was a cool-headed soldier who handled everything perfectly.
I slowly put her rabbit headband on her head as if it was her first time doing it.
Blue rabbit ears sprouted from her hair.
When I saw that, the corners of my mouth kept turning up and I couldn’t stand it.
「….」
The princess stared through her mirror at her own Dragon Eye disguised as her rabbit.
Then, she lifted both hands and bent them slightly….
「Kang… gun?”
She tilted her head, imitating a rabbit.
“!!!”
Imitating a rabbit by a woman with a voluptuous body and sharp eyes.
At this, my lips parted without realizing it.
「How do rabbits cry?」
The princess didn’t even know that, and she just kept an analytical look in her eyes.
Then, she spun around with her rabbit headband still on and headed back to bed.
「I’ll have to look into it next time.」
Leah laid her body down on the bed that was right up against the wall I was looking through.
Is it because I was lying face down?
Her voluptuous breasts, covered by a black bra, were gently pressed.
Like a pillow.
「….」
However, even though she was lying on her bed, she did not close her eyes comfortably.
Maybe it’s because I’m getting closer to the wall….
Because I noticed ‘something’.
「Veil… ?」
Leah asked, looking straight at the wall I was standing on.
I was startled by this and instantly removed my palm and backed away.
However, it was too late.
The princess, who noticed my presence, soon smiled her naughty smile.
「Could it be that you have been spying on me this whole time?」
“Oh, no. Majesty!! I felt a little mana coming from the wall, so I investigated it separately… !!”
I shouted very honestly.
I didn’t even know that my auror would activate an emergency device.
At this, the princess smiled and leisurely asked back.
「How much did you see before you were so embarrassed? “It’s not like you.”
Leah had a good sense of magic.
So she thought I was peeking at the wall when she was lying in bed.
But.
“Well, that is…” .”
Her relaxed expression soon changed.
I’ve been unintentionally spying on Leah for a lot longer than I thought.
“Jump gun… ?”
The moment when two embarrassing words come out of your mouth.
The two rooms with the wall between them became insanely quiet.
I couldn’t see Leah’s expression because it fell out of the frame.
However, I could feel it instinctively.
Her face was very red.
「Well, even that….」