12. Flowing Star – 05
trembling-
The sound of a sword falling to the ground fills the entire arena. And regardless of his will, Lucian let go of the sword in his grasp without knowing it, but he just stared at his right hand with a blank expression, as if he couldn’t believe the current reality.
It wasn’t anything different. Just as always, he demanded a sparring with Cain, who had returned to the Duke of Estelle after a long time, and after sharing the accumulated sword skills, he could not handle the strength of his sword and eventually lost the sword from his grasp. Because it was nothing more than a trivial story.
“…This is my defeat…”
Lucian looked at his trembling right arm even at this moment and let out a dejected voice. It must have been. No matter what excuses he made, it was clear that this fight with Cain was his own defeat in name and reality.
Of course, it wasn’t like the duel that took place in the banquet hall of the system, and it was not that I had to fight swords with him with all my might. Being together with him this time was a clear fight, and it was in a state where there were restrictions on not using aura to measure each other’s pure swordsmanship.
However, that did not justify Lucian’s defeat. The words that he was inferior to Cain in terms of pure swordsmanship, in other words, had the same meaning as saying that Lucian’s ability as a swordsman was far below Cain’s.
“…You’ve gotten stronger. I am much stronger than when we exchanged swords at the banquet hall a year ago.”
Lucian’s words were sincere. Of course, the duel that took place at the time ended in Cain’s victory, but that did not mean that Cain at the time was stronger than Lucian. At that time, the reason Cain was able to win a match against Lucian was because Lucian did not know what the characteristics of ‘Flowing Star’ were, and it was not because he was weaker than Cain.
But now it’s different. His body has been trained to the point where it can’t be compared to a year ago, and he has become strong enough to be said to have reached the pinnacle of his ability as a pure swordsman. Perhaps, even if you fight with all your might without being vigilant now, you may not be able to defeat him.
“Well, I don’t think this much is really a big deal.”
Even though the warrior who reached the master’s level was praising his talent, Cain’s expression was very sad. Even though he was well aware that he was good, he was never saying anything casually for the purpose of showing humility in front of others.
Cain thought he had a talent for swordsmanship that was not too bad in his opinion, but he was well aware of the fact that his talent was insignificant compared to the true geniuses like Lucian and the Princess in front of him. Nevertheless, there is only one reason why he was able to improve his skills while maintaining such a rapid growth in just one year.
It must be because the current self is not ‘learning’ swordsmanship, but ‘restoring’ it. That’s why, in the eyes of others, you’ll see yourself as a genius who can’t be compared to the world-
Just at that moment when Cain was breathing and was about to lead his sword into the scabbard that was tied around his waist.
pair, pair, pair.
From the corner of the gymnasium, a very small but powerful applause began to resonate quietly. When Cain and Lucian turned their heads at the sound, they saw the princess standing there like a ghost, hiding her presence, and Chris, who claimed to be the princess’s escort knight despite his lack of skills. .
‘…Wait, Chris?’
Seeing Chris’ face for the first time in a long time, Cain hesitated. As Cain remembered, when the princess visited Estelle’s family, she must have come here without Chris or any other attendants. But now, what is the reason for her belated visit to Estelle’s family? He probably wouldn’t have come to pretend to be the princess’s escort with that skill.
As if aware that Cain was busy rolling her head inside, the princess looked back and forth between Cain and Lucian and began to open her mouth in a tone of genuine admiration.
“Nice to see. It must be a really interesting spectacle to see warriors who have reached the level of masters compete in sword skills.”
A very faint but clear excitement appeared on the face of the princess who said that. Just a while ago, it felt like it was not a matter of public officials to admire our sword dance.
“It is overrated. Lowering.”
Unlike Lucian, who politely bowed his head toward the princess, Cain sighed lightly and asked her a question in a condescending tone.
“Since when have you been standing here without showing any sign?”
Chris, who was standing next to her, twitched at the question, which was so arrogant to say it was directed at the imperial princess, but the princess didn’t even seem to care.
“You are a very shy man. Does it bother you that much that someone peeked at your profile?”
The princess, who ate and smiled at Cain, soon opened her mouth and answered meekly.
“It wasn’t that long ago. Roughly, was it around the time you and the Duke of Tournigen shared their first marriage?”
“…..”
I don’t know why it’s so difficult to explain what you can just say that you watched everything from beginning to end.
“By the way, Cain, seeing your swordsmanship, I have a question, can you answer it?”
“Do you have any doubts? What do you mean?”
As Cain looked at her with a slightly bewildered expression, the princess tilted her head as if she didn’t understand something easily and asked this question.
“The swordsmanship you were using just now. It seems familiar to the eye somewhere, but is it just my misunderstanding?”
To the princess’s question, Cain just shrugged his shoulders and answered.
“I do not know. Since my swordsmanship teacher is a teacher, I wonder if I was influenced by him without even realizing it.”
“…Hmm, it’s a really plausible excuse, so I’m a little sad that I have no choice but to go on like this.”
Saying that, she smiles. It was clear that he was suspicious somewhere, but it was clearly a gesture that he would ask and move on.
“Well, let’s put aside the issue of your swordsmanship for now. I have something important to share with you from now on.”
Saying that, the princess took out a small letter from her bosom and showed it. An ominous sight caught my eye: the emperor’s official seal was imprinted on the outside of the calligraphy book.
“It’s a personal letter sent directly from His Majesty to Duke Estelle. It contains a very important story related to state affairs, so I came to visit you personally because I felt that I had to return the answer to Your Majesty as soon as possible.”
Although she was expressing ‘I’m in a hurry’ with her mouth toward Cain, the princess’ tone was very relaxed. I could have made a bet. That woman did not have the slightest sense of ‘urgentness’ regarding this situation.
“…But why did you come looking for me? No matter how much I think about it, I don’t think that I will be of much help in dealing with state affairs…”
At Cain’s doubtful question, the smile on the princess’ lips grew even thicker. As if he had been waiting for Cain to ask himself such a question.
“Oh, unfortunately, you have something to do with this. It is also very closely related.”
****
“…umm…”
The father read the letter sent by the emperor without saying anything, then looked at the princess, tilted his head, read the letter again, and then looked at the princess again with a look that seemed incomprehensible. Perhaps, in my father’s way, this situation itself must have been an expression of absurdity.
“…Your Majesty, so to summarize the content of the letter, is Your Majesty now trying to determine your state letter?”
“Yes. As you know, I am now at the age of marriage. Also, since I am the only direct lineage in the current imperial family, shouldn’t I produce an heir as soon as possible to solidify the empire’s rock?”
The princess casually uttered something that might have made her feel a little hotter.
“And the most influential candidate for the current low-ranking bureau is none other than, um…”
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My father just stared blankly at my face, as if he couldn’t bear to gossip.
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My head starts to hurt at the sight of my father staring at me. I had thought that something might be approaching me since the princess’ gaze on me had been unusual lately, but being hit so violently in a blind spot without any mental preparation made the back of my head tingle.
…Damn it. If you were going to hold a surprise event like this with me as the main character, leaving everything else behind, wouldn’t it be reasonable to say a word to me in advance?
“Well, that’s how the story went. By the way, I’d like to tell you that you don’t have to worry about anything, just head straight to the island with me. I’ve already finished all the coordination with your majesty. How about it, Little Duke Estelle. Doesn’t it feel good to go home because the job is easy?”
“…..”
Apparently, my opinion was not even taken into consideration for the princess.
“…Damn it, this is too…”
The moment I tried to say that it was too sudden even if it was sudden, the eyes of the princess and I met each other. In her eyes, she felt that there was a strong will that she could not concede anything from now on.
“…..”
…In the end, did things turn out this way? Yes, for some reason I thought the princess was too quiet. Even during the ‘false engagement’ incident between Bianca and Ye, she was the princess who wandered around the continent to find me without looking at the situation. Just looking at me for the past year and not saying anything must have already exhausted all my patience. No, should I praise him for being able to endure it all this time?
“But I can’t help but feel a little bit abrupt to me. Sir, can you explain the specific reason why Cain was chosen as a candidate for the position of the lower rank?”
However, when her father, who knew nothing about the circumstances, asked such a question with a somewhat bewildered expression, the princess slightly raised the corner of her mouth as if she had been waiting for such a question.
“Hmm, for a specific reason. Well, the reasons are innumerable, but I will try to mention one reason that you, Duke, can understand the most.”
“Whoa, what the hell is that?”
As if the princess’s words were interesting, her father began to listen to her words with interest.
“duke. You must be well aware of the fact that swordsmanship, which boasts a thousand-year history, has been handed down one by one in the current empire’s four grand dukes, right?”
Even at the princess’ somewhat erratic question, her father nodded without wavering.
“I know that. With the exception of Crussell, who is focused on literacy, the rest of the duke’s family has one swordsmanship handed down from the days of His Majesty the First Emperor.”
Estelle’s ‘Bright God’. Tournigen’s ‘Twilight Moon’. Dekaraznan’s ‘The Waning Sun’. Its power is also powerful, but it was also a school that was quite famous because of the fact that it was a swordsmanship that had been handed down for over a thousand years.
“In fact, even in the imperial family, there is one swordsmanship that has been handed down over a thousand years. Its name is the flowing star. Basically, it is a swordsmanship that only members of the imperial family are allowed to master, but as with everything in the world, there are always exceptions.”
As if the words that would come out of her mouth in the future seemed to be enjoyable, the princess giggled and continued.
…Damn it. Are you saying that you are planning to change your words on a topic that you said you had no intention of making a problem with? Do you really have no intention of covering the means and methods?
“One, the one who swore to throw away everything and devote himself to the imperial family.”
“And another one. Although he is an outsider, he is expected to become a member of the imperial family. In other words, a person who plans to mix blood with a direct descendant of the imperial family.”
“…under.”
A laugh finally leaked out of my mouth. Somehow, I felt like I had to admit that I had taken a hit on the princess. From the moment he decided to learn ‘Flowing Star’ from the princess, he knew very well that he would have to pay a price in the future, but he never thought that the master would come back this way at a time like this.
I never imagined that such a provision would be attached to the conditions for learning ‘Flowing Star’. At that time, what was the princess who taught me ‘Flowing Stars’ thinking? In an instant, a ridiculous imagination that the princess might have taught me about ‘Flowing Stars’ passed through my head.
“By the way, His Majesty is showing great interest in this situation where the imperial family’s secret swordsmanship was leaked. Putting aside the issue of state affairs first, I recommend that you go up to the system in order to explain things to His Majesty.”
“Ah, of course. If Duke Estelle becomes my secretary, everything will be resolved as it should.”
“…okay. Everything is in order, I mean.”