If You Cannot Love The Sun - Chapter 3 - The Crisis of the Imperial Family (Part 1)
Chapter 3 – The Crisis of the Imperial Family (Part 1)
“You are as beautiful as a single rose today.”
Tristan said, kissing the back of Seia’s hand.
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
Seia smiled gracefully.
“You look more radiant than the sun in the sky today, Your Highness.”
But Tristan could sense a hint of mockery in Seia’s smile.
He felt a twisting anger but also a stronger desire to surprise this woman and make her submit to him.
“Then, shall we go up, Your Highness?”
Seia took the first step.
Tristan climbed to the VIP seats with her, feeling displeased.
The booth for the Crown Prince and Crown Princess was decorated as splendidly as the Emperor’s.
It was the best spot to overlook the arena, with the balcony adorned with spring flowers.
Everyone stood up as Tristan and Seia entered.
“They are the Crown Prince couple of the Hellis Empire, who carry on the favor of the Sun God.”
People remained standing and applauded the Crown Prince couple.
Seia perfectly recreated the smile she had practiced many times.
“Have you ever seen a swordsmanship tournament?”
Tristan asked as he sat down.
Seia shook her head.
“This is my first time observing one. It’s like my debutante.”
“For a lady like you, it might be somewhat dirty and brutal.”
Tristan said arrogantly.
Seia inwardly scoffed.
“Yes. I’m worried it might be very frightening to watch in person, Your Highness.”
Seia pulled out a fan from her sleeve and began to fan herself slowly.
“That’s why you’re not participating either, right, Your Highness?”
Seia said, blinking her eyelashes.
“Because it’s too dirty and brutal for someone as noble as you.”
Tristan’s expression hardened.
His swordsmanship skills were not bad.
In fact, he was as skilled as a top knight, having been rigorously trained from a young age as the Crown Prince.
What Seia had implied was, ‘Even though you know how to use a sword, you didn’t participate because you’re a coward.’
“These are the Northern Defense Knights who protect the borders.”
With the introduction, Kyle’s knights appeared.
It had been a long time since the Northern knights, who were always busy guarding the borders, participated in an event hosted by the Imperial Family.
As people cheered loudly, Kyle gave a brief nod.
“Everyone is watching. You should smile, my sun.”
Seia said softly to Tristan.
Tristan looked down at Kyle and the Northern knights with a piercing gaze.
He forced a smile.
Kyle gave a short nod to Tristan and turned away.
“Why don’t you act like other women?”
Tristan asked sharply.
“I grew up alone in the tower, so I don’t know how other women behave, Your Highness.”
“What do you gain by speaking so bluntly? It just makes you seem unladylike and lacking in dignity.”
“I was taught that honesty is a virtue, Your Highness.”
“You know what I mean. You have no intention of speaking softly and indirectly, and you say exactly what you want?”
When asking for a fan or a parasol, a lady would typically say, ‘It’s hot,’ instead of directly asking for the item.
But Seia was straightforward about everything.
“It’s a waste of time, Your Highness.”
Seia snapped her fan shut with a loud sound.
“But I have clearly told you what I want, Your Highness.”
Seia tilted her head slightly and looked at Tristan.
“And you want me, don’t you?”
Tristan naturally looked at Seia’s lips.
He felt an urge to bite those slightly flushed lips.
“Even if it’s because of power, you want my body, don’t you?”
“You understand well.”
Tristan’s gaze changed.
“So why should I pretend otherwise?”
Seia’s words and actions had a strangely provocative effect on Tristan, like a siren’s song.
“Let’s just act as we are.”
It was as if she was whispering to him to act more impulsively, like the devil’s temptation.
“There will be a match between Sir Payton of the Imperial Standing Army and Sir Dominic of the Northern Knights.”
The voice of the knight commander echoed.
The match began with the appearance of mid-level knights amid applause.
Tristan crossed his arms and leaned back comfortably in the cushioned chair.
Seia fanned herself again, hiding her face.
She knew exactly what Tristan was thinking.
‘He’s weighing the time he’ll spend with me in the bedroom against the management rights to the Cavondish Mine.’
Tristan seemed easily excited and irrational when provoked, unable to consider conditions logically.
‘Who knew he would be so easy to handle.’
Seia clicked her tongue.
“Payton!”
People were already cheering, calling out the knights’ names.
“Dominic!”
The match between the two knights was tense and hard to predict.
When Dominic swung his sword boldly, Payton dodged with quick movements.
At the same time, Payton attempted a surprise attack, but Dominic blocked it with strength rather than speed.
The sound of swords clashing filled the arena.
“Shall we make a bet, Your Highness?”
Seia said.
Tristan, who had been focused on the match, turned to her.
“Which side will you bet on?”
“I’ll bet on Sir Payton.”
“May I ask why, Your Highness?”
Seia wanted to gauge Tristan’s knowledge of swordsmanship and tactics.
“Do you think a low-ranking knight under Kyle can’t be defeated by an Imperial knight?”
Tristan scoffed at Seia as if it were obvious.
“Then I’ll bet on Sir Dominic.”
Seia said calmly.
The match was reaching its climax.
Both knights were breathing heavily from the prolonged fight.
“Dominic! It can’t end like this!”
The Northern knights cheered Dominic with laughter.
Dominic exhaled deeply and shook his head as if he couldn’t help it. Then he delivered a strong blow to Payton.
Payton couldn’t fully block the sword and fell to the ground.
“That’s it!”
The knights shouted.
“Payton lost.”
Tristan clicked his tongue.
“Useless fool. He must have drunk a whole bottle of liquor last night.”
“Indeed.”
Seia said, still looking at Kyle.
“How did you know?”
Tristan asked abruptly.
“What do I know about swordsmanship, Your Highness? I just bet on the opposite side to make the bet.”
Tristan turned his body towards Seia.
“Then tell me what you want since you won.”
Seia quickly composed her expression and met Tristan’s eyes.
“Let’s wait until the end.”
Seia said, then took a sip of the wine beside her.
Watching her, Tristan felt a certain thirst himself.
***
The bet was a tie.
Seia guessed the results of two matches correctly, and Tristan also guessed the results of the other two matches.
“The final match is left.”
Tristan said with a sly smile.
He was already drunk on wine.
And he was so excited and immersed in the match and the bet that he hadn’t noticed Seia’s reactions at all.
He didn’t even realize that Seia hadn’t flinched when a serious injury occurred, spilling blood.
“His Majesty, Emperor Catheon of the great Hellis Empire, is entering!”
Suddenly, the chamberlain shouted loudly.
“His Majesty?”
Tristan straightened his slumped body.
As Catheon entered, everyone stood up and bowed to him.
Catheon dismissed the greeting with a simple gesture and sat in the highest box seat prepared for him.
“Prince Kyle is entering!”
The chamberlain shouted again.
People who were about to sit down stood up awkwardly and bowed.
However, Kyle did not enter the box seat for the Imperial Family but walked to the center of the arena.
“What is he doing?”
Tristan stood up abruptly.
“The one blessed by the almighty Sun God, the great Emperor of Hellis, Catheon.”
Kyle turned towards Catheon without hesitation and spoke.
People started murmuring.
“I stand here to challenge for my honor as a knight.”
As he spoke, Leo Montrey, the Sword Master of the Empire, walked out from the opposite entrance of the arena.
People were greatly agitated.
“I will challenge my master for the title of the next Sword Master.”
Catheon chuckled.
He already knew from the previous talk that Kyle would challenge, but he found it amusing that Kyle created such a dramatic situation to avoid any possible rejection.
“Very well.”
Catheon’s words were met with loud applause and cheers.
As long as it didn’t displease the Emperor, it was an enjoyable match.
A duel between the Emperor’s illegitimate son and the Empire’s greatest swordsman was something even the wealthiest nobles couldn’t plan.
“How dare he?”
Tristan’s face turned red with anger.
“He dares to speak of the Sword Master title?”
His face was filled with rage.
“You are the master of all knights and the next Emperor. What is there to envy?”
Seia said.
“What?”
Tristan glared at her.
“When did I say I was envious?”
“I apologize if I misunderstood, Your Highness.”
Seia maintained a soft yet cold expression like a porcelain doll.
She looked like an ice spirit living in a cold season, unlike the heated arena.
Her golden eyes resembled the sun but were too cold.
“Then I will bet on Prince Kyle.”
“Are you siding with him because you have feelings for him?”
Tristan shouted.
Seia raised an eyebrow, covered her face with the fan, and slowly looked around.
Only then did Tristan realize he had to be cautious of the eyes and ears of other nobles.
“I have no such feelings, but if you wish to believe so, I cannot help it.”
Her tone indicated she didn’t care what Tristan thought.
“Maybe Montrey will cut off one of his arms.”
Tristan spat venomously.
Seia sat still, looking ahead like a doll.
By then, Montrey and Kyle had bowed to each other, signaling the start of the match.
As the trumpeter blew the trumpet, people cheered louder than ever.
‘Was it enough?’
Seia wondered.
Had I provoked Crown Prince Tristan enough for him to do something foolish?
At least Tristan was breathing heavily with a red face and fiery eyes.
‘The rest depends on Kyle.’
Seia knew that Kyle’s victory would be the biggest catalyst to provoke Tristan.
‘That damned luck.’
Seia adjusted her posture and began to pray for Kyle in her heart.
‘Goddess of the Earth, please let the wind and the ground be on his side.’