Chapter 3 – The Crisis of the Imperial Family (Part 2)

The duel between Kyle and Montrey was fierce from the start, unlike any previous matches.

The sound of their swords clashing was like thunder.

Although Montrey was an old warrior, he wasn’t easily overpowered by Kyle’s strength.

The Sword Master’s elegant and disciplined swordplay drew gasps of admiration from the crowd.

It felt like watching two people perform a dance.

‘Bless him in the name of Aden.’

Seia murmured inwardly.

Kyle was also showing remarkable skill.

He displayed his prowess as the ‘Demon of the North’ without restraint.

The nobles were impressed.

Rumors of him being a cold-blooded hunter and a lord of blood in the North had already spread widely in the capital.

But it was their first time witnessing his reputation firsthand.

He moved silently like a shadow, then suddenly thrust his gleaming sword at his opponent.

His seemingly unorthodox but precise movements toyed with his opponent.

Even the cruel nomads of the forest, who supposedly ran at the sight of his black hair, shuddered at the mention of the ‘Demon of the North.’

Seia, too, admired his swordsmanship.

‘He doesn’t seem human.’

Perhaps the divine power of the Sun God, said to flow through the bloodline of Hellis, lay dormant within him?

Such absurd thoughts crossed her mind.

Her lips parted involuntarily, and she felt a tingling heat from her fingertips.

Kyle, wielding his sword, was incredibly captivating.

“Montrey!”

Tristan stood up and slammed his fist on the balcony railing.

Seia flinched but hid her expression behind the fan.

“Cut off his neck!”

Tristan’s lack of composure made the high-ranking nobles around him whisper.

Even Catheon, sitting across, glanced at Tristan.

“Now! Montrey!”

But Tristan’s excitement didn’t subside.

And as if fueled by Tristan’s shouts, Montrey swung his sword powerfully.

“Now!”

But Kyle’s seemingly unguarded stance was a trap.

Seia exhaled the breath she had been holding.

Montrey’s sword tore through Kyle’s cloak as he twisted his body.

But Kyle was faster.

As Montrey regained his balance, Kyle’s sword was already at his throat.

“Prince Kyle is the winner!”

The commander of the Imperial Knights, who acted as the referee, shouted loudly.

People cheered and applauded loudly. Among them were those who sighed in relief, like Seia.

The intense and sharp duel had left even the spectators feeling muscle aches.

“Damn it.”

Tristan threw the wine glass on the table.

It shattered with a loud noise.

Seia closed her eyes for a moment, enduring, and took a deep breath.

“Noble Emperor.”

Kyle, with his hair disheveled from the duel, knelt on one knee towards the Emperor.

He planted his sword in the ground like a knight’s vow.

The rough yet elegant gesture drew everyone’s attention.

It was a moment that completely overturned the image of the illegitimate son, Kyle Hellis.

“Will you grant my request?”

Kyle said.

The noisy crowd fell silent.

Montrey, who had approached from behind, also knelt on one knee.

“Montrey.”

Catheon broke the silence.

“Noble Emperor.”

Montrey, too, despite his disheveled appearance from the duel, maintained his dignity.

“Do you recognize Kyle Hellis as your successor?”

“There is no one more suitable than Prince Kyle, Your Majesty.”

Montrey answered with a voice filled with pride.

Seia looked down at her old family enemy with indifferent eyes.

“Kyle Hellis.”

At the Emperor’s call, Kyle lifted his bowed head.

“The title of Sword Master comes with great weight and responsibility. Can you bear it?”

“I will gladly accept it, Your Majesty.”

“Can you swear to dedicate yourself entirely to the Empire with your sword?”

“I swear in the name of the almighty Sun God.”

At Catheon’s gesture, Montrey stood up and approached Kyle.

Reciting the vow, Montrey blessed Kyle with his sword as if bestowing knighthood.

“For the new era’s Sword Master!”

As Montrey shouted, the audience erupted into applause.

Seia also stood up and congratulated him with elegant applause.

‘This is just the beginning.’

Seia calmed her pounding heart and took a deep breath.

At that moment, Tristan suddenly stood up.

“Kyle Hellis!”

As Tristan called out loudly to Kyle, the crowd instantly fell silent.

Kyle turned towards Tristan.

“Crown Prince.”

Kyle said, bowing gracefully.

“The next Sword Master, huh.”

Tristan approached the balcony railing with a sly smile on his lips.

“Congratulations on your new title.”

Tristan said mockingly.

“Thank you, Crown Prince.”

Kyle showed no reaction to Tristan’s provocation.

“On such a joyous day, should we end the matches already?”

Tristan said, scanning the audience.

His green eyes gleamed with madness.

“Let’s have one more match!”

At those words, Emperor Catheon, who had never looked back, turned his head.

“As the Crown Prince of the Hellis Empire, I, Tristan, will be your opponent.”

Tristan said, looking directly at Kyle.

“I apologize, Your Highness.”

Kyle tilted his head slightly and met Tristan’s eyes.

It was a clear provocation.

“No matter how much we share the same blood, how could I dare point my sword at you, Your Highness?”

Tristan’s face hardened.

The tension between the two brothers made the arena fall silent.

But Seia found the tension somehow sweet.

Somewhere in her heart, she discovered a part of herself enjoying this duel.

Seia lowered her fan and approached Tristan.

“I am also deeply concerned that Your Highness might get injured.”

Seia whispered in Tristan’s ear. Like a spell.

Like the devil’s whisper.

Tristan’s fist clenched tightly.

“I permit it, so accept my challenge immediately!”

Tristan said, glaring at Kyle.

“This is an order.”

At those words, Catheon straightened his relaxed posture and looked at his two sons.

Seia immediately observed Catheon’s expression.

He was still a man whose thoughts were hard to read.

‘Why is he being so lukewarm?’

Seia thought.

‘I thought he would actively stop it… or halt the match.’

Of course, she was confident she could provoke Tristan enough to ignore even Catheon’s words.

‘Was he bored?’

The scene from the ballroom flashed in Seia’s mind.

‘He didn’t stop it back then either.’

It was Emperor Catheon who allowed Kyle to dance with her.

An absolute authority no one could defy.

‘Does the Emperor have some other plan?’

A small doubt settled in Seia’s mind.

“Are you defying the Crown Prince’s order?”

Tristan snapped.

A smile appeared on Kyle’s face.

But Tristan didn’t notice Kyle’s smile.

“I will obey Your Highness’s command.”

Kyle bowed slowly.

Tristan turned and left the box seat. The attendants began to move hurriedly.

Kyle turned his gaze to meet Seia’s eyes.

It was a look of promise.

Seia felt a mix of emotions.

She was both excited and tense about the match between Kyle and Tristan.

‘And that man.’

While slightly worried about Kyle’s safety, she surprisingly felt reassured and trusted his smile.

“There will be a friendly match with the Crown Prince!”

The chamberlain shouted.

Several attendants quickly changed Tristan’s clothes and equipped him with armor.

Tristan, finding it bothersome, pushed the attendants away and ran into the arena.

Seia nodded slightly towards Kyle.

As if it were a signal, Kyle turned towards Tristan.

“What will you wager in this fight?”

Kyle asked abruptly.

Tristan, who was putting on gloves to hold his sword, snapped his head up.

His green eyes, filled with madness, were like a well-honed blade.

“Are you suggesting a bet?”

Kyle looked at Tristan with calm eyes.

“I fought Sir Montrey for the title of the next Sword Master.”

Kyle said confidently.

“You need to wager something to have the will to win.”

Kyle’s eyes gleamed.

At that moment, the brothers’ eyes shared a commonality.

Hostility towards each other. A fervent desire to crush the opponent.

“Coincidentally, I have something I want, Your Highness.”

Tristan drew his sword noisily.

The metallic sound of the sword scraping against the sheath made Kyle’s heart race instead.

Those who feel alive when fighting.

Those who have nothing to gain or lose.

People who can neither have nor hope for peace and happiness like others. They don’t even want it.

They feel alive when swinging a sword and being threatened with death.

The more difficult the fight, the more the Grim Reaper beckons at the threshold of death.

The more Kyle felt alive.

And in the moment of overcoming and subduing the opponent.

When the tip of his sword pointed at the enemy’s neck.

There was no pleasure comparable to that victory.

Kyle also slowly drew his sword.

Tristan laughed mockingly.

“What is it that you want?”