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

No one knew what conversation passed between the brothers who stood facing each other with swords.

But everyone in the arena could feel the intense tension between them.

And the duel began.

Seia no longer hid her face with the fan.

She watched the brothers’ fight without blinking.

‘What is he thinking?’

Seia wondered about Kyle’s thoughts.

At the separate palace last time, he had pointed his sword at Tristan.

If Seia hadn’t used her wit, he might have really attacked or… killed Tristan.

‘He wouldn’t really try to kill him, would he?’

Despite such concerns, Seia inexplicably trusted Kyle without any clear rational reason.

That’s why she pushed Tristan into the arena.

“Oh my!”

The cold audience gradually became lively.

Despite the title of a friendly match, the brothers were fighting more intensely than any other match.

Tristan swung his sword at Kyle with all his might.

But Kyle lightly avoided Tristan’s threats with seemingly heavy but actually light steps.

Every moment was like a real battle.

“…He wasn’t even fighting with full strength against the Sword Master.”

A noble in the box seat said.

Those words reached Seia’s ears accurately.

And others besides Seia must have heard them too.

And those words were true.

Everyone was astonished.

Kyle’s swordsmanship was on a different level than before.

In the duel with Montrey, Kyle’s sword didn’t carry any killing intent or hostility.

Even the seemingly fierce movements and clashing swords were a kind of performance.

It was no different from a practice sparring session compared to the current duel.

“Isn’t this getting too serious?”

Someone whispered.

Seia, who was watching the brothers’ duel intently, raised her head.

Indeed, Kyle was pushing Tristan excessively.

Tristan was barely holding his ground. It was amazing that no accident had happened so far.

‘Catheon might stop this soon.’

Indeed, Catheon’s expression had turned serious, unlike before.

Seia suddenly noticed that someone else was as agitated as herself and Catheon.

“If His Highness really gets hurt like this….”

A voice like glass beads rolling.

A beautiful voice, both delicate and noble.

A voice that would make anyone turn around.

The owner of that trembling voice was….

‘Ruby Haisen.’

Seia immediately recognized her husband’s mistress.

She was beautiful.

Like a princess from a fairy tale Seia had seen in a picture book as a child.

Her voluminous wavy red hair flowed down to her waist, and her green gown fitted her body perfectly.

Her hair, graceful figure, and doe-like eyes gave her a bewitching aura.

‘The daughter of Luke Haisen. The mistress of Tristan Hellis.’

She had every reason to be Seia’s enemy.

But Seia was too shrewd to consider Ruby an outright enemy.

‘With a slight shift in direction… she could become a valuable piece on the chessboard.’

Seia turned her gaze back to the arena.

Tristan’s face was flushed red.

He was gritting his teeth and swinging his sword.

Tristan had skills, but he lacked the stamina and strength compared to Kyle.

Kyle, without holding back, pushed Tristan further back with each clash of their swords.

Tristan was noticeably being pushed to the edge of the arena.

People began to murmur louder.

“This is too much….”

It seemed like a one-sided display of the Crown Prince’s incompetence.

“Damn it!”

Tristan, losing his temper, swung his sword wildly.

In such situations, one should conserve energy and look for another opportunity, but his anger made him waste his strength.

Swinging the heavy sword inaccurately, he seemed to have thrown away even the semblance of nobility.

At that moment.

Kyle slowly stepped back with one foot.

Seia didn’t miss that small movement.

But others, focused on the sword movements, didn’t notice.

Tristan, shouting, swung his sword with all his might once more.

As the weight shifted back, Kyle’s strength in blocking the sword weakened.

Murmurs erupted again from all around.

Noticing this, Tristan swung his sword hastily but quickly.

“Your Highness!”

Ruby shouted in a shrill voice.

Seia felt her blood run cold.

It was as if all movements were replaying slowly in front of her eyes, as if deliberately choreographed.

Ruby gasped.

Tristan’s sword cut through the air and flew towards Kyle.

Seia held her breath for a moment.

The sword stopped right above Kyle’s shoulder.

“Th-The Crown Prince is the victor!”

The chamberlain shouted belatedly.

The Imperial Guards ran in and rang the bell to end the match.

People cheered louder than the noisy bell.

A dramatic comeback victory.

It was the kind of story everyone loved.

A tale of being pushed to the brink until the very end, then swiftly turning the tide by exploiting the opponent’s weakness.

People were thrilled by such stories.

Kyle knelt on one knee and bowed his head before Tristan, acknowledging his defeat.

An elegant bow like a black panther.

People cheered for Tristan, but Seia only looked at Kyle.

***

Tristan laughed boldly, covered in dust.

He had humiliated the thorn in his side in front of everyone.

The cheers and applause felt exceptionally sweet.

Kyle calmly sheathed his sword.

“The next Sword Master? Shouldn’t you give that title back?”

Tristan sneered.

But Kyle wasn’t provoked at all.

“I learned a lot from you, Your Highness.”

Kyle said calmly.

Under normal circumstances, Tristan would have sensed the sarcasm in his words and gotten angry, but at this moment, he was too intoxicated by the feeling of victory to harbor such suspicions.

“Then I’ll take your reward.”

Tristan smiled slyly.

A smile more fitting for a vile villain than a Crown Prince.

“A kiss from the Crown Princess?”

Tristan openly mocked Kyle.

“Has your mind gone mad from spending years in the North?”

Tristan laughed in disbelief and spat on the arena floor.

“Not a kiss from the Crown Princess.”

Kyle said.

“I want the woman named Seia Aden.”

Tristan seemed genuinely shocked by those words.

“Know your place.”

Tristan’s voice, which had been filled with the heat of victory, turned cold.

“And that’s only if she desires it.”

Kyle continued.

“After all, she is a person too.”

“You don’t know your limits.”

“You may have won against me….”

Kyle looked directly at Tristan.

“But do you really think she desires your kiss?”

Tristan was momentarily at a loss for words.

“Then.”

Without waiting for a response, Kyle bowed and left.

Tristan turned and disappeared from the arena.

Kyle, too, turned without hesitation and exited through the opposite side.

***

“What happened?”

Rey asked while arranging Seia’s dress.

It was early morning, but Rey had come to the dressing room to fetch Seia’s dress.

Seia, in her nightgown, plopped down on the sofa in the dressing room.

“Did you know this would happen?”

Rey couldn’t hold back and pressed Seia for answers.

Seia held her forehead.

“No, it wasn’t like that.”

Rey’s expression noticeably hardened.

“Forgive me for my impudence despite knowing my place.”

Rey said, bowing first.

“But wasn’t this too much of a provocation for the Crown Prince?”

Even the lower nobles and Imperial servants who couldn’t attend the swordsmanship tournament had already heard the rumors.

The rumor that the Crown Prince of the Empire had defeated his half-brother, the next Sword Master, with a sword.

But beneath the surface of the rumor lay a different meaning.

Many had witnessed Tristan being utterly overwhelmed by Kyle in the early stages.

Kyle at that moment was far more overwhelming than when he fought the former Sword Master.

The swordsmanship skills of the illegitimate son from the North, which had only been heard of in rumors, were briefly revealed, and this rumor was expected to engulf the capital within days.

And everyone shared an unspoken, audacious thought.

‘Kyle Hellis let Tristan win for the sake of the Crown Prince’s dignity.’

Tristan, still intoxicated by the cheers and victory, might not have realized it yet, but it was only a matter of time before the rumor reached his ears.

“No. It was necessary.”

Seia suddenly raised her head and spoke to Rey.

“There might not have been a better opportunity.”

Rey widened her eyes and focused on Seia’s words.

“To show people how impulsive and incompetent Tristan is as a ruler.”

Seia pondered for a moment.

“We need to call the maids in early.”

“Do you have a morning schedule?”

Rey asked.

“I need to start receiving audiences from today. The list must have already been submitted.”

“Aren’t you overexerting yourself, Your Highness?”

Seia stood up and stretched.

“No, I’m rather enthusiastic.”