Chapter 24

Seeing Kallian lightly swing the wooden sword on the ground, Leios let out a hollow laugh. The image of Eileen writhing atop him made him grip his own sword harder.

“If that’s what you wish, how could I refuse a bout with you, Your Highness?”

Leios’s voice turned grim. He’d suffered thinking about that scene all night. Knowing Eileen didn’t necessarily need him had turned his love into a knife that tore his heart. He’d sincerely said it was fine to be her second, but seeing Kallian’s seed inside her was something else entirely.

All morning, he’d wondered about Kallian’s reason for inviting him to Rozalian Palace. Leios thought it was to push him away from Eileen, but Kallian’s eagerness to face him suggested another motive. Leios stepped back six paces and stood tall.

Whatever the reason, he had to find out. And if sparring gave him a chance to vent his grudge against Kallian, he had no reason to avoid it.

“Wew… It looks like you’re facing me sincerely, and I’m glad.”

Kallian whistled lightly and stretched his neck side to side.

“Sparring can lead to injuries. I trust you’re not the sort to hold me responsible if that happens.”

“Ah, so I shouldn’t tattle? Is that it?”

Kallian chuckled, inspecting the wooden sword in his hand. He seemed utterly relaxed, his bare face shining brighter than before.

“I’m not that petty. I’ve been wielding a sword since I was very young, so I won’t go down easily.”

“If you say so.”

Leios offered a formal salute, and Kallian returned it with a gentle nod. Then, both raised their swords high. Their eyes slowly scanned each other, gauging the other’s strength. Leios radiated a dangerous energy like a beast lurking in the woods, and Kallian wiped the smile from his lips and began to move sideways.

Crack!

Kallian lunged suddenly, swinging toward Leios’s neck. Leios limited his arm’s motion to parry. Their swords clashed with a dull, lively sound, and instantly they separated again.

“You’re no easy opponent, Duke. Your reputation has spread beyond Staerfix to the Empire for a reason.”

“It’s too soon to judge me by one exchange.”

“Ah, is that so?”

Kallian replied lightly, but he felt the tension of Leios’s strength through the wooden sword. Kallian’s biceps and back muscles tensed, sending a chill through his body.

But winning or losing here wasn’t the point. Kallian hadn’t come to defeat the hero Leios Dreikan; he kept his expression relaxed and shifted sideways, speaking again.

“Did you enjoy last night’s invitation, Duke? I felt bad you left before I arrived. I should’ve welcomed you properly.”

Hearing Kallian’s cheerful voice, Leios’s aura grew fiercer. The murderous intent was so strong that even Lucan, watching from afar, reached for his sword. But when Kallian signaled to Lucan, Lucan stopped.

“Ah, you didn’t like my invitation, Duke?”

Kallian forced a laugh, but he was struggling to endure the pressure. Had he not been a skilled swordsman since childhood, he might have buckled. He’d expected a challenge, but facing the Duke in person exceeded his expectations. Truly, a talent worthy of fame even in the Empire.

“…What was your reason for calling me there?”

“What do you think?”

“If you thought such provocation would dampen my feelings for the Princess, you were mistaken.”

After the brief exchange, Leios moved first, his back foot hitting the ground and launching him forward. He swung his arm wide, thrusting at Kallian’s side, but Kallian narrowly dodged and spun away. Even with a wooden sword, a direct hit would have caused a serious injury.

Kallian stepped back, exhaled quickly, and smiled.

“You’ve completely misunderstood my reason for inviting you, Duke.”

“Misunderstood, you say.”

“I never wanted you to leave Eileen’s side. Even when I saw you and Eileen doing all sorts of dirty things in the carriage.”

He’d discovered their relationship in the carriage. Leios faltered at Kallian’s unexpected words. Kallian seized the moment, lunging and thrusting at Leios, but Leios parried again. Still, he hadn’t fully anticipated Kallian’s attack, and the force sent a jolt of pain through his wrist and forearm.

“In fact, I promised Eileen last night that I’d acknowledge and respect your existence.”

Leios stepped back at Kallian’s unexpected words. Seeing his reaction, Kallian smirked.

“Then why did you call me last night?”

“To make sure who her husband will be, and whose child she’ll bear.”

“……”

“The Princess is obliged to bear my child, Duke. How you linger near Eileen now and in the future doesn’t matter much.”

Kallian bent slightly, preparing to attack again.

“But your seed must never be released inside the Princess. If a child emerges with black hair or golden eyes, this beautiful Kingdom will face a declaration of war from the Empire—you know that, don’t you?”

Kallian swung his sword more lightly. Hearing this, Leios eased up, parried, then withdrew.

“Do you really expect me to believe that’s all you want, Your Highness?”

Leios couldn’t fully understand. It was hard to believe the Princess’s husband would tolerate his presence. Even if Staerfix was open about relationships, no one liked their wife consorting with another.

Yet he was acknowledging Leios’s existence and leaving his relationship with Eileen alone?

Leios was deeply puzzled. If he were the one engaged to Eileen and Kallian was her lover, he would never allow it. So why was the Prince letting him stay?

Leios studied Kallian’s face with sharp eyes. But Kallian shrugged with an innocent look, as if he were telling no lies.

“If you don’t want to believe it, I don’t need to persuade you.”

“Your Highness.”

Kallian seemed ready to end the spar, dropping his sword toward the ground. Winning or losing was meaningless. Last night, by showing Eileen to Leios, Kallian had proven his superiority, and it worked. Now, he’d come to make another offer. It was time for his final proposal.

“But you’ll have to believe me, Duke. If you keep doubting and bristling…”

Kallian dropped the wooden sword completely. It hit the ground with a thud, raising a faint cloud of dust.

“You wouldn’t want to lose the Princess to me forever, would you?”

At Kallian’s final words, Leios held his breath. As soon as Kallian voiced his greatest fear, Leios realized there was no point in continuing this fight. He still couldn’t fully understand Kallian, but the Prince’s logic was sound. He had no choice but to believe him.

“If you truly want to continue your relationship with the Princess, come find me again.”

“……”

“Then, I’ll tell you how you can become the Princess’s second husband.”

Second husband.

Kallian’s words hinted not just at being a lover, but even marrying Eileen formally. Leios looked up sharply. Noticing Leios’s inner turmoil, Kallian smiled in his infuriating way, stretched his arms to the sky, and yawned. Though the sun had only just risen, the heat was already oppressive.

“I suppose I should go. I feel like I’m sweating already. I enjoyed our spar, Duke.”

“……”

“I hope you don’t take too long to decide. The wedding with the Princess is less than a month away.”

Kallian finished with a smile, climbed the stairs out of the training yard, and Lucan quickly opened the umbrella over him again. As Kallian’s blue attire fluttered in the distance, Leios gripped his sword tightly.

A sense of defeat weighed on Leios, but only the high sun above offered any comfort.

* * *