The princess’s expression darkened as she looked at Erin. She started to say something to Erin but closed her mouth.

It was clearly strange, but before Erin could realize it, the princess addressed Amon.

“Lord Amon, thinking about it now, I believe this might be acceptable.”

“Pardon?”

“Would it be alright if I were the only observer?”

Both Ferdin and Karon reacted to Princess Asili’s words.

They were about to open their mouths to protest, but Erin’s next action stopped them.

“If that is your wish, Princess, I have no objection.”

Silence hung in the air following Erin’s words. Both knights shared the same opinion, and the Saint had agreed to be the observer.

The duel between Erin and Amon had now become irreversible.

* * *

Amon couldn’t understand what the princess was thinking. Both Princess Asili and Ferdin occasionally behaved in ways that defied his common sense.

Normally, Princess Asili would have stopped his actions with stern words. Her kindness was widely known, and it was obvious what would happen if Erin Liserth dueled him.

But she didn’t. Instead, by offering to observe, she made the situation irreversible.

Perhaps even the compassionate Princess Asili couldn’t forgive someone who had taken her lover?

Let’s say the princess could feel that way. But what was Erin Liserth thinking when she agreed to duel him?

His mind was crowded with various thoughts. With a rigid face, he recalled what had just happened.

Erin had stopped Karon when he was about to cause a scene with his threatening demeanor.

As soon as she whispered something in Karon’s ear, that colt-like man immediately quieted down.

Amon narrowed his eyes at Erin walking ahead of him. Everyone seemed out of their minds.

True, as Erin said, he wouldn’t be able to kill her.

After Erin and Ferdin became engaged, Karon Liserth joined their preliminary knight order.

On top of that, Ferdin seemed to have an inexplicable fondness for Erin Liserth.

In such circumstances, he couldn’t kill her during the duel.

‘Ferdin, you’re usually so cold-headed, what’s wrong with you?’

Though he typically didn’t care about current affairs, even he knew how foolish Ferdin’s actions were.

Ferdin being kind to Erin Liserth was like tightening a noose around his own neck.

Amon glared at Erin while thinking this. For Ferdin’s sake, he needed to teach Erin Liserth a lesson today.

“This spot should be sufficient,” said the princess.

Amon and Erin stopped walking at her words.

Though it wasn’t a long distance, the princess seemed slightly out of breath. She placed her hand on her chest and took a moment to catch her breath.

“We will proceed modestly.”

The princess said this while neatly folding her hands together.

Amon took his ready stance. His blade extended elegantly toward Erin.

His straight sword seemed to speak of his character.

A knight who couldn’t tolerate injustice. That was Amon Hedor.

Erin knew how righteous a person he was.

He might seem disinterested and lazy in most matters, but he was someone who fiercely confronted evil.

That’s why he stood here now. To him, Erin must have seemed like the embodiment of evil.

Beyond this, Amon had gained attention early for his genius. In their brief encounter, Erin assessed his physique.

His body was specialized for swordsmanship.

His father, Duke Hedor, though not a Sword Master, was an excellent knight who wanted to make his child a Sword Master.

So Amon had received systematic training since childhood.

Erin knew how outstanding a knight Amon would become in the future.

Later, he would be known as Ferdin’s right-hand man, making a name for himself by beheading thousands of high-level monsters.

However, in the future, Amon would become trapped in his own genius. Believing he was strong without effort, he would stop trying, and ultimately stagnate.

And sadly, he would die before becoming a master.

If he had a little more time, or just a bit more passion, he could have easily become a master.

After seeing Amon draw his sword, Erin also drew hers. Amon’s face contorted at her powerless motion. He had wondered, but now he was certain that Erin Liserth was a worthless person.

The princess called their names.

“Erin Liserth, Amon Hedor.”

At that call, Erin raised her sword to face Amon. Perhaps this situation was fortunate in a way.

Before he became trapped in his genius, Erin intended to give him a new awakening.

That even if born a genius, there could be another genius above him.

* * *

“The sacred duel begins.”

As soon as Princess Asili finished speaking, Amon moved. He took the duel with Erin lightly.

He had seen Erin Liserth several times before, mostly at parties. Unlike her notorious wickedness, she was a very quiet person. She would simply stand still, barely noticeable, and then disappear.

“Do you see that person? I heard Erin Liserth tormented another servant.”

“If she weren’t Duke Liserth’s daughter, she would have been imprisoned long ago.”

“I hear the Duchess is having headaches. With her kind nature, it must be painful to see the servants suffering.”

He had briefly taken interest when other nobles whispered about Erin.

At parties, she always kept her head down. Amon thought it was disgusting. He believed she only pretended to be remorseful in front of powerful people.

An evil woman who tormented people in the shadows while unable to do anything in public places like parties.

That was who Erin Liserth was in his mind.

He found it irritating how she acted like a tragic figure despite the criticism she received for her own wrongdoings.

That was probably when it started. He began to dislike Erin Liserth.

His dislike grew stronger after meeting Lilia. Lilia was the most honorable mage Amon had ever met.

While working together in Ferdin’s preliminary knight order, he learned that her brother had been killed by Erin Liserth.

Amon remembered Erin’s hands from the parties.

Those clean, unscarred hands seemed ignorant of hardship.

Erin Liserth had probably grown up without any struggles as Duke Liserth’s daughter.

She must have become so arrogant and wicked because she had never even been properly scolded by anyone.

She was exactly the type of person Amon hated most.

That was certainly true. But why?

Amon swung his sword. He clashed with Erin using the sword personally taught to him by Duke Hedor.

The sword containing the essence of House Hedor was fast and honest. His unembellished swordsmanship wasn’t flashy but elegant.

It could be called the pinnacle of noble swordsmanship. Even Duke Hedor acknowledged it.

“You have the talent to surpass me.”

Amon thought so too. There was no opponent his age who could withstand his sword.

While there were those who could match him somewhat, none could surpass him.

Even Karon, who was said to be chosen by the sword, needed intense effort to achieve what Amon could with moderate training.

At some point, he realized he could steadily improve without much effort.

But now, Amon faced a massive mountain. Erin easily avoided his sword and even counterattacked.

It was impossible. How could she?

Amon’s sword grazed Erin’s side. But that wasn’t his intention either.

If things had gone as he intended, his sword shouldn’t have missed. Amon admitted to himself that he was getting excited.

Originally, his goal wasn’t to hurt Erin Liserth. He just wanted to scare her enough to make her leave the Swordsmanship Department.

He wanted to make her realize her place.

He intended to show her that this wasn’t a place she could handle, having grown up sheltered all her life.

But as if mocking his thoughts, Erin Liserth was overwhelming him. At the same time, killing intent began to fill Amon’s sword. Yet deep down, he knew.

His sword wouldn’t be able to touch even a hair on Erin.

It was simply impossible.