Chapter 10
“I applaud the passionate contest between you two. Thank you for providing such an entertaining spectacle. However, Eroica, I regret to say that, according to your wishes, the duchy…”
“What an impressive display from Claudis. To think she could show such skill against an Imperial Prince.”
Just as Bosarva was about to announce that Eroica had failed to reclaim her duchy, voices supporting her began to rise from the stands.
“Isn’t it rare for His Highness Prince Kyleve to fight with all his strength like that?”
“He certainly isn’t an ordinary man. With someone like him, the Empire’s defense is surely in safe hands.”
Of course, the prince had used only his left hand, and in the beginning, he had appeared not to be fighting at full strength. Even so, it had been more than enough to prove Eroica’s abilities.
The voices coming from the stands silenced Bosarva.
Everyone gathered in the arena was either a dignitary from a foreign country or a member of a royal family. They had witnessed Eroica’s audacity in taking on an Imperial Prince in a duel.
And not only that—Eroica had displayed exceptional skill.
All of it proved that she possessed the qualities necessary to become the head of Claudis.
Public opinion was on Eroica’s side.
If Bosarva denied her now, he would undoubtedly be branded a merciless emperor before the eyes of foreign dignitaries.
A look of bewilderment crossed Bosarva’s face.
Kyleve looked down at Eroica, whose wrist was still held beneath his hand, and let out a quiet chuckle.
“She got one over on him.”
It was unusual for laughter to escape Kyleve’s lips like that.
If her bravado had not been empty boasting, then his prediction had been correct.
The Emperor would regret his decision.
Regardless of victory or defeat, Eroica had seized the opportunity to imprint her existence on everyone present.
“Congratulations. It seems things are going according to your wishes after all.”
Kyleve released Eroica’s wrist and stepped back.
As his arm moved away, Eroica straightened her clothes and stood before the prince.
“Thank you, Your Highness. It was an enjoyable match.”
Eroica did not say anything more.
Rather than continuing their conversation, the two swordsmen simply bowed politely to each other, bringing the match to an end.
That sight made the crowd even more excited.
It was also a sign that the prince had acknowledged Eroica.
From Kyleve’s perspective, it was not a bad ending either.
An Imperial Prince who did not underestimate the last descendant of Claudis, a woman who had risked her honor to enter a duel, and instead treated her seriously.
And as the greatest swordsman of Franz, he had demonstrated the undeniable difference in strength during the latter half of the match.
More than anything, Kyleve was pleased that the outcome had not gone according to the Emperor’s wishes.
He turned his head toward the Emperor.
The look on Bosarva’s face, with every escape route now blocked, was quite something to behold.
Everyone waited expectantly for the Emperor’s answer.
For the curtain to fall perfectly on this spectacle, Eroica had to be the victor.
With no other choice, Bosarva was forced to acknowledge her.
“……Ahem. Regardless of the outcome of the match, Eroica Claudis has demonstrated sufficient qualities to inherit the title. Therefore, I hereby grant the duchy to her.”
The people applauded Eroica.
The overwhelming welcome was unfamiliar to her, but she felt relieved that she had accomplished her goal.
It would have been a lie to say she had not been afraid of facing Kyleve.
Every time their swords crossed, she had to suppress the urge to demand an answer from him.
Why did you betray me?
She concealed the overwhelming sincerity in her heart and the emotions in her eyes as she looked at Kyleve before her.
His cold, frigid expression was still unfamiliar, no matter how many times she saw it.
Eroica vowed to herself that she would one day see that icy face covered by burning guilt.
“Why did things turn out like this? Where did that wretch even come from, and how dare she look down on me, the Emperor? You saw that smile she gave me earlier, didn’t you, Mille?”
At the very top of the eastern stone tower.
It was a remote corner of the Imperial Palace, rarely visited and incredibly secluded.
Inside the room, filled with a reddish haze, oppressive heat and a rancid smell mingled together, making it difficult to breathe.
Bosarva was immersed in a bathtub filled with a thick, dark-red liquid that clung together in a sticky mass.
“I saw it. She is an extremely insolent woman. I even doubt that she truly is Claudis’s daughter.”
“That’s exactly what I mean. Why are those foolish people allowing themselves to be fooled by her little performance?”
His lack of sound judgment and ignorance had ultimately allowed him to be swept along by the people’s enthusiastic reaction.
“And what about that vulgar face of hers? Why are people so obsessed with those delicate-looking faces like hers and Kyleve’s?”
The reactions of those who had praised the two of them at the banquet were particularly irritating.
Bosarva had devoted his entire life to cultivating his appearance, yet he had never once received the kind of praise they had so effortlessly attracted.
“I should have said no right there. I was an idiot to say I would give her the duchy.”
He had arranged for Kyleve to fight her because he intended to keep her in check if she proved strong enough to warrant recognition.
But instead of keeping her in check, he could no longer tell whom he had actually done a favor for.
“Kyleve alone is already irritating enough. What if that woman tries to rebel against me?”
There was only one thing Bosarva was truly afraid of.
Someone discovering his foolishness.
He was afraid that the woman who claimed she wanted to restore Claudis’s honor might interfere with him as he governed the Empire in such an unworthy manner.
“If Your Majesty wishes, it is not too late to act now.”
Mille coaxed his master gently with his forked tongue.
“Does Your Majesty not possess an omnipotent power? Show her. Show her what happens when someone incurs Your Majesty’s displeasure.”
Mille held out a round metal cup.
The Emperor took the cup from his servant with his filthy, sticky hands.
No one was ever to know what filled the inside.
“Bring that woman to me.”
Bosarva downed the red liquid in the cup in a single gulp, then climbed out of the bathtub and roughly wiped himself dry.
At the sight of his sinister appearance, Mille could not hide his smile.
There were still countless foreign nobles staying in Franz, and the Empire held festivities every day.
It was late at night, and everyone was out in the streets enjoying themselves.
The noisy sounds of celebration drifted from far away on the cold night air.
Ethan and Soma had invited Eroica to join them in enjoying the festivities, but she had declined and remained alone.
She had just finished bathing and was now drinking warm tea while reading a book.
This was the time she liked most.
A peaceful moment when she could sit quietly, stop thinking about everything else, and devote herself entirely to the book.
Knock. Knock.
Matinee, who had been attending to her, had already left the room long ago.
Unless it was one of the maids assigned to her by the Emperor, there was no one who would come looking for her at this hour.
Yet, after everyone had left, the unfamiliar sound of someone knocking on the door reached her ears.
Eroica raised her head and looked toward the source of the sound, but she sensed no presence beyond the door.
Did I hear that incorrectly?
She stared at the firmly closed door.
When no further sound came, Eroica lowered her head and returned to her book.
Knock, knock, knock.
Another knock reached her ears as she was absorbed in the story.
This time, the sound of someone knocking was much clearer.
Who could it be at this hour?
Eroica closed the book and rose from her seat.
“Who is it?”
It was only proper for someone to identify themselves before entering.
Yet no answer came to her question.
Only silence.
Sensing something strange, Eroica cautiously reached for the doorknob and pulled it open.
Beyond the half-open door was nothing but darkness.
Lowering her gaze after a moment, she saw an old man waiting for her.
His hunched back reached only about Eroica’s waist.
It was Mille.
He had come all the way to her room without carrying so much as a light.
“His Majesty the Emperor says he has something very private to discuss with you, just the two of you. Would you follow me for a moment? Ah, this is an order, so you must obey.”
His manner of speaking was somewhat clumsy, yet strangely ominous.
“The Emperor wishes to see me at this hour?”
Eroica’s wariness was evident, and Mille gave her an unsettling smile.
“He wishes to see you immediately. His Majesty is waiting. Hurry.”
Until now, every meeting Eroica had had with the Emperor in Franz had been conducted formally.
There was undoubtedly some hidden motive behind his desire to meet with her alone.
But as Mille had said, this was an order from the Emperor.
She could not refuse.
“Lead the way.”
“This way.”
Eroica followed the old man.
The strange-looking man grabbed her roughly and pulled her along.
He led her to the eastern stone tower.
It was a place within the Imperial Palace she had never entered before.
The moment they stepped inside the tower, a foul stench assaulted her senses.
As they climbed the countless stairs, she could hear the sound of damp water dripping somewhere in the darkness.
Sensing something strange, Eroica looked back several times as she climbed, but she detected no presence behind her.
Only Mille, following closely behind, continued urging her forward.
The eyes she glimpsed in the darkness were lifeless, like those of a rotten piece of metal.
“Open the door and go inside.”
At the end of the stairs stood a small door.
The closer they got to it, the stronger the foul smell became.
Eroica instinctively felt that she should not open that door.
But there was nowhere left to retreat.
Seeing Eroica hesitate, Mille abruptly opened the door and shoved her inside.
“What are you—……!”
