"Princess Nasharis, I have some news."
Nasharis stopped talking with her friends and looked at her nanny.
"What is it, Vira?"
"His Highness the Crown Prince is having a duel right now."
She tilted her head.
"That's normal, right?"
"Yes, but he is having a duel with Lady Raisa's brother, Young Master Rezal. The deal is that whoever loses will obey the winner."
Raisa, who heard her name and her brother's name being said, quickly looked up. She widened her eyes.
"My brother and crown prince?!"
"They always have a duel. But why the deal? Isn't that just a friendly duel? They are friends, right?"
If Michaelis heard her, he would instantly say that they are not friends with an exclamation mark.
"Let's take a look, princess!"
"Huh?"
"I want to see who will win between those two!"
"Right? Between the son of an imperial knight captain and the imperial crown prince!"
"Let's go, princess!"
Nasharis is dumbfounded by their enthusiasm. She didn't know her brother was this popular. Her friends had just met with him once before. But she noticed the look her friends gave her brother when they met at their first tea party.
They fell in love at first sight with her brother!
Her brother managed to attract the noble ladies with just his look. She didn't know how many young ladies would swarm at him when he was older. Her brother must look like her papa in the future. Her papa is handsome after all.
"If that's what you guys want, we could watch them."
The ladies are cheering in excitement.
"Let's go right now. Vira, lead the way."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Vira began to walk, followed by the other kids. Raisa came up to Nasharis and whispered.
"This is just a friendly duel, right, princess?"
"Hm? I think so. They always have a duel like this, though. Doesn't your brother always come here to meet mine?"
Raisa hummed.
"That's true. But today he did not wear his training outfit, so I thought he would not be practising today."
Nasharis tilted her head. So, this duel was just made without proper preparations.
"Maybe my brother had lent one to your brother? They are boys; they must have nothing to do except challenge each other."
Raisa nodded in agreement.
"That's true. My brother practices swords every day. I'm sure he will win."
Nasharis' neck cracked towards Raisa. What?
"But my brother has also been practising very hard. This time will be his win."
Raisa looked at Nasharis with wide eyes.
"No way!"
"My brother will win!"
Nasharis and Raisa began to glare at each other. A sudden sense of rivalry emerged inside them.
"Let's see then. My brother will win, princess."
"Hm! I bet on my brother. My brother will beat you brother in a second, lady Raisa."
The other ladies just blinked at these two sudden outbursts.
×××××
They have arrived at the training ground. It looks like the duel is just about to start. Sir Raihan stood between the two to be a judge and commence the start of the duel.
"This is just a friendly duel. Remember that I will stop both of you if I see that any of you have done much damage to your opponent. This duel will end if your opponent gives up or can't fight anymore."
Michaelis and Rezal stood facing each other. Their faces are serious.
"The duel starts now!"
Sir Raihan backed away a little, and those two quickly dashed towards each other. Their wooden swords collided.
"It's such a shame that we need to use a wooden sword."
"Are you seriously trying to beat me or kill me, Your Highness?"
Pak! Pak!
Their swords collided with every move they made. When he attacked, Rezal would defend, and when Rezal attacked, he would defend.
"Who knows?"
Pak!
They slid on their feet from the effect of their swords colliding. Rezal grinned when he saw the smirk on Michaelis' face.
"You are vicious, Micha."
Rezal dashed towards Michaelis and swung his sword upward. Michaelis dodged the attack before he swung his sword towards Rezal's side. Rezal saw it and managed to dodge, but what he did not anticipate was a sudden kick towards his abdomen. He was sent flying back and began coughing.
Rezal stood up when he heard the approaching footsteps, using his sword to prevent the attack from Michaelis. He managed to stand up again after using his brute strength to push Michaelis away.
They were standing at a distance while pointing their swords towards each other. But Rezal was having a hard time breathing because of the kick just now. He was holding his stomach.
'That kick really hurt! He did not play around this time.'
"Don't hold back, Rezal."
Michaelis took his position before he dashed again at Rezal.
"Because I won't."
Their swords collided again and again, creating a small gust of wind every time they collided. Each of them managed to land hits on their opponents, but neither wanted to stop or give up just yet.
"What's so bad about being my friend, you brat?"
"I just don't want any friends."
"Hahhh?!"
Rezal won't accept that kind of excuse. Who didn't want a friend? Moreover, as cool, clever, and handsome as he is.
Pak!
Buk!
"Ugh!"
Rezal coughed again after being hit in the stomach again. How many hits has Michaelis landed on his stomach? This crown prince would really kill him if he kept getting kicked and attacked in the stomach. Rezal felt like all the food he ate just now would come out of the wrong hole.
Pak!
"Just give up. You look like a zombie."
Pak!
Pak!
"Never!"
Pak!
"Ah!"
Rezal groaned, but he kept moving.
Michaelis sighed before he swung his sword again. He is also in pain right now. Rezal had managed to land a critical hit on his body three times. It looks like Rezal has always known his weak spot; he must be observing Michaelis' fighting style.
As expected from the son of the imperial knight captain.
Michaelis swung his sword up when he saw the opening. Their swords collided again, but this time they heard another sound.
Crack!
They blinked in surprise to see both their swords broken into pieces. The pieces of the broken sword were flying around them.
Silence enveloped the training ground.
"The fight is over. Both opponents can't continue the fight with a broken sword. It is a tie!"
Sir Raihan announced the end of the duel with a tie, unfortunately.
They heard cheers from the outside of the training ground. They saw many young children cheering for them. Since when are they there?
Rezal plopped down on the ground, exhausted. Rezal's breathing is fast, not like Michaelis' is any better. They are both panting.
"A tie, huh?"
So, no one wins or loses. Their deal won't be put into motion.
"Let's have another duel like this next time to know who is the winner."
Rezal looked up at him while holding his hurt stomach. It would leave a big bruise, but somehow he didn't mind it. This is the first time they have taken sword fighting seriously. He has felt the adrenaline rush since the start of their duel. He can't describe his satisfaction with this duel.
"You want to get rid of me, huh?"
Michaelis shrugged and tossed away the sword handle on the ground.
"Maybe you are worth keeping as a sparring partner."
"Serious? Are we friends now?"
"No."
Rezal lay down on the ground and closed his eyes with that cold reply.
"Next time we duel, I will make sure to win! Mark my words, Micha. And we'll be using a sword that will not break!"
"Sure then. Go for a checkup before going back. That might leave a heavy bruise."
Michaelis walked away, not noticing the genuine smile thrown at him by Rezal.
"You should go get a checkup too!"
"Yes, I know."
Michaelis walked away, albeit limping a little because he was too tired to even walk right now. Riri came to him along with Nasharis.
"You are awesome out there, brother!"
"Thank you. I won't ask about why you are here, though."
Nasharis just smiled shyly while he patted her head. Riri gave him water to drink, and she wiped his sweat with a towel.
"I'll take a bath first before going to meet Celix after that."
"I'm glad you'll go meet Sir Celix by your own will, Your Highness."
He didn't have the strength to have a silly banter with Riri and just brushed off her sarcastic comment. He leaned against the railing and took a deep breath. He winched a little when Riri touched his sore muscle.
He is actually glad that the swords were broken before anything happened. He almost got out of control just now.
His eyes found their way towards Rezal. His sister and father are also there with him. Maybe nagging again?
Before he wanted to close his eyes, he made eye contact with Sir Raihan. Sir Raihan watched him with a serious look, and a slight concern could be seen in those eyes.
'I'm sure he could see it.'
Michaelis let out a sigh and closed his eyes. Somehow, the darkness always makes him calm.
'Of course he could feel it. He is an aura user after all.'
Now he knew a bit more about why the academy did not teach aura to its students. Many people would die if everyone learned it.
Michaelis just hopes Sir Raihan will not tell anybody about this yet.
About his almost-aura outburst.