The knightly chivalry Rishe knew was akin to an art. Even with a sword in hand, fighting for one's country, beauty, and nobility was important. The greatest honor was in a clean fight—one that shamed neither you nor your enemy—and ultimately offering your life in exchange for your lord's.
During her time as a knight, Rishe staked her life on protecting the royal family she served, and in the end, she had died.
Galkhein's knights are trained to continue struggling despite disgrace, no matter the situation they find themselves in. To that end, they kill as many enemies as they possibly can.
Rishe had faced this man as a foe before, and fate might yet again pit the two of them against each other. She squeezed the wooden sword in her hand.
Arnold chuckled. "Normally, I'd wait to spar with a knight until they've been through basic training. But since I'm up against you, I'm covering just one eye, not both."
"…I'm honored, Your Highness."
"No need to worry. I don't intend to let any harm come to my bride before our wedding."
Arnold's confidence clearly stemmed from the overwhelming difference in their abilities.
After a moment's thought, she said, "If I win, would you answer one question of mine, no matter what it is? In exchange, if I lose, I'll do any one thing you ask of me, Your Highness."
Arnold looked momentarily startled before smiling. He seemed to be looking forward to another potential scheme.
"Very well."
"All right," said Rishe. "Let's do this."
A knight gave the signal to start, and Arnold brandished his wooden sword at Rishe. His form was beautiful, but it was full of holes. It clearly said, Come at me.
The lopsided skill level was nothing new to Rishe, and she didn't hesitate to take up her own sword, once again confirming the state of her limbs. The belt on her left arm was attached to her back by a hook. She wasn't bound particularly tightly—she still had some range of motion—but her range was limited by the structure of her joints. Plus, just holding the heavy wooden sword with one arm was difficult, thanks to her current lack of muscle.
The longer we exchange blows, the worse my disadvantage becomes. I have to launch a direct attack!
Rishe took a short breath and leapt into Arnold's striking range in a single bound. Arnold didn't move. She swung her sword diagonally, aiming for the right side of his face.
Clang!
A loud sound rang out as Arnold lifted his blade to catch Rishe's blow. She'd put muscle into her swing, but the impact didn't so much as jar his arm.
So that's how it is, huh? In that case…!
She pivoted, spinning with the force of the blow. Arnold easily blocked her second swing as well. Their swords crossed and clashed, their eyes likewise locking from either side.
Arnold's one uncovered eye narrowed in mirth.
"What's wrong? Is that all you've got?"
Rishe shivered at Arnold's sincere enjoyment. She sprang back and held her sword up once more, catching her breath.
My center of gravity's completely off. My grip isn't strong enough. Yearning to use both of my hands is holding me back!
Rishe listed off the problems facing her, trying to think of countermeasures.
If I reorient my center of gravity, my reach will change. I'll have to advance further to get in range of His Highness.
She calculated the distance in her head and planted her feet where they'd need to be. Since she couldn't do anything about her grip strength, she compensated by holding the sword higher to transfer more strength down the length of the blade. She had to ensure she didn't try to regain her balance with her left arm either.
Makeshift solutions wouldn't secure her victory, but they were better than nothing.
One more time.
Arnold goaded her with a look.
Rishe took a breath, exhaled, and lunged. "Yah!"
Arnold blocked her first swing. Rishe pulled back, slashing at him twice more, forcing herself into close quarters. She tried an upward swing, but he blocked that too, pushing her back.
"Huh…"
He sounded impressed.
He'd stopped her. But before now, he'd just been holding his sword up to parry her blows. This was the first time there was any real swordplay brought to bear. Rishe jumped back again, gaining some distance from him.
"Hey. Lady Rishe has only exchanged a few blows with His Highness, but her form has changed a lot, hasn't it?"
"It doesn't seem possible, but…you might be right."
Ignoring the knights' commentary, Rishe rushed at Arnold. She strove to find a way forward as he blocked and repelled her attacks.
"Your movements are stiff. Don't challenge me with your strength. Make a better use of your feet."
Rishe gasped at his critiques before immediately adjusting her strategy as they sparred. She knew she could never beat a man in a contest of strength and thought back to when she'd been desperate to make up for that weakness.
"Use your agility. Step in with your left foot. A little farther. That's not enough; one more step. There."
Rishe stepped forward as Arnold suggested, engaging again and again. She was getting the knack back. It was a strange feeling, like she'd done this so long ago yet so recently at the same time. For his part, Arnold's guidance was straightforward and precise.
Wow. It took me five years to move like this in my life as a knight.
Arnold could likely judge the best strategy just by looking his opponent up and down, but Rishe had no intention of giving up. As she got back into the swing of things, her field of view opened more and more, granting her the ability to read Arnold the same way he was reading her.
The Arnold Hein of that one fateful day flashed through her mind.
Right!
She pulled back, the blow coming from exactly where she expected. Arnold's sword just barely scraped against Rishe's. If she hadn't dodged when she did, he would have sent her weapon flying.
Now he'll step into my reach and swing down from above!
In her battle with Arnold five years from now, he'd moved in just the same way. Rishe the knight had parried the blow with a defensive stance. She remembered how, but her current physique couldn't take that strain. Instead, she took one more step back, feeling Arnold's sword graze her bangs.
"Ngh!"
Rishe knew he would stop before his sword actually hit her, but she broke into a cold sweat regardless, instinctively afraid. She dodged with everything she had, losing her balance and staggering back a few steps.
Arnold pulled his strike at the last second, expression changing. "You said that as far as you know, my swordplay is the strongest there is."
That was what Rishe had told him in their earlier conversation.
"But just now, you reacted as if you'd faced someone even stronger than I am. You're thinking of him as we cross swords, aren't you?"
Is that a joke?
Arnold wore a provocative smile, but his gaze was sharp. Rishe adjusted her sword grip.
"It's almost enough to make me jealous."
"You jest," Rishe said, boldly meeting his eyes. "And I meant what I said! You're the strongest person that I know, Prince Arnold."
He wasn't wrong, per se. Rishe was thinking of the Emperor Arnold Hein from five years in the future.
He was stronger, crueler, and far more imposing than the current crown prince.
That man had slaughtered her entire order of knights. He would never condescend to saying something like, "I have no intention of letting any harm come to you."
"Come, now. Pay a little more attention to me."
Arnold smirked, relishing the exchange. This newly casual tone he was taking with her made him actually seem like the nineteen-year-old boy he was.