Chapter 100
“Count, let’s spar.”
Ian, who had somehow separated from Angela and was giving instructions to the knights, tossed a scabbard toward Kalian. Kalian easily caught the scabbard that came flying out of nowhere and looked at Ian.
“There’s no wooden sword, so make do with the scabbard.”
At Ian’s words, Kalian twirled the scabbard casually held in his hand once and gripped it properly.
Sparring during a march was a common occurrence among the knights. The path to the battlefield was a rare opportunity to test their skills against knights from other houses.
Losing didn’t bring humiliation. Everyone understood that an individual knight’s strength wasn’t tied to the overall might of their house. In case of defeat, one could simply step back, acknowledging they’d learned something, and dedicate themselves more to honing their martial arts.
Even so, things were different when the participants were the Count of Florence and the Crown Prince. What would have been an ordinary everyday event became a special incident simply because these two were involved.
Most of the soldiers stopped what they were doing and flocked toward the two preparing to spar. Vigo, who knew how Kalian usually wielded a sword, waved his hands as if to warn them not to come any closer.
Still, not wanting to miss this chance, the soldiers rushed to secure spots with good views. Even those preparing for the evening hunt were the same. Muttering that dinner wasn’t important right now, they all headed to where the spar was taking place, leaving Angela with no choice but to awkwardly sit next to Jamie.
The clash between Kalian and Ian, who had politely bowed to each other, happened in the blink of an eye.
The scabbards collided fiercely. Some soldiers exclaimed in admiration, saying they hadn’t even seen the moment they closed in.
“Count.”
However, the surrounding commotion was lost on Ian. He simply had something to ask Kalian.
“Was yesterday’s fire arson?”
As soon as the question dropped, Kalian shoved Ian back forcefully. Ian, pushed away, charged right back in, and the two collided roughly once more. Creak. Already, a denting sound came from the scabbards.
“Answer me.”
This time, Ian pushed Kalian back. But not as much as Kalian had pushed him. Kalian, shoved back only a couple of steps, quickly raised his scabbard and brought it down on Ian’s.
The two scabbards clashed so hard that it produced a resounding noise like real swords colliding. Ooh, the soldiers let out cheers of astonishment.
To Ian, that too was mere trivial noise. The voice he wanted to hear was Kalian’s.
“Did Duke Bilton set fire to Angela’s tent?”
“Did Count Matterson tell you that?”
However, the voice he’d hoped for finally gave an answer that wasn’t what he wanted. Ian pulled his scabbard back sharply and clashed again, issuing a warning.
“If you don’t want my voice to get louder, you’d better give a proper answer next time.”
The scabbards, grinding against each other with a grating sound, separated at the same time. Ian gripped his scabbard tightly, intending to clash with Kalian once more.
But then, Kalian, whom he’d thought was standing perfectly still, was suddenly right in front of him. Startled, Ian raised his scabbard horizontally to block the incoming attack.
Yet, even after barely blocking it, the next attack immediately targeted his side. Ian just managed to shift his scabbard’s position to stop the incoming one. It was a friction so strong his hand tingled. He staggered, his steps tangling.
Not missing the opening, Kalian relentlessly drove Ian back. All Ian could do was block and evade. Kalian’s momentum was so ferocious that he couldn’t afford to leisurely ask anything anymore.
Was it because of the threat that his voice might get louder?
Kalian chose to silence Ian by charging at him as if he truly intended to kill him. Even knowing that couldn’t be the case, the moment he dodged the scabbard swinging down over his head, the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. Goosebumps rose.
The ground where Kalian had struck was deeply cratered. A soldier who had his foot there scrambled back on his rear in a panic.
Only then did the soldiers understand the meaning of Vigo’s earlier gestures and hurriedly widened the space for the two to spar.
It was swordsmanship that didn’t suit Kalian’s refined appearance. Even among the burly knights, there likely wasn’t anyone who wielded a sword so brutally.
Afterward, Kalian left traces that could be called destruction wherever he struck down.
“Count of Florence, are you really trying to kill me?”
Even at Ian’s words, unable to hold back any longer, Kalian didn’t stop his fierce attacks. Only after finally pressing the tip of his scabbard to Ian’s neck did he halt all movement.
“Hah, hah, hah.”
It was Ian who had exerted himself to evade, but it was Kalian who had poured out attacks without pause. Yet Ian couldn’t understand why he was the only one panting.
With not a single waver in his breathing, Kalian quietly spoke.
“Everything I do is for Angela, Your Highness. No matter what you heard from Count Matterson, don’t doubt that. If you have even the slightest doubt, speak now. I’ll draw a real sword.”
It was a sincere threat. If he could barely handle this with scabbards, facing a real sword would obviously make things worse.
In the end, Ian tossed aside his scabbard and raised both hands. Then, he nodded in a way only Kalian could see, meaning he understood his words well.
Only then did Kalian also fling the scabbard in his hand to the ground with a thud. Just like at the start, polite bows were exchanged between the two.
At the same time, applause and cheers erupted from among the soldiers.
* * *
“Your Highness was impressive too. It’s just that the Count of Florence is excessively strong; it’s not that Your Highness is weak at all.”
“…….”
“Who could block the Count of Florence’s attacks like that? It’s only possible because it’s Your Highness. You know that, right?”
Seeing Ian’s face so bitterly twisted, Cecil, who had stuck to him like a shadow, chattered away like a magpie.
Normally, even with words like these, he’d grin foolishly and say, “Right, isn’t it?” But for some reason, Ian didn’t seem in the mood at all.
“What the hell…!”
Ian, who had been silent all along, suddenly picked up a stone irritably and threw it into the lake in front of him, finally opening his mouth.
“What the hell is that guy made of? Does he have some illness where he can’t stand not beating me?”
The ripples in the lake caused by the stone felt as if they were spreading because of his voice.
Cecil was surprised that Ian, who usually didn’t care much about winning or losing, was suddenly saying such things. So, cautiously, he voiced the thought that came to mind.
“Your Highness.”
“…….”
“I’m not sure if I should say this, but when a person does something they don’t usually do? It means they’re about to die….”
“Cecil!”
At the angry shout, Cecil pursed his lips as if he hadn’t said anything. But seeing Ian glaring at the lake and huffing, he had no choice but to speak up again.
“Oh, come on, why on earth are you acting like this? At least let this attendant know the reason!”
“Angela…!”
Lady Bilton?
“Angela saw it all. Me getting completely overpowered and dragged around by that bastard.”
“……?”
“If you’ve got eyes to see, you should know when to let things slide. Why go at it like you’re out for blood?”
“……?”
“I was hoping to show off a cool side in front of Angela too. Hah, it’s all ruined now.”
“Um….”
Cecil, who had been listening to Ian’s words pouring out one after another, tilted his head and asked.
“Why does Your Highness need to show a cool side to Lady Bilton?”
The moment he heard the question, Ian’s face twisted in dismay. And only after seeing that expression did Cecil’s mouth drop open, his eyes widening as he exclaimed with conviction.
“You like Lady Bilton?”
At that, Ian’s hand flew straight to Cecil’s mouth. He seemed to intend to cover it, but it was more like a outright slap.
“Can’t you keep quiet?”
“Wow, whoa, wow.”
Despite Ian’s scolding, Cecil couldn’t stop the exclamations bursting from his mouth on their own. After a while of that, Cecil, bundled up in curiosity, asked.
“Since when, exactly?”
Ian, who had been about to snap back irritably asking what he’d do with that information, replied curtly.
“From the first time I saw her.”
It was a long-hidden one-sided love. He figured since it was out now, he might as well spill it all. It’d be even better if Cecil became an ally.
“That was when you were really young, wasn’t it?”
“Yeah.”
“Love at first sight?”
“Yeah.”
“Because she’s pretty?”
“Yeah.”
“But you haven’t confessed all this time?”
“Yeah!”
But as soon as he said it, regret hit him. Cecil jumped up, asking how that could be, calling him spineless for a man, and Ian ground his teeth.
Ian picked up another small pebble and flung it at the lake. It skipped across the water with a splash before gurgling under. It felt just like his own sorry state after boldly confronting Kalian and getting thoroughly crushed.
Fuming, he kicked the ground roughly for no reason, and Cecil hit the nail on the head again.
“No, but liking a woman who’s already engaged—what do you plan to do about that?”
Ian glared at Cecil, who somehow looked amused, and said.
“Until she walks into the wedding hall, no one knows for sure. No, even after that, it’s uncertain. How many times do you think Father has divorced?”
He talked a good game. Claiming he’d liked her since childhood, yet never once confessed.
He was so smooth and capable with other women, but with the one he actually liked, he couldn’t even say those words and innocently burned with longing.
Cecil let out a hollow laugh at this side of Crown Prince Ian he’d never seen before. They’d been together so long, yet there was still this unknown facet.
“Cecil, was that a mocking laugh?”
“It’s because I’m dumbfounded, just dumbfounded.”
At Ian’s words, Cecil continued without hiding his incredulous expression.
“I mean, you’ve been seeing Lady Bilton for ages, and you couldn’t confess even once? Does that even make sense?”
Ian shot him a glare and bit his lip hard.
“Even kids not yet ten years old say things like, ‘Let’s get married when we grow up.’ So Your Highness is even less than a ten-year-old kid….”
Cecil, who had been continuing his lecture-like words up to that point, suddenly shut his mouth. At the abrupt silence, Ian grumbled irritably.
“Why, go on and say more? Why not spread the rumor all over town that I like Angela, huh? When we get back to the capital, post it on the walls too. Got it?”
“……”
“You talk a big game, but now no answer. That I like Angela….”
“Lady Bilton! What brings you all the way here?”
At Cecil’s words cutting him off, Ian couldn’t bring himself to turn around.
He hoped it was a lie. Of course, Cecil must be lying to tease him. Still, if it really was a lie, he’d let it slide. He could be merciful. So please, let it be a lie….
“I came to wash my hands.”
But Ian’s world came crashing down. His desperate wish crumpled like a discarded scrap of paper. Who would have thought Angela’s voice, always so endearing, could plunge him into such despair.
The sound of water splashing echoed. It seemed Angela was washing her hands. He should turn and offer her a handkerchief or something. But his damned body wouldn’t move an inch.
Soon, he saw Cecil bow his head deeply, so Angela must be leaving. The sound of footsteps grew distant.
He should run after her right now, grab her, and confess that he’d liked her for so long. That was the only way to fix this situation.
Legs, listen to me for once!
But even as the small footsteps faded from his ears, Ian couldn’t do a thing. He just let Angela go like that.
Cecil looked at him with a mix of pity and exasperation. Ian finally released his clenched jaw and spoke.
“……How long has Angela been there?”
“From when I said, ‘You’ve been seeing Lady Bilton for ages, and you couldn’t confess even once? Does that even make sense?'”
Ian clenched both fists. Then he turned to Cecil with a wide grin, lips curled up. Before long, he burst into loud laughter, ha ha ha.
Cecil wondered if he’d finally lost it. He tried to soothe Ian, saying he couldn’t lose his mind over something like this. Then Ian stopped laughing abruptly and looked at Cecil with a blank face.
“You know what, Cecil? You just made my precious first confession for me.”
With those words, Ian started giggling again. He was definitely crazy. Love really was dangerous after all.
