"Fu... I didn't know she would challenge so forthrightly. I thought she would laze around and complain till the day she gets married off to some grand noble, trash that will waste her time everyday... Seems like I'm wrong."

"If she can live a leisurely life, I will be able to take it easy."

"What's with you boy? You think the little girl can beat me?"

"Not just me, that's the consensus among all the soldiers. Only the princess herself thinks she has a chance."

Jerome shook his head.

He shook the heavy training lance while holding it horizontally. His arm and chest muscles trembled, shaking his sweat away.

"Fu... That's wrong."

"You mean..."

"I am not looking down at the little girl's strength. It is dumb to underestimate someone who can wield such a massive sword."

"I see."

He was taking it very seriously; Regis thought and sighed in his heart.

Regis couldn't understand the details of martial prowess no matter how much he watched.

The movement of Jerome wielding the training lance was too fast; he had a hard time just catching up with his eyes.

Jerome thrust his lance as he said:

"That sword is problematic... Swords or spears will break if I try to block. I can change a new one on the battlefield, but it will be my loss if my weapon breaks."

"That's true."

"The little girl was probably aiming for this when she said she can win. She will probably be using the Grand Tonerre Quatre."

"I heard that Sir Jerome owns a powerful lance capable of matching that sword?"

"Yeah... But that is meant for horseback usage. It is difficult to wield it for a battle on foot."

"You are not planning to ride your horse?"

"On the parade square? That's laughable. Cavalry should fight on the plains... So she thought about it so deeply. I can't use my powerful lance or trusty steed. And it is not an assault battle I am proficient in. The little girl might even win this."

"I don't think this level of disadvantage can change the outcome."

Not just that. Regis felt Altina's chance of winning was fading.

Regis thought that it was important for Jerome to take it lightly if Altina was to stand a chance with such a large disparity in skills. Such as drinking alcohol before the fight or something similar.

But Jerome was leaving nothing to chance.

Such minor disadvantages would only alert the opponent.

It wasn't clear what Altina's intention was, but this was definitely bad strategically wise.

"Hey Regis... Are you hoping I will lose?"

"Why would you think so?"

"You won't be here if you hope I will win. You will be discussing the rumors happily with the troops. There is nothing to worry about; you will probably end up doing the administrative work you like."

"I need to correct two points."

"What?"

"I hope to resolve this in a peaceful manner."

Altina would be one step closer to realising her ambition if she won. But she would also be closer to the edge of a dangerous cliff too.

Regis felt that he should help her secure a safety line even though he failed to stop her.

"Kukuku... I don't think there are such things as peace on the front lines."

"Another thing I want to correct... is that I don't particularly like administrative work. Whose fault do you think it is for my lack of sleep these days?!"

Regis forgot his honorifics unconsciously.

Regis was planning to suppress his emotions, but he slipped and revealed the grudge he was bearing.

Jerome stared with his eyes wide open and laughed out loud.

"Kuhahaha! Sorry about that! I will amend what I said then — I will definitely win and you will carry on doing the administrative work you hate! For me!"

"That's too mean."

Regis' shoulders drooped.

Jerome changed his tone and lowered his voice.

"Hey Regis... you noticed, haven't you?"

"... Are you talking about the budget?"

Jerome nodded silently.

Regis felt a chill down his neck.

He discovered something after flipping through the volumes of documents.

"... The real reason you chased the admin officers away... letting only those who will keep secrets for you handle the account books."

"That's how it is."

"Why do you trust me?"

"Because... I don't need to tell you that."

"When we first met, you tried bribing me, and then threatening with a pitchfork. It's all because of this?"

A part of the Beilschmidt border regiment's budget was not disclosed to the military administration department.

The usage of these funds was not specified.

But if anyone considered Jerome's circumstances, they could make a good guess.

Jerome smirked.

"Fu... That matter was put on hold since you have been busy with paperwork recently."

"Is this about who my commanding officer is...?”

"You don't need to talk to the little girl about this. After the duel three days later, the lousy drama between me and her will be over. And you will work under me."

Regis looked displeased.

"I am not valuable enough for the Margrave to be concerned about me."

"Don't flatter yourself; you are just a complementary prize. Getting rid of the commander with an empty title, the Beilschmidt clan marrying a royalty... And you are complementary apple."

"Hah... So I am an apple."

He might just be a side bet, but Regis felt uneasy being the subject of motivation for a fight.

The Margrave was not taking this lightly. He was pumped up for the fight and confident of victory.

He had his own aspirations too.

It took a lot of effort for Regis to hide his worries from his face.

— This is going to be tough. Altina, why did you issue this challenge?

There were things he needed to do no matter what the result of the duel three days later might be.

When the auditors are sent to this unit and see the state of the account books, the accountants and the commanders will be reprimanded. Even if the commander only had an empty title.

It would increase the chance of the secrets being discovered.

After returning from Jerome's room, Regis finished the rest of the paperwork in a hurry.

He wasted some time because of attacks from the sleep monster, but he managed to finish the documents and sealed them.

Regis exited his room after completing his task.

The sun was high in the sky. It was a cloudy morning, but the weather was good enough to melt the snow. It was warm enough to not wear a coat.

A human wall surrounded the southern gate.

The periodic courier was here.

Most of the people receiving mails happily were knights. Most soldiers were illiterate and seldom sent letters.

"The carriage is leaving~~"

A bell was ringed loudly.

Regis rushed out.

"Wait a moment! Please hold on! I will be troubled if this isn't sent out!"

The periodic courier came once a week.

Regis moved in front of the carriage and handed a parcel to the baffled courier.

"Is that... To be sent to the military administration department? Bro, isn't there a separate courier for military documents?"

"These are urgent documents, it will bad if it is not sent out. It is a heavy responsibility, but I leave it in your hands."

"Hold on! We are civilian couriers, not in the military! You need to dispatch a messenger to deliver something important like this."

"Sir Jerome dislikes dispatching his soldiers to deliver documents, which is troubling for me."

"Hmm, the military administration department is in the capital, I guess I can swing by."

"That's a big help."

Regis gave him a Tonie copper coin as tip.

The courier kept the parcel into his mailbag with a smile.

I will claim the money back as necessary expenses, Regis who was short on money decided.

The periodic courier exited the south gate.

He could finally sleep.

Regis yawned widely.

He heard a giggling sound near him.

He turned back and saw Clarisse holding a large pile of laundry approaching him.

"You seem rather tired."

"Ah... Handling the paperwork is a pain, and things I can't ignore keep popping up."

"Is it about the princess? You don't need to worry about that."

"... Can you make some time for me right now?"

"How strange for you to think I have time."

Clarisse lifted the corners of her lips as she held a large amount of laundry in her hands.

Clothes were washed with detergent in the imperial capital, but laundry was usually done by using traditional washing boards in the fortress. Detergents were considered a luxury item over here.

"My apologies, you seemed rather busy... But it's rare to see you doing laundry at such a time. That is usually done in the morning."

"Because milk was spilled onto the tablecloth. If I don't wash it now, it will smell later."

"Ah, I see. Did you spill it?"

"No. I happened to be free at the moment. If you don't mind me doing the laundry while we speak, I can listen to what you have to say."

"That will do. Let me carry half of that for you."

Clarisse smiled mischievously when Regis reached out his hands.

"Are you sure?"

"No matter how weak I am, helping a lady carry half her laundry is still manageable."

"That's not what I mean. It is stained with milk alright?"

"Ugh... Can't be helped. I will wipe down with a wet cloth later."

"Fufufu..."

Clarisse handed a slightly wet cloth to Regis. It smelled like milk.

Regis headed towards the laundry room together with Clarisse.

For the house help, the chore that was as tedious and important as cooking and cleaning was laundry.

In a corner of the western region where the soldiers reside, there was a place that was halfway below ground level.

Melted snow flowed into this place through pipes, flooding the 10 washing stations.

Clarisse placed the laundry into the water. She soaked it as much as possible, getting as much filth out as possible.

Her tender and pale hands turned red immediately after dipping in the ice water.

"Ugh..."

"Let me help."

"I'm fine. You want to talk to me about the princess?"

"That's right... But you are doing a tedious task in front of me while I am just talking. That makes me uncomfortable."

"What a strange thing to say. This is what social status means."

"By your logic, helping out with things I want to is my social status. Eh, do I just have to do this?"

Regis took out a tablecloth from the pile of laundry and soaked it in water, imitating Clarisse.

"Wah!?"

His hands felt pain from the freezing water.

"You are really... Take your hands out of the water from time to time when you are washing. You will get frostbites if you soak your hands in too long."

"Ah, is that so. Are you okay?"

"I am used to it."

"I see."

"When I am washing a lot of laundry in the morning, I will use the pot over there to boil some water. It can be used to warm my hands, and it washes away stains easily."

There was a large pot in the corner of the laundry room.

Regis understood. It was impossible to clean so much laundry without preparing that.

A beginner like him would have a hard time washing just one.

"You are not boiling water today?"

"There are just a few pieces anyway. Is that all you want to talk about?"

"Not yet, I am just starting now... Ku..."

Regis massaged his fingers that felt painful from the cold to warm his hands.

But the stains were not coming off.

So Regis repeated the three steps of scrubbing the cloth, taking his hands out and rubbing it for warmth.

"Doing okay?"

"Ugugu... Why did Altina issue a duel at this time?"

"The princess probably didn't think too much about the timing. That was definitely something she thought of in the morning."

"That was too rash."

He finally removed the smell of milk from one piece of table cloth.

A large area on the tablecloth turned slightly yellow, the area that was brown had also turned white.

"But even so, it will be fine if it was the princess' idea."

"I know it is too late for her to give up... But I didn't think you would be so optimistic."

"Don't you trust the princess, Mr. Regis?"

"I don't have the talent to discern someone's martial prowess. But thinking objectively, there is no way Altina can win. If Sir Jerome is someone who will lose to an inexperienced 14 year old girl, he would have died on the battlefield long ago."

"I see, some people will think that way."

"Please enlighten me if you have a different opinion..."

Clarisse picked the tablecloth out of the freezing water.

The sound of the splattering water could be heard in the laundry room.

"Because the princess told me 'there is no problem'♪"

"You are just giving up on thinking. What you 'believe in' and the 'facts' are different things."

"So, what do you plan to do?"

"... There are probably no proper measures we can take."

Finishing the cleaning chores he was not familiar with, Regis bid farewell to Clarisse and headed towards his own room.

Were his unsteady footsteps because of the lack of sleep or too many problems stuffed into his mind?

He could hear the sound of sword swinging from the courtyard.

He went over and saw Altina wielding a large fauchard in the courtyard.

Altina swung the fauchard with one hand like a twig, even though two hands were usually needed to wield it.

— Normal girls couldn't do that.

Altina had enormous arm power that didn't match her appearance.

She probably noticed Regis' presence.

Altina smiled at Regis.

"Ara, you want to swing it too?"

"I don't want to and I can't. I don't want to brag, but..."

"You can't even lift it?"

"I probably can't."

Regis shrugged while Altina smiled awkwardly.

She started swinging again.

"You are... Amazing."

"Just my arm strength... I am confident of that. I swing swords for adults when I was very young."

"Well, it's not only that... But to win against Jerome, frankly... I mean... Will that be too difficult?"

"Definitely. If he is someone so easy to defeat, our enemies wouldn't be having such a hard time."

"Do you have a plan in mind? You are confident enough to issue a challenge."

Regis betted on this slim chance.

Altina looked at him with a baffled expression.

"What plan? Isn't a duel won by the stronger person?"

"Ugh... You are really not thinking about anything... There are preparations you can make to increase your chance of winning."

"Hey, I'm not stupid."

"So you gave it some thought?!"

"The lance will be faster in the first strike. After blocking that, I have to watch out for body blows since my sword is heavy. Is kicking his knee cap when he steps over against the rules?"

Regis drooped his head.

"What is this... You are planning to fight him properly..."

"It will be meaningless if I don't do it this way, my objective is not to win."

"Eh?"

"Proving I am stronger is the objective. I won't win over the trust of the soldiers if I don't win this properly. And also your trust too."

Altina stated calmly.

Regis felt she was right too.

"... But he is not someone you can win without any plan."

"It will be meaningless even if I win with a plan."

"Ugh, erm..."

"Are you thinking about something weird?"

Altina stared at Regis intensely.

Regis averted his eyes.

"... There are many ways to do something without others noticing right? Like reflecting sunlight to his eyes with things like broken glass, or some traps on the ground."

After saying that softly.

The sound of the wind rises.

The fauchard smashed next to Regis' foot with a bang. It made a deep dent in the ground.

"Don't joke with me!"

"Hey, hey Altina?!"

"Ah... Sorry. I was too agitated..."

“Me too” — Regis replied to the girl asking for forgiveness:

"My apologies, I didn't mean to upset you."

"Yeah, I understand."

"I understand why you want to have a proper duel. But the goal is not at the end of a series of victories. We need to take the back door sometimes."

As expected, this was too cruel for a 14 year old.

Actually, Altina who was the fourth princess had no chance of inheriting the throne. The only way for her to take over the throne would be by usurping the throne.

But Altina had a pure and just heart, so she wouldn't go through such a path filled with mud and death.

Only a just and clean road was reflected in her eyes.

And so, Regis had to be the bad guy—

Regis clenched his fist.

A pair of white and petite hands were placed on top of his hand at this moment.

"Eh...?"

The fingers that were slightly warm after practicing her swings caressed Regis' skin.

Altina was by his side before he realised.

She lifted her head to look at Regis, her beautiful crimson eyes looking at him as she leaned towards him.

"I know you are worried about me. I also understand that you know about a lot of things."

"Yes, I am worried about you... But I don't know anything great..."

"I don't think it is bad to think about tactics. But sometimes, we have to face the battle straight on."

"... You mean this is such a scenario right now?"

"Yeah, isn't it?"

Regis closed his eyes.

He flipped through the books in his mind and extracted the relevant knowledge.

But he decided against using them in the end.

"If I help you win this duel with a scheme... You will lose the righteousness of the path you are advancing on. There is nothing sadder than losing your way and being a pawn to others."

"Eh... I don't really understand something so deep, but my instinct tells me I should fight and win properly!"

"Should I trust you...?”

"I will prove that I am worthy of your trust, just wait and see!"

Altina bumped her fist against Regis' hand which she was holding.

Regis nodded a sign of friendliness since ancient times.

Right now for her, using schemes to win won't be effective and would have negative implications.

But he couldn't just stand by and watch idly.

Regis rubbed his sleepy eyes when he showed up at the officers’ dining hall.

But the person he was looking for was not present, so Regis went to the stables.

As he was wandering the stables, the person he was looking for greeted him loudly.

"Oh, Sir Regis!"

"You are here, Mr. Evrard..."

"I was just looking for you!"

"Are you... looking for me regarding the princess?"

"Hmm? You mean the duel? Wahaha! I knew this will happen sooner or later, but I didn't think the little girl will issue the challenge at that time! I was very surprised!"

"You knew it was coming?!"

"She would want to do something to change this awkward status quo."

"Eh..."

"And the only way she can think of is to duke it out with swords!"

Regis hugged his head.

This meant Altina's thinking was no different from this muscle bound knight commander.

At least when they were wielding swords.

His head hurt.

No, that was the reason she thought it was necessary for Regis to aid her as a strategist.

"Why did it turn out this way... And the victor has already been determined..."

"Wahaha! Sir Regis, you have a way with words! As expected of a strategist!"

"Wrong. I am no strategist."

"Oh? Didn't you propose an excellent plan to nab the bandits?"

"No, that is just... The princess asking me to explain what I knew... I don't have the capability to come up with battle plans."

"What's bad about that? Using knowledge others don't have is a good way to contribute."

"Hah..."

But what if he lacked the knowledge at critical junctures? That was when they will need a real strategist and his wisdom.

Like the situation now.

Plat! Evrard patted Regis' back strongly. The impact blew his drowsiness away.

"That hurts!?"

"Some people's life was saved thanks to you."

"Ah...?”

"My grandchild! That child was in Marquis Thénezay’s army and was saved when they were defeated."

"Well, the headquarters was wiped out after the sneak attack, but most of our forces escaped. But I don't think it was thanks to me..."

"You mean the people who barely escaped with their life from the attack of the savages?"

"Yes."

"My child was with you in the reserves forces when you were sent to the rear of the main unit."

"Ah, there was the reserve force."

"In the end, he was not shamed because of the defeat. He was praised instead for helping his defeated comrades in escaping."

Regis remembered what happened.

That was a grueling memory.

"... After noticing the sneak attack, the headquarters was on fire... So I suggested not to aid them but to prepare to attack... But that was all we could have done."

"Don't be modest. The headquarters was destroyed and the army was routed. The main reason the army wasn't wiped out was because the reserve forces stopped the barbarian's advance on fifth grade admin officer Regis Auric's command."

"I didn't command anything... The reserves have high ranking combat officers leading them, so they were the ones who did the job."

"But that's not what this said."

Evrard handed a letter over.

Regis took the letter.

Edward's grandson used unbelievably formal language and wrote what Evrard had said.

How he was saved by Regis' effort when Marquis Thénezay’s army was routed.

He also mentioned how Regis rescued many other colleagues.

He found out lately that Regis had to take responsibility as the sole survivor from headquarters and was banished to the borders.

And so—

"To repay his debts to Sir Regis, my grandchild will be volunteering to join this regiment. Good! This is also a way of life!"

"How could that be! The survival rate of this regiment is slightly higher than other front lines... But it is still 10 times higher if you stay in the capital. Why would he volunteer to come here?"

"My grandchild is probably thinking about protecting you in this dangerous place."

"... I am not worthy."

"Wahahaha! You say some strange things. Only the person himself will understand why they are willing to risk their life!"

Regis felt Evrard's statement was probably right.

But Regis didn't think he had saved many lives, or that he was worthy of being protected.

"Mr. Evrard, can you accept this? For your cherished grandchild to volunteer to be stationed at this dangerous place?"

"If that's what he wants, I can't do anything about it."

"Am I worthy of his protection?!"

"Hm... I can't really nag about him in my position."

Evrard smiled with satisfaction.

Regis tilted his head, not getting what he meant.

"... You mean?"

"I mean if my grandchild dies needlessly because of your incompetence, I will talk to you about responsibilities with my halberd!"

"Aren't you angry?!"

"Not mad."

"Your sentences are breaking up!"

Regis should be feeling happy that someone from his old unit held gratitude towards him.

Thanks to him, Regis felt that his lifespan was gradually getting shorter.

Back on topic.

"... Let's leave this aside for now... I want to talk about the princess."

"Hmmm?"

"Do you think the princess can win?"

"It would be excellent if she can endure 10 blows, isn't it?"

Evrard judged that Jerome will win within 10 strikes.

That's how wide their gap in martial prowess was.

"... It might go against the knight's chivalry code... But can I ask you to save the princess if she gets in a pinch?"

"Oh? Do tell me the details."

Three days later —

The noon bell was about to ring.

Plenty of soldiers had already gathered on the parade square.

The snow had been falling since morning; it would turn into a blizzard if the wind picks up.

But neither party planned to postpone the duel because of the bad weather.

Regis was at Altina's chamber.

The accident a few days earlier didn't happen. Altina was waiting for the duel quietly. She wore her arm guards, knee guards and chest armor over her one piece dress as she sat on an elegantly designed chair.

A tea set was placed on the table.

"You are not looking good, Regis."

"You are to blame if I fall ill from over worrying, Altina."

"You are not the one dueling, so relax a bit alright?"

"Do you think you can win? Against that 'hero of Erstein'?"

"Definitely, I have said this many times. But you all won't believe me if I don't show you."

"And making a bet with terms that are against you..."

Altina stood up.

She was a head shorter than Regis, but her aura made her feel tall enough that he had to look up at her.

"If I am useless in a peaceful place, how can I be an empress?"

"You wouldn't be able to... But there is something known as risk management in this world..."

"There are many things in this world you can't achieve without gaining victory."

"You are rushing too much."

"You will not believe me no matter what I do."

Altina gave a lonely smile.

Regis was dumbstruck.

— Should he believe that Altina will win even if she had no other comrades?

"You will lose something irreplaceable if you make the wrong call when driven by emotions. I can't keep failing in the same place."

Regis remembered Marquis Thénezay.

He would probably never forget that he did not propose a third time. Or not noticing the pride of the nobles.

It was meaningless to have knowledge alone.

This fact had been engraved into his heart.

"Are you going to stop me? Could it be you are planning to escape with me? That would be very romantic."

"I can't do that. I thought about it before, but you are powerful enough for Jerome to be on his guard. Running away with you without raising a commotion is impossible. And if you are someone who will run away, you would have stopped this duel already."

"You are right. It's regrettable that it is not romantic at all."

"Although I have thought about what to do if you lose..."

Altina frowned.

"And that would be?"

"I will stall Jerome; you will escape with a certain knight away from the fortress in the meantime. But I can't tell you who that knight is..."

Regis was prepared for Altina to be angry for making plans to run if she was defeated.

But Altina laugh unexpectedly.

She is holding her stomach laughing out loud.

"No, no good... Ahahaha... Re, Regis you are really too much!! Ahahaha! You thought I will definitely lose! Hah~ the laughing ends here okay?!"

"I felt bad for doing this to you. But my private relations with you and objective judgment are two different matters. I have to make adequate preparation for the worst case scenario..."

"Ahahaha, that's right! I think you are necessary for me because you are this sort of person. This is the calm judgment as a strategist."

"Not the judgment of a strategist. This is... that... How should I put it?"

It would be too much responsibility for a fifth grade admin officer.

So as Altina's friend?

When did he become friend with Altina who was the commander? Thinking he was a friend because he was allowed to address her by her nickname was too foolish.

Regis was troubled and became quiet.

Altina was laughing so hard her shoulders were trembling.

Sound of panting was mixed into Altina's laughter.

"Ha, ha... I thought I would die from laughing before the duel. I didn't think you had made preparations to run after losing... Ah... This is too much."

"I won't find any excuse. I don't believe you will win."

Regis confessed once again.

Altina wasn't angry and just nodded.

"I know. There is only one person who believes in my victory unconditionally."

"You mean Clarisse..."

"Yeah. But to reach my goal, a person who doesn’t trust me that much is necessary too."

"Is that person referring to me?"

"I confirmed that it is you after this incident. In order to gain your trust, I will not lose this duel."

Altina challenged Jerome to win the trust of the troops in this regiment.

Including Regis.

"... Can this duel be cancelled because of my attitude?"

"Hmmm~~, maybe?"

"Ugh..."

His mental fatigue increased by 30%.

Altina reached over with her hand.

Her hand touched Regis' left chest, right above the heart.

"Hmmm?"

"I want to become an empress...If my wish doesn't come true, I will definitely die. The strategist will also follow."

No matter what measures they took, Altina would surely not be the only one who had to take responsibility.

His heart under Altina's palm started to race.

Altina wasn't finished.

"Holding expectation for you as a strategist, means expecting you to even risk your life."

"That's right..."

Regis understood this.

That's why Regis was hesitant.

"Since I am asking you to risk your life, it is normal for me to risk mine too. I don't want to be a dumb queen who expects loyalty just by sitting on the throne."

Altina slid her hand up from Regis' chest to his neck, and then his face.

Her hand feels cool.

"Watch with your eyes, I will prove my will to you... And you can consider about the issue on that night."

"The portion which I can't believe in myself, you will believe in it in my stead. So I have to trust you, right?"

Altina nodded and retracted her hand.

And she reached for the colossal sword leaning on the wall.

She gripped the hilt tightly.

"It's about time."

Altina and Jerome stood opposite to each other in the center of the ring of soldiers.

They were about 10 paces apart.

Underneath the feet of everyone was snow.

Visibility was poor and everything was white. This was a blizzard.

Altina was wearing arm guards and knee guards over her dress.

In her hand was the Grand Tonerre Quatre.

It was a giant sword that didn't match the petite girl.

Jerome on the other side didn't wear any armor, just a normal attire of black shirt with military pants. He was holding a short spear used by foot soldiers in the forest. It was about 27Pa (2m) long, about the length of the giant sword.

Regis stood among the wall of people surrounding them. Evrard dressed in full armor walked to his side and said:

"Both sides are calm."

"That's true... How is the preparation?"

"No problem, Miss Clarisse is waiting at the carriage."

"Thank you."

Their talk about the plan after the duel stopped.

Evrard stroked his beard.

"The Margrave had given that up. He did not use a sword to gain advantage in speed, or a long lance to get better range. He chose a weapon that didn't give him any edge."

"I don't understand anything about the clashes between swords and lance... But the short spear used by the Margrave puts him at a disadvantage?"

"That thing is not light or long, and will break with a strike from the giant sword."

"He wouldn't use this... as an excuse for losing?"

"That was prepared by him in advance; it can't be used as an excuse. He meant to use it the other way."

"To prevent the princess from finding excuses?"

"Yes! Just like the princess not giving the Margrave any grounds for excuses by raising all sorts of terms and setting the duel 3 days later. The Margrave is using a weapon that is disadvantageous to him to silence any complaints from the princess — They are starting."

"...!!"

The noon bell rang as if it were announcing the start of the fight.

The screech of metal on metal ranged from the parade square.

Most people thought it would be the young princess slashing at the Margrave while he dodge.

"Ora ora ora!!"

But the one roaring and striking first was Jerome.

Jerome kicked away the snow under his feet and charged over.

Altina didn't move. Or she couldn't move?

Margrave closed the 10 pace gap in an instant and thrusted his spear.

"Hah!"

Will it be settled on the first move—!! The soldiers were stunned.

"This sort of attack!!"

Altina breathed out.

And used the body of the sword to block the tip of the spear.

Jerome groaned.

The two pieces of metal collided with a screech.

The short spear stabbing at the girl's shoulder was deflected.

Jerome sighed.

"Ugh... A normal spear can't even scratch it!"

"Made from '「Tristei」 Spiritual Silver?"

Regis said softly.

During the wars that founded the empire, there were legends that the powerful swords were made from silver and granted to the L’Empereur Flamme.

The swords were probably made from natural metal, an alloy — researchers explained it as such. In this era, material stronger than steel could be made by smelting a few types of metal together, and was common knowledge.

But an alloy that could rival Elf silver had not been discovered yet, so some people believed the sword had the blessing of the Elves.

The giant sword became the shield protecting the petite Altina.

After his strike was warded off, Jerome pulled back his spear to steady himself. The feet of the girl already kicked out before that.

A dull thud reverberated in the parade square.

"Ugh..."

A powerful kick landed on Jerome's knee.

The posture of the burly man broke.

The girl yelled:

"Fight seriously, Jerome!"

"Woah!?"

The sword didn't touch the ground when it was swung, but the snow was scattered by it. The power of the sword was strong enough for the soldiers surrounding them to feel it.

Jerome rolled on the ground to evade this disaster-level strike.

His body and spear would probably be crushed if he blocked the blow.

The troops watching the fight were fired up because of this unexpectedly opening.

The princess' sword forced the Margrave to roll on the floor, staining his clothes with snow and mud to dodge it. No one expected that.

"... Maybe, she can win?"

But the faint words of hope that came out from Regis' chest were pushed back by Evrard.

"This is just the beginning!"

Jerome was still smiling as he took a stance.

"Too naive, little girl. You will regret not finishing me off with that blow just now."

"My objective is to show that I am stronger than you, not to tear my subordinate's body to shreds."

"Do you have the room to hold back?"

"You were aiming for my shoulder too. Are you worried that you can't marry me if I am dead?"

"Kukuku... That did cross my mind."

"Fight with all your might!"

"Fu, interesting!"

The two of them went at each other.