Chapter 7: Princess Mia...Picks Up the Gauntlet!

“...Uh, right. Big. Of course,” Mia muttered, slowly recalling that she had indeed heard about Ruby and her particular interests.

Yes, I remember now. So, she’s into big men, huh. In that case...

She went over the members of the Princess Guard in her head, looking for someone who might fit the bill.

“Oh... Are you talking about Vanos?”

The mere mention of the man’s name seemed to almost make Ruby swoon, and she nodded before answering in an enamored drawl.

“Yes, him... He’s the one I want. Oh, if I could have him lead the Redmoon private army, I’d...”

B-But he’s the closest thing Dion has to a conscience! You can’t have him! He’s the only one who can keep that crazy man from turning into some sort of serial decapitator! If I lose him, I... I don’t think I’ll ever sleep soundly again! No way! That is out of the question!

If she were to participate in this duel, what could she possibly demand as reward for winning that would be worth the risk of losing Vanos? A lengthy period of contemplation produced no satisfactory option, and her inner scale of judgment promptly tilted toward the side of declining the challenge.

Hnnngh... B-But I need to stay on Malong’s good side... What do I do? Ideas... I need ideas...

As the oncoming boulder steadily forced her backward toward a very hard place, her brain went into desperation-induced overdrive. Though her period of intense thought was short—the span of a few blinks at most—in that time, the Great Sage in her managed to come to a crucial realization. Duels, by their very nature, could not function without a certain condition being met. This condition was requisite to all competitive arrangements that involved wagers. Indeed, she’d happened upon the ultimate truth of “equal stakes.” There could be no legitimacy to a contest unless all players were putting something of equivalent value on the line. After all, nobody was going to bet their life when the opponent had pushed only a few measly coins into the pool. If people were risking their lives, then the reward for victory had to be worth their lives. Or, perhaps, even more.

Mia let out an exuberant laugh. Having understood this fundamental truth, the rest was simple; all she had to do was make her brilliant escape.

I don’t have to decline this challenge... I just have to make her take it back! Oho ho, you’d better brace yourself, because I’m about to knock your lights out!

She quickly put together an attack plan and launched her rhetorical offensive.

“The duel itself, I don’t mind accepting...but what would happen if I were to win?”

“I’d give you whatever it is that you desire, of course.”

Mia had to stop an evil grin from spreading across her lips. Maintaining a serious expression, she fixed Ruby with a solemn gaze and said, “Very well... In that case, I desire...your sword.”

“...Huh?” Ruby blinked, taken aback. “What...might you mean by that?”

“I mean exactly what I said. The House of Redmoon is a military family. All who are born there, no matter boy or girl, are trained in the use of the sword. I believe I’m correct in assuming that the sword is a symbol of great pride for your family, yes? It’s something that you value above all else.”

“So what you’re saying is, if I lose, you’re going to make me...give up my sword.”

Ruby prided herself on her sword. In asking for it, Mia was forcing her to put her most treasured possession on the line.

Mmm hm hm. Take that! You Redmoons sure make a lot of noise about your headhunting, but at the end of the day, I bet it’s just a hobby for you. You’re just collectors looking for more trophies to put on your shelf. Challenging me was probably just the same. You came here looking for some easy sport.

She analyzed the situation in a calm manner. This whole thing was actually sort of absurd to begin with. No daughter of an esteemed duke in her right mind would brazenly and publicly challenge the princess of her empire to a duel. It simply wasn’t done, because the emperor—for now, at least—held immense sway in Tearmoon and his authority was still absolute. There was no way Ruby would challenge her to a serious, swear-upon-my-honor duel. Given that, what she meant by “duel” required some reinterpretation.

If it’s not a serious duel she’s after, then this is just a game. She’s just playing around for fun.

If so, then this was nothing more than a casual diversion Ruby insisted on calling a duel for effect. In fact, the more Mia thought about it, the more sense it made. Ruby had asked for Vanos. Sure, the man was very important to Mia, but objectively, he was only a simple soldier with nothing to his name. For the Four Dukes, a contest over the treatment of a mere commoner couldn’t be anything more than minor entertainment. The stakes weren’t even that high. She hadn’t asked for anyone to risk their lives. All that would happen was a reassignment of his post from the imperial army to the duke’s private army. It was literally just a job shuffle.

Chances are, she got it into her head that I’m entering the Horsemanship Tournament and figured coming to mess with me a bit would be a fun way to kill some time.

To Ruby, her sword meant a great deal. She valued it as much as her own life. Therefore, if Mia asked her to wager her sword, it would be the same as her risking her life. And for what? A mere game? She’d have no choice but to back down.

And there was more!

“I’ve made my stance clear. Take it however you want. Just keep in mind that all my soldiers, without exception, are my loyal subjects, and I value each and every one of them. To be gambling with them... Wagering them like mere prizes... The mere thought offends me to no end. Should you insist on claiming one of them in this manner, you’d best be prepared to risk something of equal value,” said Mia in an attempt to preemptively ward off any claims that she was being ridiculous in her demands.

After all, “Are you out of your mind? You can’t ask someone to do that over a damn game!” would technically have been a legitimate argument. By declaring that Vanos was extremely valuable to her, she could then demand something of comparable significance. In essence, she was trying to make her opponent back down by threatening her with the “This isn’t just a game for me, buddy” card.

Hah! So, do you have the guts to risk something so precious to you just to get one soldier? Go ahead. Try it. I dare you.

Figuring she’d just executed what would one day be known as a “mic drop,” she basked in the moment, feeling supremely satisfied with herself and let out a smug breath of triumph.

Which was promptly answered.

“...So be it.”

“...Eh?”

Ruby stared straight into her eyes.

“You’re right... My sword is my pride. Its weight befits my conviction.” Her expression hardened with determination. A warrior’s smile crept across her lips. “A suitable wager for a duel of this caliber. So be it, Your Highness. I see your resolve, and I’ll gladly match it with my own.”

Huh?! I’m sorry, you’ll what?! Flippin’ moons, what is wrong with you?! I know you’re into large men, but get ahold of yourself!

Mia had tragically misread her opponent. Never could she have imagined...that which drove Ruby was no mere collector’s craving. Unlike the King of Remno, it did not stem from an inclination or hobby. Hers was a much deeper emotion. Much purer. Like a blade of flame, it burned with an intensity that seared her very soul, whetting a resolve so sharp it threatened to rend her heart in two.

“It’s settled then. A duel, open and honest, fair and square. See you on your horse, Your Highness.”

With that, Ruby Etoile Redmoon lowered her head in a deep bow before turning and departing with long, graceful, almost masculine strides.

“...Eh?”

That left Mia with no choice but to watch her retreating form with a blank, dumbfounded stare.

H-How did it come to this?!

After spending some time in a baffled daze, Mia’s scattered wits slowly coalesced, restoring enough mental faculties for her to panic.

Y-You know, now that I think about it...the Yellowmoons are suspicious, sure, but it’s not like I can trust the Duke of Redmoon either...

There was no guarantee that only one of the four houses were connected to the Chaos Serpents. In the future that Bel was from, the Four Dukes had fought each other two-on-two.

It’s entirely possible that the Redmoons are colluding with the Serpents and they’re trying to cripple my ability to fight back. If I lose Vanos now, it’ll not only put a huge dent in the strength of my forces, but I’ll also lose my Dion moderator.

She groaned in dismay. And pain. Mostly pain actually, considering she was pressing her hands to her temples, and groaned a second time.

“Oooh, my head hurts... Ugh, how did it come to this...”

“Ha ha ha. Good show, miss. That girl sure had some mettle, but you’re no slouch yourself. Really told it to her there, didn’t you?” Malong, who’d been watching the exchange, let out a rolling bout of laughter. “Well, the horsemanship club’s got your back, so go out there and break a leg.”

Ooooh, is this funny to you, Malong? Because it’s not funny to me! And I think I might actually break a leg out there! Hmph, he clearly thinks this isn’t his problem...

Unfazed by her scowl, he crossed his arms.

“That said, if it’s speedriding you’re competing in, you’ll need to learn to ride moonhares.”

“...‘Moonhares’? What are those?”

“A breed of horse. Just like the name suggests, they’re said to be as fast as the rabbit on the moon. Most of the famous knights you hear about in history books rode them. In fact, whenever people mention fast horses, they’re usually talking about moonhares. We have two in our stable, though one’s expecting and can’t really move. As for the other one...” He trailed off before adding with a mischievous grin, “I think you’ll get along just fine.”

“Oh? And why is that?”

“He’s no stranger to you, after all. The other moonhare we have is that horse that sneezed on you.”

She was reminded of that rather unpleasant event that occurred the day of the dance party for new students.

“Oh... That horse...”

With a strained smile, she glanced toward the stalls.