Sword Princess Plays the Cake Devil
"Don't move!"
The masked knight had seized the merchant's son as a hostage. The boy's neck was pressed against a massive blade, his face drained white with terror.
"One twitch, and he dies!"
But the one truly gripped by fear was Giselle. Every time an invisible sword swung, his comrades crumpled like marionettes with cut strings. To him, Sisilia looked like a grim reaper who could slay with a mere glance.
"S-stay back, you damn bitch!"
Yet Sisilia didn't halt, even with the boy held captive. The instant Giselle steeled himself to slit the boy's throat—
Schwick!
Sisilia had slipped behind him in a flash, slashing through empty air. In her arms now cradled the boy, wide-eyed with fright. And Giselle...
"...Are you a devil?"
He trembled, staring at his severed wrist.
Sisilia tilted her head, casually tossing the amputated hand back at him.
"Devil? Nah, I'm an angel."
As she stroked the sobbing boy's head, murmuring it's okay, it's okay to soothe him, a surge of mana approached rapidly.
Reinforcements?
It was no ordinary amount—enough power to suggest a human who'd defected to the demons.
Sisilia braced for the next fight when—
Clang!
A shadowy figure shot forward even faster, landing a strike that forced her back several steps.
"Impressive skill...! Why betray humanity with power like that?!"
A young, spirited voice. The girl looked about sixteen.
Sisilia blinked in confusion at the outburst, then realized the misunderstanding. This must be a knight pursuing the bandits she'd just dispatched. Though her frame was rather petite.
A female knight? And that skill level... regular Windsor Knight caliber.
Sisilia's lips curved into a grin. Fun—she'd reveal her identity later and raised her sword.
"Heh, that's 'cause humans wouldn't share their cake with me."
"...! Betraying us for such a pathetic reason?! I won't forgive you! Hah!"
The knight lunged at Sisilia's side. Her thrust was so swift it burst the air with a bang.
Speed-focused swordsmanship?
Sisilia sidestepped horizontally, batting the thrust downward with a flick. Speed styles like this sacrificed balance for the opener—most would topple from the imbalance alone. But the knight spun her staggering body full circle, aiming for Sisilia's neck.
Swish.
A few strands of Sisilia's hair sliced off—razor-close.
"Hup!"
As Sisilia tried to create distance, the knight's leading foot was already between her legs.
Oh...
Sisilia marveled softly, blocking with minimal motion instead of retreating.
Clang!
She swung horizontally on defense. But her blade only grazed the knight's afterimage—the girl had vanished.
Where'd she go?
A blink, and massive mana loomed from above.
"Heehee."
Sisilia chuckled lazily. The knight had stepped on her own swinging blade to launch skyward, striking at an unpredictable angle. What flashy swordplay. Impressive for her age—a true prodigy knight.
"Die, villain!"
Sisilia raised her sword sideways, blocking the knight's sure-kill blow without looking.
Boom!
The shockwave splintered nearby wagons, but Sisilia stood unfazed, wearing a leisurely smile.
"...Impossible."
The knight landed nimbly and re-aimed her sword.
"That had enough mana to crush an upper demon. Who the hell are you?"
Sisilia deliberately leaked killing intent.
"The Cake Devil."
"...Cake Devil?"
"Human, you don't cherish cake. So the pissed-off demon pastry chef sent me to the human realm."
Scary, right? Sisilia beamed smugly.
The knight gulped, lowering her stance.
"I have no idea what you're babbling about!"
She zipped around Sisilia at blinding speed, unleashing strikes. But Sisilia didn't budge an inch, parrying each one precisely.
Only targeting blind spots. Incredible.
Maintaining that velocity while hitting Sisilia's unseen angles—this was one crisp knight.
But.
Wind coiled around Sisilia's blade.
Her speed's great, but the power behind each strike is too shallow.
Clang!
She smashed the knight's sword at the perfect moment. The girl couldn't withstand the impact, crashing hard into the ground.
"Hngh..."
Her blade snapped; the shock expelled all air from her lungs. She writhed on the dirt.
Sisilia emanated quiet killing intent.
"Good match."
"...Sisilia. What the hell's in that head of yours?"
Sisilia turned. Edward lounged on a boulder, Beatrice beside him with a deadpan stare. Seraphina was already tending the survivors.
"How long you been watching, Captain?"
"From the 'Cake Devil' bit."
I was so focused I missed their presence. Rare for me.
Sisilia found it surprising.
"Urgh."
Then the fallen knight lifted her head with effort.
"Captain...? Even the Cake Devil has a captain... I have to report this..."
Edward sighed faintly.
"Betty. Lights. Too dark."
"Yessir."
Light Blessing illuminated the area. Sisilia subtly shifted to the best-lit spot, extending a hand to the knight.
"Sorry. Just messing around. I'm Sisilia Windsor, vice-captain of the Windsor Knights. And you are?"
"Hah... huff... Eh?"
"?"
The knight suddenly panted like a puppy, utterly flustered. Her reaction seemed over-the-top, even accounting for shock.
"S-Sisilia... you?"
"Yep. Sisilia."
"The Liannen Empire's fairest maiden, youngest ever Windsor Knight inductee, genius knight...?"
"Yep. That's me, the pretty genius knight."
"The Sword Princess?"
"Sword Princess, yep."
Feels like debuting as an idol. Kinda fun.
Sisilia felt oddly pleased. The knight scrambled up, bowing deeply with a flushed face.
"I-I never dreamed I'd meet my idol here."
Her eyes widened.
"Forgive me! I mistook you for a traitor... such an inexcusable blunder! Are you hurt...?"
Edward, watching, muttered incredulously.
"...Who's the one hurt here?"
(For the record, the knight was covered in wounds.) Edward shuddered at Sisilia roughing up someone for fun.
"Ugh."
Suddenly, Sisilia clutched her chest. She seized both the knight's hands warmly.
"Your clear sword aura pierces this heart."
"W-We need a priest!"
"No. Even priests can't heal this. Because... it's throbbing from excitement."
"S-Sisilia!"
Edward grumbled, unable to watch.
"Who taught Sisilia that line?"
"Probably Leo Ric."
Undaunted by captain and adjutant's glares, Sisilia gazed intensely.
"May I know your name?"
"R-Riel Liter."
"Liter? That's the Eisen Ritter name. Huh, you were right, Sisilia. They were impostors."
Got it.
Summary: Real knights dispatched to chase impostors mistook Sisilia for one by coincidence.
More importantly—
"Riel. Means 'cry to God' in ancient tongue. Lovely name."
Sisilia already liked her. But Riel's face stiffened oddly at the words.
"?"
As Sisilia pondered a translation error, hoofbeats thundered with a commanding voice.
"What nonsense in my territory? That insolence warrants a hundred deaths."
The face that appeared was very familiar to Sisilia.
"Bianca."
"......"
Bianca Eisenberg froze upon eye contact—then turned and bolted back the way she'd come.
"What a rotten luck day."
Bianca grumbled, but a faint smile tugged her lips.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Thus, Sisilia joined Bianca's group. True to her status as the duke's sole friend, she boarded the same carriage.
"Academy already out?"
"Winter break. And Father insists on heir lessons now."
Bianca had returned for break—and successor training. Meaning the Eisenberg heir was already set as her.
Bianca's tough.
House Eisenberg guarded Liannen from northern demons for generations. Heirs proved themselves first through personal strength. (They were mages, so Bianca was a solid one.)
"But what was that earlier? Daring to cross blades with an Eisen Ritter. Know how much gold I poured into training her?"
"She looked strong. Couldn't resist."
"Haa, why are all knights idiots?"
Bianca shook her head.
"Impersonating Eisenberg knights common?"
Bianca stared, face screaming she really knows nothing. A Windsor vice-captain should know better. But friendship won; magnanimous Bianca explained.
"Empire army remnants rejecting Empress Lizbeth. Terrorists you crushed last year. Massive Eisenberg crime syndicates—they sold souls to demons."
Anti-Liannen folks defected, in short.
"We purge as we can, but northern front's shaky. Headache."
"So—that's your heir trial?"
"...Yes."
Bianca added sourly.
"Don't even think of helping. My test. You're here for Lumia anyway—no intent to hinder."
Sisilia tilted her head.
"Wasn't planning to."
Bianca puffed her cheeks.
Anyway, Eisenberg territory lived up to grand duchy status—vast and opulent.
"Wait here. Informing Father of you all."
Bianca left post-haste. Sisilia wheedled Edward: tour the knights?
Curious about other orders—especially Eisen Ritter, second only to Windsor—Edward agreed.
And the Eisen Ritter HQ they faced.
"S-sorry for this shabby place."
Riel said. Sisilia smiled brightly.
"Really shabby."
The training ground reeked of spoiled vinegar. Edward winced, eyes shut.
"How's that effortless rudeness not curable?"