The Prince's Challenge
The lecture hall was filled with students wearing neat academy uniforms, each freely taking their seats. From the newly enrolled first-years to the senior third-years.
The 'Practical Swordsmanship' class held in the lecture hall today had no restrictions on attendance by year. Rather, the professor in charge had encouraged the students to freely attend the class.
Since the subject was practical, the students wanted to use the lecture time to spar with each other and build their skills.
It was at this point that Vermouth, who was talking to Ciara, was aiming. He had approached her from behind her seat.
"Seniors. I would like to spar with you, seniors."
"I can't point my sword at my seniors..."
"Ciara. Duels between seniors and juniors are allowed within the academy. To train strong talents for real combat, the professors even recommend duels."
"But..."
"Ciara Rogent seems not yet fully accustomed to being an academy student. I thought the top rank would be different..."
Vermouth poking Ciara's pride. There was no wrong in his words.
However, the subject of that statement was Vermouth himself. Within the academy, there is no high or low status, but Vermouth is the prince.
No matter how much Ciara immerses herself in academy life, the prince is a different class. That is, she cannot help but be conscious of Vermouth as the prince.
Ciara, faced with the prince's provocative words, began to blush and become flustered.
"S, seniors..."
"Ciara. Then, how about not accepting my invitation?"
"What kind of invitation is it?"
"Would you participate in my party and have a sword duel with me?"
"I... to that extent..."
Ciara, sitting in the corner of the lecture hall, glanced at me secretly. Her face, which I had imagined as usually expressionless, was one I couldn't imagine.
I understood a hundred times. This Byront Academy is an institution that nurtures talents loyal to the Empire and the Imperial Family. Therefore, in selecting new students, there is an item to test loyalty to the Empire. Ciara had passed the academy's standards not only in skill but also in loyalty to the Empire.
Therefore, Ciara had no choice but to be conflicted between me, her lover, and the prince representing loyalty and the Empire.
Just a few days ago, Ciara had provoked me as if she would accept the prince's invitation. But among the reasons she provoked me that way, it must have been to gain an advantage in the competition with Chloe.
Therefore, after confirming her superiority over Chloe again, it was natural that she had no motivation to accept the prince's invitation. Ciara was in a difficult situation in various ways.
Then... what can I do for her...
I nodded slightly towards her, who was checking my signals. It meant I was okay with accepting the prince's challenge. However, it meant that since the prince is strong, I would understand if she lost to him.
Upon confirming my intention with her eyes, Ciara's expression changed abruptly. She transformed into her usual cold expression. She had clearly composed herself.
In the end, Ciara answered Vermouth.
"Seniors. I accept the duel. However, if I win, I will refuse the invitation."
"Alright. Junior."
Thus, the two genders had promised to duel in the swordsmanship class.
Although the result of the duel was needed, I felt relief just from the emotions Ciara had shown me. It was because she had confirmed that even though the prince was Vermouth, I was her priority...
However, what could not be completely dispelled was... that the prince was very excellent in swordsmanship.
Even though Ciara was a first-year and skilled in swordsmanship better than most seniors, it seemed really difficult for her against the prince.
I just prayed inwardly that she would win...
However.
Vermouth first proposed a handicap duel to her.
It meant that as long as Ciara landed a valid hit, it would be recognized as her victory.
It was done.
No matter how much Vermouth, Ciara's sword could not be completely dodged.
I had not seen Vermouth's swordsmanship properly, but from the way he walked out to the front of the lecture hall, I could sense it.
My eyes were quite accurate.
**
The duel was immediately realized. Vermouth obtained permission for his and Ciara's sword duel from the professor in charge of the practical swordsmanship lecture.
The lecture hall was in an uproar. It was the beginning of the semester, a time when interest in new students was higher than usual. In such new students, the top-ranked Ciara and Vermouth, a third-year student with a unique position as the prince among the third-years, were dueling.
What was impressive was not only the status of the two genders. Ciara, whose beautiful appearance was reproduced as if by sculpture. Vermouth, with an imposing build that seemed to boast the excellence of royalty. The appearance of the two genders dueling was also impressive.
If I, from a third-party position with no connection to Ciara and Vermouth, had witnessed this duel, I could have enjoyed it as a great eye-candy...
However...
I was subtly tense right now. I was confident that Ciara would land a valid hit on Vermouth. However, the event itself was a blatant netorase build-up.
In academy stories, duels are always events that happen. However, if netorase content is mixed into that event, it usually ends with the heroine's defeat.
The heroine, after defeat, submits to the male opponent who dueled her, creating the climax of netorase. It was the reason I was momentarily relieved by believing in Ciara's skill, but the subtle anxiety was rising.
While I was worrying about various things. The two genders drew their swords. Seeing that, my mood became unpleasant again.
Ciara and Vermouth. The two genders were similar in posture from holding the swords. In fact, it was a reasonable appearance. The Rogent family, Ciara's family, was a powerful family that had long served the Empire loyally to the closest side of the Imperial Family.
Her predecessors had served the Empire and been exposed to the Imperial Family's swordsmanship countless times, and they would have incorporated it into the Rogent family's swordsmanship.
It was just a sword posture with the history of the family embedded in it. But because it was my lover Ciara in this situation, I felt unpleasant. Maybe I was too sensitive right now...
I gritted my teeth and clenched my fists, cheering for Ciara in my heart.
Soon the two genders began to clash with their swords. Clean, unadorned movements. It was movements that could be included in swordsmanship textbooks.
The two genders clashed swords a few times, then briefly separated to catch their breath. At this point, I also let out a sigh of relief.
If it was Ciara I knew, she would definitely land a valid hit on Vermouth. It was certain.
The two genders moved again. It felt like they were dancing a well-choreographed military dance.
The physiques of the two genders were also too ideal for swinging swords... and among them, of course, the one that caught my eye was the female Ciara.
Straight shoulders.
Gracefully extended legs.
Clean arms.
Delicate fingers.
Ciara's movements were like watching a work of art. Just that was enough for eye pleasure.
At the moment when I was about to forget even the thought that I had to cheer for her because of her beauty, the balance of the duel began to tilt towards the prince.
Ciara began to be gradually pushed back. Vermouth, as if having read Ciara, began to press her.
If this continued, Ciara would lose. But in my expectation, there was no such scenario. She just needed to land one valid hit on the prince.
The duel became more intense, and the sound of the two genders' swords clashing sharpened. At the moment when the movements of the two genders grew as if trying to deliver a finishing blow to each other.
Clang-!
Ciara dropped her sword.
At the same time, Vermouth's sword was pointed at her neck.
However, I would be smiling right now.
Because I had captured Ciara's sword grazing past the prince's face just before she dropped it. Most students in the lecture hall would have missed it. Because the movements were so fast...
Soon the students began to whisper.
"Vermouth's victory!"
"Senior's victory!"
"The blood of the Imperial Family can't be deceived..."
"Ciara must attend that guy's party?"
However, the words from the professor...
"Ciara student's victory is declared."
At the same time as the declaration, a red line appeared on Prince Vermouth's cheek. And... a considerable amount of blood flowed down his face.
Drip drip-
To cut off the prince's face... Ciara's spirit is admirable. Even though she would have been psychologically pressured because the opponent was the prince, she demonstrated her true ability.
I forced my excited expression and looked at Ciara.
However...
Her expression was not good.
Her hand holding the sword was trembling.
I roughly got a feeling.
Ciara. She was feeling some sense of responsibility or guilt similar to having injured the prince's face.
Soon Ciara ran to Vermouth and checked his face.
"H, Your Highness!"
Vermouth wiped the blood flowing down his neck with the back of his hand and answered Ciara.
"Junior. I told you not to call me prince."
"S, seniors..."
A momentary silence filled the lecture hall. However, the atmosphere changed rapidly with Vermouth's smile as the signal.
"Ciara Rogent. Our top junior. I'm proud of you."
"Seniors. I-I'm fine..."
"Junior. No one in the academy has landed a valid hit on me with a sword until now. Not among seniors, not among juniors... This is the first time for you, junior."
"S, seniors..."
"You are so skilled. Even if you say you will represent the Empire in the future, it's not an exaggeration."
"B-but... quickly, go to the infirmary..."
"Haha! Should I call the on-duty priest? No! I like this wound even more, junior. It's the kind I want to keep."
"..."
"Junior. If the invitation to the party was uncomfortable, I'll apologize. Since I lost, I can't ask you to come. Instead, there is one thing I want to ask."
"What is it, seniors?"
"Once you're ready, I'll ask you then. For now... no."
"..."
"And junior. Don't worry about my wound. I don't want to burden you. I want to keep it as much as possible, but I'll get it treated right away."
"Seniors..."
"You are an incredibly proud junior who enrolled. The future of the Empire is bright... Thank you. Ciara Rogent."
Ciara had won against Vermouth, so she didn't have to attend his party... but the atmosphere began to flow somewhat strangely.
**
The afternoon of the day the duel took place.
Ciara came to the counseling room to rest. I didn't have much conversation with her, who was resting as usual.
Just like in the morning, I kissed her again and had sex again. I confirmed her heart once more.
As I was regaining my mental stability, I thought that Vermouth would contact Ciara again in some way. Because he had said he would ask her something.
I stroked Ciara's cheek and asked her.
"Ciara... what are you going to do if Vermouth contacts you again?"
"Teacher. You showed this much and you're still anxious?"
"A little... if it were someone else, but it's the prince..."
"Teacher. Since you refused the party too, there's no need to worry more."
Ciara spoke with the same calm eyes as usual. Seeing her expression, my heart felt at ease.
"I know that you like netorase, teacher... but if you dislike seniors Vermouth, I'll avoid contacting him as much as possible."
"C, Ciara..."
"Teacher. Instead, think about me more than Chloe?"
"Of course. Ciara..."
Even now, Ciara was still worried about Chloe. Even though she had accepted the harem.
In a way, women might be creatures that need to constantly confirm a man's love. The fact that Ciara and Chloe mention netorase might be their way of trying to confirm love for me...
Despite having had sex once, Ciara began to take my penis in her mouth and stimulate it. With a lovely gaze...
A fellatio as if she was apologizing for what she had done with Vermouth. Receiving the most devoted tongue play ever, I regained certainty that Ciara would never leave me.
The duel between Ciara and Vermouth from the previous day had spread throughout the academy immediately. At the same time, I heard unbelievable news from Chloe who visited the counseling room.
"Wow! Teacher! I got invited to Prince Vermouth's party!"