Chapter 26: I Challenge You to a Duel (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 26: I Challenge You to a Duel (2)
*
After sending Veronica to the lounge, Dantalion turned around leisurely.
He was met with the sight of a man glaring at him with murderous eyes. Dantalion curled the corners of his mouth into a smirk and asked, "Do you have something to say?"
"……."
Cedric glared at Dantalion, his lips pressed firmly together. It was a gaze far too insolent to be directed at the Crown Prince of the Empire.
"No, nothing at all," Cedric replied through gritted teeth. He turned away sharply, as if he didn't want to deal with Dantalion for another second.
"Wait."
"……."
However, Dantalion spoke in a low voice toward the retreating Cedric. Cedric froze in his tracks, unable to leave.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"……Must I tell you that?"
"……."
"……."
The two men glared at each other in silence. An invisible, intangible energy clashed fiercely in the air between them.
"Are you planning to go to the Ducal Lady?"
"That is none of Your Highness's concern."
"Hardly. I saw with my own eyes how the Ducal Lady's arm was swollen because of the Marquis."
"……."
Dantalion spoke in a calm tone. His voice was so tranquil that it didn't sound like he was rebuking him at all.
Yet, because the aura radiating from him was so intense, Cedric’s entire body went stiff. He watched Dantalion with wary eyes.
"There seems to have been a misunderstanding."
"A misunderstanding?"
"Yes. I simply wished to speak with my wife alone for a moment—"
"Does someone who wants to 'speak' drag the other person along like a dog?"
"……."
A deep furrow formed between Cedric's brows. He spoke in a tone thick with displeasure.
"Dragging her like a dog? No matter if you are the Crown Prince, your words are far too—"
"Then, if I shouldn't call dragging someone like a dog 'dragging them like a dog,' what should I call it?"
"……."
Dantalion tilted his head as if he truly didn't know. He looked so innocent that even the other nobles watching the scene were dumbfounded, some even letting out hollow laughs.
"……Your Highness, are you trying to pick a fight with me right now?"
"Ah, does it look that way?"
Dantalion smiled brightly and threw the question back at him. He was clearly enjoying the situation.
"If it looks that way to you, then feel free to think so."
"Your Highness…!"
"What is it? Marquis Lionel, the man who dragged the Ducal Lady like a dog."
"……."
The atmosphere grew increasingly ominous. The nobles surrounding them flinched and backed away.
The powerful auras unique to Sword Masters clashed violently once more. Those with weaker constitutions couldn't withstand the pressure and began to tremble.
"No matter your status, Your Highness, you cannot insult me like this."
"Is that so?"
"Yes."
"Then, if not the Crown Prince, who is allowed to insult you? Would it be possible if I were the Emperor?"
"……!"
The surrounding area froze at Dantalion's words. Though they sounded light on the surface, there was a sharp, heavy edge to them.
Dantalion, the tragic Crown Prince who should have ascended the throne on the day he came of age, but remained uncrowned due to the Empress Dowager's power.
The nobles couldn't even lift their heads at his seemingly playful remark. It felt as though he were mocking them for constantly walking on eggshells around the Empress Dowager.
"Your jest has gone too far."
"It wasn't much of a jest, though."
"……."
"……."
Their gazes locked again. It was a volatile situation that felt like it could explode at any moment.
"What is all this on such a joyous day?"
"……!"
Just then, a soft voice cut between the two men. The nobles' gazes shifted.
"……We greet Her Majesty the Empress Dowager."
Cedric was the first to bow politely toward her. A look of satisfaction flickered in Empress Dowager Gabriella's orange eyes, which looked as if they had captured the sunset.
"Raise your head, Marquis Lionel."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
As Cedric slowly raised his head, he looked perfectly composed, as if his previous agitation had been a lie.
The Empress Dowager then turned her gaze toward Dantalion, who was standing crookedly.
"Crown Prince, what is this disgraceful behavior on a day meant for you?"
"Disgraceful behavior?"
Dantalion chuckled as if he had heard something amusing. His eyes swept over the Empress Dowager standing before him.
With her luscious red hair swept up high, the Empress Dowager looked so young and beautiful that she didn't seem her age at all.
Was it because she was a former Saintess that her body was still overflowing with Divine Power, preventing her from aging? It was a truly convenient ability.
Dantalion maintained a gentle smile as he continued.
"It was Marquis Lionel, not I, who displayed disgraceful behavior first."
"What did you say?"
The Empress Dowager's gaze shifted back to Cedric. Then, it landed on Gloria, who was trembling like an aspen leaf beside him. The Empress Dowager's eyes narrowed slightly.
Quick-witted as she was, she roughly grasped how the two had ended up in a confrontation. The Empress Dowager secretly bit her lip.
"Still, is today not a day for the Crown Prince? Please, forgive the Marquis's rudeness with a generous heart."
"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager…!"
"Be quiet."
"……."
Her voice was soft, yet firm. The Empress Dowager looked like the most benevolent person in the world, but the reality was quite different. Knowing this well, Cedric had no choice but to bow his head at her command.
"Ah, come to think of it, today was indeed a day for me."
"That is correct, Crown Prince. So—"
"Then surely, you will be able to understand me?"
"What…?"
Dantalion cut the Empress Dowager off and strode forward.
The Empress Dowager watched him with bewildered eyes. Dantalion, walking with an indifferent air, stopped in front of Cedric.
"Marquis Lionel, I have no intention of forgiving your rudeness."
"……!"
"I challenge you to a duel."
Dantalion pulled off one of his gloves and tapped it against Cedric's shoulder, his lips curling into a smirk. A stunned Cedric stared at him blankly.
"A duel? What on earth…!"
As the nobles began to buzz in confusion, Duke Winston, having realized the situation late, came running over in a panic.
The breathless Duke Winston reached out to stop Dantalion.
"Duke, please go to the Ducal Lady now."
"Pardon? To Veronica?"
"Yes. I will explain the reason later."
"……."
Dantalion looked excessively calm for a madman who had just pulled off his glove to challenge a fellow Sword Master to a duel.
The horrified Duke Winston bit his lip and turned around.
"I understand, Your Highness. But you must explain this to me later."
"I will."
Dantalion caught a glimpse of Duke Winston leaving the banquet hall with Vincent and Brandon before turning his head back.
*
Is he insane?
I muttered to myself after hearing the Duke's story.
What was he thinking, challenging a fellow Sword Master to a duel?
Was it really just because that bastard Cedric dragged Veronica away roughly?
I guess he really is the character destined to become a tyrant.
Then again, that violent nature wouldn't just disappear. Even if he hid his sharp claws and acted all virtuous, a predator was still a predator.
I had momentarily forgotten because Dantalion had been acting so demure in front of Veronica. In the original story, he was a ruthless tyrant who slaughtered people without a second thought for the consequences.
"Father, you should have stopped him!"
"But…"
Veronica, just as horrified as I was, screamed at him. The Duke wore an aggrieved expression.
From what I heard, it seemed Dantalion had acted on his own while the Duke wasn't around. So, the Duke couldn't really be blamed.
Rather than that, I had to figure out what to do about this.
It's not good to retract a challenge once it's been made.
If he did, the authority of the Imperial Family—or more accurately, Dantalion's authority—would plummet.
Many nobles and citizens of the Empire would mock him and point fingers. That would surely hinder his ascension to the throne.
But if Dantalion were to win the duel…
Then he could easily crush the Empress Dowager's faction and take the throne.
Perhaps Dantalion had challenged Cedric on purpose with that in mind.
But it was too reckless. Even if they were both Sword Masters, Cedric had reached that level earlier and had far more experience on the battlefield than the Crown Prince.
Furthermore, Cedric was the male protagonist of this novel. Defeating him would be an incredibly difficult task.
"Let's just watch for now. I'm sure His Highness has a plan."
"Still…"
"Now, now. The royal physician is here, so let's get your wrist treated first."
"Sigh…"
The royal physician, guided by a servant, stood there hesitantly, glancing between the two. Veronica let out a sigh and nodded.
A duel between Dantalion and Cedric.
Perhaps this could be used to my advantage.
My eyes gleamed quietly as I secretly let the corners of my mouth turn upward.