The City of Peach Fire - The Sublime Beauty Who Tempts the Crown Prince
Knights who reached the second grade were all revered as national geniuses. It was a realm ordinary talents could never attain through effort alone. Whether in middle age or old age, reaching such a rank would bring immense glory to an entire family line. Yet the crown prince’s talent was truly extraordinary, even among the empire’s greatest prodigies. Even the descendant of the meritorious Niberia ducal house—said to inherit high-level commander genes from birth—had only surpassed the first-grade knight realm at an age merely two years older than the crown prince. The crown prince, however, had become the youngest in the empire to cross that threshold, receiving his first-grade knight title a full three years earlier than the Grand Duke of Niberia. That was precisely why the crown prince had embarked on this daring journey across the Palia Mountains, departing from the capital Lukan to reach Koban.
Thud-thud-thud!
After racing day and night for another three days from Puran Village, the crown prince’s horse suddenly collapsed by the roadside.
“Your Highness! Are you all right?”
The Palia Mountains formed a vast highland averaging three thousand meters in elevation. The crown prince and the imperial knights had crossed this plateau and covered over eight hundred miles without once changing horses at relay stations, riding day and night for an entire week. Upon learning at Puran Village that their search had been in vain, they had immediately forced another grueling march without allowing the horses proper rest. It was no wonder the animals were at their breaking point.
“I’m fine. But I’ll need to borrow your horse, I’m afraid.”
Seeing the crown prince’s mount fall, the other horses began refusing to advance any further. Every one of them had already been pushed to the limit, galloping for two full days and nights from the last relay station.
“Your Highness, perhaps we should rest briefly. There’s a riverbank just ahead.”
“Hmm. Then I’ll continue on foot. You all rest and follow after me.”
At that, the hundred knights cried out with grim resolve.
“Your Highness! We will follow you on foot as well!”
But the crown prince shouted sternly.
“This is an imperial command! Once we rescue Seira, what if we must flee? I will not tolerate even one of you being taken prisoner. Recover the horses first, then follow me.”
The knights felt a quiet surge of emotion at their prince’s concern for them.
“Then at least twenty of us will accompany Your Highness. We’ll leave thirty behind and tie the remaining horses in a line to follow.”
“Very well. Do as you wish.”
The crown prince stripped off his heavy plate armor and set out wearing nothing but light protection. The twenty knights who followed him did the same. The others still wore hardened leather cuirasses beneath their platinum plate, but the crown prince had given his own hard leather armor and outer garments to the mother and daughter he had met in Puran Village. Now he stood bare-chested, wearing only his undergarments below the waist.
“Your Highness! Please wait a moment. At least wear this.”
One knight, with help from his comrades, removed his own plate armor and offered the crown prince his hardened leather cuirass and outer clothing. Deeply moved, the crown prince asked,
“Thank you. What is your name?”
“Benedict, Your Highness.”
“I won’t forget this kindness. Now, let’s go!”
Wearing only the simple cuirass and carrying a single sword, the crown prince and his knights pressed onward through the mountain paths. At last they caught up to the magnificent wedding procession led by several thousand soldiers.
* * *
Seira is in that procession!
Yet a problem remained. The thousands of splendidly armed soldiers escorting Seira were not ordinary infantry—they were heavily armored cavalry clad in full plate from head to toe.
“Damn it. That bastard of a grand duke.”
Even if the crown prince had arrived in full armor, facing them would have been uncertain at best. Now that he knew they were all heavy cavalry, any reckless approach would be suicidal.
“Should I reveal that I am the crown prince?”
But he recalled the emperor’s words when he had set out with the royal guard expedition.
—Never reveal your identity as crown prince in the north. You may never return alive.
His father, Obern, renowned as a wise emperor, had always been right—especially in matters of noble intrigue and political maneuvering.
Haa… I must heed Father’s words.
Thus he abandoned any thought of revealing his identity.
“Damn it… She’s right there in front of me, yet I can do nothing but watch helplessly.”
“Perhaps we should approach a little closer first?”
The majestic white walls of the city stretched wide, as though spreading welcoming arms to draw in travelers and tourists like a magician. Today, however, the grand duke’s knights had completely blocked the road leading to the gates. Ten columns of cavalry occupied the broad avenue—wide enough for two carriages to pass side by side—while the dazzling wedding procession continued forward. Though the procession dominated the main road, it did not deliberately obstruct ordinary pedestrians. Still, anyone wishing to enter or leave through the grand white gates had to step off the paved avenue and walk along dirt paths through fields or around corners.
“Yes. First, let’s narrow the distance and look for a solution.”
Suppressing his impatience, the crown prince walked along the dirt path with a burning gaze. As the gates drew near, he spotted the platinum carriage carrying Seira at the very front of the procession.
*
Recognizing her was simple. Thousands of people had gathered around her carriage—the largest crowd in the area. On the walls above, hundreds of women holding flower baskets began showering colorful confetti and petals toward Seira. Soon the grand duke’s orchestra struck up a fanfare to welcome her, followed by the majestic strains of the wedding march echoing across the vast plain from the white battlements.
“Waaah—! Welcome!”
“Seira—! Long live the Grand Duchess—!”
“Milky white—! Seira—! Goddess—! Long live—!”
When the soldiers on the walls began chanting in unison, the commoners poured out as well, joining the cheers and shouting “Long live!” three times over.
Seira and Puyor’s bonds had already been removed. Though she had been traveling in the carriage for days without rest, her beauty remained as radiant as ever—reducing the pretty female knights beside her to the appearance of dried squid left out for two months.
The crown prince finally pushed through the waves of spectators that surged again and again, reaching Seira’s carriage and catching sight of his sister’s face. Amid the swirling petals that adorned the walls like countless stars, he beheld her breathtaking figure. He had seen countless renowned imperial beauties, yet even to him her beauty was so stunning it stole his breath for more than ten seconds.
I want to lay her down… I want to lay her down…! I know she’s my sister, but… kuh…!?
His heart pounded wildly, nearly succumbing to a devilish temptation. He had faced dragon-level beauty and even the most exquisite elven women, yet this girl… this girl…
This woman is my sister? No. That can’t be. And to think she must marry that monstrous grand duke… I can’t accept it!
Completely entranced by her beauty, the crown prince clutched his aching chest and looked around desperately.