Enemies Meet at the Engagement Ceremony

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bang!

 

Melsia’s training sessions always began with a sound like rocks shattering, rather than the clash of swords.

 

“Your sword path is wavering. Put more strength in your right heel to keep the blade steady.”

 

Melsia began her guidance in a detached voice. She assessed her opponent’s sword, identified weaknesses, and filtered through the hundreds of possible scenarios to determine which ones her opponent might execute.

 

“Before your opponent’s foot touches the ground, thrust your sword there to disrupt their balance…!”

 

At that moment, a shadow’s sword sharply grazed past Melsia’s ear. If she hadn’t instinctively dodged, it would have pierced her eye.

 

“………..”

 

The attack was both sharp and terrifying. While Melsia focused on guiding and assessing her opponent’s sword, the shadow seemed to have deliberately targeted that moment of vulnerability.

 

It was as if they had intentionally created an opening by luring Melsia into giving guidance.

 

‘This is Diana’s swordsmanship.’

 

Melsia remembered the final battle she had with Diana for the Emperor’s sword. Diana had turned the tide of the battle with a single strike, just as the shadow had done now.

 

Recognizing this, Melsia felt a familiar scent from the shadow’s sword.

 

‘Am I losing my mind? Am I going crazy from missing Diana?’

 

Melsia tried to steel herself, realizing her weakness in immediately thinking of her besfriend Diana due to a mere coincidence.

 

It was a shadow training to clear her mind.

 

Even in such a focused situation, her thoughts being overwhelmed by Diana made her understand why the Emperor had commanded her to clear her mind.

 

“The sharpness is good, but you need to put more strength into it. If you hesitate with your sword tip…”

 

Melsia’s sword created a whirlwind as it struck the shadow. Though the shadow quickly raised their sword to block, the force pushed them back, their feet sliding across the ground.

 

“Your body will be split in two.”

 

“……….”

 

The shadow remained in a blocking stance for a moment before twirling their wrist and resuming their posture.

 

“………!”

 

Seeing this, Melsia’s eyes quivered. While she blinked slowly, the shadow lunged at her again.

 

“More like that…”

 

Melsia’s voice stammered and then stopped.

 

She focused all her attention on the clash of swords.

 

She observed the angles at which the opponent’s wrist turned and how the blades collided unconsciously.

 

Melsia sought to recognize the one thing she could identify in the shadow, whose face, voice, and even gender were unknown.

 

‘Habits.’

 

Having grown up clashing swords with Diana hundreds, if not thousands, of times, Melsia knew her habits well.

 

She knew how Diana applied force, the angle at which she bent her elbow, and her calm eyes in moments of panic.

 

No matter how much the form of her swordsmanship changed or the sword she wielded varied, certain habits remained.

 

One such habit was twirling her wrist twice when receiving a strong attack, a long-standing method Diana used to relieve wrist tension.

 

“………..”

 

Melsia struck down on the upper part of the shadow’s sword hilt with all her strength. With a crack, the sword shattered, and she saw a small mark on the broken hilt.

 

‘I’ll remember this, Melsia. How you broke my precious sword.’

 

‘How many times must I say it wasn’t on purpose? Just get a stronger sword.’

 

‘No. I can’t use anything but this hilt. It feels different in my hand.’

 

‘Diana, you’re truly unique.’

 

‘Since you broke it anyway, break it further so only the hilt remains. I’ll replace the sword.’

 

‘…Do as you wish.’

 

Inside the hilt were the tiny marks from breaking the blade into smaller pieces. This was Diana’s sword.

 

“………….”

 

The duel had ended. The surroundings had long since been devastated.

 

Dust rose thickly, then settled in the training ground, where Melsia sat down heavily.

 

“Ahhhhhhhh!”

 

A scream, close to a wail of agony, burst from Melsia.

 

She knew all too well what it meant to become a shadow. It meant abandoning everything that made up her identity. Family, friends, honor, and…

 

“Diana, Diana!”

 

Even children. Whatever happened in the Kratyn Forest, Diana had made her choice. This was the result of that choice.

 

“…………..”

 

The shadow, training under Melsia, could not utter a word. Everything had to be kept strictly confidential. Thus, the shadow silently listened to Melsia’s cries.

 

“Ugh, ugh.”

 

Melsia despaired even more than when she first heard of Diana’s disappearance. She was in greater agony.

 

Hesitantly, the shadow took a step forward, then embraced Melsia as she sobbed uncontrollably.

 

Melsia clung to the shadow, crying as if she were a child again.

 

“…………”

 

“…………”

 

Two pairs of eyes watched the scene.

 

“A shadow has been exposed, Your Majesty.”

 

The Emperor’s aide spoke in a stern voice.

 

“You had excluded that shadow from training. Why did you send them to Emblem?”

 

Despite the aide’s serious expression, the Emperor had a pleased smile on his lips.

 

“Melsia will lead the Emblem from now on. She had to take over the title urgently and will have to face Jade Gray in my place. Think of it as a gift to my poor sword.”

 

“But no Emperor has ever exposed a shadow before! The risk…”

 

“Do you think the risk is greater than the danger of Melsia losing Diana Gray?”

 

“That…….!”

 

The aide was momentarily speechless at the Emperor’s question.

 

“This is the only way to keep both the Emblem and Gray under my rule. Without Seffield Emblem and Gray with folded wings, maintaining the throne is more important than exposing a shadow.”

 

“…………”

 

The weakening of the Emblem and Gray meant a weakening of royal authority.

 

The shadow of the Emperor could only be effective if the royal power was strong. The aide acknowledged the Emperor’s judgment and calmed his excited mind.

 

“Always being soft with Melsia is why the Empress harbors such hostility.”

 

At this, the Emperor laughed aloud.

 

“That woman would have found someone else to turn into a snake even if it wasn’t Melsia.”

 

“You know the Empress very well, Your Majesty.”

 

“Of course. We are husband and wife, after all.”

 

The Emperor looked once more at his loyal swords, who were still embracing.

 

He quickly turned his gaze away, fearing that lingering too long would bring back memories he tried to forget.

 

There was a time when he too laughed and cried by their side.

 

He had to bury those memories because he was the Emperor, even when he wanted to break down like Melsia when Diana made her choice.