PART 2
I hated lying.
This is because I have seen countless people die while telling lies in their past lives.
I hated that unique tension.
I hated how I lied to cover up a mistake, and then told a bigger lie to cover up that lie, and before I knew it, it grew out of control.
So I always told the truth.
If there’s something you really need to hide, don’t tell the whole truth.
But my stubbornness didn’t work in this life either.
The virtue of honesty did not apply to someone who would get
killed someday if they told the truth and would kill them if they discovered a lie.
In this world, guilt and innocence were determined by a single word from a monarch.
Still, it was a life I experienced once.
“Valen? Master Valen!”
“Sorry. Did you call me?”
“The cold water is placed here. Take it easy. If you make a mistake, you will fall down. It’s already hot.”
Early summer in June. The weather was already sweltering, and there was no shade from any trees in the vacant lot near the Red Moon Palace.
“Thank you. But if I rest now, I might end up resting for the rest of my life.”
I answered, while wiping my sweat.
“I brought food for you, so eat it.”
Rudy looked at me with pitiful eyes and shook his head.
“Okay.”
I put down the sword, picked up the food with two fingers, and poured it into my mouth.
“Have you achieved any results?”
He asked cautiously.
I smiled brightly and nodded.
“More than expected.”
My body, which was not ruined by alcohol and drugs, moved as I hoped.
The mana flowing from the heart flowed through the entire body along the veins, surrounding and supporting the muscles.
There was no need to bypass blocked blood vessels like in the previous life, nor was there a need to strain to replace necrotic muscles with mana.
The amount wasn’t large yet, but that was something that only time would tell.
* * *
“Your Majesty will begin regular inspections in the second week of June. I hope that all of the royal knights will show off the results they have honed.”
The chamberlain shouted into the magic tool engraved with a loudspeaker spell.
The knights of the Platinum Guard Knights all turned towards the podium and saluted.
The shouts of tall men rang loudly.
“Eternal glory to the Empire and Her Majesty the Emperor!”
Jay lilith stood up and raised her delicate hand in salute.
“I with reward you for that loyalty. I am very impressed by the spirits of the officers. I have no doubt that the players will show their skills beyond expectations today as well.”
As always, it was a statement that touched people’s hearts.
“I heard that a sparring match between the new knight and the royal family is scheduled. I look forward to a good match.”
She looked our way.
On the high platform, golden eyes flashed like flames in the darkness.
Lord Bonnell, who was going to confront me, stiffened when he saw those eyes.
“I will never lose. You damn bastard.”
It changed from duel to sparring.
Well, no matter how shitty the actual treatment is, a duel between a knight and the royal family is not a very good sight.
“His Majesty Archduke Valencian and Lord Bonnell, please come forward!”
The chamberlain shouted.
I applied perfume to my white hair, slicked it back, and wore the fanciest clothes I had.
The vine-patterned uniform, embroidered with gold buttons and silver thread, sparkled in the sunlight.
Please don’t tear it.
I don’t even have the money to buy it again.
“I guess you have came here to make fun of me?”
Lord Bonnell frowned.
He cut his dark brown hair short enough to show his scalp, and only grew a little of the top and bangs.
The clothes worn under the armor were a light, patternless shirt and pants.
He had the neat appearance and attire of a knight.
Senior Knight Sir Kaliel handed us an iron sword for sparring.
Although it had no blade, it was heavier than a real sword.
Sir Bonnell and I pointed our swords at each other and took a step or two back.
“La Eustatia, the goddess of justice, looks upon this couplet.”
The sparring began with Lord Kaliel’s declaration.
I looked at Jay lilith before attacking Lord Bonnell.
She was staring at me with an interesting smile.
She was interested in me.
It was clear that if I used the technique, I would be immediately caught and dragged out.
“Where are you looking!”
Sir Bonnell, who hit the ground, became a gust of wind and rushed towards me.
The blunt tip of the sword seemed to be shaking, and before I knew it, it hissed and stabbed into my chest.
I didn’t know it would be this fast.
I guess I was very tired that day.
Damn, I dodged the stabbing sword by turning my left foot around in a big circle.
At the same time, I swung my sword with all my might and tried to strike Sir Bonnell on the side of his thigh.
Lord Bonnell took a big step back and avoided it.
“Have you seen such a coward?”
“Don’t you know you shouldn’t aim below the waist?”
The knights shouted loudly.
Lord Kaliel, who was watching the referee, approached and said.
“Your Highness Valen. When sparring, you should not aim below the waist with your sword.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”
It’s been so long since I’ve had a sparring match that I forgot about it.
Of course, I had no intention of showing that on my face.
I made an unfortunate expression, pretending not to know even though I knew.
Sir Bonnell gritted his teeth.
“Do you think it makes sense that you didn’t know that!”
A sharp energy flashed as the sword blade cut down diagonally.
Even though it was a sparring sword, it seemed to have a sharp edge.
I gritted my teeth and swung my sword.
Kaan-!
With a loud noise, iron clashed with iron and sparks flew.
The moment the swords touched each other, Sir Bonnell raised the corners of his mouth.
“I have waited for this.”
He shifted his weight and pressed down on the blade while taking a step forward and thrusting the sword at my chest.
It was a movement so fluid that it was impossible to avoid it.
I doubted whether he was planning to kill me.
However, I had a thorough understanding of the imperial knights’ routes.
I bent my knees, lowered my body, maintained my balance, and pushed up the sword that was lying down.
Lord Bonnell’s smile stiffened, and his sword slipped past mine.
Lord Bonnell tried to retreat, but I had no intention of letting him go.
He kept his body close, I stretched out his left hand, grabbed Lord Bonnell’s forearm, and tried to trip him by tripping myself.
“Sword wrestling?”
“I think you misunderstood. Isn’t this just a trick?”
“Okay. There is no way Prince Valen, who drinks alcohol every day, would know such a skill.”
“Is this a fight between drunk people? haha.”
The knights spoke one word at a time.
“Your Majesty. Are you really that capable? let’s see it then!”
Lord Bonnell, trapped in my arms, gritted his teeth.
The next moment I felt his body become as hard as stone.
“Mana body strengthening?”
When I realized that, my body was already floating into the air.
It wasn’t technology, it was just blowing it away with force.
My body fell to the floor with a thud.
I heard Rudy scream.
My back hurt.
“Oh my.”
The moment I staggered to my feet, Lord Bonnell rushed at me.
An eerie wind blew from the sword being swung in all directions.
If I can’t stop it, I might die here.
A moan escaped between my clenched teeth.
I didn’t want to live only for today, but it became like I was only living in front of my eyes.
With a sigh, I pulled out the mana from my heart.
