The Tyrant Wants To Live Honestly

Military training is held once a year.

 

The Knights of Brilliance, who were in charge of the imperial escort and moved as separate units, also participated in this, as did the generals and general soldiers of the empire.

 

And this year in particular, Dorothea also attended and watched the soldiers’ training.

 

The Princess who attended the military training was wearing a sword with a belt around her pants, just like everyone else.

 

It was enough to be overwhelmed by the loud sounds and atmosphere of the soldiers, but Dorothea was looking around the soldiers with a cold and careful look as if they had been watching the soldiers for a long time.

 

She talked with the generals about training methods and tactics, as well as new weapons and weaknesses of the Ubera army.

 

Raymond glanced at Dorothea and raised the corners of his lips softly.

 

It was quite different from the way she used to keep her mouth shut.

 

“I didn’t know that the Princess was thinking so deeply about the military.”

 

The knights and generals were surprised that Dorothea knew more than they thought.

 

If she had to pick the part that Dorothea read the most in ‘The Study of Kings,’ it was military science, and even before her return, she was quite confident in military affairs.

 

“Dorothy, is this your first time attending military training?”

 

“I thought it was necessary to check the military power of Ubera at least once.”

 

“Do you think there will be a war?”

 

Theon said that Dorothea was concerned about a war with Hark.

 

He heard that the other nobles were gathering information because Dorothea was the only one worried about Hark, who didn’t even care.

 

And according to the information she gathered, it was true that Hark’s movements were unusual.

 

“It is not unusual for a war to occur at any time. Your Majesty is not in good health, and The Crown Prince has lost his memory.”

 

At that, Raymond secretly hid his sullen expression and lowered his gaze.

 

At that time, Arthur, the leader of the Knights of Brilliance, approached them.

 

“If it’s alright with both of you, show me your swords in front of the soldiers?”

 

Dorothea and Raymond met their eyes.

 

“As far as I know, I have heard that you are as talented as any other knight. If you two are okay with it, it will help boost the soldiers’ morale.”

 

Historically, it is often the case that the Imperial Family showed their skills in front of knights.

 

Rather than showing off their skills, the Imperial Family strengthens solidarity and boosts morale by acting like knights and soldiers.

 

“Especially, the soldiers are curious about the Princess’s skills.”

 

Arthur smiled softly and added, ‘The rumors around.’

 

Whether she defeated Nareus, the current king of Hark, when she was young or defeated Raymond in a swordsmanship contest, that she has skills that Stefan would approve of, or that she accurately hit a certain part of another target in the Episteme test. 

 

Dorothea’s skills were well known by word of mouth, but she never officially showed her skills in public.

 

“Um, I’m not feeling well.”

 

Raymond turned back and glanced at Dorothea as an excuse for his falling horse.

 

Dorothea thought for a moment, then nodded.

 

* * *

She accepted Arthur’s offer because she thought it was necessary to make her name known to the soldiers ahead of the war with Hark.

 

And personally, it’s also because Dorothea wanted a position like this since she’s been fighting for the sword less since she took the place of Raymond.

 

Even before her return, her swordsmanship skills were on par with Stefan.

 

Although it took a long time to take a break from practice after returning, it had been a while since she practiced again and made a body, and thanks to the accumulated amount of practice and know-how, it was comparable to the previous level.

 

However, she didn’t show it to anyone.

 

“Princess, your opponent… “

 

“Anyone, anyone who wants. Still, I wish he had good skills.”

 

Arthur laughed at Dorothea’s clear answer.

 

Soon, several knights volunteered.

 

Arthur picked one of them and made him a match for Dorothea.

 

“Paul, that child deserves to compete with the princess.”

 

Joy, who was helping Dorothea’s preparations, nodded as if admitting it.

 

Paul’s skills are not comparable to her, but he said that he would be quite fun to play against because of his unique skills.

 

Dorothea nodded, tied her hair together and climbed onto the pitch.

 

“It is an honor to give me a chance to compete with the princess with a sword.”

 

The knight, who was called Paul, set a courtesy in front of Dorothea to suit his chivalry.

 

The onlookers around them cheered with their exciting eyes shining.

 

* * *

 

Shouts poured out at Dorothea.

 

It was a famous match. The fight was so tight that it made the viewers sweat.

 

The skills and techniques that could be seen as a sword were flashy, but it was not a show-off technique.

 

Even if victory and defeat incline slowly, it boils again and reverses at some point.

 

Dorothea’s heart was beating pleasantly, and sweat was forming on her cheek.

 

“It was a good match, Sir Paul.”

 

Dorothea reached out to the foul.

 

Paul admitted defeat and took her hand.

 

“You were wonderful, Princess.”

 

The hand holding the foul was thrilling.

 

Dorothea remembered a feeling she had loved for a very long time.

 

The onlookers could not hide their excitement at the unexpected victory of the princess and raised their voices.

 

“That’s Princess Dorothea Milanaire.”

 

“Oh, that wine!”

 

The buzzing soldiers recalled the fine wine they had received as a reward a few years ago.

 

The wine bearing the name of Dorothea remained in memory because it was too good for ordinary soldiers to drink.

 

“The rumor has it! With that skill, the Princess should have entered the Knights.”

 

“Well, Sir Stefan, is he the kind of person who goes about lying for nothing?”

 

People’s words made Joy’s nose higher for nothing.

 

A smile crept across Stefan’s lips as he watched.

 

“Dorothy!”

 

After the match, Raymond ran out of his seat.

 

“You are amazing!”

 

“It’s amazing.”

 

“Awesome! Sir Paul is one of the most powerful men in the Knights!”

 

Dorothea, who beat Raymond to keep from making a fuss, also had a pleasant smile.

 

Then Dorothea suddenly remembered Ethan.

 

It would have been better if Ethan had been here.

 

She wondered what Ethan was doing now.

 

* * *

 

In the deserted forest road, only the sounds of insects and beasts spread occasionally.

 

A long black shadow passed through the shadows of the trees under the moonlight.

 

The full night promised by an anonymous letter, the forest marked on the map.

 

In the middle of the night, it is a remote land where even a hunter cannot pass.

 

Theon depended on only a small lamp and a sword under his cloak.

 

He reached the promised place, hiding a small jewelry box under his cloak.

 

A small vacant lot in the forest where the moonlight falls and the stars in the sky are sparsely obscured.

 

Theon hid behind a tree for a while, waiting for the sender of the letter to arrive.

 

At that time, the light gradually brightened from one side of the dark vacant lot, and the slowly spreading light drove away the shadows of the forest in an instant.

 

‘A spirit of light?’

 

Theon looked at the light that lit the forest in bewilderment.

 

‘Is that Raymond? No, Princess Dorothea…?’

 

At that time, a man who had been there since then walked out under the full moon.

 

He stared at Theon, revealed in the light.

 

He covered his face with a white mask and pressed down his robe as if trying to hide his identity completely.

 

But at least, given his height and size, it was clear that he wasn’t Raymond or Dorothea.

 

‘So, who is he? Does anyone know how to deal with light spirits like this?’

 

‘Maybe it’s a distant descendant of the imperial family. But how could there be such a strong element in this place…’

 

The black eyes in the mask stared at the wandering Theon.

 

Theon slowly stepped forward at the silent staring gaze as if to come closer.

 

“Are you the one who sent this letter?”

 

As Theon pulled out an anonymous letter and showed it to him, the faceless man nodded.

 

Theon gripped the hilt under the cloak.

 

Fortunately, the other party seems to have come alone. One person is enough to deal with.

 

“Is it possible to increase the spirit affinity?”

 

The mask nodded again at Theon’s question.

 

Shortly after that, the masked man, without a word, handed him a piece of torn paper from his coat.

 

A piece of old paper that looked like it had been torn from a book had instructions on how to increase the spirit’s affinity.

 

It seemed to be from a book different from Theon’s, but it was not different from what he found out.

 

[Raising the spirit affinity is simple. It is to train and adapt with the power of a spirit that goes beyond one’s own limits.

 

But going beyond the limits comes with risks.

 

A force that one cannot control or accept can harm the trainee.

 

Therefore, if there is no appropriate action for this, death may occur during training.]

 

According to records, long ago, when Milanaire and Fried were strong enough to control the light of the sky, they often improved their Spirit Affinity.

 

However, as the spirits that can control the power of strong spirits become rare, this method has only been passed down through records.

 

To amplify the power to the limit, he can borrow the power of the Spirit Stone.

 

However, there is no good elemental commander to control him.

 

Because the spirits of light who can suppress the spirits of darkness are all weakened.

 

A dangerous challenge that neither Raymond nor Dorothea could ask.

 

“Is there really anyone who can take appropriate action?”

 

Then, the masked man called the spirit directly instead of answering.

 

The spirits that lit up the forest multiplied in number and enveloped Theon’s whole body.

 

It was as if he had summoned the moon floating in the sky to his side.

 

No matter how sparsely populated the place is, with this kind of light, you can probably see it from afar.

 

Theon felt awe more than any other emotion.

 

But as soon as he was overwhelmed with awe, the light disappeared as if sucked into a single point in an instant.

 

Numerous lights condensed around the unknown man and brightened his surroundings.

 

Theon couldn’t take his eyes off him, who suddenly glowed in the dark forest.

 

“Who are you…?”

 

Now, he felt like a divine being.

 

It seemed to understand why those who had seen Milanaire and Fried in the first place admired them.

 

But even to Theon’s question, the unknown didn’t answer.

 

Instead, he reached out his hand as if to take out the spirit stone.

 

Theon could no longer refuse him.

 

After facing his light, his heart was beating nonstop with anticipation.

 

Hoping that the old curse would be lifted, he took out the jewelry box he had in his arms and opened it.

 

When he opened the lid, black darkness sprouted from the box and grew.

 

The dark spirit resonated with the black stone and began to harass Theon.

 

They wanted to come out right away, color the world in darkness, and spread the silence and silence of death.

 

At that time, the masked man picked up the spirit stone and handed it to him.

 

It means to grab the spirit stone directly.

 

But Theon hesitated.

 

The moment he grabs the spirit stone, he will not be able to control the spirit.

 

The darkness that spreads from it will kill birds, wither flowers, devour sounds, and trample the little lights that light up the night.

 

And like a hound that bites its master’s neck, it will covet Theon’s vitality.

 

But the mask that faced him was staring at him without wavering.

 

The endless darkness resting on the white-gloved man’s hand was waiting for Theon.

 

“Catch it! Don’t run away, fight. Don’t be afraid of death.”

 

The masked man seemed to whisper to him like that.

 

Theon nodded at him.

 

“You can’t live your life entangled in spirits. You must try everything you can to escape this curse.”

 

He mustered up the courage to grab hold of the dark mass that awaited him.

 

Then, in an instant, darkness climbed up his hand and clinged to him as if to devour him.

 

Spirits who wanted to get out of the world drove him, and Theon, as always, tried to stop it.

 

However, as if he could not close the lid of the boiling pot, dark spirits began to bloom one by one around him.

 

Theon was afraid of the power of darkness that he could not control and wanted to place the Spirit Stone.

 

Then, a nameless man grabbed his hand.

 

“You must not let go.” He was speaking.

 

* * *