In front of the castle gate, soldiers from both sides, having laid down their spears and swords, formed semi-circles to create a circular arena.
At dawn, after being beautifully adorned, Daphne climbed the watchtower.
Her father, King Bathion, his young queen consort Callista, and her brothers, including Jeffrey, were already seated. Callista, covering her mouth with a fan, noticed Daphne and squinted her eyes with apparent amusement. Just as Daphne began to frown slightly, Jeffrey rose from his seat to greet her specially.
Today, Daphne sat as the princess of Velarez and the fiancée of the great warrior participating in the sacred duel. She held Jeffrey’s hand and sat beside him as he led her to her seat. As always, Leah stood close by her side.
Perhaps it was due to the sleepless night.
The soldiers below the watchtower were roaring loudly, each side unwilling to concede. The chatter of her brothers in the back row was grating. Even Jeffrey, who occasionally turned to talk to her, annoyed her more than usual.
I feel like I’m going to vomit.
When Daphne covered her mouth with one hand, Jeffrey spoke.
[Don’t worry. Equila will win.]
His tone was full of certainty.
Daphne, her face pale, closed her eyes in irritation. For today, Jeffrey tolerated her rudeness and soon withdrew his attention from her.
Bwooo!
A long horn blast opened Daphne’s eyes again.
Finally, the duel began. There was nothing she could do. Everything was terrible, but most of all, what she found unbearable was her inability to act.
Last night, Daphne had secretly left her bedroom. However, after only a few steps, she stopped. The door to the treasure-filled room would have been locked anyway. Turning back, she had entered Tisbene’s bedroom, gazed at her peacefully sleeping sister’s face, and quietly returned to her own room.
Even if it was locked, I should’ve tried.
But the opportunity had long passed. What good was regret? It was all because she had been indecisive.
Suddenly, the cheers grew louder. Daphne absentmindedly looked down.
A horse with a deep crimson hue stepped into the center. It was Equila.
***
At the same moment, from the opposing side, Leoford also spotted Equila. The boy’s lips parted in shock.
“…Is that a bison or a man?”
Because Johannes had not permitted him to join the battlefield, Leoford had never experienced combat firsthand. Thus, it was his first time seeing a Razhan warrior this close.
The Inacos Union soldiers referred to the Razhan warriors as “raging bisons.” Leoford had thought it was an exaggeration, but seeing the Razhan warrior—their leader—up close, he realized they were no different from wild bisons. Unconsciously, Leoford hesitated, his toes recoiling.
“It’ll be fine,” said Johannes’s lieutenant, Gunther Havok, patting Leoford’s shoulder. Of course, Gunther himself was not at ease. He was deeply anxious and dissatisfied with the current situation.
A few days earlier, Johannes had been summoned to the commander’s tent and unexpectedly declared that he would become the knight of the god Kona, as dictated by prophecy.
Naturally, Henrik’s proposal wasn’t bad.
“I understand Itium’s circumstances. After the duel, I will permit Itium’s return. In addition to Itium’s rightful share, two islands, eight warships, treasures, and slaves will be granted.”
The problem was that Johannes’s life was at stake in this duel. While every life was significant, Johannes was not just a comrade but also Gunther’s one and only friend and his lord. And it seemed his lord often forgot he was a king.
Gunther had belatedly tried to dissuade him. But Johannes merely shrugged, saying, “But there’s no warrior in the Union better than me, right?” deliberately sounding arrogant. He wasn’t wrong, so Gunther couldn’t retort.
“Gunther, think about it. When else would Henrik let me go if not for this opportunity?”
That, too, was an undeniable truth.
Itium had been requesting its return since last winter, but Henrik had blocked their return by withholding what Itium was due. Johannes had refused to go to battle for two months, leading to unprecedented hostility between Henrik and Johannes. Amidst this tension, the prophecy had descended like fate.
From Johannes’s perspective, a duel was no big deal.
…Damn it, but still. The opponent is Equila.
Gunther anxiously looked at his lord’s back as he stroked his pure white horse. Yet, Johannes was as composed as ever, appearing unshaken, even serene.
…Well, he’s Johannes Tenen. What am I worried about?
Regaining his composure, Gunther whispered to Leoford.
“Leo, the helmet.”
Leoford snapped out of his daze, grabbed the sleek helmet resembling Itium’s black panther, and approached Johannes.
“Brother.”
Johannes turned around. His appearance was as flawless as a figure from myth. Armed, he was breathtakingly beautiful—hard to believe he was the man dubbed the “blood-soaked murderer.”
“Leoford.”
Though the sight of Equila had left Leoford nervous, the serene smile on Johannes’s face instantly calmed him. Leoford spoke firmly.
“My god, Kona.”
Johannes bowed his head, pressing his forehead to Leoford’s.
“My god, Kona.”
“Grant us eternal victory.”
“Grant us eternal victory.”
The brothers’ foreheads parted after a short prayer. Leoford placed the helmet on Johannes’ head. Fully armed, Johannes mounted his horse without the slightest hesitation. Finally, Johannes stopped in front of Equila.
Indeed, Equila’s imposing aura was remarkable. His intimidating build seemed to complement his reputation. Of course, having survived the Grand Duel to become Equila, that reputation was certainly no exaggeration.
At that moment, Equila provocatively removed his helmet and threw it aside, revealing his fierce expression. Johannes silently followed suit, removing his helmet. Beneath the blazing sun, Johannes’ bare face was exposed.
Equila let out a brief laugh.
“Your lips are red, and your skin is pale, for a man. They call you the Black Monster, but you’re just a pale imitation of a woman.”
Equila, underestimating Johannes’ reputation, sneered at his unexpected appearance.
Johannes grinned lightly in response to Equila.
“Your laughter makes you look even uglier.”
His smile was tinged with half-pity and half-amusement.
Then, when Johannes’ jet-black curls and ice-cold blue eyes, sharp as a blade, came into view, Daphne’s eyes widened as she gazed at him from the watchtower.
Those pristine, piercing eyes were as sharp as polished blades. The youthful and mischievous façade from before could not fully obscure the sharpness in his gaze.
It’s him.
The man was unmistakably the Inacos soldier she had encountered in the forest.
Just then, Jeffrey clicked his tongue and muttered.
[Of course, they sent out that monster.]
Daphne couldn’t help but ask, [Who is he? Who is that man?]
[Johannes Tenen. They say he rules as a king at the far end of the peninsula. A king among beasts who can’t even speak properly—how ridiculous.]
Jeffrey always disparaged anyone who couldn’t speak Velarese as their native tongue.
[But today, Equila will show that monster his place.]
From the watchtower, the royals and nobles who recognized Johannes began to hurl jeers.
[The monster with black hair!]
[The bloodthirsty butcher!]
But Daphne couldn’t take her eyes off Johannes.
[Johannes Tenen. Johannes…]
He wasn’t just an ordinary soldier. Fully armed, he carried an entirely different aura than he had in the forest. The playful demeanor, the boyish hints—none of it remained. Watching him with his sword in hand…
[“The god of war and earth, Kona, is neither merciless nor cruel but wields a power that is as cold and inevitable as death itself.”]
Suddenly, Sione’s tale about the god Kona came to mind. Yes, Kona might indeed wear a face like that.
The man was undoubtedly the most formidable enemy on the battlefield. And as the opposing commander, he was unquestionably her adversary. Yet, as the long horn signaled the start of the duel, Daphne found herself thinking:
If it’s that man, he might be able to win.
Her heart, filled with a strange sense of anticipation, began to beat faster. The jeers and cheers faded into the background. Her entire focus was on Johannes.
***
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