Jerome grit his teeth.
“Little lady... Those words have placed you on dangerous ground. Should you make some ridiculous proposal, there will be no need for this duel. I’ll make sure, here and now, that no sound ever passes your lips again. Consider that before you speak. What are your terms?”
There was no way to ease the heavy atmosphere that bore down upon them. Would there be a way for Regis to stop the duel if he jumped in now? The answer was a resounding “no.” His actions would only result in the further deterioration of Altina’s reputation. A commander who needed a lowly fifth-grade administrative officer to stand up for her would be a complete laughingstock.
All he could do was watch the events unfold before him.
Even so, Regis was so overwhelmed by his urge to rush in that he didn’t know what to do.
A means to annul an imperial decree, take a woman out of military affairs, and raise Jerome’s status as a noble.
“...You have to stop this,” he tried to assert, but the words barely escaped the back of his throat.
Regardless, they had been swallowed by the surrounding clamor; his voice never reached her.
Altina directed the tip of her sword toward her opponent, his bloodshot eyes fixed on her like those of a wild beast, and made her declaration:
“If you win, you may take me as your wife.”
Jerome froze.
“...That... really isn’t a bad deal.”
“You see?”
In the case she married into another house, Altina would no longer be considered an imperial princess, which would make void the prince’s reason for appointing her commander in the first place.
And while the peerage of the Beilschmidt clan would not officially rise, marriage to a woman of imperial lineage would undoubtedly increase their prestige.
Objectively speaking, Jerome now had more than enough reason to take this duel seriously.
“Hmph... Little lady, you are nothing I look for in a woman. But the terms themselves are more than favorable. I’ll order you around like a slave.”
“It seems you’ve accepted my proposal.”
“You’re on. The thought of gambling with a life on the line sets my heart aflame. I accept this duel.”
Jerome smiled as though he had already won.
Altina sheathed her sword.
“Then the duel is on. But I’ll add this: Don’t come under any misapprehensions. If you enter this duel with some perverted ulterior motive, I’ll bash in that rotten head of yours.”
“Mind your own business, little lady. Isn’t it about time you start your bridal training?”
“Wha!?” Altina grit her teeth in anger.
It was a cheap provocation but an effective one, given that her resistance to such matters was surprisingly low.
The loud pop as Jerome cracked his knuckles brought her back to attention.
“When should we do this? I’m free right now.”
“Very funny. I’ve put so much at stake to avoid any excuses being made over the result; you think I’d be careless enough to duel you here and now? Think. Perhaps they’ll say you were still half asleep, that you were hampered by last night’s drinking, or that there was too great a difference in preparation.”
“Hmph...”
Even if Jerome wouldn’t admit it, a debatable outcome would create a serious rift between Altina’s supporters and his own. Leaving any room for excuses would lead to misfortune, no matter the result.
“Oui... Then noon, three days from now. As for the venue, this plaza should do,” he proposed.
“Is three days really enough?”
“Who do you think I am?”
“Understood. Then let me tell you, just so there are no misconceptions: There will be no surprises—”
“Don’t get in over your head! No matter what traps the little fourteen-year-old girl sets, you’ll never steal a victory from me! There’ll be no excuses for the result of our duel, and if anyone complains about the result, I’ll take it as a personal slight. I’ll snap the neck of any who dare.”
“...I see.”
“I’ll warn you again: No matter who I’m up against, I will never hold back in a duel. You should have your will notarized while you’re still able to breathe.”
With those words, Jerome made for the central tower, this time free of obstructions. A portion of the knights cried out, the ones who worshiped Altina as a goddess.
Altina, the subject of their fervent admiration, didn’t seem moved in the slightest.
“I don’t plan on letting any of my subordinates die.”
“...So you intend to win?” Regis called over once Jerome had left.
“My my, Regis, no one issues a duel with the intention to lose.”
“Stories where someone carelessly enters a hopeless duel for love or honor are surprisingly common... I never thought you were this foolish, Princess... I must have misread you completely. This is the worst.”
Regis felt he had aged a good ten years.
To go as far as to challenge the Hero of Erstein himself to a duel! he screamed internally, barely able to keep himself from passing out.
She looked at him incredulously.
“‘Foolish’ is a bit much. Is my ignorance of popular fiction really a cause for embarrassment? I didn’t know people wrote about unwinnable duels, so wh—”
“That’s not what I meant! I’m saying challenging the hero, Jerome, to a duel was foolish!!”
“I mean, there was no other option. I’ll win and show everyone who the strongest person in this fort really is. Martial arts alone are not what makes a commander, but being stronger than those around you is the simplest way to prove superiority—that’s what you said.”
“Another slip of the tongue...”
Regis rubbed his fingers against his temple. The growing headache was almost enough to make him faint.
Did she not understand the situation? Or did she have some kind of plan in mind? She was definitely giving off a clear air of confidence.
“It was no slip. I think it was fine advice, Regis.”
“...Do you honestly think you can duel him and win?”
Altina puffed out her chest and gave a proud declaration:
“Of course!”