“His Grace told me about your unflagging training. The results, I see, speak for themselves.”
“Oh… Y-you knew what I was capable of?”
“Indeed. Archduke Woodstock asked me to look out for you and Meltreza,” she said with a grin.
Ah-ha-ha… So he wasn’t just worried about Melza, but me too…
“I must say, Hugo—now that I’ve seen your moves, I would rather like to spar with you myself one of these days.” She gazed at me warmly.
“Yes! By all means!” I answered with a deep bow.
“All right. That’s it for today’s classes,” Professor Monica declared.
With that, the students started getting ready to leave.
“It’s time to go, Hugh.”
“Right.”
Hand in hand, Melza and I were just about to exit the classroom, when I heard someone call out from behind my back.
“Hey.”
“……”
Melza and I ignored it and continued quickly out the door.
“I told you to wait, damn it!” the voice roared, echoing angrily down the hallway behind us.
I could have disregarded the affront if I were alone, but I couldn’t stomach someone taking such a tone with my beloved Melza. I spun around and glowered at the voice’s owner.
Sure enough, it was one of the prince’s entourage—Silas MacLagan.
“…What do you want?” I growled.
“Hugo Grenville—I challenge you to a duel!”
What the hell is this idiot blabbering about? I don’t think I care much for his attitude.
“Melza… If you’ll excuse me for a moment…”
“I understand,” she said with a quiet nod.
After flashing her a quick smile, I slowly approached Silas.
“So you’re game…?!” he demanded, his lips forming a grin.
“Shut your mouth.” The next instant, I grabbed him by the collar and pulled his needlessly tall figure down to my eye level. “Your father is only a count. I’m the son of a marquis, and Melza’s grandfather is an archduke. You best watch your tongue.”
“Ngh…! L-let go of me!”
Silas tried to pull himself free… How could he be so stupid? Unlike him, I hadn’t neglected my physique.
“I—I can’t move…,” he yelped.
“Shut up and apologize to Melza,” I demanded in a voice so low it was nearly inaudible.
“…?!”
His eyes practically popped out of their sockets. But help soon arrived.
“Hey, there. Sorry about Silas. He didn’t mean any offense.” The second prince appeared out of nowhere and patted me on the shoulder. Behind him was Gene, his other crony.
“…Prince Ernest. Let me ask you this—what reason does your friend have for being so rude and disrespectful?”
“Heh… I’m sure he was just impressed with our sparring match earlier. Even during class, he was quite eager to cross swords with you.”
“……”
“Speaking of which, would you be willing to entertain his request?”
What…? Now the prince is joining in? Why should I have to waste my time with this idiot?
“I’m sorry, Your Highness, but there’s no reason for me to face him. I must respectfully decline.”
“Oh yeah?! Too scared, huh?!” Silas barked, getting even more carried away.
“…You may take it that way if you wish. But first, hurry up and apologize to Melza.”
“Allow me to express my contrition on his behalf,” said the prince, lowering his head. “My sincerest apologies, Lady Meltreza.” His tone was so light and frivolous it was hard to tell if he was sincere or just fooling around.
As far as I was concerned, that was no apology. He was basically mocking us. As if to drive home that impression, the prince’s two accomplices seemed increasingly resentful that their leader had apologized at all. I was the one who should feel resentful…
“So, Hugo, won’t you fight him?”
“…Fine.” I sighed.
“…Hugh?!” Melza cried, unable to stand by in silence any longer. “There’s no need for you to go along with this farce!”
She was right, of course. I didn’t have to accept Silas’s challenge. But if this scumbag was so determined he was willing to drag the prince into it, I wasn’t about to sit back and let him do as he pleased.
“Like I said a minute ago, Your Highness, there’s no point in me sparring with him. In fact, all I see are disadvantages.”
“Hmm…”
“So I have three conditions for this duel,” I said, holding as many fingers into the air.
“Oh…? And what would they be?”
“First, once everything is finished, you must forbid those two from approaching Melza or me again. Second, he has to apologize to Melza properly for being so rude to her.”
“…You impertinent swine! His Highness already apologized!”
“Your Highness! You can’t let him get away with speaking to you like that!”
The prince’s chums evidently didn’t appreciate this second condition, as they shouted over one another in protest.
And right after demonstrating their own lack of common decency for all to see. Talk about hypocritical.
“Hmm… I’m sorry, Hugo, but I don’t think my friends will agree to that. How about this—if you beat Silas, I’ll make them go along with your requests.”
“…Fine,” I replied.
“Did you hear that, Silas?” the prince pressed.
“…Yeah, I did,” he answered, nodding reluctantly.
“Good. What is your third condition, then, Hugo?”
“I ask that whatever the outcome, no one voice any complaints or grievances afterward.”
“Very well. I, Ernest von Southenklein, do solemnly accept. Shall we get right to it, then?”
“That’s fine by me.”
All I wanted was to go back to the mansion and pass the afternoon in Melza’s company. But if this could save us both from being harassed tomorrow and in the days to come, it seemed a worthwhile delay.
“Hugh… Are you sure about this…?” Melza whispered into my ear.
“Yes. We still have three more years of academy life ahead of us, and we can’t keep arguing with them all the time. I’m going to nip this in the bud here and now… Besides, they insulted you.”
“Oh, there’s no need to worry about me. I’ve been dealing with people like him for almost as long as I can remember…”
“No. I won’t allow it on my watch.”
I wasn’t going to sit back as Melza, the person who mattered most to me in the world, was forced to endure such indignities. No, I wouldn’t rest until that bastard got what he deserved.
“Oh-ho… Perhaps this is inappropriate…but I’m so grateful for how much you do for me, Hugh…”
“Ah-ha-ha… It could never compare to how much you do for me, Melza.”
“I swear…” She slumped back in embarrassment. I couldn’t help but adore her every gesture.
“Let’s go, wretch! Do you have a sword?!” Silas roared.
“…I have a saber,” I said. “But…you can’t mean—”
“You bet I do! This is a duel! What’s the point if we don’t take it seriously?!” He shouted so loudly that other students passing by in the hall stopped to see what the commotion was about.
I glanced across at the prince, who responded with a nod and a wry smile. In other words, this match was serious business.
“Hugh…,” Melza murmured, fixing me with a concerned look. I could see it in her eyes—she didn’t doubt that I would win, of course, but she was still worried that I might get hurt.
“It’s all right, Melza. I’m not going to let an idiot like him touch me. I’ll beat him and come back without so much as a scratch. I promise.”
“…I believe in you, Hugh.”
With that, we left the classroom and headed to our carriage to pick up my saber. The prince was apparently leading his cronies back to their dormitory to do the same.
“Haaah… I wasn’t expecting to have to use the sword your grandfather gave me on some stupid duel…”
I felt like it was a waste using it against the likes of Silas. In truth, I would have been fine using any old sword available at the training ground. This fight, however, was about Melza’s honor, so I had to take it seriously. I would give that ass what he deserved, and defeat him so completely that there would be no room left for debate.
“Let’s go, Melza.”
“Yes.”
Hand in hand, we made our way to the training ground.
“You’re late!” Silas was already waiting, and he glared at us as we approached. The sword in his hands was a full 50 percent longer than average.
On top of that…judging from the design of the scabbard and hilt, it looked like a pretty high-quality weapon. Not that it was being put to any good use in his possession.
“Good on you for coming, Hugo!” said the prince.
“Your Highness… What’s the meaning of this?” I demanded, glancing about.