With this, Mikhail realized he could eventually get rid of Duke Floyen by manipulating the emperor. It was something to rejoice about, but it came at a cost.
"Don't worry about the duke. I plan on giving him a special assignment,” the emperor had said.
Mikhail was worried. Jubelian's safety could no longer be guaranteed now that Duke Floyen was in a strange condition. The emperor seemed to be plotting something else without him knowing. The sly man could be trying to hurt Jubelian to provoke his son, and just thinking about possible scenarios where that could play out made Mikhail upset.
How dare he try to use what's mine as bait? I will not tolerate this, Mikhail swore to himself, seething.
Just then, a familiar slender back came into view. Finally having found the woman he had been searching for, he smiled. She would be safe as long as she was with him. Elated, he called out to her.
"Jubelian!"
The lady turned around and their eyes met. "Sir Mikhail?"
There was a frown on her face and scorn in her jewel-like eyes. Her irritated tone pierced his heart deeply. Nonetheless, he regained his composure.
"I have something to tell you,” he said. "Could you spare me a moment?"
She sighed. "I'm sorry, but I'm busy right now."
"It’ll only take a moment—"
"Sir Mikhail, I do not have time for idle chit-chat."
Mikhail wondered how long she had felt this way. She spoke firmly, determined not to spend even a moment with him. Misery flooded him, but his rising anger soon drowned out his sorrow. He looked everywhere for her. He even came running for her sake. Why was she rejecting him?
A dangerous light shone in his eyes. She wasn’t listening to him... so he had no choice but to use force.
He reached for her wrist. At that moment, however, something swiftly approached his neck, forcing himself to retreat. He had felt the cold breeze of its rapid approach brush his skin.
"Ah, you dodge well."
With a ferocious gaze, Mikhail glared at his sudden opponent.
"How dare you attack me?" he demanded.
The man looked like one of the crown prince's bodyguards, Victor. Mikhail had heard of him before. From what he knew, Victor had been a mercenary in the past.
Mikhail expected him to admit his mistake and beg for forgiveness. Although their formal social statuses were now the same, Victor was of lower birth, and the royal knights were strict about hierarchy.
However…
"I'm on an escort mission!" Victor said matter-of-factly.
Mikhail was infuriated. How dare this low commoner...!
Just as he was about to draw his blade, however, a voice spoke.
"He's right. My brother ordered Sir Victor to escort me,” the princess snapped, glaring viciously. "Sir Mikhail, aren't you supposed to be taking part in the hunting competition? If you waste your time like this, you might end up in last place."
She was obviously insulting him. The ladies that were gathered behind the princess shielded their smiles behind their hands. Jubelian stood still, her eyes wide.
Mikhail gritted his teeth. What a bitch. She was disgracing him right in front of Jubelian.
However, he knew better than to take his temper out on the princess. Suppressing his feelings, he adopted a polite tone. "I am honored that Your Highness is concerned about me. Still, I don’t understand why the knight escorting Your Royal Ladyship is attacking me."
"That's because you suddenly tried to—"
"All I wanted was to have a short conversation with Lady Floyen. I don’t want anything with Your Highness."
Beatrice’s eyes narrowed. "That's because I’m—"
"Ah, let me put it in simple terms for you,” Victor butt in. Beatrice and Mikhail both gave Victor the evil eye for interrupting their argument. Nonetheless, he continued with a smirk on his lips. "I just hate idiots who treat a lady without manners."
Mikhail’s brows furrowed. Despite everything, Victor was only a commoner. He would be lucky if he managed to keep his place as one of the crown prince's aides. He decided Victor’s words weren’t worth getting upset over.
"How ill-mannered,” he said. "You can't run from old habits, it seems."
He deliberately referenced Victor's lowly origins to provoke him, but the knight shrugged, grinning.
"Well, I think you are acting high and mighty just because of your family." Despite himself, Mikhail frowned. "But, come to think of it, your family isn't even that great."
Insulting another’s family warranted a duel.
"I will cut you into pieces,” Mikhail hissed.
He drew his sword and swung it toward Victor. Befitting one of the most powerful swordsmen in the empire, his attack was swift and fierce. However, Victor managed to fend it off.
What was this? He was…
Mikhail’s head swam. He glared at Victor, but the man was grinning.
"What? I heard that you’re going to become the next military commander. Is this all you've got?" Victor taunted.
Mikhail's fury reached its peak once he realized he was devalued by a lowly mercenary knight. "Do you have a death wish?"
Although he had hidden his achievements from everyone except the emperor and his family, Mikhail had become a first-class swordsman and he was able to utilize mana. With this, he believed it would be possible to disgrace this rude man, and once that happened, Jubelian would certainly see him differently.
Back when he was dating her, her eyes had twinkled as she said, "You will surely succeed my father and lead the royal knights in the future, Mikhail." At the time, he had taken her compliment for granted. He thought he would eventually reach that place as well. Now, however, he wanted to prove to her that he was qualified for the role.
Watch me win this duel,”he silently urged her, smiling at her.
She watched on, looking horrifyingly pale.
No matter how good Victor was, he wouldn’t be able to do anything once Mikhail used mana. With a sinister smile, he channeled his power into his blade. Formal procedures needed to be followed for duels between knights, but since his opponent was of low birth, Mikhail believed Victor couldn’t protest as long as he kept him alive.
Now then, I’ll cut off your arm! Mikhail silently swore.
Victor’s blade was resting directly against his, but he prepared to push it away.
Suddenly, someone interrupted their duel. After checking who it was, Mikhail's face fell.
The bitter wind bit his skin, but Max didn't pay attention to it. He couldn’t keep still after hearing the emperor's plans from Count Pyrex. He was planning to release a magical beast so an idiot could play hero? Crazy old man!