Chapter 63

Chapter 63

Ring Gift

‘This······.’

Galahad tidied the box.

The princess’s gift was a cut finger.

Galahad was not surprised that there is a cut finger in the box. A cut finger degree was the somewhat good side among what the princess gave.

The problem was the owner of that finger.

The ring worn on the finger was the ring the Kingdom Alliance prince boasted to Galahad.

[It is a treasure of the kingdom containing blessing.]

The prince was a quite good guy.

Meeting the prince was because of a mission. It was a spy operation to shake the strengthening Kingdom Alliance.

Galahad chose the smallest kingdom.

It was not simply chosen because the most poor.

That was a thorough calculation according to investigation.

Actually it succeeded and with the credit for that one could receive the imperial side mission.

Like that he got entangled with the princess.

Galahad tapped the box.

The princess’s gift was not the ring.

It was the finger below that.

The blackish swollen finger was the trace of poisoning.

However, the opponent was a prince whose mother died from poison.

Because of that the prince had the habit of always making another person see the reaction before eating.

Galahad examined the finger. At the end of that blackish part there was a trace extended like a pointed thorn.

‘It is the poison of horn leaf grass.’

Horn leaf grass exists in the desert, and possessed quite a vicious poison.

Horn leaf grass had to be hot like the desert’s heat to become poison.

Thanks to magic the imperial family always maintained pleasant coolness.

Body temperature was insufficient to cause poison. Along with that the middle part of the finger was thickly black.

‘The burn is faint.’

It was clear using fire of the temperature between that can cause burn and poison.

‘An expert. Handshake?’

A guy proficient in flame magic to the extent of adjusting temperature while an expert on this side was not common. At least there was none around the princess.

‘It is the 3rd Prince.’

A meticulous number befitting the 3rd Prince.

Even if the prince dies it was clear the princess would be framed as the suspect, so the possibility the 3rd Prince loses was remarkably small.

From the beginning there was no way the imperial family would acknowledge—.

The important thing was the motive.

Why bother killing the Kingdom Alliance prince.

It was one of two. Another string of the Kingdom Alliance reached the 3rd Prince, or wanting the relationship with the Kingdom Alliance to completely go wrong.

The 3rd Prince was a guy who enjoyed establishing credit with blood.

Since a guy who gains on the battlefield it would be the latter.

‘Not killing then is big.’

Galahad squinted his eyes.

“It is what you wanted.”

The princess said while holding a fully bloomed smile in her mouth.

That was not a question but conviction.

Unfortunately one had no choice but to nod.

There were several things Galahad did not succeed in.

The 3rd Prince was one of them.

This finger the princess gave was a sword that could stab that 3rd Prince.

The expression gift was quite appropriate.

The use of this finger was not simply only that.

Since the princess directly gave the disappeared finger of the prince, this was a leash that could hold the princess.

The princess handed her own leash to Galahad.

A very tightly tightened leash—.

‘Like this the story changes again.’

The princess’s possibility rose somewhat.

Along with that if one can cut the 3rd Prince—.

Certainly plausible.

However, there was Adrianne.

Galahad who slightly examined Adrianne clicked his tongue softly.

Adrianne’s eyebrows were lowered. That gaze was stuck on the gift box.

‘Did one say a treasure of the Kingdom Alliance.’

It was a very flashy ring befitting a treasure of the kingdom.

There was also a rumor that if wearing a blessing of not aging lingered.

Galahad did not believe, but looking at the princess’s glossy skin it seemed there was effect.

The princess who met eyes raised the corners of her mouth refreshingly.

“Guide to the Grand Duke. Let’s finish quickly and return.”

“I will not return though.”

“The sulking lasts long.”

“There is no business to see. Let’s go.”

“I want to hold hands.”

“Please close your mouth a bit.”

At the two continuously chattering Adrianne could not catch the opportunity to speak.

****

‘This—.’

Galahad tidied the dry neck.

With Galahad in the center the Grand Duke and the princess were sitting facing each other on both sides.

The Grand Duke was quite a rough appearance. Revealing that terrible muscle was also so, and the appearance closer to a magic beast than a real man.

Against such a Grand Duke the princess was leisurely.

The princess moved the fork and knife and cut the meat and put it in her mouth.

“Undercooked.”

At the princess complaining while squinting her eyes Galahad let out a groan.

“It is Northern style.”

“Barbaric.”

The corners of the Grand Duke’s mouth rose fiercely.

“Tasteless.”

The princess who clicked her tongue held the glass placed beside.

Although the same glass as what is in front of the Grand Duke and Galahad, that size was larger than the princess’s face.

In that huge glass liquor so strong that even smelling the scent makes the eyes furrow was fully filled.

The princess lightly lifted the glass with one hand and brought it to her mouth.

And gulped at once.

Gulp— gulp—.

The princess’s slender neck continuously undulated.

The princess emptied the glass without spilling even a single drop.

‘Still.’

Galahad clicked his tongue inside.

“Good liquor. Is there more?”

At the princess asking while shaking the glass the Grand Duke laughed low.

“What business does the noble imperial family have coming to the North?”

“I came to retrieve my thing.”

“My thing?”

At the Grand Duke’s counter the princess pointed at Galahad.

Galahad made a smile as harmless as possible.

“I am not anyone’s thing though.”

“Galahad is mine.”

The princess said as if not even heard.

“Amusing. Not a guy who will enter anyone’s hand though.”

The Grand Duke said while looking at Galahad.

“As expected His Grace the Grand Duke, accurate.”

“I am a noble imperial family.”

“If noble does one not shed blood?”

The Grand Duke asked as if growling. Although a fierce atmosphere to the extent Galahad’s back cools, the princess snorted.

“Since I know the treaty, do not do such childish threats.”

‘······Treaty?’

At the words that came out from the princess’s mouth Galahad squinted his eyes.

“The treaty is only the imperial family. Didn’t that coward tell?”

The coward would probably be the Crown Prince. The one who came to see Adrianne before—.

At that Galahad recalled the words the Grand Duke said.

The story that the Crown Prince went alone riding a horse—.

It was a threat to kill everyone except the princess who is imperial family.

Although the Grand Duke’s threat was fierce to the extent even Galahad’s hair stood on end, unfortunately that opponent was the princess.

“Since Galahad listens to words well there is no correlation. No, it will be cozy.”

The princess nodded.

That was sincere. Even if killing all the ones brought the princess would not even move an eye.

“Ah, how about a bet. You and me, who kills more. I also have quite confidence.”

The princess slightly turned the knife, and fully raised the corners of her mouth.

It was clear the princess sincerely thinks the bet would be fun.

Ha! The Grand Duke laughed out loud.

At the Grand Duke’s laugh Galahad was softly surprised.

“Better than the guy called Crown Prince who came before.”

The Grand Duke said low. Although that voice was fierce, it was crude.

‘Crazy ones communicate.’

Galahad slightly leaned his back on the chair.

“If giving Galahad I will return. Match? You take. I will also pay the value according to that.”

At the princess’s proposal Galahad suddenly became anxious.

The Grand Duke did not like Galahad.

It was a natural story. Because Galahad was the marriage the empire arbitrarily decided.

Although recently received recognition from the Grand Duke and established credit hard, he did not think the Grand Duke would like himself.

If one can clean one would want to clean.

Actually even Adrianne mentioned canceling the marriage at the story of the princess coming.

The possibility the Grand Duke accepts the proposal was considerably large.

“Wait.”

When Galahad tried to open his mouth, the Grand Duke tapped the long table with his index finger.

Thud! A roar was heard as if pounding with some club.

“There is only one method for what entered my hand to go out.”

The Grand Duke stared at Galahad.

Those pupils were excessively fierce.

The Grand Duke looking at Galahad with rough eyes as if a typhoon nested—.

Opened his mouth.

“When dead.”

Galahad swallowed dry saliva.

“If possible living is good. Difficult.”

The princess grumbled while furrowing her eyes.

The Grand Duke fully raised the corners of his mouth.

If left like this it seemed some matter would occur.

If the Grand Duke kills all the soldiers and knights the princess brought, the princess would laugh and dig the Grand Duke’s castle.

That was the worst choice.

Galahad quickly devised a method.

It did not take that long.

When Galahad raised his hand, the Grand Duke and the princess’s gazes stuck at the same time.

Receiving those fierce gazes Galahad slowly opened his mouth.

“Although friendship purpose still a duel, isn’t it boring if there is no prize?”

The two’s eyes narrowed at the same time.

At that Galahad raised the corners of his mouth.

“Let’s each hang one prize on the duel.”

****

“Is it the story of hanging Captain Galahad on the current duel?”

Adrianne said in a low voice. Theodore who was the target expressed difficulty.

“Captain Galahad is not an object. How hanging a person as a duel prize!”

Adrianne’s voice rarely rose. At that Theodore turned his head.

In that gaze there was Galahad leisurely smoking a cigarette.

At Theodore’s eye signal Galahad clicked his tongue softly.

“Ah, that I hung.”

“······Yes?”

Adrianne’s eyebrows vibrated quickly.

Seeming not understanding, Galahad additionally explained.

“The prize, I directly hung. Because otherwise it seemed it would not calm.”

“What is that words! There is no reason for Captain Galahad to be treated as an object! I will speak to His Grace the Grand Duke!”

“I said I hung, why are you making a fuss.”

Adrianne’s mouth twitched. After seeming to choose words for a moment the mouth tightly closed.

Then, the inside of Adrianne’s eyebrows lowered and the end side rose.

It was an eyebrow form first seen.

‘Angry eyebrows?’

Galahad clicked his tongue softly.

If left quietly it was the momentum of causing some matter.

“Anyway one will win.”

Adrianne’s gaze headed to Galahad again.

Galahad said in a voice full of conviction while looking at those blue eyes.

“I believe you.”

Adrianne’s mouth opened a little. Those eyebrows rose straight up—.

The already large eyes of Adrianne became even larger.

Galahad was softly surprised that a person’s eyes can be this large.

“The discussion about my treatment let’s do after the match ends. Because busy now.”

“If busy—.”

At Adrianne’s question Galahad stared at those blue pupils.

In those pupils there was not even a small speck.

Although the finger the princess gifted can be used quite usefully—.

Eventually it was only one of the cards Galahad possessed.

The sword that would stab the king of the demon race someday—.

It was Adrianne.

“I will inform the method to win against the princess.”

****

‘······?’

Adrianne squinted her eyes while looking at Galahad in front.

Galahad was holding a rapier and taking a posture.

Yet that appearance was quite stable.

Like a skilled knight.

“Did you learn the sword?”

“It was a hobby before.”

At Galahad’s answer Adrianne tilted her head.

“Do you know the empire’s duel method?”

“Yes, I heard it is the form of prohibiting aura and scoring by parts.”

“Accurate. Prohibiting aura is the core. Along with that if scored, the subsequent strike is invalid.”

“I see.”

“So I said you cannot win. Because for them swordsmanship competition is like play.”

Adrianne was an excellent knight. In contrast Galahad was a mage.

A mage chattering about the sword in front of a knight was a quite ridiculous matter.

Actually at Galahad’s proposal the 2nd Battalion Captain roughly refused saying insult.

Actually the North’s most excellent knight Adrianne listened seriously.

“First, I will show first.”

Galahad held out the sword. At that Adrianne took a posture opposite.

Galahad was a mage. If forcing for nothing, there was also the possibility of getting hurt.

Adrianne held the sword hilt more carefully than usual.

Then, Galahad kicked the ground. It was an amazing foot movement exactly like dancing.

The distance became close in an instant.

A knight usually looks at the opponent’s shoulder not the sword.

Because the shoulder moves before the sword.

At that looking at the shoulder—.

“This is the difficult point of the duel.”

Adrianne softly sighed while looking at the rapier that grazed her own gauntlet.

Galahad moved from the waist not the shoulder.

It was an action stabbing the empty.

It was not that one could not react.

No, rather because reacting excellently it was a problem.

Adrianne was one who polished the sword on the front line with the demon race.

On the front line if the reaction is even a little slow one is hit by the demon race.

Because of that the aura reacts before the body.

When Galahad attacked aura rose before even conscious.

Because suppressing the aura time dragged.

And Galahad’s sword was faster than Adrianne expected.

As a result Galahad’s sword first grazed Adrianne’s back of the hand.

If real battle it did not matter. Because that degree of strike one could block with aura.

However, in the duel it was a score.

“Were you a knight?”

“Didn’t I say. It was a hobby.”

‘Hobby—?’

This was not an action and speed that can come out simply as a hobby.

Although a question rose to the end of the mouth, Adrianne desperately swallowed.

If the opponent does not want to speak, not asking more is courtesy.

Anyone has a past one does not want to speak.

That Adrianne knew best.

“As seen just now the easy to deceive the opponent is the rapier. If stabbing while moving from the waist not the shoulder, one can explosively raise the speed at the end.”

Adrianne nodded.

“They are techniques easy to be hit if not knowing. Of course, if raising aura one would react even that, but in the duel aura is prohibited.”

“Yes, I understood.”

Galahad took a posture again.

It was a habit of real battle. It was clear a lot of time would enter suppressing that habitual aura.

Looking at Adrianne, Galahad bounced his feet again.

Like before Adrianne’s movement was slightly sluggish.

Because the nerves were dispersed to suppress the aura.

Galahad tried cutting not stabbing.

Cutting with a rapier was a useless act, but in empire style duel that was also a score.

Then, Adrianne’s sword moved.

This time also somewhat late, but a faster speed than before.

To the extent of knocking away Galahad’s sword—.

“Ah, one can use as cutting too. Certainly the score comes out.”

Adrianne seriously nodded while looking at the line engraved on the gauntlet.

‘A genius.’

The corners of Galahad’s mouth fully rose.

“Let’s do again.”

“Yes, please.”

Like that how many times did one repeat—.

Soon when Galahad’s sword could not even head to Adrianne, Galahad put down the sword.

‘Close.’

Adrianne’s talent was beyond Galahad’s imagination.

Although a natural story since the youngest Sword Master, actually experiencing it was different again.

However, this was also insufficient.

“The princess’s sword would be faster than me.”

“Yes, I will keep in mind.”

“Still this degree is excellent.”

“Thank you—.”

Even though Galahad who is a mage’s praise, Adrianne sincerely rejoiced.

Of course, what prepared was not all that.

To win against the princess one more thing was needed.

“Will you hold out your hand a bit.”

“Don’t you have to go out to the duel soon?”

“Ah, it is not that I will hold.”

Adrianne carefully held out her hand.

Adrianne blinked her eyes while looking at what was placed on her own palm.

That was a very flashy ring.

What the princess gave—.

“Wear and go out. It will be effective.”

The face of Adrianne who was always expressionless broke for the first time.