Chapter 64

Chapter 64

Ring and Gauntlet

‘There is also this kind of expression.’

Galahad muttered softly while looking at Adrianne.

Adrianne was usually expressionless. Even if something happened only the eyebrows moved about. Even the eyebrows moving was quite minute.

To the extent even Galahad could notice only looking from the front.

Such Adrianne was putting full strength in the eyes.

The so-called axe eyes.

If that Adrianne even did axe eyes, it was clear she was quite angry.

The cause—.

“Isn’t it another person’s gift. Giving this to another person—. It is a bad act.”

Adrianne said firmly.

The reason for getting angry is the reason of ignoring another person’s gift—. Truly befitting Adrianne.

As expected orthodox.

However—.

“I never said I would give though.”

“······!!”

Adrianne’s eyes became large. The axe eyes released.

“You, the self-consciousness is considerable.”

When Galahad clicked his tongue, Adrianne’s movement stopped. The sound of breathing was not heard.

At Adrianne who stiffened as is Galahad added the words.

“It is to use in the duel.”

Only then Adrianne exhaled deep breath.

The eyebrows moved again. The inside of the eyebrows down the outside up— it was not axe eyes.

“The duel is sacred. Intervening other elements in a duel that must be competed only with the sword is not right.”

Again orthodox.

Adrianne’s face returned to the usual expressionless.

However, the cheeks were a bit red.

“Is there a rule not to wear a ring in the duel?”

“······None.”

“Then on what basis is it not right?”

Adrianne gaped her mouth. Soon she furrowed her eyebrows a little. It seemed thinking deeply.

“Isn’t it using the opponent’s sincerity and touching the mood. This···.”

“This?”

“Does not violate the rule but···.”

“But?”

“······.”

Adrianne tightly closed her mouth. It seemed the words were blocked. Those blue pupils shook a little.

“The princess would also be wearing. Various blessings are hung on that ring. While the princess is wearing such a ring, isn’t you not wearing against fairness?”

Adrianne’s eyebrows roughly shook.

Soon she slowly nodded.

“There··· is reason.”

“Then why refusing.”

“Even so···”

“Even so?”

Adrianne tightly closed her mouth.

“As you also know I am hung on this duel. If you lose I will be caught by that princess without moving.”

“It looked like getting along well though.”

“Are you jealous?”

“······Yes?”

“The princess is a terrible superior. If following the princess, I will die with a high probability.”

“What is that words.”

Adrianne’s face instantly became serious.

Only a little exaggerated, it was not a lie.

Galahad put the cigarette instead of answering. Adrianne did not urge.

A moment later Adrianne exhaled a low sigh and took off the gauntlet.

On the white and slender fingers calluses were full. Adrianne wore the ring on the little finger. That size was slightly loose.

“The size does not match, wear on the ring finger.”

“I dislike.”

Adrianne’s voice was firm.

At the axe eyes that came out again Galahad coughed softly.

“There will be no matter of using the ring.”

Adrianne said in the usual indifferent voice.

That had no correlation with Adrianne’s will, but there was no need to particularly say.

“The princess is looking for you.”

Galahad nodded to Adrianne and moved his steps.

Adrianne blankly looked down at her own hand for a moment.

She could not understand why she herself is wearing the ring the princess gave to Galahad.

Although the situation became somewhat strange—.

Anyway since one will wear the gauntlet, there will be no matter of showing the ring.

Adrianne adjusted the sword at the inexplicable stuffiness.

****

“The North is all like shit, but the liquor is quite.”

The princess was sitting tilted on the sofa.

Although a crude Northern room, because of the princess’s flashy appearance it felt like a capital banquet hall.

Empty bottles fully rolled around the princess. A strong liquor smell was full in the room.

Galahad squinted his eyes and flicked his finger.

The full liquor smell fluttered in the wind and disappeared.

The princess extended her legs long. The side part of the flashy dress was long torn. It was clear torn saying uncomfortable.

“Why did you come.”

“Didn’t I say I came because I missed.”

At the princess’s peaceful answer Galahad’s eyes furrowed.

Useless leisure. At that Galahad put the cigarette in his mouth.

When lighting a fragrant lemon scent fully spread.

“Urgent.”

The princess grumbled softly while looking at the cigarette.

Galahad deeply sucked the cigarette without caring.

Only then the princess sat properly.

“A duel to the Grand Duke, a stupid choice.”

“Thanks to that I could see you so success.”

Sincerity was full in that voice.

The princess was really thinking success.

Damnably the princess knew Galahad well.

From the moment giving the finger, the princess was a card one had no choice but to save.

However, she made the matter too large.

“This matter will be hard to clean up.”

“Was there a time my life was easy?”

Galahad laughed softly. Lemon scent spread.

The princess who is imperial family requested a duel to the Grand Duke although friendship.

If losing one will process the princess with the excuse of daring to make a scratch on the solemn imperial family.

If winning that is also a problem.

Because Galahad had no thought of leaving the North.

Solving that······.

“Please marry the prince of the Bartun Kingdom.”

At Galahad’s words the princess furrowed her eyebrows.

The atmosphere instantly cooled.

However, Galahad continued the words without caring.

“Since the finger disappeared, the 3rd Prince also would not be able to move carelessly—. If the princess marries the prince of the Bartun Kingdom one can break.”

“Plausible. As expected smart.”

The princess raised the corners of her mouth.

It was a fake smile.

The crazy princess laughed when angry.

Cried when happy—.

“Yes, I understand. Instead there is a condition.”

“I refuse.”

Galahad shook his head right away. There was no need to even listen.

“Haven’t even heard yet?”

“Isn’t it the story of becoming a mistress.”

“Right. Become my mistress.”

The princess pointed at Galahad with a long finger.

The princess knew her own value very well. Flashy appearance and the position of princess, the method of using that advantage the most expensively was marriage talk.

Such a princess proposing a mistress was, in other words the story of giving herself at the most expensive value.

Unfortunately the mistress proposal was the most romantic words the princess could do.

“I dislike, I have a woman to marry.”

“I also have a man to marry. Equal.”

At the quite valid logic Galahad was blocked for a moment.

Then, the end part of the cigarette fell with a tok—. The princess sighed softly.

“My answer is the same as before.”

“Really a stubborn guy.”

The princess held the glass and shook. Galahad clicked his tongue and flicked his finger. Liquor rose from the liquor barrel beside and moved to the princess’s glass.

The princess who emptied the glass without stopping even once laughed.

“Just right coolness. As expected the liquor you pour is the best.”

Galahad rubbed and extinguished the fully bloomed cigarette. Regret rose on the princess’s face.

Galahad who discarded the cigarette turned without hesitation.

Looking at that cold back the princess opened her mouth.

“Even if that day comes again I will choose you.”

Right before going out, Galahad stopped for a moment.

“Please say the words correctly. That is not that I chose you, but that I could not believe you.”

Galahad left the room as is.

The princess clicked her tongue at Galahad who disappeared without even giving time to reply.

Galahad’s words were correct.

That day the princess could not believe Galahad.

“A bit unfair.”

The princess muttered softly.

That Galahad is capable the princess knew best.

However—.

“No matter how you how would one see saying one will rebel.”

The princess laughed out loud alone.

****

‘3rd Prince and finger, princess—.’

“Arrogant junior, seeing here.”

At the pointed voice Galahad’s thoughts broke.

In front of that there was a man covering a white cloak. The white cloak was the symbol of the White Magic Tower, and the golden embroidery embroidered on the cloak was evidence of an upper mage.

It was clear the mage who is Galahad’s duel opponent.

“Junior? Have we met?”

At Galahad’s question the opponent’s face furrowed at once.

“Ha, pretending not to know.”

“Sorry but, I do not remember useless things. Since said junior it would be an empire Academy graduate. Then···.”

Galahad examined the guy’s face. The guy’s sparse eyebrows were quite familiar.

‘Ah, it was the Crown Prince’s subordinate.’

After a long time Academy days memory rose.

When Galahad entered, the Crown Prince was a graduating class. With the Crown Prince it was all seeing as if brushing.

The Crown Prince saw Galahad who broke his own record and entered as the youngest unfavorably.

Of course, he did not touch directly.

Because the Crown Prince was a noble imperial family.

He only said Galahad was a bit annoying.

At that the Crown Prince’s subordinates bullied Galahad.

The guy was one of them.

“Ah, a guy who followed the Crown Prince. The name······ was it chimpanzee?”

“It is Bunch! This guy! Pretending not to know for nothing.”

Bunch laughed while glistening. It was conduct closer to a delinquent than a mage.

“Ah, Bunch. It was such a name. Although chimpanzee has better nuance—. Nice to meet.”

Galahad familiarly held out his hand. The guy called Bunch squinted his eyes and did not hold the hand.

A guy with quite vigilance.

Bunch shook the staff and laughed.

“Ha, your fate is really strange. Insufficient with receiving the Crown Prince’s hatred, even marked by the princess—.”

Bunch laughed while sniffing. It seemed words to scratch Galahad, but it was correct words.

Galahad obediently nodded.

“I agree. Really a tiring life.”

“The habit became quite bad. In Academy days there was a cute taste though.”

“Sorry but, even then the height I was larger. Weren’t you short even then.”

Bunch trembled the staff with a budul budul. Galahad examined Bunch again.

‘Upper mage of the White Magic Tower—,’

The White Magic Tower was a renowned Magic Tower to the extent of being counted as the four great Magic Towers.

The White Magic Tower was not a place one could enter just because skill is good. Blood relation was also important.

So it was the story that Bunch is a mage with good family and good skill.

‘To the extent of sticking beside the Crown Prince.’

Although not that good personality, the Crown Prince was a figure befitting the position of emperor.

The Crown Prince was a figure who cherished talent. Because of that the competition rate around that was considerable. Just being beside such a Crown Prince was no different from skill proven.

Of course, he saw Galahad who broke his own record unfavorably, but that was not only the Crown Prince.

Most mages saw Galahad unfavorably and envied.

That was the unavoidable fate of a genius.

Anyway, if to the extent of being beside such a Crown Prince the guy’s skill was no different from guaranteed.

Quite a picky opponent.

Then a question suddenly rose. Clearly a guy who followed the Crown Prince, why is he here.

“Aha, looking at sticking to the princess, the connection with the Crown Prince cut?”

“What?! This dog-like guy······.”

At Bunch getting angry when politely asked Galahad clicked his tongue softly.

“You still have no refinement.”

Then, a familiar music sound was heard. The noisy surroundings instantly became quiet.

When the music gradually heightened, a red woman slowly came up.

It was the princess in dress attire.

As if the gazes pouring from all around do not touch, the princess’s gait was refreshing.

When the princess appeared Bunch slightly stepped back.

“Later I will fix the habit. I will make you recall Academy days.”

“You have no creativity in threats like magic.”

“Profit······!”

At the princess’s gaze toward Galahad Bunch slightly stepped back.

The princess naturally headed to the highest place. She sat as if leaning on a huge chair and gestured. The knight brought a glass.

Subsequently the horn trumpet rang roughly. The knights stamped their feet instead of cheers.

Thud! A heavy footstep was heard between the foot stamping.

It was the Grand Duke.

When the Grand Duke appeared it instantly became quiet.

Everyone examined the Grand Duke’s mood.

Soon the Grand Duke went up to the opposite side of the princess.

Then, Adrianne approached beside Galahad. Looking at sweat full on the forehead, it seemed holding the sword until just now.

A true knight.

“Do you know the person?”

Adrianne asked while pointing at Bunch who went far away. At that Galahad nodded.

“A classmate.”

“Ah, I see—.”

“The ring?”

At Galahad’s question Adrianne hesitated for a moment and nodded.

“Which hand?”

“Yes? I wore on the right hand.”

Adrianne shook her right hand. Because of the gauntlet it was not seen.

Galahad slightly turned his gaze. The princess looking down from above was seen.

The princess’s gaze was stuck on Galahad.

In those large red pupils Galahad—.

“Give your hand a bit.”

“······Yes?”

“Ah, do not take off the gauntlet. Urgent.”

At Galahad’s urging Adrianne held out her hand.

Although wearing the gauntlet, that would not be that important.

Galahad put his own hand on Adrianne’s hand. Faint heat was felt between the coolness of the gauntlet.

Adrianne’s eyes became large. Adrianne tried to pull her hand urgently.

At that Galahad urged softly.

“Stay still a bit. Because necessary matter.”

Adrianne stiffened as is.

Exactly like broken.

Galahad slightly confirmed the princess.

The princess—.

Was laughing very thickly.

‘Done.’

Galahad tidied the cool neck.

Then, a gaze was felt from somewhere.

At that Galahad who turned his head was softly surprised.

Because a high-rank magic beast was glaring at Galahad.

No, looking closely it was the Grand Duke.

The Grand Duke was glaring at Galahad.

This time Galahad also had no choice but to avoid the Grand Duke’s gaze.

Yet he did not let go of the hand.

Because a necessary matter—.

Thump.

‘Low-rank egg, stay still a bit.’

The pill of pain trembled its body and protested.

*

‘Why am I progressing—.’

Theodore who was in charge of the duel’s progression tidied the dry neck.

‘Order··· Liam, Galahad, Adrianne order?’

Originally it was Galahad, Liam, Adrianne order, but there was Liam’s request to move to the front.

It was the claim that he would go out first and raise the victory momentum.

He changed the order of the match according to Liam’s request.

Adrianne’s opponent was the princess. It was good not to go to Adrianne’s match as much as possible.

‘It would be good to end neatly with Liam, Galahad.’

Liam’s skill went without saying. Although Galahad was anxious, looking at catching even the demon race there was no way he would lose.

If the two win, the match would not go to Adrianne. Getting entangled with the princess who is imperial family had nothing good.

Theodore looked at the Grand Duke to receive the signal.

The Grand Duke’s gaze was stuck elsewhere.

At that Theodore who turned his head softly astonished. Galahad and Adrianne were openly holding hands.

No, to speak accurately it was the shape of Adrianne being caught.

Galahad was sitting leisurely—.

‘The guts are really amazing.’

Even wearing the gauntlet holding hands with Adrianne in front of the Grand Duke—. Theodore sincerely admired that crazy courage.

The Grand Duke’s shoulder twisted little by little.

If left quietly, it was clear the Grand Duke would pull out Galahad’s head.

Theodore hurriedly opened his mouth.

“Come, the first duel is—.”

“I will do.”

A cool voice was heard from somewhere.

At that turning his head, the princess who stood from the seat was seen.

The princess’s atmosphere was different from earlier. That red hair was extending all around like a rake, and the eyes were drawing a pleasant arc.

Although a tremendous eye smile, at the same time somehow cool.

The princess was already standing in the center. An empire side knight urgently came up and handed the sword.

It was a flashily decorated rapier.

“Come out.”

The princess pointed at Adrianne with the rapier.

Laughter was full in that voice.

The pointed Adrianne—.

Was still stiffened.

“Adrianne, they say come out.”

When Galahad let go of the hand, Adrianne blinked her eyes.

Soon Adrianne who came to senses stood from the seat and headed to the center.

Adrianne who stood facing the princess exhaled deep breath.

Adrianne returned to the usual expressionless.

Unlike heavily armed Adrianne the princess was in dress attire.

“Aren’t you wearing armor.”

At Adrianne’s question the princess raised the corners of her mouth,

“Not needed. Because there is no case your sword will touch me.”

“Then one cannot progress the duel.”

When Adrianne said seriously, the princess’s eyes bent even more.

“Annoying.”

The princess held the neck part of the dress, and tore as is.

At that unconventional action Theodore was startled.

Inside the torn dress there was armor. It was red armor with gloss flowing continuously.

That armor stuck tightly to the body was exactly like a reptile’s skin.

‘Like this progressing······.’

At the suddenly twisted order Theodore screamed inside.

Already the situation where the two came up.

One had no choice but to progress.

Theodore gestured beside.

The soldier who put the horn trumpet in his mouth largely nodded.

As the horn trumpet sound rang roughly, it announced the start of the duel.

At the same time the princess moved.

No, disappeared.

Clang,

A sharp sound burst belatedly.

At some point the two’s swords were crossing.

“Left side, 1 point.”

At the long mark engraved on the gauntlet—.

At the princess’s smile that became even denser—.

Adrianne became urgent.