Chapter 28: Destiny

Looking back, Elda had an inkling from the moment they first met.

She could sense that Licht was no ordinary man.

Of course, wearing a mask made him stand out, but…

It was something deeper than just his appearance.

Elda could feel that he was a being who stood above others.

Perhaps it was her innate animal instinct as someone from the northern tribes.

Or maybe it was her sharpened senses as a swordsman.

Honestly, she had thought he was some noble hiding his identity for a special reason, participating in the Sword Demon Festival.

But.

‘I never expected it to be this much…’

Hair as dark as the night sky.

A face that exuded a decadent beauty yet radiated a strong masculine aura.

And the overwhelming presence that seemed to press down on the air the moment he removed his mask.

As she looked at the man who held the title of Sword Master, the pinnacle of swordsmanship, Elda clenched her thighs.

Why was the man hailed as the Empire’s strongest here?

While Elda stood dazed, unable to believe the reality before her eyes, Behirit swept back his hair and spoke.

“Phew, wearing a mask is quite uncomfortable. So, do you recognize me now?”

“Uh… Y-You’re the Grand Duke, right?”

“Oh. You caught on quickly. Let me reintroduce myself. I am Behirit. I apologize for deceiving you unintentionally.”

The man with crimson eyes offered his apology in a sweet, deep voice.

As she looked at him, Elda’s womb throbbed.

‘H-He’s so cool…!’

His charming yet masculine appearance.

The overwhelming aura that naturally emanated from him.

It felt like a dream that the strong man she had always longed for was right before her eyes.

And above all…

‘I heard the Grand Duke said the exact same story as I did.’

The story about the stars that her grandmother told her when they gazed at the night sky together as a child.

Those precious words had helped sustain her dreams.

According to Luke, the student, the man before her had said the exact same thing.

‘T-This must be my destined partner…’

Elda covered her flushed cheeks with her palms.

The emotions that had been faintly stirring even before he removed his mask now flared up like oil poured on a fire.

Truly, the fated partner she had always wished for.

Just as the word “husband” was about to slip through her lips, a memory flashed through her mind.

‘Wait… Did I really eat like that in front of my future husband?’

When they bumped shoulders in the festival’s commercial district.

She had been eating three chicken skewers in one hand.

Not just that.

She had devoured the salt bread he gave her like someone who hadn’t eaten in days.

And though she intended to keep it a secret forever, after they bid farewell, she had eaten four roasted potatoes imported from the north.

…What if he thinks I’m a pig later?

Well, everything I ate went to my chest and hips… Don’t men like that?

‘Ugh… I have no experience with men, so I don’t know…!’

As her thoughts spiraled in anxiety, Behirit gently grabbed her shoulder.

“Hey. Are you okay? You look a bit down.”

“Ah, it’s nothing.”

“Hmm… Alright. I’m glad you’re okay.”

“By the way, Grand Duke, why did you participate in the Sword Demon Festival?”

Elda, tense, stammered as she asked.

Behirit paused at the direct question, furrowed his brow, and answered in a low voice.

“It’s complicated to explain… but in short, it’s to protect Her Highness Justia.”

“To protect Her Highness Justia?”

“Yes.”

Behirit’s expression hardened.

Elda was shocked by the sudden mention of the Princess’s name.

“B-But Her Highness Justia is called the Empire’s treasure. She is beloved by many citizens… Who would dare threaten her?”

“Phew, that is…”

Behirit trailed off.

Elda felt genuinely bewildered.

Because, as far as she knew, the Princess was not someone who would incur such hatred.

It wasn’t just based on her outward appearance or daily demeanor.

Through the many stories she had heard as a professor at the academy, she had come to know the Princess’s sincerity.

Beyond simply being kind to people.

The Princess genuinely cared for the Empire’s safety and future.

Though she had never said it publicly, if she had to choose who should be the next Emperor among the two Princes and the Princess, she would have chosen the Princess.

Yet, someone was trying to harm her.

Regardless of the background, as a citizen of the Empire and a professor at the academy, she couldn’t just ignore this.

‘I need to find out who is targeting Her Highness Justia.’

Elda looked at Behirit with a serious expression.

But she didn’t press him.

She didn’t repeat the question.

She simply waited for Behirit to speak.

“…..”

The noisy atmosphere of the arena contrasted sharply with the quiet air in the room.

The two exchanged glances in silence for a while.

After staring intently at Elda’s face, Behirit slowly opened his mouth.

“The Second Prince is trying to kill the Princess.”

***

At the same time Behirit was speaking with Elda.

A girl with hair the color of the sun and sacred golden eyes stepped onto the arena’s stage.

The gaze of everyone in the colossal coliseum focused solely on her.

The Empire’s Princess, Justia, looked around busily, searching for someone.

‘Grand Duke… Where are you?’

The man who had miraculously appeared in her life when she was being sidelined by her two brothers in the royal family.

Just seeing him made her heart flutter, and looking at his broad back gave her a sense of security.

He had even participated in the Sword Demon Festival to fight for her.

After demonstrating his shocking strength to tens of thousands of people, he had yet to show himself.

‘I thought you would watch my match. Are you busy?’

A fleeting sense of disappointment passed through her, but she quickly shook it off.

Perhaps something urgent had come up.

No matter how much she wanted to see him, she couldn’t be selfish.

They had been talking every night through the communication crystal until yesterday.

At least during the match, she would show her strong side even without him.

And after winning, she would proudly tell him.

That she did her best because of him.

As Justia steeled her resolve, a long-haired mage in a crimson robe bowed respectfully from the opposite side.

“Robert Blaze, the Fifth Seat of the Magic Tower, greets the Empire’s treasure, Her Highness Justia. It is a great honor to face Your Highness in a magical duel.”

“It’s Justia. On this stage, I stand not as a Princess but as a mage seeking recognition, so excessive courtesy is unnecessary.”

“I see. Then I, too, will do my best to defeat Your Highness.”

Robert chuckled with exaggerated gestures.

Justia frowned slightly as she looked at him.

‘He’s one of the spies my brother Albireo mentioned.’

Robert Blaze.

A battle mage highly regarded even within the Magic Tower.

Having reached the Fifth Seat in his thirties, he was known for his strength and had joined her brother’s faction.

Facing such a strong opponent in the first round…

Could she win?

‘Stop.’

Justia scolded herself.

She was no longer the weak Princess she used to be.

She had trained directly under Countess Raphaella, the Vice-Tower Lord of the Magic Tower, for this festival.

And she had already thwarted the most deadly trap her brother had set.

Sabotaging the artifact…

If Countess Raphaella hadn’t replaced it with a proper one, it would have been disastrous.

A cold anger flickered in her golden eyes, usually filled with warmth.

No matter how kind she was known to be, she wasn’t foolish enough to show mercy to those who sought her life.

Justia touched the protective artifact on her arm, fueling her determination.

As Robert gathered mana with a sly smile, the signal for the match to begin sounded.

“Aero Bomb.”

“Freezing Shield.”

The two mages chanted their spells simultaneously.

As the compressed air bomb was about to engulf Justia, a swiftly constructed ice shield protected her from the impact.

Boom!

The explosive sound echoed.

As the battle heated up, the arena’s atmosphere grew intense.

Robert, not giving her a moment’s respite, immediately conjured another spell.

“Explosion.”

The fire attribute explosion spell, Explosion.

The crowd gasped as he effortlessly used two different elemental spells.

– Wow, using wind and fire spells in succession. As expected of a top mage from the Magic Tower!

– Her Highness won’t have an easy time winning this!

Amidst the commotion, Justia maintained her composure.

‘I expected this level.’

She knew her brother would bring strong individuals to kill her.

And she had trained hard to prepare for this.

As the explosion was about to engulf her, Justia quickly deployed a water barrier to protect herself.

“Hydro Field.”

Splash!

Thud.

The explosion’s aftermath sent water soaring into the air, drenching the stage.

Robert, gathering mana for his next attack, showed a hint of admiration.

“As expected of Her Highness. Using Freezing Shield would have caused ice shards to scatter from the explosion, so using another defensive spell was an excellent decision.”

“Thank you. But do you have time to chat?”

Justia’s warning snapped Robert out of his complacency.

Looking down, he saw that his ankles were frozen solid by ice as hard as iron.

The spell, Ice Ground, covered the stage in ice, restricting his movement.

Realizing that Justia had used Hydro Field to wet the stage, creating ideal conditions for Ice Ground, Robert’s expression twisted.

“Tch! Such petty tricks…!”

Crackle.

The ice spread rapidly across the stage.

As the ice reached Robert’s knees, Justia prepared her next spell.

“Icicle Spear.”

Sharp ice spears formed.

Justia’s eyes gleamed as she seized the perfect opportunity.

‘I can do this!’

Perhaps he could block this attack.

But if she kept up the pressure, she could win.

The ice spears shot toward Robert like lightning.

Just before they hit, a loud explosion erupted.

Boom!

“Did I get him…?”

Justia muttered as the explosion obscured her vision.

But the protective artifact didn’t declare the match over.

Moments later, an angry voice echoed across the stage.

“Inferno.”

Robert’s face twisted in rage amidst the thick steam.

Flames that seemed capable of incinerating everything engulfed the stage.

Whoosh!

– Inferno! He used a high-level fire spell!

– Amazing! Even with the protective magic, the heat is reaching the stands!

– At this rate, Her Highness’s ice will melt completely!

The crowd gasped at the sudden display of fire.

Justia’s expression hardened as she saw Robert break free from the ice’s束缚.

In the battlefield of fire and ice, the two mages continued to cast spells.

Whoosh!

Boom!

The two mages moved around, casting spells.

The clash of Robert and Justia’s magic filled the arena with noise.

As time passed, the fire began to overwhelm the water and ice on the circular stage.

‘This won’t do…’

Justia bit her lip as she continuously gathered mana.

While Justia had the upper hand in magical talent, Robert’s experience and training far surpassed hers.

As the situation grew dire, Justia glanced toward the nobles’ seating area.

Her brother’s faint smile.

She couldn’t give up.

Not only was her brother planning to assassinate her through the artifact’s flaw, but he also aimed to have his faction win the festival.

She couldn’t let his plans succeed.

Amidst the fierce battle, Justia’s gaze shifted to a spot in the stands.

‘Huh?’

Time seemed to stand still.

How could she not recognize him, even with the mask?

They had talked every night through the communication crystal, and he had even told her he would participate wearing a mask.

Yes.

‘Grand Duke…’

The man she had longed to see was watching her.

Justia’s heart raced.

A smile of joy began to spread across her face.

“…..”

But then, her expression froze as she noticed the black-haired, black-eyed woman beside him.

‘Why are you with the Grand Duke…?’

She couldn’t understand.

In the midst of explosions and noise.

In the slow-flowing time, Justia stared coldly at the woman beside Behirit.

The woman with large breasts pressed tightly against Behirit’s arm.

The professor from the Academy’s Knight Department.

Elda Perenka.

The beautiful woman admired by the knight students.

She was standing so close to the man she had longed to see, with the expression of a female in heat.