Chapter 08
Sharehin stared straight at me before breaking the tension.
“Let’s move somewhere else and spar.”
I frowned.
So he wants to come inside the castle.
But since Ahak was already bound in chains, there was no real risk of being discovered.
“There is an official sparring arena in the castle.”
“Yes, a ‘duel of life and death.’ We should at least observe that level of formality.”
Sharehin smiled pleasantly, twirling his parasol.
If not for the sharp blade protruding from its tip, he would have looked quite charming.
“If you lose in front of everyone, it’ll be even more humiliating. Do as you like.”
So we moved locations.
The arena was usually used by knights.
When Sharehin and I appeared, my knights stopped their training and gathered around.
“Are we finally going to witness the lord’s rumored skills in person?”
“They say there’s no one within <Sun Stellshenin> who can match her.”
It was noon, when the sun stood highest in the sky.
Perhaps because I carried the bloodline of <Sun Stellshenin>, I performed even better under such brilliant sunlight.
Sunlight scattered like fragments over my flowing silver hair.
It shimmered dazzlingly, as though dusted with golden particles of the sun.
Sharehin quietly watched as Tia accepted a black ribbon from a maid.
The troublesome thing about <Mist Catobletta> is how they scatter afterimages like clones.
Better to avoid visual deception entirely.
For Tia, it was more advantageous to fight using only her senses.
As her sapphire-like eyes were completely covered with the black ribbon, a few maids let out soft, regretful sighs.
The knights, on the other hand, were astonished.
“She’s entering a ‘duel of life and death’ blindfolded?”
“I can’t believe it.”
Sharehin clenched his teeth and glared at Tia.
There was no way he’d feel good being looked down on.
“So you’re saying you can defeat me even with your eyes closed?”
“You catch on quickly.”
“I’ll break that arrogance.”
“…Sharehin, I’ve been thinking.”
Tia smiled sweetly, resting her Rose Sword diagonally against the folds of her dress.
Even though her eyes were hidden, Sharehin flinched at her presence.
Presence? Must be my imagination.
Her voice flowed as smooth as silk.
“If the reward for winning is just compensation for the castle wall, I think I’d feel cheated.”
“…?”
Sharehin blinked in confusion before realizing her meaning, his face flushing red.
A ‘duel of life and death’—she was declaring that she might take his life if she wished.
And in front of his own poison assassins, no less.
“How provocative, my lady.”
“Thanks for the compliment.”
“I’ll take the first move.”
Unable to hold back any longer, Sharehin stomped forward and launched himself.
Originally, he intended to use afterimage swordsmanship to confuse Tia by striking from multiple angles—
She dodged?
His parasol thrust toward Tia’s neck cut only through empty air.
In an instant, Tia—still wearing a calm, almost leisurely expression—counterattacked fiercely.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Blades collided violently in midair.
Despite being the one blindfolded, Tia made Sharehin feel as if he were the one being overwhelmed.
Overwhelmed? That’s impossible.
“<Parasol Vortex>!”
Sharehin used his technique and struck toward Tia’s vital point—
But Tia leapt high into the air, stepping lightly on the center of his parasol with her shoe.
“Too obvious.”
“What—?!”
Clang!
Tia’s sword was elegant and refined.
The rose attached to the Rose Sword extended its thorns, tearing through Sharehin’s clothes.
Wounds began appearing across his body.
What was most shocking was that Tia’s swordsmanship was unlike anything anyone had ever seen—its lineage completely unrecognizable.
The knights widened their eyes, staring intently.
It was entirely different even from the swordsmanship passed down in <Sun Stellshenin>.
“Could it be… ancient swordsmanship?”
“No way. That’s a lost legend.”
Like a flower luring a butterfly, her blade cut through the air beautifully.
Even as it brushed dangerously close to her opponent’s face, it moved along the most efficient path, causing no unnecessary harm.
It was like watching a mesmerizing sword dance.
Passionate, and glowing red.
Then, with astonishing speed, her blade dug deeply into Sharehin’s thigh.
“Ah…!”
Sharehin let out a cry of pain.
The paper-like surface of his parasol was shredded one layer at a time by the thorned rose blade.
The once-beautiful red parasol was reduced to tatters.
Breathing heavily, his thigh deeply wounded, Sharehin stared at Tia.
Unlike him, she stood completely unscathed.
No—she seemed even more radiant under the sun.
Impossible… Me, one of the best in <Mist Catobletta>… losing to a mere girl…!
Now he felt that only taking her life would satisfy him—
Yet despair filled him as his attacks failed to land even once.
What was happening?
How had things come to this?
Why were even his poison assassins staring at her as if enchanted?
“Aaaah!”
Losing his reason, Sharehin swung with all his strength.
But once again, it cut only empty air.
Tia dodged lightly and struck toward his head.
His neatly tied black hair fell entirely to the arena floor.
“Hah… hah… I surrender…”
Now reduced to short hair, Sharehin spoke in terror.
He knew—just a little more, and his head would have been severed.
But this was a ‘duel of life and death.’
Even surrender did not guarantee survival—it depended on the victor’s decision.
Tia held her Rose Sword to his neck and slowly removed the blindfold.
“…A goddess.”
A knight murmured unconsciously upon seeing her revealed sapphire eyes.
What did I just say…
Embarrassed at having judged her by appearance rather than skill, he flushed red.
But everyone there silently agreed.
Her dress and hair fluttered in the wind.
Standing as the victor, sword in hand—
She looked like a beautifully blooming poisonous flower.
“Leave my territory.”
Tia spoke coldly.
Trembling with humiliation, tears forming in his eyes, Sharehin nodded.
Without lowering her sword, Tia watched him turn away.
“…You lost Ahak, and I’m the one who had to suffer humiliation!”
Startled by his sudden outburst, Tia blinked.
Sharehin swung his parasol, killing two of his poison assassins in a single strike.
The remaining assassins immediately fell to their knees.
“We deserve death, my lady.”
Seeing the blood dripping from the parasol’s tip, I spoke coldly.
“I’ll add corpse disposal fees to the wall compensation.”
“…What?”
Turning stiffly like a broken doll, Sharehin glared at me, teeth clenched.
“Killing people in my territory in broad daylight—how crude.”
“……”
Careful, your eyes might fall out from glaring.
Trembling, Sharehin somehow regained composure.
“You may have protected Ahak this time, but I will remember this humiliation.”
“I told you, there is no Ahak here.”
“…We’ll take our leave.”
With a cold expression, he touched the back of his head, only then realizing his hair had been cut short.
He looked as though he might cry.
No—his reddened eyes showed he truly had.
I made a woman cry.
It left a bitter feeling, but Sharehin soon left the castle with his assassins.
Considering it was a ‘duel of life and death,’ sparing his life was already quite merciful.
“My lord, that was truly amazing…”
“…I’m tired. I need a nap.”
The maid, who had been about to praise me, quickly bowed.
“I will prepare it, my lord.”
After going this far to protect him—
I wanted to at least see his face again.
Is he having a nightmare?
Ahak lay across my bed, his presence overwhelming.
Unlike the previous night, his shirt was buttoned all the way up.
But the cold sweat on his furrowed face suggested he was suffering from a nightmare.
I didn’t know what he was seeing.
Burning castles, dead family and servants, the feeling of being hunted… perhaps something like that.
Ahak groaned softly, gripping the sheets tightly.
Looking down at him, I muttered,
“…Like Sleeping Beauty.”
A man who hadn’t woken even once since collapsing.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, I stared at Ahak, who reminded me of a fairy tale from Earth.
In Sleeping Beauty, didn’t the princess awaken from a prince’s kiss?
“….”
After watching him quietly, I leaned toward Ahak’s forehead.
