Chapter 6

As the first clash of swords began, everything around me seemed to slow down. It was impossible to tell whether this perception was merely in my mind or if some miracle had truly unfolded. Among the sluggish flow of time, I alone maintained normal movement, which felt like nothing short of a miracle.

My father had once heard about such experiences and remarked with a mixture of jealousy and admiration that it was a blessing from the gods. But could he have known that even with such talent, I would soon face an opponent who was almost impossible to contend with?

Since there was no way to ask someone already gone, I decided to focus solely on the present and accelerate my awareness.

I kept my steps within Asulin’s spacing, never taking my eyes off her. It was not difficult to see her reacting to my movements. In that split second, which was divided into countless moments, Asulin’s upper strike descended upon me like a spear piercing downwards.

Despite the slow passage of time, her sword moved with a fluidity that defied my control and perception. Even the quickest of my strikes appeared as slow as a baby’s first steps to her. This peerless genius was delivering a blow laden with a talent I couldn’t fathom.

Even without sensing hostility, seeing such skillful attacks come at me made me struggle to hold back a bitter laugh.

“Her skills have improved even more.”

Internally, I acknowledged Asulin’s enhanced abilities. During the waning stages of the Succession War, when victory for the First Princess was nearly assured, I faced her on a battlefield shaken by the demonic forces. Yet now, her strikes were faster and sharper than ever before.

There was no way to dodge this simple yet firm slash. No matter how desperately I tried to evade or parry, I had to block it.

With this thought, I swung my sword against Asulin’s trajectory.

Clang!

A pleasant sound echoed as steel met steel, sparks flying. Unlike previous encounters, my hand did not feel numb. Having faced Asulin’s sword many times on the battlefield, I knew her movements well. Considering her improved skills, I managed to counter her strike before it reached its peak.

There was no reason for my hand to feel cold.

The same was true for Asulin, who had just been hit by my own attack.

“Ta-da!”

Without hesitation, she let out a battle cry and launched into her next strike.

As her deflected sword approached the ground, she struck horizontally from right to left, timing it perfectly. Though the direction differed, it was essentially the same move.

Even though her sword cut through countless fragmented moments, it approached with a deadly precision, despite being unaccompanied by hostility.

Any fool who claimed to be a master of swords would surely feel their death approaching when facing her blade.

However, during our practice duel, without the presence of hostility, such a strike wasn’t insurmountable.

“Haaah!”

I cried out, swinging my sword to match the trajectory she had drawn.

Again, the same skill was evident. Just before reaching the apex of acceleration, her strike was barely deflected.

It was a simple maneuver that even a blind person could perform, given enough experience with her sword.

But even with such perfect defense, it was still disheartening to realize that against someone hailed as the best in the Empire and one of the strongest in the world, my confidence wavered.

“Then, here’s another one!”

With renewed vigor, she attacked again.

Whoosh!

Once more, her sword slashed towards me. This time, her precise deflection aimed to cut diagonally across my body.

Though it looked impressive coming from a woman whose physique didn’t seem particularly trained, I wasn’t awestruck enough to kneel in front of her.

Her approach was a challenge, and it showed in the mix of competitive spirit and unreadable emotion on Asulin’s face.

By now, my own competitive spirit was reignited, sprouting anew.

No, it had already begun to grow.

Before I could even think about blocking her next strike, my right hand prepared to overlay her drawn trajectory with my own.

When two fine swords clashed, a single spark flew, and the steel sang in harmony, creating a pleasant melody.

“I can hardly wait for the moment we’re done.”

After blocking three consecutive strikes, Asulin finally spoke, her voice filled with genuine anticipation.

I closed in on her distance once more.

“Haaah!”

I cried out, launching a thrust straight towards her heart.

This was the first time since the start of our duel that I had initiated an offensive move.

Though the intent wasn’t to kill, the necessity of such a strike was understood between us for the sake of the duel.

As I executed the thrust, amidst countless fragmented moments.

“Amazing…”

Asulin’s expression conveyed her admiration, though she quickly shifted to a confident look, countering my strike with her own.

Clang!

Predictably, my thrust was blocked by Asulin’s skillful defense.

After that, neither of us hesitated to use our utmost ability, raising the pitch of the steel’s song.

On the battlefield, the sound of steel clashing was merely a prelude to the extinguishing of life, but here, it sounded sweet to my ears.

Our duel lasted for quite some time, ending with the usual result whenever our swords met.

“Huff… huff…”

Breathing heavily, I regained composure.

“You weren’t just playing around, and neither were you.”

Standing confidently, Asulin seemed in better shape than me, not needing to catch her breath.

Though the appearance suggested I had lost, and she stood above me, the reality was different.

“If we had met on the battlefield, I would have died by your hands.”

“It wasn’t a battlefield; it was a duel. Even though you held back, you blocked all my strikes.”

“And you blocked all of mine.”

“No matter how many times we clashed, the outcome remained the same.”

“Indeed.”

“It seems we ended in another draw.”

Our duel once again ended in a stalemate.

It was exquisite. Without imbuing our strikes with hostility, and even with my body nearing its limits, she declared a draw just as I was about to reach my breaking point.

It was as if she accurately predicted that I would reach my limit at this point.

There was no doubt about it. If she had pushed harder when I was exhausted, she could have won, even if she didn’t take my life.

“Thank you for a proper match.”

Asulin’s relieved tone revealed no hint of regret.

Seeing this side of her, who was supposed to be my strategic marriage partner, felt strange. But then, I had a question.

“One thing I want to ask.”

Asulin nodded, ready to answer any question.

“The sword you made feels like a masterpiece, and it suits me so naturally that it feels like it was made for me.”

“…Really?”

“Perhaps you used your keen eye to make a sword that fits me perfectly.”

“…”

A deep silence followed, but it didn’t last long.

She nodded slightly, answering my question.

When she boldly offered me a sword in the bridal chamber, or chased after me from the windowsill, her demeanor was different. Her joy when she accepted the possibility of dueling in the training ground was a rare glimpse of her.

“…”

Her ear, slightly reddened, was a detail that only a close observer would notice. It was something new, something I hadn’t seen before.

How should I describe this?

While I pondered the words to express this, Asulin turned abruptly, as if she didn’t want to show her face.

But her ear, still reddening, made her effort futile.

“Did you really… feel comfortable with the sword I gave you?”

…Now, even her voice trembled slightly.

I had often wondered how someone as extraordinary as her would react when asking or answering questions. Now, I saw it firsthand.

Hmm, what a sight.

“Let me repeat. Thank you for the sword. I’ll cherish it as a treasure for life.”

“Thank you. I’m glad you like the gift.”

Expressing gratitude mixed with admiration, Asulin accepted my thanks.

It was remarkable. Even someone I thought I knew well had this side to them.

“…It’s time for bed.”

Turning back to face me, Asulin said.

Despite the intensity of the duel, her face was tinged with a faint blush, as if the heat had caught up with her.

“It seems so.”

I responded nonchalantly, pretending not to notice the blush.

“Let’s go.”

Asulin resumed her usual composed tone.

Hmm, it was natural to leave now that our business was done.

“Where to?”

In response to my question, she replied with a touch of formality.

“Where else? The bridal chamber, where a couple should sleep.”

At her words, for a fleeting moment, I considered enduring her sword until dawn would break.

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