Chapter 10

Chess.

A very classic brain battle game.

A game where two people use a checkered board and specially shaped pieces to eliminate the opponent’s pieces.

Just by hearing it, it sounds like a simple game where you just use your pieces to eliminate the opponent’s, but in reality, it’s absolutely not that kind of game.

As if to prove why it’s called a classic brain game, you have to anticipate several moves ahead with each piece you move.

It’s said that in matches between chess masters, a single game can burn over 4,000 calories.

You can tell just how much brainpower this game requires.

You might wonder why chess would appear in a romance fantasy novel.

But it exists. Surprisingly, it exists.

I don’t know why it exists. Maybe the author is a huge chess fan.

Anyway, in the worldview of [The Crown Prince Wields a Sword], chess also exists, and there are scenes where the protagonist, the Crown Prince, plays chess with other characters a few times.

Each time, the protagonist, Mikhail Schuelgart, always wins thanks to the protagonist’s buff.

And there was even an episode where the character who played chess with him said, “You have an amazing brain. I will follow you,” and became Mikhail’s subordinate.

Returning to the original story of me and Rebecca, we’ve already played quite a lot of chess.

It’s not like me and Rebecca are commoners who haven’t been exposed to such games; we’re both nobles who are familiar with such entertainment.

So, there was never a situation where I had to explain the rules of chess to Rebecca.

Of course, among all those games, there wasn’t a single one where I lost.

Not a single one.

It’s not that Rebecca is bad at chess.

In fact, she’s quite good. As expected of a genius princess, Rebecca’s sharp mind has almost beaten me several times.

Sometimes, when she attacks with moves I never expected, I even get anxious, wondering if I might lose.

But the reason I’ve never lost a single game is that I’ve loved chess even before I was reincarnated.

“This time, what kind of outrageous move will you make to lose?”

“…”

By gently teasing Rebecca’s emotions like this, she always ends up self-destructing because she’s so determined to beat me.

Even if she could safely continue the game, she gets greedy and messes up.

Or she fails to notice the obvious trap I set and loses the game.

It’s always been like that.

“Laugh all you want now. You’ll soon be apologizing to me.”

But perhaps the fact that the penalty has changed to granting a wish has stimulated Rebecca’s competitive spirit, as she doesn’t easily fall for my provocations anymore.

Rebecca, who has grown by getting flicked on the forehead by me.

I couldn’t help but want to applaud her.

“How many times have I heard that?”

“…”

Rebecca’s face immediately scrunches up at my bored reaction.

And then comes my follow-up punch.

“Seeing the princess’s ugly expression, it seems like I’ll win today’s chess game too.”

“…”

“How many times have I told you that such an expression doesn’t suit the princess?”

“…Just wait and see.”

With Rebecca’s now-familiar third-rate villain line, the chess game began.

“…This can’t be.”

As expected, the result of the match was my victory.

***

Rebecca looked utterly devastated.

And for good reason. This time, I almost lost.

Whether she had taken lessons from a professional chess teacher or not, Rebecca’s chess skills had improved significantly since the last time.

Under the relentless pressure from Rebecca, I was almost overwhelmed and nearly lost.

– “Are you struggling just because you couldn’t capture a single Knight? How disappointing.”

This time, the timely psychological manipulation of Rebecca was crucial.

After hearing that, Rebecca became obsessed with capturing the Knight.

“…I said I would definitely win.”

I looked at the dejected Rebecca with a pitiful gaze.

When she makes that disappointed puppy-like face, a wave of guilt washes over me.

But if I let myself be swayed by guilt and lose, who knows what humiliation I might face. Losing was absolutely not an option.

“…I should fire him.”

“…”

The princess, filled with despair at not being able to win, muttered quietly.

Suddenly, I felt like the bad guy who had taken away the head of the household’s job.

‘…Surely not.’

I shook my head, insisting it couldn’t be, and approached Rebecca.

“…Why are you coming closer?”

Then came the princess’s voice, filled with wariness.

She was giving me a look that said she would bite if I came any closer.

But ignoring that sharp gaze, I went right up to her.

“Princess, do you remember what I said before we started chess?”

“No. I don’t remember.”

Rebecca shook her head quickly, as if she didn’t remember anything.

Although her expression was quite cute, the world of competition must remain cold.

“We clearly agreed that the loser would grant the winner’s wish.”

“…”

There comes a time when one must keep their promises.

Seeing that her silent treatment wasn’t working on me, Rebecca changed tactics and began to berate me.

“Y-you shameless person. What are you trying to do to me?”

“Calling your fiancé shameless. The servants of the Valencia Duchy would love to hear that.”

“Are you planning to unleash your hidden dark desires now?”

“…Am I saying that?”

Honestly, I was a bit speechless.

The princess was just saying whatever came to mind because she didn’t want to grant my wish.

‘After all the effort I put into not showing any signs.’

Despite hiding my feelings for Rebecca so carefully, hearing such words made me feel nothing but disbelief.

“I’m curious on what basis you’re saying that.”

“Someone as beautiful as me, there’s no way my fiancé wouldn’t have such feelings.”

It was a very confident statement.

Only Rebecca, with her beauty and pride, could make such a statement.

I didn’t bother to refute the princess’s words.

It’s true that Rebecca is beautiful, and it’s also true that I have feelings for her.

But if I give in to her tantrums now, the result of the chess game I worked so hard to win would be meaningless.

“Princess.”

I called out to her indifferently.

“Do you dislike fulfilling the penalty that much?”

“…”

Rebecca’s lips trembled slightly, as if she wanted to say yes immediately. But as a princess, her pride and dignity prevented her from speaking.

I took advantage of that, as I always have.

“If the princess dislikes it, we can pretend it never happened.”

“…Really?”

“However, I might act like the princess when I lose to you next time.”

At the mention of possibly letting it go, Rebecca’s face lit up briefly, but then darkened again at my follow-up words.

The princess would never accept this offer.

Even though she hates granting my wish more than death, she would hate not getting any reward for beating me even more.

If Rebecca were the type to accept such an offer, I wouldn’t have brought it up in the first place.

“That’s…”

As expected, Rebecca showed a reaction that this wasn’t quite right.

“Then stop complaining and fulfill the penalty.”

“…”

I didn’t miss the opportunity to drive the point home.

After agonizing between fulfilling the penalty and the satisfaction of beating me later, Rebecca finally spoke.

“…What is your wish?”

She asked with a look that said she really didn’t want to do it, but had no choice.

The mix of reluctance and resignation on Rebecca’s face was quite intriguing.

“Pfft.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at her adorable yet complicated expression.

“…Why are you laughing?”

Of course, Rebecca’s cold voice followed.

The sudden change in the room’s atmosphere made me panic, but after three years with Rebecca, I already knew how to handle such situations.

“Nothing.”

“…”

In times like these, playing dumb is the best strategy.

Rebecca looked at me with a displeased expression, but I avoided her sharp gaze.

The battle between her sharp glances and my feigned ignorance continued for a while.

Finally, Rebecca sighed as if admitting defeat.

“Sigh, to think my fiancé is like this.”

“The princess knows all the good things too.”

Zing-

Her gaze seemed to ask how I could say such a thing.

The princess’s gaze was sharp, but her voice was gloomy.

“…Just tell me your wish already.”

Feeling that if I teased her any longer, I wouldn’t see Rebecca’s face for a week, I didn’t delay any further.

“Give me a kiss on the cheek.”

“…What?”

Rebecca looked as if she couldn’t believe what she just heard.

But unfortunately.

“My beloved princess, if you could give your fiancé a kiss on the cheek, I would be very grateful.”

The princess’s ears were perfectly fine.

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