I walked to the center of the training grounds and planted myself directly in front of Duncan Seymour Tudor, my chin raised arrogantly.

Apparently displeased with my attitude, the duke's gaze sharpened. His presence grew keener as well, until my skin prickled. Delighted by that fierce fighting spirit, I grinned again, which seemed to grate on his nerves even more.

Duncan Seymour Tudor's face hardened. At the same time, his presence began raging around him like a storm. It was the same force I had seen intimidating the kingdom's knights when I first returned from the North. The only difference was that this time, it was directed at me.

I was the kingdom's crown prince. To unleash such a hostile presence before me was to step far, far over the line.

"Duke of Teuton, restrain your presence at once and show the kingdom's sole crown prince the respect he is due!"

The Royal Knights who had arrived early and surrounded the training grounds immediately thundered their rebuke.

Though they spoke in the kingdom's language, their meaning could hardly have been difficult to grasp. Yet the duke neither restrained his presence nor paid his respects to me. He merely stood ramrod straight, looking at me and the kingdom's knights.

"Any further discourtesy will be taken as hostile intent!"

The hundred Royal Knights laid hands on their sword hilts and warned him again. But neither the duke nor the Teuton knights tempered their presence in the slightest.

The Royal Knights offered no further warning.

SHING!

Without hesitation, they drew their swords and pointed them at the Teuton knights. Hundreds of palace defenders had appeared atop the walls surrounding the training grounds, bows leveled.

"This is the palace of the sovereign of the Leonberk Kingdom! Those who will not honor his eldest legitimate son have no right to be here!"

"We will now disarm you in accordance with procedure!"

Even at the Royal Knights' sharp shouts, the Teuton knights showed not the slightest unease. Contests of presence before a sparring match were commonplace; they apparently assumed the Royal Knights' aggression was merely an attempt to cow them.

They could not have been more mistaken.

Since losing the queen to the Imperial Army's surprise attack, the Royal Knights had grown markedly more sensitive. They were ready to cut down anything that threatened the dignity or safety of the Royal Family—even the continent-renowned Finest Knight in the West and his Rose Thorn Knights.

As the Royal Knights advanced with swords and shields at the ready, a faint stir spread among the Teuton knights. Duncan Seymour Tudor frowned at me. His eyes seemed to ask why I was letting things escalate, or why I wasn't stopping the Royal Knights. I snorted.

Why should I stop them? What possible reason did I have? They were only doing their duty. If anyone was at fault, it was the Teutons who kept slighting the kingdom and doing as they pleased.

THUD, THUD.

While I did nothing, the Royal Knights continued advancing one step at a time. At last, they stood within arm's reach of the Teuton knights—close enough for a single downward stroke to connect. At this rate, the visitors would suffer the humiliation of being forcibly disarmed by another nation's knights.

SHING!

Unable to withstand the pressure, the Teuton knights drew their swords as one. There were no cries to drop their weapons or comply, no warnings at all. The Royal Knights simply channeled power into their sword tips and silently readied themselves for battle. The atmosphere was murderous, poised on the brink of bloodshed.

Duncan Seymour Tudor smoothly raised a hand. That single, unassuming gesture instantly quelled the commotion among the Rose Thorn Knights.

CLICK.

The Teuton knights sheathed their swords in unison and stood at attention again. His face rigid, Duncan Seymour Tudor looked between his own knights and the kingdom's Royal Knights before turning to me.

"Do you want a war?"

He asked coldly—in fluent Leonberk.

"Well, look at that. You can speak our language."

I had thought him merely arrogant. It turned out he was sly, too.

"I asked whether your kingdom wishes to make an enemy of Teuton."

Rather than answer me, Duncan Seymour Tudor repeated his question.

"Isn't that what you want, Duke? Acting so insolently in the very heart of our kingdom can only be a deliberate provocation."

"Do you truly think so?"

A faint sneer touched his eyes. His gaze seemed to say that being nations did not make us equals. Naturally, Teuton was the superior one.

I snorted with laughter, then laughed like a madman, doubling over.

"Oh, this is too much."

Duncan Seymour Tudor frowned at my sudden laughter.

"What is so amusing?"

I choked with laughter for some time before answering.

"A kingdom that nearly fell because it forgot its past glory meets a kingdom so drunk on its past glory that it has no idea what it has become. Could there be a more fitting coincidence?"

The arrogant duke scowled. He seemed to have realized that the kingdom too drunk on past glory to see itself clearly was Teuton.

"You asked if I wanted hostility, did you?"

Sparks flashed in the duke's eyes at my openly condescending tone.

"Before I answer that, let me ask you one thing."

Regardless, I kept talking.

"Our kingdom has proven itself by defeating the Empire in war. What will you use to prove yourselves, other than your paltry old reputation as the foremost power in the West?"

Then I added one more thing.

"I am asking whether Teuton is even worthy of an alliance with our kingdom."

At my unabashed condescension, the duke's expression turned icy.

"Such bluster from people who would have been swept away long ago had the Empire not fallen into civil war."

I smiled coldly as the duke finally revealed his true feelings.

"So that is Teuton's answer."

I summoned a Royal Knight to give him instructions.

"Yes, Your Highness."

"Go and tell Montpellier and Count Kirgayen..."

My eyes remained on Duncan Seymour Tudor.

"...to halt the negotiations immediately."

I told him we had no need of an alliance.

The moment I finished speaking, the atmosphere on the training grounds froze. Savoring that chill, I looked at Teuton's oh-so-mighty lord duke. He still failed to grasp the situation. He seemed firmly convinced that I was merely bluffing to humble Teuton. He probably expected me to rescind the order at the right moment. But I had no intention of doing so.

"All shall be as Your Highness wishes."

I watched the Royal Knight depart and waited until he had left the training grounds entirely before offering a single remark.

"There. That is my answer to your question."

Doubt finally appeared in Duncan Seymour Tudor's eyes, far too late, though he had maintained his stiff demeanor until then. I took my time watching that doubt turn to bewilderment.

"I hear you wield considerable power in your homeland. Your authority as an envoy must be considerable too. I do hope it extends to single-handedly ruining these negotiations."

All the while, I kept speaking coldly.

"His Highness the Crown Prince is correct."

A woman's voice came from behind me.

"Duke Seymour certainly has no authority to render these negotiations null and void."

The voice was soft as a whisper, yet carried considerable force. I turned.

"For I, Hestia Neumann Tudor, am in charge of them."

There stood Hestia Neumann Tudor, princess of Teuton.

"Duke Seymour. If you have been discourteous, an apology is in order."

Her slender figure still looked as though a breeze might carry her away, but she was different from yesterday, when she had seemed merely frail.

"Please forgive my discourtesy."

Duncan Seymour Tudor bowed his head. His change in attitude was so dramatic it was absurd.

"A sincere apology always reaches the other person's heart. I trust His Highness has felt the full sincerity of yours."

The princess spoke gently, as though admonishing a small child, and looked at me. But there was something positively impudent in her gaze. It seemed to say that a mere apology from the duke wasn't what I really wanted.

The princess who knew nothing of the world was gone. In her place stood a devious woman with enough cunning for a hundred serpents.

The princess of Teuton gave a meaningful glance, and Duncan Seymour Tudor quietly took his place behind her. He did so with perfect ease, as though that had been his place all along. I watched without the slightest surprise. I already knew that Hestia Neumann Tudor, princess of Teuton, was the true power behind this delegation.

"I accept your apology."

I waved a hand, and the Royal Knights surrounding the Teuton knights promptly withdrew as one. The archers lining the walls vanished as well.

The princess smiled, her eyes curving into crescents. She seemed highly satisfied with my swift decision.

"Though a few words can hardly erase all lingering resentment."

Her smile stiffened at what I said next.

"Crossing swords should clear away what remains."

I glanced at the princess, then addressed the duke of Teuton again.

"Let us begin without further delay."

The knights of both sides faced one another across the training grounds. They had long since drawn their bristling presences deep within themselves, but the tension had only grown thicker. Amid it all, Duncan Seymour Tudor gave me a questioning look, asking how we would conduct the sparring.

"Groups or single combat, either is fine. The format makes no difference to me. We will accommodate Teuton's wishes."

"The same holds for us."

I had made the offer to avoid any complaints afterward, but the duke replied with a swagger. He seemed firmly convinced that only the strong could afford concessions. And once again, the stronger side in his mind was Teuton. I did not press the offer.

"Then we will fight one at a time, with the victor remaining to face the next challenger."

"How many will each side field?"

I couldn't help chuckling at that.

The kingdom's knights had been sending me fervent looks for some time, fretting that they might not get a turn. Their stares were so intense that my back practically burned. I was fairly certain anyone denied a chance would resent me for a long time to come. I had no wish to earn their resentment.

"We've gone to all this trouble. Wouldn't it be dull to stop after only a few bouts?"

"Then...?"

"Until one side admits defeat or has no one left to fight. That should leave everyone satisfied."

A small cheer rose behind me.

I could hardly blame them. These fighting dogs had spent their days brawling at every opportunity between the North and the southern front. Being cooped up in the palace and forced to behave must have been maddening.

"I'm first."

"Nonsense. Obviously, I'm first."

I heard them bickering over who would go first. Turning around, I found the kingdom's knights glaring at one another.

Quern invoked his position as captain of the lancers and threatened to go first. That bastard Eli snorted and reeled off countless reasons why he should have the first turn. Even Arwen had joined them, insisting she should go first. It was utter chaos.

"You're all mad for a fight."

"I don't think you're one to talk, Your Highness."

I had spoken in disbelief at the sight, only for Eli to answer with an equally incredulous look.

While we were bantering, the duke's voice reached us.

"Are Leonberk's knights still not ready?"

Unlike our side, his knights were quietly waiting for the duke to call their names. Admirable behavior indeed, and an example to follow.

"The next person to speak goes last."

So I promptly made the kingdom's knights follow their example.

"I trust both sides will give their utmost in this contest of skill without jeopardizing the harmony between our nations."

I chuckled at the princess, who had appointed herself the official witness. We had never been in harmony to begin with. What was there to jeopardize? If anything broke, it would be their paltry pride and their skulls.

"Let the victor show mercy to the vanquished, and the vanquished show respect to the victor. A sword has no eyes, but I ask that you temper your blows with mercy and avoid needless casualties."

The princess of Teuton repeatedly warned everyone against letting the bouts become too heated.

But what could I do? I had no desire to let this contest end on a bland note. Just as the princess was about to announce its beginning, I stepped forward.

"A prize would liven things up."

I conspicuously held up a dwarven sword forged by a Meister.

"Ah!"

The Teuton knights, already keyed up for the bouts, caught their breath. Even the great Duncan Seymour Tudor did so.

The competitive fire the princess had only just managed to dampen with her lengthy speech...

"I will bestow this sword upon the knight who wins the most bouts."

...blazed into an inferno, so fierce that it spread to the kingdom's knights as well.

I spoke in place of the princess, who was staring at me in speechless dismay.

"Then begin."

No sooner had I finished than the Teuton knights, who had been waiting quietly for their names to be called only moments earlier, began clamoring to the duke. Each begged him to call his name first.

Duncan Seymour Tudor stared at me for a moment, then called a knight's name.

"John Stuart."

An especially well-built Rose Thorn Knight stepped forward, his face alight.

"Your Highness. Let me go first..."

"Me first..."

The kingdom's knights clamored to be the first to step up.

"Too late."

I pointed toward the training grounds. While the knights had been squabbling, someone had already taken the field. It was that bastard Eli. Quern and the other knights booed him.

"Bernardo Eli. I am the eldest son of House Eli, commander of the Dawn Knights, and a Silver Lion of this kingdom who has cut down countless knights in the war against the Empire."

Unfazed, Eli gave the Teuton knight his grandiose introduction.

"Let the victor show mercy to the vanquished, and the vanquished show respect to the victor."

Having belatedly regained her composure, the princess of Teuton announced the start of the bout.

And then.

CRASH!

The Rose Thorn Knight went tumbling ignominiously across the ground. Duncan Seymour Tudor's expression froze. The Rose Thorn Knights watching the bout looked equally stunned.

"Next!"

His sword light blazing at full strength, Eli tilted his chin arrogantly. For the first time, I liked the bastard.