I Became the First Prince: Legend of Sword's Song

There is no distinction between men and women (2)

I have a rough guess why the boy committed such a terrible act.

The young boy may have found himself easily attracted to this woman – a crooked courtship.

If it wasn’t the real reason, then the kid’s eyes were rotten.

His eyes are now my eyes; my eyes are seeing a perfect figure in front of me.

However, Arwen Kirgayenne’s face was full of aversion.

“Your Highness has not changed at all,” she said in a cold and dry manner, but nevertheless, it was good to hear her voice.

“No. I have changed a lot,” I responded.

I was virtually completely different. But she couldn’t know about it. I just stared back at her, appreciating her beauty.

“Sir Balahard has arrived!” a court knight announced. “Arwen Kirganyenn, an apprentice knight of the Templar Knights, meets Sir Balahard.”

Uncle walked in with obvious pleasure in his eyes.

“Arwen! Why are you here? How is your father?”

It seemed that they are acquainted. The lady welcomed him with a gentle attitude.

“Thanks for your concern; Father is well and safe.”

“Right. By the way…” Uncle’s glance turned to me. His eyes seemed to be asking what I had done to her, why she wanted to fight with me.

Of course, I had no intention of answering, so I simply avoided his glance.

Uncle looked disgusted with me, then turned to Arwen.

“Be careful,” he warned her.

“Hey, as an observer, shouldn’t you be neutral?” I asked him, but it seemed to fall on deaf ears.

“The prince’s sword is dangerous,” he continued talking to Arwen, totally ignoring me.

However, as she listened to Uncle’s advice, Arwen Kirgayenne simply nodded formally and expressed gratitude for the advice.

Uncle announced that he’s not going to meddle anymore, stepped back, and officially declared the beginning of the match.

“Begin…now!”

Arwen’s eyes flashed as she rushed at me, her sword swinging towards my waist.

Kwang!

I have prepared for it in advance, and it was not difficult to stop her swing. However, the moment our swords clashed, I felt a strange wave through me.

My chest was shaking. My mana heart screamed as if it was being plagued by the power of her mana ring. I didn’t expect it at all, but I have no time to think about it right now.

Because she was still aiming for me, with eyes like a bird of prey.

Wow!

Her second attack was a vertical swing aiming to chop me from crown to crotch.

I took one step to the side and quickly rotated. As the sword passed by me narrowly, I pushed it off with my sword, and with the help of my rotation’s centrifugal force, I swept my sword towards her waist as I turned.

Instead of stepping back, she grabbed my arm and pushed my hand away. My attack was neutralized.

And then she countered.

Her knee dug into my ribs. At the same time, she twisted the arm she had grabbed, but I twisted my body along with my arm to relieve the pain.

Luckily, her grasp broke loose, and I bounced as I quickly retreated.

But her sword still followed me.

Kwang!

A sharp hissing sound broke out when our swords clashed once more, sending sparks in the air. I was forced to step back once more.

My stomach turned upside down. Mana inside my body shook.

There was no time to calm down. Arwen’s sword kept coming at me, not even giving me time to catch my breath.

She, on the other hand, had no problem. Her breath remained in tune with her attacks and blocks, showing how experienced she was in battle.

I have to calm down. It should not be difficult. All I had to do was focus…

I felt my mana heart calming down and felt the mana coursing smoothly all over my body.

Then, our swords met again.

Bang!

Arwen Kirgayenne stepped backward. No, it seemed that she bounced off.

She stumbled backward, not as smoothly as her previous movements, as if she was thrown back without her control.

Once my dragon sword revealed its venom, she was now the prey.

“Well…” she looked surprised and resentful.

[…but the last one learned the proper swordsmanship.]

[…even full-pledged knights cannot deal with her easily.]

[…you should be very careful.]

Carl’s advice echoed inside my head.

She definitely wasn’t at the same level as others, although they all had a single ring.

The difference between an apprentice knight of a countryside noble and an apprentice knight in one of the kingdom’s elite groups was as high as heaven and earth.

However, it was not enough.

□ Arwen Kirgayenne [Female, 19 years old], [Apprentice Knight]

□ Aptitude. [Swordsmanship-A], [Stamina-B] [Mana-B]

□ Characteristics. [Elite Swordsmanship], [Superior Beauty]

Her status window was visible.

Judging the information, all I can see before me was someone who was nearly equal or even weaker than I am.

That meant that she didn’t have an advantage over me.

Of course, there was no denying that she had great potential.

But, at this point in time, she wouldn’t be able to beat me.

What kind of sword is in my hand? It’s a sword that was made to slay dragons that humans didn’t dare to fight.

A sword that could slay dragons could definitely bring down a lioness.

She spat on the floor, gripping her sword tightly with both hands, eyes shooting daggers at me.

Then, she screamed as she rushed at me once more.

“Kaaaaah!”

I smiled as I firmly planted my feet on the floor, whispering to myself.

“Now, let’s start this game.”

* * *

“Heoah. Heo.”

“Hwooo. Hwooo.”

Our breaths mixed in the air as we panted. Arwen Kirgayenne was obviously exhausted, her shoulders rising and falling with her every breath, her mouth hanging open.

But she was still fighting.

She wasn’t as beautiful as she was this morning. Her hair that had been tied up neatly was already loosened and covered half of her face; her clothes are disheveled and torn in different places.

She looks like a madwoman.

But I couldn’t laugh at her appearance. I must look as messed up as her.

“Stop! That’s it for today.”

We were catching our breaths, waiting for an opening, but Uncle stopped the match.

“Oh,” I was disappointed. “I was just about to finish it off.”

“What a coincidence, Your Highness. I was also just about to do it.” Arwen Kirgayenne responded.

“Then, shall we continue?” I dared her.

“Anytime you want.”

“Stop it,” Uncle turned to the doctors waiting in the training room. “Treat their wounds quickly.”

As the doctors fussed over us, I stared at Arwen Kirgayenne. She held my gaze for a few moments before turning away without saying anything.

Shortly after she disappeared, Uncle dismissed everyone in the training hall, and I staggered into my room.

I threw myself down the bed.

I felt heavy fatigue all over my body. Mana and stamina were completely exhausted. I wanted to fall asleep as soon as possible, but I forced myself to stand up.

My mana heart had to be filled with new mana.

Because I will need it again tomorrow.

* * *

Uncle, as always, announced the beginning of the match. Today, as I grabbed my sword tightly, my body is filled with determination to exceed my limit and bring the match to a conclusion.

“Begin now!”

“Please wait,” Arwen raised her hand and intervened, unexpectedly. “I have something to say.”

Arwen brought her sword down and looked at me.

“I will not accept an apology from you,” she said, eyes blazing.

She just drew a line! By declaring it, she totally removed a means of restoring my pride.

It was a bizarre and bold move.

“Well, this is a fierce competition… did you say that because you think you’ll be defeated?” I asked her.

Immediately, she looked insulted. I regretted my rash selection of words, but I’ve already said it, and there was no way to take it back.

“How about this?” I proposed, “the winner gets to do what he wants to the loser. If I lose, you can make me kneel and apologize before you.”

I threw a bait she couldn’t resist. Her face couldn’t hide her desire. It was the response I expected.

However, it was not just her who reacted. The court knights in the training hall also reacted to my proposal.

“But, Your Highness!”

“Please take it back!”

Even Uncle reacted violently and started to scold me. “How about this: be a little more aware of your position?”

I turned to him. “Is there a queen’s order not to correct wrongdoings? What is so wrong with kneeling?”

“Because of you alone, the royal family’s honor…”

“Will I be ruined? Will the royal family’s reputation be lost? Or was it more shameful to not apologize for a grave mistake?”

Arwen considered for a few moments, then turned to Uncle for advice.

She expressed the intention to accept my proposal. “What do you think, Sir Balahard?”

Uncle told her to keep the royal family’s honor in mind when making her request.

She nodded. “I dare not commit any disrespect.”

That said, she lifted her sword and assumed a ready stance.

“Are you sure?” I asked her. “You don’t know what I’ll ask for.”

“If I lose, do as Your Highness intends.” She said it with the confidence that she wouldn’t lose.

“What if I ask for a strange thing? There should be no complaints.” I warned her.

Her answer was firm. “It will never happen.”

“Good. You can’t complain later.”

Instead of answering, she cried and rushed at me with her sword.

* * *

Arwen Kirgayenne, kneeling on the ground, panting, holding her sword for balance, looked up at me.

“How the hell?!” Her expression was were full of disbelief.

I giggled at her. “Well.”

My playful answer made her look more disheartened. Our match ended with the same result as with the other sparring partners.

It was hard for her to understand her defeat. She must have thought she was winning. She must have thought that in a few more moments, she could achieve the revenge she had longed for.

I considered for a moment, then spoke to her.

“So… let me tell you what I need you to do.”

Arwen Kirgayenne’s face turned pale. Only did she realize the consequence of what we had agreed to earlier.

Seeing her pale face, I can’t help but burst into laughter.