Episode 118
EPISODE
.
Sparks flashed with a clunky metal sound.
Right after that, a piece of rapier rushes in front of me.
Even a blunt rapier that pushed the blade away. If you get a direct hit, you’ll have to live with blue bruises on your eyes for a while.
At that moment, the iron bars in Russell’s hands spun.
La Mancha literally spins like a windmill.
Follow-.
The rapier, which had been charging at the blow with added centrifugal force, lost its power and stepped back.
It is the same for its owner.
The princess, Hecate Latmos, who grabbed the rapier, smiled faintly.
“My dear. Did you think of anything else with me in front of you?”
At first glance, it was like a sweet whisper between lovers.
“It may not be enough if I compete with my ability on the battlefield, but I also have a body that has trained swordsmanship for a long time.”
However, the meaning contained in it was quite different from that.
“You must not lose an inch in spending this time with me.”
True to her words, Princess Hecate’s swordsmanship skills far exceeded average.
Even purely in terms of swordsmanship, it was at a level that could be compared to second-class knights of the Fall Achievement.
In addition, the amount of aura she has in her body is comparable to that of an experienced Aura trainee… She
was very different from the other princesses in old stories who had the same image as a flower in a greenhouse.
‘When the hell did you build up your skills like this?
Russell stuck his tongue out at the princess’s swordsmanship skills.
It is not simply a swordsmanship with an honest and straight sword path, but a swordsmanship that fully utilizes the delicacy and elasticity unique to the rapier.
It was not a skill that could be acquired through a year or two of practice.
It would have taken at least ten years of hard work to reach this level.
‘It wouldn’t have been easy to reach here as a princess.’
Did that kind of thinking come out?
Hecate said with a triumphant expression.
“Looking at your surprised face, it’s worthwhile to train diligently until today.”
Of course, I didn’t really intend to learn swordsmanship. At that, Russell honestly nodded.
“yes. To be honest, I was very surprised.”
“Hmm?”
“I didn’t know Her Highness would be learning swordsmanship to this extent.”
The princess laughed at Russell’s answer.
“The virtues of a king I think include the minimum power to protect oneself.”
He retracted the outstretched sword.
“The era of relying on the status of royalty and being protected by others is already over…”
He said, looking at Russell and the court knights watching him from a distance for safety.
“- I wish. I hope this effort will ease them a little bit.”
Maybe what I said was a bit embarrassing.
“Hmmmm.”
The face of the princess clearing her throat and concluding her words was faintly recalled.
Then, she secretly turned her gaze to Russell and changed the topic with a fan.
“It’s better than that.”
What do you mean by good?
The princess’ comments continue towards Russell, who is puzzled.
“Because you often visit me like this, so I can sweat. It’s not like meeting other lovers, but that’s why this moment is special.”
It was still straightforward. However, the feeling was a little different from before.
Somehow, I feel my heart beating.
‘Let’s do it in moderation. Heart.’
The princess corrected the sword, whether or not she knew Russell’s heart as he tried his best.
“You seem to be able to breathe moderately. Do you want to do it one more time?”
“of course.”
Unlike having excellent swordsmanship skills, Hecate’s physical strength was a little weaker than Russell’s.
It has to be.
Russell was not an ordinary wizard, but a war mage who trained assuming that he would be active in war.
Besides, I didn’t neglect the strength training I did every morning, so the current situation…
‘It must have been that I waited until my breathing subsided.’
It could be said that it was Russell’s own consideration for the princess. If so, does he know?
That the current situation of sweating like this is her consideration for the man who is not used to the sweet whispers between lovers.
It would be nice to know
‘Even if I don’t know, I can’t help it.’
At that moment, the princess’s rapier cut through the air.
Parbat-.
.
.
tens of minutes later.
Sitting on a metal bench in the spacious royal garden, Hecate opened her mouth.
“Every time you visit, you periodically warm up, and you feel very refreshed. The only thing I am worried about is how you will feel the smell of sweat from my body, apart from my feeling of refreshment.”
Russell stretched out his hand toward the princess, who was muttering anxiously and slightly widening her distance.
He said while casting magic.
“If that is the case, I will solve it.”
At the moment the two circles rotated and the mana began to stir, a blue light flowed from Russell’s hand and covered the princess’s entire body.
“Clean.”
Even if it was the same magic, its power and effect were slightly different depending on the level or achievement of the caster.
Clean was no exception.
Russell’s Clean, who had the skills of a tower master, was markedly different from that of other wizards.
Anger-.
With one light magic shot, all the dust attached to the body falls off at once.
Not only that, but the dried up sweat disappeared and it became as dry as if it had just been washed.
He looked clean, as if he had just taken a bath and changed into new clothes.
However, Hecate’s face, which had changed just like him, was only gloomy.
“hmm.”
Was it only Russell’s illusion that her cheeks were somehow bulging as she spit?
“A man like you really has no sense.”
“…Did I do something wrong?”
Hecate grumbled and complained to the startled Russell.
“At times like this, you shouldn’t use magic, but rather say, “It’s okay, it doesn’t smell.”
“…?!”
“Of course, that doesn’t mean I’m not thankful for the heart that thought of me, but that’s how I want it.”
Seeing Russell’s confused face, the princess smiled.
“We still have a long way to go.”
Contrary to what he said, the corners of his eyes were smiling.
“it surprised me.”
Right after that, Hecate’s eyes softened.
“Rather than that, I want to ask you one thing.”
“yes. majesty.”
Was there something I didn’t like?
She frowned at the word ‘Your Highness’, but after recovering her face within a moment, she pretended to be calm and said.
“I know that you will be staying in the capital until the day of the ceremony in three months. But after that, do you have a different schedule?”
“hmm.”
It’s been two years since I’ve been wandering around the outside every six months using research as an excuse.
It wasn’t strange that the princess asked such a question. However, unfortunately.
He still had places to go. Of course, there was no guarantee that it would be the last.
“Anyway, for the time being, I think I will leave for study abroad every half a year.”
“is it-.”
His words were a little blurry, but he didn’t sound disappointed.
On the contrary, it looks like he is thinking deeply about something. At the end of that trouble -.
“You can’t hold on to someone who has work to do. In the end, I have to be patient and wait.”
– Hecate opened his mouth.
“For circumstances, I cannot be with you, but if possible, would you take this instead of me? Are you?”
He unwrapped one of the brooches hanging from his chest and handed it to Russell.
It was a conch-shaped brooch made of gold in pairs of three.
In the middle of it is a pink diamond.
‘It’s not just an accessory.’
It was a secret magic that even Russell couldn’t notice until he touched it.
Not only that, but how magnificent was the mana flowing right after the hand touched it.
It was definitely not something that wizards of this era could create. Maybe it’s something from the gods.
Then the princess’ explanation continued.
“Originally, the three of them form a pair of artifacts. Once a day if you form a complete pair. They say it can even block an attack from an 8th circle mage.”
8 circle mage.
They have the power to rewrite the map itself by twisting and shaving the terrain.
It was to such an extent that even after reaching the 6th circle, I could not get my bearings.
Artifacts that can block their attacks. Of course, Hecate’s explanation wasn’t over yet.
“Since it has been reduced from three to one, it may not be as effective, but it will still save your life at least once someday. Please think of me as me and cherish it.”
“It is a gift that cannot be afforded.”
It didn’t make any contributions, and it didn’t pay a fair price for it. But to receive something like this for free.
When Russell declined, the princess smiled brightly.
As if telling him not to take it off, he said, attaching the brooch directly to Russell’s chest.
“Even if you give me one of the three, I’m left with two.”
“It’s not such a problem…”
“You don’t seem to be aware of it yet, but you are also a member of the royal family and have the responsibility to protect yourself.”
It’s a little far-fetched, but it’s a statement that can be called a theory in its own way.
“What is smaller?”
At Russell’s question, Hecate smiled warmly and continued.
“If I do this, I think my heart will be relieved.”
In the end, Russell ate his lips at the discourse that he couldn’t get out of anyway, skillfully covering it with his mind by putting forward theories.
“Of course it’s not free.”
“yes…?”
“Since you gave me something like this, shouldn’t I also get something in return from you?”
Saying that, Hecate’s face was red for some reason.
A face covered in shame and embarrassment.
“What is the cost?”
When asked out of curiosity, Hecate lowered her head and pursed her lips.
“Is…is it?”
It was so faint that others couldn’t hear it.
The only one who could hear those words was Russell, who was closest to Hecate.
Surprised, she looked around, as if she was embarrassed even after spitting out the words herself.
Russell burst out laughing at her as she glanced at her surroundings with a worried look on whether the court knights had listened.
Then he nodded and said.
“All right.”
It’s a bit embarrassing to receive something this big, but I have no choice but to do what she wants.
‘If I’ve been teased this much, wouldn’t it be okay to tease even the princess at least once?’
It was the same thought. Then Russell whispered softly in her ear.
“Hecate.”
The princess’s face heated up to her earlobes in an instant.
Hecate lowered her head The words she murmured were…
‘When the ears are far away, won’t you call me Hecate instead of Your Highness?’
because it was
.
.
And time passes.
Finally, the engagement day arrived.
dragon-swallowed wizard
