The Allied Forces returned to Valshard.
Marie-Rose held a grand banquet to celebrate their victory.
Those who had feelings for her, caught up in the festive atmosphere, offered her flowers—and before long, challenges to duels even broke out.
“You really can’t beat youth!” Ragna clapped his hands, delighted, but Marie-Rose’s response was icy.
“Why doesn’t anyone ask about my doctor? I’m not interested in any of you. If you want to fight, take it to the backyard.”
Yuri ignored all the commotion and stepped out onto the balcony, gazing down at the night view of Valshard.
Though it was a city isolated on the plains, remnants of an ancient civilization remained, and magical lanterns dotted the streets, casting a soft glow.
Below, townsfolk played instruments and chatted quietly.
It was a good place to live.
“What are you looking at?” Marie-Rose approached, the scent of wine and perfume trailing behind her.
“Just watching.”
“Ah…”
She swirled her wine glass and smiled.
“Nice, isn’t it? Makes you want to live here, right?”
“I heard that peasants fleeing their homes are gathering in Valshard.”
“That’s true. Taxes are so high they can’t survive elsewhere. Oh, but there are almost no people from Briol here. Seems like no nasty nobles came along.”
“Are you sure about that?”
“Heh…”
Marie-Rose winked.
“Well, who knows?”
Yuri wasn’t about to pry, so she smiled faintly and turned her gaze back out.
Valshard’s magical wards were strong. If she truly locked the city gates, they could probably withstand even an imperial assault.
“Can I ask a favor?”
“Go on.”
“Someday…”
Yuri cleared her throat.
“If Briol becomes dangerous, take in our people.”
Marie-Rose’s eyes widened.
She leaned in, scrutinizing Yuri’s face as if to confirm her sincerity, then followed Yuri’s gaze.
“Hmm…”
Marie-Rose stroked her chin, tilting her head thoughtfully before answering.
“Yes.”
No questions followed.
Yuri looked at Marie-Rose’s profile. The light spilling from the banquet hall behind her faintly illuminated her face.
Her pale nose and red lips stood out against the night sky.
“Good.”
Yuri answered quickly.
That was all.
Silence stretched between them, then suddenly Marie-Rose grabbed Yuri’s sleeve.
“If I answer so coolly, shouldn’t you ask why? Or what makes me trust you enough to agree so easily?”
“What’s the point of asking if I already said yes?”
“Wow, you’re something else…”
Trying to break expectations by answering straightforwardly, Yuri ended up shattering them even more.
Marie-Rose laughed bitterly, swirling her wine glass a few times.
“You’re younger than me, but why do you seem so much older?”
Well, she was actually older. But there was no need to explain.
Yuri smiled softly.
“Maybe you’re just the one acting childish.”
“Are you serious?”
“A little.”
“Ha…”
Marie-Rose leaned on the railing and looked up at Yuri.
“If you keep throwing that charm around, I might actually try to seduce you.”
“Me? Throwing charm?”
“Young and already flirting around.”
“That’s informal speech.”
“So what?”
She drained her wine glass and turned away.
“Don’t get all moody alone—let’s go.”
She was stronger than Yuri expected.
Yuri let herself be led back into the banquet hall.
As she opened the door, the chandelier’s lights sparkled and swayed. The brightness made her squint.
Gradually, the scene inside came into focus. Below, knights who had just ended the war were relaxing and celebrating together…
“You want to die?”
“You’re the one.”
Two knights who had been offering flowers to Marie-Rose and then got into a quarrel were still facing off.
Marie-Rose rubbed her forehead.
“They’re still at it.”
Usually, someone would step in, but since this was a gathering of swordsmen, no one stopped them. Instead, they watched with interest.
Yuri tried to ignore the foolishness.
But the back of one knight looked familiar.
“Simon…”
She smirked.
The once greenhorn seemed to have gained confidence through the war.
Marie-Rose asked, “What should we do?”
“Let them be. They’ll fight or not as they please.”
“Cold-hearted for your own men.”
“They’re knights. They should handle themselves.”
Just as Yuri plopped down, Simon’s voice cut through.
“Come out.”
The other knight, scowling, replied.
“You little—what makes you think you can act like that? Briol? You’re counting on your backing?”
“Do I need backing to teach you a lesson?”
“Briol or not, I’ll make you regret it. I’m Amundson of Yohaim.”
“I’m Simon of Briol.”
Yuri, who had been pouring a drink, suddenly snapped her eyes toward them.
She had been about to dismiss it as a childish quarrel between two young knights, but the other was from Yohaim.
Political calculations began spinning in her mind.
“Prince?”
Marie-Rose called to him, but Yuri ignored her and stepped forward.
“Sir Amundson.”
All eyes turned to Yuri.
Simon and Amundson looked equally startled, while others from different nations watching grew even more excited, raising their glasses.
Yuri looked toward the Yohaim side as she approached.
Her eyes met those of Gonte Murchin, a Yohaim knight she had connected with during the war.
They had spoken before.
“Our forces have weakened. Yohaim isn’t what it used to be.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. The young ones these days are weak…”
At first, Yuri thought he was just an old-fashioned knight, but he genuinely worried about Yohaim’s future.
They had made a promise.
“Sir Gonte, once this war ends, I’ll invite Yohaim’s knights to Briol. I want to offer them a joint training program.”
“Truly? That would greatly strengthen ties between our nations.”
It wasn’t just talk.
Yuri sincerely planned to invite Yohaim and provide training.
Yohaim, a mountainous country, shared the Aloy mountain range with the Empire.
In the previous life, when the Empire began expanding, Yohaim was the first to be preyed upon.
If they hadn’t collapsed easily and had used the mountainous terrain to wage guerrilla warfare until the end, they would have remained a thorn in the Empire’s side.
An enemy can become a friend.
“Sir Gonte!”
“Yes.”
Seeing Yuri’s gaze, Gonte stood up sharply.
“This friend from Yohaim just insulted Briol.”
Amundson paled at Yuri’s words.
“Me? What?”
Yuri ignored him and continued toward Gonte.
“He just said he’d teach Briol a lesson.”
Though Amundson’s words were directed at Simon, Yuri escalated it into a diplomatic issue between nations.
“How can we tolerate such an insult? Isn’t that right?”
Yuri’s shout was met with cheers from other nations, even those uninvolved.
“That’s right!”
“Briol won’t stand for this!”
“Yohaim is disrespecting Briol!”
“If it were me, I wouldn’t have held back!”
They fanned the flames, treating it as their own matter.
Amundson’s face, which had been fierce moments ago, turned mournful. Even Simon looked at him with sympathy.
Yuri said, “Since it’s come to this, let’s settle it with a duel to see whose knights are superior.”
“Huh?”
“Simon and Amundson will fight. The losing side will send a group of knights and trainees to the winner’s country to learn from them.”
Yuri smoothly steered the situation.
“I agree. A knight should have that much pride.”
Gonte nodded in agreement.
He seemed well respected in Yohaim; no one objected.
Only Amundson’s face flushed red.
“What exactly are you doing?”
“I’ll explain later.”
Marie-Rose asked quietly, but Yuri had no time for small talk. She had to seize the opportunity quickly.
Though the Allied Forces had won, this was only the beginning of a long journey for Yuri.
“Let’s go down and hold the duel between Simon and Amundson. Both nations’ pride is at stake. The losing side will learn a lesson.”
She spoke more to the other nations than to Yohaim. The mood was already charged.
After much fuss, the duel between Simon and Amundson was set.
All the knights in the banquet hall followed, eager to watch.
Marie-Rose sighed.
“Really…”
Just as she said, the duel was about to take place in the backyard.
The yard wasn’t very large.
Simon and Amundson stood facing each other in the center, while the others squeezed between garden trees and flowers to watch.
The two duelists looked the most bewildered.
They had suspected they might face off, but never imagined they’d become the center of attention.
“What kind of plan are you cooking up now…”
Raymond laughed. Yuri shrugged.
“It’ll all go smoothly.”
“What if you lose?”
“We’ll send our people over.”
Yuri didn’t care.
Whether they came or went, as long as she created a connection and gave Yohaim a chance to train real soldiers, it was enough.
Still, she hoped to win.
“Hey, Simon.”
Yuri called him over. Simon hesitated but approached.
“Prince…”
“If you lose, you die.”
“Huh?”
“Have you been drinking?”
“A little…”
“Same for your opponent.”
There wasn’t a big reason behind Simon and Amundson’s quarrel.
Marie-Rose was beautiful, and both had drunk too much. Two trivial things mixed together had led to this.
“I’ll teach you a secret move.”
“A secret move?”
“There’s one technique—if you don’t know it, you’re bound to lose.”
Yuri whispered something into Simon’s ear.
Simon’s expression shifted strangely.
“Are you serious…?”
“Yes. Just trust me and try it.”
“I’m worried about Briol’s honor…”
“Better than losing.”
Yuri had learned through his past life that sometimes honor was more important than life itself.
But honor comes in many forms. This wasn’t the kind of honor Simon truly valued.
“Distinguish between pride and honor.”
“Yes.”
In the end, Simon squared his shoulders and stepped forward.
Amundson stood there, twitching his facial muscles—seemingly the type who stoked his fighting spirit before a battle.
Both knights were drunk, so to prevent bloodshed, they were each handed wooden swords.
The referee for this duel stepped forward.
It was Graham.
Someone had insisted on appointing a judge, and the name of Graham, a model knight admired by many, was suggested.
Though it was unclear if such a person was truly needed just to oversee a drunken brawl, Ragna nudged him from behind, and Graham reluctantly took the role.
“Don’t get too worked up. Think of this as a contest of skill.”
“Yes.”
“Yes.”
“The duel ends when one is incapacitated or surrenders.”
Since there were universally accepted rules for knightly duels, no lengthy explanation was necessary.
Graham looked into their eyes to confirm their focus, then stepped back.
“Begin!”
The moment the duel started, Amundson charged.
His technique wasn’t exceptional, but his spirit was impressive—a true fighter’s nature.
“That’s talent in itself,” Simon muttered, steadily retreating.
Amundson shouted and swung his wooden sword wildly.
Yuri kept his eyes on Simon.
He wasn’t clearly outmatched, but he wasn’t dominating either.
It was a tough fight.
But if Simon used the secret technique Yuri had taught him, victory would come easily.
Yuri shouted.
“Simon!”
Amid the surrounding chaos, Simon clearly heard Yuri’s voice.
“How long will you keep yielding? Become the winner!”
Yuri wasn’t just talking about this duel’s outcome.
He was cheering for Simon’s entire life—the bastard son who had endured scorn and torment from the legitimate heir.
Simon glanced at Yuri and nodded. Then he answered quietly.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
To Simon, the Third Prince was a benefactor who had changed his life.
He would follow any order from him.
Simon gripped his wooden sword.
Now was the moment to unleash the secret technique Yuri had taught him.