"Duel, your highness? But I just said it is not up to me if she wants to dance with anyone or not.
It's just my honor that I'm receiving this one dance, but I can not do anything about this. We don't have to fight for something small like this."
And I knew he wasn't going to back down until I settled things with actual strength.
He was one of the geniuses famous for his deep knowledge and talent for magic and sword.
Of the twelve geniuses known throughout the empire and continent, he was known for his ability to perfectly integrate magic and sword.
He was good, and also good-looking. It was clear that he was attracted to Rein, but I knew she wasn't going to dance with this young boy.
We were going to do our dance, talk with some people here, eat something lite if we needed, and just go back and sleep.
We were tired already, and we had done enough awesome things that we will just stay at home and play around for at least a few months.
That was the plan, but this person…
"Something small? Haha. It might be nothing from your point of view, but for many people here, it is the greatest honor they could receive in their lives.
They would accept death if it meant they could have this dance with someone so amazing as lady Reinelle.
You should consider it a great honor, but you call it a small thing? Indeed, you can only play with words.
But if you do think you are worthy of such great honor, please accept this duel. It would be an honor to learn a few things from the empire's young hero."
[[ "I wanna slap this bastard. Just tell him to piss off." ]]
She could naturally hear what we were talking about, just like many strong people with excellent senses.
I also wanted to just tell this young person off, but I couldn't do that. At the end of the day, he was an imperial prince.
[[ "You know I can't do that too, right? He is famous, young and strong too. It would be a problem if I do something childish like him." ]]
[[ "Yeah, yeah. You and your grand spectrum of plans. Do whatever you want, but I'm only dancing with you and you are only dancing with me.
Then we go home and cuddle." ]]
[[ "Oy? Where did that come from?" ]]
[[ "You already know, bastard. This long day almost killed me. I need some sugar." ]]
[[ "Then go eat some chocolate with the princess." ]]
[[ "You are the only chocolate I want, darling." ]]
I glanced at her, and she blinked. And then I shook my head at her, confusing half of the public looking at us.
Most didn't understand. But I knew at least my family and mainly mom knew what was going on between the two of us.
I was having this important talk about this duel thing with the empire's brightest crown prince candidate, and she was talking dirty in my mind.
Even Zoe back at home would be laughing at this absurdity much less Celes and mom.
Many people were confused by my actions and many sharp ones concluded that the representative of Atraxia and I had a deeper relationship than just being acquaintances.
There was something, and the public was interested in it. There would be rumors, and that's perfectly what I wanted.
But that aside…
"I do think it is the greatest honor to have this dance with such an amazing person like her, prince.
Alright then, I accept the duel. But please take care of me. I'm not too sure about my abilities so the one learning from this duel will be me. Not many get the chance to receive teachings from the genius magic swordsman.
Ah, right. I should mention that I have some interest in becoming a magic archer too. Receiving your guidance will definitely be helpful."
Now, this was interesting for many people.
A magic archer. It was something very difficult and there was one very famous archer that utilized magic and his arrows perfectly.
He was famous as the third seat of the house of prism, (Godly archer). The most famous magic archer known in the known history.
People dreamed of becoming someone like him when they said they wanted to become a magic archer, but no one in the last two hundred years had been able to actually accomplish that.
It was a feat that only one person had reached, so archers were mostly made fun of by society.
From their point of view, archers were the weakest of weapon welders, who were limited to a bow and some arrows.
Their physical strengths were some of the weakest, which was naturally only a stereotype about the archers.
They needed far more strength to pull a strong bowstring than a normal knight needed the strength to swing a sword.
Training archers was a tough task, so archers were rare.
And magic archers, people who were gifted with the ability to use magic, choosing a bow as their weapon, were even rare.
But I just said I wanted to be a magic archer, and this intrigued one of the future best magic swordsmen.
"A magic archer, you say. It's unique and the path of weapon and magic combined is definitely no easy path.
But if you have strong will and determination to follow through, you can definitely achieve what you desire."
'At least, he isn't just a young child.'
He was strong, and I knew that much. He had a crush on Rein and wanted to have a dance with her, but he wasn't arrogant right now.
He was calm, trying to read my every move, and asses my strength.
But he had gotten nothing till that point, which must have been confusing for him.
But he will have to try as hard as 'that bastard' if he really wanted to gauge my strength.
'Still, he's quite unique.'
I was talking about the third prince. The pale person with a weak-looking constitution.
He was quite something, and even Lucy had the same opinion.
[[ *I suggest you use analysis on him. It's just a feeling but you will get something interesting.* ]]
'I was thinking the same.'
My eyes had never been wrong until now. But they were confused this time.
The inner stats they read of that person didn't match the outer stats.
It was conflicting, but they knew their work, so they could tell what they were seeing wasn't the right thing.
Lucy also felt that the person was strange, so she suggested using analysis. The question wasn't going to work if we didn't even know a thing about what was wrong after all.
Anyway, that can wait. For now…
===Status===
Name: Claudius Ember Vera Taxion F. Galahidron Vermilion August Xino Roxana.
Age: 13
Race: Human
Strength: 129
Dexterity: 131
Stamina: 133
Magic Power: 121
Intelligence: 109
Domination: 87
Luck: 71
Charm: 72
[Skill: Blue harmony, Lightsword, Magic casting of Garuda, Parallel minds, Green safe, Yellow eyes, Hundred winds, Hand of destruction, Area detection, True sword, True magic, Calmness, Aspect strengthening, Connection. ]
[Authority holder]
[Blessing of golden flames]
...
============
Imperial names sure were long. And in the imperial family, they even wrote their forefathers' names, so it was even more unique.
Anyway, the long names aside, the person before me was a light elemental attribute mage and a proper long-sword swordsman.
His stats spoke for themselves and he definitely was far stronger than the kids our age.
And he had some pretty good skills. Even two unique ones. And one of his unique skills was offensive, a rare kind of unique skill.
Anyway, he was strong, and I accepted his challenge. He was going to lose either way, so…
"So? Where should we do this duel?"
"Backyard has plenty of space for us and the spectators to watch, too.
Let me ask mom real quick and we will be ready to go~."
He was surprisingly calm and excited.
This was different from the normal scenario where the arrogant prince challenges MC and then loses miserably.
He had strength, skills, and a proper mindset to back his arrogance, dignity, and desires.
He was a good boy, just that he was blinded by her beauty and wanted to impress her.
It was cute and all, but I doubted a good boy like him would be able to handle a witch like her, even in the future.
She was simply too much for him, so it was better that he forget about her.
And I knew it would take a solid beating to shatter his great pride, and I was ready for that. It was best for him that way.
So…
"Mom-"
"Why are you even asking, baby~? This place is yours, so do whatever you want!"
"I didn't say anything though-"
"Oh silly. You were so loud that many of us already heard you two. Go out. It will be fun seeing you play with an amazing person like his highness, prince Claudius."
She wanted to see me crush this good young boy. My dear bad mother…
'She's certainly bad.'
But maybe she will get to see what she wants today.
So, I nodded and thanked her, told prince Claudius that we got permission and we walked out after I looked at Rein.
She was calm as she talked with Carla, but she gave me a glance that definitely meant some bad things.
She really didn't care about the pure feelings of this pure boy, and it was more of a reason for him to let go of his feelings.
Well, it wasn't actually up to me. I could only do this duel and shut him up for today.
His feelings were all his. I can't control them. And he couldn't control someone else's feelings, either.
He would have to win them if he desired them. And I would wish him good luck if he really wanted to chase after something he could never have.
He was strong, good enough to have any good person as his partner, but this particular bad witch was definitely not for him…
She was mine. And they could try, but she was mine. Nothing could change that fact.
He will have to understand that, and for that, he will have to face a downfall.
It was fine, though. I will make sure to be gentle so that this pure person could at least stand back from that defeat.
"What's happening?"
"You didn't hear? Young master Axion and prince Claudius are going to duel~!"
"What?! Really? But why all of a sudden?"
"They said it's something concerning lady Reinelle. But anyway, they are going to duel! Let's gooo!"
"Yes~!"
People were excited as they walked out towards the open backyard.
There was a crowd already gathered here and some distance away from this big open balcony, two handsome-looking boys were standing as they looked into each other's eyes.
They looked attractive and as soon as they took out their weapons, the cheers and surprised voices that erupted were more than they had expected…