As the intense light faded, Ophelia’s expression hardened. It wasn’t pain that caused this look, though.
‘This…’ she thought. There was no sensation of pain at all. The coldness in her gaze reflected her realization of a costly mistake.
“Did I win?” Elios asked, her tone light.
A wooden sword rested against Ophelia’s neck. Though it held no mana, it was clear that even a small amount of mana could have ended Ophelia’s life here.
‘I never imagined she would pretend to use that ultimate spell… To be honest, I thought she’d lost her composure and run out of mana in a panic when my finger was cut off.’
The match had been decided in an instant, with one wrong judgment sealing Ophelia’s defeat. She felt a stinging bitterness, and slowly, as if collapsing, she knelt.
“I lost. It’s my defeat.”
“Whoops~” Elios responded cheerfully to Ophelia’s declaration, then sheathed her wooden swords at her waist and extended a hand to Ophelia.
“Thanks. That was quite fun. I think it’s the first time I’ve felt this much excitement, even if it was just a sparring match.”
Noticing that her finger had been cut, Ophelia asked cautiously, “Are you… okay? Your finger…”Despite it being a battle with their lives on the line, injuring a princess during sparring was still significant. While such a wound could be easily healed with mana, Ophelia thought it might still be a concern.
Seeing Ophelia’s concern, Elios replied with a smile, “For something like this, can’t a friend afford to get a little hurt?”
“Friend?” Ophelia was momentarily taken aback. She hadn’t expected Elios to use that word. The princess, noticing Ophelia’s hesitation, continued brightly, “Yes, friend. We’ve had quite a few fights by now, haven’t we? Facing each other with mana-wrapped swords, aiming for each other’s lives. By this point, can we really see each other as mere enemies?”
Although Ophelia didn’t entirely want to accept Elios’s words, she couldn’t deny them either. As a warrior, the act of fighting to the death with an opponent was, in its own way, an exchange of intense emotions comparable to a lover’s affection. Ophelia understood this feeling, as her dedication to understanding her opponent’s skills, strengths, and even smallest habits allowed her to connect with Elios deeply, even more so than a lover might.
‘This… is what they call the blo0d-forged friendship between warriors,’ she thought.
Adding to that, her current master, Bahamut, was negotiating a deal with Empress Roseveta, the ruler of this land and Elios’s mother. Formerly adversaries, they were now allies. In that sense, calling each other friends wasn’t so far-fetched.
Reaching this conclusion, Ophelia accepted the hand of the White Dragon Princess, who smiled at her with pure sincerity.
***
After a lengthy discussion about the deal, Bahamut and the others prepared to depart.
Elios and Duke Selibras came to the front of the imperial castle to see them off.
“It’s a shame. I truly enjoyed our conversation,” Selibras said warmly.
“I also found our talks meaningful,” Bahamut replied, smiling. “I don’t know when I’ll have another chance like this, but I won’t forget the stories we shared here.”
Duke Selibras expressed his genuine regret, and Bahamut responded with a cordial smile. However, behind his polite exterior, Bahamut was eager to leave this uncomfortable place.
It wasn’t because of the deal itself. In fact, the discussions he had with Empress Roseveta had been well-prepared, causing him no particular stress. The real issue was the Duke Selibras, who stood before him now.
‘Honestly, why does he ask so many questions? Each one is so grand and complex, far beyond my expertise. I’m a trader, not a politician! There’s only so much I can answer on diplomacy and statecraft!’
Bahamut was now exhausted from just trying to answer the barrage of questions from the Duke. Although more than half his responses were vague, the Duke seemed to take even those as significant insights.
‘Well… whatever he’s planning, it has nothing to do with me. I should avoid visiting the Dragona Empire in person if I can,’ Bahamut thought as he climbed into the carriage, his relief almost palpable.
On the other hand, despite her master’s eagerness to leave, Ophelia felt a pang of regret as she looked at the person in front of her.
‘I never thought I’d feel this way looking at her…’ she reflected.
While Bahamut had been engrossed in his business, Ophelia had spent a relatively relaxed time with Elios—chatting, sightseeing around the imperial castle, or sparring in a friendly match. The thought of parting now, after enjoying these simple yet fulfilling moments, brought a touch of sadness.
“Take care. I hope to see you again. Perhaps next time, you’ll be even stronger than you are now,” Elios said warmly.
“I’ll do my best to make that happen,” Ophelia replied sincerely.
“He he.” Elios chuckled, pleased with Ophelia’s response. Compared to when they had first met, Ophelia’s demeanor had softened considerably, something that brought Elios satisfaction.
“Then, until we meet again, stay well,” Elios bid her farewell as Ophelia climbed into the carriage. The carriage soon started along the road, heading toward Schwyz, disappearing from sight after a while.
Watching them go, Elios turned to the Duke Selibras beside her, her curiosity piqued.
“It seems you had quite an engaging time with them as well. What did you discuss?”
“Hahaha, well…” the Duke began, a smile slowly forming, one full of anticipation.
“It was very important. And, at the same time, quite an interesting conversation. I’ll share the details with Your Majesty soon.”
“Hmm… If you’re saying that, it must have been quite an intriguing talk. Very well, let’s go and discuss it.”
With that, Elios returned to the castle, the Duke following closely behind, reflecting on his exchange with Bahamut.
‘A shift in perspective… Bahamut shared a truly valuable insight. The way he influences the continent… just as Roseveta said, even if it comes at a high cost, we must keep him on our side.’