As long as his knights were crushing the Black Prince's knights, the First Prince had been smiling triumphantly. A fair wind was blowing, and the wide-spread sails embraced it. The ship was sailing smoothly.

He had even defeated the Red-Eyed Devil, the one he had been most wary of. ...Of course, it hadn't gone exactly as planned, but what did it matter? He had been captured. All that mattered was the result. He had planned to give up at least two losses to capture the devil, but he had managed to do it by sacrificing only one.

If this wasn't luck, what was? The entire universe was helping him. It couldn't get any better than this.

After that, everything went according to plan. The smooth sailing continued. His knights overwhelmingly crushed the Black Prince's knights. The match tilted to a score of 8 to 4. It was his victory, plain for anyone to see. A smooth, overwhelming victory.

But just before reaching the port, the smoothly sailing ship hit a reef.

That was when the First Prince's smile vanished.

The Golden Flash entered the match and defeated his knight in the blink of an eye. It was a shock, like being hit on the back of the head. Following that, Sir Vermont entered the match, but he too knelt before the Golden Flash. It happened before the shock from the back of his head had even subsided.

Vermont had gone onto the stage extremely wary of her charge, but that, ironically, became the cause of his defeat. Ashley saw right through Vermont's intentions. She managed the match by responding normally, without using the Golden Flash. With that alone, she gained the upper hand in the psychological battle and took control of the match.

Vermont, while exchanging ordinary sword blows with her, was extremely wary of the Golden Flash that could erupt at any moment, and fought a timid match. It was only natural that he couldn't perform at his best. And so, Ashley cornered Vermont... then unleashed the Golden Flash at an unexpected moment, and Vermont gave up his shoulder and knelt.

She wasn't just strong. It was a moment where one could glimpse the aspect of a strong and seasoned veteran knight.

Having been defeated so one-sidedly twice, anxiety crept up on the First Prince. Of course, it wasn't anxiety that he would ultimately lose, but anxiety that he wouldn't be able to achieve victory with his own knights alone. Victory had already been confirmed the moment the three Royal Knights arrived.

What he desired was a complete and overwhelming victory. A proof of himself, that he would have won the decisive battle even without his father's help. A stage to prove to his father, who had chosen him, that his choice was not wrong.

Now, only one of his own knights remained. That proof would turn to dust if his last knight was defeated.

As he was lost in thought, Sir Riley spoke.

"My lord. I will go and defeat the Golden Flash."

"...."

"Please send me. I will definitely bring back victory!"

"...Wait a moment."

"My lord!"

"Did I not tell you to wait! If you too lose to the Golden Flash, it will be three consecutive losses! What will my father think!"

"...."

As his deliberation dragged on, one of the Royal Knights, who had been standing silently, stepped forward. It was a knight with a relatively smaller build compared to the other two.

"I will go."

"What?"

"Are you not afraid of a third consecutive loss?"

"...."

Leaving the speechless First Prince behind, Rutie proceeded to the stage. Watching her ascend the stage, the First Prince let out a sigh.

'It might be for the best.'

It could be rude not to send out any of the knights his father had sent. It could be seen as him daring to refuse his father's help.

'Just one should be...'

That much, even if not a perfect victory, would still look like a decent enough victory. The First Prince did not think for a moment that she would be defeated by the Golden Flash.

'Once Rutie defeats the Golden Flash, it will all be over.'

The First Prince's smile returned. The blind swordsman was not even in his consideration.

***

In the end, the two sisters met in the arena. A moment some would call destiny, and others, a cruel fate.

"You should call me Big Sis."

"...."

But Ashley did not answer.

To her, Rutie asked.

"What did Sir Serkov say to you earlier?"

Ashley said coldly.

"That's none of your business."

Rutie peeked her head to the side, looking at the blind swordsman watching from the opposite side. After confirming the master of the demon sword sitting next to him, she asked Ashley again.

"The blindfold. Was that Ashuban's idea?"

"...."

"The First Prince was completely fooled. Even now, he's thinking it'll be an easy win once he defeats you."

Rutie smiled brightly as she watched the blind swordsman nervously chewing on beef jerky.

"He's... a very interesting person. How he can make someone so expectant over something so trivial. My heart is pounding. It's been so long. Can you hear it?"

Shing—

Ashley silently raised her sword.

Rutie gazed at Ashley and called her in a soft tone.

"Ashley."

"...."

"Shall we make a bet?"

"What kind?"

"If I win, you come back to the family."

Ashley's eyes grew cold.

Rutie provoked her with a sneer.

"What, are you scared? It's not even my main weapon."

As she said, Rutie was not wearing her usual long Dao, but a light rapier like Ashley's at her waist. For a swordsman, a weapon can be seen as an extension of their limbs. It is that important and meaningful. Therefore, the difference between using a familiar main weapon and not is by no means small. Especially when that main weapon is an unusual one.

Ashley glared at Rutie.

"...And if I win?"

"Well. Shall I grant you a wish? What do you want?"

Ashley glared at the nonchalant woman... then said in a low, sunken tone.

"Apologize to me."

Rutie tilted her head.

"Apologize?"

"For tormenting me all this time."

"Tormenting? That's a bit harsh. Anyone would think-"

"For trampling on my dreams countless times. For secretly breaking my swords and getting rid of my people. And then for surrounding me with your people to monitor my every move."

Every word Ashley uttered was packed with her suppressed resentment.

"For looking down on me and laughing. For interfering with my training in all sorts of ways. For threatening me. For stepping on and breaking the sword my mother left me right in front of my eyes. For finally making me leave the family I loved with my own two feet. For everything!"

Ashley's eyes blazed with a blue light.

"Apologize. For everything."

"...Oh my."

Rutie's eyes sparkled from within her helmet.

She chuckled and said.

"Anyone who heard that would think it's true, dear."

"...."

Rutie said in a tone laced with a cold sneer.

"Are you sure you're okay? Your ankle looks a little uncomfortable."

Ashley said no more. A brilliant sunlight began to shimmer on her sword.

"Come at me."

"...Alright. You've gotten quite arrogant since I last saw you. I'll have to teach you your place."

Rutie drew the sword from her waist.

"I should end this quickly."

She said, her eyes on the blind swordsman watching from a distance.

"There's someone I want to meet."

Ashley, standing as if to block her path, brought Rutie's gaze back to herself.

"No, you won't get that far."

Rutie looked at Ashley's blue eyes with a slightly surprised expression. A cold anger was shimmering in her eyes.

"Because I will stop you."

Rutie smiled brightly.

"Try and stop me."

At that moment, Aron Hobas, who had been watching for the right moment, cautiously interjected.

"Um... are you ready?"

Rutie nodded, and then Ashley also took her stance. It was her unique stance, with her sword pulled all the way back, looking as if she would fall forward.

Rutie smiled brightly as she looked at her younger sister's stance. Then, she began to wave the rapier, identical to her sister's, lightly in front of her eyes. As if playing with a puppy. As if taunting an angry bull.

Ashley frowned.

"What are you doing?"

Rutie replied in a casual tone.

"Just warming up my hands. Don't mind me."

With each swing, the uniquely flexible blade of the rapier began to bend slightly with her hand movements. It got faster and faster with her quick handiwork... until finally, the blade itself was no longer visible. Only the fierce sound of the wind being cut and the occasional glint of the blade reflecting the sunlight could be seen.

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