Exhibition Match
Floria’s Side
…Right before the start of the exhibition match.
Floria Florence and Rezamiliana stood facing each other in the center of the arena.
With her beautiful red hair, her refined, dignified features, and the composure in her bearing and presence, Floria could strongly feel that Rezamiliana was a powerful figure.
And there was something else she felt as well.
“I thought this was our first time meeting face-to-face, but now that I stand before you like this, there is something familiar about Your Highness the First Princess’s presence.”
“As expected, Florence… the truth behind that feeling will become clear once we cross blades.”
As Rezamiliana said this, Felisiana instructed the two of them to ready their swords, and they both took their stances.
If I win this battle, Violet-sama will grant me a wish. And if that happens, in the end, I will be able to bring happiness to Lux-sama… Therefore, I cannot allow myself to lose this fight.
“Begin!”
As soon as Felisiana gave the signal, Floria kicked off the ground and closed the distance to Rezamiliana, but Rezamiliana did not move an inch.
I do not know what she intends, but if she will not move, then I shall strike as I please.
Thinking that, Floria swung her sword down at Rezamiliana, but Rezamiliana caught it with her blade.
“Tch…! This sword is…”
In that instant, something flashed through Floria’s mind, and she took some distance before speaking.
“I see… the sparring partner who visited the noble academy wearing a helmet was actually the First Princess-sama.”
Having discovered why the presence felt familiar, Floria said this, and Rezamiliana lifted the corners of her mouth as she replied.
“To realize it after only one exchange… as expected of you, Florence.”
Rezamiliana had deliberately taken the defensive, just as she had back then, to remind Floria of that moment. But she had not expected Floria to remember it after only one clash of swords, so she praised her.
“In that case, why did Your Highness personally go out of your way to visit the noble academy at that time? Was there some special reason?”
“Thirst for knowledge, a spirit of inquiry. Both are essential qualities for one who rules. But here and now, what is needed is to speak through the sword alone.”
“…That is true.”
Floria once again adjusted her stance.
“Then, I too shall fight with all my strength from here on.”
This time, both of them kicked off the ground at once, closed the distance, and crossed swords.
“Tch…!”
Unlike before, Rezamiliana was not only defending but attacking. After clashing blades with her once, Floria was surprised by the weight of her sword.
This sword… within this single swing lies the weight of countless swings in the past… As expected of the elder sister of that Third Princess… However.
Floria diverted that heavy sword and immediately followed up with the high-speed thrusts that had been a decisive factor in her victory over Lux.
“So this is the sword technique that makes full use of the rapier’s strengths, the same technique that defeated Rodwell… I see, it is much faster than it appeared from the royal box.”
Even as she said this, Rezamiliana calmly deflected all of those thrusts.
“Tch…”
“But your thrusts have a fixed rhythm… and once a rhythm exists, it can be predicted.”
Once it can be predicted, no matter how fast it may be, it remains within expectations and can be dealt with.
In that case, if I change the pattern… Floria thought, and began to act on it, but just then, Rezamiliana spoke.
“Hearing my words, a clever one like you must have thought to change the rhythm… But in the instant you change it, an opening is created.”
With that, Rezamiliana forcefully knocked aside Floria’s sword.
Floria quickly realized her blade had been struck aside, so she gripped it tightly and barely managed to keep it from flying far away, but the impact pushed her slightly back.
“I thought that would be the end of it, but you managed to stop it reflexively… however.”
There was no way Rezamiliana would overlook that opening. She closed the distance and unleashed a flurry of heavy strikes.
Floria was forced onto the defensive, but against such a heavy sword, she did not know how long she could endure.
Even then, what Floria thought about was Lux.
I swore to protect you, the one so precious to me, without taking lives. If I were to be utterly defeated in the strength of swordsmanship… then, as the Third Princess said, my words would indeed be nothing but ideals.
But Floria did not want to dismiss her way of protecting Lux, in line with his wish, as mere idealism.
To prove that, I must defeat the First Princess.
With those strong words echoing in her heart, Floria stopped Rezamiliana’s sword with the hilt of her rapier, gambling everything.
“Tch…! To block my blade with your hilt…?”
The reason Floria did not retreat to avoid Rezamiliana’s attack was because she had read her sword, and by doing so, was able to block it with the hilt.
And if she could stop it with the hilt, she could both seal the opponent’s sword movement and still swing her own blade while gripping it.
“I have you now, First Princess-sama…!”
Just as Floria, convinced of her victory, was about to thrust her sword at Rezamiliana’s neck…
“Splendid, Florence… Perhaps, like my sister, you too have the talent to surpass me… However, I cannot afford to lose just yet.”
At the same moment Floria’s eyes widened at those words, Rezamiliana, instead of using her sealed blade’s edge, stopped the thrust with her hilt, just as Floria had.
Floria was not the only one observing her opponent closely enough to read their movements. Rezamiliana was doing the same.
“Tch…!”
Floria tried to somehow switch to the offensive, but by then, Rezamiliana had spun her hilt half a turn and thrust her blade at Floria’s neck.
“…That is enough! The victor is Her Highness the First Princess Rezamiliana!”
Immediately after Felisiana declared that, the spectators, who had been left speechless by what was truly the world’s highest-level swordsmanship, burst out in cheers all at once.
“That was amazingggg!”
“Blocking with the hilt like that, no way that’s human!!”
“Both of them were incredible!!”
As such voices rang out, Rezamiliana quickly sheathed her sword.
“…”
Floria also slowly returned her sword to its sheath.
Then, Rezamiliana addressed Floria.
“This time, I had the advantage of having already seen your swordsmanship a few times. So although it must be displeasing to you to have been defeated, this exhibition match was like a token of thanks to the spectators who enlivened this tournament until the very end. I ask that you forgive this outcome for now… The next time we fight, it will be with us both already knowing each other’s swordsmanship, and that will be a fair match.”
“I appreciate Your Highness’s consideration. However… I do not find this result displeasing. It simply means my sword was inferior to that of Your Highness the First Princess… But someday, I will surely claim victory over you.”
Hearing those words from Floria, Rezamiliana slightly lifted the corners of her mouth and said.
“It seems my concern was unnecessary. If you wish to cross swords with me again in the future, come to the royal castle. For your sake, you will always be welcome.”
Leaving only those words behind, Rezamiliana turned her back to Floria and departed from the center of the arena.
Watching her until she was gone, Floria returned to her seat, where Lux, sitting beside her, spoke.
“Florence-san! That swordsmanship just now was amazing! Win or lose doesn’t matter, I still think your sword is truly incredible!!”
“…Thank you very much, Lux-sama.”
Hearing Lux say that so brightly and cheerfully, Floria smiled and expressed her gratitude.
“…”
After that, when Rezamiliana declared the closing of the tournament, the spectators and swordsmen alike left the arena one after another. In the now-empty corridors of the arena, Floria and Lux walked side by side.
…Partway through, Lux came to a stop.
“…Florence-san.”
“Yes, what is it?”
Called by name, Floria also stopped and turned to face Lux, who then spoke.
“Um… I hope it’s just my imagination, but… are you pushing yourself a little too much? Ever since the exhibition match ended, you’ve seemed a little off, or rather…”
“I am not forcing myself at all. I just…”
It is only that I failed to prove that I could protect you without taking lives, and disgracefully lost to the First Princess…
“I was only… frustrated…”
Seeing Floria whisper that through her tears, Lux closed the distance and embraced her.
“Lux-sama…”
Lux did not speak, but through that simple act of embracing, his kindness was conveyed to Floria’s entire being.
“Lux-sama…!”
Unable to hold herself back, Floria hugged Lux in return and poured out her feelings.
“The truth is, I wanted to win… With the sword I honed through countless efforts and practiced with you, Lux-sama, I wanted to defeat the First Princess… and show that my wish was not just an ideal…”
Towards the end, her voice was choked with tears and likely not heard clearly by Lux, but he gave one reply to Floria, who was tearfully revealing her heart.
“I… really love your sword, Florence-san.”
“Ah…! Lux-sama, Lux-sama…!”
After that, the two of them continued to hold each other tightly for a while in the empty corridor where no one else remained.
Someday… someday, I will surely show that I can protect you… Lux-sama… I love you…