Chapter 408: The King’s Final Battle
The King, still stunned, raised his voice in agitation.
“Th… th-this is absurd! For just the two of you, Felisiana and a mere count’s son, to defeat that many soldiers…!”
“Rank and strength have nothing to do with each other… did you already forget that you yourself said Lux-kun placed second in the swordsmanship tournament?”
“B… but…”
“This is the result of your despicable thinking, looking down on Lux-kun for being a count’s son and trying to exploit a weakness. Now that you’re the only one left, Father, what will you do? Though, I suppose you don’t have any options left.”
“Guh…!”
The King glanced around, as if searching for some move he could still make.
But all that surrounded him were fallen soldiers, nothing more.
There had hardly been anything in the throne room to begin with, so it seemed he truly had no moves left… however,
As he looked around in desperation, his gaze landed on the doors of the throne room, and as if something had occurred to him, he spoke.
“That’s it… the soldier by the door!! Gather whatever reinforcements you can and assemble them in this throne room! Then deal with these traitors…!”
“It’s useless.”
Cutting him off, Felisiana-sama dismissed him and continued in a calm voice.
“Outside, Rezamiliana-anesama, Elizalina-anesama, and Florence have already secured everything. No matter how loudly you shout, no reinforcements will come, Father.”
“What…!?”
Even the King’s final desperate plan had already been anticipated and countered.
…They really are incredible.
I still don’t know if I’m someone worthy of being sought by people like them… but I won’t hesitate anymore.
I’ll tell them the answer I’ve come to.
And in that future…
“…I won’t accept it.”
“…?”
Won’t accept it…?
Unsure what he meant, I listened as the King continued.
“Even if I concede a hundred steps and accept that I was defeated by Felisiana, Elizalina, and Rezamiliana, who are royalty and already proven to be exceptional, and even by Florence of a ducal house… however!!”
Then, turning an angry gaze toward me, he went on.
“To be defeated by someone like you, a mere count’s son who has only just begun stepping into this society… I, who stand at the pinnacle of this society, cannot accept that!!”
“Honestly… you still don’t understand your position. In this situation, whether you accept it or not doesn’t matter any—”
“A duel!!”
“…A duel?”
“That’s right!”
Declaring it, the King fixed his gaze on me and spoke forcefully.
“You and I will each take up weapons and fight a duel! If I lose, I will withdraw quietly, but if you lose, you will accept our demands!!”
“Honestly… I wondered what you were going to say, but this is just ridiculous. You have no training in martial arts, so this would only be a waste of time.”
“W-whether I have training or not, there’s no way I would lose to a child like you!!”
It was true there was a considerable difference in physique.
Given that, and if the King truly had no martial training, then since there had been so many people earlier that he likely couldn’t even follow my movements, it wasn’t unreasonable for him to think he could win based on that clear difference in build alone.
“…Understood. If that will satisfy you, then let’s settle this once and for all with a duel between you and me.”
“…! If Lux-kun says so, then I have no objection.”
“Thank you, Felisiana-sama.”
After that, Felisiana-sama stepped back to give us space,
And the King rose from his throne, took a spear from one of the fallen soldiers, and faced me in the center of the throne room.
This would be the true final battle with the King.
When this fight is over… I will…