A bottle containing red fluid and a collection of a monocles shattered pieces that could be barely recognized.
Damian, who had been quietly staring at the objects placed on the table, pulled out the longsword that he had hidden under the sofa.
Light reflected off its sharp tallic surface.
And Damian, who looked just as sharp as the blade he was holding, set that blade against Cassadins throat and spoke,
You dare try to threaten ?
I do believe that I said this was a deal, not a threat.
Even with a blade up against his throat, Cassadin looked calm.
His voice was low and quiet, with no changes in pitch.
But that only made Damian angrier. At so point, deep creases had ford in between his dark eyebrows.
I knew you werent just a normal slave from the beginning.
Just what makes you so confident? Considering that it was out of pure luck that you were accepted into that Earls family. Dont tell that you think your luck will last forever, do you?
Cassadin laughed silently at Damians remark. With his black hood wrapped over his head, Cassadins laugh was clearly a mockery of him.
Seeing that, sothing within Damian went thump, and dropped inside of him. It was the sound of Damians patience being torn to pieces.
You, a re damned slave, laugh at ?
His patience was no longer present. Damian was unable to withstand his attitude any longer and swung the sword in his hand.
He was sure that what he swung at was a human, but he felt the blade only slice through the air.
When Damian looked around a bit too late to see what had happened, Cassadin was already a long distance away from his seat on the sofa.
The movent had been so abrupt and fast that the black robe that was covering his face flung back to reveal Cassadins complete face.
His purple eyes, which could be seen under the silver locks of his hair, held no emotion. They only held an endless pit of darkness.
Did the man just move all the way there in that split second? But there couldnt be any way he wouldnt have seen it had Cassadin moved.
There was surely so trick to this. Believing that to have been what happened, Damian switched his gaze between the sword in his hand and Cassadin as he muttered darkly,
I see you use tricks like the dirty bastard you are.
Answering him, Cassadin said calmly,
Think whatever you wish to believe.
Not only did he sound confident, but he almost seed bored. Hearing that tone, his flaming anger died into a still silence.
Right. This man was able to infiltrate the palace at will, and even poison the Crown Prince in that way.
He believed that no one was a match for him in this world. But the man in front of him was the opponent that he had been seeking for so long.
If he could manipulate this man sohow and make him his own, then couldnt he beco a pawn that he could use for his wants?
If only that could happen, then there would be no one in the world who could dare oppose him, and the crown he had wanted so much would easily beco his.
Completing his calculations in that fraction of a mont, Damian put the sword in his hand on the floor.
The sharp clattering of the tal carelessly against the ground filled the room.
Sitting back down on the sofa, Damian rested his arm on one of the armrests and spoke,
So, let hear that marvelous deal of yours.
In response to Damians request, Cassadin moved his long, slender legs back to the sofa facing him and sat down.
I will keep quiet about all of the secrets Your Grace has been hiding.
How boldly the man acted for a slave. His declaration made Damian laugh. Just as he thought, this man was too valuable to kill right now.
I will also return Your Graces butler back to their masters side.
Sending a sharp gaze at Cassadin, Damian pressed him to continue.
And so, what is it that you want?
Its not much that Im asking for, really.
Not much you say?
Yes. I wish for Your Grace to have a duel with .
This man just really ca all this way, threatening him, only to ask him for a duel? What sort of joke was this?
Seeing Damians brows furrow, Cassadin added on,
The Founding Day Festival is coming soon.
And?
On the day of the Founding Festival, may you hold a sword-fighting duel with ?
The Founding Day Festival was an event that opened every year on the 20th day of the 10th month, the anniversary of the founding of the empire.
Unlike the Swordsmanship Competition, the Founding Day Festival held an event where all forms of weapons were permitted for the fights, and the Emperor himself ca to watch.
It was also an event that anyone, regardless of status or race, could participate in. However, because all weapons were allowed, countless people lost their lives during the event.
But violent events like these always attract a crowd. So, the event was held every year under the watchful eye of the Emperor.
Because of the fierce competition, the rewards for the winner were also generous. There was news that the winner of last years event, who was a commoner, received a large sum of money and the rank of a knight.
Of course, Damian hadnt participated in the event a single ti because he did not want to mingle with the lowly things that also participated in it. He believed it was more than enough for him to remain victorious in the annual Swordsmanship Competition.
What are you saying? Are you referring to the competition that is held on the Founding Day?
Yes.
To Damian, there couldnt be anyone stranger in the world than Cassadin. He scanned the man with a suspicious gaze. Then Cassadin opened his mouth,
You do not have to go easy on .
No. Please try your hardest when fighting .
Dont go easy on him? The contents of Cassadins deal only beca stranger. What did he have to gain if Damian ended up killing him? He would just lose his life and everything else with it.
Of course, Damian had no intention of killing Cassadin until he claid the throne by using the man.
Does it not matter if you lose?
Cassadin smiled thinly as he nodded to Damians question.
Yes. It doesnt matter if I lose. On the day of the competition, Your Grace will be dueling . And that will be more than enough.
When we arrived in the northern region where Damian resided, the rain had stopped completely.
The sun that had been hidden behind the ashen clouds was now setting over the ridges of the mountains in the distance.
Though we notified them of our visit, the large gates to enter the duchy didnt open for a long while. It was only after thirty minutes that the gates finally opened.
Soon after, Damian revealed himself with an arrogant expression. There was resentnt directed at inside his sharp green eyes.
It must have been quite humiliating for his heart condition, which he wanted to hide so much, to be revealed to the public. Not only that, but I had also exposed his secret intent to overthrow the current Emperor.
I was rather surprised he did open the doors.
What brings you all the way here?
Damians eyes narrowed after eting eyes with , and he was unable to hide his shock when he saw Tuule standing behind .
Pretending not to know anything, I patted Tuules back and said calmly.
Tuule, say hello. Do you rember him? This is the person that sent you to , Grand Duke Damian.
Tuule bowed his head and spoke to Damian,
Good evening, Sir.
!
When Tuule opened his mouth and spoke, Damian didnt just seem surprisedhe seed shocked as he switched his glance between and Tuule. His expression looked so ridiculous that I struggled to hold back the burst of laughter that swelled up inside of .
Why dont we go in first? With that slave you have brought as well.
But Damian ntioned that Sasha may not co with us. He must have judged that it wouldnt be wise to have more listening ears than necessary.
Sasha didnt know that I had healing abilities. She was pacing around, glancing at with a worried expression. So assuring her that I would be alright, I told Sasha to return to the carriage,
Miss, if anything happens in there, scream as loud as you can. Alright?
Sasha was kind. And to reassure her, I smiled brightly.
Dont worry, Sasha. Ill be back soon.
She nodded her head at my answer. I hugged the teary-eyed girl one last ti, then turned to walk into Damians duchy.
Damian was personally leading us to the living room when he suddenly stopped and said to ,
You must be quite close.
Pardon?
Seeing how your maid is that concerned.
When I was young, I took in a child who was left out on the streets after they lost their parents. That was Sasha.
I recalled young Sashas thin figure as she clenched her growling stomach. I had given her one of the best herbs that I had at the ti.
To , who only had Father to consider my family, Sasha was a loyal maid and a good friend.
Its natural to have close relations if I consider them my people, is it not?
Ah, so was that why you were so close with your younger brother?
Damian prodded at my nerves as if trying to read my thoughts. He curled up the corner of his mouth, smiling aningfully. Instead of slapping his arrogant face, I replied with the following instead,
Your Grace, is that heart disease all better now? I was so worried when I saw you collapse like that in front of .
When I switched the topic to his heart condition, Damian shut his blabbering mouth. Instead, he responded in a cold voice,
I ask you not to pretend to be concerned after all thats happened.
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