You will not be faulted even if you accidentally kill each other. But do avoid shedding blood as much as possible.
Father gave quite a tall order.
At his signal, the knights handed a sheathed sword to each of us.
Being physically poor, it is too heavy for .
Its impossible for to move like Leo in a fight. Moreover, Father even requested such a thing since he thinks that I am Leo.
Laurenz on the other hand is acting awkward when he receives the sword since his body is still shivering.
He should be confident in his ability since he was the one who challenged to a duel but the price for losing this duel is simply too heavy. He can not fight normally anymore.
Emperor Poison Wine is a legendary poison. It is said that an assassin would sell out his employer just by ntioning it. There is no end to such tales about the Emperor Poison Wine.
Thinking about the possibility that he has to drink that poison, Laurenzs body visibly trembling. Well, he thought that I am Arnold when he challenged to duel in the first place.
That being said, the mont Mother called Leonard, everyone here is convinced that I am indeed him.
Leos heroism is clear from his recent activities. Moreover, from an early age, he has never lost in a sword fight. A re noble has no chance against him.
Thats why I cant show so unsightly performance here.
Both sides, get ready.
In response to my fathers words, I pull out the sword from the sheath.
Laurenz also unsheathed his sword and held it in his hands. It is a stance that is true to the basics. He must have a minimum knowledge of swordsmanship. Im certain that I cant win against him in a normal duel.
Seriously.ti after ti, he forced to use sothing that I dont want to use.
This duel shouldnt be happening in the first place.
He was supposed to sign the agreent without knowing for certain whether I am Al or Leo.
Laurenz crushed all my plans. He moved without a mont to think about his own influence and things have beco so complicated that it is now inevitable to make sacrifices.
Finne will be saddened. I tried to avoid this developnt but..the fool in front of involved another unnecessary person and now the situation was already out of my hands.
I have no choice but to keep up my Leo act and use this situation to raise Leos reputation.
Hes free to die for his own actions but I cant forgive him for taking away the possibility that I can end this without saddening Finne.
I told Finne that I would not do sothing that would make her cry. Those words will surely beco a lie.
Finne will feel responsible for their death. No matter what I say, she will bla herself.
To avoid that future, I can reveal that I am actually Arnold here at this mont.
That way, no one will have to be sacrificed. As usual, I will bear all the bla and people will just keep ridiculing . The only difference is that if I do that, I will have to leave Finnes side.
I wont starve even if I am no longer a royalty. I can continue to support Leo even if I am no longer one as well.
However, If I am no longer a part of the imperial family, I cant stay by Finnes side.
I like how things are right now. I like the days that I can spend my ti with Finne.
This is surely an act of selfishness.
Since I did not consider Finnes feelings, maybe I am the sa as these guys. Even if Finne will be saddened, I still want to stay by her side.
I selfishly want to stay beside Finne. I want her to always be my sharer of secrets.
Shutting off my heart, I bring the sword in front of my face.
It is a knights ritual before a duel. I did it uprightly like Leo would and activated an ancient magic spell.
A magic that I forbid myself to use.
Its na is [Epigonen].
(TLN: aning Imitators)
It is a magic that can perfectly imitate the targeted person from the users mory. It can also imitate the targets physical ability and combat techniques.
It is a convenient and useful spell but such a spell has a severe side effect. I forbid myself from using it because of that. But now I have no choice but to use it.
My body is filled with power. My field of vision widens and even Laurenzs subtle movent can be read through my eyes.
This is the vision of Leo from my mory.
Now, at this mont. I completely transford into Leo.
Begin!!
UOAAHHH!!
Laurenz rushes at .
There was no technique behind it but his charge still has a lot of montum.
He probably wants to decide this with a surprise attack.
If he loses he dies, that is why he has no choice but to go for the winning move. Laurenz has the strength to make that blow.
However, the differences in ability here will not be compensated with just that.
I smoothly spin my body to avoid him.
With his attack avoided, Laurenz who couldnt stop himself unsightly plunged himself at the floor. He stays crouching down in pain for a mont but he imdiately realizes that he is currently fighting in a serious duel so he grips his sword and turns around.
I can see that he is full of openings but I did not make a move against him.
Leo will not do that. He might do it in a fight but this is a duel. He will surely choose to fight fair and square here.
Haa Haa..Ugh, UWAAAAAAA!!
Unable to bear the tension, Laurenz charges at again. However, his montum this ti isnt as high. Probably because I avoided him earlier.
An attack that lacks both technique and montum will not work on Leo.
I parried his stabbing attack and fling his sword upward.
Then, the sword escaped Laurenzs hand and flew up into the air.
At that mont, despair appears on Laurenzs face.
Laurenz slowly kneels down as he looks at his sword dancing in the air.
Laurenz smiled seeing the sword falling directly toward him. However, I grab Laurenzs falling sword with my other hand and hold both swords at Laurenzs neck.
Do you want to continue?
Ah..Y, Your Highness.Pl, please, forgive I, no, I..I was simply thinking about Finne-sama..
If you really think about her then this would never happen. You have taken action. You have involved His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress into this, it is no longer possible to solve this situation without making sacrifices. If you take pride in being an imperial noble then.beco a sacrifice and protect the honor of the imperial family.
N, NoI dont want to! If I have to drink that poison I would rather die here!!
Laurenz then thrusts himself at my swords.
However, in anticipation of that, I took a few steps back and prevented him from committing suicide.
Thats it! Apprehend him!
Your Majesty! Please forgive ! Your Majesty! Father!! Father!! Please help !!
Laurenz is half-mad as he tries to crawl his way toward Father and Elder Weitling.
Seeing such Laurenz, Fathers face distorted.
It seems you have made a mistake in raising him, Edmund.
Please forgive .I can not bear to live with this. Please bestow the Emperor Poison Wine to as well.
Elder Weitling requested for the poison himself.
Even though he is this great of a person, why has his son turned out like that?
He shouldnt be soone that raises his children poorly. His eldest daughter married the Crown Prince and his second eldest daughter climbed up into the position of a captain of the imperial knight order corp.
It would be wrong to bla it on his parenting.
When I was thinking so, Father shook his head.
I will not. You have to take responsibility and raise the next Marquis of Weitling. Until then you have to take good care of your life.
Your Majesty
Everyone is dismissed. This is the end of this case. Take them to prison. Do not allow them to commit suicide, you hear ?
Saying so, Father stood up from the throne and left the room.
Franz who was left behind starts the cleanup process and gives his instructions.
In the anti, the Empress and my mother take their leave.
The only ones left were , Therese, and Elder Weitling.
.it would be wrong for to hate you. Leonard.
I do not mind even if you hate .
NoIm grateful that you gave him a chance And dont you want to bla for this too? I who moved out to save my foolish little brother.
I do not bla you. I am sure that the feeling of wanting to help soone is important. Its just thatYou have made a mistake, Sister-in-law. The way you did it.you can not save his life that way.
Therese has locked herself up inside the East Palace for all this ti.
With no contact on the outside world, the Empress would have been the only person she could count on.
She must have no other choice. After all, she has turned into a recluse after the Crown Prince passed away.
However, even such a recluse wouldnt have been abandoned by her family.
Elder Weitling. Can you stand?
..Please leave like this for a whilehe may have been foolish and disgraceful.but he is still my son
..I understand. Sister-in-law. Please take care of Elder Weitling.
Saying so, I let Therese care for him and leave the throne room.
It would be a problem if sothing happened to them so I instruct Sebas to keep watch on them. After he acknowledged my command, Sebas disappeared. Now, even if those two lost their mind, Sebas will be able to stop them.
After that, I went back to my room.
I think that Finne will definitely be waiting for there.
.
Welco back. Al-sama.
Finne welcod .
To such Finne, I simply stand still without saying anything.
Al-sama?
Sorry.
Why are you apologizing, Al-sama?
..in the end, Laurenz and the others would die. There was a way to save their livesbut I chose not to do it even though I know that you will be sad.
Saying so, I took a step forward.
But at that mont, the imitation spell wore out.
The derit of the spell that allowed the user to go beyond their ability assaulted .
Ugh
Al-sama!?
Holding my head, I kneel down on the spot.
I have a severe headache and my vision is distorted. The feeling in my body has also beco a blur.
This is its derit. At the price of being able to perform movents that were originally impossible for the user, the brain is overloaded and causes intense headaches. Moreover, by becoming soone else, the senses in my body are also jumbled.
Im trying to move my hand but I cant move it like I want to. The feeling of being Leo and the feeling of being myself mixed together and my body is confused by that.
Unable to stand up on my own, Finne supported to the sofa.
I collapse down on Finne but since I cant move my body well, I cant adjust my posture.
Haa Haa..this is exactly why I didnt want to use it
Is it a side effect from your spell..?
Yeah..this headache will last for two days..it will be a while until my lost senses return. I forbid this spell because its derit is too huge for only a few minutes of advantages
Oh, no
I didnt have a choice..I had to keep being Leo.If I were to lose, I would lose [This mont].
After I said that, I frowned from the headache.
I couldnt get a proper look at Finne but she laid down on the sofa. Now I am using Finnes knees as a pillow and the headache subsided a bit.
When I slowly opened my eyes, I saw Finnes worried expression.
You didntcry right?
Mitsuba-sama told that I mustnt cry.
Mother did..?
When welcoming back a hard-working man, a woman shouldnt cryI was taught it is polite to welco you back with a smile..
Finne said so with a smile. Her eyes look slightly moistened.
As expected of my mother. She did say sothing good.
Thats right. Rather than her crying face, I want to see her smile like this.
.please forgive . I was being selfish. I went through a lot of preparations to make sure that you dont have to be saddened.but leaving your side.was the only thing that I couldnt let go.
Is that soplease rest assured. I will never leave your side. I will follow you wherever you go. What I desire is right here. No matter what anyone says, this is where I belong.
I see..Im glad. Now Im relieved.I was a little worried about what to do if you start to hate ..
Saying so, I smiled and closed my eyes.
My body wants to shut down. The headache is quite harsh so I want to go to sleep just like this.
Finne..
Yes?
I am pretending to be Leo right now so..treat like Leo until he cos back.
I understand. Go to sleep, Leo-sama. Please leave the rest to .
Saying so, Finne gently strokes my head. Every ti she does that, my headache gradually goes away.
Now I can sleep with peace of mind.
While thinking that my place is surely here as well.
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