Chapter 35

Fisk Tindal.

From the look in his eyes to his tone and expression, not even a trace of reverence or respect for the Prince could be found.

‘He looks down on me. I’d rather ignore him if I could, but….’

There were too many eyes watching to simply pass him by. Yuwon decided to use those eyes to his advantage.

“Who might you be, who already knows me?”

“…? Did Your Highness just ask who I am?”

An incredulous expression. Of course, Yuwon knew very well who the man was. He was the infamous scoundrel of the powerful Tindal Family—and the very one who had introduced Yurion to narcotics.

“This man is the eldest son of Duke Tindal, one of the most powerful nobles of the Capital—”

Hastings swiftly supplied who the man was and to which family he belonged. Yuwon lightly shook his head, cutting him off.

“I wasn’t asking you, Viscount.”

Yuwon turned his gaze to Fisk.

“I’ve heard tales of the White Dragon Sword, but I suppose you haven’t heard about my amnesia.”

“Ah, well, I have heard about that, but come on, Your Highness—why speak that way between us? Surely you remember.”

An outrageously insolent reply. Yuwon’s voice turned cold as ice.

“And what exactly is between us?”

“Wow… now that you’ve had your coming-of-age ceremony and even obtained that great Guardian Sword, are you really pretending not to know me? That’s rather cruel, Your Highness.”

“I don’t like asking twice, so I’ll not repeat myself. Before answering my question, you would do well to first remember your manners.”

Yuwon’s rebuke of Fisk’s rudeness drew varied reactions from the onlookers.

‘Is that… really the Fifth Prince I know?’

Some were shocked to hear the Fifth Prince speak so differently.

‘Heh, serves Fisk right. That arrogant bastard finally met his match.’

Others simply delighted in seeing Fisk—the notorious troublemaker—publicly humiliated.

Fisk’s name spread throughout the hall. His face twisted as he realized he’d become a laughingstock in an instant.

“Did you just tell me to mind my manners? Seems you’ve grown bold since I last saw you.”

“Grown bold, is it? Your mouth runs freely indeed. I may not know who you are, but you certainly know who I am, don’t you?”

Yuwon took a step closer.

“I am Yurion Aphahiel, Fifth Prince of Aphahiel. If you wish to speak with me, learn first the proper etiquette for addressing a Prince.”

With those words, Yuwon rose to his feet. His companions awkwardly followed suit.

“W–wait, Your Highness, are you just going to leave like this? He’s the heir of Duke Tindal! It won’t do you any good to make an enemy of him—”

Hastings whispered urgently, worry in his tone.

“What’s there to talk about with someone who can’t even control his own drunkenness, much less his manners? Come. No point wasting time.”

Yuwon’s voice wasn’t quiet when he replied, either.

“Keuk.”

“Pfft—haha!”

Laughter burst out across the ballroom. The young nobles of various houses openly mocked Fisk’s humiliation.

“So the Tindal scoundrel just got slapped down by the royal scoundrel, huh?”

First Prince Arencar chuckled openly.

Yuwon, having orchestrated the scene, strode unhesitatingly toward the exit.

At that moment, Fisk—left behind and ignored—ground his teeth.

“Ugh…!”

Unable to contain his rage, his flushed face turned beet red. The alcohol burning in his veins drove him past the line.

“Stop right there!”

Yuwon halted.

“…Still something left to say?”

“How dare you…! You damned White Dog—think you can humiliate me?”

White Dog!

Everyone called Yurion that behind his back, but no one had ever dared to say it to his face. Terrien bristled instantly.

“I can’t let this pass, Your Highness. Allow me to teach this wretch a lesso—!”

“Stand down.”

Yuwon raised his hand to stop him.

“…Stay where you are, Terrien. This is mine to handle.”

Yuwon, calming Terrien, stepped forward.

“So, what is it you wanted to say?”

That composed and confident stance only further enraged Fisk. He shouted furiously.

“Seems the White Dragon Sword has filled your head with delusions. You’d better act within your station, Your Highness. There’s a reason you’re called the White Dog. A man ought to know his place and live within the limits of his bowl.”

The air turned glacial at his brazen words.

Even the court musicians stopped playing. Every eye in the hall fixed on Yuwon, waiting for him to speak.

‘Well then, how will you respond, Yurion?’

Crown Prince Yulia’s gaze held the same curiosity.

After a brief silence, Yuwon spoke.

“…Is that all?”

In Yuwon’s quiet question, not even a flicker of anger could be heard.

“…?”

“I asked if that was all, Fisk Tindal.”

His demeanor was calmer, colder than before. His eyes held nothing but disdain, as though staring at a filthy insect.

“White Dog. Yes, I’ve heard that people call me that. But it’s the first time I’ve heard it with my own ears. Usually they’re too afraid to let it reach me.”

Yuwon smiled faintly, as though it were all trivial.

“So that’s all you wanted to say? Then stop lingering and get out of my sight.”

“….”

No one had expected this.

Silence—of a very different kind—fell over the hall.

‘That’s not the Fifth Prince I knew. The rumors were true. He’s changed!’

Every participant save for the other Princes thought the same.

‘Damn that idiot Fisk. He’s given Yurion the perfect stage.’

Third Prince Bernid, who had been quietly observing, ground his teeth. Had this been the old Yurion, he would have thrown away his dignity and brawled on the spot. But not anymore.

The situation had turned against them.

“Well then, I’ll take my leave.”

Yuwon turned to go again.

Anyone watching could tell—he wasn’t retreating out of fear, but avoiding something filthy.

As Yuwon stepped back, it seemed the confrontation would end there.

“Still putting on airs…”

Until Fisk—who had already crossed the line—lost control completely.

“Do you think you’ve become something just because you’ve picked up some lowborn, no-name nobles and that pathetic bastard of a half-blood? Well, perhaps the Valaris Family will be of some use. You must’ve seduced them with that pretty, womanly face of your—”

Smack!

He couldn’t finish his sentence. Yuwon’s thrown glove struck Fisk sharply across the left cheek.

“Kh! W-What’s the meaning of this!”

Fisk’s face twisted in fury from the stinging blow. Yuwon gave no verbal reply—only action.

Clang―

The eerie sound of a blade being drawn from its scabbard reverberated through the air.

Then Yuwon spoke.

“…Fisk Tindal. Go and fetch your sword. Under the name of Aphahiel, I challenge you to a duel.”

A pure-white blade rested in Yuwon’s hand—the famed White Dragon Sword, the Guardian Sword left behind by the legendary Grand General Geiorn.

Its brilliance, dazzling like the first snowfall, drew gasps of awe from the gathered heirs.

“Oooh… That’s the one…!”

“The very first Guardian Sword, the one left by Grand General Geiorn! I never thought I’d see it with my own eyes before dying….”

It was a rare opportunity to witness a weapon that had only appeared in legend.

But this was no time to be admiring it.

The clash between the two scoundrels of the Capital and the Imperial Palace had reached the point of no return—Fisk had crossed a line that should never have been touched.

“I, Yurion Aphahiel, Fifth Prince and rightful heir to the Aphahiel Empire, have been gravely insulted by Fisk of House Tindal. I hereby demand a formal duel to the death.”

Each of Yuwon’s words cut like shards of ice. The chilling force radiating from him froze the hall in silence.

“Don’t even think about avoiding it, Fisk. You’ve already had more than enough chances to stop.”

When Yuwon invoked a duel to the death, some thought someone—anyone—should step forward to stop him.

Clap, clap, clap―

The sound of applause rang out from somewhere, drawing every gaze to its source.

“Now, now. Let’s stop here. Spilling blood on such a fine day—that’s no good.”

A handsome face, curved in an easy, sly smile—the Crown Prince.

“Oh dear, Fisk. How much have you had to drink? Tsk, tsk. What an embarrassment. Come now, apologize properly to the Fifth Prince and let this end. Even to a close friend, you’ve gone too far acting without decorum.”

The Crown Prince stepped in as mediator, intending to smooth over the matter as a trivial quarrel. But Yuwon, displeased by his interference, countered him directly.

“Are you trying to make a fool of me? Please, brother, stay out of this.”

“Now, you did issue the challenge, Yurion, but Fisk hasn’t stated his intent yet. There’s no such thing as a duel that’s settled simply because one side demands it.”

Of course, refusing a challenge would bring humiliation, but if one were willing to bear that shame, there was still a way out.

“I understand you wish to protect a member of your own faction, brother—but you’re too late. If you intended to step in, it should have been sooner.”

Yuwon wasn’t the kind to release his prey once he had bitten down.

“Do you truly mean to see blood spilled today?”

“Do you truly believe I could let such an insult pass without response, Your Highness?”

Crackle!

Their identical blue eyes locked, sparks seeming to flash between them.

It was the Crown Prince who looked away first.

“Come forward and apologize, Fisk. This time, you are clearly in the wrong.”

“Why am I being blamed? I did nothing wr—”

“Fisk.”

Each syllable of his name carried the Crown Prince’s anger.

“…Do not make me lose my temper.”

Fisk, who hadn’t feared Yuwon, seemed to truly fear the Crown Prince. Wilting under the warning, he finally came forward to apologize, though his lips were still twisted with resentment.

“I apologize, Your Highness the Fifth Prince. I may have drunk too much and… acted discourteously—”

“That’s enough.”

Yuwon raised his hand, cutting him off. His words were now directed at the Crown Prince standing just behind Fisk.

“I didn’t challenge a duel to receive a forced apology like this. I’ve endured as much as I could, and now I hold the offender responsible. Your intervention here is both unnecessary and unjust.”

“If you truly wish to become Emperor someday, you must also learn to forgive. When a man repents and seeks pardon, refusing it is obstinacy.”

“Ha, repents, does he? To me, it looks more like someone forced him to his knees. For the Crown Prince of the Empire to speak so confidently… I must be blind, then.”

“…Are you mocking me?”

“Did it sound that way? Ha… I only spoke the truth as I saw it. If you truly wish to become Emperor, brother, you should learn to listen.”

Yuwon smiled then—a smile that mirrored the Crown Prince’s usual air of calm confidence.

Gulp.

The spectators swallowed dryly as tension filled the air.

‘The Fifth Prince… is openly arguing with the Crown Prince…!’

This went far beyond the claim that the Fifth Prince had changed.

‘He’s actually struck back at the Crown Prince. This isn’t the same man I knew!’

The original purpose of the banquet had long been forgotten. Tonight’s true star was Yuwon.

With that same smiling face, he concluded the exchange.

“To interfere in a sacred duel—brother, you’ve just denied the very foundation upon which the Empire’s chivalric code was built. Even if Fisk Tindal were to die in that duel, such interference would be unacceptable.”

“You exaggerate. The Empire’s roots are not so fragile as to be shaken by such a trivial matter.”

“When those who should set an example muddy the waters, how can they expect them to stay clear? It’s only a matter of time before it all turns to mud.”

At that, Yuwon sheathed the White Dragon Sword once more.

Clack―

“Well then, I’ve received your apology quite thoroughly—so I’ll take my leave.”

With his sword put away, Yuwon resumed the steps that had long been halted. The Crown Prince, face hard and dark, did not stop him.

‘Yurion, that bastard…!’

The Crown Prince’s expression was darker than anyone had seen before.

Meanwhile, a faint smile played on Yuwon’s lips as he led his party out of the hall.

‘I thought this would be a nuisance, but… I’ve gained more than I’ve lost.’

He could still feel the astonished gazes of the young heirs who could not hide their shock.

The moth that had flown toward what it thought was a bed of flowers had burned itself alive— and because of that, the flames had grown even fiercer, spreading wider and higher.

The blaze raged on—furious and unstoppable.