“A new rule?”
“It’s simple. It just needs the agreement of you two.”
At Whitney’s sudden declaration after leaping from his seat, everyone’s attention instantly focused on him.
“If either of you can leave even a slight wound during the duel, I will immediately forfeit my ownership of Runiel.”
“…What?”
Amid those gazes, Runiel, who had been looking slightly puzzled, couldn’t help but show a shocked expression at Whitney’s following words.
“Although Runiel and I are currently bound by a knight’s oath, I am declaring that I will unilaterally break it.”
“Master, what are you saying!”
It was probably the first time Runiel had ever raised her voice at her master.
Of course, there was reason behind her actions. At the very least, for a knight who had sworn an oath, the meaning of its breach was obvious.
“To unilaterally break a knight’s oath is…!”
“…I know, Runiel. For a proud knight like you, it must be a humiliation worse than death.”
Before Runiel could even point it out, Whitney’s low voice preempted her.
“Hey, can a knight’s oath really be broken so easily?”
Right then, Meredia, who had been quietly observing with her chin propped, asked in a languid voice from behind Whitney.
“Not just for the oath-taker, but the lord who receives the oath is also bound by it absolutely.”
“……”
“They don’t call a knight’s oath a reasonable form of slavery for nothing. Doesn’t my fiancé know that much?”
At that point, Runiel fervently wished that Whitney would admit he had misunderstood something and retract his earlier words.
“Of course, I know, Milady.”
“Ah…”
“And considering that, I am about to propose a new rule that would be critically binding to the oath-taker, Runiel.”
But contrary to her hopes, Whitney’s voice, devoid of any hint of humor, was serious and cold.
“I never said who needs to be wounded, did I?”
“What?”
“To be honest, it’s too hard to land a wound on Runiel, isn’t it?”
However, just as Whitney finally got to the point, those close to him, who had been briefly overwhelmed by the atmosphere, all opened their mouths in alarm.
“From now on, the opponent you need to wound is me.”
“…Are you insane?”
“That’s not acceptable!”
“Ha… I’m against this too.”
Even Meredia, who usually stood by Whitney, Runiel who was unfailingly loyal, and Parsha, who had never defied a command, were all protesting Whitney’s proposal.
“…I’m sorry, but I won’t be accepting objections.”
Yet as Whitney spoke with a completely serious face, the chaotic atmosphere was instantly brought under control.
“…!?”
At the moment he grew serious, even Meredia flinched slightly, as an overwhelming energy swallowed the garden.
“I’ll say it again. Your agreement is the most important.”
“If you accept, all you need to do is land a valid hit on me within the time limit while facing Runiel, who is guarding me.”
In fact, this was neither a bad nor good proposal for the two siblings.
Their goal was never simply to pass the interview — it was Runiel herself.
To achieve that, a duel with Runiel was inevitable.
However, if the duel’s condition was attacking Whitney, risks arose for them too.
If they focused too much on Runiel instead of Whitney during the duel, their true objective might be exposed.
Yet if they seriously attacked Whitney, diplomatic issues could arise between the families, even if Whitney himself permitted it.
In short, it was a complex and ambiguous proposal, with both pros and cons.
“If you have any concerns, you need not worry about that part.”
Seeing the Mistilane siblings hesitate and unable to decide, Whitney narrowed his eyes and quietly turned his gaze behind him.
“Parsha, please draft the oath document immediately.”
“……”
“Include the clause that any physical injuries or threats to life resulting from today’s events shall not be held accountable.”
By this point, those present were less concerned about the outcome of the duel and more curious about Whitney’s true intentions.
It was different from the mysterious actions Whitney had shown until now.
Of course, it wasn’t the first time Whitney had taken independent and peculiar actions, but those were usually limited to matters that could sway the fate of the world.
This was the first time he had been so proactive and direct about a subordinate’s personal affairs.
“…Um.”
“What is it?”
“Are you really okay with this?”
And another difference from usual was that Parsha, who normally avoided showing any personal feelings before her master, kept questioning his intentions.
“You don’t need to worry.”
“…Yes, I would like to believe that too.”
“Yeah, I think I get why you’re concerned.”
But when Whitney whispered those words with a knowing smile, Parsha, looking very unlike her usual confident self, could only fidget awkwardly.
“But don’t worry. What you fear will not happen.”
……
“And by the way, I rather like your current attitude.”
A soft whisper from Whitney brushed past Parsha’s ear.
“I prefer rebellious subordinates over passive ones.”
Leaving behind Parsha, who was left standing dazedly, Whitney’s gaze remained cold as he quietly began to walk away.
And the person more tense than anyone else at that moment was none other than Runiel.
‘…Just what is he thinking?’
Of course, Runiel knew well that her master had always achieved unbelievable feats lightly.
And she believed it her duty to carry out orders without letting personal feelings interfere.
But for the first time, Runiel now felt doubt — and even suspicion — toward her master.
The knightly oath she had made to him — that was her everything.
Then and now, Runiel was someone utterly devoted to the way of the sword.
And the contract with Whitney, tied by the knight’s oath, was the final driving force that allowed her to continue wielding her sword.
Of course, the cause of her past downfall, the damage to her mana circuits, had been partially healed.
But Runiel knew.
Her body and her skills were still not fully restored.
Although she succeeded in mastering sword energy, Runiel had recently begun to struggle during her sword training sessions with Cecil.
The reason was clear, just as Whitney had repeatedly pointed out: her “awakening” had not yet been fully completed.
In other words, the one who held the key to her complete recovery was none other than Whitney Lingard.
‘Could it be… am I about to be abandoned now?’
Suppressing her anxiety and swallowing dryly as she straightened her sword, Runiel suddenly found her hands trembling at the thought that flashed across her mind.
Perhaps Whitney, who had been watching over her all this time, had finally judged her unfit.
And now that two siblings, who could rival her in strength, had coincidentally applied to the knight order, maybe he saw this as a chance to exploit a loophole and sever their bond.
“…You have quite the expression right now.”
“…Ah.”
Still biting her lip and sweating coldly, Runiel flinched at the sudden whisper beside her and turned her head.
“I didn’t know Sir Runiel could make such a complicated expression.”
“I-I’m sorry…”
“No, I’m not blaming you.”
Runiel instinctively tried to apologize to Whitney, who was now standing right beside her, closely observing her face, but Whitney shook his head quietly and said something unexpected.
“On the contrary, I find that expression very pleasing.”
“…What?”
“My Runiel, I prefer you this way.”
His words left Runiel wide-eyed in shock.
“I don’t want a tool without emotions. I want a comrade I can trust and entrust my back to.”
“Master, I…”
“In that sense, I like the expression you’re making right now.”
Suddenly, Runiel realized her face was unusually flushed, and she hurriedly tried to compose herself.
“Blind obedience may be enough for a loyal subordinate, but a true comrade must have the ability to question orders and offer their own opinions.”
Whitney’s increasingly serious voice caused Runiel’s pupils to tremble slightly.
“…Forgive me, but may I ask just one question?”
“As many as you like.”
At last, raising her head, she posed her question, and Whitney, raising the corners of his lips slightly, listened attentively.
“Will I be able to remain your sword from now on as well?”
And then, a heavy silence fell around them.
“Rather than answering with words, let me show you.”
“. . . . . . !”
“Who you belong to.”
It was at that moment, when Whitney quietly placed his hand behind Runiel’s neck.
“…Hrk!?”
Runiel let out an unexpected scream and collapsed to the ground as her legs gave out.
“……”
At the same time, a deathly silence fell over the garden.
“M-Master. This is…?”
“…You should know.”
As she started sweating like someone doing hard labor under the blazing sun, Runiel asked with an incredulous expression, and Whitney answered with a light smile.
“I was originally planning to do this after the knight interview, but it seems better to proceed now.”
“Ah…!”
“I’ve recently gained better control over my dominion powers. I think I can complete this without any grand preparations, unlike last time.”
Although Whitney kindly explained everything, Runiel understood what was happening without needing any words.
“Runiel, this is my answer to your question.”
“A-ha, ha ha ha…”
“As long as you serve under me, your sword will never come to a halt.”
She could feel it — the chilling energy that had been carving itself into her mana circuits ever since she became his sword — seeping into every corner of her being once again.
“I’m glad… that I became your sword…”
Despite the excruciating pain that would have made any normal person faint, a bright smile formed on Runiel’s lips.
*****
“Uhh, uhuhuhu, huhuhu….”
“……”
Though the two reconfirmed their deep bond in a rather touching way, the Mistilane siblings and everyone else saw the scene quite differently.
-Groooan…
Right before the duel officially started, Runiel was grabbed by the scruff of the neck and collapsed into a kneeling position.
The sight of her being engulfed in the gray, tendril-like smoke emanating from Whitney’s wrist was understandably easy to misinterpret.
“Ehehe, hehe…”
Even while breaking out in a cold sweat from the pain, Runiel’s twisted, smiling face only added to the eerie impression among the spectators.
“Now, Runiel, show them.”
But the most terrifying figure of all in that moment was Whitney himself, smiling refreshingly as he infused some unknown power into Runiel.
“Show them that you are my sword.”
Whitney’s chilling smile, combined with Runiel’s bizarre expression, would later leave a lasting nightmare in the memories of the servants who witnessed the scene by chance.
Cliche Novel 