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Chapter 293 part 2

The spirits within Kyles’ equipment also treated him with such regard. Hence, Gwandan thought, 「It seems there’s no need to be angry about him manipulating the remains of our kindred.」

Once Kyles donned his helmet and prepared, both men took up their long weapons and faced each other. Zanad’s subordinates, likely assuming safety, were nowhere to be seen, possibly due to Kyles’ arrangements, and the servants were conspicuously absent.

「We should avoid any grand maneuvers that might damage this courtyard,」 Gwandan mentioned, addressing a fundamental caution before they crossed blades. Kyles nodded in agreement, seemingly tense, perhaps due to an unconscious awareness of Gwandan’s power.

「I appear to be less thoughtful than you, a shameful admission for one of the Twelve Wing Generals. I feel the pressing need to improve,」 Kyles commented.

「If Princess Asteria has not mentioned it so far, perhaps there is no need for change,」 Gwandan replied.

「Hmm, fortunate if true. Then, as the one who initiated this, it is only polite that I make the first move.」

Gwandan nodded, and Kyles silently stepped forward. His spear moved in an effortless, relaxed motion, without any noise from the armor. The entire motion was a seamless flow, every step and thrust meticulously refined, displaying Kyles’ expertise. Even at his young age, he had reached a level where even masters would struggle to parry a single thrust.

Gwandan effortlessly deflected this powerful strike with his poleaxe, not showing the slightest change in expression. Kyles showed no surprise; he had expected as much. He quickly retracted and thrust his spear again. This simple action, fundamental to combat, became a formidable weapon with enough practice.

The thrusts, difficult to anticipate, continued relentlessly with Kyles’ short breaths. The deep green of the spear’s tip filled the space between them, creating a wall of rapid, continuous thrusts. Gwandan deflected each one with equal skill, ensuring the clash of weapons and the resulting shockwaves were contained, sparing the surroundings any collateral damage.

「Hmmph!」

Suddenly, Kyles switched from thrusting to a sweeping motion, aiming the spear’s tip at Gwandan’s left torso. The seamless transition from stabbing to sweeping was a lethal change, based on Kyles’ prowess, challenging to follow for those accustomed to his thrusts. Gwandan caught it effortlessly with his open left palm and counterattacked with his poleaxe, forcing Kyles to retreat.

Kyles internally marveled at the strike, strong enough to shatter earth, split seas, and tear the heavens, had it not been controlled. There was no hint of magical enhancement or activation of spells on the poleaxe; it was pure physical strength from Gwandan that posed such a threat. Even the supreme forces of the Romal Empire would consider it suicidal to face Gwandan alone.

Though Gwandan had not explicitly declared allegiance to the Arkrest Kingdom, Asteria had assured Kyles of his affiliation. The Arkrest Kingdom, already a strategic threat with the Arc Witch, now had Gwandan as well, effectively doubling its military might—a gross underestimation, unknown to Kyles.

In this battle, Gwandan refrained from using dragon language magic, including breath attacks, while Kyles also held back on techniques that leveraged the magic power of the dragonkin in his equipment. Gwandan, as a Dragonian, possessed the highest level of physical prowess for Amria’s protection. Even without breath or magic attacks, his threat was evident in Kyles’ stripped composure, obvious to any Romal Empire soldier.

Against the unyielding Gwandan, firm as an ancient tree, Kyles released thrusts with mountain-piercing force, exhibiting artful, rapid, powerful, and ingeniously angled strikes. In the midst of their earnest but not fully serious spar, a moment came when both weapons locked, and Kyles whispered to Gwandan.

「Asteria… Asteria is trying to see if you are worthy to entrust something to her sister.」

「Hm? You seem to think that whatever it is, it might be too much for Amria. You can’t tell me the details, but you’ve arranged this encounter to encourage caution and readiness?」

「I do think I’m doing things half-heartedly, but Asteria holds Amria in high esteem. She won’t take long to decide if she can entrust her long-standing thoughts to Amria. I wanted to know firsthand your abilities, as you’ll likely be by Amria’s side.」

「So you’ve unilaterally decided to impose this situation on us. It’s one thing for Asteria to decide she can entrust these matters, but whether Amria accepts them is another story. Has Asteria considered this too?」

「Yes. Surely, or rather, my talking to you like this must also be part of Asteria’s calculations.」

「So, being played in the palm of her hand is acceptable? What does one say at such times? Saying it’s commendable doesn’t seem right.」

「Being swayed by a lover can be enjoyable. I regret not being able to prevent you all from being involved in this, but given that Asteria and Amria are twin sisters, this was a likely outcome.」

「A twist of fate, then. But it’s understandable that you’d have sympathy for Amria. I consider her just as cunning and brave as her sister. Don’t assume Asteria will be the only one using her.」

「If that’s true, it would be fortunate. But it’s understandable, given she’s Asteria’s blood sister.」

Reflecting on this, Kyles swiftly retreated, only to immediately launch a lightning-fast thrust. 「Ah, she has him wrapped around her finger,」 Gwandan realized, his thoughts bizarrely inappropriate for the situation, yet filled with absolute certainty.

Meanwhile, Asteria, having Kyles under her control, was attending a strategy meeting with her senior officials, sharing and scrutinizing information about the Grand Duke of Linosart, the southern rebel forces, and the enemy nations to the east and west. Unknown to them, Amria and her escorts were observing this meeting.

Of course, they weren’t blatantly among the attendees. They were hidden in a secret room, spying on the important discussions of Asteria’s faction, including Grand Duke Baloldi.

Not just Amria, but also Yachiyo and Fuuko were struck by the deliberate leak of crucial information. However, Asteria, the instigator, left them in the hidden room without concern. Even Gundeus, accompanying them as an escort that day, couldn’t decipher Asteria’s thoughts, his beautiful eyebrows furrowing in suspicion.

The meeting, starting early in the morning and continuing into the evening with breaks for lunch, saw Lynette and Kyrlinne immersed in Romal Empire maid practices, while Gwandan sparred with Kyles. Amria and her companions felt a significant sense of guilt for secretly observing, but were soon summoned by Asteria to another room, leaving no time for rest or reflection.

Upon confirming Amria’s arrival, Asteria offered a single word of administrative gratitude, then rapidly inquired about Amria’s views on the meeting’s information.

Gundeus, with his natural analytical skills and memory, kept pace with their conversation, while Yachiyo and Fuuko, utterly baffled, repeatedly looked back and forth between the identical sisters. The scene, reminiscent of a dog and a fox performing the same actions, had its charm, but there was no one present to appreciate it.

「…That concludes my thoughts on the meeting, Sister.」

「Yes, I’ve listened intently. Your views align closely with mine, slightly kinder perhaps, but that’s your strength. The difference is a correctable margin of error.」

「Correctable error?」

「Yes. This matter is very important for both of us. I discard what’s unnecessary for me, and you gain what aids in fulfilling your wishes. I’ve contemplated a mutual agreement based on our values, especially since meeting you in person.」

「…Could it be?」

Different from before, Asteria seemed buoyant, even giddy like a child sharing a secret. Amria, considering an improbable possibility, arrived at a conclusion fitting for her sister.

「Oh, sister, are you seeking the emperor’s throne to relinquish your current self?」

「Yes, my sister. I’ve come to cherish you. I’m grateful that you share my perspective and thought process. It’s wonderful. Amria, I seek the emperor’s throne to forsake it. If ‘forsake’ isn’t quite right, then to pass it on, to transform. Amria, I will make you the Empress of the Romal Empire. You understand this as the most direct way to fulfill your wishes while minimizing bloodshed. It’s been a while since I’ve felt this exhilarated. You know, Amria. There’s no point pretending you don’t understand, so don’t bother.」

Asteria’s face lit up with joy, as if she was thoroughly enjoying herself. The three others, except for Amria, displayed their discomfort openly, while Amria combined astonishment, resignation, a hint of sympathy, and anger in her response to Asteria.

「So, you plan to place me on the throne as the Empress of the Romal Empire, in your stead as Asteria, and then abandon your identity as Asteria, right?」

Asteria’s response to her sister, who spoke not with inquiry but with assertion, was full of pride, like a teacher delighted with a student’s perfect answer.

「Exactly, my sister. You’ll become the Empress, and in doing so, I’ll cast aside my current self. It’s a significant matter for both of us. I’ll let go of the unnecessary, and you’ll gain what aids in fulfilling your desires. Our differing perspectives form a mutually beneficial arrangement. I had been contemplating this even before meeting you, but it became of utmost importance after our direct encounter.」

「…Unbelievable.」

In contrast to her previous demeanor, Asteria seemed almost excited, like a child about to reveal a secret, causing Amria to consider an implausible possibility and reach a conclusion that seemed likely for her sister.

「Indeed. Sister, you desire the imperial throne to abandon your current self, correct?」

「Yes, my dear sister. I’ve finally started to find you endearing. It’s wonderful that you see things the way I do, that you can think like me. I seek the emperor’s seat to abandon it, or rather, to pass it on, to transform. Amria, I’ll make you the Empress of the Romal Empire. You understand that this is the quickest way to achieve your desires while keeping bloodshed to a minimum. How thrilling it is! It’s been ages since I’ve felt this way. You understand, Amria. It’s futile to pretend otherwise, so don’t bother with it.」

Asteria smiled broadly, as if having the time of her life. The others, except Amria, wore expressions of unease, while Amria, filled with a mix of dismay, resignation, faint sympathy, and anger, concluded the conversation with Asteria.

「So, you intend to make me, as your sister, that is, as Asteria, the Empress of the Romal Empire, and then you plan to abandon your identity as Asteria, right?」

Asteria, facing her sister who spoke not as a question but as a statement, wore a smile of a teacher proud of a student’s perfect answer, acknowledging the accuracy of her assertion.