“It has everything to do with you. You’re the one I’m married to,” Ares replied, his frustration growing. “When someone proposes to a married person, it means they’re challenging that person’s spouse to a duel.”
“Which means…” Kirine said slowly, the reality of the situation beginning to dawn on her. She tried to avoid it, but Ares wasn’t going to give her the chance.
“Yeah. It means you’ll have to fight Viarte, the general of Katen Kingdom,” he said.
“You’ve got to be kidding me…” Kirine cursed.
She had never held a sword in her life. She always focused on finding easy and quick ways to make money, loathing anything that involved physical labor.
“Wait. So, I have to duel someone over you?” Kirine asked, beginning to freak out.
Ares remained calm, almost indifferent. “Well, it’s not just about me. If you lose, your property also becomes the winner’s,” he said.
Just as Kirine was about to ask what would happen to Sasha, Ares continued, “And that includes children.”
“What?” Kirine replied, stunned.
“There’s actually been a lot of talk about reforming Katen Kingdom’s marriage laws because people have been exploiting that clause for crimes lately,” Ares explained.
“Who asked for that level of detail?” Kirine snapped, roughly tousling her hair in frustration. Now she fully grasped the seriousness of the situation.
Even so, I really don’t want to fight over that jerk, she thought to herself.
However, she couldn’t afford to lose Sasha, and it was driving her insane. On one hand, she felt unfairly treated and angry, which only made her voice rise.
“Why do I have to fight over you, of all people!” she exclaimed.
Ares shrugged. “Well, I don’t particularly enjoy that part either.”
“Am I the only one who has to deal with this?” Kirine asked, feeling as if she had been struck by lightning. What kind of sin had she committed in her past life to deserve having to fight over that detestable person?
So that’s why everyone was looking at me with pity, Kirine realized. Now she understood the sympathetic gazes from those leaving the Great Hall.
This is driving me crazy, Kirine lamented. There couldn’t be a more absurd situation.
Frustrated, Kirine yelped as she took a sip of her tea. “Ouch! Hot, hot!” Kirine screamed, flailing in place.
Ares clicked his tongue and handed her the glass of water he was holding. Only then did Kirine calm down somewhat, carefully nursing her tongue as she asked, “So what’s the duel like?”
“What do you mean? We’ll fight with swords,” Ares replied.
“But I don’t know anything about swordsmanship,” Kirine protested.
“Then you’d better learn,” Ares said.
“Easier said than done,” Kirine countered, just as she was about to scold him for being so dismissive.
“What’s the problem? I’m here.”
“What about you?”
“Why are you being sarcastic? Even if I look like this, I’m the captain of the Knights. I can teach you myself.”
Ares was right. Despite his handsome appearance, his skill in swordsmanship and martial arts was unmatched. Yet, Kirine hesitated.
“I’m not sure I want to learn from you,” she muttered.
Sensing her reluctance, Ares flashed a confident smile. “Do you want to lose Sasha?”
Kirine’s initial hesitation vanished immediately. “When do we start, teacher?”
A moment ago, her face had been blank. Now, a faint, yet trembling, smile played on her lips.
***
Early in the morning, after a light warm-up, Kirine found herself sitting heavily on the ground, facing Ares with a wooden sword. Her stamina was quickly dwindling as she tried to keep up with him without magic.
“What a pain this is,” Kirine muttered, struggling to hold the wooden sword.
“If you have time to complain, get up,” Ares replied.
“If you’d gone easy on me, I wouldn’t be in this situation!” Kirine retorted.
“Viarte probably won’t show you any mercy either,” Ares pointed out.
“Ugh, fine! I’m getting up, I’m getting up!” Kirine snapped, reluctantly standing.
“Aren’t you being a bit too serious against a beginner?” she asked.
“Should I go easy on you?” Ares countered.
“If you go easy, I’ll kill you,” Kirine growled, charging at him.
Although the training was more difficult than she expected, Kirine found she could hold her own against Ares due to their previous sparring sessions.
“Well, you’re not completely useless,” Ares said, smirking.
Kirine glared at him, her head held high. “This is pretty impressive. Do you think there’s anyone among wizards with stamina like mine? I’m holding my own against you because it’s me.”
If she could have used magic, the fight would have been much more intense.
“By the way, why are you helping me?” Kirine asked.
“What?” Ares replied.
“I mean, it’s strange. Wouldn’t it be fine for you if Viarte won?”