Duel

In his Previous Life, if Edward had looked as good as he did now, then after a romantic evening of dancing and fireworks, the usual options would have been your place, my place, or a hotel.

But in reality, all he got was to hold the princess's hand. Since she had spent years training with a sword, her palm was covered in calluses, and it didn't feel very nice.

The fireworks ended. As soon as Princess Andrea and Edward returned from the balcony to the third-floor corridor, she awkwardly let go of his hand. Edward instinctively rubbed his nose. He could still feel the warmth of her hand, and he was reluctant to let the moment end.

They returned to the ballroom on the first floor, one after the other. The Ball would end once the New Year's bells rang.

At that point, Andrea would need to stand in the ballroom and deliver a speech on behalf of her father, bringing the New Year's Ball to a close.

Just then, something unexpected happened.

To explain, we had to go back a little. Andrea's younger brother, George, was enjoying a beer and a lively chat with Reinhardt when Young Master Francois passed by with a glass of red wine. Drinks were flowing freely tonight, and he'd had a little too much. He looked thoroughly glum.

George, always eager to stir things up, called out:

"Francois, long time no see. Did you dance with my sister tonight?"

"Don't remind me. Andrea hasn't danced with anyone since she danced with the Grand Duke." Francois was usually curt with others, but he was friendly enough with George, whose status was on a par with his own.

"My sister's always been difficult, as you know. Last year, she even wore men's clothes and danced with a girl. At least this year she hasn't stolen our dance partners."

Just then, they saw Andrea walk over with a glass of wine to the Alchemist who'd been "playing dead" all evening.

Francois knitted his brows. He'd already taken a dislike to the fellow at dinner. That seat couldn't be bought for a thousand Golden Eagle Coins, so what had the brat done to deserve it? But the fellow had known his place during the Ball and hadn't asked anyone to dance, so Francois hadn't gone looking for trouble. And now the man was chatting happily with the princess, even making her laugh so hard she bent over...

"What are you looking at?" George and Reinhardt followed Francois's gaze.

Reinhardt gritted his teeth when he saw them, too. But that Alchemist had killed two Vampire Counts as easily as slaughtering a pair of chickens.

He was one of the princess's admirers, too, but he still had some sense. At least he didn't dare go looking for trouble with Edward.

George began fanning the flames.

"Look at that, Francois. You should learn from him. Everyone else is trying to curry favor with Andrea, but he doesn't pay her any attention at all. That's how you make a girl curious. See? Andrea's the one going over to him."

Francois's expression grew darker by the moment, but George wasn't done. He went on:

"Look, look! He's asking Andrea to dance. Good heavens, she actually said yes!"

The young master from Highland Castle was now the same color as the Cocoa Beans his region was known for...

When the song ended, Francois couldn't hold back any longer and started toward them. But before he could take a step, Princess Andrea lifted her skirt, grabbed Edward, and rushed up to the second floor.

Before the crowd could even finish gasping, a series of bangs and flashes came from outside. The guests streamed out of the ballroom, curious, and looked up at the flashing sky. They were all amazed by the beautiful sight.

As the fireworks gradually faded, George clapped Francois on the shoulder.

"Look at that! Now that's what I call spending big. Listen to all those girls shrieking. Who could resist a move like that? You've got no chance, Francois. Looks like I really will have to call that guy my brother-in-law..."

Francois said nothing. Fuming, he turned and went back into the ballroom. Reinhardt stopped George, who was about to follow and watch the fun.

"Is it wise to provoke him like that? What if..."

"There's no 'what if.' That guy's so stingy he won't even make me a War Hammer. I just wanted to get under his skin a little. There are a few duels at every New Year's Ball. Don't worry, nothing will happen. It'll just be two amateurs flailing at each other."

With that, he followed them inside. The captain of the knights gave a wry smile and followed, too.

As soon as Edward came downstairs, he saw a white object flying toward him. He reacted in time and caught it. Looking at it in his hand, he saw it was a white glove.

Then he heard someone say:

"Since you've accepted my challenge, please name the time and place—or choose the manner of the duel yourself."

Edward saw the "Elf Prince," whose face was black as the bottom of a pot, and instinctively asked:

"Wait, wait. How did I accept a duel? And what are we dueling over?"

"You caught the white glove I threw at you, so that counts as accepting the challenge. It's the custom from the Central Lands to the New Continent. As for why we're dueling, of course it's for Princess Andrea. If I win, you can never go near Her Highness again."

Edward covered his face and thought, Can't we not do this? Why do I always get stuck in these cliché scenes? Can I still pull off my whole quiet, handsome, talented-guy act?

"You're being childish." Edward tried to dodge the cliché by acting all high and mighty. In a steady, resonant voice, he challenged Francois:

"You're dueling for the princess. Do you think that's a sign of love?

What do you take the princess for?

An object you can win or lose on a whim?

At best, you're showing disrespect to Her Highness.

At worst, you're showing disrespect to women everywhere!"

Edward's righteous barrage of questions left Francois speechless.

Edward had just been about to tell him, "In that case, go home and reflect on your actions, young man," then make a grand exit.

But suddenly, someone pinched the soft flesh of his lower back. Using her clumsy Ventriloquism, the princess said:

"If you don't accept his challenge, just see what I'll do to you."

With Edward's weak spot in her grasp, he had no choice but to continue in a righteous tone:

"But since you've challenged me with such sincerity, I'll magnanimously accept. The time and place, you say? Then let's do it now! We'll go to the garden outside."

Edward's abrupt change of heart left Francois reeling. He nearly failed to catch up, but once he did, he was overjoyed and led the way into the garden.

Andrea suddenly went into full dramatic mode and cried out:

"Oh, dear! What's gotten into you two? Don't fight over me..."

Just then, Alice, who'd been watching the show, tugged at George's clothes and whispered:

"What's gotten into Andrea? In past years, when people dueled over her, she'd cheer them on, then knock down whoever won. Why is she acting like this now?"

George shrugged.

"Who knows? Maybe she was impressed by that flashy, banging thing."

Alice curled her lip and muttered:

"Too bad Elwin went home. He's missing all the fun."

Everyone followed Edward and Francois into the garden. Francois looked confident of victory, as if Edward were the ordinary man and he were the Great Knight.

He said smugly:

"Since you chose the time and place, I'll choose the manner of the duel!"

He took a golden Battle Axe Badge from his pocket and pinned it to his chest.

"I choose a restricted duel! I'll only use this one enhancement item. No other items or weapons are allowed. You're a professional, while I'm an ordinary man, but to keep things fair, you may use one enhancement item, too. What do you say?"

Francois sounded righteous, but inwardly he was gloating. You're a frail Alchemist, hardly any stronger than an ordinary person. Anyone could tell that Alchemists relied on their items. Once yours were restricted, you'd be nothing but a punching bag.

Andrea came over and quietly explained:

"That's the God of War Church's golden Battle Axe Badge. It can give an ordinary person the physical prowess of a peak knight, though without Battle Qi."

Edward asked in surprise:

"That powerful? Doesn't it have any side effects?"

"Sadly, no. It really doesn't have any side effects," Andrea replied.

"No wonder the guy has so much stamina and dares to marry more than a dozen wives. Maybe I should make that thing the wager. If I win it, I can try it out, too."

Princess Andrea rolled her eyes at him.

"I asked you to duel him so you could get rid of this annoying man for me, not to take advantage of him. Besides, even if you got it, you couldn't use it. His Family has to contribute several thousand gold coins to the God of War Church each year to charge that badge!"

Edward sighed at the extravagance of the rich, then took out his Alchemist's Pocket Watch and nodded.

"I agree. I'll only use the enhancement watch issued by the association."

Then he motioned for Andrea to step farther away. He hung up his watch and squatted on the ground, looking just like an old farmer sitting outside his house to eat noodles.

He pressed his right index finger to the ground and beckoned to Francois with his left hand.

"Come on. I'm ready."

Francois stared at Edward's strange pose, baffled.

But he was cautious and didn't rush straight in. Instead, he slowly circled Edward.

He was an old hand in the dueling arena. A man who'd married more than a dozen wives had to know how to fight over favors and get into brawls. Otherwise, he'd be a freak among the nobility.

Francois was confident he'd never lost a duel.

Edward didn't react. He remained motionless in his crouch.

Just as Francois circled behind him, the Battle Axe Amulet flashed with golden light, and Francois suddenly sprang into action.

He shot toward Edward like an arrow. The two of them were only about twenty paces apart, so he'd reach him in an instant.

But Edward's fingertip flashed. The Shaping Technique took effect, and a Mud Hand shot out of the earth to grab Francois by the ankle.

Francois lost his balance, his feet left the ground, and he was about to land face-first in the dirt.

He reacted quickly. He covered his head with his arms and curled up, ready to roll onto his side the moment he landed and evade whatever attack came next.

But he never hit the ground. Another huge hand rose from the earth, grabbed the back of his clothes, and lifted him into the air.

Thinking Edward was showing mercy, Francois sneered:

"Do you think this is a friendly sparring match? This is a battle of honor and dignity. Let me down!"

Edward pivoted around the index finger he'd planted on the ground, never lifting it. He looked like a crab spinning in place.

The earthen hand held Francois securely by the back of his clothes, lifting him two or three meters into the air and turning him upside down, his face toward the sky and his head hanging low.

Edward looked at him as if he were an idiot.

"This isn't a friendly sparring match. If you're so tough, get down by yourself."

Everyone from Edward's Previous Life knew that humans were remarkably nimble "animals." They could reach almost every part of their own bodies with their hands. The one place they couldn't get a good grip on was the small of their back. Don't believe it? Try it. Most people would struggle just to touch the spot with their fingers.

In Greek mythology, the demigod Hercules used this trick to lift the son of the Goddess of the Earth off the ground, leaving him unable to use his tremendous strength.

Now Francois had all four limbs dangling in the air, with nothing to push off against. He looked just like a turtle flipped onto its back, flailing its legs uselessly.

Edward was taking advantage of the fact that Francois had no Battle Qi and could do nothing with all that strength. An ordinary knight could simply release his Battle Qi and shatter the earthen hand Edward had shaped, but Francois might never be able to do that.

"Are you going to surrender yet?" Edward had taken his hand off the ground and was brushing the dirt off his palm.

"You're cheating! Let me down!" Francois struggled helplessly. Hanging head-down, his face had already turned bright red.

"Don't struggle too hard or you'll tear your clothes. Look at what's underneath you," Edward threatened, his voice sinister.

Francois looked below him. A dense cluster of Ground Spikes had risen from the earth, each one sharp as a knife and pointed straight at him. He froze.

Edward continued to scare him.

"But it won't matter whether you struggle or not. The Mud Hand holding you will collapse on its own in twenty seconds. Hurry up and surrender, or there won't be time to save you."

Then he took out his Pocket Watch and checked the time.

"I'm starting the countdown. Ten, nine, eight, seven..."

Francois looked at the spikes on the ground, cold sweat pouring down his face. At last, fear of death overwhelmed him. Tears welled in his eyes, and he shouted through his sobs:

"I surrender! I surrender! Let me down..."

"Too late." Edward grinned and snapped the Alchemist's Pocket Watch shut.

The earthen hand crumbled into a pile of dust, and Francois slammed hard into the ground. The spikes disintegrated into powder before he landed, sending up a cloud of dust.

As the dust slowly settled, Young Master Francois appeared, covered in dirt. Mud streaked his tear-stained face, making him look like a filthy cat. He was still crying, tears of relief and humiliation.

Amid the crowd's laughter, he fled the Duke's Mansion and took his private warship back south.

Edward dusted off his hands, turned to Princess Andrea, and smiled.

"Your Highness, the task you gave me has been completed successfully." He looked like he was waiting for praise.

The princess gave him a sidelong glance.

"Better to kill a man than humiliate him. You'd have been better off giving him a beating than disgracing him like that. He's the young master of Highland Castle. Be careful he doesn't retaliate."

"With his temper, I bet he'd retaliate as long as he didn't win. It's fine. I can handle him," Edward said with a smile.

The crowd dispersed, and Edward left the Duke's Mansion alone. Tonight had been fascinating, like watching a movie that put him right in the middle of the action. He'd spent forty dull years in his Previous Life, and those hadn't been half as exciting as the few years he'd spent in this world.

As he reached Fountain Square, he saw someone and suddenly stopped dead.

The stuff I've been writing lately has been a little watered down. Don't actually mistake my novel for a romance, okay? covers face. The real battle is about to begin.

And finally, thank you for your collections and recommendation votes. Thank you! I'm rolling around and begging for more collections and recommendations.