Durandal had no intention of refusing Esdeath's condition. She just wanted to keep getting beaten up by her... then Durandal would grant her wish!
Durandal usually sparred with Rita and the others as well, but she could not bear to be too harsh on them. As for... Esdeath, there was no need to be so polite.
As long as she did not beat her to death, she could beat her as hard as she wanted.
"Still so confident. But... it's not certain who will win or lose, is it?" Esdeath seemed extremely confident in herself, and that came from... her recent increase in strength.
"Then... let's wait and see."
Durandal replied indifferently and continued toward the palace with Rita. Esdeath stood with her hands on her hips, watched the two walk a few steps ahead, and only then followed them.
After Durandal and the other two entered the palace, they found that nearly all the Empire's remaining civil and military officials had arrived. Only the three of them had been missing.
They did not care, nor did they show any intention of bowing to the Emperor. The Emperor himself did not seem to mind either.
He was already used to it. Honest, Durandal, and Esdeath... they had practically never observed the formalities expected of subjects.
"General Esdeath, General Durandal... and Minister Rita, you've finally arrived. You truly kept us waiting." As he watched the three enter, Honest, who was eating meat, looked at them with a fox-like smile and said jovially.
"My apologies! Official duties kept us busy and delayed everyone."
Esdeath and Durandal ignored Honest without replying, while Rita answered with a smiling expression.
"...Then Minister Rita must have worked very hard indeed."
Hearing Rita's words, Honest's face darkened...
Busy with official duties? As if he believed that