Saint, You Should Quit Smoking

The Third Prince of the Empire has lost his power.
The rumor that began at some point in the imperial palace spread through social circles to even the marketplace.
The Third Prince had excelled in both swordsmanship and magic. Since he was a promising talent from a young age, he was admired by many imperial citizens, but.
Now he couldn’t cast even the most basic magic, nor could he draw even a fundamental sword path.
So it wasn’t unreasonable that nobles would secretly mock the prince who could no longer develop his talents.
Having grown up hearing that rumor, the Northerner dared to challenge me, Loran, to a duel.
In the dim lighting and hazy light sources of the spacious Bardishe Bar, the Northerner and I were facing off at a distance.
The students around us were excited despite the sudden duel. They were probably expecting the noble imperial family member to make a disgraceful appearance.
“What an honor this is. To exchange blows with the once-great Third Prince!”
Whoosh- Whoosh-
The Northerner was swinging his axe around. His skill with the axe was quite proficient for his age.
“Haha! Unfortunately, since Your Highness can’t handle mana, I won’t use aura either. Of course, I’ll attack with the back of the axe, not the blade.”
“Do as you wish.”
To him, who laughed brutally while making demeaning remarks about me, I simply responded calmly.
My demeanor seemed to irritate him, as the Northerner fiercely furrowed his brow.
Grasp. Veins bulged in the hand holding the axe handle. The Northerner glared at me roughly and growled.
“Then I’ll begin. I don’t intend to harm Your Highness’s noble body, but please understand that unavoidable situations may arise during the duel.”
“I will.”
At my emotionless response, he barked loudly and stomped his foot. It seemed like he felt no further dialogue was necessary.
Woosh!
The back of the axe flew towards me without hesitation. The weapon that came rushing in a wide arc passed by, barely grazing my cheek.
“Hm!”
Attacks continued to come one after another.
The axe’s back kept rushing to hit my body, but it missed by a paper-thin margin. If I had made even a slight mistake, I would have been bruised.
In the Northerner’s pupils, arrogance glinted as if he had the upper hand.
The students caught in my vision while avoiding his attacks also had looks of anticipation for my humiliation.
Such a pattern repeated once, twice, three times—after more than 10 times.
“…?”
Questions arose in the Northerner’s eyes.
Outwardly, it must seem like a strange situation. If his attacks had just a bit more accuracy, I would be rolling on the ground.
Oddly, that tiny difference wasn’t narrowing no matter how much time passed.
It must be a situation he hadn’t anticipated. Did he expect me to clumsily try to dodge in a panic, quickly get hit, and scream in an unsightly manner?
“Tsk!”
He adjusted his posture and swung the back of his axe at me again.
However.
This time too, I narrowly avoided his attack.
I could see the eyes of the surrounding students gradually changing. They too must realize.
It’s not that I’m struggling to dodge.
Rather, this result occurs because I have room to spare.
What followed was a repetition of the preceding process. When he swings broadly, I move just enough not to get hit.
“Huff, huff…”
In the end, it was the Northerner who started getting tired. His movements were vigorous, while mine required almost no energy. A natural result.
Only the process leading to that result was incomprehensible. Confusion clouded his eyes.
The Northerner wasn’t the only one surprised. In the eyes of the many students watching this, the base expectations that were initially present had disappeared. What remained was just disbelief.
How on earth?
That must be the question everyone here had.
How does the Third Prince, who supposedly lost all his power, so easily avoid the Northerner’s axe strikes?
No one here could know the answer.
Because this was top secret even within the imperial family.
“Are you done?”
I asked him in a tone devoid of emotion.
“What happened to the teaching you said you’d give me? Is this your teaching?”
Huff- Huff-
Sweat poured like rain from the cheeks of the Northerner, who was breathing roughly.
Though he seemed quite shaken by the irrational situation, he soon corrected his posture.
“…I’ll go properly now.”
Though his tone suggested that he hadn’t been serious until now, I didn’t particularly rebuke him.
The Northerner lunged at me again. It was a similar attack to before.
Yes, if he hadn’t subtly flipped the axe.
It seemed to be due to the rising frustration that things weren’t going as he intended. He probably wanted to give me some humiliation and feel superior.
But as the situation took a strange turn, perhaps he was afraid that rumors might spread that he couldn’t even defeat the Third Prince who had lost his power.
It was a highly irrational judgment. Though it exceeded the level of a duel, if I were to guess his thoughts.
He probably intended to make it look like an accident. How could he dare to raise the axe blade against a member of the imperial family in front of numerous watching students?
His declaration to go properly was just a smokescreen. He likely prepared the excuse that he got excited and attacked with the axe blade by mistake.
‘How foolish.’
Could the excuse of heated blood truly be an exemption after marring the body of a prince?
Of course not. At the very least, that would have to be a coincidence in a more proper duel.
‘Even then, with a family like his.’
He couldn’t escape responsibility.
In any case.
Now it was my turn to act.
The axe blade flies towards me in a horizontal arc. Though he didn’t imbue it with aura, there was mana flowing in his arm, so I’d be injured if I tried to block it carelessly.
However.
I extended my hand to the Northerner’s arm without hesitation.
Tap.
“…?!”
Perhaps he never thought I would reach out my hand to block his attack, the Northerner’s eyes widened.
The moment I blocked his attack, intense pain surged through my arm. It was an inevitable result from the collision of a body wrapped in mana and one that wasn’t.
My muscles and bones would be damaged. However, not the slightest movement appeared on my face.
The Northerner’s expression, slow to grasp the situation. While watching him impassively.
I applied force to my hand.
Grip-!
“Urgh?!”
The Northerner heavily furrowed his brow. Simultaneously,
Clang!
The axe slipped from the Northerner’s hand and fell to the bar floor.
-W-what…?!
-What did he do?
The surrounding students forgot their silence and whispered.
It’s an impossible event. Clearly, I should be the one injured from receiving the attack. How did the axe fall from his hand?
However, there was someone who showed a different reaction.
“Ah.”
A girl’s voice let out a small exclamation.
It was the hooded figure. As if she had realized something from my action just now.
“…”
After that, she closed her mouth and quietly watched me.
“W-what…”
The moment the Northerner stupidly opened his mouth.
Smack!
I forcefully slapped his cheek.
“Gah?!”
The Northerner staggered back a few steps.
Streaming blood from his nose, he looked at me with a bewildered expression.
“W-what are you…”
“That’s what I should be asking.”
Flinch.
The Northerner jolted upon hearing the words flowing from my mouth.
An icy cold tone. It signaled that my emotions were far from pleasant.
“What were you trying to do, Northerner?”
“T-that is…”
“Were you about to use the axe blade just now?”
“…!”
The Northerner closed his mouth. Blood from his nose trickled past his lips and coagulated on his chin.
I took a step forward without outwardly showing my body’s painful reactions.
Thud.
With that, the Northerner stepped back.
“In the Academy, equality is the law. Those were your words to me just now.”
Tremble tremble- His body shook uncontrollably, and fear took root in his pupils. Only now did it seem he could guess the repercussions of what he tried to do.
“However.”
But it was too late.
Many students had already witnessed it. No, even if they all took the Northerner’s side, it wouldn’t matter now.
Even if they all spoke with one voice, it wouldn’t weigh more than a single word from me, the Third Prince.
My face reflected in the Northerner’s pupils.
On that face were the eyes of an imperial family member looking at a subordinate who dared to be reckless.
No, the eyes of a dragon were drawn there.
“Do you think the Academy will protect you forever? Do you think it will protect your family?”
I take another step forward. The Northerner couldn’t retreat.
“Did you think you could harm a member of the imperial family and get away unscathed?”
“N-no!”
The Northerner reacted as if jumping at my words.
Before his ugly excuses could be pulled out of his mouth, I spoke.
“I’m questioning your crimes now, yet your gaze is high.”
Another step.
“Kneel.”
Thud!
The Northerner’s knees immediately hit the floor.
“…?!”
His eyes, full of disbelief, trembled endlessly.
“W-what is this…”
He tries to somehow stand up, but.
It seems not to go as he wishes; even twisting his body, he can’t rise.
The surrounding students were also unable to utter a word, not understanding why the Northerner was acting this way.
The only one leading this incomprehensible situation was the Third Prince of the Empire.
I, Loran von Welert.
“Did you think I wouldn’t know that your intention in addressing me was impure from the start?”
“N-no…”
“Don’t try to cover the sky with your hand.”
Another step.
Now I was right in front of the Northerner.
“Moreover, you showed your barbarism not just to me but to an innocent woman as well.”
“…”
Only then did the Northerner lower his head to the ground.
He must be increasingly able to judge what kind of situation he’s in.
However, the water has already been spilled. Not even the most virtuous person could dissolve this situation smoothly. Especially since I am a member of the imperial family.
“I cannot view this as merely a reckless act because you thought a noble status had been placed on equal footing with you. Do you admit that it was clearly the behavior of a ruffian trying to bully others?”
“Y-yes…”
In response to his answer, now finally admitting his wrongdoing.
I spoke sternly.
“What are you doing? Not prostrating?”
“W-what do you… gah?!”
Thud!
The Northerner couldn’t even maintain his kneeling posture and slammed his face onto the floor.
A completely prostrated position. His nose pressed against the floor, making it difficult to breathe.
Yet he was unable to control his body according to his will.
“Huff, huff…!”
Over his head as he struggled to breathe.
I pressed down my foot.
“Gah, gaah!”
A body that doesn’t move at all despite trying to writhe in agony.
My eyes, watching this, were frighteningly emotionless.
“Now what should you do?”
At my words, the Northerner frantically shouted.
“I-I’m sorry! I’ve committed a grave sin against Your Highness…!”
Despite clearly hearing those words echoing throughout the bar.
I did not lift my foot.
My shoe crushed the back of his head, staining it with blood, but the force only grew stronger.
My mouth continued with words paradoxical to such actions.
“My personal punishment ends here.”
“T-then why…!”
To that outcry containing the question of why I wasn’t removing my foot.
I reminded him of his wrongdoing.
“Am I the only one your mouth should apologize to?”
“…!”
“Why aren’t you seeking forgiveness from that lady?”
“Guh, guhh…”
Even seeing the Northerner’s face, now seemingly about to pass out, I didn’t release the pressure from my foot.
My words were extremely reasonable. The problem wouldn’t end with just me receiving an apology.
“My, my.”
The hooded figure who had been listening to the conversation let out a small exclamation of admiration.
“I’m, s-sorry…!”
Only after his apology barely escaped.
Did my foot finally come off his head.
Huff- Huff- To the Northerner who was urgently inhaling breaths, I calmly stated.
“I will let this matter drop within the Academy, but.”
“…”
“Should I return to the imperial palace, I will report to His Majesty.”
One step, two steps.
As I slowly backed away from him, I concluded with my final words.
“Any objections?”
“None!”
By then, the Northerner turned his body. It seemed as if he had only now regained the ability to move.
I looked around carefully.
The interior of Bardishe Bar was intensely silent. No one dared to open their mouth.
They would have enough trouble just catching up with the situation that had unfolded contrary to common sense.
I turned my body to face the counter. I addressed the owner who had been watching the situation throughout.
“I’m sorry for causing a disturbance, owner.”
“Not at all, Your Highness.”
The owner smiled as if not particularly concerned.
“It’s extremely rare for the Academy to intervene in matters that arise between students. You did well.”
“Thank you for saying so.”
I adjusted my brooch. The disheveled state of my clothes did not please me.
“I’ll be taking my leave now.”
Since I seemed to have found the target I was looking for, it would be fine to withdraw for today.
The flow had turned unfavorable due to unexpected interference. It would be difficult to achieve the desired result by continuing the conversation here.
As I was about to leave the bar without lingering, walking past the stunned students, behind my back.
I heard a beautiful woman’s voice.
“Your Highness.”
I turned my head at those words calling me.
In the direction the voice came from was a woman who had pulled her hood down deeply.
She looked in my direction and bowed deeply.
“I appreciate your consideration. Without Your Highness, I might not have received an apology.”
“Don’t dwell on it. I merely did what was natural.”
“Many don’t know what’s natural.”
Somehow, it was a pointed remark.
The woman straightened her posture and then looked directly at me.
“Your Highness.”
The words from her mouth were quite unexpected.
“Would you come here tomorrow night, at the same time?”
“…”
“Now is not a good time. It seems better to continue our unfinished conversation when the moon arrives tomorrow.”
There was no reason to decline if she was voluntarily offering to have a conversation.
Since it was a proposition I had hoped for, I simply nodded.
“Alright. I’ll see you then.”
“Yes. I wish you a good night.”
As I turned my body after finishing the conversation, I caught a glimpse of the woman’s face through the hood.
Her eyes had an ink-black hue.