As the first clash of swords marked the beginning of the duel, the world around me seemed to slow down.

Whether it was merely a sensation or an actual miracle happening, I couldn’t tell.

In this slow-moving time, the only one who seemed to move normally was me, making it seem like a miracle indeed.

My father, upon hearing of this experience, sighed with a mixture of jealousy and admiration, calling it a talent close to a divine blessing.

Did he know that even such a talent would face an opponent hard to contend with?

Unable to ask the deceased, I decided to focus on the present and heightened my awareness.

As I maintained my stride within the narrow gap, without taking my eyes off her, I could see her reacting to my movements with ease.

Moments fragmented into countless pieces, and within those countless fragments...

Voooong!!

Aslin’s overhead strike came down on me as if to pierce through the skies.

Even in this slow-moving time, Aslin’s sword swung with a speed that matched, or perhaps even exceeded, my perception and control.

While others’ swift strikes appeared as slow as a child’s first steps to me, this unparalleled genius wielded a sword infused with talent beyond my comprehension, reaching me.

Seeing her sword technique surge towards me without even sensing her aura made me barely suppress a hollow laugh, unable to feel jealousy.

“Your skills have improved.”

I admitted to myself that Aslin’s skills had enhanced.

Her speed and sharpness had surpassed those days when we swept through the monster hordes on the battlefield, where the first princess’ victory seemed certain.

I couldn’t dodge it. The slash was too swift and precise to avoid.

No, I couldn’t dodge it. I had to either deflect, parry, or block it desperately.

With that thought, I swung my sword to counter Aslin’s trajectory.

Clang!!

A pleasing metallic sound rang out as steel clashed, producing sparks.

My hand didn’t tingle or numb. It was Aslin’s sword, which I’d encountered numerous times on the battlefield.

Despite her improved skills, I knew how her sword would trace its path towards me, and thus I deflected it before its force could peak.

There was no reason for my hand to tingle.

And it seemed Aslin felt the same, even though her strike had been nullified.

“Taaah!!”

Unperturbed by her thwarted strike, Aslin immediately shouted and launched her next attack.

As the rebounded sword faced the ground, she executed a horizontal slash from right to left, timed perfectly when the blade was parallel to the floor of the training ground.

Though it was just another slash, differing only in direction, her sword, flying through countless fragmented moments without an aura, approached me as if to herald death.

Even seasoned warriors, upon facing her sword, would have foreseen their demise.

But in a duel under the condition of no aura reinforcement...

It wasn’t an unmanageable strike.

“Hup!!”

With an appropriate shout, I swung my sword to meet her trajectory.

Again, the technique was the same. Just before her sword, drawing a picture of death, reached its peak acceleration and painted its masterpiece...

Clang!!

I intertwined my sword with hers skillfully, preventing her from completing the fatal stroke.

If it were against her sword, which I had faced countless times, I could easily perform even with my eyes closed.

Even though it was a sparring match, blocking the best slashes made with sharpened real swords twice in a row was something I prided myself on as a flawless defense that could break anyone’s will.

Unfortunately, my opponent, who could be considered the best in the Empire and even the strongest in the world, seemed even more excited by my performance.

“Then! How about this!!”

She exclaimed with excitement.

Voooong-!!

She swung her sword at me again.

This time, it was a slash aimed just before her deflected sword touched the ground, drawn with the momentum to cut my body diagonally in two.

To witness such a magnificent and powerful slash coming from a woman’s body that didn’t seem particularly well-trained was awe-inspiring.

However, I wasn’t in a position to be overwhelmed by reverence and kneel before her.

Her challenging sword trajectory was a kind of invitation to see if I could parry it as well.

This was evident from the smile mixed with competitive spirit and an indescribable emotion on Aslin’s face, even within the countless fragmented moments.

At this point, the competitive spirit I had long buried within me began to sprout again.

No, it had already sprouted.

Before the thought of wanting to brilliantly parry the sword trajectory that Aslin had drawn to push my limits even further could fully form in my mind...

Voooong-!!

My right hand was already preparing to overlay her drawn trajectory with the one I was about to create.

As the sparks flew when the two master swords clashed...

Clang-!!

The delightful sound of steel echoed in perfect dissonance, pleasing my eyes and ears.

“I can’t wait to see when you’re fully recovered.”

After three consecutive slashes were completely blocked, Aslin finally distanced herself from me, her voice filled with genuine anticipation.

As I closed the gap between us again...

“Hyaah!!”

I shouted, answering her with a strike aimed at her heart.

It was my first counterattack and offensive move since the duel began.

Just like the slashes she had used against me earlier, this strike was not intended to kill, but it was an attack that could be used under the unspoken agreement that it was necessary for a proper spar.

As I executed the slash within the countless fragmented moments...

“Impressive...”

Even though it was a short response, Aslin’s expression was filled with more than what her words could convey.

“But...!!”

Then, she swiftly changed her expression to one of confidence and thrust her sword to intercept the trajectory I had drawn.

Clang-!!

As expected, my all-out strike was skillfully blocked by Aslin, who angled her blade perfectly to deflect my trajectory.

After that, without needing to say a word, we continued to wield the best sword techniques possible under the circumstances, amplifying the song of steel.

On the battlefield, every time this sound rang out, it was merely a prelude to the extinguishing of a life.

Strangely enough, the clashing of steel now sounded sweet to my ears.

The prolonged sparring session with Aslin ended the way it always did whenever our swords met.

“Huff… huff…”

I struggled to catch my breath, trying to steady my breathing.

“I wasn’t just playing around, but it seems you weren’t either.”

Unlike me, Aslin stood proudly, not even needing to catch her breath, in perfect condition.

Given the situation, it looked as though I had lost and was looking up at her from below.

“If we were on the battlefield, I’d already be dead by your hand.”

“It wasn’t the battlefield; it was a sparring match. And even though I controlled my strength, you deflected and blocked all my strikes.”

“And you deflected all of mine.”

“No matter how many times we exchanged blows, the result was the same.”

“Indeed.”

“As expected… it’s a draw again.”

Once again, our duel ended in a draw.

It was remarkable. Just before my body, which wasn’t in a condition to fully utilize its aura, reached its limit, Aslin declared the match a draw, sensing that there would be no decisive outcome.

Her keen perception, as if she could predict exactly when I would reach my limit after a certain number of exchanges, was astonishing.

There was no doubt. If Aslin had pushed me harder when I was exhausted, she could have claimed her first victory over me, even if she didn’t take my life.

“Thanks for going all out.”

There wasn’t a hint of disappointment in Aslin’s demeanor, only a voice of pure relief.

It felt strange to see such an attitude from someone who was essentially my strategic marriage partner, intended to eliminate all swordsmanship from my family’s house.

“I have just one question.”

For now, I had a more fundamental question I wanted to address rather than pondering deeply about the political implications, so I asked Aslin.

Srrr-kk!

“If it’s something I can answer, I will.”

Aslin, sheathed her sword, which was no longer needed, and seemed willing to answer any question.

Srrr-kk!

I also sheathed my sword and asked the question I had in mind.

“This sword is a masterpiece, not feeling hastily made at all. It’s surprising.”

“…Surprising?”

“It fits me so well that it feels like my own sword techniques are naturally executed when I wield it.”

“So…?”

“So I have to ask, did you use your keen perception to craft a sword that suits me perfectly, knowing precisely when I would tire?”

“….”

A deep silence followed my question, but it was quickly broken.

Not through words, but by Aslin giving a slight nod, answering my question.

The audacity she displayed when she shoved a sword at me in our bridal chamber.

The coldness in her eyes when she chased me after I jumped out of the window to escape.

The subtle joy she showed when I answered that I would spar with her in the training hall.

The first two were aspects of her I had seen countless times on the battlefield.

The last one was a rare sight I had observed a few times while watching her from an assassin’s perspective.

“….”

Aslin nodded silently to my words, her ears barely turning a slight shade of red. It was the first time I’d seen this.

How should I even describe this?

While I searched for the right words...

“….”

Aslin stopped nodding and suddenly turned her back on me.

I didn’t know why, but it was clear she didn’t want to show me her expression.

The redness of her ears deepened, rendering her effort futile.

“Really….”

“…?”

“Does the sword I gave you… suit your hand?”

…Even her voice trembled slightly now.

I had wondered how often this formidable woman’s voice would tremble when asking or answering someone. That rare occurrence was unfolding right before my eyes.

Hmm, I’ve witnessed something precious.

“Like I said before. Let me say it again.”

“….”

“This sword, I’ll use it gratefully. Thank you for giving me a sword so fine it could be a lifetime treasure.”

“…I’m glad you liked the gift.”

As I mixed my thoughts of witnessing something precious with genuine gratitude, Aslin seemed to calm her trembling and accepted my thanks.

How curious, truly curious. It’s fascinating to see this side of someone I thought I knew everything about.

“…It’s time to sleep.”

Aslin turned back to face me and spoke.

Despite not sweating a single drop during our spar, her face now bore a faint blush, as if the heat had finally caught up to her.

“It seems so.”

I responded nonchalantly, pretending not to notice the blush.

“Let’s go.”

Aslin’s tone returned to its usual moderate sternness.

Well, since we’ve finished here, it’s only natural to move on to another place.

“To where?”

To confirm a sudden thought that popped into my head, I asked.

“To our bridal chamber, of course. The bedroom where a couple should sleep.”

The moment I heard Aslin’s matter-of-fact response, I couldn’t help but briefly think it might have been better to continue receiving her sword strikes until dawn.