15 – The Time-Rewound Lady Watches the Duel
Once that was decided, things moved quickly.
The banquet hall was transformed into a dueling arena.
The royal servants worked efficiently, clearing away the dinner tables and dishes in no time, leaving behind a vast open space.
Perfect for combat.
And there, the two gentlemen immediately clashed.
“Ha! Hah!!”
Since it was a duel between nobles of this country, it naturally became a battle of magic.
Adelina’s lover—the intruder—launched a fierce, relentless assault the moment the duel began.
His magic was wind.
Invisible blades sliced through the air—if struck unguarded, they would cut skin and tear flesh apart. Without magical defense, it could easily result in serious injury.
The Crown Prince remained on the defensive, unable to find an opening to counterattack.
To think he could push Crown Prince Kistohart this far… he’s stronger than expected?
“Lord Belet is very hardworking. He has older brothers, and it’s already decided that he won’t inherit the family. He realized long ago that he would never stand in the spotlight.”
At some point, Adelina had come to stand beside me.
And apparently taken on the role of commentator.
“He kept honing his magic even knowing it might never be rewarded… I was drawn to that sincerity…! I was the same—studying magic only because my father told me to, without knowing why I was even trying…!”
She really takes every opportunity to gush about him.
…Well, for now, it seems I won’t need this knife anymore.
The situation has completely slipped out of my control.
That prince always ruins my plans!
“He’s actually pushing back His Highness?”
“The third son of House Shereviton had that much skill?”
“On par with Prince Kistohart, the greatest mage in the kingdom…!?”
The banquet guests—now unexpected witnesses to the duel—along with the other candidates for Crown Princess and their families, were captivated by the intense battle.
It really was quite a spectacle.
However, the situation didn’t last long.
Perhaps from continuously attacking, fatigue began to show. Magic consumes mental strength, after all.
As his stamina waned and his offense faltered, the long-awaited counterattack began.
A flash burst from the Crown Prince’s staff.
His specialty was light magic.
Condensed beams of light carried intense heat, capable of burning through their target.
Naturally, Adelina’s lover desperately defended himself—but only barely. Each successive attack pushed him closer to his limit.
And then—
He made one fatal opening.
It was over in an instant.
“Uwaaaaaah!!”
“This settles it.”
The tip of the Crown Prince’s staff was pointed at Adelina’s fallen lover.
The match was decided.
As expected, no one could defeat the kingdom’s greatest mage—the Crown Prince.
But then what happens now?
Since he lost the duel, the “prize”—Adelina—would belong to the victor, Crown Prince Kistohart. The two would be torn apart.
What should we do?
If it comes to this, I’ll take the blame just as we planned—
…At that moment, my body froze.
My eyes met the Crown Prince’s.
He was looking straight at me.
As if to say, Don’t move.
“With this, you’ve lost the right to marry Lady Adelina. She was once a candidate for my fiancée.”
“Ugh…”
“However… I found your performance in battle quite impressive.”
Hm?
With those words, the flow of events shifted.
“You rushed recklessly to win the woman you love—that was your downfall. But if you learn to control yourself, you will become an even more formidable opponent. A talented mage like you will surely be of great use to this kingdom.”
“What… are you planning?”
“As a ruler, I think it wise to earn a favor from someone like you. If you wish, I can grant you my former fiancée candidate.”
That means…
Adelina?
“I will permit your marriage to Lady Adelina. In return, I ask for your lifelong loyalty—as a capable mage—beyond what is ordinarily expected of nobles. …What do you say?”
“I—I swear it!!”
Adelina’s lover knelt, raising his staff toward the Crown Prince.
That gesture symbolized absolute loyalty among the nobility.
“I will never forget this great kindness! For Your Highness, I will fight any enemy!”
“I—I too will support my husband and devote myself to Your Highness!”
Adelina knelt beside him, pledging her loyalty as well.
The surrounding crowd could only watch in stunned silence.
Myself included.
“So it is settled. I, Crown Prince Kistohart, have fulfilled young love and gained the absolute loyalty of a talented mage. A nation is not governed by a king alone. The more capable and loyal retainers one has, the better—and loyalty is not given freely. Lady Adelina is beautiful, but I cannot marry every woman in the kingdom. Thus, I believe a good ruler fosters harmony by bringing together those who truly love one another.”
Then, his gaze shifted elsewhere.
“Count Fwanze.”
“Y-Yes!?”
A plump, middle-aged man jumped at being called.
So that must be Adelina’s father.
“Lady Adelina is your pride and joy. You must have sent her here eagerly, hoping she would become Crown Princess.”
“Y-Yes…!”
“But becoming Crown Princess is not the only honor. Belet Shereviton is an exceptional young mage. In time, he will become one of the kingdom’s finest magic knights. If he marries into your family, your house will surely rise in status.”
“Yes…!”
“You will respect my judgment, won’t you?”
“…Yes.”
Directly addressed by the Crown Prince, the man had no courage to refuse.
And just like that—it was settled.
Adelina would be united with the man she loved.
With no penalties whatsoever.
In fact, Belet gained the reputation of being “favored by the Crown Prince,” giving him a huge advantage for his future.
Even the Crown Prince himself didn’t simply permit their marriage—he first demonstrated his power in the duel, then magnanimously “granted” her, showcasing his generosity.
A perfect outcome for everyone.
…Wait.
Does that mean everything that happened… was exactly as the Crown Prince intended?
◆
Despite the unexpected trouble, the banquet ended peacefully.
In my previous life, the two had been exposed in the worst possible way—not only torn apart, but driven to ruin.
Compared to that, this outcome—where their love was fulfilled and their future secure—was ideal.
As the guests began to leave and I stood there in a daze, two figures ran toward me.
Adelina and her lover.
“Thank you so much! Thanks to you, everything worked out!”
They came to thank me?
How earnest.
“I did nothing. This was all due to His Highness’s wisdom.”
“If you hadn’t stopped us earlier, we would never have even stood before the Crown Prince—we would have gone down the wrong path. You guided us there.”
Hearing that so sincerely… it hurts.
What I did was just atonement for my past sins.
And the only solution I offered would have ended with your face being scarred.
Compared to the Crown Prince, who solved everything perfectly—I’m nothing.
“It was thanks to both you and His Highness that we were saved. You truly are a remarkable lady.”
“Yes! If someone like you became Crown Princess, you would surely support His Highness and bring about a wonderful reign. I’ll be withdrawing from the selection, but I’ll be cheering for you.”
Adelina’s lover—no, her fiancé now—joined in praising me.
But they were completely mistaken.
“I cannot become Crown Princess. That was decided from the beginning.”
“That can’t be!? Someone as wise as you…!?”
“I lack the one thing most necessary to become his consort. Surely you’ve heard of the ‘magicless’ lady?”
At that, their expressions froze.
They hesitated, unsure what to say, then fell silent.
“Even so… that doesn’t change the fact that you helped us. We will never forget this.”
“Take care.”
With that, they left—turning back again and again to bow.
Most of the guests had already gone, but I remained standing there, unable to move.
Then—
“I’m glad they still showed gratitude. If they had changed their attitude the moment they learned you were ‘magicless,’ I would have revoked my permission.”
“!?”
Startled, I turned around.
Standing there—
With radiant beauty—
“Your Highness… Crown Prince Kistohart…!?”
