Bayer's warm, resolute gaze fell upon Arten, and he smiled faintly. "Being able to participate in a trial that's nearly combat, to experience the danger of blood and fire — that's the pursuit of a true knight, regardless of my status as Crown Prince." As he spoke, he turned toward the Brocken Duke Ulrich. "Uncle Ulrich, since you've already agreed to
The old duke sighed. "You young people… Very well. I'll grant your wish."
His slightly drooping eyelids lowered, concealing every trace of emotion behind those deep blue eyes.
Count Nurenbeck laughed heartily. "That's the spirit, Bayer! A knight should be tempered in battle! If I hadn't gone to the northern provinces, joining the war against Shahran, clashing with countless knights on land, in the sky, and at the bottom of rivers — brushing past death over and over — perhaps I would never have advanced to Sky Knight in my lifetime."
"Uncle Nurenbeck, you've always been my role model." Bayer chuckled, then turned and walked toward Arten, remarking with feigned casualness, "As my good friend, I hope you'll fight alongside me."
Arten's expression immediately lit up with excitement. He dropped to one knee in the posture of a knight pledging fealty to his lord. "This is my honor, Your Highness. I will forever be your knight."
The young nobles following him were all flushed with excitement. With the prince joining their side — given his status and strength — the situation had once again swung in their favor!
This was precisely why Arten was so moved. Bayer's perfectly timed appearance had let him glimpse light in the depths of despair.
"I didn't expect the prince to come as well, and to be on Arten's side, no less…" Lucian "absently" "murmured," as if lost in thought.
Beside him, Sophia's complexion was as pale and flawless as cream, her expression betraying not the slightest change. She smiled prettily. "With my brother joining in, things finally get interesting. Otherwise, with two Fifth-rank cultivators on our side, bullying Arten and the others would be like picking on children — no fun at all."
Arten had only recently stepped into the Great Knight rank and was currently still at the Third-rank.
Is that so, little girl… Lucian thought with amusement. His true age wasn't necessarily older than Sophia's, but his mental age far surpassed hers.
Lucian's gaze drifted past the tip of Sophia's pert nose, settling on Claire and Ralf, observing their reactions.
He saw Claire unconsciously biting her crimson lower lip with her neat white teeth, her gaze wavering and flickering. Ralf had clenched his right hand into a fist pressed against his mouth. Both wore slightly somber expressions — clearly, the arrival of the princess and prince had renewed their doubts about any hope of victory.
The expressions and body language of the other heir candidates were much the same. Suddenly, a youth of seventeen or eighteen stepped forward. "Duke Uncle, I wish to withdraw."
"Hm?" Ulrich's stern gaze swept toward him.
The green-faced youth said dejectedly, "They're too powerful. I don't have the slightest hope of winning. I'd rather not subject myself to the humiliation."
"How very wise." The speaker was the talkative Douda, who looked rather pleased with himself.
Duke Ulrich said nothing more. Withdrawing wasn't necessarily cowardice — sometimes it was simply good sense.
With one breaking the ice, every candidate except "Bolac," Arten, Claire, and Ralf pulled out of the trial.
"Your Highness, your presence alone completely overwhelmed them," Andris flattered without so much as a blush. "Truly, you are the most gifted knight of this generation."
The bloodline of the God-blessed family was the "Seraphim." Different members awakened different Seraph abilities — some leaned toward melee combat, others toward spellcasting, and some possessed both. Rudolph II had awakened the balanced "Archangel" bloodline. Sophia was a pure spellcaster with the "Wind Angel," while Bayer leaned toward melee combat with the "Justice Angel."
Bayer smiled and shook his head. "Though I'm quite confident in myself, when it comes to the most gifted knight of this generation, that would unquestionably be Her Highness Natasha of the Vorlite Principality. Becoming a Sky Knight at the age of twenty-six — even in the annals of history, that's exceedingly rare. With her willpower, having harmonized two supreme bloodlines, she won't face any obstacles before reaching Golden Knight. I greatly admire her, but I also feel a certain inferiority. I hope to advance to Sky Knight as soon as possible, so I can openly travel to Altor and see whether the Most Beautiful Violet truly lives up to her reputation — possessing both unparalleled beauty and extraordinary combat talent."
He spoke with complete candor, showing not the slightest trace of embarrassment or self-consciousness; if anything, his words carried the ring of self-motivation.
"Perhaps in the future Her Highness Natasha will become the Empire's empress," Andris echoed with a meaningful smile, his words carrying a double meaning.
Lucian stroked his chin, watching them with a half-smile.
"My brother's dream will never come true. The Church would never allow the Vorlite Principality to return to the Empire's embrace — after all, that princess is already the Countess of the Violet," Sophia whispered with a hint of amusement.
Denis brushed back the hair on his forehead. "That's not necessarily so. Love can sometimes make people do the most foolish things. If both the Empire and the Principality hold firm, even the Church won't be able to intervene."
"Then it all depends on my brother's charm," Sophia giggled.
Your brother's charm stands virtually no chance — but yours might actually have a shot, Lucian muttered inwardly.
Seeing that the time had come, Duke Ulrich of Brocken announced:
"The underground palace trial begins now. Among the four heir candidates, whoever first reaches the chamber hung with ancestral portraits of the Brocken family shall be declared the winner. Should no one reach it, whoever endures the longest shall win."
"Remember, the underground palace is in a constant state of flux. The maps you purchased for exorbitant sums are utterly useless. Moreover, each of you will appear at a different location upon entering. Do not attempt to ambush others at your starting point — it will only waste your time."
There was a goal but no rules of engagement. Within the underground palace, all means were permitted. However, no retainers could be brought along, and the identity verification — besides confirming bloodline — also served to prevent someone from using items transformed by a Sky Knight to turn the trial into a complete one-sided affair.