She Becomes The Hero In Another World 118 She Enters The Castle

"Ho? In that case, I have an idea..." Robin grinned, mischievously.

-----

"I can't believe you convinced me to do this!" Christian harrumphed.

"Calm down. It's much better than having her face everything alone. Ponzu and Gerard will be safe with Keith and the knights." Robin said, for the umpteenth time.

"That isn't what I was worried about." Christian shook his head. Robin sure didn't have a good sense of self awareness. If Robin were to be killed in the mess, then the whole journey would have been for naught.

"What?" Robin asked.

"...Nothing." Christian turned his head to look out the window of the carriage.

"This had better work." Christian grumbled.

------

By now, Jasmine had snuck up to the fourth floor, ahead of the searching guard women. She had managed to stall them by knocking out a lone guard woman, and stripping her of her armor, to make it look like she was blending in with the guards. Now everyone was checking to see that she was not hiding among them.

This had earned her the distraction necessary to allow her to sneak up into the fourth floor, unseen. While busy double-checking the guards, a report came that Sir Drago had arrived. This further delayed the search, as Prince Wilbur had to descend to the first floor to receive him.

"My lord, I received reports of explosions in the castle, and came back to help." Sir Drago said.

"The dungeon stampede?" The prince asked.

"Completely subjugated." Sir Drago replied.

"Good. You can help me find my little escaping bride, then. She likes hiding away from me." The prince smiled. Sir Drago stood up to go, but then a guard woman arrived.

"Your Highness, Prince Christian has arrived at the castle with his brother, Prince Robin." she reported with a salute.

"Two princes? I thought there was only one." Prince Wilbur tilted his head, pondering the meaning of things.

"Well, no matter. Come with me, Sir Drago. I am going to meet my future brothers-in-law."

"Understood." Sir Drago saluted, and followed behind Prince Wilbur. When they arrived, Sir Drago's eyes flickered in surprise.

"Hmm? It's you!" He uttered in surprise.

Prince Wilbur glanced back at Sir Drago.

"You know them?" He asked.

"Answering Your Highness, this general has met the black-haired prince before. It is mainly because of That Prince's aid that this general was able to finish subjugation of the stampede so early. This general had wished to spar with him, but had to rush back, instead." Sir Drago explained.

Robin twitched an eyebrow. 'This general' this, and 'this general' that: was it so difficult to say 'I'? What wuxia novel did this general jump out of?

"Oh? A spar was it?" Prince Wilbur took interest. "Good! I am Prince Wilbur. May I ask which of the princes I am addressing?" He asked Robin.

Robin nodded politely. "Certainly. My name is Robin, and this one here is Prince Christian." She introduced.

"Prince Robin, huh? I'm afraid I've only heard about your brother. May I ask where you are in the line of succession?"

"Not sure what Prince Wilbur means?" Robin shrugged. "I am the eldest, but I am not interested in the throne. My younger brother is more talented in that area."

Christian wanted to refute. Who's your younger brother! But he had to suffer this injustice in order to maintain a united front before Prince Wilbur.

"But, how come...the younger brother seems taller?" Prince Wilbur asked.

"Uhn. This is an oddity of our royal family." Robin nodded in agreement. "The younger ones will always be taller than the older ones. In this way, my younger brother has more charisma as a prince."

"I see." Prince Wilbur had drawn his own conclusions. His bride must not like people without ambition. This Prince Robin was also an odd one. After all, which prince would willingly hand over the crown to their younger brother?

"Well, a pleasure to meet you both." Prince Wilbur nodded a greeting. "It seems I dragged my general here for something inconsequential. For Sir Drago to desire a spar with you, I take it that your swordsmans.h.i.+p must be quite impressive. I'm not sure if you are still interested in sparring with my general?"

Robin calmly replied. "What I have said. I have said. Should I say I shall not do something, no one can convince me otherwise. And, should I agree to do something, it shall always be done. To this day, I have never retracted my words. Why should I begin now?"

Prince Wilbur's smile widened. "Good, good! I will have the guards clear out a place for the two of you. What better time to have a spar than now?"

Robin pretended she didn't know Prince Wilbur's hidden schemes. Having lead the conversation, if Wilbur wasn't scheming against them right now, then he was disqualified as a member of a royal family.

"I don't mind. But I have a somewhat bad habit. I don't like sparring without staking something. I'm not sure if Prince Wilbur is interested?" She asked.

"I'm listening." Wilbur replied.

"Since it's a friendly match, then I'll make it something inconsequential. How about if I win, I bring Cousin Jasmine back with me for the day?" Robin asked.

"So her name is Jasmine! Splendid! But, if you lose, I'm not sure if you will accept the stakes..." Prince Wilbur pretended he was worried.

"Just say it. I have already given the condition for if I win. It would be unfair for me to also give the condition for if I lose." Robin encouraged.

"Well, I'll say it, then. I fell in love with Jasmine at first sight. If Prince Robin were to lose, I ask that you not interfere in my pursuit of her hand." Prince Wilbur lay it out on the table.

"This is my cousin you are talking about. If she should hate you, I will not allow a forced marriage." Robin replied, in warning.

"I know." Prince Wilbur replied. "I'm just asking Prince Robin not to interfere in my pursuit."

Robin was silent for a moment, then nodded. She originally didn't have any say in Jasmine's marriage anyways, so it was not like she lost a layer of skin. Moreover, it was only Robin that promised she would not interfere. Christian had not promised anything.

"I give you my word." Robin said. Inwardly she was smirking at how the delay tactics had worked. Keeping Prince Wilbur and Sir Drago occupied would give Christian extra time to find Jasmine.

Soon a place was cleared out in the inner courtyard. As it had been a long time since any man other than his highness who was allowed in the castle, many of the guards were curious, peeking into the courtyard from the upper windows.

"The rules are simple. Whoever defeats the other in swordsmans.h.i.+p skills wins. You are not allowed to take their life. Other than that, anything goes." The referee said.

Prince Wilbur smiled at Sir Drago. "You are not allowed to lose." He had told the general earlier. The show promised to be good.

Robin accepted a practice blade, but then Sir Drago suddenly spoke up.

"Practice blades are for practice, and are naturally more brittle than the real thing. This general doesn't like winning because of an accident. Moreover, using a sword you are unfamiliar with, I am afraid of you not bringing out your full strength. Why don't we just use our own blades for the fight?"

Robin paused. "Blades for polis.h.i.+ng skills are indeed different from tools of war. However, Sir Drago, it seems you forget that we are not at war? What need have we for tools of war in a friendly spar?"

"No matter the tool, This general is serious in my desire to fight you at your best. Not sure if Prince is willing to oblige?" Sir Drago asked.

Robin sighed. She knew all too well what kind of a cheat blade her sword was. In all likelihood, the match would end very quickly.

"Very well.." She drew her sword, which seemed to humm for a second.

"Don't sever his blade. I want to fight fairly against him." Robin asked the sword under her breath. Once again, the sword seemed to vibrate, giving off a subtle humm.

"This spar...begins!"