1 day after the explosion – The courtyard

“prince, I demand a duel”(armor girl)

The prince gave her a confused look for a second and then ask

“why?”(prince)

“so you can see my abilities as your bodyguard of course”(aria)

“wait a minute, why do i need to test your abilities as my bodyguard”(prince)

“because my father general Rawson ask me to become your bodyguard since your safety is a

priority to the country now and its hard to find people you can trust to such an important duty”(aria)

That made the prince pause for a second. It was clearly a honey trap (even if the girl didn't seems to catch it) but the argument made sense. After trying to kill or at least harm the royal family, he as the only known survivor need a powerful and trust worthy escort, and even he knew knight Aria reputation.

every one knew that her admiration for his brother Paul made her work hard every day until she become one of the strongest knight in the kingdom. She even survived 15 seconds against Paul in a sparring match, when the average is 0.5.

“ok, it makes sense to put a trustworthy bodyguard near me since all my family was in an explosions and still missing, but is it really necessary for you and me to duel?”(prince)

The prince notice that she already had answer ready, meaning she really wanted a duel against him

“Yes, how else can you see my abilities as a bodyguard if you don’t test it first hand”(Aria)

The prince thought of arguing, since it didn't make much sense actually, but after seen that she wouldn’t stop until he said yes, with a sigh

“fine, but under one condition, you can’t use your inner mana and we use edgeless metal swords, since I wouldn’t survive 5 seconds if you go full force”(prince)

“no problem”(aria)

At least she fell for that one(prince)

It wasn't the first time he was ask for a duel since a lot of people look down on him, and over the years he learned a few tricks. First, he practice blocking with his sword a lot and increased his stamina to last a while then it was simple. When fighting a person with inner mana, he would ask then not to use it seems he was really weak and wouldn't be fair, making them fight in a way they weren't use to, slowing them down and making it easy to defend. For people without inner mana, since there wasn't a point to reach professional level since they wouldn't be able to defeat a person with inner mana no matter how hard they trained, usually were inferior to him in skills, since they almost never practice. After that all he had to do was defend, and when they got tired, fake an injury and surrender. At that point they accept they "victory" to save face and didn't try to challenge him again

“Ok, l need time to get ready, so go grab two metal edgeless sword from the army and meet me here”(prince)

After saying that the prince left for his room. The firsts thing he took was his dragon leather armor(he didn't know if it was actually dragon, but it sounded cooler), a present from his brother Paul, since he didn't need it. It was as strength as a heavy armor with the weight and flexibility of a letter armor, so it was really useful for him. He also grabbed his utility belt that he usually carry to town, full of all kind of alchemy stuff that he researched or brought over the years.

When he returned a small crow gathered around the courtyard, including his fiance and his niece. He gave them a small node and waited for aria to return.

His plan was actually quite simple. Since she had to fight with a heavy armor and a metal sword

without inner mana, no matter how strong the girl was, she should only be able to use 10% of her strength. All he had to do was make her tired and then push her to the ground. After beaten her he would say that her skill weren't on par with what he was expecting and he would choose his own bodyguards.

After waiting a few minutes, aria appear with 2 swords

“Are you ready?(aria)

“ready, remember that you can’t use your inner mana”(prince)

“no problem”(aria)

The prince could see that Aria was confident in her victory, so he grabbed a sword from her and put a stance

Aria also put a stand and pointed his sword at him. A servant got with them and with a hand signal

“readyyyyy go”(servant)

The moment they parried, the prince got a little worried. Even with all the handicap she gave him, he could see that she could manage the sword peaty well and if his concentration waved even for a second, she would overwhelm him. Still, he put a carefree expression and while defending he waited for his chance.

After 5 minutes of endless strikes from Aria, she tried to catch her breath for a second, but in that moment the prince took the opportunity and while locking his sword with hers, he pushed her with his full body, making her fall on her ass and pointed his sword at her.

“my win”(prince)

Making an obnoxious smile after beating aria in such a humiliating way made her completely mad in rage, she instantly activated her inner mana, and with a boost in speed she went under the prince sword and punch him in the guts, sending him flying 15 meters.

Luckily the prince manage to react on time and made a small jump backwards, reducing the damage of the impact. But even with all that and his special armor, he could feel at least 2 broken ribs just from 1 punch.

seriously, inner mana is such a cheat ability(prince)

The prince got up after that with a pained face and a hand in his stomach,he thought for a second that she would be satisfied with that punch, but after seeing a murderous aura from her(he had a lot of experience with that kind of aura from his fiance)

so he needed a plan fast. He managed to see his fiance red hair behind aria, and that give him an idea

Just before she could punch him in the face(and send his head flying 15 meters) the prince face look absolutely shocked and pointing behind her

“oh no, a red dragon”(prince)

and Aria panic and looked behind her but all she could see was a girl with red hair

“wha..?(aria)

but before she could finish, the prince already had sleeping powder in his hand and he blown it all over her face making her instantly fall sleep.

He waited for a second to see if she got up and then he finally relaxed. When he looked around he found out all the observers completely shocked in disbelief of what just happened(even his fiance) and his niece crying and running to him.

She huged his leg and the prince, while giving her a smile and petting her head

"whats wrong lina"(prince)

"I thought you would die too and i would be left alone again..."(Lina)

"Don't worry, didn't you know that every one in the kingdom consider me a cockroach? and cockroach are the hardest thing to kill in the planet"(prince)

"really?"(lina)

"really, just ask anyone in the kingdom and they will confirm it, right elena?"(prince)

but before elena anwser, she punch him in the nose

"Ouch, what was that for?"(prince)

"so i am a red dragon now?"(Elena)

"I was desperate you know and your presence give me a great inspiration"(prince)

And she punch him again the nose

"stop it, my rib just, i don't want to also feel pain in my body"(prince)

"What do you want me to do when you said to my face that when you see me you think of me as a red dragon"(Elena)

"But i was trying to complement you, without you i would be dead now"(prince)

this time elena actually punch the prince in his stomach making him drop on his knees, and left with a red face.

"Uncle, are you alright?"(lina)

"didn't i said i was a cockroach? something of that level wont kill me, besides, i am use to it by now"(prince)

said the prince with a pained face. He then signal some of the palace staff

"you 2, carry her to the palace doctor"(prince)

"And you sir"(servant)

"I am also going so he can check my ribs and see if i have internal bleeding"(prince)

And with his nice, her maid, alice and 2 more, he went to the doctor. The doctor first checked the girl, and after making sure she was only sleeping and there were no side effect of the drug, he checked the prince. After casting a healing spell, he told him to be careful with his ribs for a couple of days since it takes a while to mend bone, and to come back in a week to see if there was any discomfort.

He told the doctor to let her sleep until the general came looking for her and then he went to eat dinner with lina and the personal maid.

"please sir, i can't eat in the same table as the prince"(P maid)

"I insist, you are also lina's guardian so it would be rude to leat you eat elsewhere, and i also want lina to feel comfortable here"(prince)

"Yes please"(lina)

After looking at the pleading eyes of the little girl, the maid didn't have the heart to refuse her

"fine, but i think its improper"(P maid)

"don't worry, I never care for stuff like that"(prince)

"You should, you know"(p maid)

The prince ignored that, and keep started eating.

After chatting with both, they finish eating and took lina to her room(alice ex room). The prince then went to sleep early and thought of bothering his big sister tomorrow about his blue face. Who knows, maybe he gets lucky

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