Rigel was about to carry out the public execution of the Queen and the Second Princess, Nina.
So of the citizens protested against Rigel, but that was exactly one of his goals.
The protesters were imdiately suppressed by sterica, Kaine, the Silver Moon Squad, and the others as rebel elents.
The Valestain Royal Family was finished.
Just when everyone thought so—
"Wait! I won't allow that execution!"
"What?"
Rigel narrowed his eyes at the clear, resolute voice.
Standing there was a beautiful blonde-haired girl. She carried a sword and walked boldly toward Rigel. Then she fixed him with a sharp, piercing gaze.
"Who the hell are you?"
"I am Stella von Valestaria. I am the daughter of the Duke's House of Valestaria, which carries the proud blood of the Valestain Royal Family."
"Ah… the young lady of the Valestaria Ducal House. I've heard the na. If I rember correctly, you were quite close with the three princess sisters."
"Indeed. We grew up like real sisters."
Although the Kingdom of Valestain was small, the royal family could not govern the entire territory alone. Various noble houses ruled over different regions. Among them, the Valestaria Ducal House into which Stella was born held the highest status. This was because they carried the blood of the previous king's younger brother.
"So? What does this noble young lady want? Don't tell you're going to play hero and side with the royal family at this point?"
"Exactly right. I am the daughter of a ducal house and soone who is practically a sister to Princess Nina and the others. I will never allow an execution like this!!"
Stella glared sharply at Rigel.
However, he simply looked away with an exasperated expression.
"Sigh… Hey, sterica. What's going on here? Didn't you send letters to the high-ranking nobles telling them to submit?"
"I did. Along with the news that the King had died. The Valestaria Ducal House should have sent a reply stating their submission…"
"Then why is there a rebel here?"
"Who knows? Maybe she went rogue on her own?"
"Tch! How annoying. Whatever. Kaine, Silver Moon Squad—crush her before this gets troubleso. You two escorts, go too."
Rigel ordered Kaine and the others.
"Understood."
"""As you wish."""
""Understood.""
They obediently followed Rigel's command and began moving to subdue Stella.
Seeing this, Stella muttered with hatred:
"Why…? Why did you betray us!!"
"Hm? Oh, so you knew these guys too. Well, that makes sense."
The Silver Moon Squad served under the First Princess Natasha.
Lu Kaine served under the Second Princess Nina.
The escort duo served under the Third Princess Norn.
Since Stella was close to the three sisters, it was natural that she also knew them.
(This is getting interesting…)
Rigel smirked inwardly and watched the scene warmly.
"Silver Moon Squad! You were subordinates of Princess Natasha and her close friends, weren't you!? So why are you betraying her!?"
"…How pathetic."
"Lord Rigel is the supre being…"
"That's all there is to it."
Even under Stella's condemnation, the Silver Moon Squad didn't change their expressions. They answered coldly and indifferently.
"Ugh…! Lu Kaine! You beastn were only able to achieve harmony with the human race because Princess Nina worked so hard for it!! So why did you switch sides!?"
"That is a misunderstanding. I did not switch sides… We beastn simply follow the strong. That is all…"
Kaine answered calmly. And what she said was true. Beastman society respected the strong, and the law of the jungle was deeply rooted in their thinking. Especially Kaine's tribe, a warrior race, had particularly hot blood.
"Ridiculous…! Hey, you two who were Princess Norn's escorts! I know all about it! How you used your escort duties as an excuse to run around the plains with the princess and her pets! You played together like friends! You even took baths with her, didn't you!?"
"Yes, that did happen…"
"But what about it?"
"Wha—!!"
Stella was rendered speechless by their reactions.
Normally, re escorts should never have been so close to royalty. But the gentle-natured Princess Norn was an exception. Everyone in the Kingdom of Valestain knew that she played with her pets together with her escort duo. That was precisely why Stella had been convinced they would never betray her. Now that this premise had collapsed, she was thrown into confusion instead.
"Kukuku… Now do you understand? This country is finished. No matter how hard a few small fry like you resist, it ans nothing."
Rigel laughed with amusent.
But Stella refused to give up.
"Shut up! Rigel von Gousel! This country is not finished yet!!"
"Hah?"
"Her Majesty the Queen and Princess Nina are still alive right there! Even if it costs my life, I will get them out of here!! And one day, I will revive the Kingdom of Valestain!!"
"Hmph… If you think you can defeat them with sheer willpower, then go ahead and try."
Rigel sneered. At his signal, the Silver Moon Squad, Kaine, and the escort duo all leaped toward Stella.
"Gah! D-damn it!!"
Due to the overwhelming difference in strength, Stella was subdued in an instant.
Even so, the fighting spirit in her eyes had not been extinguished.
---
Stella von Valestaria, daughter of the Duke's House of the Kingdom of Valestain.
She had stepped forward to protest the execution in order to rescue the Queen and Second Princess Nina. She then tried to persuade the Silver Moon Squad and Kaine, but failed and was subsequently subdued by them.
"Guh…!"
"Hey now, you're not living up to all that talk. For soone carrying such a fancy sword, that's all you've got?"
"Sh-shut up! If it's one-on-one, I won't lose!!"
"Sigh… So this is the refined swordsmanship of a proper noble lady, huh."
Rigel sighed.
In this world, bloodline was the most important thing for nobles. After that ca magic, swordsmanship, dostic affairs, diplomacy, and so on. As the daughter of a ducal house, Stella excelled in swordsmanship, but she severely lacked real combat experience.
"Heh heh, this fancy sword is crying, y'know? Being used by a weakling like you."
"Don't touch that sword! That is a treasured blade bestowed upon us by the Valestain Royal Family!!"
"Oh? You've got quite a nice toy there. In that case, I'll be taking it for myself."
Rigel grinned wickedly and reached out to take the sword—
"W-wait! You coward! You only dare pin down with numbers because you know you'd lose one-on-one! So this is what a filthy invader is really like!!"
Stella scread desperately. Rigel clicked his tongue and turned back around.
"Tch, what a pain… Say that again."
"You despicable scoundrel! Fight fairly and honorably!!"
"…Fine. Oi, you lot. Release her."
Rigel ordered the Silver Moon Squad and Kaine.
He wasn't the type to stay silent after being provoked like this. Suppressing her with sheer numbers was one option, but his opponent was a ducal house daughter. She could be considered one of the few remaining symbols of hope in the Valestain Kingdom aside from the royal family. If he simply shut her down, the people's flickering spirit of resistance might flare up again.
Upon receiving Rigel's command, Kaine and the others hesitated for a mont. However, after receiving his gaze, they finally released Stella.
"Hmph…! For an invader, you're surprisingly reasonable. To think you'd agree to fight one-on-one with honor."
Stella stood up with a fearless smile. However, Rigel shook his head.
"Don't get the wrong idea. What's about to begin isn't a 'fight'."
"What…?"
"What's about to begin is a one-sided trampling. First I'll beat you up thoroughly and make you submit completely. Then I'll slowly torture you before executing you. I was planning to spare everyone except the royal family, but since you ca at yourself, you've got that level of resolve, right?"
"You…! How much do you intend to mock !?"
"I'm not mocking you. I'm simply stating facts. Now then, shall we begin?"
Rigel snapped his fingers. Imdiately, Kaine and the Silver Moon Squad moved.
"Ugh! Don't interfere!! You filthy traitors!!"
"We have no intention of interfering."
"We're simply making sure nothing gets in the way of Lord Rigel's enjoynt."
They moved purely for Rigel's sake. They used their swords to threaten the crowd and skillfully guided the people, creating an open space. This way, Rigel and Stella could fight without restraint.
"How about it? Soon you'll be defeated in front of all these people. Your pride as a ducal daughter is going to be completely shattered."
"That won't happen. On the contrary, you should be the one preparing yourself. If I take the head of the invaders' leader, the people of Valestain will regain their pride. And when that happens, it'll be the end for all of you!!"
Stella shouted bravely and charged straight at Rigel.
"Hoh… You're pretty fast."
Rigel sounded impressed. As a ducal daughter who trained every day, Stella's physical abilities were high. She was also circulating mana throughout her body to strengthen herself.
"Haaah!!"
A powerful strike accompanied by a spirited battle cry. But Rigel easily parried it.
"Wha!?"
"You're too naive. Your attacks are so weak they're making yawn."
Rigel taunted her. While her speed was impressive compared to ordinary weak soldiers, it was still just a comparison among small fries. From Rigel's perspective, Stella's attacks posed no threat at all.
"Y-you…!!"
"I like it. That expression on your face is the best."
Rigel laughed sadistically. On the other hand, Stella was trembling with rage.
"Damn it! Don't screw with …!!"
"Now it's my turn."
Rigel slashed at Stella. However, she handled it calmly and perfectly blocked his attack.
"Hoh… Your defense isn't bad either."
"Of course! I was born into the ducal house of Valestain Kingdom. Don't lump together with re grunts!!"
"Yeah, that's good… I don't dislike that kind of bravado."
"Whether it's bravado or not, you'll find out soon enough…!!"
Stella went on the offensive again. This ti her slash was faster and sharper than before.
"Whoops…"
Even so, it still didn't reach Rigel. He effortlessly parried her attack and imdiately counterattacked.
"Guh…!!"
"There, is it over already?"
"Not even close!!"
Stella attacked fiercely once more. But the result was the sa. No matter how fiercely she attacked, her blade never touched his skin.
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