Clatter, clatter, clatter.

The carriage shakes.

Inside this carriage, along with myself, are my father, the King of Edwards, my elder brother Jaren, the First Prince, my second elder brother Edward, the Second Prince, their mother Elma, and Elma’s mother, Lady Berna. In other words, every member of this country’s royal family is currently in this carriage.

Our destination is the Basil Plains. Despite the fact that a crucial duel that will determine the fate of our nation is about to take place, the atmosphere inside the carriage is heavy.

That is only natural… Our country, Edwards, has almost no chance of winning this battle. When it was confirmed that our opponent's representative would be the one recently rumored to be the successor of the Grand Mage, we used all the resources of our nation to investigate him. The result was inescapable: his strength is overwhelming.

Despite being from a neighboring country, his name has spread even here. He has defeated formidable warriors one after another, single-handedly slain dragons and behemoths—monsters that would normally require multiple high-ranking adventurer parties to challenge—and even cleared high-level dungeons alone. He is an overwhelmingly powerful individual who seems to be pursuing nothing but strength. It is no wonder he is called the successor of the Grand Mage.

Whether his nation failed to conceal this information because his strength is simply too immense to hide, or whether they are so certain of victory that they see no need to suppress it, I do not know. Either way, for our country, this information is utterly despairing.

Our representative, Lord Pazia, is undoubtedly a veteran warrior, but he is already past forty and no longer at his peak. Based on the information available, there is no denying that our country's chances of victory are bleak.

Father tried everything to avoid war between the two nations, but Bartom refused to negotiate. If the duel between representatives was not accepted, they declared that they would wage a full-scale war, including against our civilians. With such an ultimatum, we had no choice but to accept, even if our chances of winning were slim.

Perhaps the leaders of Bartom have grown arrogant, having managed to bring such a powerful individual under their control, though I do not know what means they used to do so.

The only silver lining is the agreement that, regardless of the duel's outcome, the defeated nation's citizens will be allowed to continue their lives as before. However, as members of the royal family, we will surely be executed.

Masayoshi-sama has saved my life multiple times. If I had died back then, I would not be here now. In that sense, I do not fear death.

...But if a god exists, I wish they would grant me just a little more time to live in happiness. When I close my eyes, happy memories surface one after another.

The days when I eagerly awaited Masayoshi-sama’s visits to the mansion. The times when he would bring sweet confections and delicious treats, and we would all share them—me, Grandpa, Gina, and Fara—chatting and laughing together. I wished those days would last forever.

And when I first met Masayoshi-sama, he told me my ears were beautiful and cute. He will never know how much that made me happy, how hard I tried to keep myself from getting too carried away.

These long ears—an emblem of elves—that my late mother and I shared. I always loved them, yet they were something others looked at with scorn.

Heh… After saving my dying self, to then whisper such sweet words—how could a mere girl like me not fall for him? The truth is, ever since the moment we met, I have always admired Masayoshi-sama.

He is stronger than anyone, yet never flaunts his strength, always using it to help others. He is kinder than anyone, always looking out for everyone. Just being with him fills me with happiness. His gentle smile… I love him.

My fate was always to be either sent as a hostage when forming an alliance with another country or married off in a political union to a noble willing to accept an elf. And yet, Masayoshi-sama let me dream of a future where I could marry the one I love and live a happy life.

…I should not fear death, yet as I think of Masayoshi-sama, tears overflow. It has not even been a year since we met, yet I have come to love him so much.

…Just once more—just one more time—I wish I could see him again. But such a thought is nothing more than my selfish wish, isn’t it?

"Kya!?"

"Whoa!?"

The carriage came to a sudden halt. An ambush by Bartom's assassins? But why? They should have almost guaranteed victory. And besides, who could possibly get past this strict security?

"W-What is happening!?"

"I-I don’t know! A lone man wearing a black mask has appeared in front of the entire escort squad!"

"Tch, cut him down at once!"

"I am the true successor of the Grand Mage! I have come to fight as this country's representative in the duel against Bartom!"

"!!?"

That voice!? No way—how could it be!?

"Sara!?"

Ignoring Father’s voice calling after me, I leaped out of the carriage. I dashed at full speed, weaving through the gaps between the elite guards, heading toward the source of that voice.

"L-Lady Sara!? Why are you here!?"

Sir Pazia, the captain of the royal knights and our nation's representative, tried to stop me, but beyond the ranks of soldiers, I finally caught sight of him.

Clad in a black mask and silver armor, his face and physique were obscured. But I knew.

(Masayoshi-sama!!)