The Grand Duke's Soulmate
Chapter 194: The Defeat Of The Two Knights

Chapter 194: The Defeat Of The Two Knights

On the other side, the fight between Callis, Eli and Luke raged on. Sensing an opportunity, the princess seized the moment and launched a swift attack, her sword thrusting straight towards Luke with the intention of delivering a decisive blow.

However, Eli spotted an opening and attempted to capitalise on the distraction, launching his own attack in an attempt to catch Callis off guard.

To their surprise, the princess exhibited her agility and skill, executing a graceful whirling movement that allowed her to evade Eli’s strike while simultaneously closing in on Luke with relentless determination. In a fluid motion, her blade sliced through, finding its mark on Luke’s shoulder, piercing through his tunic and drawing blood.

Luke, reacting swiftly, took a retreating step, narrowly evading a more grievous injury. The force of Callis’s strike caused him to stagger, his shoulder stinging from the impact.

"F*ck!" Luke exclaimed in frustration. His annoyance was evident as he realised his miscalculated steps had left him vulnerable to Callis’s attack. He cursed himself for the momentary lapse in judgment.

Witnessing the scene, Eli was taken aback by the princess’s ability to land a wound on a high-ranking knight like Luke. Her unexpected success began to stir a mix of surprise and anxiety within the young knight.

Memories of his training sessions with other high-ranking Knights of Gerhard flooded his mind, reminding him that he had never been able to land a single blow on them. Doubt began to creep in, casting a shadow over his confidence.

As the fight continued, Eli found himself grappling with conflicting emotions. Admiration for Callis’s skill and strength mingled with his own growing unease. The pressure to prove himself and match the performance of his esteemed peers weighed heavily on his shoulders.

The intensity of the fight escalated. Each clash of blades increased his resolution to rise above his limitations and make his mark. The intense battle had escalated, with each combatant showcasing their prowess and fighting for their respective causes, their movements filled with precision and purpose.

"You’re good!" the princess acknowledged, impressed by Luke’s agile movement that saved him from a more severe wound.

The princess’s praise, though intended to be complimentary, fell upon the knight’s ears as a biting sarcasm. Instead of motivating him, it ignited a fiery anger within him, fueling his determination to prove her wrong and outwit her on the battlefield.

Luke’s grip tightened around his sword, his jaw clenched with renewed resolve. The anger fused with his fierce will, creating a potent blend of emotions that propelled him forward.

Eli thrust his sword again, determined to overpower the princess. However, Callis expertly dodged the attack and swung her blade high and fast. It came dangerously close, mere inches from the young knight’s neck.

Eli’s shock was evident on his face, momentarily believing that his neck had been slashed. Before he could react and raise his weapon for another attack, Callis punched the hand that held the sword.

’Clang!’

The blade flew off, clattering to the ground.

"You lose."

"Not yet!"

In a desperate move, the young knight retrieved a knife from his hip and charged towards the princess. Clashing his blade against her long sword, he raised his leg and propelled himself towards the princess, delivering a relentless kick to her thigh with his knee. At that moment, gender ceased to be his concern. Callis was now his adversary, and he was determined to bring her down.

The force of Eli’s kick sent the princess tumbling to the ground. Without hesitation, the young knight pushed himself onto all fours, pinning her down and grabbing her hand that held the weapon to prevent her from retaliating.

However, his triumph was short-lived as a powerful punch landed on his face, momentarily blurring his vision. Before he could recover, another knock and a kick followed, causing him to lose his grip on Callis and fall back. The princess escaped his grasp.

"D*mn you!" Eli shouted, his frustration and arrogance fueling his anger towards the resilient enemy before him. He expelled the accumulated blood from his mouth caused by the punches.

"Step aside, Sir Henderson. She’s not your equal opponent. She’s mine," said Luke.

Callis, now back on her feet and ready to resume the fight, couldn’t help but inject a touch of humour into the tense situation.

"I’m yours? Funny! I don’t remember you courting me," she remarked, her words laced with a hint of sarcasm.

Simultaneously, the duel between Kiev and Eric continued with unabated intensity. The prince launched a powerful thrust towards the knight, aiming to overcome the defence of Eric’s swords. The clashing echoed in the air as they engaged in a series of rapid exchanges.

Kiev drew his weapon over his head and brought it down towards Eric. Recognising the imminent danger, the knight reacted quickly, raising his sword and rotating the attacking blade to the side. The handle of his sword rose high above and to the left of the prince’s face while Kiev’s blade tilted down and to the right.

However, Eric’s timing was unfortunate, and his evasive manoeuvre was not executed with precision due to Kiev’s fast movement. The blade found its mark, inflicting a graze of cut on Eric’s arm. Blood trickled down from the wound, staining the ground below.

Garin, who had been observing the movements and assessing the situation, could no longer be patient. With a sense of urgency, he rallied his comrades and urged them to take action. "Attack him! Don’t let him pass!"

"All of you, step aside!" Eric’s voice rang out. "I explicitly stated that this was meant to be a one-on-one fight! Do not bring disgrace upon me!"

Garin responded respectfully, "I apologise, Sir Navin, but this is not a duel. The orders from His Highness take precedence above all else. Our primary duty is to ensure the safety of the mansion and its occupants, and I must prioritise those responsibilities over any personal sentiments."

He raised his sword and stepped forward, ready to be engaged in the fight.

Eric sighed. The frustration lingered in his tone. However, the third-in-command knight’s words were undeniably right. Though it hurt his pride, he needed to uphold his duty first.

Responding to Garin’s command, the fight continued with renewed vigour. Now, a group of five knights focused their efforts on engaging Kiev while the other two confronted Callis.

"Oh, this is going to be more interesting! Let’s go!" Kiev smiled, and the battle went on.

Watching the scene unfold, Armel felt a knot tighten in his stomach. The fighting had reached a level of intensity that was difficult to comprehend.

The realisation that the two siblings, Kiev and Callis, were exceptional swordsmen capable of holding their ground against the renowned Knights of Gerhard filled him with fear. Up close, their skill and prowess were even more evident, instilling a deep sense of trepidation within him.

Despite facing five knights simultaneously, Kiev remained unscathed. Armel couldn’t help but acknowledge the prince’s formidable skills. It seemed as though not a single scratch had found its mark on Kiev’s body until now.

The battle’s outcome remained uncertain as the clash between these skilled combatants continued. Each side fought with unwavering determination.

Gripped by fear and recognising the gravity of the situation, Anryr made a swift decision. He hurriedly dashed towards the mansion, determined to seek the aid of the grand duke. The battle’s outcome seemed uncertain, and the steward believed the grand duke’s intervention might be crucial in turning the tide.

Meanwhile, Armel, also overwhelmed by fear, contemplated his options. The temptation to flee and ensure his survival tugged at him, but he hesitated. Kiev appeared to be gaining the upper hand, but the Knights of Gerhard were relentless in their attacks, showing no signs of surrendering.

Armel realised that escaping now offered no guarantee of safety if the prince caught him. The knights, however, were not to be underestimated, and their fierce assault continued unabated.

Before the teenager could decide, Rhen, hidden in the sling bag over his shoulder, unexpectedly leapt out and dashed towards the mansion.

"Rhen!" Armel exclaimed.

However, Luke, in a commanding and threatening tone, immediately intervened, shouting at the teenager, "Don’t you dare go after your dog, kid!"

The teenager, startled by Luke’s warning, froze on the spot. "I swear I won’t! Please don’t hurt me! And don’t hurt Rhen, too! He was a gift by Lady Raychard to me. She personally asked me to take care of her!" pleaded Armel.

"If you don’t want to be harmed, stay put!" Eli yelled. "Take a single move towards the mansion, and I swear I’ll cut off your leg!"

The severity of the threat and the intensity in Eli’s voice brought a sudden realisation of the danger that awaited Armel if he disregarded the command. Fear and uncertainty replaced the initial instinct to chase after his beloved puppy, anchoring him to the spot.

Eli braced himself to deliver a further threat when suddenly, a mighty fist came hurtling towards his face. The impact was brutal, sending his body sprawling to the ground. Blood spewed again from his injured face, the pain searing through him.

"I hate it when people threaten innocent people!" the princess shouted, her voice laced with anger.

Without hesitation, she cornered him and delivered a forceful kick to Eli’s stomach, a swift retribution for his earlier actions. Her words, filled with venom, emphasised her disdain for his behaviour.

"That’s for kicking me, *sshole!"

The young knight lay motionless on the ground. The shock of the sudden attack reverberated through the other knights. The unexpected turn of events left them momentarily stunned, their initial anger giving way to concern for their fallen comrade.

"Sir Henderson!" shouted Damon.

In a desire for revenge, he lunged towards the princess, thrusting his sword in an intent on retaliation. However, before he could reach her, a quick and powerful kick landed on his back, sending him tumbling to the ground in a helpless heap.

"You don’t get to run away when you face me in battle... and you’re certainly not allowed to touch my sister!" Kiev declared, his voice filled with a fierce determination to protect his family. The strength of his actions matched the force behind his words.

Damon, like Eli before him, remained still, succumbing to unconsciousness due to the attack.

The sight of the two Knights from Gerhard rendered fainting served as a stark reminder of the escalating tensions and the consequences that came with it.