Chapter 187

Crown Prince Bartèze watched this exchange with dissatisfaction. Then, he gave a lopsided smirk as if he had come up with an idea.

“Very well, I accept your proposition. On one condition.”

“…?”

“The duchess will also have to participate in the extermination.”

‘What?’

Yelena whipped her head towards the crown prince, who shrugged calmly.

“What?”

“…Excuse me, Your Highness, but did you just say that I have to go up the mountain and catch monsters?”

“I did. Is there a problem?”

“As you can see, I am unfit for that.”

“Surely, you don’t plan on bailing out of this with such a convenient excuse? That’s no fair. If you came all the way here to excavate the Holy Sword, of course you should also take part in the test to receive the excavation rights. Isn’t that so?”

He was being stubborn, but stubbornness had always been his forte.

“It’s only fair, don’t you think?”

‘That bastard.’

Yelena swallowed down expletives, utterly dumbfounded.

‘He’s telling me to join the monster extermination?’

It wasn’t a matter of whether or not Yelena could actually exterminate monsters. If she went up the mountain, she would inevitably be a hindrance to her husband.

‘He’d be too busy protecting me to eradicate the monsters.’

Even if he could move around freely to catch the monsters, they were still at a disadvantage. If Yelena were to join them, it was clear which side would have the upper hand. Yelena glared daggers at the crown prince.

“Wife—”

Just as Kaywhin was about to say something to Yelena, the latter’s eyes suddenly twinkled.

“All right.”

“What?”

“I accept your condition. I will also participate in the extermination, just as you’ve said.”

The crown prince’s wicked smirk evaporated. He furrowed his brow in doubt, as if he hadn’t expected Yelena to comply so easily.

“Wife, it’s dangerous.”

“It’s okay. I know you’ll protect me. I won’t leave your side.”

“But still…”

“Don’t worry.”

Yelena smiled softly at her husband. Then she turned to the crown prince without a hint of a smile on her face.

“Let us write a contract, Your Highness.”

“What did you say?”

“We can’t have the losing side disobey the results. We’ll be able to prevent any issues if we sign a contract beforehand. Wouldn’t you agree?”

“…”

The crown prince scanned Yelena’s face, as if trying to read her thoughts. Then he turned his head and shouted, “Count, bring a pen and paper along with an inkpad this instant!”

“U-understood.”

The crown prince commanded the count as if the latter was his servant. The timid count left the scene in a hurry.

Kaywhin, who was still looking at Yelena with worry, whispered to her.

“If you really need the Holy Sword, I will steal it for you after we let His Highness have it for now.”

Yelena’s eyes widened. She looked up at Kaywhin.

‘Did my husband just say that?’

Yelena was surprised by how easily Kaywhin said he’d steal the sword for her. She was also tempted by the idea, but she shook her head.

“…That isn’t a bad idea, but I’d like to save it as a last resort. I have a plan. But more importantly, darling, do you know how to use a bow and arrow?”

“Bow and arrow? Yes, I do, but…”

“Good. Aendy.”

Aendydn flinched. He stealthily stepped backwards as if he didn’t want to get involved.

“I already said I’m sorry. I didn’t know things would come down to this either…”

“It’s not that. You definitely told me that you know how to control all the types of spirits, right?”

“Huh?”

“Water, fire, earth. You said you know how to control all of them, right?”

“Uh, yeah. I did…”

“Good.”

Then, the count who had scrambled away hurried back at an incredibly fast pace.

“Write the contract.”

A servant stepped forward and wrote the terms of the agreement on the paper: whoever exterminated more monsters would receive the rights to the Holy Sword’s excavation and the losing side would have to accept the result without exception.

“Can we add another condition at the end here? Whoever doesn’t accept the result will get their hand cut off.”

“…What?”

“We need a condition like this to prevent any conflicts, no?”

“Hah. Fine. If that’s what you really want.”

The crown prince gave the servant a look and the latter wrote the additional condition down.

[However, whoever does not accept the result will have their hand cut off.]

The contract was now complete. Yelena and the crown prince stamped their fingerprints at the bottom of the contract.