Chapter 59: Golden Ouroboros (Part 9)
◎Duel◎
As soon as Sang Xia finished speaking, the entire hall fell into deathly silence.
Hundreds of people maintained their previous posture, staring blankly at the girl who made the crazy declaration.
The Roman princess supported herself on the table in front of Duke Horton with one hand, and with the other hand held a dagger that was inserted into the table. She stared at her older and wealthy uncle through the bright light of the knife. Compared with her rival, she was so young and so beautiful, with a light honey-colored skin like soft pearls and blue eyes more innocent than a baby's.
Such a young and beautiful girl is suitable for listening to the knight's passionate love poems among the rose bushes, for choosing her favorite lover among many suitors, and for spending her precious years in jewels and gorgeous clothes.
The only thing you shouldn't do is draw your sword in an arena filled with men.
But it is undeniable that when she pulled out the knife and plunged it deep into the table, even the most stubborn old antique could not help but sigh inwardly.
So beautiful.
At that moment, when the princess drew her sword and split the romantic sonnet, stood on the cruel game field to defend her crown, and took off the youthful skin given to her by fate, the proud and courageous girl was so beautiful that she seemed to be glowing.
This time no one thought that she and Yamenla were no longer alike; they looked so alike! They are exactly the same!
"Come on, Uncle Horton, are you scared?" Princess Sangxia lowered her body, like a wild beast forcing her prey fiercely. At this moment, there was no shackles of gender or seniority between them, only the identity of the most naked competitors.
Her gentle blue eyes were as deep as the sea, and her expression strangely overlapped with that of the almighty Amenra at the moment.
Duke Horton looked at his niece, his back pressed tightly against the chair, his clothes almost soaked with sweat, but he had no intention of standing up. Not only that, for a moment he even wished he could disappear right there.
devil!
Sangxia is a devil just like her pagan mother!
Roman had never made such a ridiculous bet before—letting the heir to the throne fight like a clown to determine the winner? ! This isn't some Roman Colosseum game! What's more, he is an elder and a man. Do you want him to compete with his niece?
It's ridiculous!
Duke Horton subconsciously wanted to look at the people around him, to wake up those guys whose mouths seemed to be sewn shut, but he failed - he couldn't even take his eyes off Sang Xia's face that was looking at him sharply.
"You don't want to, are you planning to admit defeat to me?" Sang Xia asked clearly, word by word, in a voice that everyone could hear.
There was a bit of pity and contempt in her eyes when she looked at Duke Horton.
Her uncle, how stupid and shallow.
What makes him a match for her? Is it just because God gave him the inherently superior gender?
He actually still didn't understand that his gender advantage had disappeared and that they were now equal in front of the throne.
Yet he didn't even dare to stand up and answer her under her blade.
The atmosphere was at a stalemate, and the gazes cast upon Duke Holden gradually became meaningful. Although the nobles were not so willing to support the queen, they also did not like to see a king who was so weak that he was afraid of even a woman's knife.
The Duke of Horton sensed the unrest in people's hearts. He gritted his teeth and stood up abruptly, reaching for his waist - but finding nothing, he belatedly remembered that all members of parliament had to remove their weapons when entering the parliament hall, and the Duke was no exception.
Duke Horton gritted his teeth and glared at Sanxia. The young princess straightened up and smiled at him: "Please don't be afraid, uncle. I won't attack you until you draw your sword."
Her words sounded more like a condescending and confident declaration than a comfort.
Queen Amenra said nothing from beginning to end, and only now finally raised her hand. The attendant behind her understood and quickly left. After a while, the door opened, and the butler left outside by Duke Horton walked in, holding a broadsword used by men in his hand, and walked in front of the Duke.
Duke Horton stretched out his hand and grasped the broadsword that had accompanied him for many years, with a complicated expression on his face. He recalled the days when he was young and learned swordsmanship with his cousin. The Roman royal family has always had this tradition. All royal children have excellent swordsmanship. Even though he looks bloated, dull and slow now, he once sweated day and night on the training ground and was able to defeat excellent swordsmanship teachers.
Appearing with the butler was Princess Sanxia's knight.
The weapon in the knight's hand stunned everyone.
It was not the delicate long sword suitable for women as they had expected.
It was not the dagger that Sang Xia always carried with her.
The long sword is as tall as a person, and the handle alone is as long as an arm. The blade is heavy, and the blade is about the width of an adult man's palm. You can feel its weight just by visually measuring it without even picking it up. Most women may not even be able to lift it, let alone hold it and wave it. This hideous, fierce weapon, with a murderous and bloody appearance, is incompatible with the exquisite romance.
In fact, it was not owned by Roman. This rough weapon had strong Assyrian characteristics. In the more distant East, in the country where it was born, it had a straightforward and fierce name: saber.
This is the weapon of the cavalry. It is invincible in horseback combat. It can cut off a person’s head with one blow and sweep through thousands of enemies.
This overly bloody and ferocious weapon can only be used in actual combat, not for viewing. Many people have never seen this weapon in their lives. Only the older nobles who have participated in the Assyrian War remember it.
The hairs on their backs stood up. Just seeing it was like smelling the bloody stench from Assyria many years ago.
Sang Xia stretched out her hands and grasped the hilt of the knife.
Two-handed broadsword versus saber.
At least they are evenly matched in terms of weapons.
But when Sang Xia really stood there dragging a long sword, the nobles present couldn't help but reveal a strange look. ▽
In the open space of the parliament hall, the princess and the duke stood opposite each other. Sang Xia freed one hand and casually pulled open the hem of her skirt, tearing open the gorgeous silk dress, and kicked it to the side casually, revealing the neat trousers underneath. She took a deep breath and touched the hilt of the knife.
Duke Horton took off his coat and held the broadsword in both hands. This broadsword, which had been passed down in the Roman royal family for many years, had a round and blunt blade and a heavy sword body. It was obvious that it did not rely on stabbing to win, but relied on chopping to defeat the enemy, which was strangely consistent with the idea of the saber.
Holden wanted to say something, but Sang Xia blocked his mouth before he could speak: "Do you have anything else to tell me?"
Horton: ...
The tone sounded as if he was bound to lose!
"Now, we need an arbitrator..." Sanxia said, shifting his gaze to the Pope on the steps.
Raphael received her signal, stood up from his seat, and took out a gold florin: "Start as soon as you land."
Apparently neither side had any objection.
Raphael placed the gold coin in his palm and then threw it high into the air.
The gold coin printed with the portrait of the Potiam family and the Florentine emblem flew into the air, emitting a dazzling ball of golden light in the air. Everyone's eyes were fixed on it, except for the two heirs to the throne who stared at each other coldly.
An almost imperceptible crisp sound was heard on the marble floor, followed by a violent steel collision sound in the center of the hall!
The saber made a hissing sound on the ground, creating a tiny spark. Sang Xia bent over and twisted her waist, and the heavy long sword spun in a circle on her back. She pounced towards Horton like a tiger out of a cage. The Duke raised his hand and chopped, and the two swords, which were equally heavy, met in mid-air, knocking away the roar of the beast's horns.
A storm arose out of nowhere.
The storm came with great force, leaving scars wherever it passed. The smooth marble floor was left with pits and holes. Sabres shattered the gilded decorations, and broadswords chopped down the lampposts on the wall. The nobles sitting there had their blood rushing to their heads, and they sat there stiffly. They were watching a duel, or perhaps it was more than just a duel.
No one knew that Princess Sangxia had such superb swordsmanship. They knew that the princess liked riding horses and that she had swordsmanship lessons in her curriculum, but who could believe that her swordsmanship level could support her to wield a saber in front of her opponent without being at a disadvantage?
Although Amenla has been trying hard to push Sancha to the throne of Roman's heir, people have only seen Amenla for so many years. But the little girl hiding behind her... She used to be a small rose in the palace, a bud protected in the cradle by her mother, and later she became a girl wearing a princess crown. She was lively, beautiful, generous and smart, but what else? Looking back, it all seems like a blur.
No one had ever really taken her seriously, even though she had been on a diplomatic mission to the Papal States on behalf of her mother, and even though she had always been the person who was nominally closest to the crown in Roman.
Until this moment, when she swung her saber and split the heavy, hard marble floor, like a storm, crashing into everyone's eyes, making people realize it more clearly than ever before.
This may be their future queen.
It was not Princess Sancha who was protected by Amenla, but Sancha, the heir to Roman's throne.
Horton hadn't held a sword for several years. His body had been corroded by the long-term pampering and turned into a gorgeous hollow skin. He was actually a little powerless to swing the broadsword, but the life-and-death struggle caused his adrenaline to be secreted rapidly. His muscles were tense and his blood was rushing. The unfamiliarity was quickly fading away. He stared at Sang Xia, looking at the young girl's face, and the malice in his heart grew wildly like spring grass seeing the sun.
He did not hold back, and every move was intended to take Sang Xia's life. This was originally a duel, a legitimate opportunity to take Sang Xia's life - how wonderful! As long as he could kill her, what excuse would Amenla have to prevent him from ascending the throne? She is just the widow of the previous king! You have shamelessly occupied Roman's throne for so long, it's time to return everything!
Roman's crown! It originally belonged to him!
The broadsword and the saber collided with a loud bang, sparks flew between the blades, and a scorching storm swept across
Meanwhile, the queen on the steps looked down calmly, as if the person whose life was hanging in the balance was not her only daughter, and there was not even any emotion in her eyes.
Raphael turned his head and said, "Aren't you worried?"
Upon hearing this, Yamenla turned her eyes away from Sangxia and said softly, "If she loses, it proves that she is really not suitable to sit on the throne."
Raphael raised an eyebrow, "And yet you've worked so hard for this day."
"Yes," Yamenla's voice seemed to be laughing and sighing, "I put in so much effort to let her stand where she can be seen..."
So how could she lose?
No one knew how much effort Sang Xia had put in for this day. Her little sun, from carrying a knife on his back and hugging it to being able to hold the knife freely, with rough calluses growing on his palms, falling off the horse and limping back on to continue practicing...
How could that corrupt good-for-nothing win over her?
Sang Xia's knife was getting faster and faster, and the saber in her hand was constantly gathering momentum, creating a tornado centered on her. The heavy force of the knife accumulated layer by layer, and she swung it vigorously. Sang Xia was like a nimble butterfly attached to the handle of the knife, skillfully controlling the long knife and flying along with the blade. Horton felt that he was facing an unprecedented terrifying storm, and he couldn't interrupt it. His muscles that hadn't been exercised for a long time were telling him of their fatigue. His heart and lungs were expanding and contracting, pumping oxygen into his body, but he still felt it was not enough, not enough.
"Why don't you fight back? It's useless to keep dodging. Uncle, how long do you plan to keep hiding like this? Are you going to wait for the crown to fall into your hands?" Sang Xia suddenly swept the knife along the ground, and the broken stones bounced and scattered. Horton shuddered and jumped on the spot in a panic to avoid the attack.
"The crown will not come to your door by itself, uncle!" Sang Xia's long golden brown hair was scattered in a mess. In the messy hair, her blue eyes revealed a wolf-like fierce light.
"——Go and rob!"
After the heavy saber missed its target, it was not retracted, but turned on the spot. The hard and thick blade was like a huge wave, hitting the Duke of Horton's waist. The portly Duke was actually hit sideways in the air by the sword, and rolled on the ground for more than ten times, and only stopped when he hit the leg of the long table of the parliament.
This ferocious flight shocked everyone.
Sang Xia walked over with the knife and stared at her uncle coldly for a moment. Duke Horton, who was knocked unconscious, shook his head and tried to stand up, but one foot stepped on his chest.
The cold blade was pressed against his neck, and the tip of the saber was still dragging on the ground. Sangxia held it as if it were a guillotine, with the blade pressed against Duke Horton's neck. A thin line of blood flowed from the Duke's neck, but Horton keenly discovered that the force exerted on the blade did not decrease - Sangxia really wanted to kill him!
At this moment, he selectively forgot his previous thoughts. Horton screamed miserably, forgetting the throne at all: "Stop, stop, stop! I give up! I give up! Sangxia! My good Sangxia! Stop it, I'm your uncle!"
The princess maintained this posture, stepping on Duke Houghton with one foot, holding the guillotine in her hand, and her sharp eyes scanned the long table under her messy long hair.
"Now, I say I won, does anyone have any objection?"
Every noble who came into contact with Sang Xia's sight lowered his head at the first moment. One after another, everyone at the entire long table lowered their heads. It was as if they were swearing allegiance to the new monarch.
Sancha then said: "Then I declare that the clause in the Salic Succession Act that does not allow women to inherit the throne will be abolished. According to the provisions of the Succession Act, I, Sancha Isabella Gondola Romanina, will be the first heir to the Roman throne. After the marriage contract with Calais is signed, I will ascend the throne as the Queen of Roman, and I will be Sancha I."
After a brief silence, a deep voice rang out from the long table: "At your command, Your Highness."
The author has something to say:
The girl with the saber! ! ! So handsome!
There's obviously a reason why she uses a saber, because her mother also uses a saber hehehe...
So why do we need to block the saber? ! What kind of sensitive word is this? ! I am so angry! ! ! !
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