Me and Gillan went out into the hallway.
　As expected, we could break the equipment inside the room.
　Fortunately, this corridor is quite large, and since it's located at the back of the Imperial Palace, there are few people passing by.
　Gillan stared at me with a hostile gaze and pointed his sword straight at me.

''If you are miserably defeated in front of me, your Imperial Highness will wake up too. Before that, if you strike poorly, you might be dead. This is a duel, you know.

I know.

　I nodded.
　I nodded.
　This is a duel.
　The sword we have is a killing tool.

　Of course, if one of us shouted surrender, the game would be over.
　But if we cut each other seriously, we could be dead before we could declare our surrender.
　Filia looked at me anxiously.
　I smiled at her.

''Are you worried that I will lose?''

'Nope. I don't think about Solon losing, but I don't want to think about Solon getting hurt if he gets hurt...

　Filia acknowledged the duel between me and Gillan in the heat of the moment, but now she's starting to get worried.
　I'm glad she cares for me, but it's too late.
　The flames have gone out.

　I was slightly worried myself.
　Fighting is always scary and tense, but as far as this one is concerned, I'm confident that if I give it my all, I can win with no problem.
　And I don't think I'll get hurt.

　But it's not enough to just win.
　You have to win without letting Gillan die or seriously injuring him.
　Even if it's a duel legally sanctioned by the Imperial Lady, if it means I killed the deputy commander of the Imperial Guard, I won't be able to stay in the Imperial Palace.
　Even if there were no legal problems, the guards and the nobles would not forgive me.

　I'll be fine, I told myself.
　There is a way to win without killing Gillan, I said.
　I said.

"Lady Filia," I said. "Please, Lady Filia," I said, "don't be alarmed. I will give you the victory you deserve,

　I saw Filia nod and then I looked at my enemy squarely in front of me.
　Both me and Gillan held our cheap copper swords at the ready.

'Now, let's get to work!
Let's take a stand.

　I responded quietly to Gillan's shout.
　The duel begins.

　Gillan, who came straight up in time, swung his sword down.
　I took a step back and took the sword as I stepped back.
　At first, I would be on the defensive.
　That's the policy of this fight.
　I take another step back as I watch the enemy unleash a second strike.

'What's the matter?'　You really got scared!

　Gillan asks me in a loud voice, along with a powerful sword strike.
　I see.
　It is true that Gilan's swordsmanship is excellent.
　As expected of a second-in-command of the Imperial Guard.
　If I make a mistake, my body will be cut in two and I'm sure I'll end up in the afterlife.
　But it's not a problem.

　We don't want to make Filia feel too uneasy.
　It's time to fight back.

　I take Gillan's fourth sword, followed by a big leap backwards.
　Gillan seemed to think I was going to be on the receiving end as before, so he swung his next slash down too quickly and the sword flew through the air for a moment.

''Wha...?

　Gillan quickly regained his posture, despite his impatience.
　As expected of a quick response, but still slightly frayed by Gillan's sword strike.
　The next moment, I took a big step forward and fired a slash from the right.
　Gillan somehow catches it with his sword.
　The two swords crossed and sparks flew violently.
　I stepped forward further, putting all my strength into the next blow.
　Gillan aimed for my torso, but this one's sword strike was faster.
　My sword catches Gillan's sword.

''It's over........!

　With a murmur from me, Gillan's sword flicked and fell from his hand.
　As it was, I pointed the tip of my sword at Gillan's throat.

'Do you wish to surrender?　Sub-Captain?

I will not surrender. I will not live in such disgrace. So why don't you kill me?

''Your mission, Vice Captain-dono, is to protect this Imperial Palace, right?　You didn't mean to abandon your mission and get killed by someone like me.

　I said admonishingly, and Gillan nodded disappointedly.
　Then he dropped to his knees and said in a small voice, "I surrender.
　Gillan had to admit that I was going to stay with Filia, as he had promised the princess.

　I sheathed my sword and then picked up the sword Gillan had been using as well.
　The fight was over and these two fussy tools were no longer needed.

　I turned around and saw Filia jumping up and down as she approached us.
　Then she said in a bouncy voice.

'You won, Solon!

'Yes. Thanks to Lady Filia's protection.

　I smiled and handed back the blue handkerchief Filia had given me.
　Filia took it carefully and then held out her right hand to me.
　What did it mean?
　I looked into Filia's eyes and she smiled softly.

'A knight who protects a girl kisses the instep of the person he's protecting. Isn't that right?

　Come to think of it, it's also a traditional dueling ritual.
　It's like a ritual to show that I fought for Filia.
　I don't necessarily have to do it, but perhaps Filia has a longing for this kind of chivalric exchange.

　I hesitated for a moment, then fell to my knees and leaned my head grudgingly against Filia.
　Then I stared at Filia's small white hands.
　I was a little embarrassed, even though I knew it was just manners.
　I was ready, and I kissed Filia's hand. It felt soft.
　After a while, I looked up and saw Filia blushing, but smiling happily.

"Stay close to me, Solon.