[Original] The Alchemist of Rozarre [Novel-Length] [Complete!]

Chapter 10

Chapter 10
"Are you really sure that you want to go through with this, Cerise de Vernase?" Prince Caspian said as he wielded a rapier with the same fleur de lis design upon it like Roselle's. "I'll even handicap myself by dueling with my left hand. But even so, it will not be enough for you to win a duel against me, whether it's magic or sword fighting."

Cerise gulped. The situation looked dire. But Roselle's life was at stake here. She couldn't possibly let someone as horrible as Prince Caspian take away her beloved Princess. She couldn't condemn Roselle to a miserable life producing heirs for such a man. There was absolutely no way.

"I don't go back on my word," Cerise said. "But I'm not sure if I can trust you, Prince. Are you sure that you will release Roselle from her prison and bring her to me if I duel you?"

"As I see it, there's no chance for you to defeat me," Prince Caspian said while flicking his light green hair. "But do as you wish. I'm not stopping you from making reckless decisions. In fact, I savor the thrill of battle."

Cerise held her own rapier. She had no idea how to do swordplay or make the same maneuvers as Roselle with her beautiful footwork, but damn it, she had to try! She had to fight for Roselle's sake. Using her rapier. The rapier was light in her hands, though perfect for jousting. Roselle must've specifically asked for a magic enchanted rapier that was light to lift. There was a memory of a spell that lingered back in her mind, but she wasn't sure how she would use it in this situation. A bubble to breathe air underwater. How was she going to use that in a sword duel? She didn't know.

Caspian lunged forward with speed that the human eye couldn't perceive. Cerise narrowly dodged it lifting Roselle's rapier to block the thrusting lunge. Her rapier clanged and Cerise felt the vibrations ripple through her hand and arm and it eventually spread through her entire body. What could she do against such a monster?

I might not be able to save Roselle, Cerise thought in despair. I can't...

"Giving up already?" Caspian said in a taunting manner before he nicked Cerise's cheek with a flick of his rapier. Stung, Cerise backed off and put a hand on her cheek. Blood smeared over her hand, and she looked over to Caspian while trembling.

"I'm going to mar your face so that Roselle won't want to look at you anymore," Caspian said in a serious tone, and he lunged forward again. He sliced a little bit into her clothing, marking her, in vital spots that could've easily killed her if he sliced through her vitals. That was when Cerise realized that Prince was merely toying with her. She was never a challenge, to begin with. He wanted to make a spectacle of her humiliation, with thousands of onlookers within the ring, including Roselle, to witness her defeat.

"Cerise!" Roselle shouted from the top of the box overseeing the whole tournament. "Don't you dare lose to him! Don't lose to Caspian!"

Cerise looked towards Roselle, then turned back to Caspian, who was eyeing Roselle with a certain longing. He probably wanted the unattainable, the things that he couldn't get because he was so used to getting what he wanted all the time, Cerise felt. She didn't think that Caspian actually loved Roselle, and instead thought of her as a precious trophy wife that he would hang on his arm to show off his status. The thought made Cerise's blood boil. Cerise's beloved reduced to a mere trophy wife? She wouldn't let that happen! Roselle once told her that she once wanted to marry for love instead of being in an arranged marriage, but after everything that has happened so far, it was a little hard not to fall in love with her somewhat haughty yet achingly vulnerable Princess. Her beloved Roselle.

"I'm going to win this duel," Cerise said. "No matter what it takes!"

"I wouldn't count on it, peasant!" Caspian said. "Why do you still stand, even though you know you['ll be beaten down again? Why do you keep on fighting a hopeless battle?"