WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Oblivious

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Prince of Rage ◈

Chapter 69

──────

The Duke of Nearcaster knew. Naturally, since they were under his protection, he had met the Valkyrie and knew Randgríðr as well, the Einheri serving as her guard.

He had been told that Randgríðr would pose as the Valkyrie, but the shocking sight before him left the Duke momentarily speechless.

“Ah, ah, the honor, the honor is mine, Valkyrie.”

The real Valkyrie, Brynhildr, was dressed like a man and wore a sword at her waist, as though she were the Valkyrie’s guard.

She too was a rare beauty, but Randgríðr’s shocking appearance completely overshadowed her.

The Duke kept looking back and forth between Randgríðr and Brynhildr. Ordinarily, they should have exchanged a few suitable greetings, but his mind had gone blank and he could only move his lips soundlessly.

So Randgríðr looked around at the kneeling people and spoke.

“Everyone, rise. Do not mind me. Enjoy the banquet.”

She looked as though she might beat them if they did not. As an Einheri, her build alone was imposing, but she also possessed an aura that made her difficult to defy.

She trudged off somewhere, sat down with her legs apart and her arms folded, then pointed directly at Valerie.

“You. Come here.”

Valerie stepped out from among the crowd and stood before Randgríðr. Everyone watched while holding their breath.

Yorick, in particular, stared blankly at Randgríðr. He looked so utterly captivated that he would not have answered even if someone beside him called him.

When Valerie approached, Randgríðr pointed to Brynhildr standing beside her.

“You. You know this one, right?”

“I do.”

They had faced each other in the final match, so there was no way he would not know her. Brynhildr turned her head away and could not even meet his eyes.

“You. What do you think of her?”

“I have no thoughts on the matter.”

“Hmm... Are you asking for payment?”

“There is no need.”

“Hmm?”

“I need nothing. I hope that answers your question satisfactorily.”

Then he simply left. Brynhildr, who had been listening beside them, thought, Huh? This doesn’t seem right. Randgríðr looked troubled, as though there was nothing more she could do.

A strange silence settled over the banquet hall. Even the bard stopped singing, and the musicians sat still.

No one could bring themselves to do anything, but surprisingly, Lucilia was the first to greet Randgríðr.

“Hello. I am Lucilia of the Lokir Merchant Company. It is an honor to meet you, Valkyrie.”

Randgríðr looked at Lucilia as if to ask what this was, then replied.

“Ah, yes. Good to meet you, Lady Lucilia.”

“You are probably not accustomed to banquets, are you? If it would not trouble you, may I keep you company?”

“Not particularly...”

“I have missed you every night, Valkyrie. I have only just managed to meet you today, so please allow me to stay by your side.”

Randgríðr did not know what Lucilia meant by missing her every night, but she absentmindedly allowed it.

Did Lucilia intend to draw the Valkyrie to her side? The women who had been speaking ill of her behind her back thought so. Not wishing to be outdone, they hurriedly gathered around Randgríðr as well.

“You are so wonderful.”

“I can feel the majesty of the royal family.”

“What does the Valkyrie like?”

As if they had iron plates for faces, they competed to offer shameless praise and flattery. Naturally, Randgríðr had never experienced anything like this, leaving her bewildered and flustered.

Since childhood, she had only trained among men, enduring extreme physical training, honing advanced techniques, and learning to wield the power of runes.

This was not her first banquet, but it was the first time she had received such concentrated attention.

Seeing this, it seemed that appearance did not matter at all when it came to popularity at a banquet. One’s house and family background mattered far more.

With the attention on him fading, Valerie was finally able to catch his breath. But when he looked toward Sigbold and Eirik, both were silently glaring somewhere.

It was a man standing near the entrance. The white of one of his eyes was entirely red.

It was Vidar the traitor.

Whether out of shamelessness or disregard, he did not avoid their gazes and looked straight back at them.

One side of the hall was loud with flattery, while the other held a quiet, murderous contest of stares.

After staring at each other for some time, Sigbold walked toward him. Vidar gave a faint smile and spoke.

“It has been a long time, brother.”

“Who is your brother, traitor?”

“Traitor? Me?”

“There are limits to shamelessness. Come outside quietly, and we will settle this. I am no assassin.”

“If that is what my brother wishes, then so be it. But there is a misunderstanding.”

“There is no misunderstanding.”

“No, there is. Hey, old man. Do you have nothing to say?”

Vidar spoke rudely while looking at Eirik. Eirik remained silent and did not respond.

Sigbold felt that something was strange, and Valerie’s group, who had been watching the situation, felt much the same.

Vidar looked at Sigbold again.

“That is fake. The remains.”

“What?”

“Do not misunderstand me. I mean it was fake from the beginning. There never was such a thing as the Dragonslayer’s skull. Old Aleric told me. I was at his deathbed, and I suppose he felt guilty at the end. He said it was not the Dragonslayer’s skull. They had simply picked up some common skull belonging to an unknown person.”

Aleric had been one of those who founded the Jomsvikings alongside Eirik. Vidar was saying that he had told him the truth before dying.

Moving leisurely, Vidar picked up a freshly baked cookie from a table and ate it.

“Think about it reasonably. When the Dragonslayer was captured by the vile kings of Astria and burned to death on crosses alongside the settlers, that old man was not even there. Who evacuated the young Founding King? Him. So what Dragonslayer’s skull could he possibly have?”

Sigbold turned toward Father Eirik. Was his faith wavering? Could the traitor be telling the truth?

Eirik said nothing.

It was a shocking revelation. Since Lucas had traded with him, he had, in a sense, been swindled. Vidar recognized him as well.

“Did His Grace not guarantee it?”

“What would the Duke know? The Trial of Valor, the Test of Wisdom, the most valuable treasure in the world, that man made all of it up to swindle people. The Valkyrie said she had come to find a groom regardless of status. She never set such conditions.”

“...What?”

“Do you know how much money they make from the jousting tournament and the martial tournament? Who operates the largest gambling house? And whether the treasure is real or fake does not matter to the Duke. He merely takes a cut in the middle. The more dearly it sells, the better. He has no responsibility to bear.”

In simple terms, the Duke of Nearcaster had used the Valkyrie’s courtship for his own benefit. The Valkyrie herself had no interest in any of it.

The money Lucas had paid for the holy relics was enough to buy nearly an entire estate. To learn now that it had been a scam was absurd.

He looked toward the Duke, who was wearing his usual genial smile. Randgríðr had flustered him somewhat, but the mood had settled down well enough, and he seemed satisfied.

Lucas stared blankly in disbelief, while Vidar continued.

“That is how the world has always been. You either fleece others or get fleeced. So why should I follow crap like rules, control, and faith? It was a lie from the start. You tell them, old man.”

Father Eirik did not seem flustered or angry. He merely appeared regretful and pitied Vidar, who had once been no different from a son to him.

“...That is what faith is by nature. Faith transcends even truth and falsehood. Look back upon your life. How you lived, and where faith led you. You merely found life in Jomsborg stifling, did you not? Do not invoke truth and lies now.”

“See? He has nothing to say, so he twists his words like that.”

Vidar spoke to Sigbold with a sneer. Sigbold frowned, seemingly confused.

Then Eirik spoke.

“Move aside, Sigbold. I will kill that bastard.”

His bold spirit was admirable, but his body was too old. Once, he had been called the Red Axe because there had never been a day when his axe was not stained with blood. Now, even lifting an axe looked difficult for him.

Time itself might have seemed hateful, yet Eirik did not appear to resent it. As he had said, he was merely living out the rest of his life calmly.

Vidar shook his head and drew his sword.

Were they going to fight here? Not outside? Startled, Lucas stepped back. Yorick hurriedly took Ivy with him and retreated as well.

Knut hesitated, wondering whether he should draw his dagger just in case. When he looked toward the Valkyrie, she was still chattering noisily, entirely unaware of the situation here.

The bard began singing again, and the soft plucking of lute strings and the sound of pipes flowed through the banquet hall.

Then Sigbold grabbed the priest’s axe.

“I will do it.”

Vidar watched him with a cold expression.

“Foolish brother.”

“No. You are the foolish one. Why do you still call me brother? There is your answer.”

“...Bullshit.”

Vidar swung his sword first. Sigbold slipped out of range and brought the two-handed axe down in a great blow. Vidar evaded it as well, and the axe struck a table instead.

Crash! Crack!

The solid wooden table shattered in a single blow. The sound startled everyone.

Ignoring them, Vidar attacked Sigbold again. As Sigbold tried to counterattack, Vidar cowardly targeted Eirik instead.

Just as Sigbold’s stance was about to falter in shock, Valerie drew his sword like lightning and knocked Vidar’s blade away. Vidar’s sword was no ordinary weapon, yet it snapped at once.

Clang!

The people were even more startled. A sword fight? Who in the world?

They all stared wide-eyed like frightened rabbits. Clutching his wrist, Vidar hurried outside. He could do so only because he had been near the entrance.

Sigbold immediately chased after him, while Valerie supported Father Eirik.

Though it had been brief, a sword fight had broken out in the banquet hall, throwing the place into confusion.

Aah!

“What is this!? What is happening!?”

Then Lucilia, who had been standing directly beside Randgríðr, drew a dagger she had brought hidden in her clothes.

In truth, she had not thought anything through. She did not even know why she intended to act that way.

If one looked into her unconscious, there was only a deeply rooted and bizarre rationalization. Though she had shattered the holy relics, no one had held her accountable. Therefore, she would surely be safe even if she injured the Valkyrie.

The dagger had not been brought solely for the Valkyrie. If the opportunity arose, she had planned to use it to hurt her older brother Lucas, Valerie, or the other cruel people as well.

Because that's the only way I feel I can survive. Otherwise, I feel I'll go mad.

Then the Valkyrie happened to attend the banquet. When Lucilia first saw Randgríðr’s massive frame, her wicked thoughts had vanished completely. But in the present confusion, she mistakenly believed that the dead gods had blessed her with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Lucilia ultimately committed an act she should never have committed. Yet even if she was going to do it, she chose the wrong method.

Had she attacked openly, Randgríðr could, with a bit of exaggeration, have subdued her with a single finger. But it was a sudden ambush, so Randgríðr had no choice but to react instinctively.

The instant Randgríðr sensed bloodlust, her body moved before her mind could even recognize it. She swung her elbow backward hard.

It struck Lucilia squarely on the jaw.

Lucilia’s jaw shattered, and her head struck the wall with a Thud! before she collapsed.

That was not the end.

It was night, and the banquet hall was dimly lit by candles and lanterns.

Not knowing who had fallen, Randgríðr raised her foot and stomped down.

Crunch!

“Huh?”

Only after crushing Lucilia’s head like a watermelon did Randgríðr realize what had happened. But it was already done. Brains, fragments of bone, and an eyeball spilled from the shattered head.

Jewelled ornaments lay scattered everywhere, glittering brightly.

The women nearby saw the horrific sight and screamed in terror.

Aaaaaah!

Some rolled back their eyes and fainted. The banquet hall became complete chaos in an instant.

Randgríðr was so flustered that she did not know what to do. What was this? How had this happened?

Her mind was in such disarray that she had no time to look after Brynhildr, her longtime friend and the real Valkyrie.

Brynhildr was also flustered and stunned, though not as much as Randgríðr. Then someone suddenly grabbed her arm, pulled her away, and headed straight for a corner of the banquet hall.

Startled, she tried to shake free, but could not move at all. She tried to draw her sword, but the other person’s hands were so quick that they had already pressed down on the hilt, preventing her from pulling it out.

Amid her shock and confusion, she saw the other person’s face beneath the moonlight on the balcony outside the banquet hall.

It was Valerie.

He was so beautiful that he himself seemed like the most precious treasure in the world. At least, that was how he appeared to Brynhildr.

Yet Brynhildr was so shocked that she could only stare with her mouth open. She could neither speak nor act.

Valerie spoke.

“It’s you, right? The Valkyrie.”

“...H-how?”

Brynhildr’s heart dropped at the realization that Valerie had recognized her, yet indescribable joy and happiness welled up within her.

Still, she was flustered.

“I could tell from your eyes. Eyes that look like they wouldn’t listen to a single word anyone says. Anyway, I don’t know why you’re putting on this childish farce, but it’s time to stop.”

“...”

Her swelling joy lasted only a moment. At Valerie’s next words, Brynhildr felt her heart turn cold.

“Pick someone and marry them, or get out. Because of you, many people are suffering. Do you understand?”

The Duke had fabricated things like the Trial of Valor and demands to retrieve treasures for his own profit, and the Valkyrie had never personally demanded them. Even so, she was not without responsibility.

She had provided the initial cause, after all. If others were suffering because of it, she should have stepped forward and stopped it. Otherwise, she should have brought matters to an end so that no more confusion and harm would follow.

In Valerie’s eyes, the Valkyrie’s wrongdoing was neglect born of indifference.

It was enough to make Valerie feel disgusted. He hated his bloodline in one way, but felt pity and pride for it in another.

As a member of the Volsung clan, he did not want to see such conduct.

Therefore, this was less punishment for a crime than discipline imposed upon a member of the clan.

“...”

Unfortunately, judging by Brynhildr’s expression, she seemed so stunned that his words were not reaching her ears.

So Valerie slapped her cheek. It was not hard, but for a Valkyrie, it was humiliation she had never experienced before.

Smack!

Unlike fighting for her life, this was sheer rudeness, treatment she could never have imagined receiving.

“Y-you...!”

The shock was so great that Brynhildr stammered. Every kind of emotion swept through her chest. Anger, resentment, sorrow, disappointment, affection, hatred. They raged within her as though each possessed a life of its own.

Still gripping Brynhildr’s arm, Valerie drew upon the power of runes. Light began to leak from the depths of his eyes.

When Brynhildr saw that light, her body trembled as though struck by lightning. The complex emotions that had been raging so fiercely suddenly fell silent before a harsh truth.

Because the light in his eyes could mean only one thing.

A king, or a prince.

“...!”

“Hey, listen to me carefully. I’ll give you three days. Decide what you will do within three days. If you don’t, I’ll kill you. Understood?”

Brynhildr could only gaze endlessly at Valerie. She could neither answer nor nod. For some reason, tears flowed down her face.

Valerie released her arm. As though all strength had left her, she collapsed to the floor.

Adjusting his clothes, Valerie spoke.

“Stop bawling. I don’t even want to look at you.”

Was this what siblings were like? His words were terribly sharp and cold.

Valerie left his sister alone and went to find Sigbold and Vidar.

Brynhildr remained by herself, tears streaming down her face, each tear catching the sorrowful moonlight.

She thought she finally understood the phrase inescapable regret.

Though he treated her so carelessly, and though it could never come to fruition, she instinctively knew there was no escaping him.

The emotions that had raged within her fused into one. They became sorrow, etched into her heart as a deep wound. It was clear that it could never be erased.

That was the price, or the punishment, for what she had done.

Join our discord at https://dsc.gg/wetried