Orion, to his credit, barely flinched as the bloody blade stabbed right into his palms. He stood his ground and clenched his fingers around the blade, splintering it into pieces.
Pain was temporary, but if he failed to protect Soleia now, the guilt and shame would haunt him for the rest of his days.
He darted quickly and grabbed a sword from the dead soldier who was closest to him and armed himself, ready to parry a second blow.
King Recaldo snarled and immediately reformed his weapon, but he couldn't fail to notice how slow it took. That bastard commoner even had time to steal a sword off one of his own men! If this were a mere day ago, Orion Elsher would have been skewered like a kebab straight through his spine the moment he dared to turn his back on him.
This was all Princess Soleia's fault. She must have known that this was a possible side-effect, but she didn't warn him. No matter― he will use her again and again as long as her body drew breath.
