The Unlucky Bride Is Loved by the Fortunate Desert King - Chapter 33 – When the Lotus Flowers Fall

The delicate white lotus-shaped earring fell softly, as if a pure flower had bloomed in the vast desert.
It looked almost like the full moon itself had suddenly dropped from the sky into the sand.

―At that moment, a strong wind blew.

Sandstorms were common in the desert—perhaps this was their warning sign.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Master Lantern take a deep, steady breath, as though centering his mind. His face was strangely calm, almost too peaceful for someone about to fight.

A harsh wind, filled with sharp grains of sand, blew past, and I shrank back against the force.

When I opened my eyes again, I could hardly believe what I was seeing.

―Master Lantern was flying through the air.

It was only for an instant, but his time suspended in the air was long enough that “flying” didn’t seem like an exaggeration.

The dagger he wielded—a short blade suited for extremely close combat—was a weapon only true masters could handle.

Master Lantern was not a large man. If anything, his small, nimble body made him seem like a hidden weapon himself—like a dagger kept close to one’s heart.

(Where’s Al!?)
Al, on the other hand, didn’t jump or fly. He simply waited on the ground for his master to descend.

He stood tall, left arm behind his back, right hand extended with his sword.
It reminded me of a royal duelist’s stance.

“What’s wrong, Arshie? Won’t you come at me?” Without losing his breath, Master Lantern called out to him.

He landed lightly, like a bird resting on one foot, then leapt again—easily soaring as high as a cedar tree.

(No way!?)
It was hard to believe he didn’t have wings.

But Al, the lion who ruled the ground, gazed upward calmly, unshaken. It was like watching a hawk and a lion preparing to clash.

“I know my own way of fighting,” Al said in a low growl. Master Lantern smiled in satisfaction.

It was the look of a teacher whose student had finally blossomed.

“I see. You’re no longer the reckless boy who used to rush at me head-on.”

With that, Master Lantern spun midair, switched his grip on the dagger, and dove straight down like a bird of prey.

Right beneath him was Al’s head. The speed was incredible. There was no way to dodge that!

“Al!!” I screamed, but Ishaq caught my shoulder.

“Lady Yuzu, it’s dangerous to step forward.”
“But—! Al’s going to—!!”

The earring Ishaq had used as a signal earlier was now back in his ear, perfectly clean despite the sand.

A sharp metallic clash! rang out as steel met steel.

After the impact came a high ringing sound, and both men landed on the sand again.

Master Lantern’s tone was light.
“―Too bad. You dodged.”
“If I hadn’t, I’d be dead,” Al replied evenly.

It was rare to hear such a calm answer from him.

Maybe this wasn’t the first time they’d exchanged words like that. But still, if they kept this up, one of them was bound to get hurt.

Worried, I looked up at Ishaq, but he only smiled gently.

“I taught you both royal swordsmanship,” Master Lantern said. “Funny, considering I mostly taught myself.”

“That’s because you could master any style just by seeing it once,” Al replied.

Where Master Lantern’s swordsmanship seemed wild and free, Al’s was precise and disciplined—clearly influenced by his teacher.

“Don’t flatter me,” Master Lantern chuckled.
“I’m not. I’m simply stating a fact.”

Then Al, who had been on the defensive until now, swung his curved sword. ―Fast. Despite his large frame and heavy weapon, he moved faster than my eyes could follow.

Master Lantern met each blow with his tiny dagger, so effortlessly it made me nervous that the blade might break.

Each clash rang out with a grinding sound, and sparks burst where their blades met.

After a heavy clang, both jumped back, widening the distance again.

Master Lantern gave a thoughtful hum. “So, you’ve finally realized you’re a lion.”

“――Master, it’s time you stopped wandering. Please return to the palace. Your seat is still waiting for you.”

“I told you, my role ended long ago. The day your grandfather died.”

What did he mean by that?

“Lord Euphorbia,” Ishaq explained softly, “was not originally from this country. He came as a special envoy for the peace treaty between the Mughal Empire and our nation.”

Even with that explanation, my thoughts couldn’t keep up.

So—Master Lantern, the man who hired me to work at his lamp shop, was not only Al’s old sword teacher, but also a former envoy of the Mughal Empire!?

“What… does that even mean…?”

I understood the words, but my heart couldn’t catch up.

Then suddenly, both Al and Master Lantern, who had been locked in fierce combat, turned toward us.

“Yuzu, Ishaq—get over here, now!!”

Without waiting, Al grabbed me in his arms and ran. “Wha—what’s happening!?”

“This way!” shouted Master Lantern. He crouched the camel pulling the wagon low and hurriedly threw a tarp over it.

“W–wait, what!?”

Al pointed forward. “Look. ―A sandstorm.”

A deep rumble echoed through the desert as something vast approached. Within moments, a colossal wall of dust and shadow loomed over us, like an army of moving rock.

“Stay still if you don’t want to get hurt,” Al warned.

His violet eyes still gleamed with the fierce light of battle, and he smiled at me—like an excited boy on the edge of adventure.