Responses
First thing I thought was also that this bastard will ask to marry her if he wins… but the princess has her wish too so she could counter his wish by asking the king to refuse his wish as her birthday wish ! She was clever to ask for that for her birthday. She can still UNO reverse this moron.
I’m pretty sure he suggested this as a way to injure her escort, see her healing powers in action, and then win to ask for her hand in marriage.
It just seems way too convenient that he chooses to participate when the Duke is missing in action, especially when the winner gets a wish from the emperor.