The Prince’s Bride

Is that it?

Royals.

That is all Dalia's eyes sees, as when her gaze moves to left, there is one, and into her right, is another.

With Lucien by her right side, he passes her an assuring smile, with his hands caressing the one she has on her thighs, while nodding to her tentatively. Dalia gulps vividly, as one will assume it is because of her nervousness that takes such a reaction from her, which indeed is the truth, yet, it remains not just that.

As the other remains, the electricity that surges through her, just from Lucien's hand on hers, which brings back Lucien's words to resurface her memory about their feelings now becoming multiple than previously.

At that time, Dalia washed away his words, as it it didn't occur to her that such a feeling that supersede the one she has for Lucien would arise, up until this moment, when he has marked her, and every brush of his to her, feels intoxicating.

Dalia faces her front squarely, as from where she stays, her gaze lands on Prince Julian, who seems to also have his gaze on her, nodding his head gently at her, acknowledging her presence, whereas, Dalia returns it, by having a smile on her lips. Her gaze further moves away from Julian, and unto the rest of the royals and their seconds, when Dalia's gaze comes to meet with a familiar dark hazel orbs, staring bitterly at her, next to a vampire prince, as one can tell, due to pale skin the Prince carries.

Dalia's gaze begins to harden, so does her fist clench slightly, as she stares at princess Jelevene, whom she neither knows would be here or be in the competition as her, whereas from what Dalia has heard, she wanted Lucien to pick her to be his second.

Lucien on the hand, feeling the stiffness of Dalia's hand in his, walks his gaze to where her own stays, having a calm expression remain on his face, even with seeing the princess, as one thing Lucien is a master of, is not easily getting stunned by surprises.

Such as now, as he believes he knows such a mind as princess Jelevene, whom will do anything to achieve her aim, which he has no difficulty with, as long as, it nether touches what is his.

"You are with me and not her. So calm yourself, my love." Lucien leaning in closer to Dalia's ear speaks, as such gesture alone is enough to take whatever stiffness covers her face, flying with the air. Dalia exhales, composing herself more eligibly, sighting one of the elders whom will supersede the event, arise from his seat.

The room silent, as even if a pin is to drop it will echo, while the only thing being heard is the footsteps of the elder walking towards Jillian with a tray, carrying pieces of metal in it. Dalia watching in intrigue, as he stops in front of Jillian and his second, picking out a metal from the tray, whereas Jillian sets out his arm for him comfortably, while the elder chains such metal to him, before proceeding to his second.

"Is that it?" Dalia voice comes in a whisper to Lucien, as her gaze doesn't for once leave the elders movements 

"It is." Lucien answers her forwardly, as Dalia can only be more intrigued about such a metal which she has only heard about and never seen, as it is only said to be used on prisoners or offenders of the law, but here, the metal stares in her eyes, making her to recall Lucien's statement.

For a kind like the Fae, whom can read and manipulate minds, Dalia was curious as of how the competition would hold successfully when each kind all have their abilities intact, as with that, anyone can easily be manipulated or manipulate the results for oneself. 

Seeing her curiosity and intelligence, Lucien then elaborated, about a metal, which is called, 'The dampener'. A metal forged by the witches to damp the powers of any supernatural kind, once placed on the skin, also a metal which will be used throughout the competition, until the very end, to rid off manipulation and corruption.

Dalia with her gaze focused, continues to watch as the elder takes turns from one opponent to the other, right until he is in front of she and Lucien. The feeling of having a metal to damp her powers, scares Dalia, as even if she is still learning about them, she finds herself hesitant to stretch out her arm, while she stares gaze locked at the man in front of her, with bald head and a thin lip.

Lucien recognizing her hesitance, nods to the elder for him to go first, as he extends his hand for the metal to be placed, such that once it is done, Dalia’s gaze merges with her mate before finding relief in them to take her own actions, while the sleeves of her gown covers her arm that she needs fold it, for her to take in the requirements.

Being the last couple, all eyes lay on Lucien and Dalia, as each of their movements is taken into account by each royal that seat there, some with envy and some with adoration, especially when Lucien decides to be the one to fold Dalia's sleeves for her. The actions they exhibit, natural and serene that it is a definite to catch the eyes of the wanted and unwanted.

Once the metal clings to Dalia's skin, she can't help but feel the emptiness that follows, as though something in her has been taken away, yet, it is expected as Lucien explained to her.

"I greet you all." Dalia's attention is taken away from herself, as her gaze now lands on another elder, whom the only reason she is able to spot any of these men as an elder, is the baldness they carry. Lucien had explained to her earlier, that these men are neither Royals nor commoners, rather they are one whom gets to determine who rule Aveynia by truth of their words.

“The chosen’s competition is one which has taken place for thousands of years, created by our ancestors to provide reign and peace to each clan, such that each of you have answered for, as done by your forefathers. For that, I welcome you all again.” The elder speaks, whereas everyone listens carefully.

“Beforehand, I do believe it is in each and every’s knowledge for accepting to participate in this, as once the competition has begun, which it has, there is no going back, no going back until the final end.” At the words of the elder, Dalia finds herself gulping down her nervousness, as each of his words do not calm her to the tiniest bit. “To be foretold is to be forewarned, as there will be casualties and dangers which I presume you all envisage before coming here.” The elder goes silent, as his gaze stops at each Royal his eyes lands on. “Once that is know, then, we may begin with the first of the tasks.” The elder finally adds, taking the stance of many to alternate.

“We will begin with logical reasoning as the first of your tasks, as each questions asked would determine an answer from the participants in just a hundred and twenty seconds. If a certain participant fails to give an answer, such will be considered as a failure on their part.” The elder explain, whereas Dalia’s heart races unsteady while she listens carefully, with her hope being that she hasn’t perhaps forgotten all she has studied about, due to a certain full moon that has her brain divided.

“For if I have not mentioned, no partner can be of help the other, as a failure in one partner is failure to the other.” The elder adds, as that alone is enough to make Dalia shift in her seat, knowing she is the one to be worried about, as when it comes to Lucien, she is certain he will not loose.

Dalia’s gaze shifts to Lucien, whom passes her a calm, yet, reassuring smile, and still yet, it doesn’t ease the tension in Dalia’s heart.

“Once all is said. We will begin with the wizardry line, Prince Jeremiah and his second, Prince Felix.” And so does the competition begin, as Dalia ears and gaze remains perky the whole time, hearing and watching each couple respond with answers to their questions correctly, such that her heartbeats only intensifies, when the elder gets closer to she and Lucien.

“Prince Lucien of the werewolf clan.” Dalia’s hands begins to come sweaty, as her nervousness now exhibits in her expression upon hearing the elder reach them. 

“Go ahead Elder.” Lucien nods his head in approval, giving the elder permission to further his question to him.

“Thousands of years ago, in the reign of king Darius the second and his Queen, Felicia, its is known that an ambush was made on the royal family, one that struck the king to his knees with the attack placed on his most trusted body, yet, he soared through it based on the logic he applied. What was this logic King Darius applied and to whom did he apply it to?” As though one is speaking in parables, all Dalia can do is stare at the elder in perplexity of what a question it is he is asking of Lucien. Such a form of question that wasn’t asked to any other, as the ones Dalia recall the elder, questioning the other clans, is something she believes she can answer based on her recent studies, yet, here the elder stands asking such a question that occurred centuries ago.

Dalia’s body going stiff, beginning to feel upset and unfair about the actions of the elder, having giving Lucien such a tough question that one will think she is the one being given to, but, when she hears the next words of Lucien, her gaze even widens the more. 

“Thousands of centuries ago, king Darius was said to be ambushed by a an enemy from within, such enemy that took control of his Queen, Queen Felicia. Being in denial, of not wanting to accept that his most trusted person has been corrupted by a demon of black magic, King Darius decided to find out by himself, as one thing no one knew about the Queen was, she was a great mind in poetry and riddles, one that he decided to use for his information.” Dalia watches in awe and admiration of Lucien’s intelligence as he begins speaking, one which she finds unmatched.

“King Darius proceeded to his Queen, as he would normally do, caressed her and foreplayed with her, before his words finally did come to speak of a riddle to her, knowing the true Queen will never fail his questions, one which went as this.

They can be harbored, but few hold water. You can nurse them, but only by holding them against someone else. You can carry them, but not with your hands and you can bury them, but not in the earth.” Lucien as calm as ever speaks confidently, as the whole room feels the intelligence and power radiating off a man like him. “Such a simple answer, yet, the false Queen could not suffice a correct answer to, one that the answer to his question, being, ‘a grudge’.” Even the elder whom asks such a question from Lucien is applaud by the sense and detailed explanation done by Lucien, such that one will think Lucien was present during the time such event took place.

The elder himself, can’t help but let a satisfactory nod escape his physique, one that explains how extraordinary Lucien has done in his question, such that Dalia fears she may disappoint and not meet up to, as her worry begins to rise once again, knowing she is the next in line, especially when she now locks gaze with the bald man, called an elder.

“Dalia Delvinkin,” And so do her name slip off the bald man, whom prepares a question of uncertain answer from Lucien’s unroyal mate