Defending Left-Handed

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

“Slithen, dear.” The queen walked toward the crown princess as soon as she got out of the carriage. She was not wearing her typical ball gown dress. She was just wearing a simple outfit; a shirt, pants, and a long coat. Roaming around the town was already part of her routine. As the crown princess, she needed to have her eyes open. She needed to see the people.

“Your majesty,” the princess greeted and curtsied.

The queen wiped the princess’s sweat away from her face. “Where is your lady-in-waiting? She is supposed to be with you all the time.”

The princess smiled at the queen. “It is all right, your majesty. I told her to stay in the castle.”

The queen had no other choice but to nod. She knew her daughter has answers to everything she asks. She was trained to be like that since she was young.

She looked at the knight behind the princess. She immediately recognized who it was. It was Liriel. Her eyes grew big. If the princess did not call her attention, she must be staring at the man in front of her. She recognized him, too. He was her daughter’s best friend. He was supposed to be the princess’ consort if the king did not make his declaration five years ago.

“Liriel…” the queen called. She looked at Liriel from head to toe and saw how he dressed as one of the king’s knights. “Liriel…” she repeated. “When did you start working as a knight?”

Guess the king did not tell her, Liriel thought. He stepped forward and bowed as a sign of respect to the queen. “I just got in, your majesty.”

The queen nodded but she was worried about his intentions. She smiled at him to hide her worries. She directed her attention back to her daughter. “Why don’t you now go back inside, Slithen? Your governess is already in your study room.”

The princess nodded at looked at Liriel for a moment before going back inside the castle. They never got the chance to speak while going back to the castle. He never uttered a word when she tried to open up a topic. He must hate her, she thought. “I will see you after class, your Majesty,” the princess said to her mother. The queen nodded. The moment the princess was away, the queen immediately faced Liriel and her facial expression changed. From a sweet queen, she became a fierce one.

“Why are you with the princess? “ she asked in a condescending tone. Liriel wanted to laugh because the queen looked like he was a threat.

“Your majesty, as the king’s knight, it is my job to protect him and his subject. I am just accompanying the princess for her safety. ”

The queen scoffed. She did not believe him. She straightened herself and squared her shoulders. “Please stay away from Slithen,” she commanded and left him with the other knights. Everyone knew the queen has her bad side. It was only Princess Slithen who was not aware of that.

Liriel shook his head and immediately went to the training ground where the king’s guard gathered.

“Where have you been?” Reasee asked as he arrived. The training was still not starting but the knights were already wielding their swords with each other. There were also some knights in the gun shooting area; practicing their aim.

“I had a meeting with my attorney,” Liriel simply answered as he grabbed a sword on a rack. Reasee did the same, as well.

“How did it go?” he asked as they positioned themselves for a fight.

“Great,” Liriel lied because he no longer wants to answer his questions. He wanted to start the duel but that did not happen because someone positioned himself between Liriel and Reasee.

“Gaden and Sahel, the new ones.”

Liriel and Reasee bowed at them to show them some respect.

The man tapped Liriel’s knee with his sword. “I heard the king knows you. How did it happen, huh? How could you a newbie steal the king’s attention?” Jealousy was evident in the man’s voice. He could not believe that a mere newbie could steal the king’s attention. Once you have the king’s attention, you could either receive a promotion to lead the knights or another important position in the parliament. He could not accept that a newbie like him would ascend to a position higher than him.

“I did nothing,” Liriel said and turn his back against him but the man pulled him to face him again.

“Impossible, you must have seduced the princess. I saw you two together in the dark area of the garden. You could have taken an advantage of her. “

Liriel sighed and massaged his temples. He could not believe how the people around him could be so dumb. “If the princess is that easy then why don’t you try to seduce her. Let us see if the king would like you.”

The man’s forehead wrinkled and he noticed that the man’s ears were starting to change color. “Are you picking a fight?”

Liriel chuckled. “Is that what you think? Are you really that low to accept a challenge from a newbie?”

The man threw away the sword and took a breath for a moment. His pride could not let him. He also trusts his ability to wield a sword but luck was not always on his side and he might lose. He did not want that.

“What is going on here?”

The captain appeared from a door as soon as he heard a metal clink. It was the sword that the man threw. The captain looked at the man and the sword on the ground. The man immediately picked it up. “it slipped from my hand,” the man said.

“Is that true, Gaden and Sarhel?”

Liriel did not answer so Reasee answered for the both of them. Since he did not want another trouble from the man, he lied to the captain. “Yes, sir.”

The captain looked at them seriously but then immediately withdrew as he walked towards the center. Everyone gathered in a line.

“We will be starting our training now. We will start with improving your eyesight in the dark.”