Chapter 104
1196 Words
ELAYNE
Like the last fight, I almost lost the next one. I was stretched beyond my limits and my whole body trembled. As I lay flat on the ground, I actually almost cried. I didn’t know victory could feel so… sad.
Lion came to carry me out of the arena and we left, like the last time. Kalvin wasn’t around so Tyler joined me in the carriage. I lay on a pillow on one side with my eyes closed while he sat on the other side.
“My lady I know you wanted to do this but do you really want to continue?”
“Ask me for my answer tomorrow.”
“You’re just hurting yourself.”
“You don’t think I know that?”
“Oh… my lady… I already told you…”
“Tyler, I’m tired.”
“... Yes, my lady.”
In two days, the competition would end and we were down to the last thirty. I don’t know how I feel ranking in the first five, as the fifth but according to what I have heard, there were a lot of people waiting to talk to me. I didn’t want to because my reason for entering the competition was much different.
When we arrived at the house, another member of the royal family was waiting for me. At first I thought it was Susanne but I realized it was a much different person I had seen before. Tyler alighted before me and that’s when I knew who she was.
“Lady Sasha, what a surprise. Were you sent by the queen?”
“Oh how silly, Tyler, I’m here to see Kalvin. I hear he’s not home so I’ll just have to make do with you two.”
“You really didn’t have to come keep us company… really.”
“You can’t chase me away. My sister-in-law kept shouting her son had a lover so I just had to come see. Who’s that?”
“That’s the Prince’s new attendant. He’s in the competition. He’s a little injured so he’s come back to rest.”
“Ohhh…”
“Please don’t grope his chest. He’s had enough of that.”
“Poor thing. Sorry our family is so dysfunctional.”
“It’s nothing.”
“I don’t have to touch you to know it’s you, Ariana.”
“... Bloody hell! Why did it have to be you?!”
“Come here and hug me.”
Reluctantly, I wobbled up to her and hugged her. I both love and despise the woman known as Sasha, sister to the King of Zerramond, mother to Susanne and the top royal physician. She has keener senses than a wild animal and she was the kindest person in the whole palace.
“Wow, you look terrible. And why did you cut your hair?!”
“I was TRYING to disguise myself but you all can’t quit it, can you?”
“I wasn’t planning on hurting you, even if I knew you were alive, which I definitely knew, I didn’t cry at all when they said you were dead…”
“Ahem… liar… ahem…” Lion ‘coughed’. He jumped, laughing as he missed Sasha’s fan.
“We would have welcomed you back to the palace with open arms.”
“I know you would’ve but eventually, I’ll be found out and you guys might have to enter a war with Casella or deal with my death from depression.”
“Quite true. I don’t want you to die. I love you too much to let you die like that.”
“I love you too.”
If there was anyone who made me feel less lonely far away from home, it was Sasha. She made it easier to run from my husband and his family.
“What is this I hear, Ariana? You’re participating in the competition?”
“Yes, I am… ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow! WHY?!”
“Why would you do something so dangerous?!”
“Well what am I supposed to do, sit still look pretty?”
“That’s not the right answer but brawling is not the way of a princess!”
“In case you haven’t noticed, I’m not a princess anymore. There’s no privilege here so I’m fighting to get what I want.”
“So, you’re fine with getting hurt fatally, losing a limb, a sensory part or your life?”
“If I die struggling, then I die.”
“That’s some fierce determination I haven’t seen on anybody since Susanne decided to train how to be an assassin just to stop Kalvin.”
“Wow… she was the one to grope me first by the way.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll handle that.”
“I’m sure you would”
“Ariana, I admire your courage and I know you want to do something reasonable and what is right. So, if you ever need a safe space, I’m here for you to hold and cry, okay?”
I hugged her back, and in a tiny voice, I said, “Okay.”
The next day, my opponent was not one much bigger than me. He was slim and about my height. He didn’t look so dangerous but I could tell he was going to be more difficult than the ones I’ve faced. Using my lower advantage wasn’t going to work on him and and having him underestimate me wasn’t either. So, I used the one trick that was too awkward to use.
“I know we look about the same height but in reality, you’re shorter than me, aren’t you?”
“What?”
“You’re too short.”
“No, I’m not. I’m literally taller than you.”
“From what I can see from here, the top of your head by the way, shows I’m taller than you.”
Yes, it was the infamous trash talk. Extremely dangerous to use in combat but clever once you got the hang of it. I could already hear the murmurs and the rumors that were going to spread but I really couldn’t care less.
Our swords moved as our lips moved. We looked equally matched only because I was distracting him with my thrash talk. According to experience, men care more about their ego than whatever went on in the present. This man was a living example of that.
“I’ve heard about the insoles for men and I have some. Do you want some?”
“I DO NOT NEED INSOLES! YOU OF ALL PEOPLE SHOULDN’T BE INSULTING ME ABOUT MY HEIGHT!”
“Don’t go comparing me to you. I’m comfortable with my height. Sure, I get mistaken to be a woman but if it helps me con free drinks, why not?”
“So you’re a conman? No wonder the church doesn’t like you?”
“They don’t? Why? I consider myself a really pious man.”
Except of course, I’m not a man and I couldn’t give a rat’s nest about Zerus.
“If a man like you is pious then there is no sin in the world.”
- Writer
