The Fight for The Princess’ Hand

The Tenth Chapter

I looked down at the floor as my handmaidens fluffed the bottom of my dress. I've been cross since earlier and would continue to be cross with him at this dinner tonight.

All the contestants, as well as my father and myself, would start off tonight with appetizers before Malakai and I would be whisked away to enjoy a private dinner.

I looked towards my balcony window, still boarded up. I couldn't bring myself to further contemplate why exactly I had been compelled to walk to Queen Veronica. It was something I'd take to the grave.

A knock brought me out of the thoughts, having me look over at the door expectantly.

Charlotte glanced at me, going over to the door and opening it to see a servant I recognized to be wearing King Malakai's crest. She raised a brow, "Yes?"

"A gift for Princess Arethina from King Malakai." He handed her a small box, wrapped beautifully with a red bow.

I was stunted. I stepped off my pedestal, "Whatever for?"

"For tonight's dinner."

I looked at my other handmaidens, unsure of what to say. When I fell short, Charlotte spoke for me. "Her Grace sends her thanks."

The servant scurried away as Charlotte closed the door.

As soon as she did so, Jewel shrieked. "Oh, how exciting! So many men vying for your affection!"

"And a woman." Lorena scoffed, crossing her arms.

"Even so, isn't it a dream to be adored by so many?" Jewel swooned.

"I wouldn't be that adored if I wasn't a princess, would I?" I bitterly murmured, holding my hand out to recieve the box. Charlotte placed it in my hands.

I placed the box on a nearby table, opening it with malice before my eyes opened wide in surprise. I was speechless.

"What is it?" Jewel urged, stepping closer.

"Yes, spit it out!" Lorena scoffed.

"Well?" Charlotte asked.

Charlotte, Jewel, Lorena and Vera stepped beside me, gasping aloud at the contents of the box.

-

The doors opened to the banquet hall after my announcement, everyone's eyes going towards me in an instant. My hair was braided upwards as it ascended into a high bun, some of my strands braided here and there as it cascaded down to my somewhat exposed back.

The dress was a striking bright red, adorned with red lace above and extended over the patterned fabric underneath. The top started at my chest, wrapping around my shoulders and exposing my collarbone and shoulders for all to see. My wrist's sleeves hung low, fashionably so. My face was washed, my cheeks pinched, my lips rubbed with the colors of mashed strawberry, and both wrists and neck rubbed with lavendar oils. I wore a gold chandelier necklace, red small flowers adorned my hair, and my fingers were decorated with a gold ring.

Music rang out lovingly from the orchestra, stirring feelings in my chest beside the residing anxiety.

I held my breath, my chin held high as I walked toward my seat beside my father. He stood, holding my hand as I sat down, avoiding his eye. I gulped, looking up to see all the contendor's eyes on me.

My breathing fastened as soon as my eyes met Veronica's. She was dressed just as exquisite as all the other Princes and Kings, if not more so. Her dress was a dark purple, her lips matching perfectly, as well as her eyelids. The way she looked at me... as if she wanted to devour me whole. I looked away with haste, my eyes befalling on King Malakai instead.

His pink lips spread into a smirk as his eyes looked me up and down.

I bashfully smiled, purposefully waving back just to anger my father.

My father hissed at me, "Compose yourself."

"Oh, lock me up like Rapunzel, won't you?" I whispered, rolling my eyes.

"Don't tempt me." He hissed again.

I stiffened.

The tables were set, all ready to eat the appetizers as we waited for my father's say so.

My father looked around tediously before he stood, raising his chalice as he did so. Everyone rose their chalices as well, as did I.

He smiled broadly, my father, as he spoke, "A toast to all of you! May the best man win."

I glanced at Veronica, whose jaw clenched as she raised a brow. My father drank from his chalice, as well as everyone else.

Malakai's eyes focused on me as he drank, making me shiver at the glint of mischeviousness in them.

I hesitated from drinking, gulping and unable to remove my eyes from her face. I could see the loathe in it, the defiance as she subtly placed her chalice down, refusing to drink from it. My father looked over as he put down his chalice, a slight smirk as he sat down.

"You wish to insult me?" My father suddenly said.

"I have an aversion to drink to toasts I don't adhere to." She pointedly said.

"Hmm. So you don't adhere with the King?" My father asked.

"Is that a crime?" Veronica chuckled, resting her cheek on her knuckles as she coyly c****d her head.

"I don't believe it is." I smirked at Veronica, causing her to stiffen and slightly smile, as I put my chalice down with a very audible clink. "Now, is it really necessary discuss such disagreements over such an appetizing first course?"

"I don't believe so." King Cyrus said, lightly laughing with the awkwardness we all undoubtedly felt.

I grinned at him, looking down as my own plate with almond milk rice was served. I smiled, wanting to avert etiquette and bite into it right away.

"Do you favor that?" Veronica asked, somewhat meekly.

I looked up, surprised to see her studying me with fascination. My cheeks felt hot... I nodded.

"It's no surprise here." Prince Marcus smugly stated. I huffed lowly in annoyance. "Her Grace revealed she favors sweets to me at The Banquet."

I almost wanted to state that it wasn't a competition, but it really was.

"It's nice to see you've recieved the most bare minimum of information from Her Grace." Prince Liam scoffed, looking at me with a charismatic smirk. "She clearly favors others more."

"Perhaps she'll reveal far more to Malakai during their private dinner." Prince Dmitri suddenly stated.

"I swear I'll slay you all down lest you shut your traps." Malakai snarkily said. They looked at him, some smug and some confused.

That pleased me. As soon as my father started eating, we followed along.

The first bite pleased me to no end. I couldn't help the smile on my face as I ate the delectable food. I tried to pace myself, but couldn't contain the urge to continue at a steadfast pace. As soon as I finished, I hummed in satisfaction.

I froze as I swallowed the last bite, looking around to see them all looking at me with small smiles. I reddened, realizing I had finished first. Curses. They must think of me as a barbarian.

Malakai grinned, looking at my father. "May we be excused, King Leopold?"

My father seemed to mirror the grin with giddyness. "Why yes, of course. Please, go, go."

King Malakai stood, going over and helping me pull my chair out, then holding his hand out for me to take. I tried not to glance at Veronica, at her perfect face, her perfect cheekbones, and I failed. I gazed at her just to find she was gazing at me as well. I swallowed, looking back to Malakai as I stood.

He was eerily close, putting my nerves on end. We seperated slightly, still holding hands slightly elevated.

I kept my eyes down, following him as we left The Dining Hall, followed along by my handmaiden Charlotte. As soon as the doors shut behind us, Malakai let out a long exhale. "Whoo. There was a lot of tense energy in there."

I looked at him, slightly amused. "Oh, so you could tell?"

"Why, yes. Couldn't you?" He seemed genuine. I couldn't help but giggle. Then he looked confused...

"Malakai, I merely jest." I placed a hand on my mouth, covering my laugh slightly.

"Oh." He smiled in relief. "I apologize for my confusion. I wasn't always the best with certain social cues."

"Yet you seemed to sense the tense energy there."

"I don't do well with social cues, so I use the power of deduction. Facial expressions, behavioral habits... It's how I learned."

"That must be difficult. Royals tend to be very skilled when it comes to deception and not having certain habits."

"Which is why I don't believe anyone lest I see it for myself. Through their actions."

As we reached the end of the hall, he opened a door for me, one which I knew led to a terrace above the garden.

I went through the door, glancing at him as I passed by him. He held the door open for Charlotte as well, which I appreciated.

I took my focus off him, only to gasp in surprise at the romantic setting before me.

The table was set with a long cloth over the middle, two set plates accompanied with silverware, an ice bucket with a bottle of wine, a candelabra near the center, and a single rose placed in a small vase. I knew this terrace well, it was one of my favorites to visit at sunset... which it was at the moment.

I looked at Malakai in confusion, "How ever did you-"

"Your father mentioned something about your favored terrances." He motioned towards my chair, escorting me with his gloved hand on my exposed back. I tensed at the contact, holding my breath as goosebumps spread across my skin. Of course my father had told him about me. He only wanted a man to win, of course. Would he have said the same if Veronica had won first?

I sat down, smoothing my dress down as I did so. I glanced as Charlotte took a seat nearby, bringing out some cross stitching to work on. I looked at Malakai with a small smile as he served us wine, having not seated yet. I grasped the folded napkin in my plate, unfolding it and placing it in my lap.

"My father doesn't allow me wine-"

"What he doesn't know will surely not harm him, will it?" He countered.

Amusement filled me. "I hope I didn't seem too eager with my partaking of the rice. I just-"

"Fret not, dear Arethina." I blushed, his voice as smooth and deep as honey. "I cannot speak for others, but I thought it endearing that you had such enthusiasm."

"Oh." I reached for the wine, taking a small sip as he sat across from me, taking a sip of his own wine. "Thank you, Malakai. I'm relieved you thought so. I'm sure the only reason my father had not scolded me was because of company."

"Ah. Life as a royal requires etiquette above all else, doesn't it?" He mused, unfolding his own napkin in his plate.

"Life as a whole, I believe so. Even the lowest peasants have to live according to certain rules as well." I looked off the terrace. This was the most splendid view of all the kingdom. The sun was setting fast now. I whipped back to Malakai, "Do you ever think there will be a time where we don't have to live as such?"

"I would hope so. What a wonder to live life as such, isn't it?" His eyes lit up, seemingly inspired.

"What would be the first thing you'd do?"

"Hmm. What a question." He bit his lip. "I can't think of the damnest thing."

I giggled at his curse. "Oh, what foul langauge. And in front of a Lady!"

"Not just a lady. The Princess herself." Charlotte muttered snarkily.

Malakai and I looked at each other before we burst out laughing.

"Princess Arethina, this is no laughing matter!" Charlotte urged.

"Oh, Charlotte. Calm yourself." I scoffed. Despite Charlotte being one of my closest friends, she truly aggravated me at times.

"It's just a bit of fun, Miss Charlotte." Malakai smiled at her, causing my handmaiden to grumble lowly.

"Don't mind Charlotte. She's almost more frigid than my father." I whispered, causing Malakai to snicker.

"I can see that." Malakai paused, taking another sip. As if he had the brightest idea, he looked over to Charlotte. "Dearest Charlotte, would you do the kindness of checking on the servant who is to bring our food?"

He wanted us to be alone. I smiled, knowing Charlotte would rush back at once, and we wouldn't be alone for long.

"Of course I can't-"

"Oh, Charlotte, please. I am famished." I looked over pleadingly.

She scowled, getting up and going back into the castle.

I gave Malakai a raised brow as the doors closed. "Now what was it you wanted us to be alone for?"

"For one, we can get to know each other better..." He paused again, as if needing to find the right words. "Secondly, to ask why on earth you'd have a competition in place?"

"What ever do you mean?"

"Do you realize the position you've put yourself in?" His tone had changed. He saw my face shift to one of annoyance, then smiled. "I don't say this to scold you, but to inform you of the dangers your Kingdom is in."

"Danger?" I scoffed. "My father handles all dangers - he wouldn't invite anybody that he knew could endanger us - to endanger me."

"If you truly think that all the Kingdoms you've invited-"

"I didn't invite Kingdoms, I invited suitors-"

"Did your father not teach you about warfare, about strategy at all?"

"He said those were men's affairs." I huffed.

He cursed under his breath. "Princess, when you attend another Kingdom, what do you represent?"

"I represent my family and my Kingdom."

"And so does every Prince and King you invited to compete for your hand. If they marry you, they basically inherit your Kingdom."

I shook my head, "I know that already."

"My Princess, just because you have an ally, does not mean you have a friend. You do realize that, do you not?"

"Be blunt, won't you?"

Malakai's jaw clenched. "Fine. Whoever weds you gets the throne, but only after your father dies. Any one of your suitors who want the throne, who want the Kingdom, would have the possible motivation to hurt your father."

"My father?"

"And you, after you bear a son. Like I said, you mustn't trust people's words, but rather their actions."

I swallowed. I felt foolish now. True intentions weren't certain, nobody knew what intention lay inside somebody's heart.

"Don't trust anyone. Not even your handmaidens, not any servant here."

"What about you?"

"Me?"

"Yes, what about you?" I asked, "Can I trust you?"

"It's your choice to believe whether or not you can."

"The fact you're telling me this... you could either be fooling me in order to trust you even though I shouldn't, or you're being genuine towards me and wish for my safety."

"Then again, I could've kept you in the dark." Malakai seemed calm.

"I opened my home to my enemies, didn't I?"

"Some enemies may already live in these walls." He sighed, taking another sip. "Worry not, Princess. I'm sure your father wouldn't have done this without purpose. Without a greater plan in motion... After all, we all signed a treaty that stated we would not commit actions that would lead to war."

"What? Then what was the purpose?"

"Above all, your father is a King. A wise King wants to know who his true enemies and true allies are. And you handed him the perfect opportunity for it."