Chapter 11: The Duel of Princes
"You're absolutely right, Princess Aurelia!" a voice called out from the main gate of the training ground. A young man walked toward them—David.
Princess Aurelia glanced over, but it was clear she wasn't pleased by this newcomer. The truth was, ever since she'd arrived in Silverdale yesterday evening, David had been hovering nearby, finding every excuse to linger in her presence.
Princess Aurelia couldn't stand men who acted like that—and the way David stared at her was downright uncomfortable. Still, mocking someone so openly in their own house wasn't proper for a princess, so all she did was keep a polite distance. Quietly, she signaled Viktor with her eyes, and at once, Viktor stepped between her and David.
David seemed a bit surprised, but Viktor smiled and said, "Crown Prince David! Perfect timing. Can you tell us where the princess's place is prepared?"
"Oh! Please follow me, I'll show you myself!" David composed himself quickly, and led the two toward the VIP platform, where seats for honored guests and the judges had been set.
"Brother!"
Another voice called out—this time, someone was approaching briskly. It was Richard.
"Why trouble yourself when your little brother is here? I'll escort the princess to her seat. Besides, as crown prince, you carry all the responsibility of Silverdale on your shoulders." Richard spoke with a sly smile.
David shot a hard look Richard's way. He understood perfectly what Richard was trying to do.
Three years ago, an alliance had been made between Silverdale and the Onyx Empire. The emperor pledged that one of his daughters would be married into the royal family, but hadn't named a specific daughter or groom.
That meant the emperor was free to choose which daughter, and the decision would be based on what his chosen princess—and her suitor—preferred.
Both brothers wanted to seize this chance to win the princess's heart: marrying her meant gaining the emperor's favor, and whoever gained the emperor would most likely become Silverdale's next king.
"Of course! I'll be leaving soon for Seven Rivers Abbey, so I should pay my respects to the king before I go," David replied evenly, masking his emotion. He wasn't about to make a scene before the princess. He bid goodbye and left the training ground.
"Come, Princess, let me show you to your seat," Richard said with a smile.
"Thank you."
Princess Aurelia hesitated at first, but then calmed herself and followed Richard to the raised platform. She found Richard's demeanor far preferable to David's.
They soon took their seats among the judges on the stage. The bitter cold prompted Richard to arrange for a brazier beside her, warming the area nicely.
Princess Aurelia found herself warming to Richard's consideration—after all, what girl doesn't like a man who thinks of her comfort? Soon, they fell into conversation. They discussed Silverdale's history, its future plans; Richard artfully attributed many major achievements of the former king to his own father, Julius Windrider, who had served as prime minister—after all, a prime minister's part in shaping the kingdom was crucial.
Princess Aurelia seemed genuinely impressed, and during the talk, Richard asked, "Here in Silverdale, it's a tradition that our king gives a special gift to an honored guest upon their first meeting. What did the king gift you when you met him yesterday?"
"He granted to fulfill any one wish I may have," the princess answered with a smile.
They were still chatting when a middle-aged man in a green robe strode into the field—Tyler's younger uncle, and Richard's own father, Julius Windrider.
As soon as Tyler saw him, rage kindled in his eyes. He remembered vividly how Julius had played a key role in his father's murder. The man always wore the mask of a humble, compliant brother, but was the one who had plotted to poison his elder sibling. To Tyler, he was nothing but a hypocrite.
If Tyler were stronger, he'd have no qualms about killing Julius right there. But Julius had already awakened his Solar Core—rumor claimed he could kill a tiger with his bare hands and shatter thick walls with a single punch. Tyler knew he simply wasn't strong enough yet for that.
Standing high on the platform, Julius drew a deep breath and spoke in a slow, powerful voice, "I have good news today. My nephew, Silverdale's crown prince, has been accepted into Seven Rivers Abbey as an inner disciple."
Julius's voice was quiet yet rang out for all to hear. His awakened Solar Core had hardened his body and enhanced his internal power tenfold. Even a whisper from him carried across the grounds.
At the announcement, envy erupted on every disciple's face.
No one was surprised that David had made it into Seven Rivers Abbey. The abbey's disciples were ranked by tier, and many aspirants—after passing brutal tests—were only ever admitted as outer disciples, with little access to the best resources.
To become an inner disciple required genuine excellence. How could David, never considered especially talented, become one instantly? It was hard for anyone to understand, and not surprising that jealousy followed.
Tyler too wondered: could the sacred elixir David had consumed have granted so much power, letting him slip into the ranks of inner disciples? Anxious for his sister, Tyler clenched his fists.
The only reason his uncles hadn't killed him was because they saw Tyler as no threat to Silverdale. His sister Jessica, however, had been another matter—her talent was a genuine danger, but she'd already left for Seven Rivers Abbey when the coup struck. Now that David was headed for the abbey, Tyler feared for his sister's safety. He knew he had to get there too, and quickly.
"David is the pride of our family. However, let's not focus on his achievement today. As this is Assessment Day, each disciple must pick a training assistant for the Death Match. Win your Death Match, and you'll receive double the power-boosting elixirs and double your monthly stipend for the coming year."
As soon as the prizes were mentioned, the arena buzzed with excited chatter. The disciples' enthusiasm was truly palpable.
But among the slaves, gloom reigned. The higher the prizes, the greater the bloodlust. The Death Match had always been a deadly challenge, but now, with these incentives, it was certain to become even more brutal. The odds of survival, never high, were now close to zero.
With his speech done, Julius walked to his high-backed chair.
In one corner of the stage, Bartlett watched the slaves closely. When his gaze fell on Tyler, a sly grin crossed his lips. "Boy, you die today," he muttered to himself.
Bartlett then announced loudly, "Disciples, you may now begin selecting your training assistants for the Death Match. First up is Richard Windrider, eldest son of our esteemed prime minister!"
Richard flashed a smile at Princess Aurelia and said, "Now I must accept my challenge, Princess. I hope my abilities will impress you."
With that, he vaulted into the arena, paid his respects to his father, then turned to choose his training assistant.
What happens next? Is Richard going to choose Tyler as his Death Match opponent? Will he finally succeed in his plans to destroy Tyler? Find out in next chapter.....