CHAPTER THREE

It would have been laughable if there wasn’t the tone of authority in her voice. The boys immediately stopped what they were doing, a blonde boy standing slowly from punching another who was lying down on the floor. The red haired boy’s face was bloodied but he still kept a tight hold on his bag. He was dressed in green huntsman garb.

A local from the Gildan, the section of the hunters.

Auria felt disgusted at what happened. To think that boys her own age or older were like this.

Striding forward with a purpose, Auria at the boy and looked him over. Aside from a busted lip, the boy’s nose was bleeding and he was holding his side. Apparently, he also had a few broken ribs.

“Hey look, the runt has a little protector.” One of the teenage knights teased. The others laughed at his statement except for one. The brown haired young knight’s eyes widened in recognition before sprinting forward. The others gawked as the young knight suddenly knelt in front of the girl.

“We just wanted to check what’s in his bag. I mean, he might be a spy, for all we know.” The blonde boy who was punching the face of the one on the floor whined but Auria glared at him.

“You would think that a knight-to-be would have the brains to understand that once you enter the castle gates, you’re already clear to enter.” She huffed.

She pulled the boy up. The brown-haired knight helped her by holding the boy up.

“Hey, Aidan, let’s go.” Someone called for the young knight but he shushed them.

“You don’t even realize…” He muttered but was silenced as Auria fixed him with a steady look.

She lifted her hand and white light came out of her fingertips. The onlookers stared as the wounds on the little boy vanished as if he wasn’t even hurt. The girls who were standing at the sidelines threw themselves at the young boy. The teenagers gawked and stood petrified as they realized who they are looking at, the younger boys looking back at them in apprehension before turning back at the girl with the black cloak.

“Your name?” Auria asked the young knight kneeling beside her.

“Aidan Crisswell, your majesty. How may I be of service?”

“You will take these children to the hostels for visitors. Make sure that they are well taken care of.” Auria instructed before pulling back her hood. The boys stepped back in alarm and the young knights immediately knelt.

“As you command, my lady.”

“Your majesty, you startled us. We didn’t know…”

Auria fixed the young knights with a stare. She wasn’t surprised that one of them would have found out who she was. She had trained with them so they are aware of who she was. But the boys don’t know of her as she didn’t go out of the city quite often.

“Hey, big bro. What gives? Who is this pipsqueak?” The blonde who hit the red haired boy puffed up his chest and tried to intimidate the young princess. Auria smirked before raising an eyebrow.

She could have just let it go but she couldn’t

The blonde boy was surprised when he found the world tilting and he found himself sprawled onto the pavement, his arm bent behind his back. He screamed in pain, his face gone ash white.

“Princess, please. Pardon my brother. His thinking is not as quick as others so I ask for a thousand pardons.” The boy’s brother immediately dropped on his knees forward as he asked mercy for his brother’s thoughtlessness.

“Why should I give him pardon? He apprehended a young boy with his sisters and attacked him just because he came from Gildan. You think of him as a hero for accosting a so-called spy who is a visitor in my kingdom and you ask for mercy?” Auria snarled as she tightened her grip on the boy’s arm.

“Your majesty, if you should punish the boy, then I will also take your punishment.” Aiden spoke up before kneeling again. “I did not do anything to stop them from their actions and so we deserve your anger.”

“Indeed.” Auria released the boy’s arm and dusted her hands. She moved forward and stood before the Gildan travelers. She looked at the young knights in the eye. “I will deal with the rest of you later.”

She then dropped into a deep curtsey in front of the red haired boy and his sisters before gifting them with a smile.

“Welcome to Durin Castle. I would like to personally apologize for the shabby reception you have received from those who are supposed to be loyal to the crown. May I know your names?”

The tallest of the girls moved forward nervously and bowed in return.

“My name is Lily and these are my sisters Penny and Julia. This is our brother Lysander.”

“Ah well, that is good. If you will follow me. Come, Aidan. I still have a need of you.” Auria then looked at the boy she threw down. “Learn some manners before you attack someone again.”

She flounced away while pulling her hood back. She felt the breeze and found where her tutor and handmaidens were. She pulled her small company forward until she reached Lady Gwynn who was busy talking about marketing strategies. Thania and Mildred raised their brows as they saw the group trailing after the princess.

“Lady Gwynn, if it is not too much trouble, could we go to the homes for the visiting travelers?” Auria piped in her sugary voice which made Thania and Mildred roll their eyes. During their walk, Leo came running up to them. It seems that it was already time to return back to the castle walls. Auria turned back to her newly found friends.

“I’ll leave you with Lady Gwynn and Aidan, make sure that you take care of them for me.”

“Consider it done, your majesty.”

Auria stepped beside Leo and she smirked at him. “Please keep your guardians off me when I am running around. It kills the mood.”

Leo laughed. “I will deal with those knights and their brothers later.”

Auria tilted her head aside. “I think I can deal with them, Uncle Leo. No need to use your authority on them.”

Leo just chuckled at the young minx.

Both made their way towards the hall. The workers bowed and curtseyed when they saw the young princess accompanied by the general. Some would look and smile at how odd their height differences were. Some cowered in fear from the aura that was being emitted by them. The odd thing was, they were only walking at a steady pace.

When they reached the hall, the princess looked up at the general.

“I hope the visitors are treated well, Uncle Leo. I would hate to find out that some of our visiting travelers would have to endure that kind of discrimination.”

“I assure you, princess. We are nothing like those arrogant heathens. All visitors are treated well and welcomed into our kingdom with respect.” Leo’s brows drew together as he recalled what had happened.

When his aide had informed him of what was happening, he was ready to leave the meeting with the king to straighten out those people. Pride is one thing but showing arrogance on those who they deem weak should not be tolerated. Leo turned back to the little imp.

“I hope you weren’t deterred from your walk, my lady.”

Auria smiled back.

“Nope. On the contrary, I think I made a friend and a couple of enemies but nothing to be worried about. As you may have heard, I handled it my way.”

Leo smirked. “You may have handled it but since you were so engrossed with punishing the boy that you left your back wide open for attack. You know you should not.”

Auria blushed as she took in the truth in what he said. She vowed to be more alert next time.

“Hmph. Only you would say that. I’d better get going back to my room. I assume that the party is for adults only?”

Leo shook his head. “I came to tell you that your presence would be required tonight.”

Auria rolled her eyes. She knew why.

Prospective wedding partners.

“When are they going to give up?”

Leo gave a wide smile.

“Not as long as you live, princess.”