X Dynasty~Concubine Selection part 2: Prince Regent is Interested in Her?!

Prince Ruka's POV

After the body inspection, qualified candidates entered the hall where the calligraphy and poem writing contest will be held. All of them attained their respected places as soon as they heard their names being called. With the significant look on their faces, I can tell that they all are going to give their best just to become my concubine.

What's good about being my concubine anyway? Well, from Princess Nana's viewpoint, it is because of the wealth of the court and the never-ending respect from people that only the Royal Family can receive. They also want to snatch the opportunity to become one of the most famous Empress in the future, that's why they are all ready to give up everything just to become my concubine; including their family's sovereignty.

Oh wait, Hana is here?! I can't believe it! After the scandal that happened a few months ago, she still dares to come here. 'Tsk, what a thick-skinned girl. I'll make sure to restrain you once again.'

As the master of competition, the Emperor's butler Reji marked the opening of the competition, all ladies started to get ink and papers from the table. Emperor father has to handle other court affairs so he just leaves the competition to both his butler and the Prince Regent.

From what I have read, the master of competition and other headmasters of the academy will select candidates that have the most beautiful handwriting. The selection is not that rigorous, as long as the inscription can be read appropriately by the magistrates and it is not a mess. And as long as the poem written has a genuine meaning behind it.

"What a drag." I heard the Prince Regent, Issa Suzuki, spoke. Uninterested in the presence of the ladies before him. He never took an interest in these things.

Prince Regent is also regarded as the Tiger of the Dynasty. He and his company have been watching over the Eastern border of the country for years, together with General Hijiri on the South. He was just 12 when he served as general.

Issa is slightly taller than the average height of a man of his age, with cold deep blue eyes and black waist-length hair. Because of his black hair and slim face, they always say that he is just on his 18 while he is not. He is casually wearing a blue robe that matched his eyes, white pants, and black boots to complete the outfit.

He was persuaded by my father Emperor to choose a wife or concubine, depends on him. Despite nearing 30, he still has no wife nor concubine at all. He chose to stay at the headquarters instead of playing and having fun with the young girls.

More and more girls fall for him because of his cold individuality. Though he has a harsh personality towards the young girls or people and things that he is not interested in, he is very caring of his soldiers—he treats them as his brothers on the battleground.

"Good to see you, Prince Regent. I thought you won't come." I uttered to him, expecting that the bored expression on his face will fade away.

"Oh, it's the Prince and Princess. Greetings, Prince. As well as to the Princess." He bows down before the two of us.

"Get up Prince Regent, drop the formalities." Princess Nana chuckled, over months and almost a year, she is still not entirely used to the greetings stuff.

"That must be difficult for you huh...."He stopped, now gazing at the birds at the branch of the tree merrily feeding their new hatchlings with a worm. "We are just like brothers and sisters on the battleground but now I behave towards you like the great Empress." The Prince Regent pondered, asking for the maid beside him to pour wine into his cup.

Princess laughed a little, embarrassed. "Yeah, I still am not used to it. After all, I am just a daughter of the general, I never reckoned that destiny will take me here."

Chats resumed until we heard the sound of the bell, implying that the calligraphy and poem writing competition has come to an end. They are already compiling the papers from candidates.

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While judging the papers, guards asked the ladies to take a stroll at the royal garden, where varieties of plants are planted. Including the late Empress' favorite, Primula, Prince's favorite, Peony, and my favorite, Satsuki Azalea is planted over there.

A few minutes later, the master of competition came out of the room. He is ready to proclaim the ones that will advance the second competition.

After that, we heard a boisterous bang coming from the table and the hands of miss Rou. Oh, it's Haruna. She is saying something, let's wait and see.

"What?! How come? My poem is not acknowledged?!" She screeched at the master of competition.

"Well, young lady. Your poem looks common and copied from the other books. We can't acknowledge that." The master of competition clarified to her calmly.

"Plain?! Then how about that stinky woman over there? She looks rural and ugly, I bet she just switched her paper with me." I glanced at the lady that she is pointing at.

Yes, she looks plain. She is a little bit smaller than the other candidates at the hall, has blood-red eyes and light gold knee-length hair. She is just wearing a long white hanfu that looks unfashionable. Her hair is also just tied up using a random strip of cloth, with no make-up nor ornament on her hair. Who is she? I have never noticed her in my entire life.

"Kira Luna just did the most stunning poem of all. Though she has not had the most elegant calligraphy, she has the most fascinating poem, propelling everyone in the judging room to tear up at the statement. In addition, the exchanging stuff won't occur. All of you have inscribed your names below the poem." The headmaster of the academy deciphered, defending the master of competition.

I still can't figure out who she is, her last name is Luna. But Lunas have already their representative. Are they relatives? Seeing that Haruna won't stop, I stepped out. "Guards, trudge her out. She is disqualified now!" I decreed, she obviously can't do anything now. It's my mandate after all.

"Tsk, a concubine's daughter!" Haruna spit angrily and shoved Kira before guards trudged her out of the hall. I put two and two together, ah she's the daughter of Court Official Luna and his concubine!

What happened next surprised all of the people in the hall. Kira is being shoved by Haruna, she is already falling. I made an effort to snatch her and save her, but I am too far from her.

Someone has grabbed her before me. It's the Prince Regent. He has secured her waist on his right arm gracefully while the other hand has the cup of wine he is savoring a while ago.

'Huh? No surprise they call him Tiger of the Dynasty. He's so fast.' I thought, peeking at the area where Prince Regent came from a while ago, and it was farther than my location.

"Hey girl, are you ok?" He asked casually, still gulping the wine on his cup.

"Y-yes, I am fine. Y-Your Highness, thank you!" She stooped in front of the Regent but then Issa interrupted her.

He leaves and moved towards the master of the ceremony. "Continue" he just mumbled and then came back to his seat.

The selection continued and people in the hall went back to normal. They are both amazed by the Prince Regent and wondering if the Prince Regent is interested in Kira since they believed that the Prince Regent has never touched a girl before aside from his grandmother. Yes, he talks to girls from families with a high status just like the Princess, but he doesn't touch them. Just talking and greetings without touching.

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The first half of the concubine selection has finally ended. Throughout the 25 candidates, after the body inspection, calligraphy and poem writing, and embroidery, there are only 15 of them left. Also, I have never expected Hana to come. I thought I have hindered her the time that I let guards drag her out of my place, but instead, she came back a few months later and pertained to being a candidate.

Walking back to my room, I noticed that the leaves behind me are rustling. They are rustling unusually. "Come out or I'll let guards drag you out," I commanded.

The tall figure came out of his hiding place and heard a familiar chuckle from the figure. "My, my, my. Relax Prince, it's just me." It's the Prince Regent. It is unusual to see the Prince Regent wander this late at night, he usually sleeps or patrols at the palace during these hours.

"It's surprising to see you, Regent. What can I do for you?" I asked him.

"About Kira, I think you should not choose her whatever happens." The Prince Regent warned. Well, Kira is not that dangerous but he is warning me. 'Wait, is he interested in her?!' I widened my eyes. That is possible.

"What do you mean? Are you interested in her?" I asked him, clearly curious about his opinion on Kira.

Issa just chuckled and went away, getting ready for the patrolling. "Maybe." He just said then completely faded from my sight.