The Wind

"Your Majesty, it seems we came at a bad time." Prince Andre said as he knelt down and bowed his head.

"Please rise, Prince Andre. Today's celebration was sudden. Please feel free to join the festivities." My uncle replied with a smile.

"Oh, a celebration? Your Majesty, may I ask what you are celebrating?" Prince Andre asked. Although he asked, his eyes met mine for a split second. In other words, he was being a sly fox.

"Today, we celebrate my niece Bella Rinehart for her heroic deeds and her new title as Princess. She saved many children from the hands of human traffickers and even destroyed the whole operation." My uncle answered without much thought.

"Oh? So does that mean this Princess Bella is strong?" Seeing the glint in the sly fox's eyes, I suddenly felt that I knew what was coming.

"Haha! She sure is. She might even give you a run for your money." I held my head, hearing my uncle's words. He fell into the trap without even realizing it. I turned to look at my father, who was also holding his head.

Feeling my gaze, my father leaned over and whispered: "Just entertain him. The foxkin clan is known for being battle junkies. They toss their young off a cliff into a pack of monsters to teach them how to fight as soon as they have gone through their awakening. They live up to the true meaning of survival of the fittest."

I knew it! I sighed as I heard the magic words next: "Oh? I would really like to test my strength against her. Would Princess Bella please indulge me?"

It was only then that the look on my uncle's face showed a sudden realization causing him to frown. He turned and looked at me, which I slowly nodded in response and stood up. "If Prince Andre wants to compete, we can compete. Would you like to do hand to hand combat, swords or bows? Which do you prefer?"

Prince Andre stared at me, seemingly stunned for a second before recomposing himself. He smiled and said: "let's do hand to hand combat. This way, no one will get seriously injured."

"Suit yourself," I replied with a yawn.

"You seem quite confident." Prince Andre looked at me with a bit of fighting spirit in his eyes.

"You can say that." I replied before turning to my uncle and saying: "Your Majesty, can you call the fight please?"

"Ah! Right! Ahem…. You may begin!" My uncle yelled out.

Prince Andre did not hesitate and shot toward me at an incredible speed which was slightly surprising, but it was not fast enough. As he threw a punch directly at my face, I sneered and reached out and grabbed his hand, stopping his advance on the spot as if he was frozen in time. He stared at me wide eyed, unable to comprehend what was going on. "Eh?"

And then…. With a big smile on my face. I raised the sly fox into the air and began slamming him back and forth on the ground.

*Bang!* *Bang!* *Bang!* *Bang!*

"Bella! Enough! Stop!" My uncle yelled out in panic.

I turned to him with my head tilted to the side in confusion. "But he hasn't said he gives up yet?"

"He's out cold! No wait, he is frothing at the mouth!" My uncle yelled back. I turned and looked at the now limp body of Prince Andre and pursed my lips.

"How was I supposed to know he was so weak?" I said only to hear the prince suddenly cough, and a bit of blood spurted from his mouth. I sighed and turned into my angel form and healed the stupid sly fox. "Next time, don't be so quick to fight someone. First, see how strong they are."

Prince Andre, who had just come to, looked up at me with a blank expression and pink cheeks. "You okay? Did you hit your head too hard? I don't think my healing ability will be of much help. Anyway, it was fun. I vented some stress." I said as I walked back over to the table where I was sitting before after turning back into my human form.

I have no idea why since he had come to, but the fluff was lying on the ground staring at the ceiling in a daze. I do wish I could fluff his tail, though. I had to restrain myself when I was healing him. "Ahem… Prince Andre, are you okay?"

"Huh?" Prince Andre seemed to finally snap out of it when he heard my uncle as he slowly got up. His cheeks were burning red. I guess he was pretty much embarrassed. "Ye-yes, Your Majesty. I never expected Princess Bella to be so strong."

"Yes… Please do not hold it against her for being too rough. She is young and still has a hard time controlling her strength." My uncle was really trying to smooth things over. But I have no issues controlling my strength. If I had used my full strength, he would have been dead.

"Not at all! I was the one who asked for the match, and it was my loss. Princess Bella, thank you. I do wonder… Do you have an engagement…"

"Achhooo!" A loud sneeze rang out across the room. I turned to see my mother rubbing her nose without the slightest bit of embarrassment. "Ahhh, excuse me. The wind just now caused me to feel a chill."

Mother, there is no wind! I couldn't help but chuckle. She was doing this to keep the sly fox from saying those words. Prince Andre looked at my mother and scratched his head before looking back at me. "Princess Bella, do you have an en…."

"ACCCCCCHHHHHHHHOOOOOOOOO!!!!!" My mother let out an even louder sneeze. My father and brothers both turned their heads, their shoulders shaking as Prince Andre stood there staring at my mother with a complicated gaze. My mother wiped her nose and looked at everyone with a smile. "Haha… the wind…."

I could hear everyone yell out in their hearts: "What wind!?"