Wrong move

The Royal Children have their own mansion as the most important guests of the Centre Empire. A long festival begin after five days of familiarity— where three days for the royal children and two days of waiting for their familia. The three-day Royal Commencement ball had ended and the children stayed at their mansion to rest for preparation on welcoming their arrival.

The humongous red mansion with golden windows and decorations of vermillion gems patterned in an amazing way where Leonthera lives. The princess just woke up that late afternoon and chose to play with her horses. She's in the stable, talking at the black horse she bought in the town and the one they used last night, with Caelum.

"Why the fuck did I do that, huh?", she's talking about the kissed. "That was the first, well not, but the first time I actually kiss a man.", walking back and forth in front of the horse. "Oi, don't tell it to others, 'kay? Well, I can just act normal and deny it. Right? Vermi? Right?", she face the horse who's just staring at her and it whinnied.

"Deny what?", a voice of the woman she hates a lot, she's wearing an expensive caftan dress. She's around 30 yet her mind is stuck in a toddler. Leonthera looked at her with an emotionless eyes because she knows it could insult this lady. "Still rebellious? Well, it's alright because now, you're my pet and sad to say honey, you can't hurt me.", she said and tried to touch Thera's hand but she avoid it by walking away from her. "Whatever you're planning, don't forget you're powerless against me. Ready yourself within an hour! We're going to the castle. And I am warning you gal, if you bring disgrace to the kingdom, everything you have will disappear.", the lady said with wicked smile.

"I won't bring any disgrace because having you and that old man was enough to disrespect our Kingdom.", Leonthera replied and looked at her with all her hatred that made this lady shudder but still manage her posture. "And you might have something I really treasured but you know that I can kill you right here and take over the kingdom without failure. Don't try to threaten me, lady! Because you may defeat men by their lust but I can defeat them by slicing their heads.", she added while walking towards her. The lady step backward to form distance between them and the raging red-eyed woman.

Her wicked smile was now replacle by the shaking lips. "J- Just prepare, you crazy!", she walked away while waggling her fan.

"That shit never learned, er'! Acting too high to someone she can't even touch. Tsk! Blast her!", she cursed and go to her room for preparation. "This is heaven.", she whispered when throng of ladies are waiting for her.

They started to style her short white hair to hide it using a wig. Looking at herself in front of the mirror, she remembered the other day her hair was cut by Victrina, her hate towards that woman increase but it disappeared when a servant touch her face to put some light maquillage. When she notice that the lady is avoiding to touch her arm in the chair rest, she lift it and hold the lady's waist to guide her. She talked to some of them and enjoyed every moment of it.

AFTER ALMOST forever, for like 2 hours of preparation, she's now inside a close spacious carriage with four wheels and pulled by two horse drived by a coachman. There are two long chairs facing each other occupied by Leonthera and the other is Victrina. They aren't talking and minding their businesses. Leonthera doesn't really care about this lady but she needs to not let her guard down.

Looking at the window pane and observing this lady's move are her priority in this travel.

"Leonthera! Leonthera!", a woman's voice is calling her. She recognized it that made her opened her eyes. "We're almost there! Fix yourself and... disgusting! You're drooling.", Victrina said with great grimace and gave her a napkin.

'Oh, shit! I slept.', she cursed herself more. She looks around and it's true, they are already there, at the gate, coming to this unbelievably humongous castle. "The Empire's shit aren't a joke, eh?", she burst with amusement. She was hypnotized by the castle's structure.

Everything is amazing. The walls, windows, pillars, patterns... everything about it is made of different gems, textures and combinations that's creating a magical fancy. It has a well at the left side and great land of different flowers that have scattered chairs and little tables. There is also a pond with small bridge.

"Fix yourself, young lady! Don't forget that you're a princess. And your veil! Cover your face!", Victrina told her again and again until they arrived at the castle's huge door.

The wicked lady came out first and talked to the servants that's waiting for them. She signaled her to come out and so she followed. The footman guide them inside and she was greeted by the sparkling floor and aesthetic walls and ceiling and everything. The stairs are in the middle of this capacious floor. Leonthera doesn't really care about some structures but this castle.. it's too perfect for everyone's eye and taste.

SHE'S WALKING behind this Victrina while the lady is talking about the schedules and details of the tea party. They started to walked upstairs. As they reached the hallway, she looked around and saw the princes outside in a wide volume of small grasses. The field has four tea opened houses and then it looks empty. Not looking nor asking for Victrina, she just jumped out of the window after measuring its height.

"Fuck! Didn't know this shit's too fucking high. Tsk!", a woman grunted.

The princes was surprised by the lady who just appeared falling from somewhere above. They started panicking and got closer to the gal wearing red silk gown with half her face covered in veil made of scarlet gem. Caelum picked the sparkling crown near at his feet.

"Are you killing yourself?", he asked and extend his arm to gave it back. "You arrived last yet acting like precious."

A hand reach out for Leonthera, it was Sidus. She's still on the ground touching the parts of her that's hurting. "A-Are you okay, Thera?", he asked with uneasiness.

"Princess Leonthera?", Prince Sal asked with surprised because of the situation.

Caelum put his hand in Sal's shoulder. "Oh, don't be deceived by this lady's visage, my good friend!"

"Blast you, Evantonia. Oi, go back to yer places and I'm hidin' for a sec. Shoo!", she snatch her crown from Caelum's hand then just jump on a bush near her.

"This girl! Hey!", Diem laughed but Sidus is panicking. "Don't worry about her. Those grasses and plants are safe and no thorns. Let's just help her by lying.", he reassured him.

"Okay, let's go back!", Caelum said and walk back to where they're talking. "It's just a matter of time for her lady to notice the princess."

"What's the plan?", Diem asked while they are walking back to their place.

Caelum shrugged "Act normal and wait for her lady to leave?", he's not sure himself. "Oi, Princess, what we're gonna do?", he shouted but because of how high the floor was, it's impossible for Victrina to heard it.

Leonthera lifted her head to see them. "At the grounds!", she said then signaled something. "Is there someone at the window?", Caelum shake his head then Leonthera stand and walk briskly through a passageway.

"What heavens just happened?", Sal asked disoriented. The three princes who knows Leonthera looked at each other and waited for someone to talk. "Looks like I am the only one who doesn't know a thing?", he's confused but not upset.

"Well, she's a princess—", Caelum tried.

"That's obvious, man!", Sal interrupted.

"She's crazy! That's it!", his friend said with frustration he doesn't know where it came.

Diem laughed to what Caelum said. "Mhm.. she's quite interesting.", he added as introducing the princess.

"She's kind.. and beautiful.", Sidus smiled as while staring at nothing. Remembering all Leonthera's memory from him.

"Your impressions are.. different.", Sal said then looked at where the princess goes. "Aren't we suppose to follow her?"

"Oh, we are!", Diem utter with gusto. They all started walking and halted for a second when they heard a loud voice of a woman full of anger calling Leonthera's name. Ignoring it by laughing, they followed the princess and found her on the training grounds.

"Y'all are slow yet yer' gonna join the tournament?", Leonthera said with haughtiness while holding a shiny fine sword she got from the wall.

Caelum frowned. "Talking high and mighty for a woman, huh?", he said with conviction. As a man who's always praise by the maidens and betrothed, he only see them as weak-average creatures.

The princess smiled, just a smidge. Looking at their direction, she noticed the prince she just saw for the first time. She put the sword at her feet carefully then walk towards them and bow graciously im front of Sal. "Princess Leonthera Veslacia of Scarlet Kingdom. The honour is with me to meet such Prince Sal of Indigofera.", she totally transform into a lady.

Because of the sudden change of pace, Sal bowed with grace. "And so am I, Princess Leonthera!", still bowing.

"I think they already told you about me.", the princess said with gentleness and totally different tone.

Caelum and Diem are staring at her with inexplicable emotions while Sidus is laughing silently. Sal didn't know how to respond.

"'kay! Now that we all here and the ground is empty, why not have a play?", then she's back to her inadequate attitude. She pick the sword and swing it upward— trying to test it's sharpness by the whistle of the air.

"What game?", Caelum got his own sword and walked near Leonthera.

"Well, more like.. I want to challenge you all!", still looking at the sword, Leonthera declared a fight where they are all taken aback.

They was embrace by the silence. No one talked nor laughed. Judging by Leonthera's face, she's serious. Even Caelum halted when he heard her ridiculous idea.

"A once fight won't be that hard for you, wouldn't it? Prince Sal?", she asked in a way he can't refuse.

Sal is still confuse about the situation. He was still shock by her way of talking or inadequate attitude. They all look like they know her and he's the only one who didn't.

The prince looked at Caelum who just nodded at him saying, 'we all have the same reaction' and at the princess. "How about we use a wooden sword?", he's hesitated to hurt this lady.

The princess laughed as if he's kidding. "As long as you don't hold back, I don't mind using anything.", she said with conviction then replace her sword to a wood which what really is use in practicing.

"As you wish, my lady!", he grab a wooden sword then position himself with meters away from her as a rules in fencing.

They hold it upwards facing the bland on their other sides then put the grip near their heart as a sign of respect to their opponents. After the greetings, they now fix their posture. Leonthera swing her sword on her side in different ways to stretch her hands muscles and Sal point in on the ground with his left foot in the forward. Sidus, Diem and Caelum walked outside the square where the limits are trace. In Diem's mind, it is an interesting sight— seeing a lady and a man fighting uncommonly while for Caelum, remembering how Leonthera manage a difficult horse and her having an abysmal attitude and perfectly aim the moving target in the town— it's not impossible for her to have skills in sword. While the other prince, Sidus, he is worried about Sal because he saw how amazing this lady is.

Leonthera starts to attack by making an opening where she alter the sword in Sal's side but he blocked it with one arm. The princess smiled then whirled and aim for his knees that the prince didn't see it coming and thought she was aiming for his other side yet he blocked it using a hand. The other prince was amaze by her unpredictable movements. She's too fast even her gown was enormous.

"Looks like you're the one being easy on me, Princess!", he said after he felt the controlled force on her sword.

She just smiled and shrugged. This time, Sal was the one who initiat the fight, he swing his sword on her left expecting her to have an opening but Leonthera toss her sword on her right hand and blocked his attack using her forearm then she attack Sal on his neck and before it reach him, he duck and avoid it. They distance themselves to each other and smiled because of the enjoyable tension. They attack each other and counter it smoothly, no one wants to give up nor stop— looking like they both been waiting for fighting each other. Then as Leonthera saw an opening, she attack him with the fastest movements she can exert then make a faint whirled on the right and attack at the left. The match was finish when Sal was too late to blocked the sword coming in his neck, his attack was stuck at the air while he's catching his breath.

"That's... Ha... Amazing.", he said full of satisfaction to the princess who have smiling victorious.

She inhaled deeply. "You're a great swordsman.", admiring his skills that proving his worth as a prince.

They bowed to each other then go to a different ways. Sal goes back on the other prince while Leonthera pick a silver sword then point it on Caelum who's just about going to tease the defeated prince.

"Oi, Evantonia, I challenge you to win against me!", she declared head high, provoking him intentionally.

He was irritated by her looks and smile. As a prince, he's confident by his skills but not on his reflexes when he's about to hurt this woman. He then remove his crown and sash where as he pick his own silver sword and walk towards her.

"Wanna bet?", he declared then position himself.

Leonthera laughed by his suggestion then agreed. "Blame yourself by the outcome, 'kay?"

The prince start to attack her by aiming her lower parts where he observed earlier that she's not paying attention on that part. Fighting using a real sword now could be detrimental for the both of them but because Leonthera is wearing a puff dress with so many layers, damaging it wouldn't hurt her even a bit. When they now create a distance after some minutes of fighting, she tried to cut the tie near her waist to move a little freely.

Caelum waited for her in a second but Leonthera immediately attack him straight and he avoid it by arching his body on the other side. And their fight continue for about longer minutes where they do not stop nor create a distance means the fight was too fierce and the tension is rising. When Caelum swing the sword on his left to try attacking her left side, she tried to bend backwards but her corset didn't cooperate and left her a choice to use her sword to blocked his attack. Her posture was destroyed and a lot of openings came for Caelum but he didn't grab the chance that made Leonthera frowned.

"Fuck this corset! Are you goin' easy, young man?", he asked while swinging her sword disoriented.

Caelum smiled. "Don't take it by heart. I just saw how the corset got in your plan thus I just considered for a fair trade.", he explained and blocked her attack.

She accepted it and continue the fight. The first fight with prince Sal had an special camaraderie fight but with Caelum, it's intense. His reflexes, speed and instinct are keeping up at Leonthera's tricks. Perhaps it's because she's tired or Caelum is really good at holding a sword. She can also see how this prince is holding back the way he hold his sword. She wanted to unleash his skills and seriousness but her condition aren't perfect for that and she's sure, this prince wouldn't fight her seriously while looking like a fancy lady.

She move rapidly when Caelum attack him straight. She blocked his sword then pust it sideways on his left but because of the prince tallness, she can't execute the plan but she just push it with all her force then let go the sword and tripped Caelum at his back feet when she already positioned herself near his back then she catch his waist when he's about to fall looking like a princess final dance with a charming prince.

She positioned her arm near his neck. "Assuming that I have a knife, I won.", smiling while catching her breath.

Caelum face turned red that made him stand quickly and cough playactedly. "Tsk! Luck, huh?!", he said, not admitting his defeat.

"Mhmm.. you owe me one this time.", she's talking about the bet.

He breathe deeply. "What is it?", he asked talking about what she wants.

Leonthera smiled with inexplicable contentment. "You'll know it at the right time."

The other princes walk towards them then give Caelum's crown and obi. Diem clapped with such amusement.

"It was great.", he commented.

Sidus get near at Leonthera. "Are you okay, Thera?", he worriedly asked.

The princess smiled, touched by this soothing prince reaction. "Yes, yes! And I also enjoyed it.", she replied, reassuring that everything's fine.

They are just about to talk about the fight when they heard an iron footsteps. It was knights. Judging by the rhythm, they are all briskly walking towards them.

"Guess, I need to run! See you, Princes.. and princess!", she last looked at Caelum who looked at her with great grimace. She just laughed then gave them the sword and run towards some random passageway.

She entered a red carpet hallway. Looking around the area, she was amaze by its detailed structures and wooden windows. It was really elegant. The walls has plain white background and it has circular golden pattern like magical vains. The lamps are bright but just enough to make a lart of it glow and the paintings... it's full of emotions. There were small cabinets and different statue that occupies the side of hallways. It all looks luxurious and bright. She then heard another footsteps that made her just enter one of the rooms. Listening at them, she looked around and curse herself for entering a random room than to run and be chase by them.

It was Caelum's room.