Hold Much Value

"What is happening here?" The room which was full of roars and laughter died at once.

They all bowed their heads at once when the second prince entered the room.

His cold eyes swept past the crowd and settled on Damien and Mike, the ones fighting in the center.

His sharp eyes narrowed at the bleeding Mike and paused.

"I never knew that the council was allowed to use real weapons during the knight's practice or duel?" his head tilted slowly and met Dami's eyes.

His silver hair was tied in a tight ponytail making the small scar on his eyebrow evident.

His short jaw clenched when Dami did not bow or apologize but provoked him with a smile.

"The rules were decided by the fighters, your highness. We did not mean to participate in the training but to fight for our honor."

"..... and killing for it." His lips arched into a smile full of ridicule while his blue eyes squinted at Dami's face who bowed instantly.

"I will not dare to kill a Welenshire!" but it would change the moment he was not a Welenshire anymore. Dami knew in his heart that day was not far away.

"Damien Sol Clemanter, you have injured a knight on duty. You could be suspended from your position for it. Yet, instead of apologizing to your senior, you are provoking him. Do you want to lose your position this time?" Although Ardrin challenged him, his voice had a hint of excitement when Dami shook his head.

His languid expression, droopy eyes, and smacking lips made Ardrin raise a brow again.

"Sir Micheal is not on his duty. He had already taken leave, your highness. And I am not only on duty too. I have taken off today because I am going to visit my master's family.

The fight between us was between two men, not two knights dedicated to the empire." Mike's head snapped toward Dami.

Even Ardrin's eyes narrowed and his jaw clenched. The pressure in the room is rising. Ardrin had a strong presence. His cold eyes left many choking.

The man's dominant eyes did not expect submission but demanded complete obedience. Yet, Damil smiled and showed his party teeth without a hint of fear.

"And I won!" He looked at Mike who was still on the ground. He was looking pale and sweaty with the injury on his gut. "I hope you remember what you have lost. Or.. are you going to try again?" that left Mike choking.

With the amount of blood, he had lost! How could he start another battle?

His men dragged him out of the room before Dami could attack him at once.

"Now if you please excuse me." he bowed his head in front of Ardrin with a polite yet challenging posture as he sauntered out of the room.

Ethan followed him with quick steps but was shocked to see Lia standing at the door.

She was leaning on the wall with her hands folded in front of her chest. Her big honey eyes were half closed but when she heard their steps, she tilted her head and her eyes met Damien.

The heat in them burnt, as if the sun had fallen in her eyes, her eyes blazed but Dami knew it was not anger.

She stared at him for a few more seconds before standing properly and walking into the room.

Dami turned and stared at her leaving figure when Ethan held his arm and pulled him away.

"Even if that woman is working with you. You could not let others know about it. The way you are staring at her is brazen." He chided his friend and Master but Dami just laughed and walked away.

—-

Lia went into the room and faked being surprised when she noticed Ardrin standing near the door.

"Your Highness, the second princess. May the blessings of the goddess always befall upon you." her sweet voice made the man tilt his head again.

"Lady Welenshire, congratulations on your marriage. Are you here for your husband." she nodded, not at all surprised by his curtness.

"Yes, we are leaving for the south today." she nodded and looked behind the man as if she would find Mike in the room if she looked closely.

"He is not here." She shifted her gaze back to him with knitted brows and confused eyes.

"Ah, then I will go and look for him in the other training ground." with a polite smile, she was ready to leave when the man did not explain further.

"He is injured and would be in the infirmary." Ardrin stared at a knight who spoke hastily when Lia paused.

Her frown grew deeper as she stared at the knight.

"But I remember that he had submitted his leave already. Why was he training and since.." she paused when she felt Ardrin's gaze going intense on her.

"I apologize, your highness. I will go and look for my husband first." he nodded, his gaze deepening at the worried look on her face.

He had thought a woman like Lia could never be worried about anything. If any, she could be angry that she was humiliated by the failure of her husband.

He still remembered the way she had seen him for the first time they had met in their childhood.

As if he was a thing! Not even a human and assessed his value. When she felt that the first prince had more value, she had chosen to befriend Edward the first prince over him.

To think that such a cold woman could make such a warm face for a mere knight. She had changed more than he had expected.

"Send a letter wishing early recovery to that knight. We should not upset the marquis over such a silly matter."