The Fragile Pillar (1)

"A bet?" echoed Aeldwyn, showing interest.

"Yeah," Elucina challenged confidently, stepping closer to him to close the distance between them. "Do you remember when we would bet who would do best on our tests?"

Those were the days when they had shared a wise scholar who taught them all about history. Elucina recalled how every class felt like a competition, with her and Aeldwyn competing fiercely to prove they were more intelligent than each other in tests and recitations.

Elucina boasted with a smirk dancing upon her lips. "And I would always win."

Aeldwyn, not wanting to admit defeat, looked at her with a sneer. "I remember it differently," he replied, feeling his pride hurt by her sentence.

But Elucina was fast to remind him of what really happened. "I won the majority of the time, my lord," she countered, amusement in her voice.

Aeldwyn mentioned, "Yeah, right... But by a single difference."

She said, "No matter; A win is a win."

As silence fell upon them, they faced each other, looking straight into each other's eyes that showed the same competitive spirit that drove their contests when they were younger. Neither of them wanted to be the first to look away.

Aeldwyn was the first to break the silence. "Let's hear the bet then, Your Highness."

Elucina's grin grew even bigger, hearing Aeldwyn matched her energy. "I propose a challenge to see who will win the crown in the end. If you believe in this commoner girl's abilities, then winning should be a piece of cake for you, shouldn't it?" 

Aeldwyn chuckled lightly before clarifying, "Listen, Your Highness, I did not say that I believe she has what it takes yet. But if she does manage to win the crown, I will happily admit that I misjudged her." He then asked, "And what would be on the line if she wins, Your Highness?"

Elucina's eyes filled with mischief sparkled as she stood with a rifle slung over her shoulder, her free hand resting on her hip. "If I win, you must agree to acknowledge that the Voncrow influence is not as mighty as you think it is. But if you win," her words trailed off.

She paused for a second, reluctant to utter the next words. "...I will publicly recognize your superiority, my lord."

Aeldwyn thought about her challenge with his competitive spirit kicking in. "Very well," he accepted, smirking. "May the best person win, Princess Elucina."

…

On her journey back to the royal palace, Elucina decided to stop by her mother's residence to give the partridges she hunted.

"Hm?" Elucina's keen eyes caught sight of someone familiar in the distance.

Daleah, riding behind her mistress and holding her waist as they traveled on the horse, was puzzled to hear Elucina mumble something.

As Elucina led her horse through the gates, she discovered that the figure was, in fact, Marquess Heldan, leaving the Queen's castle and making his way to his carriage.

"Marquess!" she called out, hoping he would hear her.

When Marquess Heldan finally saw Elucina coming through the driveway, he did not continue riding his carriage.

It was really fortunate that Elucina did not need to summon the Marquess to her residence, as they coincidentally met here.

Turning onto the driveway, Elucina gently pulled on the reins and stopped her horse. As the horse settled steady, she patted it to praise and calm it down. By that time, Marquess Heldan had been standing beside the horse and waiting.

"Your Highness," he bowed to give his greeting before offering his hand to her.

Elucina climbed down the horse with his help. As her feet touched the ground, she spoke, "I was about to summon you, Marquess."

"As I was actually on my way to your residence, Princess Elucina," Heldan confessed, retracting his hand as Elucina finally dismounted her horse. "I have news to deliver about Princess Vanetta's–"

"Don't bother wasting saliva," Elucina interjected. "I have heard about it from Lord Aeldwyn," she added, her gaze straight on the opened grand doors of the castle.

Marquess Heldan nodded but seemed somewhat surprised learning that Elucina had a meeting with the heir of the Voncrow family. "Then, I assume you are also aware of the dissolution of your engagement…"

Elucina glanced at him, turning to face him directly. She said, "Actually, His Majesty informed me about that in his letter."

With a worried frown, Heldan could only bob his head again. "I am sorry, Your Highness."

"What are you sorry about?" Elucina's eyebrows furrowed slightly, surprised to hear his sudden apology for something she was unaware of.

"I couldn't stop the break of the engagement…" Marquess Heldan mumbled dejectedly, sounding regretful. 

It was as if he believed he could have done something to prevent it from happening. However, Elucina was already aware that it was inevitable, as she knew the Voncrows were vying for the crown.

Instead of getting into this again, Elucina changed the topic, saying, "So, it is true that the debut is about to happen soon…"

Marquess Heldan replied, "Yes, Your Highness. The debut is scheduled to happen next week."

"Next week? That soon?" exclaimed Elucina, who could not contain her surprise. "What is Father thinking?"

No, it would not be unusual for the debut to happen quickly, considering Vanetta had made her somewhat appearance in the noble society during the royal assembly.

'But in a week?' Still, Elucina did not expect it to be this soon.

When she was about to say something, a maid approached them from the foyer. She instructed, "Your Highness, the Queen would like you to come to her study room to meet with her."

"Please join us as well, Marquess Heldan," Elucina added, gesturing for him to come along.

As she was about to walk inside, she heard some struggles behind her and turned to see Daleah attempting to dismount the horse. On her way to help, Marquess Heldan offered a hand to Daleah.

To which made Daleah thank the Marquess sheepishly, before retrieving the hunted partridges from the pouch strapped on the horse.