The Tatics Of Winner

The great hall shimmered with the lingering energy of the dance competition. The final notes of the dance competition had faded, but the tension still hung heavy in the air. Darnisha and Princess Katy stood side by side. Darnisha, with her fiery blonde hair and confident demeanor, and Katy, whose face was usually radiant, now shrouded in anxiety. They awaited the king’s announcement of the winner.

The Titan King of the Atlas Kingdom, a powerfully built figure with a booming voice, stepped forward. His gaze swept over the expectant crowd before settling on the two finalists. “And the winner of the dance competition is… Darnisha!”

A gasp erupted from the audience. A collective cheer erupted, but to Katy, the sound was like a deafening hum. Disappointment washed over her, followed by a sharp pang of jealousy. Darnisha? She danced well, yes, but Katy was certain her own performance was superior.

Darnisha, sensing Katy’s turmoil, grinned mischievously. Her smile wasn’t malicious, but it was enough to stab Katy in the heart. Then, as if to add insult to injury.

Prince Cyrill, the handsome and ever-charming heir to the kingdom, approached Darnisha. He smiled broadly, tilted his chin, and kissed her forehead gently.

The hall erupted. Applause erupted, cheers echoed, and a wave of admiration washed over Darnisha. Katy, feeling utterly humiliated, held back sobs of frustration. This was not how it was supposed to be.

She was the princess, the darling of the kingdom, and... this commoner had stolen her attention.

The Titan King, his voice breaking through the din, raised his hand for silence. "Now, distinguished guests, we move on to the second competition, Archery! We will reconvene in the field outside the palace. The carriages are ready to transport you."

As the crowd began to flock towards the exit, Katy's mind raced. She could not let Darnisha win again. She could not bear the thought of another victory, and especially not another kiss from Cyrill.

A cold smile crept across her lips, replacing her previous sadness. She had a plan, one that had been carefully laid out long before Darnisha had set foot in the Atlas Kingdom. This plan was her secret weapon, Princess Katy had prepared for every eventuality, even this unexpected competition.

After the noisy announcement of the winner, the palace dance hall slowly quieted down. The auditioners began to pack up and say goodbye. Princess Katy, her face still showing bitter defeat, sat in the corner, her shoulders slumped. Prince Enver, with his sincere smile, approached her.

"Princess Katy," he greeted softly, "You may not have won this competition, but I am sure you will shine in the next competition. Do not be discouraged."

However, Princess Katy only stared coldly at Darnisha and Prince Cyrill who were standing not far from them. She ignored Prince Enver's words. She did not pay attention to Prince Cyrill's second brother. All she heard and saw was the conversation of the two people in front of her.

Prince Cyrill, with a beaming face, said to Darnisha, "Darnisha, as a reward for your victory, how about we have a sweet dinner around the night market tonight? I know you like it."

Darnisha's eyes sparkled. "Of course, Prince Cyrill! I'm so happy!"

The two of them, with cheerful steps, left the palace hall, leaving Princess Katy who was even more devastated.

Prince Enver realized Princess Katy's gaze was fixated on her brother and Darnisha's departure. His heart was in turmoil. He felt annoyed at Prince Cyrill for choosing Darnisha over Princess Katy. He knew how much Princess Katy hoped to win this competition.

"I won't let this happen," he muttered to himself. He felt the need to avenge his actions, not only for himself, but also for Princess Katy. An evil plan began to grow in his mind. He would do something to Darnisha, something that would be worthy of the disappointment that Princess Katy felt.

"Princess Katy, may I take you back?" asked Prince Enver, trying to hide his emotions.

Princess Katy only nodded weakly. She did not respond to Prince Enver's offer with enthusiasm. For her, at this time, nothing could comfort her disappointment.

Prince Enver, with a forced smile, escorted Princess Katy out of the hall. They were followed by Princess Katy’s loyal ladies-in-waiting, silently worrying about the princess.

Night fell, shrouding the palace in shadows. Princess Katy sat on her luxurious bed, a single tear rolling down her cheek. Despair clung to her like thick silk.

Agatha, her most trusted maid, entered quietly. She knew Katy’s heart was breaking. Kneeling beside the bed, she whispered, “My daughter, grief will not change the stars. But perhaps… perhaps we can touch them a little.”

Katy looked up, her eyes red and filled with a glimmer of hope. "Touch them how, Agatha?"

Agatha leaned closer, her voice a conspiratorial murmur. "Darnisha is expected to arrive early tomorrow at the race venue, yes? She will be coming in her finest carriage given to her by Prince Cyril. What if... the carriage suffers an... unexpected accident? Well, like a broken wheel, perhaps? She will be delayed, forced to find alternate transportation, which will significantly lengthen her journey."

Katy's brows furrowed.

Agatha continued, her eyes gleaming mischievously. "And the second plan, there is her legendary bow. Darnisha is renowned for her archery skills, skills she will no doubt want to show off upon her arrival. What if... the bow becomes... unusable? The string breaks? Her grand entrance will be greatly... dampened."

The words hung in the air, bold and daring. At first, Katy hesitated. She was a princess, not a saboteur. But the image of Darnisha, late and without a bow, a far less impressive figure, flashed through her mind. The stone in her stomach felt a little lighter.

A smile slowly spread across Katy’s face, banishing the shadow. It was small at first, a tentative curve of her lips, but it quickly widened, turning into a full, mischievous grin. “Agatha… you’re a genius!”

The despair that had weighed her down lifted, replaced by a sense of rebellious energy. She was not helpless. She was not a pawn to be moved across a chessboard. She would use her wits, her resources, and Agatha’s cunning to delay, to distract, to buy time.

“Tell me everything,” Katy said, her voice now full of purpose. “How do we break the carriage wheels and sabotage the bow without arousing suspicion?”

Agatha, delighted by the princess’s change, began to outline her plan, her voice low, eager in the darkening night. The princess, no longer crying, listened intently.

Behind the towering rose hedge, Princess Katy bit her lip until it turned white. Her eyes narrowed, staring sharply at the sight before her, Prince Cyrill, with a smile that always made her heart beat, was explaining something to Darnisha. Darnisha, the poor person, looked radiant and hugged Prince Cyrill!

"Look, Lady Agatha!" whispered Princess Katy angrily, barely audible behind the sound of the horses' hooves and the hustle and bustle of the race preparations. "Your words are proven true. He really gave her a horse-drawn carriage!"

Lady Agatha, a thin figure with a sly smile that always adorned her face, nodded in satisfaction. "I told you, Princess Katy. Prince Cyrill is fascinated by her beauty. We must act quickly."

Prince Cyrill pointed to a magnificent horse-drawn carriage, decorated with phoenix feathers and intricate carvings. "This is your carriage for tomorrow, Darnisha. Good luck in the race."

Darnisha laughed lightly, her voice like silver bells. "Thank you, Prince Cyrill. I will use this opportunity as best I can." Then, without hesitation, she hugged Prince Cyrill, a gesture that made Princess Katy's anger boil like a boiling cauldron.

As Prince Cyrill and Darnisha were about to leave, their steps were stopped by the arrival of Prince Enver, Prince Cyrill's younger brother. His face looked serious.

"Brother Cyrill, Father King Titan is calling for you," Prince Enver said urgently. "There is an important matter regarding the southern border."

Prince Cyrill frowned. "But I have promised Darnisha to take her to the night market."

Prince Enver shrugged. "Forgive me, my beloved brother. But this is Father's order. It cannot be postponed."

Darnisha, although clearly disappointed, maintained her smile. "It's okay, Prince. Next time."

Prince Cyrill sighed. "Alright, Enver. Let's go." He turned to Darnisha with guilt clearly visible in his eyes. "Forgive me, Darnisha. I will make it up to you."

As the three figures disappeared behind the racecourse gate, Princess Katy turned to Lady Agatha. "Now is the time, Lady. The plan must be implemented immediately."

Lady Agatha grinned. "Of course, Princess Katy. It is time for Darnisha to learn that no commoner like her can steal the heart of a prince, let alone any noble princess." Princess Katy looked back toward the racecourse gate, her eyes gleaming with determination and burning envy. Her plan was well thought out, carefully laid out, and now, with Prince Cyrill gone, she was ready to put it into action. Darnisha would pay dearly for daring to approach Prince Cyrill. Revenge would be sweet.

A towering palace made of white marble and adorned with gold, tension hovering like the morning mist. Prince Cyrill, with brown hair and deep green eyes, stood before the door of the Titan King and Queen Alzena's chamber. He clenched his fists, intent on touching the beautifully carved mahogany wood.

Prince Enver grabbed his arm "Don't, brother." Enver said, pulling Cyrill away from the door.

Enver openly disliked the girl, not because of her personality, but because she was close to Cyrill. In Enver's mind, only Princess Katy was worthy of his brother - a blue-blooded princess from a powerful kingdom with political ambitions that benefited Atlas.

"Princess Katy is more suitable for you, Brother Cyrill. She will make a strong and worthy queen," Enver insisted.

Cyrill stared at his brother with a slightly angry gaze.

Enver's face remained expressionless.

Cyrill wanted to be angry, wanted to argue, wanted to scream. However, he knew it was futile. Enver was stubborn and rarely wavered from his gaze. He let out a long sigh, defeat written clearly on his face.

“I need to rest,” he said finally, turning on his heels and walking away. “I’m going back to my room.”

Enver watched Cyrill go, a small smile playing on his lips. He knew his brother. Cyrill had a kind heart and a strong will, but he could never stay angry for long, especially at his family. Enver was sure that a little manipulation and time would soften Cyrill.