窃情谋欲

"Last night was wild," Aurelia yawned as she stretched her hands and limbs. Her blonde hair fell down her back in long waves, a small piece of her fringe coming down over her eyes.

"Mhmm...It was indeed," Danielle murmured, checking the blade in her hands. She traced her fingers along the edges of it, feeling the sharpness of the silver.

"Why are you up early? Worried?"

"Worried?" Danielle chuckled and glanced at her friend, who came to visit her room at night and never left the place. "I'm going to win this one, Auri. Nothing will stop me from that." She waved the silver, which had been engraved with intricate patterns of the sea and water.

"I know you will," Aurelia smiled, then paused as her eyes flickered towards the sword. "Worried your brother won't be there to see it?"

Danielle's hands froze, and Aurelia knew she struck a chord. "Of course, he will be there. He's my brother. He won't miss it."

"Tell me if he even has contacted you since he left for his...world tour?" Aurelia shifted and pushed herself up onto the bed.

"Not in a while, but that's fine. I think he's busy." Danielle placed the sword on the bed and moved to sit beside her friend and looked into her eyes.

"What?"

"Get out. I want to visit some shops. If you're coming, go and get dressed." She pointed to the door with her thump.

"Okay. Okay." Aurelia snorted, unfitting of a princess. "Sorry to bother you with your brother, dear. I'll get ready so that I can meet some prince in shining armor. He will scoop me and carry me as he dances to the music. Maybe that guy with the raven. Ho, how I wish I met him again." She hugged herself and sighed dreamily.

Danielle rolled her eyes and gave her friend a shove. "Alright, off you go."

Aurelia laughed and stood up. "See you soon, Dani."

Danielle watched as Aurelia left the room, her laughter echoing down the hallway. She sighed, her thoughts drifting back to her brother, Damien. She wasn't even sure if he even know about the tournament, let alone her participation. All she wanted was his blessing, but as the days go by she was left with nothing but sadness and longness.

She sighed and got ready. She was hoping to catch up with Daeron as she heard her other siblings had arrived here last night.

...

After an hour, both of them were walking through the crowded streets. The celebration still goes on.

"So many races that have only heard from the books and tales. They are wonderful, aren't they?" Aurelia twirled and looked around like this was some dreamy place straight from the fairy tales.

"It is. Now stop shouting. Let's go see my dear family."

"Your family?" Aurelia raised an eyebrow. "I thought you said you wanted to go shopping with your dear best friend."

"You wouldn't come if I had said the truth, would you?" Danielle smiled a sheepish one.

"You liar. You little bittle filthy liar. You tricked me. The princess of the Spring Kingdom," Aurelia accursedly pointed her finger at Danielle. "You should be punished."

"Oh no," Danielle whined. "Punishment. Please, princess, spare this poor peasant for her stupidity." She bowed down and pretended to be hurt.

A small chuckle passed between the two. "Alright, as the princess of the Spring Kingdom, I command you to find a date here and don't come back until you find a suitable man. Also, I am not your friend, I am your princess."

"Yes, Your Highness. I will search for a date." Danielle smiled, and Aurelia shook her head in exasperation.

Then they both laughed before Danielle dragged the princess to a large residential building. This tall, eighty-story building was a residential building for the guests from the Spring Kingdom. There are other buildings like this for the other kingdoms, too. Identical in shape and size so as not to promote any conflicts.

The small skirmish between the two was not unnoticed, a man with dark hair and heroic hair was sipping coffee when he saw the two beauties talking and laughing themselves. He was drawn to them instantly. Though there are beauties in the Autumn kingdom, seeing the two ladies fluttered his heart.

"Who are they?" The man asked as he didn't take his eyes off them even while sipping the coffee. Their curves allured him. Young and supple.

The other man sitting opposite him looked back and saw the ladies. "By the color combination of their hair, it must be the princess of the Spring Kingdom and the other should be the young lady of the Zadkiel. They are said to be thick friends."

"Zadkiel..." The words repeated on his tongue. The memories of the past resurfaced as he clenched the coffee cup tightly. Cracks webbed from it. "She's his sister, isn't she?"

"Yes." the other man, Marcus, answered. "Calen, this is not the time to exact revenge. This is not our kingdom, either. If you want to do something, do it during the tournament as she is the top contender of the Spring Kingdom." Feeling the rage in the young hero's eyes, Marcus gulped. He was a politico. He can't bring down the boy if he thinks something differently.

"The tournament? She is in the tournament?"

Marcus sighed internally. "Yes, indeed, she is."

"I see." He put the coffee cup down on the table, it leaks coffee from the cracks. He pulled back the chair and combed his hair, standing up. "Well, I guess I should meet my opponents and greet them. Maybe invite them to dinner or some late-night dance."

"Calen. This is madness." Marcus angrily said, but his voice was unheard as the hero had already made his way to the two beauties. Marcus was shaking, if Calen did something to the princess or to the Zadkiel girl, he will be in big trouble.

He stood up and tried to catch up to the hero, but he was too late.