"I didn't want to believe the news of your return. Elodie." He folded one of his arms in front of him, The other behind his back. "I didn't believe you would have the guts to show your face. Let alone- poison my brother."
I smiled, walking closer to him. "Little James and I had only one conversation upon my return. Now people believe I committed such a silly act... poisoning?" I laughed in his face, waving my hand. "I didn't know you would fall for such hoaxes, Prince of Kindness."
"... it doesn't matter what I think. You are coming with us."
"Oh?" I raised a brow. "But I didn't do anything?"
"Y-You!!" A soldier bold enough pointed at me. "You publicly attacked soldiers and poisoned the second prince!! "
Glancing at the soldier I could feel my lip snarl in disgust. "You'd be wise to keep your mouth closed. I didn't plan on killing anyone today, but I have no problem starting with you."
"!!!" The soldier quickly backed away, his hand on his sword.
"Do not provoke her, men. At rest."
"But-!!"
"Did you hear me?" He glanced at the soldier, who quickly did as told. I smiled.
"The ones who attacked first at the Inn was actually you all, wasn't it?" I sighed. "50 men against one women. Isn't that too- obscene?"
"Elodie." The prince of kindness looked at me. "Why we're you in Concubine Rebecca's manor? What were you telling her?"
"Ah, " I only rolled my eyes. "I told her nothing. In fact- did you even check up on her before following me?"
"You were our first priority."
A smile bloomed on my face. "Is that a no?"
"...You," he pointed to the bold soldier from earlier. "Go and ensure Concubine Rebecca's safety."
I couldn't help but let out a laugh. "Ah... third prince. It seems you are still lacking." I said, glancing down. "Even your brother had a bit more focus than-"
"Tell me why I shouldn't kill you right now?" He placed a sword by my neck.
Daniel panicked. "E-Elodie!"
"...Pft!" Another scoff left my lips. "Are all the royals just a helpless bunch of rich people with swords?"
"You dare offend his majesty?!?" A soldier beside him yelled. I ignored him, staring into the prince's eyes, a sneer still on my lips.
"You could've attempted to take my life by now. Why stop here?" I grabbed the sword by its raw blade, pushing it to my skin. "Go ahead, finish the job, Prince of Kindness."
He didn't say anything. I laughed. In seconds, the sword once placed by my throat clattered across the ground.
"Duncan. Six years have gone by, and yet-"
"-if I were to fail in killing you here. You would be back for more vengeance, wouldn't you?"
"Ah, but is that really the true reason, Prince Duncan?" He was staring at me. I could only laugh. "I would like to talk to you alone. Are you going to come willingly?"
"... you are bold, Evil Witch."
"I'll take that as a no." I grinned. "Daniel?"
"Y-Yeah?"
My smile disappeared. "Handle the rest of the soldiers."
I placed my hand on the prince. My other hand waving around us. A fog of green magic appeared. In seconds, we were no longer standing in the back alleyway of the royal castle.
We were stood in a grassy plane in the middle of no where. He looked around, stunned.
"You!!"
Reaching for his sword, it wasn't there. We both look at each other, he quickly realized how defenseless he truly was.
"You... You..."
"Calm down, Duncan." I scoffed. "Don't you believe if I wanted to kill you, I would have by now?"
He tried to regain his composure, but he was only reminded of his failures to stop me. He relaxed after many seconds. "What do you want?"
I smiled at that question it seemed everyone i ran into loved to ask. Waving my hand, a green wasorb appeared. Once it vanished, the pink colored flowered shape paper weight was left in my hands. "I trust that you know what this is?"
He remained still, but the quiver in his lip assured me of it's importance.
I quickly whipped my hand around and vanished.
"Where did you get that from?"
"Why, your perverted brother, of course."
"You!!-" he furrowed his brows at the insult, shaking his head. "He wouldn't give that to you no matter what."
"Really? Then," I walked towards him. "If you had something similar, would you not give it to me? Hmm, Duncan?"
He went quiet. "That means, you still don't know what it is used for. Or if it's the only one of its kind."
I moved closer to him, taking a seat on the grassy field. "Hm. You're right. I don't."
Duncan shifted to stand far from where i sat. Silently. "You..."
"What is it?" I asked him. "Why did you suddenly go all qui-"
There was a knife placed at my neck. He held my hands above my head. "You were quite bold bringing me here. It seems no one will find your dead body for a while, Elodie."
My expression remained the same. "I've been wondering what happened to you, Prince of Kindness. Or rather-"
There was a wild glint in his eyes as he was pressed over me. His composure gone and in seconds, replaced with a delinquent that looked just like him. One i had met before. "-Prince of Cruelty."
He glided the blade to my collarbone, licking his lips. "I will enjoy watching the blood spill out of your body, Evil Witch!"
I waved my hand over his own. Grabbing his wrist. "You were so focused on killing, you forgot about the concubine completely. How cruel of you, Prince."
"No more talking." He jumped back in order to gain better control of his weapon, watching as I stood. "This is a fight I've been waiting years to have. Elodie. This time- it will be my two hands that rip the heart out of your chest!!"
I frowned, watching as he ran towards me. "Isn't that a bit too gruesome, Prince of Cruelty?"
๏๏๏ꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉꪉ๏๏๏
On the grassy field the prince ran and tried to stab her many times, but his advances were dodged gracefully. Elodie spun circles around him.
Duncan only laughed louder with each attempt, excited. "This, this is a fight I will enjoy!"
Elodie's eyes narrowed on her ethereal face. "Even if you loose?"
"Who says," he ran towards her. "I am loosing?"
With a sharp cut, the dress that once touched the ground became a skirt with open legs. Elodie frowned. "You delinquent! You've ruined my dress. How will you pay for it?"
He laughed at her, shaking his head. "Forgive me. Why don't I put you out of your misery- by taking your life!"
He ran towards Elodie again. She only stood still. In her hand, a green orb appeared. The prince didn't care, still running forward.
His dagger was aimed at her chest, to which Elodie swatted away with great force.
"Ack!" Duncan winced from the pain of the smack, which was more than he had expected.
Her arm wrapped around his. The green orb disappeared, revealing a small knife against his throat. "Behave."
Elodie left a cut as a warning with a sharp glare. The prince grimaced, moving away while holding his neck.
"You-!!"
She put the sword away, displeased.
"Unlike your brother. You have enough battle strength to last a lifetime. If you value your life then I suppose-"
"I'm just getting started!!" He yelled with a smile, charging up towards Elodie.
"You've lost your weapon." She dodged his attacks. "Will you just be fighting with your fists?"
"No more talking!" His leg swept underneath Elodie's. She fell backwards, pulling his hand so he fell with her. "Die!!"
His fist was about to come down on her face, put Elodie tilted her head to the side. His fist made contact with the grass beneath them.
Elodie grabbed his other wrist, frowning. "Are you finished acting so indecent, Prince Duncan?"
He was huffing, glaring down at her. But Elodie had not broken a sweat. Her hands held his with great strength.
"You should..." he was panting. "Be dead by now."
"Should I? Each one of your shots missed me. My-" Elodie looked at him with an attractive smile. "We're you missing on purpose, Duncan?"
He jumped away from her, still breathless. But there was a dust of pink across his cheeks. "Don't insult me."
Elodie sat up without rush to stare at him. Her dress was now just above her knees. Revealing long and slender legs underneath. The shoulder of the dress falling off.
To see such a woman in such a state, The Prince quickly looked away. "You're a temptress. Duncan."
Elodie wanted to snort in response, but she repressed it. Turning to look at the prince who stood before her. There was an interesting expression in his eyes.
"Am I?" She questioned. "Duncan. Are you sure you don't want to tell me about the object I showed you? In fact, if you tell me, I will put up with another fight."
"..."He looked back at her slowly, walking over.
"Oh? Have you decided?" Elodie watched him get closer. The prince began removing the buttons of coat. She quirked a brow. "Prince Duncan... out in the middle of nowhere?"
He huffed, throwing her the jacket. "Put it on and stand up."
".... Is that all you've got?" Elodie frowned standing.
"The paper weight... it's something we all have. You won't easily be able to get them."
"I see. So it is a paper weight..." With a wave of her hand, Elodie dress was fixed, returning to its former glory. The Prince's eyes narrowed.
"If you could do that the whole time then-"
"I was giving you a chance to win. Don't you think that was kind of me?"
Elodie's words made him angry. "Do not patronize me."
"Oh, Duncan darling..." She moved close to him, smiling. "Out of all your siblings, you should very well know I patronize you the least. Isn't that something?"
"Y-You!"
"I have to tend to other things now, Prince of Kindness." She repeated his title with a smirk.
As she walked away, he spoke up. "Where are you going? Soldiers will find you."
"I'm a big girl, Duncan." She turned around with a smile. "Don't tell me after all these years, you still have a crush on-"
"-Give me my jacket."
She paused, looking at the coat in her hands. "I hope you've gotten stronger by the time we meet again, Duncan." Elodie threw him his coat. "I will fight you properly when the time comes. Without remorse."
He quickly caught it before it hit him in the face.
"You are lucky that I-" Prince Duncan looked up. He was returned to the now empty alleyway beside the castle. "....Tch."
He put his coat on, walking back towards the castle. "She will certainly be taken down by eldest brother. There's no need to worry about her."
With a pause, the third prince continued walking. Returning the alleyway to its former peace and quiet.