Chapter 10
Checkmate
The Princess was not one to trifle with.
This was true.
However, having a friendly chat was not out of the realm of possibility.
I know this because I m having such a conversation with him now.
"You think you could catch me off with a knight, Cinder?" I laugh aloud.
"My knight isn't what you should be looking at, Watts." Replied The Princess.
It is only then that I realised that her bishop had taken out my rook.
"Rats."
"Indeed, royal wizard."
It felt nice to be called that, finally, some recognition.
"Speaking of rats, I would love it if the King would finally allow me to go and exterminate all the rat faunus in the city already." I said with annoyance.
"Any particular reason why you want to kill them?" I did not answer.
Brata pressed on to find the answer he wanted.
"Did they harm you or someone you cared about?" I let out a breath of air.
"Nah, I just hate the sight of them!" I said with glee.
Can't wait to set them all on fire.
It would look beautiful at night.
Oh, the dreams I have!
"What about killing all the faunus?" I nearly spilt the drink I hand in my hand.
Kill all of them?
But the cat faunus made such good maids, especially the cute ones.
"I don't think ALL of the demi-humans, some of the bastards are quite useful in some cases." I replied.
"Oh, so it isn't just because you like having your way with the cat demi-human maids?" Dammit, Cinder knew exactly what I was thinking.
She was right, the cat faunus were always a good shag, but I couldn't have my way with more than one of them.
Polygamy was banned in The Kingdom Of Vale.
I really wish it wasn't.
"Your Knight has fallen." She said as he took away my knight which she took with his bishop.
Cinder is one of the few people to have beaten me at chess.
The only others being; Cinder's sister Ruby, My master, and the King himself.
Being good at strategy seems to be in the family, it seems.
"You lost your other knight." Cinder said with glee.
Even then, none of the others have ever beaten him this fast.
"You are improving, Cinder, you might be better than your father someday." I said with casualty.
"What about today?" Cinder asked.
"Maybe, maybe." I said with a little smile.
Always impatient, aren't they?
"You think the hunter is taking too long in catching the prey?" She asked, for once genuinely showing frustration.
"Something such as hunting prey takes time, Princess Cinder, no need to get frustrated." I said, trying to calm her down.
It seems to have worked.
She seemingly relaxes his shoulders.
Cinder sighs heavily.
"It's just that I'm tired of waiting, at this rate, my sister might get powerful enough to be picked for the throne when father dies." Cinder said solemnly.
It's sad when you think about it.
Cidner has lived her whole life in The Kingdom Of Vale.
Her sister, due to being only one year older, has more of a claim to the throne then she does.
She has been trained to become Ruler.
However, her sister will most likely take her place on the throne.
It would sound like the line of succession was rigged from the start.
I get back to the game.
I have been sub-consciously playing with Prince Cinder.
Yeah, doing things like that is possible when you 'e one of the best wizards in the kingdom.
Such a task at first required intense concentration.
But now a days it was as simple as pouring a cup of mead into a mug.
I was going to be made part of the council that governs The Land Of Magic for being able to do so.
But they wouldn't let me!
So what if I killed half a dozen other wizards in their sleep?
Along with their families, including the children.
Not to mention their slaves.
No reason to kick me out of the Land!
Dammit. Cinder has taken half of all my pieces, mostly my pawns.
I've only taken around a quarter of her.
This is embarrassing.
So, so embarrassing.
This is worse than the time I lost a bet to a wolf faunus at the tavern.
I couldn't walk for a whole day after that.
However, not for the reason you're thinking.
The bitch literally bit my legs into little pieces.
It took extensive bribing of the priestesses to fix my legs.
Even then, I still feel pain in my legs at night.
Oooh, it hurt so much.
"Check." Said Cinder.
She got me in a check!
I move my king out of the way.
"Check." Cinder said again.
Her rook has me!
I move my king to hide it.
Right behind my bishops.
This will save me!
"It won't save you, Watts."
"Why is that, dear Princess Cinder?"
Princess Cinder pointed down to the chessboard.
She had a very smug look on his face.
I looked down in horror as I saw why.
Her bishop was in place to check my king.
I quickly moved a pawn to block it.
"Nice try." Cinder moved a rook The rook took my pawn.
"Check." Dammit!
I moved a bishop.
I used to it take out the rook.
I have you now! I saw the look on her face at that moment.
It was a very disturbing smile.
It was such a smile that would make most people want to leave this woman's presence.
"Check, Watts." Cinder chuckled.
Dammit.
Dammit, dammit.
DAMMIT!
Dammit all to Tartarus!
In my time playing chess with those of The Royal Family Of Vale.
None, and I mean NONE, have made me this angry at the thought of losing to them!
Dammit!
She has my king cornered.
Calm down, Watts.
She's being smug on purpose.
The more you give in.
The more you will make bad decisions.
That's it.
Calm down.
It is all a trick.
"Checkmate." She got me with a knight.
She beat me.
She beat me!
Dammit!
"Good match, Princess Cinder." I tried not to growl.
I was desperately trying to not look angry.
A bad idea in front of the prince.
You don't have to try to look happy Watts; I know you're angry at me for looking so smug."
"Thank you Princess Cinder."
I will now try to resist strangling you instead.
"No need to think of strangling me, Watts." How does she always know what I'm thinking?!
It makes no sense!
Thank the Goddess I'm siding with her and not the King.
Otherwise I could have made a very terrible mistake.
A mistake that would have ended with my death.
I made a good choice in helping her kill the King.
"Well, now that the game is over, let us start the feast."
Yes, the feast of blood.