Hi my dear people! How're you? Hope everyone is safe from COVID-19.
Thanks to MagicalPhoenix12, LadyPeach7, Cutetyhil, Scarlet witch of Terra, KaneXSally and TLP for reviewing. Here's the next chapter of "Kingdom". Enjoy!
Warning: A useless fighting scene and a torture scene *Sighs*...Pardon me, I suck at writing fighting scenes T_T T_T
Recap:
"Minister Warren!" Zagart commanded, "Let princess Salima be called in the courtroom."
"Sure, your Majesty," The minister bowed.
Within a few moments, accompanied by a few beautiful young ladies, the redhead entered the assembly, taking her first step on the red carpet. Her hair was braided perfectly, thick like taproots of a banyan tree. Several lavender flowers were tucked there, making her braid as gorgeous as a garden. She was wearing a long, full-sleeved qi pao made of satin and laces. On its scarlet texture, there were golden embroideries of the parabolic mirrors of a temple. Inside it, a strapless fitting gown was worn by her. It was also golden. From her ears, two earrings made of pure gold and fire opals were swaying. A sun-like tattoo was embossing her sky-like forehead. On her head, a dazzling tiara was set, studded with rubies and golden tourmalines. Concealed beneath the fringes made of the granules of gemstones, her black diamond eyes were sparkling. Her rosy lips curved a bit as she lowered her gazes. When the rays of the wax-lights fell on her shiny skin, they got reflected.
She was a real flame of fire at that time, burning the guests completely from the depth of their hearts. In fact, a certain one almost showed his burning scars.
Awestruck, the neko-jin stood up from his seat. Before a while, he had been calm and cool. There'd been no fear, no confusion or no tension inside his heart. But they all were encircling him from all the four directions right then. His heart started beating fast as his orbs dilated. Looking at him, the princess smiled a bit. It was wicked.
It was saying to him that he had lost the game…...
Back to the story:
His jaw dropped, seeing the royal woman in whose eyes a bizarre insignia of naughtiness was flowing. Indeed, she was dazzlingly beautiful. Her indescribable comeliness could easily shut the mouths of many orators and stop the pens of litterateurs. But no, the raven-haired guy wasn't surprised at her beauty. Rather, it was her identity, her actual recognition which shushed him downright.
Flashback:
"Hey!" She yelled, "You cannot leave the battle."
"I'm sorry," Reply came, "But I don't raise my weapon on women."
She gritted her teeth, taking it as a negative comment against the strength of girls.
"By the way, I want to know something," He turned back, "You must have been telling lies to me at that time, right? May I know the reason?"
"Yes," She lowered her head, "Actually, I'm the head maid of the princess. She doesn't want to get married so soon. That's why, I had to lie. Pardon me, Prince Yamashita."
Flash forward:
'Liar!' He gritted his fists, not eyeing the ornamented golden doll, 'How tricky and cunning she is! I…. I saw her on her 8th birthday but I couldn't recognize her…. How, Ray, how? How the fuck could you be so forgetful and careless?'
He again set his stares on her mien. Unexpectedly, the image of a little redhead peeped inside his heart. Before twelve years, her face had been round just like an orange. The pout formed by her tiny lips could easily have melted the hearts of hundreds of ruthless combatants. Her eyes had been filled with the joys and excitements of all three realms.
"Who's the one, princess?" The chubby woman whispered into the ears of the redhead.
"He." One of the maids directed at the neko-jin.
"Oh, now I see..." Biyu grinned, "Which woman on the earth won't want to get colored in the colors of such a handsome guy?"
The garnet-head shot her sister-in-law with death glares. However, those couldn't diminish the zeal of the crown princess a bit. Rather, it fueled her wishes of being naughty. Then again, those dazzles hadn't failed fully. They surely had stabbed someone.
Yes, those eyes were still same, joyful, save the wickedness. Her chin was slightly angular, much like a diamond. Her lips also became a little bit thick but the thickness added stimulating charms to her beauty. Her figure developed, seeming to be that of a real woman. The qi pao was clinging to her hourglass body. Her breasts were trying to rend the barrier of cloths and come out.
"Try your best not to spend your time with, or behind a woman."
He gasped and dropped his gazes again, sitting down on his seat. Biting his tongue, he cursed himself like a mad guy as his ears heated up.
'Damn you, Ray!' He muttered, 'How could you forget your teacher's lessons so soon? Cannot you remember for what he has sent you here? You've to manage the map of the castle. Well…...you've managed it already but it doesn't mean that you have to stare at the princess like a hungry dog. It's a sin, isn't it?'
"Well," The king stood up from his seat as his daughter sat down, "So…...who wants to come first?"
Nobody in the assembly seemed pleased hearing the question. They exchanged stares, quietly pleading one another to go first. Only, the raven-haired neko-jin kept gawking at the monster-like emperor of China.
"You, prince!" Zagart pointed his index finger at the neko-jin, getting his gesture, "Please, come here."
Not complaining or seeming confounded, Ray got up from his chair. Striding slowly, he stood before Zagart. Despite much reluctance, he bowed.
"Be victorious, prince," The king of China grinned, "Before starting the duel, please introduce yourself."
The easiest and most satisfying answer was ready. Turning to the assembly, he respectfully greeted everyone and spoke, "Your Majesty, your Highness and dear people from different kingdoms of this world, allow me to introduce myself. I'm Kane Yamashita, the prince of Hong Kong."
"So good to hear, prince," Zagart let out his glitzy grin, "But…wouldn't you like to take the blessings of your father before dueling?"
Ray's heart skipped a beat. A sudden storm passed through his body. Nonetheless, he tried his best to stay calm, not showing his inner restlessness in front of the whole assembly.
"King Yamashita," The Chinese king called, "You may come inside."
Pushing the curtains, an elderly man stepped inside. He was in his early-fifties, bluish hair turned gray a bit. His eyes had the similar blend like those of Kane Yamashita, the prince of Hong Kong and the friend…well, the learning center-mate of Ray Kon.
The more puzzled the mutineer was becoming, the more the princess was sniggering. She couldn't help enjoying the scene.
Flashback:
"You, maid!"
The scarlet-haired girl gasped as the familiar person aka the most loved person of her called her, standing behind her.
"How did you dare step in my room without my permission?" Zagart burst out, his green orbs varnished, "Don't you know what its outcome can be?"
"Father!" The girl turned back, "Pardon me, I…. I didn't intend to come here…"
"Salima?!"
The cruel king's face vaporized all the angers and annoyances. Mellowing like an ice cube in front of a burner, he approached his daughter.
"My child!" He enfolded her shoulders gently, "What are you doing here in a maid's cloths?"
"Father…I need to tell you something important," Her voice seemed restive, "…. Right now."
"What happened, my princess?" Zagart seemed worried too, "Is everything alright?"
"Before a while, I saw prince Yamashita roaming in the room where our secret powers are kept," Salima replied, "When I asked him what he was doing there, he replied that he had lost his way. I showed him the right way but he turned left. It…...it was towards your room..."
"What?" The emperor of China widened his eyes as if he'd fallen from the sky, "Are you sure, princess? He came here?"
"Yes, father," The redhead nodded, "I'm sure. That's why I came here chasing him. But I don't know where he has gone."
"Pardon me, your Majesty."
The conversation between the father and the daughter got interrupted by a guard. Turning to him, Zagart spoke, "Yes?"
"Your Majesty, King Yamashita has sent you a letter," He handed the folded scroll to the king.
Taking it, the king opened it. It contained a few words:
"King Zagart, the honorable emperor of China,
I received your invitation letter for the groom-choosing ceremony of your daughter. I found myself really fortunate receiving it. So, I sent it to my son who's currently under his tutelage. Pardon me, he cannot attend the ceremony because his education hasn't been completed yet. I'm apologizing to you for that.
Bestow the blessings upon your daughter on behalf of me. May she be prosperous in her life.
Sincerely yours,
King Yamashita."
The scroll fell from the hands of the Chinese emperor. His jaw remained open. Seeing the condition of her father, the princess screwed her eyebrows.
"What happened, father?" Salima questioned, "What did he write there?"
"He...he said that prince Yamashita cannot come here due to his education in his learning center," Somehow, Zagart answered.
"What?"
It was the turn of the red-haired princess to be baffled. She couldn't believe her own ears. Were they cheating her?
"But...but..." She remonstrated gently, "Prince Yamashita has already been here!"
"Hmm..." Zagart thought something, scratching his chin.
"Father!" Salima placed her hands on his shoulders, "You've to punish him. Just arrest him and send him to prison!"
"No, my girl, not now," The father affectionately cupped her chin, "Surely he'll be penalized...but not in this way..."
Flash forward:
"King Yamashita," Zagart cleared his throat, "Your son has come here. Bless him so that he can be victorious and hold the hand of my daughter for marriage."
The elder Yamashita looked at the face of the raven-haired neko-jin. The young guy was lowering his stares, not daring look at his eyes.
"He's not my son, King Zagart!" The emperor of Hong Kong announced.
"What?" The Chinese ruler cocked an eyebrow, "What's this, king Yamashita? You're failing to recognize your own child? Prince Yamashita, say something to him. Isn't he your father? Cannot you recognize him?"
Bit by bit, the neko-jin raised his eyes. Glancing at the environment, he smirked.
"Sure, your Majesty," He retorted, "Of course, he's the father of prince Kane Yamashita. But...I'm not Kane Yamashita."
Thunder struck on the jovial atmosphere of the groom-choosing ceremony of the Chinese princess. Every prince and king stood up from their seats, gawking at the Chinese raven. The soldiers were about to dash towards him with their spears but they stopped as someone raised his hand in order to stop them. That gesture was enough.
Setting his eyes at the glimmering golden eyes of the enemy, the king seethed, "I've to admit that you're so cunning that you've been successful to enter my castle. But you also have to admit that my daughter is cleverer than you."
Ray beheld the princess whose pearl-like teeth were peeping at him behind the red curtains of her lips. It was the grin of victory.
Alas! How could he have lost to a girl? Had he been alive for seeing this day? Seriously?
"I still can suck your life out of your body with my own hands, traitor," The king firmly grasped the collar of his kimono shirt, "But...since you've come here, just get your skills tested once. You wanted to battle my son, didn't you? Well, he'll now give you the death sentence. Son Gordo!"
The shonen-haired guy was ready. He treaded at the center of the courtroom. Seeing him, the black-haired Chinese lady's eyes became occupied with excitement.
"You know, he's my husband," She spoke, "He's the best swordsman of this continent. Nobody has been able to defeat him yet."
Proud of her brother, the princess dramatically tucked a strand behind her left ear, shrugging and watching her polished nails.
A slave came forward, holding a rectangular metal tray. On it, a pair of unleashed swords was placed. The beams of the hanging chandeliers sluffed on them. The metal blades flickered a bit, expressing their thirst for blood.
"Congratulations," Gordo grimaced, looking at those rapiers, "You've already won the hand of death. Now get ready to marry her."
Taking one of the swords, the swordsman flung the other one towards the neko-jin. He also caught it like a skilled warrior, seizing the metal part compactly. His eyes borrowed the sight power from a tiger as they shone, just overthrowing the fragrant candles and crystal chandeliers in the room.
In amusement, the king grinned. The princess also supported her father and brother, equally excited for witnessing the unique death penalty.
Roaring like a wolf, Gordo moved his sword in a hyperbolic way, only to be defended by the weapon of his opponent who knelt down but didn't give up. From his sitting position, he eddied. At the end of the full round, he was again on his own toes. It was his turn to attack. Still, the royal man dodged it. Over, Ray hauled the sword down on the floor. Gordo leaped, escaping the incursion which had been an inch away from him. The sword cut the air, producing the sound of whipping, ending up drawing a straight-line on the velvet carpet, ripping it slightly.
The rebel drew his foil again in the air while the Chinese prince inclined on his knees to move away. For the second time, their swords clashed against each other. They made a distance between themselves, once again. Over, they rushed towards each other. This time, the shonen-haired guy pushed the neko-jin back. He stumbled, almost falling down. At the last moment, he saved himself from doing that. Like a ferocious tiger, he chased Gordo. Their weapons, for another time, embraced, only for getting unglued.
Fury rushed through the veins of the rebel. He hurdled up, landing a kick on the chest of the prince. Misbalanced, Gordo tripped on his toes. Using the right chance, Ray slid the rapier between the fingers and the handle of the sword of his opponent. The shonen-haired guy wasn't ready for it. As his fingers loosened, the weapon fell down from his hand. Yet, it couldn't stop the growing rage of the rebel. Taking the fallen blade, he jumped on Gordo, pinning him down between two blades. The restrained prince shivered a bit, for the first time in his life.
Why not? After all, he was able to see death in front of his eyes.
"My prince!" Biyu screamed, covering her mouth with her palms.
Everyone stood up from the seats. Another bolt of thunder roared in the sky. A stormy gust of wind entered the hall-room, extinguishing most of the candles and lamps. Flower vases collapsed from the tables, crushed into pieces. There was no smile in the lips of the princess. Her wicked-looking eyes were amplified in utter shock. Same condition was there for her father, the mighty emperor of China. Raising his head, the rebel directly glared at the emerald eyes of the ruthless ruler.
It was his turn to smile.
Looking down, Ray spoke, "Thank your luck, prince."
Leaving him, he stood up. Turning to the king, he boldly verbalized, "Your Majesty, it was the condition of the contest that the guy who would defeat your son in the sword duel would hold the hand of your daughter for marriage. I've won it but I haven't come here with the motive of marrying princess Salima. I reject her!"
In embarrassment and wrath, the red-haired girl juddered. Her face turned absolutely bloodshot. Tears of humiliation wanted to explode from her ebony pools. She clasped her fingers, breathing heavily.
"Shut up, you criminal!"
All the soldiers surrounded him in the angle of three-sixty, pointing their javelins at him. He didn't care a bit, just smirked.
"Hold on, soldiers!"
The well-armed force peered at the king who got down from his throne. Looking at the face of his beloved daughter, his heart ached. Yes, he might be the cruelest man on the earth, he might be the creepiest of all the creatures but he couldn't tolerate the humiliation of his own girl. She was his pride, she was his heart. Hurting her meant hurting his heart.
"Maids!" He announced, "Let princess Salima be taken inside."
Nodding, the maids and other women took the princess behind the curtains. Before taking the final step out of the hall, Salima glared at the rebel captured in the spear-made circle. Was it a warning or a final request?
Gritting his fangs, the emperor of China popped out a lash. Rushing towards the captive, he slammed it on his arm. There appeared another straight-line as blood clotted there, beneath his tanned skin. Seeing it, Zagart felt contented a bit. However, he didn't stop. He kept banging the whip on the different spots of his body. Roseate stains rose up here and there, penetrating the succession of his protoderm cells.
Strange! The raven-haired guy wasn't letting out a single moan, let alone screaming or pleading for his dear life. Eventually, he knelt down on the ground. But a sole whimper couldn't escape from his throat. That angered the conceited king of China more. He strengthened the hits. Consequently, the new smirches got darker than the old ones. Sweat trickled down from the foreheads of both the torturer and the tortured. For bearing the inflaming sensations, the rebel bit his inner lips tightly. Noticing it, Zagart slapped him. A droplet of blood exuded from his lips. The slumber of all the worlds entered his eyes, disabling his neurons. Numbness was hugging him like a grizzly bear but he didn't react.
"Take this bastard to the prison!" Zagart threw the lash on the ground, "At least away from my eyes!"
Bowing, the soldiers dragged him. His half-limp body slid against the velvety runners of the floor. Crimson liquid of life soaked the floorings. Red got mixed with the red. Exhaling once, the crude emperor left the hall. Everybody trailed him gradually.
Only a pair of swords remained there, being the witness of the whole drama composed by the Creator, the greatest of all authors.
So, how was it? Good or bad?
Do read and review. Pardon the grammatical and the spelling errors. Take care :D
-Misty ^_^