Chapter 4 – The Sudden Challenge
The Next Day...
Clarines Palace, Guest Room..
It was a beautiful morning. The sunlight faintly pierced through the curtain, into an exquisite looking room. The furniture, the interior, all of it were designed for special guests. Yes, like the person who sat on a classic sofa that had the color of wood, carved and designed for royalty to use. The person stared at the window, looking at the herb garden house that could be seen slightly from a far. His emerald eyes were serious, his handsome face also showed the same expression, it as if he was in deep thought. Yes, The person was King Reinhart Thorian from Ruthergent Kingdom.
What was he thinking? Even Yue who entered the room, wondered. It was unsual for him to be in this kind of state. For quite a while, Yue stared at his master, hoping that the King noticed Yue's presence on his own but looked like it was a wishful thinking. Couldn't bear to wait any longer, Yue called out to him. "Your majesty"
Ray didn't answer. Yue sighed and repeated it again, louder this time. "Your majesty!"
This time Ray had been cut off from his deep thought, turning his head, Ray looked at his aide, "Oh Yue, what's wrong?" he asked.
"I am the one who should be asking that question", Yue said as he put the breakfast he brought with him on the table in front of Ray. "May I ask if there is something that's weighing your mind? Is it about the mission? Do you want to stop?"
"No", Ray answered it without hesitation, his tone was low and serious, "We need 'that person's' talent and I will do anything to get it"
"Then..", Yue frowned in worry, "Is it about the red hair pharmacist?"
Ray didn't answer the question but to Yue, Ray's silence was enough as the answer. It was rare for Ray to be so drawn to a woman, after what happened in the past, Ray had closed his heart to everyone, especially women. It was such a miracle for him to be so drawn to the red hair pharmacist.
"Your majesty.. No.. Ray..", Yue spoke "have you been taken by Her? By Lady Shirayuki?"
Ray curled his lips, "Maybe.. I don't know.."
"What do you mean 'You don't know'?", asked Yue.
"I am not sure my self, I just think..", Ray paused slightly before continuing, "She is interesting.. That's all"
That alone had made Yue happy, showing interest to a female for the first time, Yue knew Ray was confused by his own feeling. Then the answer Yue needed to say to those words was simple.
"Why don't you try to court her?", suggested Yue.
Ray blinked, clearly surprised by Yue's suggestion, "What? Court her?"
"Yes, Court her" Yue nodded and smiled "You are the King of Ruthergent Kingdom, That alone will give you the great advantage to court her. I am sure Lady Shirayuki will fall for you in no time"
"Don't be ridiculous!", Ray said in slight annoyed tone. "She won't fall for me"
"Eh?" Yue was surprised "Why do you think like that?"
Ray didn't answer the question, instead, he turned his head again to the window, gazing at the herb garden house.
'It's because her heart already belong to HIM' Ray mused, once again recalling what had happened yesterday.
.
.
.
"Do you want to take a bath your majesty?", asked Yue the moment they entered the guest room.
Ray slumped on the sofa with a soft sigh, he felt tired due to the formalities. After the event with Shirayuki, The second prince of Clarines took him to meet Garak, the head of Royal Pharmacist.
Of course pleasantries were exchanged and as Ray expected, Garak couldn't hide her dislike toward his kingdom. The smile was there but it didn't reach her eyes, it was not like Ray cares what she thought about Alchemy, Ray wasn't a softy person. He had a goal to come to Clarines, a mission which could risk the relationship between the two kingdoms, but Ray didn't care.
Ray wasn't like his deceased father, too coward to seize what he wanted, too weak to seek the salvation to save even his own people, too powerless to send that cursed woman to hell. No.. Ray won't be that kind of man..
The moment his took vow as King during the coronation, he also made a vow deep inside him, that he would do anything to protect the people of his kingdom, to protect them from that cursed woman. Ray hated himself for having the same blood as that cursed woman and hated it even more after what that cursed woman had caused to the people of his kingdom.
"Your majesty?", called Yue once again.
Ray was pulled out of his reverie, with a sigh he shook his head, "No need for now, I just want to relax before heading out again"
"Heading out again?", Yue asked in confusion.
"I want to talk to Shirayuki again", Ray said. "I didn't get a chance to talk to her before, after resting, I will search for her again"
Yue smiled, clearly he was happy and Ray cocked an eyebrow at him "What?", he asked.
"It's nothing", Yue answered "Do you want a snack before going out again? How about tea?"
"Tea will be great", Ray nodded, resting his head at the edge of the sofa while closing his eyes.
"Very well", Yue bowed and walked to the small table which had tea set on it. In an elegant manner, Yue prepared tea for Ray.
...
"How is the tea, Your Majesty?", asked Yue after Ray taking a sip of it.
"It's good Yue, As always.. Anyway.. I told you to call me Ray right? You used to call me that and stopped after the coronation" Ray said, clearly annoyed.
"Because the situation right now is different", Yue answered politely.
"How different? Is it because I am a King now? Then should I throw the throne away so you can see me as your best friend again?", threatenedRay.
"Your Majesty.." Yue muttered softly before giving a gentle smile "..Then.. I shall do as you wish.. Ray"
Ray smiled gently, "Thank you" he whispered before drinking the tea again. After a while, Ray put the cup back to it's saucer and stood up on his feet.
"Well then, time for me to search that flame hair maiden", he said with a smirk and headed toward the door.
"Be careful, Ray", Yue said to his back and smiled when Ray waved his hand slightly before walking out of the room.
As Ray walked on the hallway, passing by the guards couple of times, His eyes finally caught a figure on the palace garden. Maybe it was because of that gorgeous hair, Ray could even spot it from a far. Smiling happily, Ray moved toward where Shirayuki was but stopped quickly when he saw The second prince walked closer toward her. Hiding in one of the pillar, Ray paid attention to them. He wondered what they were talking about and annoyed at himself for hiding like this.
'What the hell is wrong with me?' Ray mused and sighed 'I can just walk toward them and start jumping into the conversation'
No.. He couldn't..
Because even from a far, the atmosphere between them was intimate. It as if they were in their own world. Giving up the idea to talk to Shirayuki for today, Ray sighed and was about to walk away when he saw The Second Prince of Clarines, Zen Wisteria, kissed Shirayuki. At that moment, it felt like something weird started grew inside him. His heart felt like it was squeezedtightly, his blood boiled and all he wanted to do was to tear both of them apart. It was the first time for him to feel this way and he didn't like the feeling at all. Was this what people called 'Jealousy'? Ray's mind was in a mess that instant, his head throbbing in pain. Shaking his head, Ray walked back to his room, Hoping to erase what he just saw from his mind. The only problem was.. He wasn't sure if he could do that..
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.
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"Ray?" Once again Yue called out to him.
Ray sighed as he stood up from the sofa "I am going to take a walk" he said, "inform me when Prince Izana has returned"
"Very well" Yue bowed, frowning at Ray's back. "..Ray..", Yue muttered when Ray exited the room, "Don't take all the pain by yourself.."
...
Ray walked at the hallway, he wasn't sure where to go. His heart wanted to see Shirayuki but his mind warned him that all female was the same.
'No.. she is different..' Ray mused, speaking to himself.
'How do you know? What makes you so sure?'
'I don't know.. but my heart telling me that she isn't the same like the other women..' Ray mused.
'Your heart? Don't you already closed it? So you don't have any feelings at all.. So you can do what you must do.. Remember you mission.. Remember what 'that cursed woman' did to the kingdom..'
Ray sighed and shook his head. He didn't need a reminder, he would do what he must do even though war broke between Ruthergent and Clarines. This was not the time for him to be so distracted by a woman.
"Ah, Your Majesty.."
A voice called out to him and it came from the training field. Zen was there with his two aides, Kiki and Mitsuhide.
"Prince Zen, are you in the middle of practicing", asked Ray as he walked closer to them.
"Yes, do you want to join in?" offered Zen.
"Well.. I don't mind" Ray answered with soft polite smile. He took the sword that Mitsuhide offered him and walked to the other side of the field, across Zen and be ready. But when Mitsuhide was about to start the practice match between the two royals, a sweet voice spoke from hallway.
"Zen? Ray?"
Ray's heart fluttered when he heard the sweet voice, Both Zen and Ray turned his head as they saw a red hair pharmacist walked closer to the field. "Are you having a practice Zen?", asked Shirayuki.
Zen walked closer to the end of the field, his smile became loving and his face became gentle. "Yes, Are you having a break?" Asked Zen.
"yes, I want to go to the library" said Shirayuki
"I am going with you, can you wait?" asked Zen.
"Of course!" answered Shirayuki happily.
Looking at both of them, The feeling Ray had yesterday once again emerged. "Prince Zen.." He called out the second prince's name. "Why don't we make this a duel?", Asked Ray.
Zen turned his head to Ray, "Duel? Sure"
"Then there will be reward for the winner right?", Ray asked.
Zen frowned slightly, somehow he didn't like the way this conversation went. "What do you have in mind, your majesty?" asked Zen carefully.
Ray glanced at Shirayuki who stared at him in confusion, a wicked smirk came on his face "The winner will have one day date with Shirayuki"
Mitsuhide gaped
Kiki frowned
Shirayuki was stunned
The reaction to Ray's proposal was obvious. Zen's face became serious. "I refuse", Zen answered.
"Hoo~?", Ray slightly tilted his head "Why?"
"Because Shirayuki isn't a thing and She is not someone who can be used as a reward for a duel" Zen said firmly.
"Zen.." Shirayuki smiled softly.
Ray's eyes grew cold upon the words, "then I am going to go with her on a date today and claim her as mine", the wicked smirk he had grew wider.
Zen glared at him and returned to his position, be ready for a duel, "Then I shall accept your challenge"
"Good answer" Ray replied, making his stance.
Silence surrounded the field, putting more tension between the two royals. Mitsuhide came to the center of the field and raised his hand to the sky, "The duel between Prince Zen Wisteria and King Reinhart Thorian will begin!", announced Mitsuhide then he moved the hand to ground and shouted "Start!"
The two royals dashed foward, clashing the wooden swords. Zen moved to the side, tried to hit Ray from the side. Ray took a step back and spun around to counter the attack. Both royals were so determined to win the duel, Shirayuki watched the duel with worried clearly painted in her eyes.
The wood clashing sound kept on repeating until Ray ducked to dodge Zen's attack and slide his feet to make Zen stumbled to the ground, with that he stood up and pointed the wooden sword in front of Zen's face.
"I win" Ray panted, satisfied smile was on his face.
Zen tightened the grip on his wooden sword as he stood up on his feet, dusting his clothes when the sound of clapping hands was heard.
Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!
"Well done, what an amazing duel"
All of them turned their heads toward the source of voice and there was Prince Izana, standing at the hallway.
Ray smiled politely "You must be the first Prince, Prince Izana"
"Yes, I am" Izana said, smiling mysteriously. "I am so sorry to make you wait, I believe Zen already explained to you that I have urgent business in another region"
"Yes" Ray said, giving the wooden sword back to Mitsuhide.
"Well then, Now that I am here.. Why don't we go to my office now, Your Majesty" said Izana. "We talk comfortably there"
"Of course" Ray said as he walked away from the field but paused halfway as he turned around slightly, "Shirayuki! Don't forget, you have a date with me tomorrow" He winked and chuckled softly when he saw Zen gave him a scowl face.
With that, Ray continued walking away with Prince Izana. Both of them left Zen and Shirayuki with their own feelings. Zen who was annoyed due losing in a duel and Shirayuki who didn't know how to respond to the situation. Mitsuhide and Kiki were wise enough not to make any comment. All of them didn't know that they were about to enter the storm that Ray had brought with him..