[Music Recommendation: For Whom The Fire Burns (Winterscape remix)~ Phildel]
"Is Brother Adric really going to fight with Nicholas?" Jasmine turned to ask Adelaide.
Adelaide hummed, "It’s obvious, he accepted." The younger princess smiled. Leaning forward, her face lit up when she noticed where Nicholas was looking. She smiled. "I bet there’s a reason for it," she tapped her fingers on her lips.
Jasmine sighed, "Whatever the reason is, having a blood fight is too extreme... well, anyway, if Brother Adric should lose, it’s still to my advantage," she smiled and relaxed to enjoy the fight.
Sophie, who was listening to the conversation, whispered to Adelaide. "Is there another reason why Prince Adric shouldn’t fight that man?"
Adelaide twitched her lips, "How do I put it..." She sighed. "Let’s just say they used to be very close friends while growing up. Then suddenly one day, they stopped talking. Till today, none of us have any idea what actually happened."
Sophie nodded. When she raised her face to look at Adric, she said, "I think it’s that Prime Minister that has issues. Prince Adric is a good man."
"You think so?" Adelaide chuckled. "Don’t let looks deceive you," she muttered to herself, her eyes still on Oriana, who was finding it difficult to keep her position steady.
Inside the fighting ring, Nicholas finally turned his eyes on Adric, who was no longer smiling.
"I want to let you know my wish before the fight starts proper," Nicholas said as they both walked around slowly, circling inside the ring.
Adric nodded, "Let me hear it. Though winning is not assured for you, it’s okay to wish."
Nicholas smirked, "Still very proud, I see," he said, waving his sword, his eyes now on Adric’s left hand. "But it comes first before your fall."
"Your wish," Adric said, making a circle with his feet, then standing still.
Nicholas turned to look at Oriana. "A chance with her. She’s not the Crown Princess, after all, and we both can’t deny she’s more drawn to me."
Adric looked up to the sky, then sighed. "The wishing star disappeared." Without waiting, he made the first attack, using his knife to strike at Nicholas. Nicholas, with his fast reflexes, dodged and moved to the other side.
"And the Crown Prince makes the first attack! He is on the offense, and the Prime Minister is on the defense," the announcer shouted, causing the crowd to cheer while some booed.
Nicholas smiled, steadying his legs on the ground. He rushed to Adric, pulling up a handful of sand with his knife and throwing it straight at Adric’s face, attempting to blind him temporarily so he could strike. Adric, who was used to these battle tricks, jumped to the side, ready to turn and attack. But Nicholas slashed his left hand before he could.
"The Prime Minister gives the first cut!"
Oriana stood up from her chair. She wouldn’t have been worried if Adric hadn’t been hurt because of her. Somehow she felt bad and saw the fight as unfair.
Adric looked down at his shirt, which was cut, and his skin, which was now bleeding. He smiled and took a step back, getting his right hand ready and trying to keep his left hand behind him.
Nicholas noticed this and moved mostly toward the left, trying to make sure he hit the weakness. The next attack was initiated by him as he threw a heavy strike with his knife, knowing that Adric’s right hand wouldn’t last long.
Adric, seeing what he was doing, quickly changed the hand he was using to hold his sword. In that moment, he confused Nicholas, who had his focus on the sword movement. Adric pulled out a small knife from his back and used it to slash Nicholas on the side.
"A surprise attack from the Crown Prince!" the announcer said with a surprised voice.
"Argh!" Oriana gasped, with her hand over her mouth. Her eyes widened in shock as she saw Nicholas bleeding from the side of his stomach.
Everyone was also surprised by Adric’s surprise attack, and they all stood up in shock.
Jasmine turned to a maid, "Take Kai and Walter inside. The fight is getting messy," she ordered, and soon the boys were taken inside.
Nicholas moved back, now holding his stomach. He grunted. When he saw Oriana’s expression, he smiled. "You make her worry for me. The dirty trick wasn’t necessary."
Adric raised his brows when he saw Oriana standing, but he didn’t say anything. "Quit looking for pity and fight."
Nicholas touched his stomach. After a few seconds, he stood straight. Moving his shoulders front and back, he turned his neck. "Now that I’ve got her pity, let’s quickly end this."
Adric nodded, "Let’s do that," he muttered. At the same time, Nicholas moved with speed and made his target Adric’s left hand. When he reached for it, instead of cutting it, he hit Adric with his shoulder hard enough for the hand to make a small crack. Adric grunted, moving back. But before he could get his position steady, Nicholas cut his right hand, stomach, and shoulder.
Oriana, who was still standing, held her hands close to her chest. She wanted to ask them to end the fight already, seeing that Adric had received more cuts.
Inside the ring, Adric fell to his knees, his hands trembling with his sword now on the ground. His eyes were on Nicholas, who was ready to make his final strike.
"Concede defeat," Nicholas said, walking closer to Adric, ready to make the final move that would end the fight.
Everyone watching the fight held their breath. By the look of things, the Crown Prince had lost, and it was going to be the first time in history.
"Right now, our Crown Prince is weak, and the Prime Minister is winning with bigger points. Everyone, this is a moment we can only wish for a miracle or just have a winner for the first time in a long time. I don’t know about you all, but I wish for a miracle... Our Crown Prince is the kingdom, he is the throne... he is the most important piece in the kingdom... the crown..." The announcer continued to give words of hope, and soon the crowd started clapping.
Nicholas looked at the crowd. "They still believe in you. Why don’t you give up finally? While you’re at it, show these people you’re no god."
Adric coughed and spat out blood. He tried to reach for his sword, but his hands were weak. He paused and inhaled deeply with his eyes closed. When he opened them, he had a grin on his face.
"He is His Royal Highness, Prince Adric of great Avon!"
Adric stood up quickly and knocked Nicholas down on the ground, by brushing him down. Losing his balance, Nicholas let go of his knife, and Adric took hold of it. Not wasting time, Adric held the knife close to Nicholas’s neck.
"They don’t believe in me because I’m a god; they believe in me because I don’t give up," Adric said, holding his stomach, which was now bleeding heavily.
The announcer and the crowd waited quietly. Then Nicholas raised his hand to concede defeat.
"And the Crown Prince makes a lethal move! The Prime Minister gives up! Yet again, the Crown Prince wins!"
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