6. The Infuriating Victor
6
The Infuriating Victor
A storia wanted to demand another round. But considering she had denied the same request of her suitors after Wizard Orion, she knew it wouldn’t be a wise move.
It wouldn’t give the audience a good impression of her after the greatness she had performed in front of them.
Had this nightmare truly befallen her?
Mr. Silas offered her a hand, but in her fuming rage, she ignored him.
He withdrew his hand and smiled. “I told you, Princess, you will be mine once this duel is over. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
She glowered at him.
Footsteps sounded behind him. Mr. Silas moved aside, and Astoria met the shocked but concerned faces of her grandpa and Skylar.
Grandpa Cassius spared Mr. Silas a glare before he knelt in front of her. “Honey, are you hurt?”
“Only my pride,” she grumbled.
“Sir Cassius! What is the delay? Announce our victor!” her father called out from the royal box.
Grandpa Cassius clenched his jaw in displeasure. He met Astoria’s eyes ruefully, got to his feet, and turned to Mr. Silas. He seized Mr. Silas’ wrist and lifted it.
His words blurred together in her ears. All she could think about was the last few moments of the duel and her failure. On repeat.
The crowd’s applause for Mr. Silas was sparse.
Emmett’s running footsteps neared her. Astoria pushed herself to her feet and stomped towards the exit without sparing her brother a glance. Emmett and Skylar called after her, but she didn’t stop until she reached the carriage and ordered the coachman to take her back home.
* * *
A knock sounded at her door.
Astoria didn’t answer.
The knocking continued.
“Go away, Emmett!” She was sure it was him. No one else would bother to check on her.
“I think I heard you say, ‘ Come in, Emmett’. ”
The door opened, and Emmett entered. Skylar was at his heels. Astoria propped herself up on her elbows, grabbed one of her pillows, and threw it at him. Emmett caught it in mid-air. He closed the door behind him and approached her bed, sitting on the edge.
Skylar hopped over and snuggled by her side, likely trying to offer her some sort of comfort.
“How are you?”
“Is that even a question?” Astoria buried her head back in the pillow.
Emmett sighed. “I don’t know what to say, little one. I am so sorry.” He touched her shoulder and rubbed it soothingly.
Her throat closed up. “I don’t understand.”
“Me neither. Do you think he’s a Half-blood?” Before she could answer, he continued, “Never mind. Half-blood or not, you are not marrying him.”
Hope rose in her heart, but she shoved it down. Hope was only a fantasy in this case. She was hopeless, even if her brother was determined to fight for her.
Astoria sat upright on her bed. “But Emmett, I signed the contract with Father. It’s not—”
Emmett recoiled in shock. “You did what? ”
Astoria blinked in surprise. “You don’t know—wait, I didn’t tell you?”
“Of course, you didn’t tell me.” His eyes narrowed on her. “What contract? When did this happen? How come you didn’t tell me this until now?”
“Oh Emmett, I must have forgotten! I am so sorry! It was a month after the duel with Wizard Orion, when I agreed to let Father gather suitors for me. When I made my conditions, he suggested drawing up a contract between us. I agreed to it because I didn’t think I would fail. Father made a clever move, didn’t he? Now I’m trapped and doomed.”
“What was the contract for?”
“To make sure both of us would keep our end of the bargain. He wanted to find me Mage suitors. I wanted to challenge them all in a duel— and I wanted commoners and peasants for an audience. Of course, you know that. We agreed that I would marry whoever beat me in the duel. I am so sorry I forgot to mention that we signed a contract.”
Emmett raked his hands through his hair in frustration. He stood and began to pace in front of the bed.
“The contract is unbreakable, isn’t it?”
“According to the law, since Father kept his end of the bargain, yes. And he could use it against you.” Emmett paused and looked down at her, the look in his eyes reflecting the jumbled emotions in her heart. “You should have discussed it with me before you agreed to sign it, Stor.”
Her heart sank. It was done. Her fate was sealed. If she dared to go against the law for her own benefit, everything she’d built over the last year—her hard-won fame—would crumble to dust. She couldn’t bear that, not on top of her defeat.
Emmett marched back to her bed and grasped her hands. “I promise I won’t rest until I find a loophole and get you out of this. Alright?”
The earnestness and determination in his eyes caused her chin to quiver. “There’s no loophole, Emmett. I sealed my fate myself.”
“There has to be.” His grip tightened and he sounded desperate. “You are my sister, Storie, and I won’t let this fate befall you.” He released her hands and straightened. “I must go and begin my research. I promise I will try my best to get you out of this.”
All she could do was nod. Emmett pressed a kiss to her forehead and exited the room.
Astoria fell back onto her bed and sighed. You have nothing to say, Sky?
What can I say, Princess? I feel terrible for letting you down.
Astoria glanced at him incredulously. How did you let me down, may I ask?
Because in my confidence, I made you believe you are unbeatable, as it is what I believed too. That there is absolutely no one in this realm, other than the Emperor himself perhaps, who could beat you in a magical duel. I shouldn’t have given you so much hope now that you are hurting in your loss. A loss that’s going to cost your happiness! Oh, heavens, what kind of a friend am I?
Skylar pressed his front paws to his closed eyes and groaned.
Oh, Sky. Astoria tried to pry his paws away, but he was unrelenting. For a red panda, he had the strength of a bear. Oh, dear, dear Sky. Don’t punish yourself like this. Did I blame you? No, and I never will.
But when you took off like that, I thought you were mad at me. You wouldn’t even look at me.
When was the last time Skylar whined and complained about something? It wasn’t like him; he liked to behave like an adult.
Because I was mad at myself, Sky, not you. I was immensely irritated with that man as well, not to mention my embarrassment at losing.
Now it was her turn to hide her face and groan. What happened an hour ago was the most humiliating moment of her life. How was she going to live with it? How was she ever going to face the people again?
Oh, if she had kept her arrogant mouth shut, this would have been a little more bearable.
So you are not mad at me?
Of course not. Astoria dropped her hands to see Skylar staring at her with hopeful eyes. She hugged him. If anything, Sky, your faith and confidence in me are what encouraged me to propose this duel in the first place. I wouldn’t have known—
She stopped short as a piece of parchment suddenly popped up on her bed.
Known what? Skylar prompted. His head was on her shoulder, so he wasn’t aware of her distraction.
What is that?
You tell me. You are the one talking.
Not that, Sky. Look at this.
She reached for the parchment and flipped it over. Unfamiliar, slanted handwriting greeted her.
Lesson no. 1:
Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.
It’s an old saying, and I hope that’s what you learned today, Princess.
I cannot wait to see you at dinner. The king insisted I should join. I’m looking forward to seeing your glaring eyes and scowling face.
Sincerely, Silas.
Astoria’s eyes bulged in pure disbelief. She crumbled the note.
“The nerve of that man!” She set it aflame in her palm and sent the ashes to the—
She paused and thought better of it. A smirk curled at the corner of her lips. She closed her eyes and focused. At Skylar’s astonished gasp, she opened her eyes and saw that the ashes were gone, leaving not even a trace behind.
What did you just do and how did you do it?
She smiled down at him sweetly. I just sent the sender my response, and I might have learned a new trick from him as well.
Another piece of parchment appeared on the bed. This time, Skylar grabbed it. Astoria took it from him.
By the way, running away like that was a coward’s act, Princess, definitely not suited to a supposed victor like you. You defamed the Unyielding Princess of Daliston. A true victor, given you were a constant one until me, accepts her failure. That’s what earns your people’s respect the most.
Astoria fumed. How dare he?
Yes, how dare he! Burn it and send him the ashes again, my princess.
Astoria did just that. Soon enough, another note appeared.
Oh, so it’s you who is sending the ashes. For a moment, I thought the Daliston royals had a tradition of keeping ashes on their tables for good fortune—or is it to keep the bad omens away?
Astoria burned it without another word and sent the ashes back to him. A moment later, when she almost thought he had given up, four notes appeared on her bed.
She picked them up and realized that three of them were the ones she had burned. How did he transform them back from ashes? Or had he rewritten them just to annoy her?
She flipped the fourth note over.
Won’t you keep them, Princess? It’s our version of love letters.
He’s flirting with you! Skylar began to laugh, ignoring her glare.
Astoria stood from her bed and approached her writing desk. She tore a piece of parchment and scrambled her response in angry letters.
You wish!
Then she burned all four notes and sent him the ashes along with her note. She waited with a tiny, triumphant grin. When his newest response appeared on her bed, she flicked her wrist and made it float to her.
It seems I should keep them instead of you. Thank you for sending them back, Princess. And, my, what lovely handwriting you have! I cannot wait for the day I see you write my name in such elegance. As short as it is, at least I managed to get a response from you. It’s not every day a man has two victories. I must be very lucky.
Astoria wanted to scream in her frustration. She burned the note. Instead of sending the ashes to him, she sent them to her fireplace, like she should’ve done in the first place.
* * *
Astoria walked to the dining room on Emmett’s arm that evening. Silas—her brother —walked on her other side. They strode in silence until Silas cleared his throat.
“I am sorry about today.”
Astoria decided to pretend she didn’t hear him until Emmett nudged her side pointedly.
“Thank you.”
In her peripheral view, she caught him glancing at her. “If you still think I’m ecstatic about the idea of having you away from home, I must admit I’m utterly uncomfortable with the idea of you marrying a total stranger, now that it has come to it.”
Astoria met his gaze so she could see if he looked as sincere as his words sounded, and the sincerity in his eyes startled her. For a moment, she just stared, groping for the appropriate response. “Thank you, Silas.”
Silas nodded and shifted his gaze to Emmett, a business-like manner replacing the sincerity in his eyes. “I propose we look up this man’s background. We cannot let just anybody marry our sister.”
That… that was the first time he had ever used the phrase ‘our sister’. Astoria closed her eyes for a moment, trusting Emmett’s lead, as her heart warmed towards Silas for the first time. She tried to etch the memory into her brain so that one day, she could recall this brief but beautiful moment with the brother she wished things weren’t always so rocky.
“I am on it already,” Emmett said.
“And you didn’t bother telling me?” Silas’ tone hardened. Before Emmett could answer, he continued, likely realizing why he wasn’t told about it. “Never mind. Is there anything I can help with?”
“You can join me in the library after dinner.”
Astoria saw him nod through the corner of her eyes. A strange urge tickled her chest. She summoned every ounce of courage she had and looped her other arm through Silas’, his hand stuffed into his pocket.
Silas stiffened and spared her a glance. Astoria met it with a tiny smile and pulled him to walk closer. He neither stopped her nor smiled back. Astoria kept her face forward and pretended she didn’t feel like bouncing with excitement.
Little Astoria would’ve done that.
When they finally reached the dining room, Silas still hadn’t freed his arm from hers. He was stiff, but it was still progress.
Astoria bit her lip to keep from smiling in triumph as the doors opened and they walked in together. However, the sight that greeted her turned her smile into a scowl.
There he sat, Mr. Silas, the reason for her doom today.
He met her scowl with a smirk, amusement dancing in his eyes as he stood in greeting.
She ignored him, though not before noticing his change of clothes. He no longer wore his ragged and torn clothes but black linen button-down, paired with slim pants. And his previously unkempt beard was trimmed.
Silas—her brother—let go of her arm and gave her hand a gentle squeeze before he dropped it. Astoria glanced at him, her heart squeezing over at such an act of affection from him, the first one she had ever had. He went around the table to take his place between Marcia and her betrothed.
The king called for a toast to his future son-in-law once everyone was seated. They lifted their glasses, her brothers doing so lazily and simply for the sake of dignity. Astoria stared blankly at her empty plate. After the first course was served, the king and Marcia struck up a conversation with Silas, asking him about his life as a street performer and why he chose such a life when he was so much more powerful than most Mages in existence.
“I love what I do, Your Majesties,” Silas said. “I’ve never considered my powers anything more than a part of me, not something to be used for social benefit. And I love travelling, exploring new places, people, and things. So, for my living, I decided being a street performer was fitting.”
“What about your family? Where are you from?” Silas—her brother—questioned him before Emmett could.
Astoria felt her betrothed’s gaze on her, but she kept her eyes glued to her plate.
“My mother died when I was only a boy, so it’s just me, my father, and my brother. But with my travels, I have barely been home. Recently, I received word from my brother that Father is sick. I was passing through the capital on my way home, performing for the crowd because it’s good to have an extra keep when Your Majesty’s guards brought me here. So if it’s alright with Your Majesty, I would love to visit my father before… before whatever you are planning.”
Astoria felt like she wanted to snort, all while she felt a twinge of sympathy at the mention of his sick father.
“I am so sorry to hear about your father, Silas,” her father began solemnly. “I would be happy to let you be on your way and visit him, but not before marrying my Astoria. We shall have the ceremony in two days so you can bring her—”
“Two days?” Astoria cried in disbelief, snapping her gaze to him. From the echoed question, she realized she wasn’t the only one who had spoken up.
“Father, I must insist. Astoria needs time.” Emmett tried to sound calm, but his words were a near growl.
The king had no concern on his face as he looked at Astoria. “She has had an entire year, have you not, my darling daughter?”
Astoria gaped at him. “I have only known this man for a day, for goodness’ sake! And you wish me to marry him in two days?”
“If I am allowed to speak,” Silas began cautiously. “Perhaps we can wait until I return from visiting my father. So the princess will have time to prepare.” He spared her a glance, but there was only mirth in his eyes.
“No, you must be married before you are off.” The king shook his head in clear dismissal. “We cannot delay this any longer. The Emperor could fall upon us like lightning one day— any day—and we must be prepared.”
“The Emperor’s lightning-like invasion is old news, Father. Astoria needs time to at least get to know her betrothed,” Silas—her brother—argued.
“She will have a lifetime to get to know him.” When Emmett and Silas opened their mouths to protest, their father snapped, “Do you think I married your mother because I knew her? No, I did it out of duty.”
“Well, for your information, I am not you. And I refuse to end up like my mother,” Astoria blurted out, and the moment she did, she wished she hadn’t. But it was too late.
She groaned at her second humiliation of the day.
She didn’t want her betrothed to know what she thought of marriage or that she feared what happened to her mother would befall her, too. But she didn’t fear it, did she? No, she didn’t .
Astoria stole a glance at her betrothed. Her breath hitched at the intensity taking over his eyes.
In a split moment, he was an entirely different person. There was no mirth in his gaze, no smirk at the corner of his lips. He looked too serious for her liking.
She tore her gaze away from him and released the breath she didn’t realize she was holding. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.
As her brothers continued to argue with their father, Astoria went back to eating her food, pretending the last few seconds didn’t happen.