Prince Shermandin stood at the shooting range. With his right hand he draw the bow and exhaled, feeling his center. After another second he loosened the string. The arrow flew with a high pitch whistle in the air and hit the target. His aim was precise. Slow clap with a tang of sarcasm to it, was heard behind him.
Shermandin turned around and looked at princes Lola sitting there leisurely, applauding him.
"Marvelous. Truly. Not many have such a good aim as you do my prince. There is just a slight, liiiiittle flaw with your shooting."
Shermandine smiled. His half turned figure looked unimaginably handsome as the sunlight hit him from behind. "Do tell princess Lola."
"Well your shooting is perfect when done at home or at a competition. I highly doubt anyone on the battlefield will stand still and let you aim for this long. Maybe if they were captivated by your good looks enough to let you kill them, but let us not count on that for every occasion."
"You think I am captivating?"
"Well... yes to some. I mean all the princes of Dali are handsome in their own way." Lola somehow got out of the hole she dug for herself. Shermandin looked a little disappointed. "Positive criticism is always welcome from someone as knowledgeable as you are. Would you mind showing me your skills?"
"Not at all. I am feeling like shooting something in the had anyway. I guess this wooden doll will have to do for now."
Lola walked towards him with, a walk of a woman confident in every step she takes. Her face was not visible, but her figure still captivated the prince in a way he could not quite put a finger on. Lola took another bow from the weapons lying on the table and four arrows. She stood beside him with her hands down. In one of them she was holding a bow and in another four bows separately in between her fingers. The bullseye was on her left as her gase was cast down. She took a breath and suddenly her entire presence disappeared. She turned her had and In less then a second drew a bow, shooting all four of her arrows one after another, all hitting the center. Shermandin could not believe his own eyes. He thought he new of her skills, but never could he imagine how wrong he was. She was mesmerizing. A true warrior, while he was only a soldier. Finally he snapped back.
"How?"
She turned towards him, bathed in the spring sunlight and giggled. "One day, vary soon You will know."
Suddenly the prince felt that she was breathtaking. Maybe even her ugliness did not matter in the presence of her greatness. If his brother just opened up his heart, than Lola could become his biggest straights.
"I do hope you will grant me a favor and not say a word of what transpired here to your brother. "
O how he wished to tell all this to prince Valentine and show him how great his fiancé was, but somewhere in his heart he was glad that this moment would be theirs alone. He smiled sweetly making Lolas heart melt and kissed the back of her hand. "Thank you for today princess. Please do grace me with your presence more in the future."
"It would be my pleasure."
As they parted ways Shali appeared. "I did as you instructed and from my sword a large enough wind was blown, to snatch his glow and toss it towards you."
"Yes you did great as always."
"So, what is your impression of him?"
Lola looked at the direction she parted from him. "Kind, handsome and dependable. A dream come true for any woman out there. Yet still I wonder why my heart beats for that disappointment of a prince and not for Shermandin. Ones own heart is truly not to be trusted. It can even mislead and destroy its owner. The plan B will proceed as planned."
"Wise decision my princess." Bowed her had Haer.
When the morning came, another fight for getting The princess dressed started. After an hour of unrelenting struggle, everyone was exhausted and Lola was finally starting to gain conciseness. She was as usual lying on the bed fully dressed and a vail covering her entire face and hair. A knock was heard at the door and without waiting to be let it, Kari opened the door.
"My apologies princess, but it is time to visit lady Acacia as per his highnesses order."
It was blatantly obvious that she took pleasure from her humiliation. Lola turned her had on the bad and looked at Kari. She would certainly get hers, Lola would make sure of that, but now was not the time. she got up and straightened her dress.
"Thank you Kari. Please lead the way."
Kari could not hide her smile. Lola was so simple to manipulate. She turned around and the rest followed behind her. After half an hour of walking they arrived at Acacias residence. It was beyond humiliating to make a princess walk to the residence of her fiancées lover, but Lola retained her composure. The servants let them in the residence and led them to the room where Acacia was. Not only was the residence grand and beautiful, but it was decorated in the most expensive way possible. One had to be blind to fail to see how much the owner of this place valued money and prestige. Not even her royal castle in Ujarma could come close to this place in extravagance. The prince truly loved her. it was blatantly obvious to her now. This realization made her heart go cold for a second. She tried to shake this feeling of as she entered the grandest room in the building. Acacia was seating in a beautiful dress made from a golden thread, with jewelry of unimaginable worth. Upon the princesses entry, she did not even stand up. It was clear that she was showing her higher standing and teaching the princess her place.
"O my. Princess Lola your visit is so unexpected." Even the way she addressed her with only her name was insulting.
"No need to get up lady Acacia. Im sure someone as weak as you can not support the weight of those jewels. I will just take my seat to not make you uncomfortable."
Acacia smiled. She was truly skillful in hiding her emotions. Just now Lola insinuated that as weak as she was, she could never carrie the responsibilities that came with the position of a crown princess. Acacia was fuming inside, but never did her smile brake even for a second. Now it was obvious to Lola, that she was psychotic, smart and dangerous.
"Something gifted by his highness could never weigh me down. After all everything he does is out of love for me. The fact that you are standing here today is proof of that. So yes thank you, I will not be standing up."
Lola could argue all day and every time come on top of this spoiled little girl, but she was not fighting for a mans affection. It was beneath her. Still, she was to be respected by everyone, especially by this spoiled rude little girl.
"I am sure you are right lady Acacia. Man do tend to fall in love easily. I also hope in the future we can get along. I am sure it is in your best interest to do so. After all in the end a wife will always be a wife, respected by all and a mistress will only ever be that, a way to warm a bad for man. Ones the passion will
be gone so will they."
Acacias smiling mask finally broke and for just a second revealed the ugliest face ever seen. goosebumps ran over Lolas skin from the joy this brought to her. She soon released the mistake and Immediately put on a smile again.
"O I am sure you will enjoy an empty bad and no children. So yes let us get along. I would love that." As she was saying that last sentence, she stood up and walked over to Lola outstretching her hands for a hug. Suddenly she tripped and pulled on Lolas vail.