I was shocked when I heard what my father was saying, I have no idea about the real test and I thought we're just here to see their skills in dueling. At the same time, I was deeply touched; because father was looking out for me and he was really concerned about my future. He didn't have to call for me because, as soon as he, first, mentioned me, I was already making my way downstairs, fast. When I arrived, I immediately hugged my father.
"Laurana?" "Are you crying?"
I didn't even noticed that I was crying. I was reminded of my father on Earth, we seldom see each other or hugged each other; and he doesn't express much of his love for her daughter. I wished for this fatherly love, in my entire lifetime.
"Thank you, Father. For looking out for me. For taking care of me. I really, really, really appreciate it."
"Of course, I'm your father. Why wouldn't I?"
He just let me cry on his shoulders and patted me lightly on my back. I stopped myself from more crying and reached inside my sleeves to see if I brought a handkerchief, which I didn't. All of a sudden, I saw a hand in front of me, outstretched, holding a handkerchief; I looked into his arms, his face, until I met his blue eyes. It was Prince Theo with a worried look on his face, I was frozen in place just like when we were outside the stables. He saw me not moving an inch, as I saw him moving his hand towards my face. Instantly, as soon as the handkerchief gently made contact to my cheeks, I remembered we weren't alone; and I, instinctively, grabbed it and turned to wipe my tears.
"Thank you, Prince Theo."
"You're welcome, Princess."
...
The five martial artists already arrived and I can see how expert they really are, just by how they look. If I didn't know that they work for the royal family, I'll be scared out of my wits. Prince Wang Jung was beside me, I didn't notice since when, but he was looking at me, still is; then, suddenly bent forward to level with my small height, our faces were just a little bit close so I backed away. "Are you scared of them, Princess? Don't worry, I'll protect you from them. You know, I can handle all of them!"
In the process, my head hit something hard, maybe a wall; I was about to stop backing away when someone hold my arms from the back. My mind went blank, I'm leaning on someone's chest.. With that in mind, I turned around in a heartbeat and saw Prince Egon without his overcoat, letting me see his toned body. My eyes went wide in shock, even wider when I looked anywhere beside his body and saw all of the princes without their overcoat. So, I turned around again and walked away from them, towards the restroom to rinse my face since my cheeks feel hot.
Prince Wang Jung was the first to challenge the martial artists. He, immediately, led me behind him and did a protective stance; while looking excited to fight. He successfully attacked two of the martial artists; and focused on the third one, who grabbed his arms and changed their position to come after me. But, was stopped by the prince, then, he failed the test. "The Princess is captured. In your excitement to fend them off, you forgot to keep checking on the princess and her surrounding."
Next, was Prince Romeo. Compared to the first prince who was on the offense; he, on the other hand was on the defense. As soon as the test started, he moved his hand next to my hand, looked at it and asked, "May I?" I nodded, then, he held my hand and whispered to me, "Run!" His strategy was to keep running away while holding my hand for me to keep up with his pace. He keeps looking back at me to make sure the pursuers weren't near and didn't forgot to flash a flirty smile at me. As anyone can guess, he failed the test.
Prince Leopold succeeded in attacking one martial artist. Right after he did, he was restrained by three of them. In the end, he also failed the test. In Prince Jihan's case, he fought off the attacks of four martial artists and by the time, the fifth one attacked, his energy was already drained.
...
Only three princes remaining, Prince Theo stepped forward because it looked like the brothers has no intentions of going forward at this moment. Compared to the earlier fights, the martial artists, now, formed a semi-circle around them; and looked more serious than earlier. I was behind him, a few distance between us, so he wouldn't be anxious of accidentally hurting me. Two of the men, ran towards us and simultaneously, tried to land a high kick on him.
He stopped them mid-way; one, by using his right leg to block one of them then, another, by using both of his hands to hold the leg of the second attacker. After blocking, using his right leg, he successfully land a stomach kick to push that man towards the third attacker who was hit in a vital area. Then, he twist the leg of the second attacker 'til he surrendered. There's two left, who attacked together and was about to get me; when Prince Theo grabbed my hand, pulled me to his chest and held my waist with his left arm.
He unsheathed his wooden sword and hold it in his right hand. The two men was about to attack again so he removed his arm from me and ran towards them. He delivered a head kick to one of them who collapsed to the floor due to the impact and ran after the last one. Before the man reached, he stopped on his tracks because Prince Theo's wooden sword was on the side of his neck. Resulting, to him, passing the test.
...
After the martial artists were replaced, both of the brothers stood up. Prince Egon gave his brother a "back away" look and proceed towards the princess. From the beginning, he was already holding his wooden sword. He was recognized by everyone as one of the best in sword fighting, but, he's outnumbered; and no one knows what will happen. Prince Egon skillfully attacked them with his sword which the martial artists blocked it with the use of both of their hands and their arms. But, they couldn't keep this up for a long time so they tried to take his sword away. They weren't able to do so, but, the prince was kicked, here and there; he didn't show any pain, after.
The last two martial artists successfully removed the sword from the prince so he was using his arms to block their attacks. He fought, mostly, with one of them until he elbowed the man's stomach and his chin. He, then, picked up his fallen sword and was about to attack when someone caught the princess. Everyone thought that he already failed the test but was suprised on what he did next. The Prince Egon slowly lowered his wooden sword to the ground. Then, he suddenly threw the sword up in the air with a forward direction. As the man's focus was on the sword, Prince Egon ran, full speed, towards them.
*Swish*
As fast as a lightning, the prince catched the sword and the tip of the wooden sword reached the chest of the man. If it was a real sword, the man probably died with a sword buried in his chest. With that happening, he was the second one to pass the test.
The test was close to ending, with 4th Prince Henri taking on the challenge. He told me to run as fast as I can from the beginning, which I did. I run away from them, as he used his body to tackle two of them, but the other one escaped. As he tackled him, he grabbed something from the inside of his cloth and put it on the back of the man's neck. So, there's still four men running after me.
*thud* *thud*
"Pfffffft--"
*thud* *thud*
"WAHAHAHAHAHA" The princes' all burst out laughing. They didn't expect him to win against these experts, especially, with that method.
When I looked back, I saw all the martial artists lying on the floor with needles on the back of their necks, unable to move; and Prince Henri grinning while holding a wooden tube-shaped thing which he, I think, used to blew those needles. They were still conscious, just paralyze from the neck down. The needle hit a vital point that cause the paralyzation, not permanently; once the needle were removed, they'll slowly be able to move, again.
As he was walking towards me and the princes, I gave him a two thumbs up and he returned it with a very wide smile. Only Prince Theo, 2nd Prince Egon and 4th Prince Henri successfully passed the test; but, all of them give their very best trying to protect me. That's what really mattered to me.