Chapter 51
Leonna's POV
When I arrive at the South Forest, I immediately started looking for my dad.
While I was looking for him, I still couldn't get what happened earlier out of my head.
I'm not gonna lie the view was amazing, I was in complete awe seeing the moon and stars so up close.
It reminded me when I was still living in the forest. It was a short while but living in the forest felt like home to me at that time, well it still feels home but I have another home right now.
I unconsciously touched the rose brooch on my hair. 'Its pretty.' But its too shiny.
It might attract unwanted attention. I carefully pulled tyhe brooch out of my hair and put it inside my bag for safe keeping.
"Lady Leonna!"
I turned around to see who it was that called me. "Sir Jace!" I answered in a smile.
"My lady, the duke has ordered me to escort you to the starting line, he said he will meet you there before the tournament start." Jace stated.
[After the parade, Dad did said that he has something important to discuss with the Emperor.]
I nodded in response and the two of us made our way to the south forest's entrance.
Where we saw the other participants patiently waiting for the tournament to start. To pass the time some are stretching, others are checking their belongings that they will bring inside the forest and some are even eating to fill their stomach.
"Lady Leonna."
Immediately my face soured when Prince Lionel called my name. Urggh.
"Greetings to Prince Lionel." I said as I curtsy to him in respect.
"Yes...."
"Did you tell the Grand Duke to escort you?"
With furrowed eyebrow, I look at him with a confuse face.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Tsk. Dont play stupid. Someone as powerful and prideful as the Grand Duke would never agree to escort someone, unless you begged him to." Lionel stated gritting his teeth.
"Well, if you must know Prince Luonel my father has escorted me on his own free will." I answered but as I answer him his menacing aura got even more intense.
"Impossible! The Grand Duke would never escort someone like you!" There he goes, he snapped.
"Your highness! Thats--"
"What?! A mere knight dare to scold me?!" Lionel shouted when Sir Jace tried to defend me.
I lifted my hand to stop Sir Jace then stared firmly at Lionel.
"Someone like me? Your highness that 'someone' you're talking about is the daughter of the Grand Duke." I said with a prideful tone.
"You! If it weren't for that red hair and eyes you would still be in the orphanage!"
"Your highness, I cannot change the color of my hair or eyes I was born with it. And you your highness no matter how much you want this hair and eyes you can never have it, you are not and will never be a Viosta." I said in a firm tone as an insulting smirk plastered to my face.
The people who was watching us gasp in shock at what I have said.
Well its not a shock to me anymore that Lionel wanted to be a Viosta considering how many times he had pointed out that 'I dont deserve to be a Viosta'
But his desire of becoming a Viosta is nothing more than hopeful wishing. It will never happen. His black hair and eyes are constant reminder that he has no ounce of Viosta blood in him.
"You!--"
He looks like he was about to explode, the way his eyes twitch the veins on his neck and his tomato like colored face.
That's the closest to having any red that he'll ever get.
"What a rude thing to say! Is this how you treat the Prince of your kingdom?!"
Ha. Good timing. I was looking for these two.
"Princess Tria, Prince Trex I remember we had a wager earlier, I think its time to claim my prize." I stated looking smug at them as soon as they walked towards us.
They both flinched, and immediately forced a smile. "Ah haha! Lady Leonna, can't you take a joke?" Trex stated wearily.
With furrowed eyebrow, I looked at them. "Joke? You weren't joking earlier though." I said.
"Bitch! If you think a highly respectable imperial like me would bow down on my knees to apologize to a lowly orphan then you have another thing coming!" This time it was Princess Tria who shouted, their attitude sure is a complete opposite of each other.
One is a calm venomous snake while the other is a vicious one. Nevertheless Both are snakes.
"What is going on here?!"
Everyone's attention then focused on the man that just came.
Ah. Its the Emperor of the Alexandrite kingdom.
"Greetings to the Emperor of the Alexandrite kingdom." I stated bowing in curtsy.
Of course people around us started greeting the Emperor as well.
"Yes. You may rise."
I rose to look at him. "Now, may I know what is happening here? It seems that it involve my children."
I stared at him directly in the eyes, I didnt waver despite his hostility looked.
Ha. You think glaring at me would get me to surrender? Have you seen my Father's glare? You are nothing compared to my dad's eyes when he's angry.
"Father--"
Prince Trex was about to say something when I cut him off.
"Its not something your highness should be concern about." I answered him.
"Oh?" I could see his eyebrow slightly flinched. He didn't like my answer.
"Father! Its just a bet we made with her, its nothing serious." Prince Trex said in a panic.
Shameless bastard.
"Tell me about it." His father said to him, both the prince and princess flinched in terror at their father's anger.
They had no choice but to tell their father about our bet. I can see how they tremble as each word came out of their mouth.
Only then did I thought how lucky I am to a father like mine.
"Wait."
"Prince Lionel!" The twins looked like they just saw their saving grace.
"Lady Leonna, as the prince of this kingdom where the bet was made, I order you to just let this go for the sake of our kingdom."
I stared at him blankly, I really want to wipe that arrogant look on his face.
"Well lady Leonna? What do you say?" The emperor chimed in smirking from ear to ear after hearing Lionel's order.
So I smiled at them and bowed, "How dare I disobey the prince of our kingdom?---" I said, Lionel looked like he just won a war with that smile.
I then turned my head to the Emperor of the Alexandrite kingdom "forgive me your highness, I'am still learning--"
"Yes. It seems so, don't worry I'll tell the Grand Duke what you lack that way he may get you a good teacher." Im not stupid to not see the meaning behind those words.
He was insulting me....not just me but my father as well. Ha!
I smiled at him, in which it made him flinched in surprise.
"Yes. My father's teaching is indeed different from yours your highness, my father thought me to value the words that comes out of my mouth, specially when I'm carrying the Viosta name, he thought me to be dignified with my words.... something that I didn't know that the Imperial highnesses of your kingdom does not acquire." I said smilingly.
'So are you saying that your words as an imperial highnesses hold no ground? That if you bet on something you can just retract it however you like since your an emperor?'
If he agree to what I'm saying, then the value of their words would decrease and people will take their words lightly.
For an Imperial their words are the law, it is the source of fear of their people. If the fear impact of their words decreases many people will have the courage to rebel against them.
And it looks like he knew this because he looked at me menacingly. As if he wanted to kill me right there and then.
I have nothing to fear, my dad is much more powerful than him his glares are nothing compared to my dad.
"F-father." Princess Tria tried grabbing her father's attention.
I can see him clenching his fist as he tried to suppress his anger.
"Ha. Truly you are his daughter." He mumbled but it was enough for me to hear.
"Trex, Tria I believe you owe lady Leonna an apology." The Emperor stated in a firm tone. He then turned his back at us and walked away.
"Father!" Both Princess Tria and Prince Trex shouted in shock, their eyes widen in disbelief looking at their father's back.
Even Lionel was in shock, at the Emperor's words.
I couldn't help but smile innocently.
Of course the twins didn't take this lightly, the both of them looked at Prince Lionel as if asking for help.
"Lady Leonna! I told you to let it go!" Lionel shouted in anger.
"But prince, I did as I said its ok." I said with a smirk.
The Emperor stopped mid way and looked back at us, he then stared at his children angrily.
"Apologize to her immediately. The hunting tournament is about to start."
This time the twins had no choice, their father already made up his mind.
Despite their clear attitude of not wanting to appologize they had no choice but to do what their father told them.
So with their hands clenched to a fist they both bit their lips as they bowed in front of me.
The people who were watching all gasp in shock at an Imperial would bow infront of a noble.
I can see how the twins tremble, they look like they were about to cry at any moment.
"W-we apologize!" They said in union.
"I admire you Prince Trex, Princess Tria for upholding your dignity as a member of your kingdom's imperial family" I stated, it was a genuine one.
But the both of then just clicked their tongue in disgust before following their father.
"Wait! Princess Tria! Prince Trex!" Prince Lionel shouted as he tried to catch up to them but no before looking back at me.
"You! Don't be so arrogant, I'I'll deal with you at the tournament."
I know. I know for a fact that I'm probably your number one target as soon as the hunting tournament start.
I sigh. The best course of action is to avoid them when the tournament start, if the hunting tournament is a scavenger hunt then their must be a certain direction that they want us to go , all I have to do is go on the opposite direction that way I won't meet anyone.
"Lady Leonna. Lets go.... I'm sure the Duke is already waiting for us." Sir Jace stated. I nodded in response.
-
LEONNA along with Jace arrived at the South forest's starting point, Leon along with Winston and Riri is already there waiting for them.
"Leonna." Leon called her, Leonna then went to Leon's side.
"Dad. Where have you been?" Leonna asked Leon. Leon couldn't help but chuckled at Leonna's authoritative voice.
[As day passes by she's becoming more like me.] Leon thought.
"Work." Leon answered shuffling Leonna's hair.
"The hunting tournament is about to start, my lady did you double check everything?" Winston ask in a worry.
"Yes Winston, everything is right here." She answered for the hundred times today, she patted her small leather bag.
Only then did Winston sigh in relief.
"Hey brat. Take this."
Leonna's attention turned to Riri who was handing her something.
"What's that?" Leonna asked..
"A whistle."
"A whistle?"
"If ever you want to quit just blow the whistle and it will transport you back here." Riri said which made Leonna's eyes widen.
"Wouldn't that be cheating?" Leonna asked in shock.
"Of course not. If you use this whistle then it will automatically disqualify you from the tournament."
Leonna took the weird bird shape black whistle from Riri and nodded.
[Well technically its not cheating if you'll get disqualified when you use it.]
"Its a one time use only brat. Use it wisely."
Before I could even asked more about the whistle, a loud trumpet interrupted me.
The trumpet was loud enough to be heard all over the south forest.
"Its about to start." Dad said looking at me.
I can see his worried expression as he look at me with his bright red eyes.
I smiled at him to reassure him that I'll be fine.
He sigh and with one last hugged and kiss on the forehead he said -- "Come back to me alive, little cub."
I hugged my dad back "of course! Wait for me in seven days dad." I said almost teary eyes.
After that goodbye with my dad, we went to starting point of the tournament which is the entrance of the South's forest.
There was a specific location where only the participants is allowed.
"This is as far as I can go Little cub." Dad said. I nodded in response.
"Ok. See you in seven days dad." I said to him. "You better." He nodded
I walked toward the forest entrance where other participants are.
I saw the twins and at one point our eyes met, I can see them fuming in anger.
I just decided to ignore them.
"Lady Leonna."
I blushed unconsciously when I saw him. Remembering what happened earlier. "Prince Jaljiz."
I could see his eyebrow twitch as he stared at my hair.
"You took my gift off?" He asked.
Oh! Thats why he was staring at my hair.
"Yes, I just didn't want to lose it so I stored it in my bag." I told him.
Which is true. But another reason is that its too eye catching.
"Prince Jaljiz, its time to go."
I remember this girl, she was the one who glared at me earlier. I think he's one of Prince Jaljiz's teammate.
Building a team during or before the tournament is allowed mostly teams are build up of people who are residing on the same kingdom.
Those who agreed to be on a team simply means that they already choose one person who they want to win.
Thus meaning they themselves would not be aiming to win instead helping that one person to win.
Obviously, Prince Jaljiz is the leader of their team and his teammate is here to assist him to win.
I also heard that Prince Kaleb and Prince Lionel also has their own team.
Other than these three I have no Idea about the rest.
"Are you ordering me Shiloah?" Prince Jaljiz's attitude change when he was talking to the girl name Shiloah than when he was talking to me.
The girl name Shiloah flinched then bowed her head. "N-no your highness. I-I apologize."
Then Prince Jaljiz turned to me and smiled brightly. "I'll see you again lady Leonna."
I just nodded. I was caught off guard when he suddenly grab my hand and kissed the back of my palm.
Before I could even say anything, they were already walking back to their team.
"Participants Gather around!" A knight shouted.
So we all gather around to where he is.
Then a priest stood on a pedestal towering over us.
He scanned the whole area looking at the participants. until his eyes landed on mine.
It was only a split second but I could have sworn I saw his eyebrow furrowed when his eyes landed on my direction.
"MAKE WAY FOR THE EMPERORS!!"
Of course everyone made way for the Seven great emperors who was walking towards the stage beside the priest.
When all seven of them was gathered on the stage they gave their last speech for us participants.
"Goodluck participants, hunt at your hearts content for the glory of your kingdom and of course to commemorate the peace treaty of the seven kingdoms!" Emperor Vincent stated and everyone started shouting in excitement.
I could almost feel the ground shaking from the intensity of the sound from the crowd.
It was a ten minutes till midnight, although its midnight the people are wide awake just to watch the Tournament.
When the Seven Emperor finished their speech, the priest from earlier stepped up the stage.
-
[End Of chapter]