When all attention was on her, Princess Yara didn't let the guests wait for long. It's just that... her hidden mischievous nature was aroused.
She would make a perfect match with that proud Crown Prince of Zimen? Who said that?!
Slightly smiling, she elegantly shifted her gaze to the delegate who was looking at her with hope.
"Zimen is already our ally for more than a century. Why must we need a bond by marriage all of a sudden?" Feigning an innocent smile, she glanced at her brother. "If I'm not mistaken, there was nothing written about a bond by marriage when an alliance was formed between our two kingdoms a century ago."
Though the King maintained a calm face, his eyes were twinkling with mirth. There was no doubt that he was satisfied with his sister's response! "You're right." He uttered.
Hearing the unexpected response of the seemingly fragile Princess, the delegate face turned pale and he was tight-lipped!
The Princess was too smart! Even if the Zimen Kingdom used this rejected proposal as an excuse to pose a threat to their alliance, they will be the one at fault! Princess Yara's response already justified the rejected proposal!
If it's not a part of the peace treaty, the Zimen Kingdom couldn't force Avaria and if they insisted, they will be condemned by other kingdoms!
"Your Highness." The delegate spoke up again, breaking the silence. "Crown Prince Leonard is serious about this proposal. It's not just about forming a bond between us. If you agreed to marry him, he will love you and treat you well for a lifetime."
Treat her well for a lifetime? Yara's lips curved into a smile. "You said so yourself, Delegate. Crown Prince Leonard is a true warrior with many merits but... it means that he spends all his time to achieve those merits."
"If I'm to marry him, how could he possibly treat me well? I doubt that he won't even have time for me as he will be busy being a hero." She added, faking a smile to give an expression that she meant no harm. She was just being pure and nothing else.
"Don't you think it would be such a waste if I'm to receive such a treatment, Delegate?" Her smile widened and her beauty shone brighter than ever! This was enough to make all the guests agree with her though they know the hidden message. 'She was too beautiful to be neglected!'
Princess Yara was right. She should have someone who will understand her value! That's what the guests thought.
Now that the Princess used all his well intent words against him, the delegate of Zimen had no choice but to back down. There were still many other proposals and he couldn't waste time by his persistence. He and Zimen would only be condemned if he did that!
The marriage proposal goes on and the Princess smartly rejected each of them, outsmarting every delegate or even nobles from her own kingdom. Her way with words repeatedly awed all the guests in the room. After around two hours, the last proposal was taken care of which made Yara Amiel secretly sigh out of relief.
*
The party was long over. In the back of the palace was a forest that wasn't opened for everyone as it belongs to the royal family.
The night was dark and the forest was darker. If it wasn't for the brightness of the moon, it would be impossible to see the paths of the forest.
Princess Yara was riding a horse in the dark forest. For the people, she was an elegant and well-sheltered Princess but who have thought that she was alone in the forest, riding to a certain direction though it was already past midnight? What's more, she knew the paths so well that it was impossible for her to get lost!
When she reached a certain place that resembled a storehouse, she halted and quickly gets off her horse. The black cloak which she wore covered her whole body only leaving her leather boots exposed. Then she made her way to the 'storehouse'. It wasn't tall but it was large.
The Princess was first greeted by a group of men dressed in all black who kneeled at her side yet she didn't even spare them a glance. All her angelic smile was gone and right now, she resembled darkness! Her cold eyes appeared soulless.
Then her right-hand man, Andrus came running and he kneeled before her with his head bowed. "Your Highness." He greeted her.
"Where is the traitor?" She deadpanned. Her voice was too cold that it could send a shiver down the spine of the men who surrounded her with their knees still glued to the floor.
Whenever the Princess uttered the word 'traitor', everyone could guess what comes next and... it was never good, so far from good!
"In the Dark Room," Andrus responded to the Princess.
Yara Amiel didn't need to hear anymore else. She walked past Andrus and made her way to the Dark Room while the men immediately followed her.
Entering the room where a fire provided some light, Yara's gaze first landed on the man in the middle who was chained to the posts. She lifted both her hands to remove her cloak and Andrus was quick to help her and took the cloak from her.
The Princess attire was similar to a man - a black jacket and black breeches with long black leather boots; all these were in sync with her beautiful black hair.
Her silence kills her subordinates who stared at her from time to time. The Princess who was their Chief was always quick to act in times like this.
Finally, she slowly made her way to the chained man with both her hands on her back. When she got a clear look at him and noticed the blood on his body and face, her lips curved into a smile. "It's been a while, Clovis." She murmured.
Her thrilling voice aroused Clovis whose eyes were half-opened. When he saw the Princess standing before him, he started to panic as he knew what he was up to. This only made the Princess smiled wider!
"Afraid?" Yara muttered, regarding the traitor impassively. "Then you should think twice before betraying Avaria."
"Your Highness, please - "
"Andrus," Yara called the name and Andrus quickly step forward while Clovis fell silent.
"Your Highness."
"Did you perhaps hit him on the head? It seems like he already forgets everything that he learned." The Princess's voice was full of sarcasm.
Andrus understood what the Princess said. The spies were trained not to talk unless they were talked to or given permission to talk by the Chief of Spies that was Princess Yara herself.
"No, Your Highness. As you ordered, we don't do anything that could put his life at risk." He responded.
Princess Yara shifted her attention back to Clovis. "You were trained to live for Avaria and sacrifice every single drop of blood in your body for our Kingdom yet... " She shook her head and clicked her tongue. "You give in to the Welahans. What a shame."
She unsheathed a small knife that was hanged in her waist and rubbed the metal in her left palm while Clovis narrowed his eyes at the small knife in horror.
"I don't know how much pain did the Welahans inflicted on you but believe me, I will be ten times better than them when it comes to that." Pausing what she did, she glanced at the traitor again. "You are scared of the pain you might suffer in the hands of the Welahans but not me? Then I should let you know it before you die."
"Your Highness, I have no - "
Princess Yara swiftly lifted the knife and stabbed him on the left upper arm. "I'm not here to hear your excuse. No excuse is big enough to betray your kingdom."