"Vond, Kane Vond."
'Hahh*, I've always wanted to say that.'
"Then I Loren Dane, hereby declare a dual with Kane Vond."
As soon as they took stances, two large doors on a balcony opened up.
"What is the meaning of this?"
A beautiful elf with blonde hair wearing a white greenish dress and a tiara on her head said out loud.
"Your highness."
All the noble elves bowed their heads, except for two people.
"Laura, what do you mean by this? I challenged this man who dared to say that he was your husband. I'm merely defending our promise of marriage by getting rid of this lying bastard."
'Husband? I didn't even say anything.'
"Enough. That man is indeed my husband. Our souls have already bonded, and we are here to finalize the ceremony."
All the elves instantly straightened themselves.
"Your majesty! You bonded with him!"
"Her majesty bonded with a human..."
An angry voice shouted from the crowd.
"Laura! Did you really bond with this human?"
"Did you not hear what I said? Kane Vond is indeed my husband. Do you need anything more?"
Hearing Laura openly say that he was her husband made Kane feel a little warm.
'Laura…'
"Your majesty, clearly you jest. How did this insignificant creature marry someone as beautiful as you?
"I don't recall ever you saying that before. Last I heard from my father you were reluctant to see me."
"Yes, your majesty I was a little reluctant. You should understand how busy I would be knowing that I'm a prince. And now that I've come here and seen you today, it would be my honor to marry you."
A warm smile was on his face, but his eyes looked cold.
'hehehe, I didn't think this kingdom would have such a beautiful woman. She's the first out of all the elven woman I've seen with beauty as transcendental as this.'
'She will fit nicely with my collection.'
Laura looked at him disgusted by his words, but she hid them to not offend him.
"So your majesty, will you please care to explain why you married this filth."
Anger and jealousy can be heard in his voice.
"He saved my life and offered me strength. I fell in love with him the moment he saved my life. Therefore I married him on the spot.
Kane looked at Laura and thought, 'I don't think that's what happened, but it seems she's trying to handle this so…'
"This man saved you and you married him? What has he done that your majesty had fallen in love with him."
Laura stayed quiet for a couple of seconds, then she said.
"He cured me of my curse and liberated me from eternal suffering. Would that be enough for you, prince Loren?"
Loren looked dissatisfied, but the elves around him were shocked.
"He cured her majesty!"
"How is that possible."
"Even her majesty, the queen, couldn't break free from that curse."
Loren had a confused look upon hearing the elves around him.
"You, tell me about this curse her majesty has."
A young male elf was startled when he heard Loren talk to him.
"Umm, I dare not say your majesty. I deem it to be too rude to speak of such privacy in front of her highness"
"Just tell me! Surely her majesty wouldn't mind."
The hall went silent.
Breaking the silence, Laura said.
"This curse has been plaguing my mother's bloodline for generations. It binds the body's ability to control mana and restricts life essence from circulating."
"My mother and I have lifespans of those of normal humans. Upon using magic, indescribable pain would surge throughout my body, and my vitality would leak through from the magic."
"Kane saved my life. I owe him my everything, both my body, and soul."
A beautiful smile was on her face and her cheeks were a little red.
The elves in the hall looked at her even more shocked than before.
"Beautiful."
"Her majesty is smiling?"
"Her majesty seems to really like him…"
Hearing the elves around him, Loren's face quickly turned cold. Murderous intent erupted from him, and nearby elves fell to their knees.
"Your majesty! I understand that you love this man, and he saved your life. But his majesty, the king, has already prepared for our marriage next week! Are you denying this marriage?"
Laura looked at the elves below her. The room instantly went silent and the elves have worried looks on their faces.
Laura appeared calm, but internally she was slightly panicking.
'Father, just why would you agree on this? I've never said anything about marrying anyone.'
A quiet sigh came out of her lips, as she was about to say something, a handsome man with black hair and a sword broke the silence.
"Sir Loren, prince of whatever. How about this, if you beat me in a dual, I would not have any say upon your marriage with Laura."
Everyone was shocked especially Laura.
'Kane…'
Her beautiful hazelnut eyes looked soulless and tears started to come out of her eyes. She looked at Kane with sadness, but then she saw him wink at her. Her face instantly brightened up and hope was in her heart.
"However, if I win. You have to step down and leave this kingdom and never come back."
Everyone was even more shocked, and Loren had an ugly look on his face.
"Oh also give me that sword."
Loren's face instantly turned red. All the elves looked at him humiliatingly.
"You dare insult me human! Fine, I accept your challenge. If I win I get her hand in marriage, and if you win I'll leave this kingdom."
"And?"
His face contorted unnaturally.
"And I'll hand you this sword."
He didn't want to admit it since he only said it before as a joke, but now since their officially going to battle, he had no choice but to give in.
"Great, now when do you wanna do it? I'm down whenever, I could do it right now if you like, but if you need some preparations to fight me I also don't mind. Take all the time and money you need, I'm waiting."
Kane had a smug look on his face while he placed his sword over his shoulder.
"So what'll it be prince of whatchamacallit."
Loren's face looked nothing like an elf as his face was completely contorted.
"Now! I'll fight you right now!"
"That's fine with me. Laura~ do you have a place where we can fight? I mean I can fight here, but the aftermath might not be so pretty."
Laura giggled hearing him say her name like that, then said.
"We have an arena outside. Would you like to go there?"
"If you suggest it then I'm fine with everything."
Laura used a small wind spell on herself and gently glided down to where Kane was. She hooked her right arm with his left and hugged him intimately.
"Follow me, my husband,~"
"Fufufu."
Every single elf in that hall was shocked to see them being that close. Loren was more furious, and his face was crimson red.
"Her majesty really does love that human."
"Her majesty can use magic again!"
"He's so handsome~"
The elves pointed their eyes at a male elf.
"What?"
"…"
***
Laura led Kane to the arena still linking their arms. Loren was following from behind angrily. The nobles were coming as well since they didn't want to miss Kane using his abilities.
Soon they arrived. A massive arena about 10.85 million square feet was in front of them.
"This is the largest arena in Elven territory. It houses hundreds of monsters and can hold 700,000 elves. There are also high-end healing facilities, capable of almost bringing a human back to life."
Laura was giving a tour, but it was mainly for Kane. The noble elves have already been in this place several times to watch gladiators fight monsters. Loren himself also participated and even came in 3rd.
Kane was amazed by the absolute size of the arena. He didn't expect Laura to bring him to a place like this, he was expecting more of a small open field than a massive coliseum.
The group soon walked into the center of the arena. A massive stone platform was in the middle, and 4 balconies each corresponding to the cardinal directions.
"Alright Kane, we'll be watching you up there."
Laura paused for a second, she walked toward Kane and held his face.
"Good luck okay."
She gave him a gentle peck on the cheek, but it was enough for her to completely turn red.
Loren's face already had a look of defeat on it, but soon turned into anger. Laura told the rest of the elves to take their seats.
Kane watched her leave with a small smile on his face.
'I think I like her.'
Laura walked towards the northern balcony, and a floating platform went down like an elevator and lifted her up. She sat down on a seat specifically made for royalties and said.
"Tonight, a dual between his highness, prince Loren Dane, and my dear husband, Kane Vond. I princess Laura Lovaine, hereby declare this dual as an official bout between these two individuals and remain as a referee. Now combatants get ready."
Kane walked toward the opposite end of the platform and Loren followed suit.
Kane lifted his sword up and took a proper combat stance.
Loren had a casual look on his face and even pointed his sword down.
Loren looked at Kane full of confidence and said.
"Kane, if you do somehow beat me, not will I also comply with your terms, but I'll even give you one of my wives."
Kane looked at him confused and said.
"Why would I want one of your wives? I'm already content with the person I have, and I have no intent on betraying her trust."
"It's not as bad as you think. I'm merely giving her away since I have no use for her. She's as beautiful as her majesty, but a tad inferior, she even has some combat skills as well, however… Just like her majesty, she too has a curse, a retched one at that. I can't fuck her when I want to due to that curse. So giving her to you won't give me any face, it's more or less taking out the trash."
Loren's face kept that benign look on it while saying every single word about his wife. He was talking about her like she was just an object of use, not a person.
Kane's eyes showed some hostility.
"Hahaha, are you really gonna pity that bitch? Don't worry I assure you she's a virgin, so you can feel the joy of deflowering her to your heart's content."
'And probably die too Hahaha.'
Loren had a malicious smile on his face.
Kane looked at him in disdain and said.
"Fine, however, I won't treat her how you do and set her free. Surely you won't mind?"
"I don't care what you do with that bitch, she's more of an eyesore for me so you can throw her out, I don't care."
Kane ignored what he said and readied himself.
Laura walked up to the front of the balcony holding a Blue crystal in her hand, she tapped on the blue crystal and large crystals from the sides came out.
"Alright you two, are you ready?"
"Yes, your majesty."
"Yes, hon."
"Then 3…2…1"
"FIGHT!"