THE BULLY GETS A FIANCE'
"Princess Xene you are so beautiful now. You are all grown up", Prince Stamatis said to Xene and the others.
"Thank you for complimenting, I am seventeen now", Princess Xene told the princes and nobles as she gently gave a curtsey.
"Prince Geoffraie, your beautiful daughter is at the right age for marriage, do you have plans? I have a useless son who is about her age, and I don't mind being a matchmaker", Prince Fotis told Geoffraie.
"Me too, my son is also of the marrying age", Prince Antonias said to them.
"Haha… I am so delighted that my daughter will be interested by the greatest sons of Eloora city, but our family already have plans for Xene's marriage", Prince Geoffraie told the princes.
"Really? Who is the lucky prince who will have the hand of Princess Xene?" another prince asked.
"The marriage is arranged by my great grandmother before her passing", Geoffraie told the crowd.
"Who is the fiancé of the princess?" the crowd asked.
"My great grandmother promised my daughter to a distant relative of our family, Earl Oriese of Kaleon", Prince Geoffraie announced to those present who were shocked to hear the name.
"Who is this Oriese? We have never heard of him before", someone asked angrily.
He was one of the potential suitors of Princess Xene.
"The name Oriese sounds familiar, but he is not worthy of our princess Xene", another potential suitor shouted out.
"I wouldn't make a premature judgment on my future son-in-law though. He is an ascendant in the ranking of nobility of Drachia kingdom", Prince Geoffraie told the crowd of rowdy suitors.
The crowd and the princes were talking about the mysterious Earl Oriese and wondered who he was to be eligible to become Prince Xene's groom. Then someone has a clue.
"Oriese, I've heard of the name. He is the Earl of Kaleon or more notoriously known as the Bully of Starri City", someone shouted out.
"What? Is this a joke?" someone asked out loud.
"The Bully of Starri city is the worst kind of character this kingdom has ever given rise to", another added.
"Oh, the Bully of Starri city. I've read his illustrations. He is so cute and manly", one of the maidens in the party cried out.
The younger generation in the crowd were divided by the identity of the new fiancé of Princess Xene.
The princess' potential suitors were riled up by the mention of the Bully but the maidens in the party were so delighted by the name. Some of these girls suddenly became so jealous of Princess Xene who caught their idol sweetheart.
"Did you hear that, Duke Orol?" Edward asked Orol.
"Hear what? I'm enjoying this fabulous fruit punch and didn't really tune in to the gossip", Orol replied to Edward.
Orol wasn't attentive to the announcement of Princess Xene's engagement.
"Those of you who don't believe me. I have the groom's father here today. Come up here Orol and say hi to the people in the party", Prince Geoffraie said to Orol who was stunned that the prince addressed him in front of everybody else.
"What is the matter?" Orol asked.
"Your son is going to marry Princess Xene", Edward told Orol when Orol suddenly choked and coughed out the fruit punch he was so deliciously enjoying.
"My son, Oriese?" Orol asked.
"Yes, the Earl of Kaleon, Oriese or more famously known as the Bully of Starri city, shall be the fiancé of our Princess Xene", Edward told Orol with a smile.
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"What is this fool Geoffraie thinking about, marrying his daughter to a rowdy scum?" an advisor spoke to a gentlemanly prince.
"Minister Kimon, that you are mistaken. Prince Geoffraie isn't a fool but a cunning wolf", the gentleman spoke to the minister.
"Prince Samlee, I couldn't believe the old fool will refuse your offer to marry his daughter Xene to bind our families and now he marries her to the scum, the Bully of whatever", Minister Kimon told Prince Samlee.
"This Geoffraie doesn't want to be on my side in my competition with my brother, Raslee", Prince Samlee told his minister.
"Without your support, the Mithridocus family would be expelled from Eloora city by the representatives of the Church of All-seeing. That ungrateful fool", Minister Kimon told the prince.
"I heard that this Bully of whatever is Prince Raslee's man. Is the Mithridocus family going to sit with the Crown Prince against me?" Prince Samlee asked his minister.
"This fool Geoffraie will not get out of our grasp so easily", Minister Kimon replied to his prince.
"Do we have a reply from the Appolokis family about our cooperation?" Prince Samlee asked Kimon.
"Not yet. That fool is as stubborn as the Mithridocus", Minister Kimon replied to the prince.
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In the heart of Eloora city stood the resplendent palace of King Lavrentios, a marvel of grandeur and beauty.
Unlike traditional fortifications, the entrance to this magnificent edifice was a verdant embrace of meticulously manicured trees and plants, forming natural barriers that whispered tales of tranquility. The path leading from the entrance wound its way through a labyrinth of lush greenery, a peaceful retreat where nobles frolicked in games of hide and seek during times of calm.
Yet, when peril threatened the king and his realm, this labyrinth would awaken as a stalwart defender, its verdant walls pulsating with an unyielding magic to shield the palace.
Venturing through the labyrinth's winding paths, we emerged into a vast courtyard, where the kingdom's knights honed their skills in combat. The renowned Templar Knights of Drachia, often gathered here at the king's behest for friendly bouts of martial prowess.
Arriving at the palace's main structure, we were greeted by a sight of opulence and magnificence beyond compare.
Its walls adorned with masterful carvings depicting the valorous deeds of the kingdom's heroes and monarchs, while doors of gleaming gold studded with precious gems beckoned us into a realm of splendor and majesty.
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"Announcing the arrival of Prince Raslee, Crown Prince of Drachia"
"Announcing the arrival of Earl Oriese of Kaleon"
Prince Raslee accompanied me as we made our way to the grand banquet hosted by the King, where tables adorned for nobles spanned the surroundings. As we approached the heart of the festivity, where an area was designated for audience and performances, we halted our steps to pay our respects to the king.