159 The past came hunting I (1/2)
Don turned to see a youth who might be a little older than him walking towards them. The youth didn't wear any fancy robes like the rest of the nobles but wore a battle robe that had a few patches on them. There was a feather stuck into his shoulder-length brown hair and had a scar on his neck. If Don saw him somewhere else instead of this gathering, he would have mistaken him for a mercenary rather than a noble, there was nothing noble about him except for the ring with a big green gem in his finger.
”Rodrigo”
Looking at King Enrico's face, they realized that he and the youth knew each other.
”I take these”
The youth grabbed two glasses full of wine from one of the servants and gulped one at the spot as he came to them.
”King Edward, King Don, meet my eldest, Prince Rodrigo Lemos”
When he introduced him to them, there was no pride or joy in his eyes but disappointment and regret.
”I would shake your hand but”
Rodrigo looked at the one empty and one full glass in his hand
”Where have you been?”
King Edward as Rodrigo gulped another glass of wine and turned his gaze away from Don and Edward
”In the pit, where else, why am I not smelling like jasmine and roses?”
He was smelling more like sweat, mud, and blood and by the look of him, he seemed to be proud of smelling like this.
”How many times I have to tell you, Rodrigo? You shouldn't go to the pit before the important events like this”
King Enrico frowned but Rodrigo snickered
”Humph, I'd rather be in the pit fighting the beast than here talking with them, father”
Rodrigo looked at the nobles around him and then King Edward and Don.
”There's a beast in front of you, stinky”
Lord Clemo thought to himself
King Enrico hit the wheelchair hand when he heard Rodrigo
”Look at him”
He pointed at Don
”He's much younger than you but he's ruling two kingdoms at the same time, and I'm just asking you to rule one, be a king that you're born to”
”Oh, oh”
King Edward knew that youths don't like to be compared with someone else, especially in front of others.
However, Rodrigo didn't look furious after seeing his father's sudden outburst as he calmly observed Don with a smile
”I'm sure you can rule more kingdoms with your knowledge in politics and fight your way through in court surrounded by dangerous people” he paused for a moment and looked at Lord Clemo, his tone was overflowing with sarcasm and mockery
” I'd rather use my sword in a fight with real enemies out there, in the real world than keeping it for a show but I'm sure you can talk politics and kill them the beasts in the wild in case you're separated from your soldiers”
King Enrico was burning with fury and regret hearing Rodrigo as Lord Clemo had a cold sweat appear on his forehead.
”The sword on my back, it's not for show, Prince Rodrigo. In fact, every time I unsheath it, there will be blood spilled”
”King Don, Rodrigo”
King Enrico sensed the tension as he quickly tried to calm both of them while Lord Clemo felt pity for Rodrigo.
Having heard Don, a grin appeared on Rodrigo's face as he threw the empty glasses away,
”Is that a challenge, King Don?”
He caressed the scabbard on his hip and asked
”Just the fact, excuse me, King Enrico”
Don nodded at King Enrico and turned back and started to walk away
Seeing him turning his back on him and walking away, Rodrigo became enraged and released a sudden burst of magical fluctuations
”Do you have the guts to accept my challenge then?”
”That's enough, Prince Rodrigo”
Don stopped walking when he heard the sudden appearance of a feminine voice that echoed through the hall.
”Queen Cassia”
”Your majesty”
Don turned back and looked up to see a woman in a sparkling blue dress walking down on the stairs with a crown on her head.
She was tall and had a slender body that most women die for. Her blue eyes, like the sea, were calm and emotionless. Long, wavy blonde hair, so smooth and silky, almost as if it was tailored from gold fabric. Every step she took had the grace to it. Most of them didn't even notice the man holding her hand because of her charm and beauty. Even though the man was handsome and had a lean body beneath his robes, everyone's gaze was on the queen herself.
”Queen Cassia, King Virgo”
King Edward and King Enrico greeted both of them as they nodded and Queen Cassia turned her gaze towards Rodrigo
”Prince Rodrigo, I don't need to tell you that this is not the place for you to draw weapons”
She said with a gentle smile but her voice was stern and domineering as Rodrigo sheathed his sword
”But is there a place for me and King Don to put up a show for these lovely people gathered here?”
He wasn't going to let go without having a battle with Don and King Virgo looked at Don