Ch.34 The Suitor’s Tournament (Patreon)

Zenith opened the door to the meeting parlor of the guest wing of my castle King Veil sat on a red sofa, drinking rylnn tea from a cup adorned with plant vines and birds. "Good afternoon, King Everwood."

"Good afternoon," I replied, rubbing my index finger against my thumbs as I sat down.

"You seem nervous, King Everwood," he remarked.

"This is my first meeting of its kind, so I’m unsure how to conduct myself," I replied.

He lowered his cup and set it on the saucer so quietly that it sounded loud and audacious. "What do you mean, the first of its kind?"

"I force people to do things, or I make them offers they can’t refuse," I elaborated. "This is the first meeting primarily motivated by something different."

King Veil smiled thinly. "My daughter, a princess, calls you ‘young master’ and follows you everywhere you go, and you don't see the political value in that?"

Zenith blushed and clenched her fist.

"Zenith's one of the few people I don't consider a tool." I accepted a cup of tea from Lyssa and put it down carefully. "So learning she was a princess didn't change anything."

His smile widened, looking a bit more sinister. "You say that you have an ally unmotivated by greed or political gain and then claim that you have none?"

"I'll be candid, King Veil. In my eyes, there's Thea, my family, Zenith, and Lyssa, and then there's everyone else. Until recently, I didn't even try to interpret it, let alone label it."

King Veil smirked. "Recently? Around the same time, your mannerisms became more… human, perhaps?"

“Correct,” I confirmed.

"I assume the change is due to Lady Lockheart?" King Veil asked.

“Correct,” I replied. “I refuse to leave Thea Lockheart’s side.”

He put his cup down again and stared into my eyes. "Enough to enrage every kingdom on the continent?"

"Yes," I confirmed, maintaining direct eye contact.

King Veil's eyes glided to the left. "Why? What good did destroying Bringla do for you?”

"Right after my birthday, I will annex, reap, thresh, and grind another 10 million acres of their land," I said. "I can immediately feed all of Novena at a significantly cheaper cost."

"Even if everyone hates you, they'll be forced to use your trade routes, thereby ensuring kingdoms can’t attack you without facing consequences?"

“Not only that, but Goldenspire must use my allies’ trade routes,” I added. “Goldenspire lacking a port is advantageous for Dragon’s Peak and the Aurelian Empire.”

"At least your economic reasoning makes sense," King Veil remarked, sitting back and examining me closely with his discerning amethyst eyes. "But…."

“But what?”

"From what I've heard, King Redfield has already made you a deal to circumvent the marriage," he remarked. "Would this not be a breach?"

"If I were King Redfield, I'd do everything I could to get my aid and have me marry his daughter. Therefore, I want assurances.”

“It makes sense, but your tactics are too brazen,” he claimed. “Is there something else you haven’t disclosed?"

"Yes, there is," I smiled, making him frown. I promptly explained my plan for the Suitor's Tournament, and he was left stunned and conflicted.

King Redfield fell silent in contemplation before looking up. “That could have the opposite effect.”

"I'm aware," I replied before locking eyes with him. "Now that you are, will you continue protect me at the Suitor's Tournament? As… an ally?"

King Veil gave me a serious expression before looking away, trying not to smile. "Unbelievable. You have multiple allies, and yet act like I'm your first," he huffed. "I'm not sure whether I should be flattered or afraid."

"Both," I replied. I was being dead serious.

King Veil stood with a complex expression. "I'll protect you as a mediator, and that alone," he said. "I’m not an ally yet, but I owe you for helping my daughter.”

I stood up and offered him my hand. "Thank you, King Veil."

He shook it. "I'll take my leave."

Once he left, I sat down again and stared at the ceiling, ignoring Lyssa smiling at me.

***

The next three days passed in the blink of an eye, and before I knew it, we were flying to Verdanthall on griffins. It wasn’t just me, my parents, Thea, Lyssa, and Zenith. There was a full pack of flying wyverns, including Zenith flying next to us.

Verdanthall was beyond our comprehension. Despite being a day early, royal carriages and citizens filled the street like a Roman triumph.

"I suppose this is an event with princes from every kingdom," I murmured.

Guards transferred carriages adorned in gold and silver, with guards riding beside the carriages. Cheering people surrounded them, each wearing different colors, likely as representatives of each kingdom. It was truly remarkable.

"Ryker, look!" Thea pointed to my right. To my astonishment, King Redfield was riding a white horse in silver and gold armor and a red cape scarf that completed the Valerian colors.

King Redfield noticed us and spoke through an amplification circle. "Our last suitor, King Everwood, has arrived!" he boomed.

Thunderous applause met his words, along with extra loud cheers and whistles.

"They must not know about Bringla and Port Town yet," I muttered, waving to all the crowd members. It made sense. News traveled slowly to commoners, and confirmation was even slower. So they just focused on my popularity. “And were warned of the wyverns.”

People cheered for the wyverns. Especially the children, tugging on their parents’ pants and dresses and pointing.

"They love you, Ryker!" Thea gushed, squeezing me tightly. "Isn't that amazing?!"

"It does feel good… to be appreciated," I replied in a haze. I had seen the same scene multiple times, but never from the lens of new emotions. It felt… healing.

It's too bad I might lose everyone's support today.

Castle officials rushed us when we touched down and ushered us into the reception hall for a great feast. Surprisingly, King Redfield allowed Thea to sit beside me, and while people whispered, hissed, and speculated, no one mentioned it. “I wonder what they were told.”

I couldn’t help but feel impressed that King Redfield controlled people from many countries so well. The man was so shrewd it was scary.

In addition to nobles from Novena and Valencia, there were also representatives from Antigua. Given my impending plan, I wanted to network but found it difficult to speak to them.

Thankfully, things weren't just focused on the marriage. Most people subtly mentioned grain, steel, and technology, especially those in Valencia and Antigua.

I was more than happy to emphasize that I was willing to trade with kingdoms—except Goldenspire and Ironfall, of course.

Thea interacted with nobles directly, answering questions about her nobility status with grace and tact. She impressed me.

Leon and Scarlet networked with a level of manipulation that put us both to shame.

It was necessary because they were Valerian nobles who annexed their land, a major taboo. However, they twisted the official lies so skillfully it seemed like they did King Redfield a favor.

I took a lot of notes that night.

The next day, we woke up to a morning banquet before leaving for the Redfield Amphitheatre, a Roman-style coliseum. Given its structure, it was likely made from a precursor of concrete.

The Flavian Amphitheatre, known better as the Roman Colosseum, used volcanic ash as a binding agent. Once reacted with lime, it creates calcium silicate hydrate gel, giving it strength, durability, and resistance to cracking and shearing forces. It was likely similar to that.

I'm not sure what the architects used. However, it was impressive.

We entered through a back entrance and were led to private skyboxes before I was ushered down to underground tunnels that usually housed animals, soldiers, and criminals preparing for death games.

Once inside, I greeted a group of suitors who looked at me with interest. I was the youngest amongst them and didn't look extraordinary.

"Well, if it isn't the merchant," Greggory Marrow said. He was the black-haired teenager who had an unrequited rivalry with me and a knack for letting his insecurities drive him into making a fool of himself. That said, he did seem serious about outdoing me, and the results showed.

Far from the sickly paid teen with slicked-back hair he was when I last met him, he was now a handsome noble with a black tailored suit and white vest that hugged his athletic form. He truly looked like a respectable noble.

Too bad he was still a cunt.

“It is I, the merchant,” I said, walking into the sea of princes and dukes' sons. Two dozen were in the running, each adorned with their family’s colors and looking their best.

"You seem rather relaxed," he smirked. "That's a bit strange, considering that you've been selling and creating things instead of training. You won't have your strange weapons or guards in the arena with you."

Many snickered with wide grins. True to his word, everyone looked older and more muscular.

That was natural—my muscles healed before they ripped completely. As a result, my muscles rarely got bigger without ultra-strenuous training, but they turned rockhard. Physique meant nothing.

'Didn't King Redfield warn these people ahead of time?' I thought, my eyes widening. 'Just how deep is his propaganda?'

Half looked wary of me; a quarter looked truly apprehensive, and they were from my allied nation, likely getting serious warnings. Conversely, the representatives from Goldenspire's eyes flashed with bloodlust, seemingly determined to kill me in the ring.

The Valerians were split. In King Redfield’s eyes, I was the only real contender. Therefore, their arrogance reflected better on me.

'This propaganda runs damn deep,' I thought. 'I still have a lot to learn from that man.'

Greggory frowned, seeing my profound ambivalence. I looked like I accidentally stumbled and slapped a spider on the wall, only to frown and wash my hands. "You're unbelievable," he said. "I'm going to beat that arrogance out of you."

"Scary," I said, sitting down.

"Where's Felix?" The group looked around when a suitor from the Aurelian Empire looked around the room. "He's going to be late, just like his deadbeat ruler."

'Sunset Shore?' I silently asked. 'It’s always Sunset Shore.' I knew nothing about them or their motivations—and I didn't ask. My temperament was far too bad to risk talking to them. Once I got confirmation from otherworlders and met Titus Roman, I was a lot more cautious.

---

In a golden skybox in the center of the Redfield Amphitheater, King Redfield studied the major nobles on the other side of the coliseum. He positioned them so they could observe each other.

A man in a black hood entered the room from a side door that wasn't connected to the box itself and stood in a blind spot. While he seemed like a shady spy, his suffocating aura made the guards sweat. "We've confirmed that King Emeric is mediating with King Veil. King Thrain was neutral, but that seems to have changed," he said. "As for Queen Elana, she's suddenly fallen silent."

"That's surprising." King Redfield looked to the arena with a strange expression. "Do they have any archwizards other than King Veil outside of town?"

"No," the man replied. "However, King Salazar of Sorocan is here, likely under the request of Chief Zora. He's not much of a threat on his own, but he could add another agitator."

"And Thea Lockheart?" King Redfield asked.

"I investigated the rumors, and they have been confirmed."

"Is that so?" King Redfield asked pensively. "Very valuable, indeed." After a pause, he pressed on. "Is there a single inconsistency?"

"I'm incredulous, but since he turned 15 and dropped his intentions to marry Princess Redfield, the only motivation any insider can discern is that he doesn't want to separate from her, even for a day. He's also made no contact with countries outside of Novena and Valencia."

"And our ally status?" King Redfield inquired.

"If Everwood wanted to break your alliance, his behavior suggests he would've already created a reason to do it. Thea Lockheart means just that much to him. Such leverage is beyond words."

King Redfield fell silent for a moment. "I see."

With those words, the man left like a ghost, barely leaving a noise beyond the sound of the door opening.

"Sit Thea Lockheart next to my daughter, Collin," King Redfield ordered a guard at the door. The man had gray hair slicked back and wore gold and silver armor. On his waist sat a golden-handled arming sword that matched his formidable aura. “Rulers will be grateful.”

Collin winced. However, he held his tongue and bowed. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

---

Thea's eyebrow twitched uncontrollably. "I can't believe what those unprincipled profligates have the nerve to look down on Ryker," she hissed under her breath.

"Thea, you need to stop listening to all of Ryker's conversations," Lyssa whispered. "It's a sign of distrust and can be misinterpreted as spying in times of official matters."

"I'm just worried about him," Thea whispered. "What if he was in trouble, and I couldn't help him because I didn't know?"

"You just have to learn to accept that, Thea," Lyssa sighed. "Also, the last person you have to worry about—”

An abrupt knock on the door cut off their conversation, and Collin entered the room. "Greetings, everyone," he said, addressing Lyssa, Thea, Zenith, Leon, and Scarlet with a bow. "King Redfield has requested that Lady Lockheart be the guest of honor to sit next to Princess Redfield."

Everyone was shocked by the announcement. They couldn’t believe their ears!

"Please forgive the sudden request," Collin continued. "However, due to our circumstances, we’d like to sit Lady Lockheart with Princess Rema so another country cannot bomb your room and claim it was us. It’s for your and our safety. You may bring guards.”

No one could argue. Ryker had a lot of enemies; Valeria had few. So they were taking a greater risk. Taking Thea hostage was a de-escalation tactic, and they’d do that regardless.

Thea stood and turned to everyone. “Don’t forget I’m strong. The hostage risk goes both ways.”

Collin narrowed his eyes before turning to everyone else. “Everyone else may accompany us to the next box over if you wish, or you may stay.”

Zenith and Leon looked across the amphitheater and saw Princess Rema's box and King Redfield's next door. From their vantage point, they could see activity that they couldn't from the other side. “I’ll be fine here,” Zenith said.

“We’ll go,” Leon and Scarlet said. Taking both sides.

Collin nodded and led Thea, Leon, and Scarlet out.

***

Collin led Thea to a strange skybox that was adorned with countless flowers, many of which, like the Dancing Girl Orchids, were in Scarlet’s garden. "Culture thieving witch," Thea hissed, so light that Collin couldn't hear her. However, he still frowned because he understood the tone.

With Graken situated on the left side of the wall and King Redfield's soldiers on the right, it was finally time for the Suitor's Tournament to begin.

King Redfield rose in the box next door, making her ears twitch.

"Welcome to the Suitor's Tournament!" King Redfield announced. "Today, we will find the strongest noble in Novena to take my daughter's hand in marriage!"

Explosive cheering met his words, making Thea grit her teeth and huff. He followed with a charismatic speech that riled up the crowd.

“Before you start, I’ll let you meet the princess that is at the center of it all,” King Redfield announced. “Meet my daughter, Princess Rema Redfield!”

Thea’s tail hairs bristled as the doors to the amphitheater’s floor opened, allowing a woman to walk through the door with four wizards. However, her stomach sank when she saw the young woman's flowing red hair and royal white and gold dress.

Princess Rema Redfield walked to the amphitheater's center, captivating the crowd. Her royal dress was revealing, hugging her waist and thighs like a cocktail dress, missing the characteristic crinoline frame that makes princess dresses round and plume. Moreover, her back was exposed, and the dress was sleeveless, going down to her chest. She looked closer to a Roman queen rather than a princess.

After a period of spellbound disbelief, absorbed into Rema's beauty, the rational side of Thea's brain kicked in. "Wait!" she exclaimed under her breath. "Are they trying to seduce Ryker?!"

Collin's eyes flashed with murder, and he answered as calmly as possible. "It's Valerian tradition that female royals declare their ascension to womanhood before their marriage to showcase maturity," he explained. "In official matters, she will remain in conservative garb."

Thea pouted, realizing that the world wouldn't strike the woman down.

"Greetings, representatives of the Aurelian Empire, The Green Sea, Frosthold, Dragon's Peak, Dragon's Roost, Sunset Shore, Sorocan, Goldenspire, Esclara, Ryemla, Plantina, Weskyra, and other distinguished guests from Novena, Antigua, and Valencia," Rema began. "My name is Princess Rema Redfield, and today I offer my hand in marriage to the strongest in Novena!"

The redhead captivated the crowd with an elegant curtsy.

"Allow me to introduce each of my suitors," Rema began. She then went on to list all of the suitors, their accomplishments, heritage, and status. Finally, she got to the only one that Thea cared about. "Lastly, there is King Ryker Alexander Everwood," she announced. "He's unparalleled in technological and merchant prowess and the earliest confirmed sage. I look forward to seeing if he's kept up with his combat training… somehow."

Guests chuckled and whispered to one another.

“Don’t imply that he could lose,” Thea growled, listening to Rema’s standing ovation and watching her walk off the floor. Ten minutes later, Rema entered the room with her guards.

"Your Majesty," Thea smiled, curtsying in her maid dress as the princess walked in.

Rema narrowed her eyes with a slight smile. "Hello, Lady Lockheart," she returned with a curtsy. "Let's sit."

The two sat beside each other with an energy that felt suffocating and tense for the guards.

"Your dress is remarkably beautiful for what it represents. Is it true that you wear that dress unless King Everwood requests otherwise?" Rema asked, accepting a cup of tea from a butler.

"It is," Thea confirmed, accepting her cup. "This dress represents my devotion to putting King Everwood's desires over politics and personal wishes. Your dress is beautiful. Does it represent something?"

Rema's smile stiffened at the blunt jab, and Collin's eyebrow twitched. Still, neither made a big deal of it because Rema started with her loaded statement. "Yes," Rema confirmed, "this dress represents my rise to maturity."

Thea's eyes widened, and she turned to the princess. "Didn't that happen six years ago?"

Rema developed a smile that was corrosive enough to eat through steel. "Normally, yes. However, as a princess, I cannot achieve maturity until offering my hand in marriage."

"Oh!" Thea said, itching her cat ear with an innocent, awkward expression that threw fuel on the fire. "Forgive my ignorance of princess customs, Princess Redfield."

Rema looked her in the eye. "If you're ignorant of princess customs, you shouldn't stand in the way of them," she declared icily. "I'm not sure what your relationship is with King Everwood, but it's not political—and political is what the world demands of a king."

Thea's atmosphere turned frigid, leaking out a pressure that made the hair on the guards' arms rise. "Are you implying that I've bewitched King Everwood and led him astray?"

"Of course not." The princess sipped her tea, seemingly unfazed by the pressure. "He's free of curses and enchantments. But magic isn't everything, is it?" she mused. "Some people are socially and emotionally controlling. That can have an impact on everyone."

Thea put her cup down and turned to Princess Rema with a bright smile. "You mean like forcing someone to marry against their will?"

Rema leaked magical pressure, which was in no way weaker than the catkin's. "In politics, marriage isn't socially or emotionally controlling—it's business, as King Everwood might put it. Standing beside King Everwood's side for most of the day and never letting others get close to him is not."

"You misunderstand, Princess," Thea smirked, narrowing her eyes. "King Everwood dislikes most people, so I stay around to prevent them from getting too close."

Rema's eyebrow twitched. "That's a convenient interpretation of your behavior."

"Those are his words, Princess," Thea smirked, taking a sip of tea.

-

"Our first match-up is between Lord Greggory Marrow and King Ryker Everwood," Gene Royman, the man introduced as the announcer, announced, sending the crowd into a frenzy. "We'll give them five minutes to get situated!"

-

The excitement about Ryker was so intense that Thea's eyes sparkled with surreal happiness. She scanned the crowd, seeing tens of thousands sitting in the limestone stands. Whether a person was a noble, a merchant, or a high-positioned commoner, everyone was thrilled.

Rema watched her swoon with wide eyes and a stiff expression.

-

Cheering fans met Ryker and Greggory as they walked through the doors and met in the center.

Or, more specifically, Ryker’s fans cheered, and a few teen girls talked about Greggory’s looks. But Ryker won out on that front as well. He was younger, more accomplished, and generally more handsome.

Thea's bright smile abruptly contorted into a scowl, and she involuntarily released pressure as she looked at Greggory.

"W-What?" Rema asked, taking a sharp breath. The surreal shift from being enraptured to releasing bloodlust was as captivating as it was horrifying. She saw Thea's ears twitching. "Wait, can you hear them?"

Thea gave her a sidelong glance. "Yes, I can. Do you want to know what that detestable rake just said?"

Rema glanced at Greggory, speaking to Ryker with aggravated body language. He kept looking into the crowd and then spitting. However, she couldn't hear a single word. She glanced over at Thea's cat ears with a strange expression that weighed the pros and cons of envying them.

Once Thea’s enraged expressions and the crowd's negative reaction made her curiosity painful, she huffed. “Yes! I’d like to know what he’s saying!”

"The perverse cur declared that he'll bed you the second he destroys King Everwood, and everyone will soon grovel at his feet."

Rema's face turned bright red, and she growled, "What a tiny man! Does he think such words are acceptable before dignitaries?"

Thea responded with an affirming scoff. "King Everwood has already graciously pointed that out, but that tragic cretin insists that it's okay because he's the strongest!"

"Is he mad?!" Rema growled. Ryker abruptly looked up at the box quizzically, making the princess look down. Her embarrassment turned to mortification when she realized she was leaning out of the box with Thea, both hands on the ledge.

“He is.” Thea crossed her arms, sat down, and tapped her foot. “That man has been rude to Ryker since the beginning,” she muttered. “I hope Ryker doesn’t hold back for politics' sake.”

“Me either,” Rema whispered so lightly only Thea could hear her.

-

"The time is up," Gene announced, raising his hand. "You may draw your swords!"

Greggory unsheathed a beautiful blue sword made of Mythril. It shimmered in the sunlight, making the audience gasp.

By contrast, Ryker didn't move or even get into a fight stance.

"Right…." Gene gulped over the amplification waves, stepping back. "You may begin!"

Ryker immediately walked forward, and Greggory rushed head-on, preparing for an exciting frontal collision. However, the crowd’s excitement turned to confusion when Greggory abruptly collapsed, dropping his sword and gripping his neck.

The crowd fell silent as Ryker continued walking. This was the type of sight you’d see with commoners addressing wizards—not qualified wizards addressing each other. It was eerie.

Rema gripped the skybox window sill, trembling slightly with shallow breaths. "What's he saying?"

Thea's eyes became enraptured, sparkling slightly. "He said that he'll make an example out of him to defend your honor," she quickly said, brushing it off as if it were fine print. However, just that footnote took Rema's breath away as she watched Ryker stop in front of the struggling man. "What's the rest?"

Thea put her elbows on the window ledge and put her chin into her palms. "He said that he won't defend my honor because I would've killed him if I heard that statement," she said dreamily. "Now he's berating him as weak, pathetic, and useless."

Rema snapped out of her haze, looking at the mannerisms. She looked up just in time to see Ryker lift his hand.

"But I'll slap you for saying Thea would crawl to you, anyway!" Thea squealed, shaking her fists.

BOOOOM!

Ryker slapped Greggory 30 meters into the nearby wall, causing an explosion that shook the audience as dust and debris plumed.

As the crowd was stunned and stuttering, Ryker activated an amplification spell and circled the crowd, obtaining eye contact with everyone. "This is where you cheer."

A wave of confusion crashed through the crowd before a single cheer ignited a cataclysmic reaction. The crowd suddenly erupted in deafening cheering and applause, shattering the sound waves.

"Don't worry, he's not dead," Ryker said, turning and walking out the group before waving to Thea and—by proximity—Rema before walking out the iron doors.

Rema was stunned as she watched healing mages swarm the scene, giving emergency care to Greggory. "But… Lord Marrow was a qualified wizard…."

"Wizard?" Thea laughed. "The journey from wizard to archwizard is so vast that comparing two wizards on that journey is pointless. Ryker could've killed that caitiff if he was still thirteen. Don't you know who you're trying to marry?"

Rema watched Ryker's back with an astonished expression. "I guess I don't."

---

I walked out into the hall where the other suitors waited, lacking a single speck of dirt on my clothing.

Prince Emeric of the Aurelian Empire, a man with long red hair and broad shoulders in green and blue armor, stood up. "Did an elder get involved? That magical pressure didn't come from a teen."

I stopped and chuckled. “That’s rather presumptuous.” With those words, I walked away. I’d have a better chance teaching a dolphin to climb a tree than convincing high nobles not to fight. So I saved my breath and walked to the finished contestants' waiting room.

Once I got inside the lavish room, I sat on a large couch. “Am I strong enough to save Thea if she’s taken hostage?” I clenched my fist. “What about my parents?”

My heart was racing. “I’m doing what I think is right, but that comes at risks…. Why can’t people leave me the hell alone?! There’s only one thing I want in life. One. One. ONE. What must they try to take that?!”

Knock! Knock! Knock!

“King Everwood?”

My heart nearly stopped when I heard the person on the other side of the side door, unconnected to the hall.

“Come in.”

—

[A/N: I hope you're enjoying the build-up and introduction of characters. Everything's been leading here, so I hope you're looking forward to seeing how things go. The Parents POV chapter is coming out after the first book is completed (soon), as it covers the ending here. Hope you're having fun!]