The Dragon Prince's Bride
Chapter 125. A match against me.

Chapter 125: 125. A match against me.

After her in-laws had told her about the firecore, Neriah at first was too embarrassed about how the firecore was shared. But once the embarrassment had washed out of her system, she was curious to know if truly her powers had been improved.

She didn’t want to get her hopes up so she started with something small. She went to a garden in the Kadan-Rana palace alone, to a part with roses that were yet to go into full bloom.

She had tried this a million times, frustrated that her powers never seemed to show signs of improvement even though according to what she had heard elves were supposed to gain their full powers by the time they came of age.

Of course that did not mean that there were no elves whose powers bloomed late, or who never even unlocked their powers at all. But she believed she was a princess and as such was entitled to have elven powers. Even more that she believed because of her royal blood, her powers should have shined way before she came of age but to her frustration, it showed, but it was weak.

Her mother had told her that in time her powers would bloom completely, but she didn’t like that she was the only one in her family whose powers refused to work well.

So she stood in front of the roses wondering if really her powers could have increased because Barak had shared that thing called a firecore with her.

With a hesitant heart, she reached for a rose, and closed her eyes as her fingers gently touched the closed petals.

She thought in her heart what she wanted the plant to do, ’bloom’.

Skeptically, one of her eyes slowly opened and the other followed, and her mouth too opened as she saw the rose she had touched, a bright yellow rose that was closed before was now widely opened. Its petals beautifully spread out as if telling her to stroke them.

As she was admiring the rose, the side of her eyes caught something and she shifted her eyes from the single rose to the entire bed of rose and her mouth went "Ohhh!" Her hands covered her mouth in utter shock as she realized that not only the rose she touched, but all the other roses on the bed were now in full bloom!! "I am awesome!" She had screamed and instantly went on to cause some other flowers to bloom. It was fun. She had never had that much fun in her life. The feeling of finally being able to use her powers was overwhelming.

She immediately told Aria and Riri about it.

Aria was the one who then explained to her that there was more to her powers than causing flowers to bloom. Since then, Aria helped her train to use her powers, teaching her how she could even control plants to do whatever she wanted them to do.

She also told her that she could even control plants that had been dead like dried wood. As long as it had the composition of plants, dead or alive, she had the ability to make them move and bend them to do her will.

It was during one of her many practice sessions that Barak had silently stumbled upon her doing the magic with her fingers. She had magic hands, was what he thought when he saw her display her powers without interrupting her.

He thought the sight had been beautiful, and the look in her eyes then, the way those green eyes glistened was beguiling. And the smile she had was true, it was probably the first time he saw an actual real smile on her face.

But who would have known that she would actually use her powers to do mischievous things?! Well she wouldn’t be his wife if she wasn’t planning something mischievous, the little witch.

"You have no proof that I did anything." She scoffed and he smiled.

"What were you planning? To make me lose and cause my men to laugh at my failure or you just wanted to help the poor man at my expense?" He had to ask. He could never tell what she was planning in that little head of hers, but something told him his wife was not one to just want to help a man like Nah or whom she probably haven’t seen before. So she definitely did it just to spite him.

"Well, seeing you fail is not a bad thing to behold." She snickered and he stared at her incredulously. She just admitted it, didn’t she? "And besides what kind of master participates in a contest hee set? You know these poor men stand no chance against you."

"Is that a compliment?" He asked with a brow raised and she scoffed.

"You wish. I am just stating a fact. The only person who would have been able to go against you is that friend of yours, that_ that_"

"Reg?" He asked as she seemed to be struggling to remember the name. Or maybe she seemed more irritated at saying the mane herself even if she knew it.

"Ah, Aye. But obviously she is not here today. So that is why you could partake in this contest knowing fully well that no one here would be able to beat you." She brought her tiny finger to his chest and poked him repeatedly as she spoke. "If you are going to join a contest, then be fair, do it with someone who is your match." She humphed and folded her hands.

He chuckled as he was suddenly reminded of something... " Now that you mention it, I do remember the maid, Riah, telling me that there was no better Archer than her princess. And that she was a match who could stand against me in an archery contest."

At bus words, her eyes widened as the memories of their first night together came pouring on her... Indeed she had told him that!

"I_ I do not wish to disturb the contest any further." She pointed at the men who were silently watching the two of them bickering in the center of the training ground. "I shall take my leave." She turned, ready to run, but he grabbed her arm and a broad fake grin was on his face.

"I would love to witness the archery of the princess that I have heard so much about."

"You did not hear so much! I only mentioned it that one time!" She pointed out, trying to free her arm from his hand while still looking reserved and princess-like.

"Yes, but as you can see, it left a deep impression. I would love to witness it myself."

"I am not in the mood to do—"

"What was that? You agree?" He says with a bright smile, one that creeped her out deeply.

"I never said—"

"Well great! You agree." He nodded and she opened her mouth to speak against his words again but before the words could come out, he was already speaking in a louder voice.

"" The princess, my lovely wife, believes it was unfair of me to join the contest which is why she disrupted my chance at winning. She says I should face my match. And that is no other than herself!"" He was announcing and Neriah was busy trying to get her hand out of his own while still keeping a smile on her face toward the men who were now chanting in agreement to what Barak said she had said.

"" Therefore the rest of the archery rounds would be shifted till tomorrow. For now, we shall have another match... An archery contest between myself Barak Der Drache and my fine wife, My beautiful princess Neriah!""

The chanting and cheering of the knights grew even louder after his announcement.

""Princess! Princess! Princess!"" And to her shock, they were cheering for her. "" You can do it princess! Make His Highness taste defeat!"" It almost seemed like they supported her and not their prince.

"So tell me Spitfire, will you make me taste defeat or will you run away like a scared little sheep afraid of this big bad dragon?" He asked with a teasing raise of his brow, "Ah, was it a goat? Strange goats were the words, I believe."

The crazy man! It had been months since she said that, and he still remembered her remark about being a sheep amidst strange goats. He was a crazy bastard.

But what was she supposed to do, the attention he had drawn, the endless cheering of the men as if they were waiting for her to say something in response.

Her eyes caught Aria and Riri, both of them stood in a corner and to her shock, they also seemed enthusiastic about it. They didn’t say a word, but she could see in their gaze what they were telling her, ’You can do it princess, crush that man! Crush his pride completely so he doesn’t ever have face in front of his men ever again.’ She could see what they were silently saying clearly.

"Neriah, we are waiting my love." He whispered to her and she stared at the crown once again as she exhaled. And inhaled slowly.

"Stop calling me that." She said as she turned to her husband. "I am not familiar with Tragonian bows, am I allowed to use my own?" She said and a smile laced his lips as she spoke.

He suddenly took her hand and brought it to his lips, placing a kiss on her knuckles, with a playful bow, "Of course. As Your Highness pleases."