Transmigrated Into The Body Of The Cursed Prince Wife
Chapter 99: Sparing

Chapter 99: Sparing

Ave and Prince Aaron walked up to where everyone was gathered in the shade to watch the fight. They came to stand beside where Prince Orion and the other Pendragon Princesses were standing, and upon noticing Ave, they moved to stand next to her, while pushing Aaron away to the side, where Celeste was standing next to him instead of Ave.

"Selene, we are sorry about your disposal. If we hadn’t arrived late, perhaps the Emperor wouldn’t have announced it in the open," Thalia whispered in remorse. There was nothing more embarrassing and dignity-stripping than being publicly disposed of in front of everyone.

"Because of this, the Empress may announce that you will no longer be dancing with us on the day of the ceremony," came Celeste’s disappointed, worried voice, causing Ave’s eyes to widen at that. She had worked hard on teaching them that dance, and now she might not be able to participate in it? How unfair was that going to be if the tyrant Empress were to announce that!

Ave thought, but then she decided to put that aside for now as Lucian was stepping to the opening to fight. She changed the topic from the dance to ask, "Why are they going to fight?"

Prince Orion was the one to answer her, "Brother Lucian requested something from the elder Princess of Nazia, Princess Nani, but her elder brother, the first prince, challenged him to spar with him before he would think about it or give them his answer on whatever he’d requested. He probably requested to marry Princess Nani," Orion said, causing Ave’s heart to tighten in a way she couldn’t pinpoint or understand.

"The one to get hit by the other’s sword three times will be the loser," he explained to her as he had been standing close to Lucian when the challenge was made among the princes.

"But I don’t think Brother Lucian would want to let the prince of Nazia be the loser," he added with a thoughtful frown.

"Why?" Ave asked, her eyes not leaving Lucian, whose torso glistened in the sun, emphasizing his toned abs and muscular arms, which she could see a lot of the Princesses were gushing about and whispering to themselves about how handsome he was and how any Princess he chose as his next bride would be the luckiest. He might be cursed, but his looks and strength made up for everything else.

"Well, the elder prince of Nazia always carried his ego and pride on his sleeve, just like any other man, but he is known for wanting to win in everything he does, and though he challenged Brother Lucian to spar with him, he knew Brother Lucian wouldn’t fight him with everything in him if he wanted his request to be approved." Orion said to Ave, whose frown deepened.

What a stupid way of thinking, she thought. Why would he challenge Lucian when he wanted to win before he would accept his request? She couldn’t help the tightening sensation in her heart though at the thought that he was fighting to get a bride, a bride who would probably help him more than she could. He had even disposed of her without a second thought, not even bothering to find her and explain to her what he was up to.

Ave had to swallow hard before she could get the lump in her throat to go down and concentrate on the fight without allowing her stupid emotions to get to her. Perhaps it was for the best, as she didn’t like this newfound strange attachment and feelings she was having towards him. If she could just find Selene’s diary, she might be able to find her way back to her time without needing Lucian’s success to return.

She needed to know if Selene was a witch and had some sort of powers, and if it wasn’t Selene, then she needed to know how to use any spell that would help her go back, away from this messed-up world and Lucian himself. His new bride would help him, he wouldn’t be needing her again anyway.

Ave looked up and saw the first prince of Pendragon and the third prince standing at the other side of the garden where the rest of the princes from the other kingdoms were, their eyes on the two, but the third prince’s eyes were on her, smirking at her. However, she looked back at Lucian and pretended she didn’t even notice him. She hated that asshole.

Ave watched as a horn was blown and they got into their fighting stance, circling the arena made for them in the garden, before the prince of Nazia attacked by swinging his sword at Lucian, who swiftly dodged it and turned in a way the other man didn’t expect and cut him on the arm with his sword, causing the Princesses, who despite not knowing what was going on and why they were fighting, to cheer for Lucian.

Ave saw the face of the prince of Nazia darken. He was a tall, muscular man but not as tall as Lucian, with curly black hair, honey-brown skin and different scars on his torso. He looked down at his arm, then at Lucian before he muttered something for only Lucian to hear, and she noticed Lucian’s expression turn blank before he nodded his head.

After that exchange, when they started to fight again, she could see how Lucian wasn’t putting any more effort in. He was only dodging the prince’s attacks without raising his own sword, and not long after, he got cut on the side of his stomach, causing the Princesses who had been cheering for him to gasp in shock, including Ave as she saw how deep the cut was and the blood that was oozing from it.

However, Lucian didn’t even flinch and resumed fighting.

"Why does it look like Brother Lucian is not attempting to counterattack Prince Talinor’s attacks?" came Thalia voiced in concern as she clung to Ave’s arm. She wasn’t used to seeing blood or people fight, as her brother made sure she would never be near any fighting arenas until today, where everyone was watching.

"Because he is not fighting to win but allowing Prince Talinor to win," said Aaron in amusement, his arms crossed against his chest while he also tried to move a bit back and away from Celeste, who perhaps hadn’t noticed she was holding on to his arm and not her brother’s, clinging to it so tight as she watched the fight, with her eyes widened when Lucian received another cut to the other side of his stomach.

Ave flinched when Lucian was cut again. It almost felt like she was the one as the sharp blade cut through his flesh in a way that made the hairs on her arms rise and made her grit her teeth in annoyance. Was he so desperate to marry the Princess of Nazia that he would allow himself to get cut like this?

Watching him get hurt like that was almost unbearable to her for some reason, and she found herself holding onto Thaila, who was holding her as well.

"Prince Tailnor is in the lead. He needs just one last cut to be the winner," Orion said grimly, not liking his elder brother losing like that to the prince of Nazia in front of everyone.

The last cut that was remaining for Tailnor to be the winner took almost twenty minutes before he got it, as Lucian kept dodging. Ave could tell he was doing it on purpose and seemed to be enjoying himself a bit too much with a small pull of his lips at the side. However, when the prince finally cut him, he didn’t go easy on him. He used his sword to stab Lucian in the stomach, causing everyone to gasp in horror, and when he pulled out the sword, more blood began to ooze out.

Ave held her breath as a trail of blood left Lucian’s mouth, but he raised his hand and wiped it away like it was nothing. He didn’t even cry out in pain and remained standing there until the other man was announced the winner. However, despite the prince of Nazia being the winner, Lucian received most of the attention from the guests.

"Oh my God, he is such a man! He didn’t even flinch when he got stabbed!" came the words of the Princesses at the sidelines.

"I swear I was looking at his eyes the whole time; he didn’t blink when the sword stabbed him."

"I wish I could be his wife. I would take good care of him and give him whatever he wants."

"Don’t even think about it. I heard Princess Madeline put a claim on him earlier after breakfast. If he doesn’t pick Princess Nani, it will be Princess Madeline."

Ave, who was going to run to him and help him, stopped. She wasn’t in the position to help him openly as his wife since he had disposed of her, and since he had received those wounds because he wanted another woman, she stood back and watched as Zane, who had been standing on the side, walked up to him to assist him. Orion also ran towards them to help, despite not being needed.

Before he walked away from there, with Prince Orion and Zane holding both his arms around their neck, his head turned in her direction, and he stared at her until he was assisted away from the garden.