"Haha, you challenge me to a duel? What audacity! Fine then. Somebody get me my sword," Charles yelled proudly.A servant came running towards Charles, carrying his sword."Give me that!" Charles yelled at the servant, snatching the sword and pushing him to the ground. He looked at Erik with anger. "I accept your challenge!"Charles unsheathed his sword and pointed it towards Erik. They both took their positions."Are they going to be okay?" Isabella asked, feeling more concerned for Erik than for Charles. This is the first time she was witnessing a real duel."I have seen General Marcus and Richard engaging in mock duels, and they keep sparing each other, but this is the first time I am witnessing a real duel," Isabella lamented to Phillips."Don't worry, though this is a serious duel. No one is going to lose their lives today," Phillips assured her. "But it is inevitable that they will sustain some serious injuries."Thinking of Erik injured made Isabella's heart race even faster."
"Sir Erik is the winner of this duel," Sir Uthred declared. "As the winner of this duel, Sir Erik, you can state your demand to the loser."Erik could barely open his eyes. However, he looked at Charles and said, "Kneel before my Princess Isabella and ask her for forgiveness," Erik said coldly."You want me to kneel before that bastard?" Charles asked, fuming with anger.At hearing what Charles said, Erik pierced the blade of his sword a little deeper into Charles's throat, and it started to drip blood."Would you rather let me shame you in all of Wales?" Erik asked.As the loser of the duel, Charles must meet the demands of the winner. If he didn't do it, he would be disgraced. Not obeying the demands of the winner as a loser is far more humiliating than losing the duel itself.As for kneeling to a princess of the kingdom, it was more acceptable than bringing shame to his family name.Charles clenched his fist hard. His anger was written all over his face."Alright!" He yelled.Erik
When they got back to the courtyard, Isabella called Erik into her study room.When the door opened, Erik walked in."My princess, you called for me?" Erik asked."Yes, please take a seat," Isabella told him.Erik was confused; however, he closed the door and sat down on the chair in front of him.Isabella opened the first aid box Maggie bought for her. Erik instantly knew what she wanted to do."Princess, I can attend to my wounds myself; you don't need to do this," Erik said, embarrassed."But you can't reach the ones on your middle back, can you?" Isabella told him softly."Well, yes... but," Erik was searching for an excuse but could find none."No buts. It's my fault that you were wounded; I can at least apply some medicine to it," Isabella said."But Princess, it's my duty to protect you..." Erik said, still looking for a way out."Why are you calling me princess? I thought we could drop the titles when we were alone," Isabella nagged, giving him an irritated face.Erik smiled.
Isabella shook her head. "I am not scared," she answered truthfully. "On the contrary, I am glad and proud of you."Erik looked at her seriously. "What do you mean?""Your scars show that you have been through a lot, and the fact that you are here with me shows you made it out alive, you conquered it all. So I am happy that I could meet you in my lifetime," Isabella said while looking into his eyes."I am also proud of you because you have not allowed what you have been through to affect your personality. You continue doing life with a beautiful smile on your face. Have I told you that your smile lights up the room?" Isabella asked him."My smile?" Erik asked shyly.Isabella blushed and looked away. "Y-yes, I like your smile a lot," she admitted.Erik chuckled. "You are different, Isabella.""Different? Is that a bad thing?" Isabella asked curiously. All her life people have always said she was different, and she felt bad about it. She never wanted Erik to see her in a bad light.Erik
Isabella could not sleep well last night. She kept tossing and turning on her bed, thinking of what happened between her and Erik.She couldn't forget the feeling of his lips on hers. Remembering the sweetness of the kiss made her blush and embarrassed.Her heart beat faster whenever she thought of Erik. She had never felt this way about anyone before. Yes, she was excited when Philips was first introduced to her and wanted to court her, but the feeling was only fleeting.Her feelings for Erik were more intense. She had always felt safe when Erik was beside her. And after experiencing her first kiss with him, Isabella knew she wanted to be with him forever, and the mere thought of that made her heart beat strongly.Could this be what people refer to as love? She had only read about this in romance novels. Reading those stories made her heart beat fast. But now she has experienced it for the first time, she could conclude that the stories didn't do justice to those feelings. All she co
"My Princess, please tell me, did someone say that to you?" Maggie asked cautiously.Isabella looked at Maggie embarrassed."Oh my goodness!" Maggie was getting excited."Shhhh." Isabella covered her mouth to silence her. "Don't get too loud; someone might hear us."Maggie nodded slowly and composed herself. Isabella removed her hands from Maggie's mouth."Tell me, Princess, who is the lucky man?"Maggie whispered. "Is it young Lord Phillips?"Isabella shook her head. Maggie was confused. She thought it would be Phillips because he was the one courting her and always coming to visit her. Then her eyes went wide."Oh, is it Sir Erik?" Maggie whispered his name.Just hearing his name made Isabella blush."Oh my gosh! It is him." Maggie looked surprised and excited. "I am so happy for you, my princess. He looks like a kind man and a knight at that."In Wales, a princess from the royal family can only marry a man from the royal lineage, noble birth, or high status. Knights are of high sta
After taking her bath, Isabella walked towards the dining hall for her breakfast. As she approached, she saw a familiar young man standing next to the door.It was Erik. He looked gallant in his white shirt and black casual pants, appearing handsome as he stood there. Her heart skipped a beat.Then Erik glanced her way and gave her a bright smile, the same smile she fell in love with. Isabella blushed immediately, remembering what happened last night."Good morning, Isabella," Erik greeted her with a smile."G-Good morning, Erik," she greeted back, cursing herself inwardly for feeling so unsettled around him. Her cheeks were burning from all the blushing, and she felt embarrassed.Erik looked at her affectionately and smiled, touching her cheek and caressing it."You look so beautiful today," he commented softly, causing Isabella's cheek to burn even more."Let's go inside; I'm sure you're hungry," Erik said.Isabella simply nodded, not wanting to stutter again.Erik took her hand and
Isabella was standing behind the rails in the stable, wearing the clothes Maggie had prepared for her: a white long-sleeved blouse, a pair of black gloves and boots, and a riding cap. Her hair was braided into a ponytail.She was getting impatient."Where is Erik?" she asked Maggie."Last I checked, he was preparing the horses," Maggie replied.Not long after, Erik approached with two horses, one black and the other white.Erik was riding the black horse while holding the reins of the white one.The pure black stallion looked majestic and regal, like the horse of a king. Erik, riding it tall and proud, emitted a kingly aura.Erik stopped just a few meters from her, alighted from the horse, and held both reins while walking slowly towards her."Sorry, my princess, for making you wait," he said with a sweet smile. "Are you ready?"Isabella, still in a daze from watching Erik riding the horse, didn't see when Erik stood in front of her and snapped back to reality."Ah? You... said?" she