Natsuki, even Suzuki couldn"t help but be shock. Nana was standing right in front of them. She was not wearing a dress but instead a pants matched with a white long sleeve polo which is tucked in her pants. This was then matched by brown boots. Her red orange hair was tied up in a ponytail.The surrounding people couldn"t help but to admire her cool beauty. She was undoubtedly much more beautiful than Diane. And now that she had pointed it out, people noticed it.
Diane might be wearing a long dress but the upper side was an off shoulder which also showed her cleavage. It doesn"t much her t.i.tle as a daughter of a duke.
Compared to her, what Nana was wearing was much more conservative but it didn"t lessen her beauty and appeal.
"Nana!"
Everyone was shocked upon hearing Natsuki call out her name. It is to be known that their prince were so cold towards the opposite s.e.x other than those who were professional and those who were blood related to him.
Diane who was closest to him also felt how his emotions was affected by the appearance of this woman.
Some of the knights who knows her was about to greet Nana, but they were stopped by her eyes. She then shook her head, "I am only here right now as a visitor, not as the princess of Aurora Kingdom." Was what she was conveying.
Remembering Eureka who kept her ident.i.ty for so long, those who knew Nana couldn"t help but think, "The same blood really runs on their veins."
After being looked at scrutinizingly by the people, Diane who was embara.s.sed stepped forward, "Who do you think you are to suddenly march in here as if you own the place? And you even dare compare me. A n.o.ble, daughter of a duke? To the likes of you?"
"Well the one your insulting is a princess though and daughter of a princess of another kingdom. So basically she has more authority than you are," the onlookers couldn"t help but reply on their mind.
"Who I am? Let"s just say I am more than qualified to be close with prince Natsuki than you are."
She walked closer to them and pulled Natsuki a few steps away from Diane. Suzuki took a few steps away supressing her laughter as she watched the show from the sideline.
Diane was of course furious seeing how this woman touched Natsuki just like that. She narrowed her eyes as she look daggers at Nana. Nana just raised her brows and lifted her chin provocatively.
Diane then calmed herself down, "Do you think someone like you could just marry a prince? Dream on, for sure uncle Ichiro wouldn"t allow it."
She was so full of herself that she didn"t even notice Natsuki not pus.h.i.+ng away the woman who was holding him in the elbow.
"Uncle? I must say, you seemed so close to the king to call him in such a way," Nana replied without a change in emotions.
"Yes what of it?" Diane smugly replied.
She was delighted to slap this woman in the face that she is much more than a daughter of the duke. Her father was a friend of Ichiro after all.
"Then must I remind the daughter of the duke over there. No matter how close you are. A royal will always be a royal. Unless you are inside with just your family, you have to remember to call them with their t.i.tle. Just what kind of n.o.ble are you to act in such a way? To top it all, you"re just outside the castle," Nana replied as if lecturing a child, she even shook her head and sighed.
She had long stopped holding Natsuki"s arm, she only held on him for a bit but knew that they were outside. People may know her but not all of them. If she is lecturing someone about etiquettes she must adhere to it as well.
Diane was fuming mad, she never expected that someone she didn"t know would lecture her about etiquette.
"An outsider have no right to lecture me. Just who do you think you are?"
Having no time for such a childish person and wanting to end this nonsense communication, Nana stepped forward, "Fine then let"s do it this way, challenge me in any kind of weapon you can use. Who ever loses would stop bothering the prince."
Diane"s eyes glittered, "This woman didn"t know that I am the best archer in this kingdom. She even challenged me with such confidence."
"Other than that, why not add. The one who loses would apologize publicly?" she added, she will not let it go. How this woman embarra.s.sed her regarding her clothing.
"Suit yourself. When should we do it?" Nana shrugged it off as if what they were doing was nothing but a stroll in the park.
"Two days from now. Oh that"s right you have no idea where the places here right? Just go around and ask, the long range training area. 8 in the morning."
Diane then looked at Natsuki who remained quiet all this time, "Don"t worry Natsuki, I shall finish this leech sooner. You will be free from her pestering."
After saying this she winked at him before turning away.
Natsuki didn"t wait as he pulled Nana back inside the castle. Suzuki followed behind wanting to laugh out loud but after hearing Nana talk about etiqeutte she stopped herself.
After arriving inside, where there were no prying eyes, Natsuki finally faced Nana. But before he could speak, his eyes were suddenly covered, he could only smell a faint scent of lavender.
Nana covered his eyes over and over again. She only stopped when his brows were already furrowed asking her what she was doing.
"I am removing it from your eyes. The memory of that woman winking. She irritates me so much," Nana stomped her foot in irritation.
When she received the letter she got her father to make her come over. Upon arrival she went straight to the castle. It is a good thing that the ones guarding the gate knew her.
Then upon arriving she saw that woman acting all cute in front of Natsuki.
Her face was red as she was fuming inside, Natsuki just looked at her, he had missed her after all. Who would have thought that she would be there after just more than two months?
"Say Nana, are you bullying the weak? You have to know that woman was a proud archer and was among the best within the kingdom. But we all know that you are..." Suzuki b.u.t.t in and commented, her eyes laughing.
"I made her choose, I am not bullying her. But if she really did choose archery then I can only apologize to her peanut sized brain," Nana replied as she pout.
Natsuki could only shake his head, "Come on now. You must be tired right? Where are your companions?"
"I made them check in for our lodging tonight. But before I go and rest I"ll meet the king first. That is just the right thing to do when a royal visits another kingdom," Nana replied.
*****
"So she must be there already, isn"t she?" Raven asked Rino, the two of them decided to meet up and have some drinks.
"As if anyone can stop her once she decided on something. Though I doubt that anyone would be able to take Natsuki from her. I still remember how aloof he was when he just arrived here," Rino replied.
Raven chuckled, indeed back then other than speaking formally, he rarely interacts with the people. Nana was the only one who didn"t get scared at him and still pestered him. Even Karen back down.
"Want to spar?" after drinking for a while more, he then invited Rino.
These two were quite alike. They really didn"t want to just sit still, they love moving around so much.
Soon they arrived at the training area, pulling each their swords. Silence enveloped them for a while before the first clash of their swords.
As Raven slashed upwards, Rino slashed his sword downwards parrying him. He then dodged to the side to move behind Raven striking him from the back. Raven squat dodging the side slash from behind him. Twisting his body, he made a round kick while squatting down.
Rino just jumped up, tumbling backwards. Just as he landed on his feet, Raven"s sword slashed upwards, he was able to dodge it in the nick of time causing him a few strands of hair. But that didn"t stop him, he made a 360 turn using that for a momentum as he slashed sideward aiming at Raven"s waist.
But this turn was taken advantage of Raven as he dodged side wards, circling behind Rino, copying him sending an attack from behind. His sword stop inches away from the back of Rino"s neck, as Rino"s sword stop inches away from his neck.
He knows his twist would miss so he instantly flip his sword, pus.h.i.+ng it behind him arriving right in front of Raven.
If anyone was watching them, they would think that the two of them were having a death match, they were using real sword and was fighting so seriously.
"A few of them already left," Rino then said as he stood straight.
"I"ve noticed as well. We can fight but we lack manpower, the others are busy in the borders. Maybe the time we are giving them would allow them to strengthen themselves but we can still defeat them right?" Raven replied and asked in return.
Rino smiled at him, "Of course. They can try but we will still be prepared."
They fist b.u.mp as they left the training area.