First shot and Arin hit the target perfectly which earned him applause from the two Crown Princesses and Vance. It was followed by another two successful shots.
Iria observed him, glancing back and forth between the target and him. He was amazing, that's what she thought. With the horse running around here and there, it was not an easy feat to hit the middle of the shield while being blindfolded! Besides, he didn't even spend much time to have three successful shots. His skills were extraordinary and she wondered who would win if they ever compete once.
Sword fighting was her speciality but her archery was great too. No one could match her archery skills in the whole Jerivia. It's been so long since someone skills made her felt challenged yet she could only sit still.
Two more successful shots and Arin Helev was done. What's more, he was still as calm as ever.
"You're still great, Arin You don't miss a single shot." Vance Amias commented while Crown Prince Arin was taking off the piece of cloth that blindfolded him.
"You should know better than to choose archery if you want to beat me, Vance." Arin simply said. Glancing at his friend, there was a playful smile on his face.
"If I choose my strength, it would be coward of me, right?" Vance stated with a sly smile.
Arin laughed at his friend's words. "I won't argue with you." He said and looked at the bows. "Your turn."
Crown Prince Vance nodded and quickly took a bow and arrow. "My archery might not match yours, but I have improved a lot. It's been more than two years since we last complete." He said, stretching the string to test it.
"I can't wait to see it. Just don't hurt the horse." Arin jokingly said which made Vance sighed.
"You never believe me," He remarked with displeasure and shook his head. However, he smiled again the very next second. He briefly glanced at his wife before turning his attention to the target while a servant blindfolded him.
"The Crown Prince seems to be very confident," Iria said to Crown Princess Zena whose attention was all focused on her husband who was currently aiming at the target.
"He is pretty good but it's just his sense of humour," Zena Amias responded and chuckled. "Wherever he goes, he is always the mood maker." She added.
"He's friendly and... you seem to love him a lot," Iria said.
Vance Amias just hit the first one with perfection and a smile escaped Zena's lips. "He is the Crown Prince and apart from me, he has the affection of many ladies. I'm lucky enough to be the one to receive his affection."
Iria thought about how Crown Prince Vance always glanced at his wife with his eyes full of love for her. Then she said, "I don't think he will feel that way. Instead, he is happy that you feel the same as him."
"We love each other since our childhood. I'm so used to receiving his kindness and love, so I always get scared." Zena said with a faint smile. By this time, Vance already hit the second one successfully.
"What if he gets bored of me one day? What if his feelings for me change? What if he has..." Zena paused, hesitating to continue. After a while, she said, "He's the world to me. I don't think I can survive if he ever had a change of heart. He can be quite cruel to someone who isn't worthy of his kindness. And I don't want to be the one who is on the receiving end of such cruelty."
Somehow, Zena's words made Iria looked at herself. She took a peek of the most secret chamber in her heart. She felt shocked when she realized that she was scared. She often felt scared these days and all for the same reason yet she couldn't get used to it. She also didn't want to be the one who is on the receiving end of Arin Helev's cruelty!
Crown Prince Vance already had three successful shots yet the two women were lost in their own thoughts. They didn't even pay attention to the competition anymore.
Vance Amias was carefully aiming at the fourth one, with all his attention focused on the target until... a servant who was walking behind him holding some water, suddenly tripped and fell towards him. The flustered Crown Prince was made to turn to another direction by the force from the servant and he released the arrow by mistake!
"Your Highness!" The two women were snapped out when they hear a voice and Iria instantly saw the arrow coming in her direction. Her mind was clear and should she just catch the arrow? There was no time to stand up, let alone run away!
Rather than raising suspicions by showing her skills, she was convinced that a single arrow won't kill her. As such, she just sat still and braced herself for the arrow that would soon pierce through her but...
Just before it reached her, the arrow was shot down by using another arrow and she gasped in relief! Was that Arin Helev? She quickly turned in his direction but... it was not him. He was holding his friend, preventing him from falling to the ground. However, she noticed that he was staring at her with an anxious face but it was slowly replaced by a relief one.
Who was that? She glanced at her right and standing a few steps away was Prince Orius with a bow in his hand. He was looking in her direction but his expression was completely different from the Crown Prince. Iria wasn't that sure as he wasn't standing that near but the expression on his eyes... was it rage?!
pαпdα Йᴏνê|,сòМ She was right. She noticed how he hardly squeezed the bow!
"Are you alright?" Crown Princess Zena quickly asked her and examined her.
"I'm fine." She said and the next second, Arin was already standing next to her.
"You must be startled. I'm sorry for that." He said, glancing at her with concern.
"I'm really sorry, Iria. I almost hurt you." Vance Amias quickly apologized when he reached where she was.
"That's a mistake. Don't take it too seriously." She promptly said, eyeing Prince Orius once in a while. Why did she still see the rage in his eyes?! Then she turned to the servant who was now on his knees. "I'm sure that it's just a mistake. Now that I'm fine, why don't you just let it slide?" She asked Crown Prince Vance.
Vance Amias gave a quick thought and said, "Alright. If that's what you wish." He turned around and ordered the soldiers to let go of the servant.
Now, Crown Prince Arin's attention was on Prince Orius who was still standing at his place. Then he walked to him and Iria quickly followed him.
"It's you again, Davian. You save the Crown Princess's life." He said to the Jerivian Prince in disguised.
"I'm only doing my job as a guard, Your Highness." Prince Orius replied.
"You're not only intelligent but also highly skilled. I'm impressed." Arin Helev said, amused.
Iria could felt how much Prince Orius tried to suppress his rage! She was feeling uneasy and before Orius speak up again, she quickly turned to Arin. "I think I should return to our chamber and take a rest."
Arin looked at her and nodded. "I will go with you."
"No need. You should spend some more time with Crown Prince Vance. We only have one more day left here." She promptly said.
Crown Prince Arin thought about it for a while and finally nodded. "Alright. Then let Davian escort you back." He glanced at Prince Orius and the latter nodded and lowered his head.
"Okay. That means I will also have a chance to thank him," Iria said, feeling quite glad that things went as expected. She must take away Prince Orius before he made his rage too obvious.....
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