Day: 1244

Days Left: 4236

Lives Saved: 6

The next several days, Queen Corinna spent with the remaining candidates, the fourth with Prince Fergus, who took her out to see an opera with the best box in the theatre. Whilst Cori enjoyed the performance, she was disgruntled by Prince Fergus' constant commentary and when he mocked one of the actors who stumbled their line.

Fifth was Prince Fiorenzo, the soldier who duelled Princess Natasa at the party. He did not spend the day showing off his fighting ability or magical power, much to Cori's relief. Instead, he took her around art galleries and museums, spouting off random facts he knew, especially regarding anything rhinoceros beetle-related. Cori was surprised to have enjoyed the day, though perhaps that was because they barely talked unless it was to tell each other a fact. She learned a lot about beetles from Prince Fiorenzo; perhaps, one day, that will be helpful.

Prince Ivor was sixth and had the same plan as Prince Fergus, taking the queen to the same opera performance. Cori attempted to act surprised to spare his feelings, but at the very least, he was not as rude as Fergus. Afterwards, they had a reservation at the finest restaurant in the city, with Ivor booking out the whole place to themselves. However, Cori expressed her discomfort in taking off her mask in front of anyone, which caused Ivor to almost erupt in an angry outburst. Still, he contained himself in passive aggression, calling it off even though Cori suggested that they eat with their backs facing each other. The next day, Ivor attempted to make amends for his behaviour, wanting another chance, but Sophia dismissed him, enjoying him grovelling before rejecting him on her cousin's behalf. Not because Cori did not want to do the act herself but because Sophia found it amusing and insisted.

For the seventh day, Cori had to wait until the evening to meet with Prince Karl as the man had planned a spectacular magic performance. When it grew dark and the sun had set, Prince Karl used his magic to create impressive fireworks, most depicting the queen's image. Everyone in the castle was invited to watch, the servants clapping and cheering at the spectacle and the other marriage candidates either sneering in envy or applauding. Cori smirked as she noticed Prince Elis climb onto a tree to watch. At least he kept his promise not to climb on the roof again.

On the eighth day, Prince Li did not use the opportunity to impress the queen like some others but instead chose to spend the day in one of the castle's drawing rooms and play chess and cards, and other games whilst they talked. He expressed how he was a hopeless romantic, wanting to marry for love and would like to wait a few years to know his future bride. Cori thanked him for his honesty but explained that she intended to marry soon as she required an heir and could not wait that long. Prince Li remained cordial but seemed saddened that Queen Corinna declared she was not marrying for love.

"I know we have a duty to our countries, Your Majesty," said Prince Li. "But we are still human and can love. So it is not wrong to think about yourself for a change and what would make you happy, not just your people."

Queen Corinna stiffened. "We just need an heir. We do not need nor want anything else."

Prince Li sighed. "So long as you promise me, Your Majesty, that you will at least get along with your future husband. Even if your love for him is not romantic, please do not trap yourself in a hateful marriage for your people." He then laughed. "Or perhaps fill that void with a harem of concubines."

Second to last of the marriage candidates, on the ninth day, was Princess Natasa, who took the queen to a smithery, where she showed the queen how to make her own armour. Of course, a whole set could not be made in one day, so the princess made a pair of gauntlets with the queen, matching her usual silver outfits. Cori, though having worn armour before, had never seen the process that went into it, admiring Princess Natasa's enthusiasm, dedication, and focus as she smelt the metal and shaped it, turning what were simple materials into a beautiful yet practical pair of gauntlets, that looked like prismatic silver glass. Whilst they were constructing these gauntlets, Natasa shared some war stories, her impressive feats of courage, and some of her near defeats to show some vulnerability.

The final day arrived, with Prince Sigurd, the last and, unfortunately, the very least as he had witnessed the magical firework performance Prince Karl had put on and then heard of the feats Prince Drustan had done with moving mountains and parting water. He felt the need to one-up them both. Not only that, he was last, and the prince believed he needed to leave the best impression he could. In the days leading up to his turn, he practised mighty feats of magic to the point of exhaustion, hospitalising himself as he was drained of mana. The skin on his hands was covered in neon green veined cracks, lightly glowing from the excess expulsion of mana. These veins likely travelled across his body and on his face, his also the unnatural neon green, but the prince covered it all with his mask, so Cori could only presume. When the queen visited the hospital ward, Prince Sigurd admitted defeat that he could never be worthy of her, not when his magic was nowhere near her power or Drustan and Karl's. Cori barely had a chance to say that she wasn't just going to marry someone because of their magic, but Prince Sigurd was too far gone into self-pity and deprecation that he would not listen.

That evening, Queen Corinna gathered with her foreign affairs adviser Councillor Triggs and her cousin Duchess Sophia Vipond. Cori looked at the photos of the ten candidates on the table.

"Well, Your Majesty?" asked Councillor Triggs. "Have you made any decisions? But, again, Your Majesty does not need to choose immediately. This can be a process that takes years."

The queen first discarded the Princes Asar, Drustan, Fergus, and Ivor, not wishing to marry someone who would spend their money away on frivolity, be a power-hungry tyrant, or be rude or cruel. Then she looked at Prince Sigurd; the man had almost killed himself to prove his worth to her. Was she going to marry a man out of pity? She also discarded his photo along with Prince Li. Whilst Prince Li was perhaps the most likeable of all of the candidates, and Cori could see herself getting along with him, but he wanted to marry for love and was patient to wait for it, which Cori could not give him.

That left four candidates: Princes Elis, Fiorenzo, Karl, and Princess Natasa.

Sophia pouted as she took Prince Asar and Prince Drustan's photos. "I really liked these two."

Of course, you did, Cori thought. You want to be spoilt rotten even more than you already are. The queen hoped her cousin wasn't planning on eloping with either of them.

"And what does Your Majesty think about the remaining four candidates?" asked Councillor Triggs. "Prince Karl has an excellent magical bloodline-"

"Not as strong as Prince Drustan," grumbled Sophia.

"And that firework show he put on," Councillor Triggs ignored the duchess. "It was certainly romantic. And then there is Prince Fiorenzo and Princess Natasa... both excellent candidates, though..." She cleared her throat. "We must be careful about extending a proposal to either one as their countries have been at war with each other numerous times. We do not want this to be considered an act of war, but both militaries are the largest and strongest in the world. So our country will have nothing to fear with their protection."

"Nor will Your Majesty have to worry!" Sophia chimed in. "Those strong arms of Prince Fiorenzo around you..." She gushed, squealing. "I would gladly be kidnapped if that man would come to my rescue."

"If Your Majesty wishes to choose either Prince Fiorenzo or Princess Natasa, then I will devise a plan to ensure it is not seen as an insult to the other," said Triggs.

"What do you think, Cori?"

Cori looked down at the four photos.

She recalled what Prince Li had recommended, to marry someone she would at least get along with, the same thing Rhea had advised.

Prince Karl, she barely spoke with; she hardly got to know him with a firework show. The other three, however, she had a chance to talk with and could see herself at their side.

But she needed her children to have powerful magic in their veins...

And then there was what would benefit the people, the political connections she could make in marrying the right candidate and...

And then there was her own happiness, which according to Rhea and Prince Li, was important in this decision.

"Your Majesty?"

Cori stared at the photos on the table. "We do not know."

*

Prince Elis stretched out his arms as he walked around the castle corridors. After being cooped up in his room, the prince had grown bored and needed a walk, even if it was just in circles through the hallway labyrinths of the castle. He would have preferred going outside, but it had gotten too late in the evening, and as a guest in the castle, he felt it would be inappropriate to be skulking around at night outside. He would want to see the garden in the evening under the stars, but the hallways with numerous paintings had to suffice. He looked at the royalty of the past, all of them wearing masks to cover their faces.

The once comforting and relaxing silence grew unnerving as Prince Elis looked around and saw a lack of guards. There was always at least one guard patrolling everywhere he went, yet the corridor was empty.

Strange, he thought. Usually, there were two guards in this corridor, so why-

Something cold touched his throat. Elis glanced down and saw a metal blade of a sword.

"Do not move a muscle," growled a voice. "Nor make a sound, or I will not hesitate to slice your throat."

Prince Elis nodded slowly and winced as the cold blade brushed against his adam's apple.

"Good," said the voice. "Good that you know to be obedient. You've grown arrogant just to have reached this far in the selection. I can sense how little magic you have in your veins! So pitiful! How can anyone consider you to be royalty? How can your people bow down to such weakness!"

"What is it you want from me?" asked Elis, mustering up all the courage he had though his voice betrayed his fear. "I assume you are one of the other candidates?"

Prince Elis was allowed to turn and face his assailant slowly; Prince Drustan held out his sword to threaten Elis' neck. He then saw Prince Asar and Prince Ivor appear around the corner, swords at their sides.

"You paid the guards, then?" Prince Elis forced a chuckle as he was surrounded, unable to escape.

"I was surprised how easy it was," said Prince Asar. "Everyone has a price." he paused. "As do you..."

"It is a mockery that someone from such a lowly bloodline has gotten this far!" spat Prince Ivor. "Anyone else to be chosen, whilst a shame, would not be so insulting!"

"You think I am a threat to you!" Elis laughed, then stopped as he sensed how serious they all were.

"We've heard all of the servants and guards talking, the ones closest to Queen Corinna," said Prince Drustan. "And we know who is in the final four..."

"I'm sure they're just rumours," said Elis. "They're likely just gossip, not true-"

"And they will stay untrue," said Prince Ivor. "Stand down from this competition."

"We will pay handsomely," said Prince Asar as he took out a big coin pouch from his inner robes, which he always carried around with him, as you never know when you need to bribe someone.

"No," hissed Prince Drustan. "If he knows better, he knows he should stand down and return to his own country. He does not need to be persuaded with money." Drustan adjusted his sword to be even closer to Elis' throat. "Well, little mingling? What will it be? Will you make the smart decision?"

"Are you really going to kill me?" Elis swallowed, keeping his head high, both to seem confident and unscared and because he had a sword still at his throat. "How are you going to cover that all up? Queen Corinna is a mindreader, in case you forgot-"

"And are you really trying to get out of this threat?" snarled Drustan. "Queen Corinna has one of the most powerful bloodlines in the world; it is overwhelming to even be in her presence, but I suppose with your level of magic, you would not be able to sense that."

Elis slowly shook his head.

"See? If Queen Corinna and myself have children, imagine what they could accomplish! And then what your children will be..."

"They might not even be born with magic, just like your relatives," said Prince Ivor.

"Such a waste of pedigree," added Prince Asar.

"How about this?" Prince Drustan adjusted the sword higher on Elis' neck. "Ivor's country borders yours, does it not?"

Elis glanced over to Ivor, the prince folding his arms smugly.

"It would be so easy," continued Drustan. "For his army to simply walk into your puny little kingdom and-"

Something flew past Prince Drustan, cutting a chink through his mask. He stumbled back and gasped as he saw the dagger lodged into the wall behind him.

"Now, now," said a calm voice. "This is no way to behave."

Elis turned, still frozen to the spot, as he saw Prince Li behind him, with Prince Fiorenzo and Princess Natasa appearing behind him, the princess fiddling with a matching dagger to the one thrown at Prince Drustan.

Drustan's fingers raised to the scratch in his ornate mask; his glare at Natasa could be felt even underneath the porcelain. He cocked his head up. "Don't think you'd get away with that."

"Now, gentlemen," said Prince Li softly. "I know that the last thing we all want is a fight-"

"Speak for yourself," said Fiorenzo and Natasa in unison.

Prince Li cleared his throat. "However, let us remember that even a little scrap between us could be considered an act of war. Are we really going to put our people in danger over a little tiff-"

"This is no 'tiff'!" spat Drustan. "This man has dishonoured us all! Someone of his birth shouldn't be married to someone such as Queen Corinna!" He pointed accusingly at Elis. "If you do not relinquish your position in the competition, then our countries will have no choice but to-"

"If any of your soldiers step over his Prince Elis' borders, then you will declare war on my kingdom too," said Prince Fiorenzo.

"As with mine," added Princess Natasa. "Well? Do you wish to take on two of the most powerful militaries in the world? Is your 'honour' worth all of that?"

Ivor and Asar looked at each other and nodded, sheathing their swords. But Drustan continued to focus on Elis.

"Come on," said Fiorenzo, approaching Drustan. "Let's put that little sword away, shall we?"

Snarling, Drustan reluctantly sheathed his sword, shaking away Fiorenzo's hand on his shoulder.

"Thank you," Elis mumbled to Natasa and Li as they stood protectively by his side. "But, why did you all..."

"Well, it is best to gain the favour of the soon-to-be king consort, it is not?" teased Natasa with an exaggerated joking bow.

"Why does everyone think that?" Elis frowned.

"What did you do!" Drustan hissed at Elis.

"What do you mean?" asked Elis, retreating a step.

"You barely have any magic, your connections and your country..." Drustan shook his head. "Why were you chosen over everyone else!"

Princess Natasa shrugged. "Maybe he's good in bed."

"What did you do with the queen on your day!" questioned Drustan.

Elis paused, looking around at the other candidates as they waited in anticipation. "Well, we went on a walk through the countryside..."

There was a moment of silence.

"And?" asked Ivor.

"Was it a little romp through the countryside?" joked Natasa.

"We just talked," said Elis.

"That's it!" shouted Drustan.

"How much money did you spend?" asked Asar.

"Nothing," answered Elis. "Didn't spend a penny."

Asar gasped, finding the concept impossible to think of.

"What did you talk about!" asked Drustan

"Uh, hobbies and stuff," said Elis. "Family, friends..." he shrugged. "That sort of thing."

Asar and Ivor muttered to each other in confusion about how something so dull and straightforward could have persuaded the queen whilst Drustan writhed in silence.

"He took her on an actual date," Prince Li laughed. "That is why you all lost. He didn't perform some business proposal on marriage but talked to her like she was a real person," he explained slowly to the three clueless princes. "What did you two do?" Li asked Fiorenzo and Natasa.

"Museum and art gallery," replied Fiorenzo.

"Made armour together," replied Natasa.

"See," said Prince Li, sighing. "I am glad that not everyone is so clueless about these things." He cleared his throat, clapping his hands together. "Now, I assume that this matter can come to a close; you three know why you lost now. I highly suggest apologising to Prince Elis here for threatening him, though it is up to His Highness whether he pardons any of you for your behaviour."

"Let me hit at least one of them," Natasa whispered.

Prince Elis shook his head. "No, just let them all go. So long as they promise not to hurt or threaten my people or me again or any of the other candidates."

"Yes, I promise," said Prince Asar, bowing his head. "My deepest regressions, Your Highness."

"As do I," said Prince Ivor. "I let my anger, failure, and envy get the best of me."

Prince Drustan audibly tuttered in disapproval, eventually sighing in defeat as Prince Fiorenzo and Princess Natasa reached for the hilts of their swords.

Once the three assailants were out of sight, Li, Natasa and Fiorenzo offered to guard Elis' door in turns whilst he slept, as the royal guards could not be trusted. Usually, Elis would reject such an offer, not wanting to trouble anyone, but he found himself almost quaking in his shoes with fear as the reality set in, how close he was to dying or starting a war. He winced, wondering why he didn't surrender straight away. If Li, Fiorenzo and Natasa hadn't arrived when they did, then perhaps he would have pulled out of the 'competition'.

Competition... No wonder none of them were chosen if they believed the queen was some prize to be won.

Elis suggested that the four of them have a slumber party, proposing it jokingly to hide his fear of having his throat cut whilst sleeping. They chose to sleep in Prince Li's chambers as it was the largest and had sofas and other recliners to sleep on. Moreover, it was larger than Elis', who had to share with another prince from another unnoteworthy country who had left after not qualifying.

Even with three other people, two of whom were experienced and highly decorated soldiers, Elis struggled to fall asleep that night, still feeling the cold sword blade at his throat.