“But mom!” Briar complained as she and her mothers had their yearly talk about Briar becoming queen.
“No buts.” Both Tinley and Cloud shook their heads, “We won't be here forever. And you must take the throne when we are gone. And it is custom that the child of the rulers of a major nation must wed to become ruler after them.”
“But I already told you! I don't want to marry anyone.” Briar argued, now 18, 3 years after saving her mother Cloud.
“You have no choice, Briar. It is the rule. There is no going against it or changing it.” Cloud said sternly, and pointed to a dress “Now, put this dress on and meet us in the garden by 10:00”
“Ugh! Fine” Briar said, stalking to her room with the dress and squeezing into it.
Briar practiced walking the way her mothers did but kept tripping on the dress. Gosh, why can't I walk right? She scowled. Finally! I did it! Now if i can keep this up… she removed the scowl from her face as servants opened the door to the gardens. Briar gasped as she walked to her mothers.
“Why are so many boys here?” she asked, looking around at several boys within the gardens.
“They aren’t just ‘boys.’ They are princes. And they are here to compete to be your husband.” Tinley informed her.
“What?!” Briar almost squeaked.
“Gather around, princes of our world. I'm sure you have all heard why you are here. But just to make sure, you are here to compete. You will be competing to be our daughter’s husband” Cloud announced, the princes came closer to hear, “This competition will be held over a few days. You will be staying in our palace, unless otherwise required by the competition.”
“Your majesties, will we be allowed to see Princess Briar during the competition?” one prince from the back asked.
“Yes. but not too often. She still has her duties to attend to.” Tinley answered, the princes nodded in understanding.
“A few of our servants will show you your rooms for the time being. You will share rooms at first. But as the competition progresses some of you will be forced to leave.” Cloud said, waving her hand at the servants that entered the garden.
A knock on the door and briar said in an unhappy voice, “Come in.”
“Princess Briar, i know i shouldn't be here but could you help me?” the prince who had spoken earlier entered nervously.
“Depends on what it is that you need help with.” Briar responded.
“C-can you show me around the village? It lookes so pretty.” The prince said.
“Why not ask one of the servants?”
“Well…I tried but they were all busy.”
“Well.. i guess so. Let me change into better clothes.” Briar siad, pushing him out so she could change into a thinner dress.
“Alright. Let's go.” Briar said, leading the way to the village, “By the way, you look familiar. What kingdom are you from?”
“I'm from Exotia.” The prince said, “Prince Exavier.”
“Oh? I think I remember you…were you at that dinner 3 years ago?”
“Oh! Yes! I remember.” Prince Exavier said. “Why wasn't your mother there? I had a feeling that she wasn't actually sick but didn't get a chance to ask.”
“You didn't hear? A group of men kidnapped her. I was the one who saved her.” Briar said proudly.
“Oh. I'm sure my parents heard but I'm the youngest prince, so I often am not told things like this.”
“Ahh. that would make sense.” Briar pointed to 4 feet tall bushes, “This is the park. Would you like to go in and see it?”
“Sure!”
“Thank you for showing me around Princess Briar.” Exavier bowed goodbye.
“Of course! Good night!” Briar said before entering her room, her heart pounding, her face red.
“The first test shall be fighting.” General Mason announced once all the princes had gathered in the training hall. “I have set aside swords, armor and other weapons for you all to use. Find what you would like to use and approach a dummy. They have been enchanted to come alive and fight back. Be prepared. Whoever fails to defeat the dummy shall have to leave. BEGIN”
All of the princes gravitated towards swords, grabbing the biggest ones they could find. Each approached a dummy, swords at the ready. Well….all except..
“Prince Exavier. Choose a weapon and go to the dummy.” General Mason commanded.
“Yes sir. Sorry sir.” Exavier said, grabbing throwing daggers then walking to the last open dummy.
By now, most of the other princes had begun. About ten were beaten quickly and easily. Prince Alexander and Prince Exavier of Exotia had yet to begin. Both glanced at each other, then at the dummies, before beginning to attack. Briar happened to enter the room at this moment, along with her maids. She glanced all around the room, rolling her eyes as the prince's eyes were all drawn towards her. Alexander and Exavier however, stayed focused on the fighting. Both defeated the dummies quickly before turning to bow towards Briar.
“How is it going, General Mason?” Briar asked.
“About 15 of them were beaten.” General Mason replied.
“Pfft. how many are left?”
“About 10.”
“Thank you for your answers. I shall go tell my mothers now.” Briar nodded before leaving the room.