14 Chapter 14:

'So you've come, my dear.' The voice beamed.

Both of them were pushed to the ground and forced to bow to the mighty queen Maguire.

Kara looked awfully quiet, which bothered him a little bit.

She never stopped talking, even once.

'My own daughter, I cannot believe that I am about to do this.' She sighed.

'Princess Kara Maguire, you have two options. Choose wisely.' She glared at her arrogant child.

She was breathing hard and sweat dripped from her forehead.

'Either surrender your license or be banished from this kingdom. What will it be?' she asked angrily.

But in reality, she felt pitiful.

She felt all those emotions she felt in her younger years.

Those emotions made it unbearable to sleep at night.

But this time there is no easy way to do this. Either way, her daughter's reputation would be damaged. Maybe there is a bright side if she just chose to surrender.

'I don't surrender.' Kara breathed.

The whole room fell silent.

'pardon?'

'The Maguires do not surrender. That will only bring shame to the family. I believe that I am a worthy princess and rightful heir to the throne. I may have been tossed out as the black sheep and weakling of the group. But please, I think people are capable of change. I beg you, give me this chance, just once to prove myself. I will show you that I am indeed worthy.' She replied in a soft tone.

The hall went silent.

She peered at Cyran for some reason, maybe since she saw him as an ally, and he gave her a thumbs up and mouthed 'you can do this.'

Queen Maguire isn't happy about this.

On one hand, she felt proud that her daughter stood up for herself and kept calm during a situation like this, but on the other, she doesn't trust that her daughter can work miracles in a matter of weeks or even months.

No, that's just not possible. And others will start asking for their fair chance if they saw the queen favouring her daughter more than others.

She seated herself on her crystal throne and massaged her head.

She glared at Kara giving her another chance to change her answer.

Kara looked back at her mother and smiled confidently, indicating: Do not worry mother, I will be fine.

After some quiet moments, she rose again and walked up to her daughter.

'I have given a thought about this and I feel that it is only right that I give these warriors a fair chance, even if they do not deserve it. One month from today, so the week before the annual hunter's competition, every soldier will be heavily graded and evaluated and will be declared if they pass to be a soldier or not.

The strongest and most talented ones will have the privilege to participate in the contest.

For now, the list of all possible candidates will stand. It will change accordingly.

You and all the others are given a month. See if you can hold the license close to you till then.' She announced.

The whole room broke into massive shock and people started talking rather loudly.

Of course, the queen did this. She can't let her daughter go, she's the heir to the throne, she'll be fine. One of the ministers badmouthed.

Cyran, watching all this, felt nothing but confusion.

What in the world is this license and what grade? What competition.

Whatever, it sounded serious. He shrugged.

'Court dismissed.' She declared and everyone started scrambling down the halls.

Kara bowed gracefully and walked out of the room and Cyran naturally followed her, only to be stopped by the guards.

'and where do you think you are going?'

'To help Kara.'

'You do know that she is actually not your helper?' she asked.

'I do. But she was a helpful hand.' He replied.

Okay, that was a half-lie, she was helpful, but not as much as you'd think.

She scanned him head to toe and sighed.

'You pitiful boy will you ever learn? Expecting help from royalty is like expecting rain in summer, it's very rare and there's always a consequence.' She smirked.

'Get back to work. You have 4 hours and 56 minutes to splendour me.' She rolled her eyes and exited the room.

'wait what?' he failed to see the connection in the metaphor. Rain in summer? What's summer supposed to be like?

Back on the ship, they had moderate temperatures and temperatures higher than average. No climates or seasons whatsoever.

It's the ship that controls the temperature no need for these complicated terms.

'approximately 4 hours and 56 minutes, I think I can do it!' he chimed.

'I just need to get Groth back, anyone?' he looked at the guards, who were confused by his words.

'Groth, is that another one of your genius inventions?' one of them burst into laughter.

'Haha, you know, the watch you confiscated from me?' he asked annoyed.

'Oh, that strange thing? I thought princess Kara took out all your belongings and burnt them?'

Oh right, he forgot. She took his watch and fiddled with it for a long time.

'She did WHAT?' he asked almost passing out.

'Well, she does that with most prisoners and bullies she could get her hands on. I thought the same happened to yours.' He scratched his chin.

'No way, she did not. I'm going to ask her now.' he went straight out of the throne room where some ministers were still talking and hanging out.

'Well now, we don't want her to be banished do we?' a voice beamed from the other side.

It was a red-head.

'Red-head! Can you get my watch from Kara?'

'Be careful with titles boy, know who to respect and who not to.' He replied.

'Sorry, can you bring me my watch from "Kara the almighty princess?"'

He sighed.

'I'll see what I can do.' He walked away with the maid.

'alright, so, 4 hours 56 minutes, we can do this.' He cracked his knuckles.

'Actaully, 4 hours and 26 minutes, you just spent 20 minutes fighting with us and your stupid watch.' The guard grinned evilly.

Okay, this is going to be harder than he thought.