ARROGANT BASTARD
"So you meant to say... You've been practicing swords?" Cordelia asked, amazed at her bravery for coming out as something unexpected. No one, not in this country has ever seen a woman wielding a sword.
"I have. Why? Is it scary?" Felicia asked innocently, making everyone gasp at her question. Perhaps, her playing in character seems to amaze them even more. Even Cordelia is astonished with her.
"I-I too..." Someone suddenly mumbled which made everyone turn their head at the woman who looks so fragile. It's as if she couldn't even lift a pork because of her build. Or is Felicia just seeing things because she's somewhat fit.
"I want to use a sword... But my family is against it. They said no woman would hold a sword. Plus it's not right for us since no man would ever take us if that happened." The lady mentioned, making everyone nod their head in silence, dejected with the reality that this society imposes.
"What?" Felicia frowned upon hearing what they said. Truly, men in this time are such misogynistic creatures who don't give a damn about women doing something that they love.
Such narcissistic creatures who only value themselves while using women as an allure to catch everyone's attention. Such men should be eradicated in this world. God, if she only has the power.
She can, though?
"What's your name?" She asked the lady who said she would have loved to use a sword. Such talent and interest should not be wasted just because of these feeble creatures called men.
Except for the knights, the butler, and her brother of course. They support her fully in learning how to use a sword for her protection. Should she count the Duke who allowed her to have such practices?
"I'm Evonne... Of Count Cambridge, Princess." The shy lady answered with her cheeks covered with red stain, blushing. What a bashful lady, so cute. She smiled at the woman as she turned her face towards Cordelia.
"Do you have any swords?" She asked which made everyone gasp. Is she going to use a sword right in front of them?
"Y-yes... But what for, Princess? It's really sharp. You might have injured yourself—"
"Don't worry, my friend. I told you, I've been mastering it." She chuckled as she stood up from her seat, leaving everyone in worry.
"If that is what you wish..." Cordelia admitted defeat as she sighed, standing up to guide her towards their own training grounds, with the ladies following them from behind, curious at whatever bluff Felicia was spewing.
However, little did they know that she's about to kick someone's ass today.
—
"I forbid you, Lady Cordelia to enter the training grounds. It's filled with rugged men that is too much to see. Plus, it's not the right place for ladies to stay and have tea parties here." A knight suddenly stopped Cordelia and the rest from entering the training grounds.
Some ladies began to stare at them, squealing after they saw men sparring while being half naked, feeding their delusions and dreams. However, Felicia wasn't amused with what the knight had told them.
"It's not my intention to be here, Rolando. It's just that the Princess asked to use a sword, to which I could not refute." Cordelia answered, rolling her eyes at the man who cocked his eyebrow, his eyes then looked over Felicia who was at her side, it's as if he was mocking her.
This made Felicia twitched at how this man was mocking her right in front of her. Such disrespect is blatantly displayed.
"Greetings, Princess. However, as I said, i will not allow Ladies from entering the training ground. Such a place is not for women and swords aren't toys to play. Please, we'll happily escort you back to the gardens. I'm sure ladies would love to see flowers, yes?" He asked, taunting Felicia whose eyes darkened.
"That's very disrespectful, Rolando. Please apologize to our guests." Cordelia glared, demanding for the knight to apologize towards Felicia who looked right into his eyes, stirring fear which then disappeared.
"I apologize for my mouth, Princess. But what can I do? I am only trying to tell you that this is not a place for a woman to stay—"
"I insist that you and I will have a duel." She suddenly caught off on the man who suddenly went speechless with what she said. Even the ladies behind her expressed their shock as they gasped, unexpected that Felicia wishes to spar with a knight.
After a while, a loud chuckle erupted from the man, laughing mockingly at Felicia as if she was joking. Seriously, this woman thinks that she can use and fight them. What a funny woman, eh?
"Princes... It's not nice to joke like that." Other ladies expressed their concerns, worried sick and thinking that the lady must have lost her mind on the way there. She was just bluffing, right?
"Let's just leave here, Princess. W-We understand that you want to uhm... Let us see how you use your sword technique but it's really off limits for us..."
"Princess, let's just go back. It's not safe."
Everyone has expressed their worries, not letting this woman who casually asked for a duel as if it wasn't a hard thing to do. For goodness sake, playing with a sword is dangerous and yet she thinks that it's easy!
"Do you have any pants, Cordelia?" But Felicia's mind was already carved in a stone, in a decision to fight this impolite man who thinks too highly of their capabilities. It's time to set this bastard's head into thinking about something else.
And that is his defeat.
"I-I do not... However I can ask someone—"
"Never mind then, I'll fight him off wearing a gown. Might come in handy the next time I'm wearing something like this." She replied, causing the man to laugh once more but then shut his mouth when Felicia threw her glove at the man, shutting him up.
"What? Too scared to fight a woman? Tsk, such cowardice is not for the battlefield." She answered, staring right into the man's eyes as he slowly turned his head, in disbelief as the lady just threw her glove.
It means that she really wanted a duel.
"My Lady! It's not right for you—"
"You want a duel? Sure, I'll give it to you. I'll beat your arrogance till you accept that this is not for women!" The man yelled, annoyed with Felicia's actions towards him as he turned his back, walking towards the center.
"Princess! Have you lost your mind?! Are you seriously going to fight with a knight?!" Cordelia exclaimed, horrified with her decision to face that skilled knight. Yes the knight was really arrogant and mischievous but that still doesn't change the fact that the man is much more physically stronger than her!
"Calm down, Cordelia. He's a wimpy bastard. It's easy to trample on him." She responded towards her as she started to walk to where the man went, making everyone prayed towards the Goddess earnestly, praying that the Princess must win.
Some were scared to even look but curiosity got them, following the lady. It was taking a toll out of them as guilt ran through their heads, thinking that they shouldn't have made the lady show her skill and stopped her for what she's about to do.
Now it feels like it's their fault if something happens to the Princess. Much worse, Cordelia was the one getting eaten wholely by guilt, because it's their family's knight and they might end up dying if they even hurt Felicia.
Soon after, they reached the ground where the ladies were directed at the top of the training ground, overseeing what was about to happen. Felicia was there, holding the sword as the end of it was buried at the bottom.
She was using her hand as if it was a balance support while she stared with boredom at the man who was busy flexing with his muscles. However, no ladies were squealing at the sight as they were more cautious and worried at Felicia standing below.
There were other knights, cheering up as they deemed this fight as a joke. They had already expected for the knight to win. Given that the lady is small in comparison to him, it's already predicted that he'll win.
"Oh god, I can't watch it! I think I'm going to faint!" Some of the ladies expressed their worries, trying to look away yet Cordelia and Evonne were looking earnestly towards Felicia who even yawned, displaying an arrogant character.
They were worried sick already. God, if something happened, the two will forever blame themselves because of this event.
"If you managed to make my sword out of my hands, then you'll become the winner, Princess." The knight, Rolando demanded as he grinned, ear to ear like a damn dog taking advantage.
"But if you didn't, then you'll have to apologize to me, and never set foot in this training grounds again." He also added, making everyone gasp with his rude way of demanding for Felicia to apologize.
"What in the sweet hell is he thinking?!" Cordelia mumbled, gritting his teeth at the way Rolando was talking smugly at Felicia who just let out a cold chuckle, accepting his deal of kneeling.
"I will also add a bag of gold if you win." Felicia insisted, making the bastard grin even more at her bargain of adding gold into this joke of a competition, making him let out a hefty laugh of arrogance.
"You wanted this, Princess. I'll give it to you." He smirked, picking up his sword as he now then stands, pointing the sword at her direction while letting out an intent that he'll destroy her.
Yet Felicia remained calm, picking the sword using her arm, pointing the end at the ground. She was smirking, didn't let the enemy troll
her. He asks for his pain, so shall be given to him in accordance with the bet.
"Yes... Let's."