The Second Prince (Ch.4)

~Do not engage an enemy more powerful than you. And if it is unavoidable and you do have to engage, then make sure you engage it on your terms, not on your enemy's terms."~

- Sun Tzu

Andronika stepped into the maple courtyard, accompanied by General Daerev, the maple courtyard was the living quarters of the Second Imperial Prince Jalan.

The entire atmosphere was quiet and serene, the environment tidy and well organized, all the servants carrying out their duties in an orderly manner, it was obvious that an extremely disciplined warrior lived here.

As Andronika let her gaze roam over the maple courtyard, a maid approached, bowing low at the waist in greeting to Andronika and Daerev.

"General Andronika, General Daerev. His Royal Highness is currently at the back courtyard, practicing his swordsmanship with Generals Arauth and Caius." The maid reported in a polite tone.

Andronika quirked a brow, practicing swordsmanship when the King had sent word that Andronikawould be stopping by,

Andronika felt this Second Imperial Prince really was too willful, but then again, Andronika had to admit, so was she.

"Was he not informed to expect us?" Daerev questioned the maid, a tinge of annoyance in his tone, probably not liking the blatant disregard the Second Imperial Prince displayed for Andronika.

The maid trembled in fear at Daerev's harsh tone.

"He...he was...and yet...he.." The maid trailed off, unable to continue as she trembled in fear.

Andronika frowned in distaste at her fragility, getting scared speechless by just a stern look was unbelievable.

Andronika placed a hand on Daerev's arm, signalling for him to ease up, Daerev seemed to finally notice what his sudden harshness was doing to the poor maid,

Daerev winced, passing the trembling maid an apologetic look which the maid failed to see because she was too busy trembling.

Andronika shook her head, she felt she was because of people like this that the world knew, the calm and collected General Daerev as fierce, merciless and cold hearted,

Although being a General, General Daerev did possess a level of brutality, but at least not as much as the rest of them, Andronika herself was far more brutal than her brother was.

Andronika did not even want to begin speaking of the Second Imperial Prince or Generals Arauth and Caius.

Andronika just felt it was quite a pity that the few people lucky enough to witness General Daerev's better sides were too busy trembling to take notice of it,

Andronika rolled her eyes at the maid's trembling form and made her way to the back courtyard,

Although it was not a regular occurrence, Andronika had at least been to the maple courtyard on a couple of other occasions as such she was familiar with the layout.

Andronika waited quietly as she watched the Second Imperial Prince who was engaged in a sword fight with General Arauth,

Both men were bare chested, sweaty and panting with the exertion of their training and Andronika guessed they had been at it for quite a while.

A bare chested Caius stood off to the corner, muscular arms crossed as he stood, back straight and feet apart, watching the fight with interest.

Andronika was disappointed to see the power markings of the three warriors were not visible, they had probably obscured it as most people do to prevent others from gauging their level of skill, it would only become visible at their will.

Now most ladies would be deterred by the amount of half dressed men around, especially when each was unbelievably handsome and skilled,

But that was precisely where Andronika usually found it hard to believe she was a woman,

Andronika had spent most of her life on the battlefield, she had practically been raised in the military barracks, surrounded by muscular and skilled men in their numbers,

To Andronika, it was a usual sight to, so rather than taking in their appearances, Andronika's gaze immediately focused on the fight,

Andronika nodded in approval of their perfectly executed moves, looking like a perfectly practiced dance, both men moved with such speed and precision,

It was truly a sight to behold and Andronika's muscles twitched to join the fight,

Andronika expected nothing less from two of Dalagh's finest warriors and equally two of the greatest warriors across the seven kingdoms.

"Impressive." Andronika commented in a blank monotone whilst clapping when the display came to an end,

Unsurprisingly, the battle had ended in the Second Prince's victory,

All three men turned to Andronika, it seemed they had not even noticed her arrival,

Generals Arauth and Caius bowed in acknowledgement of Andronika's presence, as the daughter of the Great General, Andronika held a high military rank and based on military hierarchy, her status commanded respect from her fellow Generals.

The Second Prince tilted his head down slightly and Andronika did the same.

"Greetings to the Second Imperial Prince." Andronika greeted formally.

"I was informed to expect your arrival, however I had already made plans with Rauth and Cai, I hope you do not mind." The Second Prince stated rather than asked, he was obviously uncaring of whether Andronika actually minded or not.

Andronika hummed in response, with her current mood ever since she awoke, Andronika truly did not have any interest in conversing with the Second Prince,

However Andronika knew she had to, they would be getting engaged after all.

.

The Second Prince quirked a brow at Andronika's response or rather lack of it but did not say anything, instead gesturing for Andronika to follow as he led the way to his receiving room.

The Second Prince took his seat, laying across the spacious seat in a leisure manner with his head resting on his hand which was propped up on the gold arm rest,

The Second Prince nodded his permission for Andronika and Daerev to seat at the seating arrangements prepared for guests.

Andronika frowned slightly at the fact that neither the Second Prince nor Generals Arauth and Caius bothered to get decent but she decided against speaking on it,

It was their home after all, they could very well prance about naked if it suited them.

"I would ask what brought you here, but then, I already know why you are here." The Second Prince began in a lazy drawl, Andronika shrugged in response.

"I also know about the huge tantrum you threw about the engagement decree, kneeling outside the ancestral hall and all, I assume you have gotten the anulment decree from royal father?" The Second Prince asked, and Andronika chuckled quietly.

"I did not anull the betrothal Your Highness, I rather agreed to go through with the engagement." Andronika informed the Second Prince equally as uncaring of his thoughts on the issue.

The Second Prince stiffened visibly before relaxing , his gaze narrowing into a glare.

"I did not take you for one so fickle, or was the tantrum just some form of attention seeking?" The Second Prince asked coldly,

Andronika quirked a brie, her features turning icy at the Second Prince's words as well as the disrespect in his tone.

Andronika now recalled exactly why she had been so desperate to get away from the Second Prince in her previous life, why she had been willing to do anything to anull the betrothal.

Second Imperial Prince Jalan was truly too hateful, Andronika could not imagine spending her life with someone such as he,

Andronika would rather have moved permanently to the battlefield and died there if need be,

This cold disregard of the Second Prince was what had led a young and foolish Andronika straight into the clutches of Prince Ikkan of Kahlo,

Andronika was foolish not because she lacked wisdom, but because she had failed to notice that she had cared for the Second Imperial Prince Jalan so much that his words and actions today would hurt her greatly,

So much so that Andronika had lost her sense of reasoni in her bid to get away from him and prove to herself that she felt nothing for the Second Prince...

Andronika was now finally beginning to understand herself, it had taken her dying once to finally realize that Prince Ikkan had not the only one who played a key role in her ruin,

Second Imperial Prince Jalan had been the beginning and genesis of it all and the third and most important key player was love, a worthless feeling that had played Andronika right from the start, right from the Second Imperial Prince Jalan.

The more Andronika understood, the colder her heart got, cold enough so she would never be played by anything or anyone ever again, cold enough so she would never find herself at the mercy of love... not in this lifetime

The moment Andronika finally looked up at Jalan, the chilling cold look in her eyes shocked everyone to silence.

"If there was an attention worth seeking then perhaps we could have that discussion, Your Highness." Andronika replied in a blank tone.

The Second Imperial Prince quirked a brow at Andronika's words, before he reached out suddenly, grabbing an unsuspecting Caius and pulling him down into his lap,

The Second Prince joined their lips, kissing Caius with a fiery passion, Caius tried pulling away but the Second Prince tightened his hold on his lover,

Soon enough, Caius' grunts of protest were converted to moans,

All the while, the Second Prince's gaze rested on Andronika as though trying to prove a point.

Andronika's expression remained unfazed, she was already expecting this, the exact same thing had happened in her previous lifetime,

This particular event had hurt Andronika deeply, wounding her pride, not for the act of intimacy with his lover but for the blatant disrespect the Second Prince intended with this action,

A simple and clear message that conveyed Andronika's worth to him...in short, nothing.

This time however, Andronika did not feel any particular way about the Second Prince's actions, in fact, there were no feelings whatsoever,

The Second Prince's actions had no effect on Andronika, proving he now meant nothing to her, as it should have been.

"I shall not beat around the bush any longer Andronika, let me make things clear to you. I have no interest in having anything love involved with you, since you agreed to this, you should know the purpose,"

"I will not condone you having any expectations of me. My heart is already completely occupied, I have no place for anyone else, all we are is just a facade for the peace talks, nothing more." The Second Prince clarified coldly and Andronika chuckled.

"I completely understand and agree Your Highness. But do you know what I find amusing? The fact that you are doing all this in an attempt to prove what exactly to me?" Andronika began in dark amusement.

" I am not interested in you Jalan, never have been, never will be. You might be accustomed to every female having some sort of interest in you, but let us be honest here and admit it is because they all want something from you, but in my case, there is nothing you have that I want...you know why Jalan?" Andronika trailed off, the Second Prince quirked a brow in response.

" It is quite simple really, there is nothing you have that I do not have already. I surpass you in looks, cultivation level, fighting skills, fame, recognition, prominence... name it, I have it all..."

" What could you possibly offer me that I do not have, Your Highness? Royal favor? Your father dotes on me the most, and Crown Prince Jaran adores me, I already have royal favor without you, what I am trying to say in essence is.... I do not need you Jalan."

"But you on the other hand...you need me, why? Because there is no other woman with a family power strong enough to instill fear in the six kingdoms and cause them to back of from proposing marriage except me."

"Between the two of us, I am more useful to you than you could ever be to me Jalan. So next time, before you think to disrespect me like this , remember that I shall not stand for it,"

" I shall anull the engagement and then be there to congratulate you when you are forced to marry some foreign princess who will want to take complete command of your heart and home, "

"Then you will understand, that I do this for my kingdom, because it is my duty as a Majeir to protect my kingdom however I can, whether it be by giving my life on the battlefield or giving up my own choice of the man I wish to marry," Andronika paused at this point before she continued in a much calmer tone.

"And I am doing this for you, because somehow, someway, I still hold you in high regard because I remember how you used to teach and protect me when I was little, so forgive me Jalan for trying to do the same for you,"

"For trying to protect you in my own little way, forgive me for not being able to turn a blind eye to your predicament, despite the sacrifice I will have to make. Forgive me Jalan and by all means put the blame on me, for betrothing myself to you from my mother's womb, blame me, for tying myself to a man as horrible as you, it is all my fault."

"In any case, fret not because as soon as the peace talks are over, this nonsense we have going on will come to an end. Even if it means, I have to spill blood for it to happen, I will get my freedom from you,"

"Till then, feel free to ignore my existence, I do not mind whatever you have going on with your lovers, I will stay out of the way because I also have no desire to be around you for even a second, have a good day Your highness!" Andronika growled out angrily, crushing the teacup between her hands in my anger.

Blood dripped out of the cuts but Andronika did not care, she rose to her feet to take her leave.

Daerev followed suit, flashing the three other men in the room a hateful glare and made to follow after Andronika, Andronika halted.

"Do not think me a fool Daerev, I know of your intimacy with Jalan and his lovers, I do not care for anymore pretence, do not follow me, I wish to be alone." Andronika declared, before continuing on her way out of the courtyard and the palace itself.

Andronika was not even certain why she was so furious, it had nothing to do with the Second Prince or his lovers at all, rather the Second Prince's actions had stirred up the memories Andronika had been trying to lock away for her own sanity.

The memories of all her failures, all the pain and destruction she had caused with her own hands.

Andronika let out a shrill whistle once she was outside and Reo came bounding towards her,

Andronika climbed astride her beast and Reo took off, Andronika did not know where her spirit beast was heading but she knew Reo understood she needed him to keep moving.

All Andronika knew was that she had to get as far away as possible from the city, the familiarity of the environment, of everything was overwhelming,

Andronika needed space to collect herself, to finally let the tears she had been holding back all day flow,

At least just this last time, Andronika knew after this, she could not afford to loose control of her emotions like that, it would do more harm than good,

Most especially when Andronika had not fully figured out the in's and out's of her situation, Andronika was living the same life once again and yet she could not be completely sure what to expect,

Andronika could not even be certain things would be any different this time, she could not be certain she could even change her fate and these thoughts filled Andronika with terror.