2.Road back home

The road back to our country is a long one. It would take about 3-4 weeks to get to Memphis. Riding this long will hurt my back, but still, it was better than walking. Alex, my helper, and friend over the past five years have come to see me with a pile of paper and my sword in his hands. He probably cleaned it up.

"We sent a messenger to the King. He should arrive there five days before we do. Everything is packed and ready to go. We're waiting for your command." "Thank you, Alex.

Everybody, get ready to go! Get on your horses!" He hesitated to leave, opening and closing his mouth. I looked at him, strapping my sword to my hip, approaching my horse. "What's wrong? Stop standing there and say it."

"You know, there's a rumour that The Alliance will be in the capital to celebrate."

I scoffed.

"It's not just a rumor. You don't expect everyone to celebrate the end of the war? My father is organizing a great celebration in the castle."

"I know that. I was afraid you'd run into those bastards again."

"It was inevitable. What are you worried about? It's not like it's my first time; I'll be just fine." I smiled assuring.

"I wasn't worried about you; I was worried about them." I squinted my eyes pondering if I should hit Alex a rock or just do it with my fists.

"I am a lady! Why should you worry about them? I can behave just fine in the presence of anyone." "I swear I've seen you act like a lady like three times in five years. And those were the times when you were in the presence of the prince of Ghada. You were so in love with him it was unbelievable." He wiggled his eyebrows.

"All right. The fists are the winners." I started approaching him."Oh, no, no! I am giving you advice as a friend. Why do you always need to be so violent?" He started running away.

"Lord, throw some brains from heaven, or some rocks as long as it hits the mark." I stopped chasing him and sent a wave of mana causing him to stumble and fall into horse poop.

"Cheater…You can't admit you have no manners and patience." He muttered.

"It takes a bitch to know a bitch. I've spent the last five years on a battlefield. What do you expect?" ...…

It's been a week since we were on the road. So far, we have not encountered any problems: no enemies, no bad weather, no injured people. It was hard to believe that the war was over. We were so used to always being alert that this peaceful travelling felt disturbing.

I remember how it all started five years ago. I was seventeen. My brother, the Crown Prince, was my father's favorite. He always got what he wanted, but me... I always got the crumbs. I was a threat because I had the same right as my brother to claim the throne. I never understood why my father had favored Cayden and I never asked why. My mom's love was enough, I had enough resources and opportunities to grow up as a royal. I invested since I was young in a few businesses, I loved to read and learn history and languages, I had a great physical aptitude and my magical affinity was not something to overlook. I was the first royal in 500 years that was born with black mana. That meant I could become almost invincible at night, shadows being my trustworthy friends. I know that father was afraid of me. He should. I was ready to come back and claim what was mine.

When the war started, my father was too old to go to war, so the one leading our army was supposed to be Cayden. A few days before departing, while having our meal with the other allied Kings my father started a game 'just to have some fun and loosen up'.

"I think women should be aware of the fact that they are inferior to men. In every aspect, of course. Look at my darling Despa, if she wasn't so pretty I wouldn't even take her as my wife. That's her only asset. She would be nothing without me taking care of her."

Waves of laughter were heard at the table. Stupid pigs. Treating women like nothing. I could take at least half of them without even breaking a sweat. I took a glance at my mother and she subtly shook her head. I understood. 'Don't say anything.' I grabbed my fork and stabbed the meat with a little more force than normal, making my plate break in two. That attracted my father's attention.

"Don't you agree, Victoria?"

My mother's eyes widen trying to tell me to not utter a word. 'Fuck it'

"I don't agree at all, Your Majesty"

There was silence. Expecting a furious Emperor, they were waiting to see what answer my father would give for my insolence of not agreeing with him. Weirdly, he started laughing. One by one, all of them started laughing too. My mother was even more nervous. If he laughed, it was a bad sign.

"Then how about proving me wrong?"

My whole body stiffed hearing his words.

"And how should I do that, Your Majesty?"

"Well..." he trailed" how about sparring your brother?"

"Huh?" I was appalled. I couldn't understand why would he propose that to me in front of everyone else. He knew I could beat my brother. Was he trying to make a fool out of himself?

"That's a good idea, father! That way she can understand the real gap between a man and a woman. Servant, bring two swords."

"Come on, Victoria. Entertain your old father."

"Yes sister, I bet you can't even get a scratch on me."

"Good idea, son. Let's do a bet to make things more fun. The winner will get a prize. A recognition of the skills."

After hesitating for a few seconds, I rose up from my seat and grabbed the sword. Should I win? Should I purposefully lose? What's his reason to propose this duel? His smile sent shivers down my spine.

When we started sparring, I could feel that Cayden even weaker than usual. 'Well, that's suspish.' I think that even if I want to lose, I couldn't. A few minutes later, Cayden dropped his sword trying to block my swing.

*clap clap* "Congratulations! You indeed proved me wrong."

Bowing slightly I returned the sword and returned to my seat.

"Now that you've entertained me, I should give you the prize. If you wanted so badly to prove me wrong, " he turned smiling evilly at my brother " then I guess you should prove your skills further by leading our army to war."

*clack* "My mother dropped the wine glass and shattered it all over the floor.

'I knew it. He just wants to see me dead. I looked at him straight in the eyes and smiled without any emotion in my eyes.

"Thank you for the opportunity, Your Majesty."