Harris vs Adam (2)

"How about we make a bet. If you can beat Harris, my knight, in a wooden sword fight, then I won't force you. If Harris wins then you will come to Barlow, whether you like it or not."

He said that so casually which made Adam even more annoyed, as if he was already confident that the tired looking knight standing next to him, could beat the commander knight of Grithda.

"Wooden swords?" He asked with a snort "I know you underestimate Grithda's power but I thought the prince of Barlow would offer something more exciting in battle."

Shit, he spoke too presumptuously to a prince. Whatever, he couldn't back down on his words anymore.

Luckily he wasn't offended, Prince Jacob nodded, "I don't want you or Harris to get hurt."

Adam saw the face of the personal knight contorted blue, as if he didn't expect the Prince to speak like that either.

"What if I refuse?"

"If you refuse I will take it as a sign that you agree to go with me."

"?????"

Queen Yelan, the knight Harris, Adam, and the gate guards of Grithda's training area simultaneously made bewildered faces, but the guards quickly lowered their head.

"That doesn't make sense..." Adam mumbled sullenly, a laughter came out of Queen Yelan's.

"Oh god, Prince Jacob, you didn't tell me that."

"I said, I'm not a good person, Majesty Queen Yelan."

"So the only way for me to refuse that request is to beat your knight?"

Prince Jacob nodded, he gave a small smile towards Adam, and at that Adam's heart was pounding, --that's cheating! showing a pretty face like that is cheating!

Okay, whatever, the sooner this was over the better, Adam had no idea what purpose this man had for wanting him in the Barlow kingdom, but he would figure that out later. After he defeated the man who looked like he no longer wanted to be here— Harris, for some reason the man had a flabbergasted face like he just saw a ghost.

"Are you okay?" Adam asked Harris who was surprised as if he did not expect it, let out a heavy sigh.

"Well, I don't know, my stomach is a bit hurt."

Somehow Adam felt a bit sorry for the knight, it seemed he had gone through a lot of hard times with the prince.

He fixed his gaze on Prince Jacob, looked straight into those cold blue eyes, then let out a heavy sigh, he glanced at Queen Yelan who had been watching him with a slightly worried face.

"Well, okay." He finally opened his mouth, "a wooden sword, right?"

And so Queen Yelan and Prince Jacob sat together at the side where the nobles usually watch the knights fight, the male guard brought two wooden swords to the two of them. Harris, looking like he could not process what was going on right now, holding the wooden sword hesitantly, he sighed and sighed several times.

"Unreasonable Prince"

"If i fail this he's going to kill me."

"Ah shit."

He heard the knight curse, hearing the frustrated grunts from Harris, Adam almost let out a chuckle

"Well I won't lose this, Harris. I want to stay here. In Grithda."

"Yeah, I know, Adam. but unfortunately he's my king."

After proudly declaring that, Harris stood up firmly— full of readiness, clearly a man who was used to this kind of situation, his tired eyes seemed to shine.

Pointing the wooden sword at Adam, Harris lips formed a thin smile.

Adam certainly did not plan to lose either, he prepared to attack, standing firm, facing each other in the opposite direction. Waiting for the guard to count before they finally start the match.

1 .... 2 .... 3 ....

*Clack*

The sound of a wooden sword hitting against wooden sword thumped, as soon as Adam noticed that there wasn't even a hint of pheromone scent on Harris' body— indicating that this man was a beta. At that point, using pheromones would only be in vain because beta could not smell the alpha and omega pheromones.

He pressed hard, bent his body and quickly swung his wooden sword right at Harris' stomach. Harris, despite the pain, hit Adam's back terribly hard with his sharp elbow. Shit. That hurts a lot.

Frowning and ignoring the pain, Adam turned his body quickly, he jumped, raising his sword so that it almost hit the back of Harris's head, but Harris seemed to have super reflexes, blocking his attack with a wooden sword.

As if neither would budge, they attacked, punched with their hands, kicked, struck their opponents, the two men were like wild animals pitting against each other their almost equal strengths.

In the moment they stood as if to take a breath before attacking again, Harris' forehead was bleeding. it wasn't just Harris who was in a bruised state, Adam massaged the right shoulder and felt it go numb, the hand's grip on the wooden sword weakened.

His throat suddenly felt strange, feeling an iron taste on his tongue, he spat out, smiling bitterly when he saw red on the ground.

That man Harris, was attacking straight on his vital points. What a drag.

"What is this? Are your legs getting weaker, knight commander?"

Harris scoffed, and that made Adam grind his teeth, he quickly jumped again, seeing Harris who could predict his move Adam smiled a little, rapidly changing his stance, he hit Harris's eyes hard with his knee.

Harris's body fell heavily to the ground, there was even a 'bang' sound as his body tumble, he thought this man would be unconscious, he almost smiled— until he saw Harris slowly stood up and at that moment Adam did not wait until his legs could stand up perfectly. He started attacking again, intending to hit the wooden sword right in the jaw but in the blinking of an eye, unpredictably, Harris was already behind him, locking his right shoulder, pushing his body, his other hand gripping Adam's head, pounding it hard to the ground.

"Kkh—"

His jaw hurt like shit.

Adam tried to move his body, but Harris's weight locked him down firmly.

No. there was no way he'd lose. He was sure that Harris looked barely conscious, but who in the hell was this beta guy?

He shouldn't underestimate the knight who always walked beside a Lunatic Prince.

So lesson learned.

This was his fate now.

Harris lifted himself from his body, he saw his legs shaking a bit as he stood up. Adam clicked his tongue, still unable to accept his defeat, but there was no way he could ask for a second round.

Queen Yelan and Prince Jacob approached them, Harris stretched out his hand to help Adam to stand. He heard Harris whisper the word 'Sorry'.

He did not hate this man. Maybe. A strong beta, he even admired the man's ability.

"You're so cool, dammit, I thought I was going to pass out." Harris said in a tone full of admiration.

The feeling was mutual.

Harris wiped the blood off his injured forehead, Queen Yelan looked at him with a concerned face, "You should go to the medic wing, your forehead is bleeding and your eyes turned purple, oh my! Adam, go with Harris—"

"I'm alright Your Majesty, thank you for your concern."

Without noticing a taller figure beside him, Adam looked to the side— Prince Jacob's aura up close was so terrifying, it gave him goosebumps compared to when they had spoken before. He massaged his chin, wincing as his jaw ached, his vision was a bit blurry nevertheless he was glad that his legs were still standing straight.

He could still taste the iron on his tongue, he wiped his lips and sure enough there was blood.

Prince Jacob's hand rested on his shoulder, Adam flinched slightly giving him a confused look at the sudden move, however the prince just stared at him without expression. Instantly a soothing scent wafted from him, Adam found himself inhaling and closing his eyes. Pheromone. Prince Jacob was releasing his pheromone.

How can a pheromone from someone be this calming? If he had the ability to purr like a cat he would probably be fast asleep by now

"Do you like it?"

Prince Jacob asked in a low and soothing voice, Adam blinked a few times, he looked up at the face of the Prince who was still expressionless. Adam nodded slowly.

"Good, this pheromone has a calming and healing effect, although I can't control the healing effect so perfectly yet, at least the pain in your body will be reduced."

--Smell so good, so amazingly good. It's like being around a garden full of greenery and surrounded by sweet-smelling flowers with clean river water near you.

I want more.

At that thought Adam shook his head quickly. What just happened?

He knelt down, and lowered his gaze. "Thank you, Your Highness— but you, you shouldn't do that to a knight like me—"

Why was he stuttering? Dammit.

No answer from him. This situation made Adam raise his head and he found Prince Jacob focused on staring at his head.

He touched his head, Adam's face turned red instantly as he realized that his ears were popping.

"Why did you hide them? Isn't Grithda fine with hybrids?"

Holding both of his ears and pressing both of them, Adam's face was still red, "You're right Your Highness, I- I have personal reason."

Adam looked back, luckily his tail did not show up. He breathed a sigh of relief.

Harris approached the two of them, his nose scrunched up. Adam thought that was such a weird reaction, could a beta smell pheromones? he recalled again that the prince's ability as an alpha was a bit strange.

"You have to keep your word Adam Reyns. Don't disappoint me, Haris will pick you up two days before my succession ceremony."

Boom

Something that been bothering his mind rose up again, making Adam realize his current situation. He lost to Harris, and that meant he had to accept his defeat and go with the prince to Barlow.

Adam looked back, Queen Yelan walked up to him, a worried look on her face as if she felt guilty for letting this happen. No, he didn't want to see Queen Yelan put on a face like that.

"Your Majesty, Queen Yelan, I will not forget my agreement with you, I will protect Grithda. You don't have to worry anymore, nor will I harm your knight."

Protecting Grithda? So this was one of the agreements requested by Prince Jacob? Why didn't Queen Yelan tell him that from the start?

If he knew it he would've immediately agreed to go to protect Queen Yelan and Grithda.

Taken aback, Prince Jacob drew closer to him again, he told Queen Yelan to take a few steps back. Adam looking at the prince with a puzzled look, preparing himself for whatever was to come.

Prince Jacob leaned down, Adam did not know what would happen, would he get hit for hurting his personal knight? Whatever it was, Adam closed his eyes. But no blows, no pain, he slowly smelled the familiar scent again.

"It's stronger than before, so stay still."

Poof

Sweet addictive scent like flowers penetrated every inch of Adam's system, feeling like he was floating in the sky. His body weakened, as if numb however he could feel how it made him calmer— better.

There was nothing on his mind but sleeping soundly, without burden, without problems, without pain.