"Tell me what you really want."

After meeting the man's domineering gaze, Freya regretted even raising her head.

She silently gazed into his eyes, secretly swallowing her saliva as her soul was drawn into those serpent like enchanting eyes with different colors.

Roan seemed satisfied with her reaction, showing a slight change in the corner of his lips. He bowed his head and whispered into her ear, "Freya of the Wright family. I know you don't like me... I also know that the Wright family can't force anyone to stay here, just like any other family that brought forth candidates so why are you still here?"

His gaze swept past her side profile and lingered on her soft pink lips before continuing, "Tell me what you really want."

Freya clung tight to the skirt of her dress until her knuckles turned white as she suppressed the darkness in her eyes so as not to betray her feelings. She considered killing him now, but she couldn't catch the Wright family off guard. She would need to inform her uncle in advance so he could flee Odasal with his family first. That was the plan.

As for herself, she didn't really care what would happen to her after that. Since it couldn't be done now she could only bite her lower lip and restrain the violent emotions stirring up in her.

Roan had long wanted to take a step back, but the scent of her body permeated his senses like a network of vines that bound them together. made him feel comfortable.

Luckily, his self-control was the envy of many. He freed himself and took a step back.

"Unless you tell me what you want from me, I will make you miserable in this competition. The entire maze is actually of my own design," he said, while Freya looked at the labyrinth in the center of the Colosseum.

Seeing that she had nothing to say, Roan smiled menacingly before walking away. Freya waited for him to disappear before kicking her foot hard against the wall in frustration hurting herself.

The stabbing pain from her toes made her contort her face. Originally, she came here in search of rest and to access the challenge they were about to face. Who would have thought she would see that person here? She held her breath, completely unaware that someone was watching her from a distance. The shadow vanished like smoke, leaving no trace.

***

Loud cheers echoed off the walls of the Colosseum as a man in purple robes stood on a high platform and stirred up the crowd.

In the crowd were drunk people and over-excited children looking forward to a good show. It was a rare opportunity to choose the next crown princess thus they appeared in droves.

The Wright family, like any other family, had to show their face. Like other families, they were forced to participate in this humiliating practice. Lionel felt very uncomfortable when he first saw this chaotic and rowdy crowd. He was even more worried about his cousin he hadn't seen in a while.  

Anxious, he gripped the armrest and leaned forward to ask his grandfather. Mr. Wright pated his grandson on the shoulder and said, "It's not so barbaric."

Lionel didn't feel reassured. Lionel wasn't reassured. Not that barbaric didn't mean it wasn't barbaric at all. He wasn't the only one looking worried. Lenox regretted it a little.

Freya was his only blood relative left, yet he sent her off into the tiger's to avenge his brother and his sister-in-law. As he gazed at this labyrinth with a pale face, a sense of guilt slowly creeped up on him.

Seeing that her husband was in a bad mood, Cara pressed her hand to comfort him. Lenox turned to her, but he said nothing.

"I hope Her Majesty doesn't take it out on Freya after we refused her lap dog," said Madame Wright as she met the gaze of Matron Dour, who was standing next to Queen Rhea. Recalling that scene made everyone's mood even darker. The intimidation was done in a roundabout way, but even Lionel could read between the lines. Freya had no idea his family was in a sullen mood in the audience. She was standing next to Rose listening to the ridiculous rules of this stupid competition.

This entire thing had nothing to do with choosing a crown princess, but it had everything to do with entertaining the public at their expense.

"... At the beat of the drums you are to enter the maze and your goal is to collect as many of these as possible," said the young woman as she showed them a green flag with the Keres crest on it. She took out a red one and a blue before continuing to say,

"Not this one, nor this one... but this. There will be obstacles in that maze so be on the lookout. Fighting is allowed but don't kill anyone. Also, you have an hour to get out of the maze. If you exit the maze after the sound of the final drum beat then you are disqualified automatically."

One of the girls with beautiful blonde hair lifted the heavy skirt of her dress and asked, "But how do you run in this heavy fabric?" Other young women repeated the same sentiment, all in vain. "This is His Majesty's request, so it can't be helped," said the young lady, and the girls could no longer complain.

Freya thought Isabella would be the most troublesome, but she was calm as if she had known about this for a long time. Freya wouldn't be surprised if someone fainted under the scorching sun today, especially the pampered young women from wealthy families.

As she rolled up the sleeves of her dress and got ready, a stranger stood next to her. Raising her head, she met the gaze of a woman a little shorter than herself, with a warrior-like air about her. She wore the same armor as the infamous Keres guards, but when was Freya related to the Crown Prince's minions?

The woman looked her up and down from head to toe in a disrespectful and superior way, as if disapproving.

Freya: "..."

Ignis had heard about this person from her brethren, but was watching over Queen Nova and never got a chance to take a look.

But when the Crown Prince took a day off today, she came to see it. She wasn't as weak and spoiled as she first thought, but that only added to her dislike of Freya. "Can I help you?" Freya said, turning to face her. Her gaze was as fiery as Ignis'. 

Ignis wanted to say something, but she remembered her true identity and refrained herself. She realised that Freya had caught the Crown Prince's attention, but that didn't mean she would become the Crown Princess in the end.

With a sneer, she stepped back and said, "Good luck." Freya raised an eyebrow at the sight of the woman leaving the room.

"Freya, do you know her?" asked Rose when she saw that the scary woman had left. Freya shook her head, but felt that this would not be the last time they would meet.