Freya's talent

if there was anything Freya was good at, it was archery. She lived and breathed archery. It was the one thing that pulled her out of her pain and misery. The one thing that pulled her from that dark place threatening to consume her soul entirely.

She trusted herself enough to do this though the people in front of her didn't. It was the look of fear in their eyes that made her even more determined to strike the correct target.

With a deep breath, she stood with her feet about a shoulder width apart her core strong and sturdy. With her target in sight, she pulled back the bowstring and with a whoosh the arrow flew across the room.

With an explosive force, the apple exploded into big chunks and the servant was safe and sound.

The audience that was gasping just now was clapping in awe seeing the servant now shivering on the ground unscathed.

Freya picked up the next arrow and just like before, she precisely struck her target. The servant's knees gave out immediately and they collapsed to the ground trembling. After the third time, Freya turned to bow at the royal family members awaiting orders to sit back down.

She could feel the jealous gazes aimed at her but at this moment she had no other thoughts except sitting down in her lonely corner.

Isabella's perfectly trimmed nails were already digging into her skin her eyes as sharp as a sword glaring at Freya. The embarrassment she had been looking for didn't come, instead, Freya had managed to get the attention of the crown prince and the king.

Queen Rhea was also growing concerned. She didn't think any of these girls were a big competition to the candidates she was backing but when she recalled how Roan's eyes sparked while watching Freya she gulped down her cup of wine leaving a bitter taste in her mouth.

"Amazing amazing. It's like just dancing with death," said King Kian and his subjects echoed his sentiments.

"Thank you, your majesty," she said her voice not as high pitched and sugary sweet like the other girl's but silvery, light and pleasant to the ear.

King Kian was about to tell her to sit when crown prince Roan spoke first.

"Strike all three at the same time," he said his voice overbearing and imperative expecting to be obeyed.

"Roan!" exclaimed the King while clutching the armrest of his seat as whispers grew among the crowd.

The crown prince glanced at her with his heterochromatic eyes his gaze piercing and soul-searching at the same time. He placed the cup of wine in his hand down and said, "If you succeed there will be no need for any further selections. I will crown you the crown princess of Odasal right now... in front of everybody. It is up to you whether you want to take the deal or not," he continued to say and the entire hall was in an uproar.

Prince Kian the second couldn't hold back from yelling, "Brother!" but Roan's sharp icy gaze had him cowering like a mouse in a second. He bit his lips in silence and was staring at his mother as though begging for help.

Freya was tempted by this deal. It would directly propel her to the top in an instant but seeing the smugness on this man's face she knew it wouldn't be that simple.

Her archery skills according to her performance just now could be considered to be that of an expert at best but if she did what Roan wanted her to do it would reveal her true skill and her identity would be questioned deeply. 

She could even strike all three arrows at the same time while blindfolded but she wasn't going to give this person any satisfaction. She had long realised this was his way to suss her out and she almost played right into his hands.

Freya bowed as she apologised. "My sincere apologies your highness. This maidservant is not that skilled," she said her words sincere and respectful that crown prince Roan couldn't find fault.

He hadn't thought she would see through him and not take the bait. This made him even more wary of her. He was eager to peel off all her layers one by one like an onion and shed all pretences but this wasn't the place to do it.

Crown Prince Roan proceeded to empty his cup before saying, "As discussed, whoever pleases me with their talent earns immunity in the next selection round... you, Miss Wright have been excused and may directly skip the next selection round."

After saying this he didn't wait to hear her thank him. He got up slowly and as he passed by his father's seat he took a grape from his father's plate and ate it as he walked out of the banquet hall.

King Kian let out bursts of haughty laughter and didn't even stop his son from leaving. But internally he was very unsettled.

Roan walked down the stairs with steady slow steps and when he passed by Freya he said, "You may sit down."

Freya bowed her head further down as she replied, "Thank you, your highness," before scurrying away her heart pounding hard against her ears.

Roan reflexively tilted his head slightly having caught a whiff of a comfortable scent but she had already walked a distance. He turned his head away and walked out with well-paced strides leaving behind a complicated atmosphere.

Freya could literally feel the daggers stabbing into her flesh and suddenly felt that this man did it on purpose. If Isabella didn't hate her before she most definitely hated her now.

Freya subconsciously raised her head in that direction and sure enough, Isabella was glowering at her like a lioness ready to kill.

***

The sweet scent of jasmine permeated through the atmosphere as a woman clad in red robes stood behind a folding screen with her maidservants attending to her.

Matron Dour stood on the side as she listened to her instructions. "Pay the Wright family a visit. Convince them to have their maidservant work for me otherwise, I will make it very difficult for her," said Queen Rhea as the heavy gown slipped off her shoulders.

Matron Dour bowed her head and spoke softly, "Yes your majesty. I will report back as soon as possible." While she was saying this the door of her bedroom was suddenly pushed open and loud sounds of a servant begging someone not to enter were heard.

Prince Kian didn't care for their cries and pleas. He walked into his mother's chambers and called out, "Mother!" He had always been spoilt by her so he didn't think anything of it when he burst into her chambers like that.