Chapter 31: Friendly Challenge

~Sin-Vira's POV~

Sibylla's warnings about her father kept creeping into Sin-Vira's mind as he sat across from the enemy. He was alone with him, where he could do and say anything he wanted. Which meant Sin-Vira had to try to keep his composure and not act out too much. Knowing himself quite well, it wouldn't be an easy feat.

"I'm surprised you chose to visit us out of the blue. Why are you here and not Sibylla?" he asked in a blunt tone.

"Weren't you already told?" The tyrant king asked with a smug look on his face, stroking his bushy, red beard. He pulled a small envelope and tossed it on the table between them.

It was the invitation Sin-Vira had sent to Sibylla. It was signed with her name and said she'd arrive the next day.

He stared at the card before staring at the king suspiciously. "This still doesn't explain why you are here. A messenger could've easily delivered the letter. Sibylla probably would never even tell you about this."

The king laughed as he waved his hand. "You might be my future son-in-law. Is it wrong to finally get to meet you? Sibylla can be a bit protective, so we never got to have a proper meeting."

He narrowed his eyes. "Might? You don't sound too confident about it. But that night of the festival would've been a proper introduction had you not thrown a punch at your daughter."

"No father is perfect. A mistake is a mistake," Lambert smirked. "Young love is quite a fickle thing. You barely know her, yet you're infatuated with her. If this were under normal circumstances, I wouldn't be so anxious."

Sin-Vira leaned back in his chair. "There's nothing abnormal about us. Sure we're supposed to be enemies, but that's because of you. She has nothing to do with this."

The king laugh was loud enough to burst eardrums, though Vira only winced. "Your mother must've raised you to despise me. I'm sure deep down you have indirect anger towards my daughter for this."

Hearing that made Vira tense up but eased himself. He couldn't show fear. It was hatred at first when he saw her again. She wasn't as kind and selfless when they were younger. But Sin-Vira knew she grew out of it. "What my mother feels towards you and Sibylla doesn't matter to me. All I care about is making Sibylla mine."

Lambert stifled a laugh before leaning towards him. "You're quite greedy. The Sibylla you know now is quite fragile. Like porcelain, she might break in your arms."

His tone sent chills down the prince's spine. The king was speaking and appeared like a caring father, but his tone made him resemble an unstoppable monster. "If she's so fragile. Then I'll keep her safe. Simple." With how reckless she acted, he doubted how delicate she was.

"My darling daughter must interest you. It must have only been a month or so. What made her catch your eye? Her beauty? Personality? Maybe her status?" Lambert chuckled as he rests his chin in his hand.

He remained calm as he rolled his eyes. "You sound like a perverted old, fart. Bylla's an unpredictably strange girl. She puts the consideration of others over her reputation and cares more about someone than their status. Even I'm surprised she'd want to marry the poorest prince in the land."

The king looked with amusement as his ruby eyes glinted. "As was I. Though I understand her intentions, there were more beneficial princes for her to marry. Your kingdom is nothing short of a burden and embarrassment to my kingdom. I can't have my daughter suffer from that."

Vira felt his temper rise as he slammed his hands on the table. "Bastard! It's because of you that this is all happening! When did you ever care about her suffering? I've seen the look in her eyes whenever you're around. What are these punishments you make her go through?" He shouted as his nails dug into the table. He wanted to reach over and slash Lambert's face for saying such a thing.

Though the king remained unbothered by the outburst. There wasn't a hint of remorse in his eyes. "They're simply lessons to put her in her place. She's made to be perfect after all. When you rule a kingdom of perfection, future rulers are meant to be as well. With how ill-mannered you are, you could never understand."

Sin-Vira bared his teeth as he struggled to restrain himself. "Why do this to her?! Sibylla deserves none of this but you make it sound like it's nothing!" He shouted. His chest burned with anger and frustration.

"Why? Because Sibylla's a very special case. Even when I break her into a thousand pieces, she still pulls herself together perfectly. It's a beautiful sight, but I'm not here to flaunt my creation of the perfect daughter."

Sin-Vira slammed his fist into the table. "Stop talking like that! She's not some toy you can destroy as you please! She's filled with emotions, dreams, and fears like everyone else! I can't believe someone as kind as her can stay sane with a monster like you breathing down her neck!"

Lambert's nonchalant expression suddenly hardened into a glare. Before Sin-Vira could even react, his head was slammed into the table with a hand keeping it down. He could hear the wood under him crack.

"Monster? You're too ignorant to understand what 'perfection' truly is!" He shouted. Sin-Vira tried grabbing his hand, but no amount of force could pry his hand off of him. It only made the pressure increase. "You have no idea what you're getting yourself into, kid."

He finally understood what Ivy meant about his recklessness. How ironic he thought so little of it until now. It frustrated him that his strength was nowhere close to protecting Sibylla.

"I'm trusting her judgment in marrying you. But don't think for a second that you'll get anything from this. If you do marry her, I will make sure every morning you wake up wishing you never met her." His tone was as heartless as his actions.

Though it was a bold threat, Sin-Vira knew he meant every word of it. It terrified him to the point his lip quivered. The pressure against his head was agonizing that it felt close to exploding. But for some reason, he couldn't wipe the smile off his face.

"Try all you want. When I see her every day by my side, I'll know it'll be worth it. Sibylla will be mine. Just you wait, old man…"

The pressure released from his head as Lambert laughed. "That's the spirit, boy! A friendly challenge to see who breaks first! I look forward to it."

Sin-Vira was barely able to keep his head up properly. He tried standing but fell on his knees when his legs gave up on him. His sharp sight was becoming blurry as his ears rang loudly. All he could do was look at Lambert's blurry image as he spoke to him.

"A real shame…"

That was all he could hear before collapsing on the cold floor. He stared at Lambert's boot as they walked towards the door. All he could do was watch helplessly before being embraced by the darkness.