The silence in the room was deafening that one could hear an embroidery needle being dropped to the stone floor. The guards, expertly trained to obey their King's orders and to keep an impassive facade at the palace's ongoings, had a hard time restraining their expressions.
Baron Rodrick let out a whimper, too shocked to register that he had soiled his pants at the reveal of his opponent.
Peering down at him, Annabeth was breathing easily, triumphant in her win.
Hidden in the shadows, Percy couldn't help but smile, thinking how Annabeth looked absolutely stunning in her armor.
Meanwhile, Jason was calmly sipping his tea like he expected nothing less.
And lastly, hidden above the receiving room in an alcove and out to see the fun, Piper held out her hand as Leo placed a few coins in her palm.
"Damn, I thought he was going to last longer than that." Leo grumbled. "Was a full two minutes too much to ask for?"
"You should have believed Annabeth when she said she'll have him on the ground in ninety seconds flat." Piper tsked as she pocketed the coins.
"Beauty Queen, you're about to become a real queen, you don't need those coins!"
Below them, Baron Rodrick seemed to have recovered his lost tongue. "Your Highness, how can this be? How can she participate in the duel? I was not allowed to substitute for my guard but the Earl can? What kind of man allows a woman to fight for him? What a cowardly bastard!"
"Ahem." Before Annabeth could retort, a female voice coughed. The baron shrank back as Lady Reyna, the other head of the Crown Prince's personal royal guard, stepped forward from her silent vanguard at the crown prince's side. Her eyes glinted as fiercely as an eagle's. "Do I take your words to mean that a female cannot be talented in the sword?" She rested a hand on her sword hilt.
Rodrick knew the tales of the brave Lady Reyna, one of the few female knights to rise high in power due to her skills on the battlefield. "No...no, not at all. What I meant that it was unfair that I could not substitute myself."
"Go ahead and try. I'll defeat whoever you send out," Annabeth said coolly.
Prince Jason set down his teacup and beckoned his butler to serve him another cup. "As I recall, there are no rules saying the marriage candidate cannot step in herself, considering the duel is about her."
"But Your Highness-"
"Take it up with the council if you want to change the rules. This discussion is no more." Prince Jason said with a note of finality. "For gods' sake, Baron Rodrick, please do not deprive yourself of your dignity." Or what remains of it, he thought quietly.
The hapless baron looked down, as if just noticing his soiled state. Seeing the crowd against him, Baron Rodrick concluded that anything else he said or did would only worsen his tattered reputation. He turned around to hide his contempt and fury.
"And Baron Rodrick?" Prince Jason called out. Baron Rodrick looked back. "If I hear word that the council is receiving bribes from you, then today you will not have just lost Annabeth's hand. You will lose your head."
The baron clanked clumsily out the receiving room, with his tail between his legs.
Annabeth grinned as Percy came up to her. Uncaring about her armor, he pulled her close in an embrace.
"You were absolutely fantastic!" He laughed.
"Thank you." Indeed, there was a thrill she felt when she knocked away her opponent's sword. Beyond strength, the baron's sword skills were laughable. No wonder he wanted to have someone substitute him. Besides, the main reason why Annabeth wanted to personally fight was because she didn't want to feel like a trophy, someone to be obtained.
"Ahem." Jason's cough interrupted them, though he had a subtle smile on the corner of his lips.
Annabeth curtsied and Percy bowed before exiting the receiving room, leaving Jason to take the task of listening to the next noble's request.
The exhilaration of winning was slowly wearing down as Annabeth's usual logic came back to her senses. "Baron Rodrick won't back down so easily," she warned. "And we still need to be married."
"Indeed. Jason and I have been investigating Baron Rodrick for the past couple months. I'm sure whatever he tries we will be there to figure out his machinations. As for our marriage..." Percy pulled a small box out of his pocket.
Annbeth felt something thin and cold glide onto her ring finger. "A ring...?"
"I hope it fits perfectly," Percy smiled.
A delicate band of wrought white gold set with a brilliant round emerald surrounded by a ring of smaller diamonds. The emerald glistened in the light, showing just how clear and without a flaw every facet of the jewel had. She peered at the ring on her hand closely. There was something about this emerald that seemed a little too perfect.
In her studies, Annabeth had been taught that common men in the Atlantis Kingdom gave rings of sapphire or emerald to their betrothed on their marriage day. But those were rings of common jewels mined from mines located deep in the earth. Jewels from the sea had an altogether different kind of luster, the kind that seemed to sparkle even in the dimmest of lights. These emeralds mined from the deep seas were highly coveted, and even only the wealthiest of the nobles could afford these special emeralds.
"The ring looks beautiful on you." The earl lifted the hand with the ring on it and kissed the back gently.
"Is this what I think it is?"
Percy squeezed her hand warmly. "You have a good eye. This sea emerald is imbued with magic."
Magic? And here, she thought he was going to merely state the ring was mined from the ocean. Annabeth inspected her ring even more closely. At first glance, one would think the emerald a mere jewel. Pretty, but not useful other than to provide aesthetic. "What kind of magic?"
"If you're ever in danger, and not that it's because I don't think you can't handle it, you can use this ring to alert me." Percy held up his own hand, where a plainer emerald ring glistened. "Same here. If I ever need help, you'll be the first to know. You'll be my knight in shining armor." He half-joked as he gestured to her armor.
Annabeth laughed. "I guess I am. I love it, thank you! But this must be expensive. How could you ever afford this?"
"That's a secret." Percy chuckled at her pout. "I own a mine. Well, several sea operations. What, you didn't think being an ambassador and a soldier was my only day job, right?"
Annabeth shook her head laughingly. "We still have a lot to learn about each other, it seems." She supposed it made sense. Unlike other kingdoms like the Olympian one were they were portions of the mainland, the Atlantis Empire was a series of islands controlled by expert seafaring folk. The empire had barely any land for agriculture and had to import, but they controlled almost all trade on the seas as well as supplied seafood and jewel trade.
"Indeed." Percy peered down at the armor. "Annabeth, you know I adore hugging you, but how long are you going to wear my armor?"
*******************************
Annabeth came out to the parlor and stretched out her arms over her head. She relished the freedom after the weighted armor was removed. The armor was originally prepared for Percy, so some metal parts had been too big and clunky. Parts of her body were quite sore.
"Feeling better?" Percy asked sympathetically. He came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her.
They were in Percy's office at his mansion after finishing their affairs at the royal palace. Percy waved off his maids and they discreetly exited.
"A lot," she breathed a sigh of relief as his hands gently rubbed a knot of tension on her shoulders. "Ooh, right there."
"You know, when I imagined me giving you a massage, it was supposed to be after our marriage night," Percy joked.
"Ha! Do you think you're talented enough to make me sore, Your Grace? Please. Besides, we're engaged now."
Percy bent down and whispered into her ear. "Want to find out, my lady?" He kissed her at a soft spot just behind her ear, causing her to instinctively shiver.
"Mmm, yes, that spot right there." His fingers worked at a particular stubborn knot below her shoulder blades where a metal part of her armor had been digging particularly hard into. Annabeth couldn't help but moan when as his deft fingers knead the soreness away.
"You know, my lady, you're going to have to stop making those sounds, or my servants will think I've taken you to bed right in my office. Perhaps those rumors about me bedding unmarried women will really come true." Despite what he was saying, Percy let his hands roam around to her front, playing dangerously by skimming the lower part of her breasts.
Damn, he was getting too good at finding out where her sensitive areas were. Annabeth let her hand loll sideways, letting Percy do whatever he wanted with his lips on her neck. She quite liked it when he distracted all parts of her body with sensations from his lips and hands.
Regrettably though, they had work to do, and she didn't fancy her first time on a hard desk.
"While I would be delighted to experience your love-making skills, you'll have to wait until our marriage. Which is what we came over here to discuss in the first place." With some reluctance, Annabeth pulled herself away from his seductive touches. But she couldn't help but tease him just a little by running her palm over his chest. He had taken off his coat earlier, so she could easily brush against his lean muscles.
"Alright." Percy sat down at his desk. "Let's get started, shall we, my lady?"
Annabeth settled down in a cozy armchair opposite his desk. "So how long does it take to send a missive to the Atlantis Empire?"
"Hmm, I've already obtained permission to use the teleportation portals. I'll have my men send the letter to the nearest portal closest to the port town that is nearest to the Atlantis Empire. It'll take about a half day from the portal to the port, and then by ship it will take a week more or less to reach the Atlantis Royal Palace. I'll send off the letter that we're married tomorrow. If I wait any longer, they'll see it as me disobeying royal orders."
"Okay, so let's say we have around a week to prepare." Annabeth hesitated. "I don't think an actual wedding could be planned that quickly. How about just signing the documents in front of a priest?"
"My lovely Annabeth, are you suggesting we elope?" Percy lifted an eyebrow and grinned. "But I see your point. We can just get our marriage certificate and then throw the party afterwards. Besides, I'd like to have my mother at my wedding."
"Of course." She found his obvious love and fondness for his mother quite endearing. He had been brought up with much tenderness and care. No wonder he treated others with respect and kindness.
"Are you ready to become a married woman, Annabeth?" Percy teased. He came around the desk and dropped his chin atop of her head.
Annabeth smiled, recalling their conversation from when they had first met each other. She had expressed her wishes of not wanting a marriage and had jokingly considered marrying him back then. Who knew that she would actually end up being married to the earl?
"To you, Percy? Of course."