Chapter 84
Pranee lunged for Ritthirong's staff but ended up grabbing his wrist.
There was a spark of hope but Ritthirong quickly shooed it away by throwing the princess to the ground. Tanet began to run towards Ritthirong with a broken piece of wood, his rage being vocalized in a loud yell.
"What are you going to fight with?" Ritthirong spun the staff and a gust of wind knocked Tanet to his feet. "
Pranee raised her fists to cover her head and squatted. Ritthirong's eyes flitted to her stance and scoffed.
"That's new." He slammed his staff onto the ground and it glowed a vibrant blue. "Doesn't change that fact that you're weak."
He swung the staff towards her face with fire blazing off of the tip and Pranee turned her torso so that her forearms would block it. Sparks flew from the impact and Ritthirong dug his heels into the ground to push the staff harder but it didn't help.
There was a thwack and Ritthirong stumbled to the side, caught off balance. Pranee took the opportunity to kick his hand and the staff flew out of his grip.
"Here's my wedding gift for you," Ubol said. "I also want a divorce."
There were only moments before Ritthirong would call the weapon back to him and Pranee sprinted into the direction of the staff. She had to break it. If she broke it, he would be defenceless.
She almost had it in her hands when the door burst open. The staff hopped away from her before it began to shake. It stood up like it was rudely awakened before flying back to Ritthirong's hands. Her head whipped to the door, dreading the worst until she saw familiar faces.
"How did you know they would be here?" Chan asked.
Bayu spun the staff in her hand before swinging it into a guard's face. "What kind of guard am I if I don't know the prince's every move?"
Pranee looked back to see that Tanet had diverted Ritthirong's attention as they fought each other with ferocity. Tanet had Ritthirong's arms in a lock before flipping him onto his back and kicking his stomach.
There was a familiar set of footsteps and Pranee didn't have to look to know who it was.
"Oh, you got the door open. I really thought you were going to make me try and actually open it," Wipa mused.
"You could've made the lock disappear." Bayu swung at another guard.
"I've been in the palace before. They only reinforce the locks with magic, not the bars." Wipa flicked her hand and a few more guards were now hanging upside down by their ankles. "I'm no good with plant-based materials either."
Pranee felt something warm behind her and instinctively ducked. The burnt smell of her wig became apparent to her and she patted down on her head making sure that her hair wasn't on fire.
"Pranee, what are you doing?" Shashi was next to her, kicking people away.
"Trying not to die." She picked up the closest object next to her which was some wizard's lost staff. Maybe she could use magic too.
"Don't think about using that staff," Shashi grunted. "You haven't been able to even light a flame, much less fight with it."
"If it comes down to it, if the king's life means I have to go down too, then I'm willing to do whatever it takes." Pranee tried performing an attack at a guard but when nothing happened, she ended up swinging the staff at the man like Bayu did with her staff.
"So, you're willing to sacrifice yourself but not let yourself have any freedom?" Shashi's staff bent at unnaturally for a split second.
"It's my duty as a princess!"
"What about the duty you have as Pranee?"
There was a loud thwack and Shashi's chest heaved as they tried to catch their breath. She didn't know whether it was from the fighting or the shouting but it didn't seem to matter to them.
"Magic is important to me," Shashi continued while kicking at enemies changing towards them. "My staff is as much a part of my body as my legs." Another kick. "I wouldn't have that revelation if I was tied down to the idea of me being just an armless deviant all my life. There would be nothing for me to live for. You don't have to be tied down to just princess."
Pranee didn't know what to say as she swung the staff again with more force. Emotions bubbled beneath her chest and she bit back tears.
"What do you actually want to do?!"
"I—"
"Watch out!" Tanet yelled.
A giant slab of stone came hurling towards Shashi and Pranee and by the looks of Ritthirong's eyes, he has launched that attack. Pranee's mind went blank as she stared at the rock.
She was going to die.
Shashi jumped into her and there was a loud crash and the distinct sound of splintering wood.
Pranee shielded Shashi's head with her hands and she could only stare at the aftermath as she processed what happened.
"Staff... Where's my staff?" Shashi murmured.
Pranee didn't reply.
"What happened to my staff?" Their voice was raised and their body was now tense to her touch.
Pranee pulled away with wide eyes and Shashi's head whipped around to analyze the wreckage. A faint golden powder was spread on the tiles alongside bits and shreds of wood that escaped the weight of the stone slab.
Their staff was completely broken.
"My staff." They staggered onto their feet. "Do you know how hard it was to even have it made?!"
They were shouting in the king's direction, eyes lit with anger but the king didn't seem to pay any mind as he continued to fight Tanet.
Tears began to pour down their face and they began to charge at danger while Pranee chased after them.