"Commander Froilan, Good Morning."
"Prince Rodrigo."
Rodrigo tilts his head.
Froilan mustache has a smear of white sauce.
He just ate heaven.
He is so satisfied that he almost stops the soldiers from taking their shares. Good thing there are more spares.
"You look happy," Rodrigo,who has been pestered by the nobles, has been following the scary Froilan to evade them.
Froilan has been scowling everytime he sees him but today he is smiling happily.
"Am I?" Froilan smirks and looks up.
"Maybe it is the weather.'
"Yes. You look like you are glowing."
Froilan shakes his head and moves away. He looks at the soldiers who are doing their exercise.
Just a little while, those soldiers are kneeling and crying…..because of one little girl's words.
'Hey! Why are you kneeling? Is your stomach alright? Here eat this sandwich. I made it. For only 20 coppers, you can enjoy such a delicious meal. Amazing right? Come on, eat.'
'Worry. Genuine worry and also food advertising. The soldiers slowly lifted their crying face and stuffed themselves with food. They are saying yummy and sobbing like kids. Everyone receives her warmth. If she is a prince… I shouldn't think about that.'
Rodrigo felt that something changes. But he can't figure it out.
Everyone is still the same determined soldiers but….
"What is this---yummm! What the hell is this sandwich?"
Rodrigo's first time eating a sandwich made by his youngest sister.
"Pri--Princess!"
Michael kneeled down.
Emerald had enough of soldiers doing that. It is traumatizing.
"What.is.wrong.with.you?" She helped him stand up but Michael refuses.
"The black knight squadron told us….You….You….How can you be so kind! I want to swear my allegiance!"
Michael cried...no he has been crying.
"Didn't you already swore your allegiance to Prince Yosef? Stand..
..up!"
"No. I haven't! I swore my loyalty to the King though."
"Michael…." Princess Emerald sighs.
"Why did you all think like that?"
"Because….you….are kind."
"Kindness is not a reason why you swore allegiance to someone! Have a grip!" She doesn't want this to become a reason how the soldiers treat her differently.
'What? Michael beats us!'
'That fool!'
'We promise to do it together.'
Unknown to her the Golden Hawk Eyed Squad are just hiding in the corner. They are all clenching their fist toward the selfish Michael.
"Michael….I do not want you to treat me like a Lord. I am nothing but a discarded princess."
"That is not true prin---"
"You see...Nobody knows me in my family. Not even my mother cared about me. I grew up with the maids. I received my allowance but I still worked to raise my money. I worked for the maids and for soldiers.
I am happy simply being me. This is not because I am strong or popular or a royalty but because people like you accept me for who I am. When I say that I respect soldiers, I mean it with all my heart. But I didn't know you will all feel shocked about it. What is shocking about it?"
"Because…..Soldiers are ordinary people who are not like nobles….we don't have school backgrounds and only knew how to fight with our swords. We are the lowest in the kingdom."
"..........the heroes who protect the Kingdom? Are the lowest?" Emerald looks shocked.
"Heroes……..we are only heroes in times of wa---ouch!"
Emerald punches hard.
She grabs Michael's collar tightly and glares at him.
Michael is shocked and so as the rest of the squadron.
"Go outside!"
"Prince---"
"Go outside and ask everyone in the street! Ask them who protects the Kingdom and maintain peace! Sir soldier, you might feel you are the lowest but our citizens needed you. Why do soldiers belittle themselves? You are the first and last defence of our kingdom. Without you, royalty, king, prince,nobles…..we are nothing."
Michael opens his mouth and closes it.
He did it over and over again. His eyes are staring at Emerald's blue eyes.
It is like the blue sky is shining in front of him.
Slowly, Emerald let his collar go.
"Sorry, am I too much? Did I hurt you?" She asks softly as she sees the shock in Michael's face.
Michael smiles after a while.
"Princess…"
"Hmm?"
"Please be my Kin---"
"Shut up!"
Emerald walks away.
Michael didn't follow her.
But he is watching her.
Michael knew from the very beginning….that Princess Emerald is different. But he only thinks that it is because she is the only princess he knows that sells food, cooks food and talks to the soldier like she is one of them.
Now he is sure why she is different.
Because she doesn't look at anyone by appearances, ranks, positions or titles.
And she is someone that respects them.
Rustles.
"You punk!"
Michael's team mates tackled him.
"Ekkk! What?"
"Didn't we all agree to come together?"
"Come? Together?"
The older man sighs.
"We discussed this this afternoon. That we will go and kneel in front of the princess as a squadron!"
"Ehhh? When? Sorry..I am not paying attention." Michael honestly answered.
They all sigh.
Like Michael they all received the Princess's intentions.
"Well, I think it is not bad that you alone got rejected."
"Ehh?" Michael frowns.
They all look at where the Princess disappears.
"Let's all do our best for this kingdom." He said.
Michael and the others nod.
"We should not fail the citizens and those who believe in us." Another followed.
They all nod their heads.
Hero.
They are the kingdom's hero.
The squadrons annual sparring match begins.
All the 15 squadrons lined up in front of the King and the 12 princes.
There are also 6 princesses sitting on the lower seats.
The dashing knights all puff their chest to show their might.
"The annual Squadrons Sparring Match will now begin!"
The Military Commander shouted. He is standing at the left side of the King's throne.
The right side is the Prime Minister.
The Referee will be Randy.
The Harem's head Manager.
Michael is one of the contenders.
He has been a soldier for 4 years and has the qualification to attend.
Michael is clenching his fist.
He will fight one of the best squadrons. A Black Knight.
He is trembling.
Nobody expected him to win.
He clenched his fist tighter.
'Huh? You want to participate?'
'Princess, if I win. Can I give the honor to you?'
'Are you sick? Do you think you can win a hundred enemy?'
'Even I know I can't fight and win alone in war. But as a soldier, I believe I can win against one enemy!'
'Ohhhh! As expected of a brave soldier! I am cheering for you!'
'Princess, I intend to win!'
'Of course! I will not say winning or losing is the same. It is like you are mocking the people who win the game. So what I want to say is a bit different. Michael, grab all the opportunity to win. And do not regret!'
"I will not regret."
There is a huge chance that Michael will lose in the first round.
His squadmates are all face palming in the cheering stand.
"Daym~ He chose the strongest enemy in the get go!"
"Urgh! Unlucky bastard!"
"Michael! Make sure you won't be defeated easily!"
His squadmates are all cheering.
Though they are a squad.
It doesn't mean it will stay like that forever. That is why the squadron doesn't have that mutual understanding as a group.
But Golden Hawk Eyed cheers are the loudest.
They are rowdy men.
The King chuckles.
"Your squad is amazing." He said to Yosef.
Yosef nods but he is not sure when did his squadron become that compassionate.
But……
'Why did he pick the King's squadron at the get-go? Sighhhhhh… At least choose someone else so you can advance. Whatever. I have 12 more soldiers to fight.' Yosef sighs in his heart.
Black Knight meets the Princess Emerald. They all kneel to her.
Since then, black knights are visibly less arrogant.
"Soldier, I will fight with everything I have." The black knight said in a respectful tone.
Michael blinks and then he unsheathed his sword.
"I will fight too and I will…..win!"
The black knight eyes widen.
Michael is determined to win.
Nobody….trust that he can, even he believes he can't. But he will do it.
"A hero doesn't fight just because the enemy is weak!" Michael shouted and run to the black knight.
Shiing.
Shiing.
'Hero'
Everyone hears him.
But only a few handful understand what he means.
His squadmates became quiet.
"Daym! What a show-off! I….I will be the hero so lose immediately!" One shouted.
"Urgh! Die Michael!"
"Damn you bitch!"
The roars become deafening shouts.
Nobody cheered Michael anymore but he doesn't care because he can't hear them anyways.
The black knight is faster,he uses his feet to kick Michael but Michael uses his hand to make his fall stop.
The black knight has jumped in the air and prepares to slash at him.
Michael rolls to the ground and defends using his sword.
Kick up the ground to stand up.
He went to sword fight again. His uniform is dirty. But he is determined to win.
The fight which everyone thought will be over soon became longer as time ticks by.
It is not like Michael is winning.
Actually, he never had an upper hand.
It is like a big lion fighting an angry rabbit.
"End it already!"
"Yeah! End it now."
"Why are you humouring him?"
The other soldiers shouted.
But they can tell that it is not like the black knight is not doing his best.
No.
Michael just bounces but no matter what he does.
He can't kill him so all he can do is hit him. But Michael is like a zombie that refuses to fall.
The King stands up.
"Soldier, I will stop the fight. It is not like you can win." The King smiles. He knows it is rude but they can't drag this match anymore.
Michael looks like he is ordered to die.
But he understands.
He bows his head and walks away.
Even the King knows that what he does was rude.
But a King can't let the match go on.
The black knight is also dissatisfied. He feels frustrated.
The first match dampens everyone spirit.
The King coughs.
"I commend you ,soldier, for your brave act. Do you want to make a small speech as to whom you offer your fight?"
Michael's face brightens.
"Thank you, your majesty!"
Froilan looks at the King.
The King wink at him.
He can't let the soldier who fights so bravely to be disheartened so he offers a speech instead.
It is a good diversion.
"I offer my fight to the Princess."
The soldiers become noisy.
Most of the time it is for the King, The prince they serve or the family they have.
"She told me my importance as a citizen of this country and as a soldier. She inspires me to be a person I am today. I want to be just like how she imagines a soldier is. A Hero. A Hero who will not let the country fall. Because soldiers are the first defence. And the last defence!"
Silence.
Froilan claps his hand as tears slowly fell his eyes.
'Ah…..I know that princess too.' Froilan smiles.
The black knights all clap their hands too.
'I understand you, comrade.'
The Golden Hawk Eyed claps their hands.
Until everyone else is clapping.
The King claps his hand too.
But he is frowning.
'A princess says that?'
Randy is clapping his hand.
'There's only one princess who can say that.'
"Achoo!"
"Princess, are you alright?"
Princess Emerald is in the attic and helping with the cleaning.
"Yeah. Achoo. I don't know. Maybe I should stay out of today. I have to protect my body health!"
"Yeah. Like you always said...Health is better than wealth."
Jane agrees.
A/N:
I should cut it into 2 chapters....is what I told myself but....whatever.
Lolololols.
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