I struggled to my hands and knees and held up a hand, I was done. Through blurry vision, I tried to see Papa or Professor Tessam who should have called this match. Pain exploded in my cheek as Mia’s fist hit and I collapsed again. But this time I rolled over and an angry, painful cry ripped from me. Within my grasp, I grabbed her hair, wrenching her down on the ground beside me before she could punch me again.
“Stay away from our prince, you little bitch,” Mia gritted out trying to get on top of me to wrap her hands around my neck.
Grabbing her hands, I roared, threw my forehead into her nose; blood leaked out like a faucet. Screaming, she grabbed her face and began to rise up, I heel kicked her in the chin before she moved out of reach then my magic burst from me, throwing her at least twenty feet.
Papa dashed over and stooped down beside me. I curled back up, holding my broken rib. Although I was still heated from the fight, it hurt to move.
“Do you need to go to the infirmary?” he asked gently. “Or I think Tessam has a healing potion or two on hand. I’ll get one.”
Slamming my eyes shut, I nodded trying to hold back tears. The pain was really setting in now. The kick to my gut after she’d broken my rib with her sword, did me in.
“Mia kept going even after she conceded, sir,” Logan said and I heard their footsteps leaving.
Papa let out a low grumble. “I’ll talk with her.”
While silent tears slid down my cheeks, a hand pulled mine away from my ribs and a penetrating warm trickle pulsed into my side. The pain started to ease, and within moments I could take in a deeper breath. I opened an eye, Zyacus knelt beside me, hands over my injury. “I saw what happened, I was still defending myself in the match so I couldn’t come over to intervene. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry. This is what this academy is about, broken ribs and bloody noses.” I was just grateful the searing pain had subsided to a dull ache. Less than a minute later I could sit up. I stared over at Mia who was being talked to by Professor Tessam and Papa, sipping on a potion. “I didn’t know Jennika wouldn’t be the only girl from Hesstia who wanted to kick my ass for dating you.”
“What do you mean?” Lightly touching my cheek, he pursed his lips and healed that too. I was only mildly sore when the healing spell finished. Sometimes I wished I had a magic stone. It was limited in ways I wasn’t but it also didn’t drain physical energy.
“She told me to stay away from you and called me a little bitch.” I got to my feet and decided this wasn’t over. I marched past Zyacus and before either Papa or Tessam could stop me, I threw a hard right hand into Mia’s barely healed nose. She dropped like a sack of potatoes. “I’m ready for a one on one match whenever you are.”
Jerking me away, Papa said, “That is enough!” Holding firmly to my upper arm, he pulled me toward the academy.
Zyacus fell into step beside us. “If I may, sir, Mia deserved that.”
Papa’s stern face cracked a smile and he shook his head. “She may have but you can’t do that, Visteal.”
“I was doing what Bindy told me to,” I said nonchalantly. “Teaching people to respect the Princess of Delhoon.”
Chapter 29
Papa said there had to be a consequence for what I did even if he thought I was justified. So he sent me to do dishes after my next classes, while everyone ate lunch. One would think a princess would be above this but no. My family said it would teach me humility and I’d be a better ruler for it. I didn’t correlate dish duty with ruling a kingdom but what did I know? As I dunked my hands into sudsy water, I heard the door swing open.
“Hello, beautiful.” I smiled recognizing Zyacus’s voice. He leaned his back against the washtub beside me. “Want some help?”
Picking up a dish and scrubbing it, I chuckled. “I thought you didn’t do servant work.”
“I don’t,” he said, lips curling. “But for you, I will.”
I blushed. As much as I loved this attention from him, I wasn’t accustomed to a boy—a very beautiful and charming boy—openly wanting me. “You could use some humility anyway.”
He laughed and I realized how much I loved that sound. He took the dish from my hand and dunked it into the hot clean water. After he set it in the drying rack, he said, “Alright now let’s get some magic going so I don’t have to do that again.”
“Spoiled little prince,” I said but we both waved our hands and set the dishes in motion. A bristled brush dunked into the soapy water and in a swirling motion, scrubbed a plate. Other dishes floated over garbage cans, dumping uneaten food then stacked beside the washtub. Soon a line of dishes floated, dunking, scrubbing, rinsing, drying.
“I’m going to have a talk with Mia,” he said, folding his arms.
Shaking my head, I sighed. “Please don’t. I can handle my own problems. She’ll see it as weakness, all of them will if you step in every time.”
He was quiet for a moment. “If that’s your wish.” He didn’t seem happy about it but I was.
“Thank you.” I hopped onto a dry countertop and sat, kicking my dangling feet slowly. “So how am I going to tell Connor I’m not going with him to winter formal now? After I already said ‘yes’.”
“I can tell him. We can start the championship tournament early,” he said and winked.
I’d forgotten they would face off in the arena soon. That bout might be more intense than usual.
“But I’m sure he has an idea since everyone saw us together this morning,” he said. “I would be surprised if he doesn’t approach you.”
My eyes drifted toward the door where outside everyone ate lunch. “I kind of want to send him a note, but that seems like a coward’s move.”
“Just wait,” Zyacus said. “He’ll find you. I don’t know why you’re worried about this. You’re a princess, aren’t you used to telling people what to do and what you’ll be doing? You don’t even need to explain yourself.”
No. I don’t typically give people orders. Only when necessary. “About some things.”
He chuckled like this situation was hilarious. “This will be good practice then.”
There wasn’t enough time to finish dishes before we had to get to our next class so the people who actually worked here took over. With a quick wave Zyacus darted off and I turned the opposite direction. When I rounded the corner, Connor and his friends stood gathered.
Lifting my chin and straightening my shoulders, I said, “Connor, I need to speak with you.”
His friends quieted and left us alone. Connor scratched at his chin and shuffled to me. “You’re going to winter formal with Prince Zyacus, aren’t you?” He quickly added, “Your highness.”
I nodded. “Yes but thank you for the invitation.”
“I am not trying to undermine you but are you sure that’s a good decision? It will send a message to both kingdoms and I don’t think either is ready for it.”
Where did the bumbling buffoon go? Of course I’d thought about it a million times. And I was willing to take the scrutiny. “What is best for the kingdom and me, is not for you to decide.”