The Bloody Crown

BC 33

Francesca looked up at the increasingly blistering sky. But the invited guests did not seem to lose their spirit to wait. The event has been going on for a few hours.

"Tom"

"Yes Your Majesty?"

"That's enough"

Tomy looked at Francesca for a moment and then said

"Sorry before, Your Majesty. But this only lasted for three hours. It's not afternoon yet"

Francesca looked back at the audience, then nodded

"Yeah.it doesn't matter. Because tomorrow night we also have to regroup for the close of summer"

Tomy obediently nodded.

"Good Your Majesty"

Upon seeing Tomy step up to head towards the gong guard, Francesca looked at the empty George's place. The old man is gone.

Then looked towards Summer who continued to frown and looked upset because she was always disturbed by her fiance.

Although Delana. Seemed busy talking to some young ladies. It seems, Delana is indeed very easy to get closer to others. Not just women, but men too.

The sound of the gong began to echo strongly. It was so strong that the ground around the gong also shook, which was expected so that the participants in the forest could hear.

Then several knight horses immediately moved towards the forest to make sure that no participants returned late.

The sound of a gong made the chatter in the audience seats increasingly violent. Their faces seemed impatient to wait for the dozens of participants still inside the forest, who might be on their way to return to the palace grounds.

"Your Majesty..."

Susane again thrust lemonade water at Francesca, which this time directly answered Francesca with a short shake. He had been drinking too much water and his stomach was starting to swell.

Several tens of minutes passed, until the one in waiting finally arrived.

The faces of the hunters began to be seen from a distance with the horses of the knights who had hung many bundles on the sides of the horses.

The audience seemed very excited, including Francesca who was also in the spirit of looking for Edward. Will Ferdinand this year be the ultimate winner again and finally be able to beat Edward?

Well. We'll just wait.

More and more participants showed up with more and more horses coming back.

Until Tomy Mangangguk open to Francesca. Which indicates if the participants have all gathered.

Ferdinand, Edward, and Ryes. Which this year is the main concern has entered into the leash

Again Ryes' gaze met Francesca's. Which made them secretly return to throw each other defiant gazes.

Ryes' mouth opened again and said something without a sound. The one Francesca replied by pulling half her lips.

"We look... Can you beat our Edward, Ryes?"

Francesca spoke only in her heart, without letting out a word from her mouth.

"We'll start counting now, Your Majesty"

Francesca's head nodded briefly at Tomy. Which made Tomy immediately nod at the knight who was going to be the hunting counter.

One bag, six bags, ten bags, and then it continues until Ferdinand's bag

"One bear, two adult deer, three large pigs, and two large rabbits"

Cheers and applause filled the field. Cheers full of admiration, pride, and satisfaction. This year as usual, Ferdinand's hunt never disappointed.

But, Ferdinand's face looked dissatisfied and continued to frown in annoyance. Then, the look of an annoyed and dissatisfied face looked at Francesca who was already staring at him. Francesca who was looking at him with her lips lifted up full of ridicule.

If these were ordinary years without Edward, it might be true... Ferdinand would feel quite satisfied because as far as the count was concerned, it still belonged to Ferdinand the most and the largest.

But now there is Edward. The main coach of the knight camp, the captain who cannot be replaced. And don't forget, if the old war-crazed dog also trains Francia's main war hero, Fredrick.

The pockets of the hunted are still counted, until Ryes's property is announced.

"Duke Hastings Bosnia. One adult deer, one big pig, one big squirrel, three big tigers, and.... Waw! three big ones"

WHAATTT???

Francesca's eyebrows frowned, then looked at the scattered bodies that were on the ground. He feels disbelief and does not want to believe. Damnit damnit! is that guy a monster? in three hours can you kill three tigers and three big bears and the others?

With her face turning increasingly flat and cold, Francesca held her head to stay forward. In order not to turn to Ryes that Francsca could feel if she was looking at him.

And true... Ryes indeed continued to look at him with a face that was annoying and full of ridicule. Which made Ferdinand feel offended. Though... Ryes doesn't care for him.

"Review you if you embarrass Francia Ed!"

Edward rolled his eyes lazily.

"It was you who humiliated Francia. Our Francian prince has lost"

Ferdinand glanced at Edward very, very cynically. The glance is like a vengeful witch ready to turn Edward into a toad.

"Ck! Can you win, Ed?"

"You're losing"

Ferdinand's face grew increasingly irritated. The direction of his gaze was milik Ryes who looked relaxed not doing anything. But, in Ferdinand's cynical gaze, the man seemed as if he was cheering arrogantly mocking him.

"He didn't do anything, Your Highness.. Don't magic him. HAHAHHA..."

Ferdinand's hand was immediately stretched out to push the already broken Edward. Although it won't work, of course. Ferdinand wasn't that good just to be able to touch Edward.

Summer who was in the audience seat bit her lips nervously. Because, after hearing the results of Ryes's buruang, he could be threatened to lose the bet with Regan.

Regan who sees her fiance's nervous face, further spills oil into Summer's nervous flames.

"One request is in sight" Regan shifted her body further and further to whisper next to Summer's ear. "What do I want to ask of you, baby?"

"Ck! it's not over! Edward would win! just look!"

An amused rarity slid from Regan's mouth. Which made Delana increasingly look at the two people in front of him sharply. The gaze that instantly made Regan's head turned to her, then looked at her with a dislike look.

But Delana is in the face, as if not care and continues to look at Summer cynically

"You why?"

"I? why Prince Regan?"

The cold and unfriendly conversation that was happening around him, made Summer's head come to look back.

And the three of them started throwing cold, unfriendly gazes at each other. Until Summer chimed in on the chat there

"You have a problem with me, Princess Delana?"

Gracefully, Delana opened her fan while speaking indifferently

"I don't even care about you, Princess Summer"

One of Summer's eyebrows swooped high. And turn his body back. Until the gesture is already very looks not graceful.

"Then don't look at me, as if I'm grabbing all the attention of every handsome guy here"

"What's your max!"

Well... Regan's getting more and more comfortable in her spectator seat. Looks like this show will be great.

"You know my max" Summer sneered. "Don't be too cynical, because it can add more wrinkles on your face, Princess Delana"

"You!-"

"Knight Edward!"

"Two large pigs, three large tigers, one adult deer, and... THREE BEARS!!!"

Cheers filled with pride and relief instantly filled the entire field.

Ferdinand almost jumped up and hugged Edward because he was too relieved.

"Ohh Ed. You were my idol!"

Edward snorted violently as he stepped away from the movement of hugging Ferdinand

"Don't try Your Highness.... Move aside"

"I want to hug you a little bit. Just a little"

Ferdinand glanced while putting on his disgusting smile. Which made Edward shiver in horror.

Francesca, sitting quietly on her seat, pulled her lips thinly at Edward. Which made Edward so ignore the Prince is not important to them, and immediately looked down deeply on Francesca.

Summer was still cheering with Edward's narrow victory which he would surely achieve. While the man next to him looked at Edward closely. His bright blue eyeballs looked at Edward who had settled down with a gaze that was equally immersed in each other. Regan's mouth muttered softly, a frown that could still be caught clearly by Summer's ears

"Is he always that good?"

"of course! Edward is the greatest!"

Summer's cheerful and proud speech made Regan put her glass. Then say flat.

"Then why don't you wear them again?"

Summer's two hands that were still clapping came to a halt. His head turned to Regan

"Wearing what? Edward was always the captain of the knights"

Indifferently, Regan only nodded briefly. His gaze was already staring at Ryes who was closing in on Edward.

From the tail of his eyes, Edward glanced at Ryes who was already standing next to him leisurely

"I'm curious. What are you guarding Knight Edward?"

Edward's breath was choked. His head turned to Ryes. Ryes is back to speaking.

"The color of a kingdom won't waste your great abilities" Ryes pulled half her lips and looked at Francesca. His mouth spoke again with a gaze that continued to look at the owner of the throne. "Am I wrong knight Edward?"

Edward could only be silent without being able to answer. He is not adept for convoluted affairs and also for the business of turning speech back. Therefore, Edward just closed his mouth without wanting to answer. Edward was afraid, if he opened his mouth wrong, the Bosnian man who had been labeled George with the title 'not an ordinary man', could have immediately found the answer to reality

Ryes, who had only gained Edward's silence, nodded briefly, then spoke again

"Francia... With all his smart people"

That was the last word Edward heard from Ryes. Because after that, Francesca immediately stood up from her chair which made all the commotion become silent. And all the legs stood up as Francesca stepped gracefully down the steps of the stairs and ended up in the middle of the field

"Good day my people... Thank you for your enthusiasm, thank you for your spirit" Francesca searched, to glance at the approaching movements of the three men who would receive her reward. "I'm not good at talking and saying a lot. Emm... You guys must know that"

Francesca's casual greeting made the guests smile amusedly. Francesca continued her words.

"Today, the three men who won this year's festival have been awarded. Hopefully the years ahead, the winners can keep changing like this year" Francesca turned to Ferdinand. "Is that Prince Ferdinand?"

The innuendo full of joking Francesca made the atmosphere more relaxed. Ferdinand who was insinuated just bent his lips with a face that did not accept.

Seeing Francesca's nod, one immediately walked forward politely while carrying a tray containing two golden and silver horseshoe seals, along with one small chest. The prizes are always the same for the winners of archery races every year.

Francesca's hand took the small crate first. The coffin had the emblem of two serpents guarding a black sword, the coat of arms of Francia.

Gracefully, Francesca handed the gift to Ferdinand and said.

"Congratulations.install your horse will not get fuller"

The sound of oddity immediately echoed because, the people of Francia felt quite amused. Of course they feel funny. Francesca's words were an insinuation that Francesca deserved to say to their Prince. Ferdinand, who for seven years always won the top prize.

"Thank you for your attention on installing my horse, Your Majesty"

And back, Ferdinand's reply made the sound of rattling re-echo. Which made Ferdinand blink one eye at Francesca. And lazily, Francesca went straight to grab a silver horseshoe seal.

They, the giver of the gift and the prospective recipient of the second gift, looked back at each other. For a second they passed by diving into each other. For seconds in silence they stared at each other in full view. As if only they were there. As if, the entire field was full of them only.

Francesca cut off their gaze and offered Ryes a second gift.

"Duke Hastings Bosnia... Thank you for your participation and results. Thanks to your participation, this year our people will eat bigger"

Francesca's casual and light remarks further made the susana peaceful and friendly.

Ryes who felt Francesca's attempt to try to be friendly, countered no less kindly.

"Thank You Majesty. It's great to be back in Bosnia riding a new horse. It was like passing Christmas..."

Ferdinand rolled his eyes lazily. Ryes stale base is very rotten. He glanced around who was looking smiling and giggling amusedly. As if they had forgotten - if the man had come from a new place a few months ago, destroyed Francia's heart.

Although he could feel the inflamed feeling that Ferdinand was feeling. Francesca held back her feelings, and started heading towards Edward.

They stared at each other for a moment. Until Francesca finished taking a deep breath, she spoke while thrusting a horseshoe seal of gold, the first prize.

"Remember Ed.... This is our gift to two"

The sound of rarity was heard again, with Edward who also immediately smiled amusedly and said politely

"I'm in a lot of trouble today Your Majesty. Please his generosity" Edward looked at Francesca with a gnarly. "60/40?"

"Ohh no. You're so cunning Ed"

A relaxed state filled with excitement around him, made Delana keep staring between Ferdinand and Ryes. There was a face full of jealousy strewn across his face.

And accidentally, Regan who was looking back caught it. Which made him so look closely at Ryes and Ferdinand.

"Well... He must have seen that"

Gumanan Regan made Summer turn to look at Regan with a face full of question marks.

--000--

On the other side. George made use of the silence of the palace to welcome someone's arrival. Someone who when he saw it, immediately descended excitedly from the horse carriage

"George!"

"Hallo boy..."

George chuckles as Anastasia, who is very excited, almost forgets herself and forgets her character because she wants to hit George with a hug.

"Ekhem... Good day, Mr George"

"Good day, Princess Anatasia"

Like a true Gentlemen, George immediately gave his elbow. Anastasia raised her eyebrows and looked at George amusedly.

"What's this?"

As she asked, gracefully, Anastasia took George's elbow

"Subscribe to beautiful women"

"Oohh! now I understand where Ferdinand learned to seduce from"

George chuckled as he continued to lead their steps and continued to glance around at the seemingly indifferent. I don't know what lies Francesca told you that nobody suspected her.

"Wrong. The business of seducing and sweet-mouthed we learned from Fredrick. He's the teacher, son"

Anastasia's smile faded slightly. He glanced at George with a sad look, and then returned to improve the look of his face.

Well, maybe this is the best..

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