Valamar and Cassandra were chatting with each other whilst they sat next to the main fountain in the middle of the gardens surrounded by music, lights, and cheer, as well as the shining of the moon. Some people were having lots of fun dancing around and joking off.

They were there accompanied by Valamar's aunt Anastasia - who like her mother had large beautiful wings sprouting from her back - and his cousin - who was Manuel's eldest son - Matthaeos.

"I still can't believe my little nephew is already married! And to a very beautiful girl at that!" Anastasia said

"You may be my aunt, and you may be an immortal half-Razyan, but you are still only two years older than me. Even Matthaeos here is older than you."

"Only by a year." Matthaeos said

"Well, that gets me a bit wondering, if you don't mind me asking..." Cassandra said "Lord Matthaeos, your father is Lady Anastasia's older brother, meaning that makes him half-Razyan too..."

"Yes..." Matthaeos said

"And also the fact that your father will inherit the Imperial throne of Auros, how long does he intend to rule? I'd take it he be immortal too..."

"Ahahaha, about that, there's no need to worry. You could see that unlike his siblings, my father looks a tad bit older. Since the case of a human marrying a Razyan is very few and far in between, it is hard to pinpoint just exactly how the children will turn out."

"Exactly!" Anastasia said "Out of us four siblings, I am the only one who inherited my mother's wings. However, Alessa and Andreas inherited her eternal youth, whilst Manuel looks to be aging like a normal human being."

"But even then, you can't call it aging like a normal human being." Valamar said "His face hasn't changed a bit from when I was five until now. My mother may have stopped aging when I was four, but it still doesn't change the fact that the Razyan blood in uncle Manuel can still be clearly seen."

"Well, again, there's still lots of things we don't know about and have yet to find out." Matthaeos said again "But the current war with the Razyan isn't helping that a tiny bit."

"I do hope the war will end soon." Anastasia said "I also have a desire to visit the place of my ancestors."

"We can go there together." Matthaeos said "I'm coming with father to the siege of Zunor. We expect their surrender soon."

"I don't really think mother will allow something like that of me."

"It won't be a problem! Just ask grandfather. Of course he will allow you."

"Well, I don't know about you two, but I think me and Cassandra would like to have a little dance..." Valamar said as he heard the tune of a good song being played as he held out his hand to his wife "Would you give me the honor, dear wife of mine?"

"It would be my pleasure, husband." Cassandra said with slight blush and giggle as she took his hand and the two began to dance around to the music

"Those two make me so jealous." Anastasia said with a smile "They look like a couple from the old fairy tale books we used to read..."

"May I have the honour of asking you to dance with me, dear aunt?" Matthaeos said with a smile as he did the same gesture as Valamar

"Well of course, nephew. It would be my pleasure..."

The two got up hand in hand and immediately began to laugh as they started to dance as well.

Just as they were dancing happily, Valamar could see people preparing what looked like an empty space while chairs were being set up around it. Cassandra could notice Valamar's confusion.

"Are you alright, my lord?" Cassandra said as she saw Valamar looking towards a place

As she noticed, she also took a look and saw the same sight as Valamar.

"What are they doing?" Cassandra said as the two had stopped dancing "Did we have another event scheduled after this?"

"I don't think so..." Valamar answered "Why don't we go and take a look?"

"Yes, I think so too... but don't you think we should tell Anastasia and Matthaeos?"

"...Ah, those two look like they're having so much fun." Valamar said with a slight grin "Best two leave them be..."

"If my lord says so..." Cassandra said with a slight giggle as well

And so the two quickly walked over to the place and there they saw King Valasaire was already seated in a special chair along with Emperor Alexios, Grand Sovereign Antonio, King John, King Jan, and King Geirhart.

Valamar spotted his uncle Valaron standing and commandeering the operations there and so he sought to get an explanation from him.

"Bapauda! ( father's younger brother )" Valamar said as he called out to his uncle

"Ah, there you two are." Valaron said "We were just waiting for you. Your chairs for spectating this event have already been prepared. Please sit!"

"Hold on, bapauda. What event? I didn't know we had any more planned."

"Oh, it's something that has just been scheduled-in about an hour ago. We will have a short duel between two people."

"A duel? What an odd choice for a spectacle..."

"It's a special one. Between the Crown Prince of Germania and your ito (sister)."

"Don't tell me..."

"Well, what happens, happens. In fact it was Prince Albert who requested for this duel to be held in accordance with previous instances with Valerie's suitors."

"God help that poor boy."

Valamar and Cassandra were then led to a chair where they both could sit together to watch the duel.

"So, from what I heard, I gather this is a duel between your little sister and the German Prince?" Cassandra asked

"It appears so." Valamar said

"I'm a little excited if I'm to be honest with you, my lord."

"And why is that?"

Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

"I just want to see how my new younger sister-in-law fares in a fight... and who knows, maybe after this I get to spar with your other sister as well..."

"I see you haven't let that one go..."

"I'm not one to easily forget, my lord."

"I've noticed..." Valamar then quickly cleared his throat to avoid going down that subject "But, I really think Valerie's going to have a troubled mind during this."

"And why so?"

"You see, until now, the suitors Valerie had rejected with this sort of duel were... how to say low of quality and so were easily defeated. They were only minor noblemen and mostly rejects of kak Vera... no serious suitor has ever offered for her hand in marriage. Well until now..."

"Let's just hope for the best."

"Honestly, I'm rooting for them. Maybe with this, it will get kak Vera to consider marrying as well..."

"That seems very unlikely."

"Trust me, it is. But there's no wrong in hoping. Although she would have to marry a Rumasilian if she wants to keep her status as a Daughter of Ruma. We can't have a member of an order loyal only to the Crown of Rumasil be royalty from another state now, can we?"

"You do have a point..."

"By the way, I always wondered why you first introduced Vera as your cousin to me..."

"Oh that, ahahaha... I noticed you looking at her because she was pretty and she was clinging to me and you looked a little uneasy and so... I decided to say that to get a reaction thinking she might be a contender for my affections... I do hope you'll forgive me, dear."

"My lord is such a meanie..." Cassandra said while embarrassed and blushing "You knew how I felt!!"

"I was just teasing you..." Valamar said

As they were giggling with laughter, they heard the sound of a horn blow from the middle of the set arena. There, the soldier who blew the horn announced the start of the match to the audience.

Valamar saw on one end his youngest sister wearing light protective leather armor that only covered her vital parts over a simple white shirt and dark pants. She had tied her hair into a ponytail and had drawn her sword. On the other side stood the German prince in similar armor and also with a sword on hand,

They both walked to the middle of the ring to give each other a handshake before the duel began and afterwards they walked back to their starting positions. The soldier with the horn acted as a referee between the two and looked towards the spectators as he again blew his horn, signaling for the match to be started.

Just as he blew the horn, Valerie and Albert immediately lounged at each other and started trading blows with their swords. The swords they used were real but had blunted edges, however it could still cause considerable damage and draw out blood.

The both of them had equally quick reflexes and managed to both evade each other's attacks but also not letting up on either of their attacks on each other. The swordplay they showed looked beautiful and graceful like a coordinated dance and the clashes of the swords being the beat.

"You're pretty good, boy." Valerie said as she stepped back a little while catching her breath from the melee with Albert

"I don't know how to feel about you calling me boy, princess." Albert said as he immediately lounged for another attack at Valerie to which she barely dodged.

Seeing her lose a little of her balance, Albert pressed on with his attacks which despite him getting more tired, his attacks only quickened. The two were already visibly soaked from their bout with each other as they continue being relentless towards one another.

The spectators were excited by the intense duel with some even betting on who would win the match. Vald was sitting next to his wife and his sister as he watched with his daughter seated on his lap, laughing and being excited from the match.

"Look at that, Valdy. Little Valea is very excited! She's even giggling and clapping from the match." Vera said to her younger brother

"I don't exactly know how to feel about that..." Vald said with a little worry "Here I was hoping I was going to have a nice prim and proper lady for a daughter."

"She's gonna be a badass warrior just like her bou! ( Father's female sibling, short for ‘namboru’ )"

"She can be both a proper lady and a warrior." Angelina said "I see no reason why you have to choose."

"Here I am hoping you're right, dear." Vald said

The battle was getting more intense by the minute. Just a second there, Valerie managed to land a solid strike to the Prince's waist which caused him to groan a little, though his armor managed to save him a little. It was clear to the audience, however, that the Prince's movements became slightly impeded as they became a little more sloppy.

Valerie seemed to show a little concern but quickly shrugged it off as she regained her stance to attack Albert. She intensified her attack even more as Albert was weakening.

King Geirhart was visibly shaken as he only dropped his head as he began to accept his son's defeat.

"Your daughter is a superb fighter, Your Majesty. I believe I have overestimated my son's ability. I accept this defeat." Geirhart said solemnly

"Your son did superbly." Valasaire answered "This is the first time I've seen a suitor keeping my daughter on her toes like that. I would have no problems if we can arrange something after this."

"...I am very elated and appreciative of your offers, Your Majesty, but our honour dictates we back down after this. We are nothing if we don't keep to our words."

"You poor sods are depressingly pessimistic." John said to the two monarchs "You should keep your concessions after the battle is done. Take a gander at that."

When John pointed to the court, they saw Albert fighting with what looked like a renewed figure as it was Valerie who was being pushed back. They noticed that he had taken off his protective armor which showed a red stain on his right hip through his shirt. It would seem the blow his opponent had landed on him drew blood.

"You don't look too well." Valerie said showing a little concern "You should forfeit this match... There's no need to strain yourself further."

Hearing her concern, Prince Albert only smiled and took his stance as he prepared to strike.

"I wouldn't be much of a man if this is all it takes to hinder me between my heart's desire."

Hearing that, Valerie blushed a little but kept her expression cold and stern.

"Don't say I didn't warn you..." Valerie said as she immediately lounged at the weary looking Prince

His stance was weak looking from his fatigue. She smiled confidently as she closed to place a final strike on Albert.

To everyone's surprise, just before she had placed a final strike on Albert which he was prepared to counter, she stood in her place and dropped her sword to the ground and shouted with a loud voice,

"I CONCEDE!!"

Immediately after, she pushed her body towards Albert as she tackled him to the ground. Both their bodies already spent from fatigue, they drew heavy breaths as they laid on the floor of the court. Both smiling, with Albert looking a little confused. The crowd was also silent in confusion though Valasaire only smiled at what transpired. He then looked to the soldier who acted as referee to conclude the fight.

"The Match is over!" The soldier proclaimed "With Princess Valerie's forfeit, I conclude this duel to be over with victory in favour of His Majesty, Albert von Coburg, Crown Prince of Germania!"

When the victor was announced, the crowd stood up and cheered at the peculiar development.

"Well, Geirhart. It looks like we'll be discussing the plans for a wedding..." Valasaire said with a smile to the Germanian King

"It appears to be the case..." Geirhart said still in a little disbelief

"That did not end the way I expected it to at all." John said "But I still won the bet. Cough up the coin, Manuel."

"Don't act all smug just from dumb luck." Manuel scoffed as he tossed a small bag of money to his cousin

"If it's luck we're talking about then Albert over there is the luckiest of all!" John said as he began to count the money he had received

"Actually, I don't think it's as random as you all might believe." Alexios spoke up "You all may not notice, but the boy was holding back on his swings. He refrained from making deadly strikes and only attacked where her armor was."

"Wasn't that the rules?" Antonio asked

"It may be so, but my granddaughter sure didn't care about that. She kept on aiming for his vital spots. I believe she realised if it was a real fight, she would most likely be in a tough situation."

"Well, whatever the case may be, the fight is concluded." Valasaire said "But honestly, I think those two have fainted. HEY SOMEONE GET THEM TO THE INFIRMARY!"

As the King shouted the orders, some soldiers came in with litters to carry the two to the infirmary.

"Well, now that that's over..." Valasaire said as he stood up from his chair and pulled out two decks of cards from his pockets "Might I interest you in a game of Joker?"

"Give me beer and I'm game." John said

"John, when will you learn? In Rumasil, there will always be beer. Alright! I already have tables prepared. You all still have a few days before you leave anyway."

"Nephew, when will you learn that you shouldn't play a game where you always lose. We're putting money in it." Alexios said with a smirk

"You better not regret that, uncle."

As he said that, the royals made their way to an empty table and began playing with Manuel as the dealer and score keeper. The night was still young and they wanted to have more fun.