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The Unyielding Princess

“ P rincess Astoria is the victor—again!”

The arena erupted into cheers and applause, and their roar was music to Astoria’s ears. She grinned and waved at her admirers with arms flailing in the air. Commoners and peasants were the better choice for an audience than the courtiers, who did nothing below their station.

When her father insisted she find another Mage after defeating Wizard Orion to ensure a union that would magnify her powers, Astoria set two conditions: she would marry, but only after challenging each of her suitors to a magical duel. The one who bested her would become her husband. The other condition was having commoners and peasants as audience instead of courtiers.

Both conditions mortified the king, and he opposed them, but Astoria had no one to fear anymore—in truth, she had never feared her father. Neither did he have her respect or affection.

In the last nine months, she had become an entirely new person. The spunky princess, whose courage didn’t extend outside the castle walls, was gone. In her place was the Unyielding Princess who wanted to be part of the world outside her little bubble. With each tournament, that desire grew. Only, she didn’t know how to embrace it.

“Perhaps if I made my brother the king, not only would I not have to marry, but it would also be far better for the people as well. I just realized I have the power to do so,” she had told her father, tapping her chin thoughtfully.

Her father had gulped and sunk back in his seat. “You—you cannot do that,” he stuttered.

“Oh, I can do more than just turn a wedding cake into ice, bring down rain upon newlyweds during their first kiss, make the bride slip during her first dance, or hide rubber snakes beneath the blanket of the newlyweds’ bed.” She rolled her eyes. “You might be the king, Father, but you do realize I am the second most powerful Mage in existence and there is absolutely nothing you or anyone can do to stop me, right? Because provoking me is the last thing you want to do. I said I would marry, something I despise with every ounce of me, yet I cannot ask for two favors in return?”

He didn’t need to know that her agreement to find a husband was solely because she was confident none of the Mages in the human realm were powerful enough to defeat her.

“Very well,” the king had said at last, his Adam’s apple bobbing. Astoria could tell he was trying to manage a mask of bravery, but his eyes betrayed a flicker of fear at the recollection of the last time he provoked her. “You may do as you wish as long as you marry.”

“That is what I said.”

Thus the king sent word to all the noble Mages within Daliston and the other six unconquered kingdoms. By the time they arrived to prove themselves powerful enough to make a match with the Mage Princess of Daliston, Astoria and Emmett saw to the preparations of the public arena in the capital where the peasants and commoners could come and watch the duels.

Now, as she drowned in the praises of her people, her heart swelled.

Footsteps approached her from behind. Astoria didn’t have to turn to see who it was, but she did anyway. Emmett had the proud-brother grin on his face that he had been wearing since her first duel. He lifted her off her feet and spun her around twice—their usual celebration after each victory—before setting her back down.

She glanced over his shoulder at the royal box. Her father and Marcia looked displeased as usual—much to her delight—and Silas looked bored. Astoria rolled her eyes. If it weren’t for Emmett dragging him to each tournament, he wouldn’t be there at all.

Though their relationship was rocky, she no longer received accusatory or loathsome stares from him. And that was something.

Astoria turned to her fallen opponent. “Oh, dear, dear,” she tsked, grinning. “Poor Lord Bram. I told you, you are no match for me, but you had to insist. Frankly, I wonder when any of you will finally accept that I am unbeatable—that there is no one powerful enough to make a union with me.”

She laughed, high-pitched and mocking. Oh, how she enjoyed this. Watching her greedy and arrogant opponents squirm under her mockery after their defeat was her favorite part of each duel.

Lord Bram of Emora pushed himself to his feet. He had to be at least a decade older than her, but the long, dark locks of his hair falling over either side of his face made him look much, much older.

His nostrils flared as he glared at her. “I challenge you to a second round, Princess Astoria.”

“You louts will never learn, the lot of you!”

Astoria turned toward the voice in astonishment. In all the tournaments before, this was the first time Silas had ever stepped down from the royal box to approach her.

“She is unbeatable. I suggest you pack up your things and leave. If Emperor Cyrus is to attack Emora, as we heard months ago, Princess Astoria will be more than willing to aid you against him. Right, Astoria?” Silas met her gaze.

Astoria and Emmett gaped at him. Sarcastic Silas? In her presence? He had to be an imposter.

“Of course, it would be my pleasure,” she said at last.

“Great, let’s go then.” He clapped his hands and turned. “I have somewhere else I need to be.”

Astoria scowled at his back, but Emmett grabbed her elbow, stopping her from making a scene. Before following Silas to the exit, she turned back to her glaring opponent one last time. Her scowl switched to glee immediately.

“Next time you pick a fight, my lord, make sure you’re a match for your opponent.”

* * *

“I heard you made me proud.”

Astoria turned from her invisible opponent to see Jasper crossing the training ground with his usual grin. “Couldn’t afford to disappoint my trainer now, could I?” she called back.

He chuckled. “I guess not. But, frankly, you are a natural. I take no credit for your victories.” His expression was tender and earnest.

Over the last months since they began training together, Astoria’s uneasy feelings towards him had melted away until they no longer remained. She was thankful he hadn’t brought up the matter of his feelings, even though he still had them—Skylar said he did.

“That may be right, but Jas, without you training me, it would be only me and my invisible opponent—which, I assure you, is not very helpful.”

Jasper let out a hearty laugh. “I’m glad to be at your service, my princess.” He bowed with a teasing glint in his eyes. She shoved his shoulder. He laughed again. “Won’t you tell me about yesterday’s duel? I hate that I was absent from witnessing you make a lioness of yourself again.”

She shoved his shoulder again, concealing a grin. “It’s all the same as the last ones, Jasper. Do you really want me to recount them?”

Jasper spread his hands. “That’s what I asked.”

She rolled her eyes and launched into how she bested all eight of her suitors from the noble families in Emora.

“Truly, it’s hilarious and utterly ridiculous that men still want to try after all who failed before them. I wonder what makes them think they are any better than the others.” Astoria let out an annoyed groan. “They aggravate me.”

Jasper gave her a soft smile, as though he truly understood how tired she was of her suitors. “I’m truly sorry, Stor. If there was anything I could do to help you, I would do it in a heartbeat.”

She returned the smile. “Thank you, Jas. But there is nothing you can do about this. Besides, I made a blasted promise to my father that I would find myself a suitor, and I enjoy building up his hope each time he gathers a new bunch of them—and watching it crumble into pieces when I beat them all in the duel. I think the biggest fool of all is my father himself.” She let out a light laugh. “I’m only annoyed by the men and their attitudes. Other than that, these duels are truly fun, especially when I get to put them in their place so they never forget it.”

“I have never asked you about this before, but what makes you despise the idea of marriage so much?” Jasper asked, adding hastily, “If you don’t mind my asking.”

If he’d asked her nine months ago, she would have said it was because she didn’t want to be separated from Emmett. But now, her answer was as different as she was.

“I don’t mind.” She smiled. “I just don’t find the idea of getting married to be a pleasing one.”

Jasper arched an eyebrow. “Because your father never loved your mother and you think you would find yourself in a loveless marriage like theirs had been?”

Astoria spluttered a laugh. Not only had she not thought of such, but his words sounded way too ridiculous to her. “Who would love me anyway? Spunky, rebellious, insulting, unladylike… the list goes on and on.” When he opened his mouth, she cut in, “Oh, but Emmett does, so do my grandpa and Skylar—”

“And me,” Jasper interjected earnestly, taking a step forward. “I do.”

Her laugh came out in snorts, something that only happened when she found something incredibly hilarious. “Jas, well, really, I must count myself lucky, I suppose. Why, thank you.”

“Storie,” he said, stepping closer, his eyes both earnest and intense. “I mean it. I love you.” He took her hand, and she froze internally. “I always have, but I held back because you are Emmett’s little sister, and I… well, I didn’t want to get on your brother’s bad side, knowing how protective he is of you. I have been trying to summon the courage to tell you how I feel—”

“Stop!” Astoria yanked her hand away and held it up. “Jasper, this is insane.”

“It is the truth, Storie.” Jasper’s expression grew wounded.

“But I don’t love you!” she blurted out, before composing herself with a deep breath. “Look, Jasper, I care for you, and I like you, but as a friend. I feel nothing more than platonic affection for you. You shouldn’t be saying this to me.” She shook her head, stepping back.

“Isn’t marrying me, someone you have known your whole life and care for, better than marrying someone you don’t know?” he asked gently.

“Who said I am getting married?” She snorted. “Jasper, I’m the second most powerful after Emperor Cyrus himself. There hasn’t been anyone strong enough to beat me in the past nine months. That’s why I’m letting this charade of finding a suitor go on; because I know I’ll win every time, even if I have to uphold this as long as my father lives. When Emmett takes the throne, I shall be free.”

Jasper looked frustrated. He ran his fingers through his pale blond hair, took a deep breath, and calmed down. “It’s your fear of marriage that is driving you, Storie.”

She narrowed her eyes. “I’m not afraid of anything!”

“Maybe yes, maybe no.” He shrugged, his eyes still as gentle and earnest, and it grated on her nerves. She wanted him to snap at her, fight, and be done with it. But no, Jasper was far too patient. “My point is, married life shouldn’t scare you. It’s the Creator’s gift, a beautiful one where you spend the rest of your life with the one you love, growing old together. If you let me, my love could carry us—”

“Jasper, I told you, I don’t want to get married. Not to you or anyone.” Astoria stared him down fiercely. “I want nothing more than friendship between us, so if you pursue me again, we shall lose it. Please understand my grudge against marriage has nothing to do with you.”

With that, she turned and stalked out of the training grounds, ignoring Jasper calling after her.

She would not get married. No suitor was powerful enough to beat her in a duel. She would continue fooling her father until he passed away, no matter how long she had to keep this going.

Besides, it was fun.

And if the Emperor came to invade one of the unconquered kingdoms—which he hadn’t yet, or had sent his troops as Wizard Orion claimed nine months ago—she would be ready, just as the prophecy foretold.

She didn’t need a union to magnify her powers, and she would prove to every man on the continent what a woman could do.

* * *

Astoria walked to her father’s study later that morning, having been summoned. She raised her hand to bang on the door when it opened to reveal Marcia.

Marcia’s lips curled into her signature, tight, sneer-like smile. Astoria returned it with her own sneer.

“Good morning, Daughter.”

Astoria hated when she called her that, but there was no point in correcting or reprimanding her. The woman kept calling her the same thing no matter how many times she told her not to. Of course, Astoria had considered threatening her with her powers, but each time, Emmett’s warning rang in her ears.

He didn’t want her to abuse or misuse her powers unless absolutely necessary. He believed that was the act of an evil Mage and wanted her to be a good one.

She, of course, would never think of disappointing her brother. Marcia just got lucky.

“It is almost noon, Marcia, ” Astoria countered, emphasizing her name.

Marcia pursed her lips as if she wanted to reprimand Astoria but held back. Marcia had been their father’s old love and Astoria and her brothers’ governess before he married her. Astoria had always hated her. When the woman tried to continue as her governess after becoming her stepmother, Astoria rejected her and requested a new one.

“Your father wishes to speak with you.” Marcia forced a tight smile and gestured inside.

“Why else do you think I am here?” Astoria pushed past her. Inside, her father sat behind his desk, hands clasped under his chin and a frown on his face—he had heard their exchange. She lifted her chin. “You called for me, Father?”

The king regarded her with serious eyes before looking at his wife. “Please leave us, Marcie.”

It took Marcia a full minute and a firm look from her husband to leave. Then he turned his attention back to Astoria.

“Do you know why you are here?”

Astoria bit back her usual snarky response and shook her head, adopting a businesslike manner. “I don’t.”

“Sit down.”

She obliged without protest.

The king heaved a sigh. “This cannot go on, Astoria. You must stop this game and get married.”

Had Jasper confronted him and asked for her hand in marriage?

“You cannot force me, Father. We signed a contract. If you break it, it will be an act against the law, and as King, your power—”

He knew where she was going with this, so he cut her off, shooting out of his chair, his face contorted with rage. She smirked inwardly.

“Do you realize there is no noble Mage left in all the unconquered kingdoms, and you have bested them all in your blasted dueling tournament?”

Astoria stared at him, unfazed. “I guess I am happy to know that.” When he glared, she added, “Or am I supposed to say I am sorry? ”

“There’s no one left for you to marry, you foolish girl!”

“Are noblemen the only men in the unconquered kingdoms?” Astoria leaned forward, resting her arms on the table, her eyes narrowing. “You do realize I’m trying to find someone powerful enough for a union, don’t you? That is why I have to challenge them all in duels, to see who is worthy. It’s not my fault none of the Mages you have gathered are strong enough, like that self-proclaimed wizard.” She rolled her eyes and leaned back in her chair.

“What do you propose I do?” The king sat back down, barely calm.

“Send a proclamation across the seven kingdoms and bring me Mages from commoners and peasants. Even beggars are welcome if you find a Mage among them.” She laughed at the irony.

Her father glared. “And you will marry someone so far beneath your station?”

Astoria glared back. “Do you want to protect our kingdom from the Emperor or not? I mean, you are the one who said the nonsense about a marriage union magnifying powers— that, as a woman, I am not enough. Or have you changed your mind after witnessing my unbeatable power these last months, and now you want me to fight Emperor Cyrus alone?”

Astoria smirked, but her father’s glare remained.

“You are getting married,” he said with finality, ringing for a maid. “I will send out the word. Perhaps this time, one of them will not only beat you in a duel but tame you as well.”

Laughter bubbled to her lips and Astoria didn’t think twice before releasing it. “We shall see about that.”

* * *

In the months that followed, after word was sent inviting the lower-class Mages, no one showed up at the castle gates.

Her father grumbled that they weren’t brave enough for the task, but Astoria knew better.

They were wiser than the nobles.

No one could beat the Unyielding Princess in a duel. No one was as powerful as her on the entire continent—other than Emperor Cyrus himself, as Skylar said.

Astoria didn’t cease her training even as she started to believe she had finally run out of suitors to duel with. She sharpened her skills and tried out new tricks from the Prince of Lark . A nagging feeling told her that there was more to her powers than the book taught her. It was a book for children, after all. She wanted to discover more of the serious magic, but she was hopeless. And there was no one to help her, not even Jasper.

Astoria had hoped things would go back to normal between her and Jasper, but she realized how naive that hope was when Jasper continued to ignore her. He no longer trained her, and when she approached him to ask if he knew more about Pureblood or Half-blood Mage powers, he said he didn’t—just before excusing himself and walking away.

Skylar told her that her rejection had broken his heart.

Emmett didn’t know about this until Jasper resigned from his position as her trainer. Astoria told him what happened when he confronted her afterwards.

He wasn’t exactly pleased with his best friend, but Astoria managed to calm him down.

“Knock, knock.”

Astoria looked up from the Prince of Lark and saw Silas leaning against one of the bookshelves, arms crossed. She brought her gaze back to the book.

“What?”

“I have news.”

“Coming from you, I can tell it’s not pleasant.”

“Nah, I’m not sure about that—not after I tell you what it is.”

She brought her gaze back to him, annoyed. Seeing the amused smile on his lips, she grew even more irritated. If he was here to mess with her, she swore to herself, she’d seal his mouth shut for at least a week.

“What?”

“Can’t you ask a little more nicely?” His eyes twinkled.

Goodness. Whatever had put him in such a good mood was going to be the end of her.

“Can’t you be less irritating?” she retorted.

Silas pushed himself off the shelves and walked toward the table she occupied, hands in his pockets. He peered down at her book, tilting his neck to see what she was reading.

Astoria snapped it shut, but not before Silas had seen enough.

“Oh, you are reading that prince book again,” he said, surprised, meeting her eyes. “Discovered something useful?”

“Yes.” She rolled her eyes. “My prince book has two full pages on how to deal with your annoying middle brother.”

“No annoying little sisters?” He clicked his tongue. “Too bad.”

“Really, what are you here for other than to annoy me?” she asked impatiently.

Silas regarded her for a moment. “I may have come to you bearing a message.”

“A message?” she parroted, raising an eyebrow. “From whom?”

“From Father, perhaps?”

“Just spit it out already!”

He sighed. “You are impossible.”

Astoria shot to her feet. “When have you ever been not impossible towards me, Silas?” Her voice wavered slightly and she loathed that she still felt vulnerable where their relationship was concerned—a relationship she had tried and failed to mend all her life.

“You never made it easy.” Silas looked regretful as soon as he blurted it out. But it was too late.

“Oh, yes, I killed your mother, after all.” Astoria scoffed and folded her arms, looking away. She refused to let him see the sudden tears that pricked her eyes.

“As—”

“Just get on with whatever you are here for, Silas.”

“Storie, I’m so sorry, I—”

Astoria’s eyes snapped to his. She gaped at him and he seemed to realize the slip he had made.

Silas had never once called her by a nickname.

They stared at each other, equally shocked, before Silas composed himself and cleared his throat awkwardly.

“I—uh, I came to tell you that Father wishes for your presence in the throne room.”

Her heart jumped. If she was being summoned to the throne room, it only meant one thing.

“A new suitor?”

Silas nodded with a clenched jaw, avoiding her eyes.

“Who is it?”

“A beggar.”