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It had been a long day, heck, it had been a long week. Ever since he met that stubborn woman Eira, his life had become a roller coster of events.

Ah Eira, curse her bewitching ways. If anything, Elric was supposed to hate her for causing so much trouble for him, but instead, the thought of her almost brought a smile to his face.

Who was he kidding, instead of despising her he actually felt like he cared for her. It was absolute madness but here he was. Elric chuckled at himself, what a fool he was, slowly falling down the same hole he had spent so long trying to pull himself out of. How embarrassing.

The silver haired man reached the door of his cabin, but before he could open it, he saw a piece of paper pinned to it, with the words ‘to Elric’ displayed on the front. He unpinned it from the door, opened it and read it.

‘Meet me behind the old inn near the butcher, please I need to speak with you. Eira’

Elric studied the note, had Eira really written this? And if she had, what was so important that she wanted to talk about which she could not mention when they were at the bar earlier. This could be a trap, someone pretending to be Eira in order to lure him out, but again he couldn’t disregard the possibility of the note actually coming from Eira.

The lycan sighed and placed the note in his jacket pocket, wether it was a trap or not, there was only one way he was going to find out.

*

.....

When her father finished talking to the guests, Eira got to her feet, her face down and tears threatening to spill out her eyes.

“Excuse me your majesty,” she mumbled in a low tone. “I understand now that it is my duty as a princess to find a suitor, to find someone who will help rule this kingdom when you decide to step down. But I feel the final decision should not be up to you on who I choose to spend the rest of my life with.”

Gareth turned to Eira not knowing what to say.

“And if I am to select a suitor, it will be on my terms,” Eira continued speaking. “From the men who deem themselves worthy, I will select a few who I feel have the most admirable qualities, after which one from the bunch will qualify to be my husband.”

The red haired princess pushed her chair back and turned to the guests who were all staring at her.

“The one to be named my husband of the few whom I will pick out,” she announced. “Is the man who will subdue me in battle..” she turned to her father and gave him a serious look. “That, is a royal decree.”

Everyone in the dinning hall went silent as they watched the princess exit the door. She would pick a man who would defeat her in battle?! But who in their right mind would want to fight the princess?! This is was absurd.

Melissa stood up and gently pat her husband’s shoulder before following her daughter. “I will speak with her...”

Melissa walked in long strides down the hallway following Eira. It was official, her daughter was losing her mind, why would she say something like that in front of all those people? This kind of arrangement was unheard of, what would people think?

“Eira!” Melissa reached for her daughter’s hand but Eira teleported away from her grasp and materialized several inches away.

“If you’re here to try and talk me out of my decision forget it!” Eira yelled. “I’m doing what you want am I not? I’m finding a husband!”

“But Eira your method-”

“The method in which I do it should be none of your concern,” the red haired princess responded. “At the end of the day you’ll get what you want, a married daughter who has no say in the affairs of her life whatsoever.”

“Eira that’s not-”

“Good night mother!”

*

When Elric arrived at the inn he ducked behind some barrels and inspected his surroundings. If Eira was truly waiting for him here, he would spot her. There were not too many red haired, purple eyed, elf- nosferatu hybrids around.

“Where is she? Could she be inside?” The lycan mumbled to himself.

He came out of his hiding place and walked slowly towards the corner of the building that led to the back. When he heard the sound of footsteps ahead, he pressed his body against the wall and slowly peeked to see who was coming.

At the back of the building, near what seemed to be a private entrance into the inn, was a young man pasting something on the wall and no one else. Elric decided to come out of his hiding spot and approach the young man, who jumped at his unexpected visitor.

“Sorry sir but this place is restricted,” the young man spoke. “Ordinary guests have to use the front door.”

“Sorry to bother you,” Elric spoke without pulling back the hood of his cloak. “But I’m not a guest here. Have you seen a woman with long curly red hair around here?”

The young man, who was obviously human, shook his head. “No I’m sorry I haven’t, if she is a guest here, you could go in and ask the innkeeper, I am sure she will be more than willing to give you the information you need.”

Elric nodded, “thank you.” He then turned to the poster that the young man had been pinning on the wall and began to read it.

“Ah I see the royal decree has caught your eye,” the man spoke with a small smile. “The princess will be looking for a worthy suitor...”

Elric felt like something had jabbed his side a little. The princess would be looking for worthy suitors?

“Which princess are you talking about?” Elric asked in disbelief.

“Are you not from around here? The King’s daughter, princess Eira Burchard.” The young man explained to Elric. “The king declared that the next thirty days will be set aside for all nobleman, nights, and anyone who feels they are worthy of the princess’ hand, to states their willingness to contest for her hand.” The man chuckled a little, “I guess the likes of me don’t stand a chance.”

For some reason, the news made Elric panic a little. Was Eira planning on getting married? Why hadn’t she told him this all those times they had talked? Or maybe, was this what she wanted to talk about now? Is this why the princess wanted to meet him?

“Rumor has it that the select few who the princess will choose, who go through some sort of culling.” The man explained further, “I don’t know what sort of method will be used to select just one superior candidate, but whoever gets to marry the princess, will be one lucky man indeed.”

The man turned to look at Elric, who was staring at the paper as if it had offended him.

“Will you be participating?” The man asked the stranger in the hooded cloak. “In contesting for the princess’ hand that is...”

Elric had not even heard what the young man had asked him. His mind was still trying to work out what in the world was going on. Why was Eira suddenly looking for a suitor? And why did she have to find one within thirty days? And most of all, why was he so bothered by it?

Another man’s voice was heard from inside the inn, and before long, a plump man peeked out of the private door and called to the young man who was standing by Elric’s side.

“I’m sorry I must go now,” The young

man spoke to the stranger who was still as frozen as a statue. “I hope you find the woman that you’re looking for, have a good day.”

After several minutes of reading the text on the poster over and over again, the silver haired lycan finally took a step back and folded his hands into fists.

“Eira, are you being forced into doing this?” Elric mumbled to himself.

“I was right,” A voice responded to Eric’s musing statement.

The silver haired lycan turned around and saw a face that made him frown. It was his brother Clovis.

“I knew that the princess would get you out here dear brother.” Clovis spoke as he took slow steady steps towards his brother. His arms were crossed behind his back, and his smile widened with every step he took in the white snow beneath his feet. “It was beauty that lured the beast..”

“What do you want Clovis? What have you done with Eira? Is any of this nonsense your doing?”

Clovis followed his brother’s finger and looked at the poster that was plastered on the wall. “Eira’s marriage? Oh no brother I have no interest in Gareth’s family affairs when I have my own to deal with.”

Elric’s frown deepened even more when he came to a realization. “It was you wasn’t it? You wrote that note, Eira was never here to begin with.”

“Very clever. I am glad you have not lost your wit, because as the rightful King it would’ve been sad if you succumbed to the life of savagery.”

“I have no interest in being the king of Meria Clovis,” Elric responded. “The only way you can step down as ruler, is if and when you die.”

“Oh I’m not talking about being the king of Meria brother...”

Before Elric could ask Clovis what he meant, five men appeared from behind him, and stood besides Clovis. One of whom Elric recognized immediately.

“Father?”

“Hello son..”