Chapter 61: Chapter 61

“Rose, come on. Do you or do you not want to go to his coronation?” Nate asked me while I was squatting on the ground and pouting. I was back in my track uniform while having my morning run with the Vampire prince.

“I want to.” I grumbled.

“See? Now, less sulking and more running. Come on. I’ll run with you.” Nate offered me his hands and I lazily took it. I let out a dying groan as I got up to my feet. “Don’t give me that attitude. Remember the condition that the queen gave you so that she would allow you to attend?”

I rolled my eyes. I do remember. “I have to at least convince her that I am capable of protecting myself.”

“And what else?”

I gritted my teeth. The other condition was all thanks to PRINCE Ace for opening his big mouth. “I have to be able to swing at least 200 without stopping.” I said through gritted teeth.

He wants me to swing without stopping? Sure! I can do it. AS LONG AS HE WILL BE THE TARGET! The guy is just like a villain to my fantasy.

“I don’t get it.” He says. “You keep on mentioning Fred when I am here. Aren’t I enough for you?” He grinned cheekily at me.

“No. I don’t even know why they ask you to train me.” I said as we started to jog.

“Would you rather have PRINCE train you?” Nate followed beside me.

“No. I meant Ren.”

Nate scoffed. “If that guy does train you, he would go easy on you. He’s a big simp.”

I raised an eyebrow at him. The audacity of this guy to even utter those words. “Oh? Then what about you?”

Nate grinned. “Me?” He gestured at himself. “I am perfect!” He boasted and flipped his red glossy hair in the air.

“Perfectly annoying.”

“I am perfectly the right choice for you. Because I know when to be nice and when to not be nice. The mutt is too soft on you while the PRINCE is too harsh.” He counted the points with his hands and placed them in front of me so I could see his valid points.

“Alright, Nate. I’ll give you that. But what else?” I challenged him.

Nate smirked at my question. “I know how to keep you motivated.”

“Don’t tell me that it is a portrait of Fred because believe me. I prefer if he’s here than him being a picture.”

“Nah.” Nate dismissed the idea with a wave of his hand. “I got something even better.” He went off the track and picked up a white sack and rummaged through it. A few seconds later and I saw him pulling out a black snake and grinning proudly at me. “Are you ready to run, princess!?”

My eyes widened in horror when I saw him jogging back towards me with the snake in his hands. I screamed and began to run faster. “GET BACK!”

“His name is Smoochum. And he wants a kiss!”

“You kiss him!” I dared to look back just to glare at him. Nate was bouncing up and down happily as he continued to chase me. He was humming and holding a snake like a lunatic!

“His name is Smoochum and he wants some kisses!” He chanted happily.

“Balance my ass! You want me dead?” I demanded as I continued to run for dear life.

“Hey. Smoochum isn’t poisonous. One way to know if a snake is poisonous is by checking the back of its tail.”

“Yeah. Nice tip.” I said. “I may be dumb but I am not that dumb. When I see a snake I won’t f*cking grab it and check its scales. I’d run!”

“Wow!” Nate gasped. “Look at you using your pretty head. I am so proud. Let me give you a hug!” I looked back only to see him quickening his pace while dashing forward.

“You psycho!” I was starting to run out of breath, but I still kept on pushing. “Leave me alone!” My lungs were burning and sweat was starting to drip down and cover my eyes.

I was panting. But then I saw a ray of hope before my eyes. I saw Prince Terrence.

I looked back at Nate and grinned evilly. He still has not seen his father yet. He was too focused on me. A new wave of determination fueled my body to run faster. I was smiling as I ran.

I hope Nate is ready to meet his maker. Literally.

Terrence finally looked up and noticed me. He was still wearing the same white shirt and black slacks from the last time that I saw him. His long hair was now tied to a ponytail. In his hands, he was carrying some sort of box.

“SIR TERRENCE!” I screamed as soon as our eyes met. At first, he was confused as to why I was running towards him, but when his gaze moved to the person behind me, he frowned. I looked back just in time to see Nate’s face going pale with fright.

Good.

“Sir Terrence!” I faked a sob as I hid behind him. “Your son is bullying me with a snake!” I hiccuped and covered my lips for a more dramatic effect. I even made my breath a little shaky as I spoke.

Terrence’s eyes widened before he turned towards Nate with a disapproving glance. Immediately, the young vampire prince raise his hands in the air and showed the snake. “It’s a fake! It can do no harm.”

I wailed and dramatically fell on the ground. “I told him that I have a phobia of snakes, but he still kept chasing me!”

“Really, Rose?” Nate asked me in a deadpanned look and tone. “You held Manta before.”

“Nathaniel.” Terrence chastised him. I moved just behind Terrence and stuck my tongue out at Nate. I even went as far as pointing a finger at him while laughing silently.

“But, Dad! Look at her. She’s faking it.” Nate gestured his hands towards me.

I immediately placed a hand over my heart and started to fake a heaving sob as soon as Terrence’s attention was back at me. Terrence’s eyebrow drew into a pitied look before looking back at his son. “Nathaniel, it is not nice to accuse a lady. Even more when she’s a princess. What would you do if she got hurt?”

“Ow! All that running made me twist a muscle.” I dropped to the ground and clutched the back of my leg and whimpered.

“Wow. Amazing, Rose. You noticed that now when my father mentioned it. Real convincing.” Nate says while looking down at me.

“Nathaniel. Apologize to the princess.” Terrence says. His tone getting stern.

Immediately I placed a hand over my lips in an ‘oops’ gesture before pursing my lips and giving him a smug look.

Nate frowned.

“Now, Nathaniel.” Terrence repeated. I pointed at his father and nodded in agreement while looking at him.

‘Now.’ I mouthed. ‘You heard him.’ Then I gave him a pitiful look.

I could see that Nate was fuming right about now. I swear, I never had this sort of entertainment for a very long while.

And I love it!

All of a sudden, Nate suddenly smiled sweetly at me, making shivers run down my spine. It was the kind of smile where he was planning something. With a tight smile mocking eyes, Nate says. “I am very sorry, Princess Rose. It would seem that I am no longer fit to train you all on my own. Perhaps I should take PRINCE Ace’s place at the moment and have him come here in my stead.” Sighed as he dramatically turned to the other direction while giving us a side glance. “See ya, Princess.”

F*ck. This cheeky bastard!

As soon as Nate started running, I chased after him and pulled his shirt back. “I forgive you!” I said in a very high-pitched toned and laughed nervously. “I mean, we all make mistakes. Right, sir Terrence?” I glance at his father for help.

“Sorry, Rose. Not me. I am perfect in every way.” He says.

“Oh really? What book character are you from?” I asked in a deadpanned voice.

Nate gasped at me and suddenly looked up at the sky. “It was all her this time. I have nothing to do with it!”

Terrence was now looking at us with doubt in his eyes. “Are you both fooling around? Because I thought I told you before that you both should take your training seriously. Otherwise, how can you even wield this thing?” He says and raised the long box that he was carrying. The wood that it was made out of was chipping and I can already see rusts forming on its metallic frames.

Instantly, Nate and I stopped fighting as we moved in front of Terrence to check the box. Terrence smiled at our curiosity. “Can you guess what’s inside?”

“A mummy servant who does my chores?” I suggested, earning a slab at the back of my head from Nate. “Ow!”

“Seriously. We eat the same meal yet why are you like this?”

“Not my fault you guys don’t have the right imagination.” I muttered.

Terrence cleared his throat to break off the awkward tension that NATE caused. “I suppose I should just show you.” He shifted the box so that it was facing us. “Go on, princess. Open it.”

I reached out and placed my hand on top of the box and paused. “There’s no booby trap, right?”

Nate’s head whipped in my direction. “Did you say boobs?” Without looking at him, I reached up and pinched his nose. He yelped in pain.

“I assure you, princess. It’s safe.” He smiled at me.

I decided to trust him then as I opened the box. The dust and dirt on the box finally gave way and fell down. I pulled my head back and waved my hand in front of me to disperse the air.

I looked inside the box with a raised brow. Lying on top of red silk cloth was a wand-like device but longer. It was about the same size as a sword. I grabbed the wand from the box with a raised brow. “Sir Terrence? I don’t know if this is obvious but I am a tamer. Not a witch. How can an overgrown wand be suitable for me?” Nate came closer to my side and observed the strange wand with me as well.

Terrence simply laughed at our ignorance as he carefully placed the box on the ground. “It’s not a wand. Rather, it’s a dual weapon. Would you like me to show you?” He asked.

I nodded and handed the wand back to him.

Terrence took it and moved a few paces away from us. “This weapon will react to how you would wield it. For example, in this state, it can be used as a sword.” Terrence twirled the weapon in his hands. “It’s very light and doesn’t require much effort. It is also sturdy enough to withstand hits and blows.” To demonstrate, he shoved the tip of the weapon to the ground. It did not even bend or wobble. Terrence picked it up again. “Second, is it can be used as a whip.” Terrence lightened his hold on the weapon and I saw how it elongated and broke apart into metallic strips connected by a wire. “This weapon is special. It follows the movement of your muscle and will. It might take a while for you to get used to switching to its form though.” He raised the weapon, now a whip, in the air and struck the ground. Instantly, I saw dirt and grass flying in the air at the impact.

I do not know whether I should feel amazed or afraid. The weapon was both beautiful and deadly at the same time.

With a slight movement from Terrence’s wrist, the whip retracted back into a sword. Come to think of it, it does resemble a fencing sword back in my world. Minus the hilt though.

Terrence came back and handed me the weapon. “The size and length is perfect for you, princess. Tamer’s usually carry small and light weapons so that they won’t exhaust all of their energy in a fight. Remember that when you transform your familiar’s you not only exhaust your magic but also your stamina as well. Why don’t you go over there and experiment a bit? Figure out how to turn it into a whip and into a sword first?”

I grinned and nodded eagerly at Terrence because running off a few feet from them. I waved the sword in the air like a wand. Nothing. It didn’t turn into a whip. I pouted and glanced at Terrence and Nate. Terrence was smiling at me like a proud father while Nate seemed nervous as he was looking at me with a new weapon in hand.

“Keep trying.” Terrence encouraged me while Nate glance at his father.

“Father, are you sure? Isn’t it too early for here to be wielding it?” I heard Nate asked.

Meanwhile, I was looking at the sword in my hands. What did Terrence say again? Muscle and will? I am not really sure what it meant but maybe I should picture out that this sword is now a whip?

“What do you mean? It’s just a whip. I have never heard of anyone injuring themselves just by practicing with it.” Terrence replied.

I raised the sword in the air and temporarily lightened my grip before I swung it forward and gripped it again. I gasped when I saw and felt the weapon changing as it hit the ground. “I did it!” I jumped in excitement as I looked at Terrence. He was smiling proudly at my accomplishment before leaning towards his son.

“See? Nothing happened. In fact, she even succeeded.”

Nate’s brows furrowed, he was still not convinced. “Yeah, but...It’s Rose that we’re talking about.”

I ignored them as I continued to raise the whip in the air and circling it around. I was laughing like a lunatic. Then an idea popped inside my mind and I retracted the whip, turning it back to its sword form. I grinned proudly at how easily I was able to figure it all out.

“You know what, son? I think you’re right. Princess, would you-”

“Hiya!” I jabbed the sword like what people in fencing television would do. I do not know what happened but the sword suddenly turned into a whip and shot forward, jabbing a tree’s trunk. The movement startled me, causing me to grip on the rubber rather tightly.

Uh oh.

The weapon started to retract into a sword. And since its tip was jabbed to a trunk, I was pulled forward, causing me to fall face-first on the ground while it dragged me along with it.

“Rose!”

“Princess!”

I screamed while the two vampires ran after me while I was being dragged on the dirt. “Help me!”