297 Chapter 297 : Her own path

Maxim floated down and sat on the grass where he could have a good view of Eira as she practiced her archery. He was glad that there was actually something that he could teach her. Even though she was amazing at sword fighting, probably the best in the kingdom after putting Zhelimir in his place, she was still a bit shaky in archery, especially the type that elves practiced.

Watching her now, Maxim could feel that he was slowly falling in love with the princess. How could any sane man not? She was strong, determined, and absolutely beautiful.

Eira steadied her aim at the apple hanging in a tree in the distance and launched her arrow towards it. The tip grazed the apple deeply, but it did not fall from the tree.

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“Damn it!” Eira cussed.

The elf chuckled, it was actually rather cute when she cussed in frustration. Wait..! Maxim shook his head and brought himself back to his senses, what was he thinking?! He shouldn’t allow himself to be attached to her, it would bring him nothing but problems.

Eira floated down to where Maxim was sitting and folded her arms, she had a sulky expression on and Maxim found himself smiling yet again.

“Hey, you did graze it that time..” Maxim comforted the redhead who had now sat down next to him.

“I wasn’t supposed to graze it, I was suppose to knock it out of the tree!” She sat down, buried her face in her knees and sighed. “I guess the last time with the rabbit was nothing but a fluke.”

Maxim looked at the girl sitting next to him, and debated within himself whether he should reach out and touch her shoulder or not. Under normal circumstances, that was what he was expected to do in order to comfort her, to touch her shoulder and rub it gently. But this was no longer a normal circumstance, Maxim had developed feelings for Eira, and making contact with her would only prove to deepen those feelings.

.....

“Before we started the training,” Maxim mumbled in an attempt to get his mind off his racing heart. “You mentioned that you wanted to learn some skills in archery that I could teach you, and you mentioned that you did not have enough time.” The dark-haired elf looked at Eira, and for a second their eyes met. Gosh, her eyes were so bloody enchanting.

Maxim quickly averted her gaze, and cleared his throat. “what did you mean by ‘you do not have enough time’? Is there something that you are rushing for?”

“I suppose now that we are friends, I can tell you what all this is about.” The redhead princess lifted her head up and leaned back on both her hands, her eyes looking up at the sky. “You know I am to be married in eight days right?”

The elf nodded in response.

“well, there is a list of ten suitors that still needs to be cut down to one.” Eira continued to explain. “And to be honest, I am not willing to go through the hell that I went through meeting each and everyone of those men like last time, and enduring their extremely boring ideas for dates. So I came up with a way in which I’ll be able to select the perfect suitor.”

“And what way is that?” Maxim asked curiously.

Eira turned to look at him, a small smile curving her lips. “The man who is to be my husband, has to be able to defeat me in battle.”

Maxim’s eyes widen at the princess’ words. He fell quiet for a moment, hoping that Eira would burst out laughing and tell him that she was only joking, but she never did. Was she serious?! She was willing to go toe to toe with ten men who were probably skilled in battle?

“But that’s absurd Eira,” Maxim responded. The worry and concern in his eyes was evident, and it honestly shocked him a little. He had known this woman for a total of four days, and yet he was already worrying for her safety. “Eira you can’t possibly think you can battle ten men and win! You will be exhausted by the time you fight the second man, how will you go against all ten of them?!”

“I am not as weak as I look, before you joined us for the training Maxim,” the princess explained. “I had already dueled with all the guards you see standing here, including Damien and Zhelimir.”

The green eyed elven man looked around at the guards who were occupying the training grounds, he managed to count about thirty. Had Eira really fought each and every one of these men and won? How strong was this woman?!

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“I’m sure you’re wondering why I want to fight these men, I’m sure you have questions as to why I cannot find any other means to pick a husband.”

“I would have to be a little daft not to be curious,” Maxim admitted.

“You see Maxim, all this talk of me finding a husband was never my wish,” the redhead explained. “It was my parents who passed the decree, without consulting me at all. You see, my dreams are to rule, I want to be queen of Gavaria, not be someone’s little trophy wife.”

Eira got to her feet and picked up her bow and arrow. “So fighting them, and beating them will be my way of sending a message. Not just to my parents, but to everyone in the kingdom as well. Eira Burchard is a woman who walks her own path, she does not need a man to lead the way.”

The princess floated back up and continued practicing her archery, leaving Maxim utterly dumbfounded, intrigued, and a little aroused. This woman, she was something else indeed.

A few moments later, Damien and Zhelimir came to sit next to Maxim, one on each side, sandwiching him as if he would run away.

“Lord Maxim, how is it going with the princess?” Zhelimir asked with a pep in his tone. “Do you think she will master archery in eight days?”

“Eira is very talented and highly determined..” Maxim’s eyes followed the arrow the princess had launched towards the apple, only missing it by a few inches yet again. “If she keeps practicing, she could become better than me in three days.”

“Speaking of which,” Damien added on. Hearing Damien’s deep voice always made Maxim a little uneasy, he always seemed so serious, and Maxim could tell that the hybrid prince did not care for, nor trust him much. “Where did you learn to use a bow and an arrow like that? Aren’t you the son of a lord who resides here in Gavaria?”

“Yes I am,” Maxim responded. “Bertram Adalbert is my father, and I never knew my mother, she died during my birth.”

“And yet you fire an arrow like an Ervelon warrior,” Damien added on, not in the least bit falling for his sob story of his mother’s death, that was obviously brought up to derail him from the main point.

“Well, I was rarely in Gavaria,” Maxim explained. “Hence why I am a bit of a stranger to most people here. Some people actually find it shocking that my father has a son. I moved a lot, especially in Ervelon. Most of my archery I learnt there, I suppose that is why it is akin to that of the elves from there.”

“I see, and where exactly in Ervelon were you-”

“Oh come on now Damien,” Zhelimir interrupted his cousin. “What is this? An interrogation? You’re making Maxim uncomfortable.”

“Am merely trying to get to know him a little more that’s all,” Damien replied flatly. “I’m sure he doesn’t mind. Do you Maxim?”

“Not at all,” Maxim responded with a warm smile. “You can ask me anything, I’ll be happy to share.”

“Don’t be modest Maxim, Damien is being a prick,” Zhelimir spoke. “If you want to get to know a man, there is only one place to do that.” The blonde stood up and gestures the others to do the same. “Come on lads, we are heading down to the bar. A few barrels of ale will have us bonding in no time.”

Maxim already had his entire back story planned out for whenever someone asked about he was, and he had rehearsed it on several occasions with lord Bertram and his servants so they would all be on the same page, so he was more than ready to answer prince Damien’s questions.

But now sir Zhelimir had brought up drinking, and he was talking about barrels rather than a few cups. Maxim worried that if he got too intoxicated, he might end up revealing his true identity to these two men and jeopardize everything.

“That’s a good idea,” Damien added on as he too stood up. “We are done for today anyway, so why not loosen up a little.” He looked down at Maxim who had not stood up. “Are you coming Maxim?”

“Of course,” Maxim responded before standing up. “I would be honored.”

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