Natalia had no idea how to explain Ryan to Ophelia.

The man at the door... the provoking freak. Ryan. He smiled at Ophelia's raised sword, and Natalia knew he was just amused. But to anyone who didn't know Ryan, this would look like a challenge. Especially to a warrior princess. And somehow, she didn't want to interrupt. The energy between these two was overwhelming - they were beyond her, at a pedestal she could never reach. Her words could never make any difference to them.

What she didn't know was that the warrior princess was starved for a duel. For any opportunity to scrape the rust off her sword.

Natalia closed her eyes, she had never been good with words, how was she ever going to make make a man fall in love with her!?

'Calm down,' she told herself, taking a deep breath, in which Ryan descended the stairs to the chamber and approached Ophelia calmly. His attire didn't give away who he was. He was in a habit of wearing thin fabrics of the poor. He hadn't gotten himself accustomed to the Royal robes yet. Or maybe, the fabrics were intentional. He didn't want anybody to know who he was. If that was the case, Natalia wondered if she should tell Ophelia...

'Don't take a step forward.' Ophelia hissed.

'Why though,' Ryan asked, 'I have not posed any threat to anybody here. Look, I'm unarmed.'

Probably Ophelia had people in her life because of whom, she did not believe that an unarmed warrior was harmless. Her sword wasn't raised any further, but it didn't dip either. Her eyes were shrewd and cold, and even Natalia had to accept, mesmerising.

'Give me your introduction and my sword will go away. The orders were clear - no men inside the chamber.'

'Ophelia, he's-' Natalia began, but she caught sight of Ryan's face and stopped. Okay, she was not in this.

'Go on then, try your sword on me. Let's see,' a tiny smirk formed, 'what the Vedessans have.'

Natalia thought that Ophelia would simply launch into an attack, but the latter's mind worked before her limbs. She frowned, 'You seem to know a lot about me.'

'Quite only a little actually.' He replied, modestly. Then smiled fully, 'But I would love to learn more. Everything, about such a stunning lady.'

Then Ophelia's mouth turned down with disgust.

But it was not that she charged at him. When she pulled her blade out completely, it was long, nasty thing with a gleam on both its edges and a surprisingly straight body. Her move was single and fluid, it didn't take her more than a second to slash in the air (it seemed to Natalia) and then sheath her sword back.

Gods.

The thin string around Ryan's neck, again a poor man's locket, snapped clean a moment after Ophelia had sheathed her sword back.

I could have taken your neck, but this is only a warning.

'I do not assume that we'll be dueling,' she said, in a calm hiss. Somehow, she felt him to be an amateur. Inexperienced and young. And while Ryan was young, he was none of the rest - as much Natalia knew.

And maybe, just maybe, Natalia was a little afraid of this foreign princess now. So, she was naturally surprised when Ryan smiled again.

Not an impressed smile, not exactly so, still very close to an impressed one.

He did not bend to pick the locket up, instead, pointed to a very slight, red mark on his throat.

'Did you mean for this to happen as well? I'm sure not.'

For a second, Ophelia was stumped. It was a clear mistake, and proof of her inexpertise, until she smiled too. 'You seem to have rather sensitive skin, Sir.'

'And you, a dangerously sharp blade.' He replied, sitting down beside the window and pulling his robes once, just for the "Royal Effect".

Ophelia seemed to find him amusing as well. Natalia just wondered how much longer she was supposed to keep quiet for. She couldn't bear watching Ophelia doing what she would surely regret afterwards.

'Pray tell me who you are!'

Natalia couldn't take it any longer. 'Ophelia!' She exclaimed, then turned to Ryan. His eyebrows were raised in a request-warning. But Natalia had had enough, 'You can't keep me quiet any longer.' to which he shrugged and stood up.
'Ophelia, he's messing around with you. He's a King!'

Ophelia's face went remarkably blank, colour draining and the eyes turning harsher. But she didn't stagger, or speak, or convey any surprise at all.

'But if I weren't a king, would tha-'

Natalia shot him a withering glance. And he went quiet with a expression that read, It was fun while it lasted.

'Quite young for-' Ophelia began, sizing him up once again.

Natalia interrupted, 'Of course he's young. Haven't you heard?' She was a little agitated now, at Ophelia too, but more at Ryan. They were wasting valuable time.

Of course Ryan was young. He was only fourteen when he had overthrown the Asmare lineage. It had happened rather slowly, the inner infiltration, the people hating the Asmares, the promising and handsome face of a new ruler. Slowly. Theronsia had never feared anything, Ryan was her... rather distant cousin. Not born in Royalty, but with enough such blood in his veins to desire and handle that power.

'I recollect...' Ophelia began, now truly pale. For a second, Natalia thought she would charge at Ryan once again. But then she stepped forward, and rather surprisingly, knelt down in an act of humility that Natalia had not known her to be capable of previously.

It made Ryan stagger, 'I don't think a Princess should kneel in front of anybody. Much less a man she wouldn't have minded killing just moments ago.' he stepped back, slightly uncomposed. Before he could complete the step, Ophelia was up, and she was smiling, almost, because she didn't smile a lot.

'Princesses do kneel to a lot of people when they aren't princesses anymore. But,' she assessed him, 'you're a strange king. And, I've heard of you... just never expected to meet under such circumstances,' she threw a glance at her scabbard. 'King Ryan, you are,' she looked at him - his clothes, probably - 'unlike most kings I know.'

'Unlike your father, am I?' He questioned, good-naturedly. But Ophelia shook her head, serious.

'You're a lot like him.'

Ryan nodded, like he understood. 'I heard things from the Queen.' He turned to Natalia, 'That the princess will be helping you.' He turned a shade sterner, 'Do you remember how much time is left?'

She looked down, ashamed and frustrated at the same time. 'Forty one.' It was almost inaudible, 'But trust me Ryan, I try my best. I go down there every day. I try my best to... to... but the man is scary. I return without trying everyday for the past two years. I'm scared! What if he gets enraged on being disturbed? What if he... how would he even fall in love with me? My own parents don't love me!'

Even to Ophelia, who didn't know or care about Natalia one bit, it must have sounded like a pathetic fate. If in two years, she couldn't try once, what difference could 41 days make now? Natalia couldn't bear to face the other princess, who was so... calm, composed. Brave. She knelt before and attacked a man with the same ease. And now she was being forced to take part in a destiny that wasn't even hers. Treated inferior, and being used. But there she was, standing as if nothing was wrong for her.

Ryan seemed to think so too, both that 41 days wouldn't make much difference, and that Ophelia was a stronger personality. Or probably smarter, at least.

'Pardon me if this offends you, but do you know anything about making men fall in love, Princess?'

Surprisingly, she smiled. 'You compliment them. It strokes their ego. Making a woman fall in love is harder.'

'I don't even try.' Ryan nodded.

'Women fall for men who don't try.' Ophelia nodded back. It made Ryan smile, and Natalia could have been seeing things, but he blushed as well.

'Princess Ophelia,' Natalia managed, sounding just as miserable as she was, 'you seem much better at it than me.'

Then she shook her head, and touched her sword lightly, 'I cannot be, all I've done in life is struggle to be better than my brothers, and as good as my parents.'

'Natural talents,' Ryan reminded her. To which she seemed amused. As Ophelia began to walk towards him, she seemed to be blazing to Natalia. She realized she had never seen a more beautiful person. Her brown hair was too perfect, her arms too strong, skin glowing too bright. She was the one people fell in love with, not Natalia. Even Ryan was momentarily stumped, the teenage blush spreading across his cheeks. Sometimes, Natalia forgot that he was a King, but each time, she was reminded of it soon.

'My natural talent, is using brains, not looks.' It could have been a warning or not, but Ryan nodded and the matter was, Natalia realized, over for a long time to come. 'But I shall definitely help you, Princess, to the best if my abilities,' Ophelia continued, lightly.

Natalia sighed deeply. 'Help is not getting me anywhere.'

'I have,' Ryan said, taking no further notice of their conversation, 'two tasks for which I'm here. The first is, Natalia, to make sure that you speak to that ascetic today.'

'No!'

'I'm afraid that I was not asking, just stating.' Ryan replied, in a perfect reminder of who he was. Only a king could be this unconcerned of others' feelings.

* * *

'There, beyond this river is his hut. He bathes in this river, meditates, survives in the forest by foraging his food. But there is one thing about him, he is not a perfect ascetic. He has one huge bank of knowledge, but apart from that, very few good qualities.' Ryan told Ophelia, as they stopped for a while to catch their breath before crossing the river. Though it was only Natalia catching her breath, she was dreadfully tired. Ophelia seemed a little ruffled, but Ryan looked like he could climb a few mountains right now.

'Which is our only strength.' Ophelia conjectured. But Ryan laughed,

'Our strengths, Princess Ophelia, will do nothing to make him fall in love with Natalia. The question is of his weaknesses.' Then he turned to Natalia, who was trying her best to stop panting like a fat buffalo. She thought he was going to make fun of her, but it was a perfect Ryan-move to be gentle when least expected. 'You came here in a carriage all the other times, I presume?'

She nodded, not thinking herself capable of speaking right now. Ryan glanced at Ophelia once, who was staring pointedly at the hut. Then he offered Natalia a hand, 'Some water will do you good.'

Natalia was grateful, water had never sounded so alluring before. She grasped his hand, Ryan was the only male contact she had. The finest she could ask for, in any case. He helped her kneel next to then river, 'The rocks are slippery here,' he cautioned, gripping her hand tighter. 'I'm sorry you had to walk, Natalia. A carriage would just... draw too much attention.'

'What's the fastest was to cross this river?' Ophelia called out.

'Swim.' Ryan told her, then turned, 'What are you doing there, Princess, when you should be in my place, helping Natalia.'

'You guys seem to be having a moment I can't bear to interrupt.' She shot back.

Ryan laughed, 'Natalia is my distant cousin, Princess.'

'Cousins are perfectly marriageable.'

Natalia choked on her water, 'No they aren't!' She said, coughing.

'Never mind.' Ophelia said, walking up to them. Natalia half expected her to fall into Ryan's arms any minute. The scene was rather pretty in her mind, because while Ryan was not hands down handsome, something (that Natalia hadn't bothered to figure out) about him was irresistible. 'Are we going to swim?'

Ryan shook his head with a smile. 'It's an easy task to navigate this river.'

Ophelia eyed him, 'What do you mean?' but then she saw the boat near them. 'That's too small.'

Ryan looked at it, 'None of us weigh too much.'

Natalia always found that boat uncomfortable. She had sat in it for probably a thousand times by now. And the fact that she couldn't make a move even now... that just showed how unapproachable and disgusting Edgar was. But Ryan and Ophelia didn't know it, and she didn't tell them anything because she wanted them to be shocked. Appalled at the task set out for her.

Ophelia offered help in rowing the boat, since even when it was only Natalia, it took two people to row it. But Ryan... it did not surprise her that he could easily do it alone. What surprised her was that he was actually showing off. Something like, Don't look at my lean frame, Princess. I am more than a match for anybody.

But Ophelia looked unaffected, she didn't offer more than once, and when declined, sat with a quiet dignity that would have impressed Queen Alyssa. After a minute, she looked around them, and remarked, 'Our speed is quite low, isn't it?'

Natalia didn't think so, they were going swifter than usual. But Ryan and Ophelia seemed a perfect pair to her, he wanted to impress, and she was difficult to impress.

'Are the Vedessans always in a hurry?' He asked, as if he hadn't considered her remark. But his hands moved faster, muscles flexed more, and they were going quicker than before.

Ophelia dodged his question, 'You seem to know so much about me.'

'Nothing at all, except for the fact that you're the Princess of Vedessa and look exactly like your father. We have corresponded before.'

It made Ophelia's shield fall off, 'You have written to my father?' She asked, almost eager.

'He acknowledged me as the new king five years back.' And then looked down, the stream was getting deeper. 'He sounded quite conceited though, pardon me.'

This time he smiled fully, realising he had pushed Ophelia well.

'My father,' she smiled as well, 'is as Royal as they get. He might appear conceited to common folk.'

Natalia raised her eyebrows slightly, Ophelia was stepping into dangerous waters. But as it seemed, Ophelia and Ryan were playing a game: I could rip you off this minute, but I'm going to smile.

'Then I'm sure he would finish me this instant, if he was here. True Royals can't handle a slight, can they? Would throw me into the river probably.' Ryan almost grinned.

Ophelia smiled, 'He wouldn't have to throw you off the boat to kill you.'

Natalia felt like she didn't even exist. But it suited her. Sometimes she felt like not existing. Dream come true moment. Ryan glanced down again, they were nowhere near the end.

'So, it is a last effort, but I've come to know that this ascetic is rather afraid of the Venemina.' Ryan said, changing the subject. We looked at him, confused. How would that help? 'I hope you don't push me off when I'm done speaking,' he looked at Ophelia.

'If it's that outrageous, I still have a sword and you don't.' She replied, coolly.

Ryan smiled, and bowed a bit, 'But I must speak. The ascetic knows a lot, terrifyingly lot, but it remains limited to things that he is actually interested in. Things like... maybe I shouldn't say them.' He stopped for a second, and Ophelia's hand grasped the hilt of her sword. Natalia wondered what a duel between them would be like...

Most probably, fatal.

'But he won't know who Princess Ophelia is, unless he has meditated on it for a long time. Which he hasn't. As a result. It will be very simple to present her as a Venemina.' He didn't stop, because Ophelia could have done some serious damage if he did, 'No look, a Venemina who is right in line to be the next Queen. She needs that anklet. That will be you, and I can be... your guide, since men can never be Veneminare. It has two benefits, when Natalia saves him from you, he'll be indebted to her and definitely want to know her, if only out of gratitude. Secondly, it will force him to think about that Anklet so that when Natalia finally asks that secret of him, he can give it up at once.'

Ophelia was deep in thought. To Natalia, this felt good. It didn't feel right, but nothing about Edgar had ever felt right. She pushed the hair out of her eyes. They said her eyes were beautiful. Edgar had to see them.

'I would have had other women stage as the Venemina, yes.' Ryan said, sensing Ophelia's suspicion. 'But you see, it is a plan full of loopholes. I would never have done it unless we were as desperate as we are now - and Princess Ophelia, if anybody can pass as an unquestionable venemina... it's you. Your eyes, they are beautiful. But also... rare.' and he stopped, abruptly. But Natalia could read the undertones, yellow eyes. Like a snake. Of course like a Venemina.

'Natalia needs a weapon to save Edgar from me.' Ophelia said, calmly, and Ryan sighed out of relief. 'My sword will be too heavy, but it's the best shot we have.'