Valerian, The Legendary

232 Champions.

Zeenat looked at her nephew who was claiming to be stronger than he was, and she sighed as she said, “I can understand what is going through your mind, but you need to understand that Morgana is not weak, she is way stronger than you are, why must you risk your life if you can live and stand by her side? Is sitting on that throne so important for you?”

Noor looked her right back in the eye and said, “I am the legitimate son of my father, and it is my birthright to ascend that throne, so why must I allow some bastard to sit over there and walk over my head? I am not as strong as she is in terms of ability, but my mind is still quite sharp. I will be sending in my champion to fight for me. I remember that the royal edicts have mentioned the royalty solving matters by electing a champion.”

Zeenat was surprised, but she had to admit this kid was surely very cunning. She nodded and said, “Very well, have it your way, I will inform the council and the competitor you have selected. However, since it is a royal challenge, and you have selected the mention of a champion, Morgana will be given a handicap to mention a condition and it will be fulfilled regardless, if you backed away, you will be forfeiting the challenge. Do you agree?”

Noor thought about it and then he nodded, he was confident in his scheme so why will he not agree? Zeenat sent him away and called for an attendant. She said, “Summon Princess Morgana to my office right away, later drop this letter to the councilmen.”

The attendant bowed and then left the cabin to complete the task, Zeenat was worried that her family will be torn apart. She sighed and mumbled, “Ameer, if you had only made things right when you still had time, your two children would not be at each other’s throats.”

...

Morgana was resting in her room lying comfortably in Valerian’s arms. The two had been together for an entire day and the girl sensed herself getting used to Valerian’s touch. She had basically spent all her life in this place and never sensed any warmth. This was the first time when she did not feel cold.

She was aware that Valerian used a fire spell, called ember to keep the place warm, but still, it was something more than just the spell. She wanted to say something when the door was knocked. Valerian did not move, Morgana got up and opened the door, she looked at the staff and asked, “What is it?”

The staff bowed in respect and said, “Your Highness, Madam Prime Minister has called for you.”

.....

Morgana nodded and then closed the door. She came to Valerian and said in a gentle tone, “I will be back.”

The boy smiled and nodded. The corner where he sat was completely dark and the only source of dim light here was the gap between the door and the floor. Morgana had gotten used to living here by channeling mana through her eyes, and Valerian was the same, for the past few days, he had been circulating mana through his eyes.

Morgana left the room quickly, she was aware that Zeenat has been made Prime Minister, and since she called her this early, it must be something urgent.

...

Morgana stood in front of Zeenat and asked, “Is there anything I can help you with, Madam Prime Minister?”

Zeenat glanced rather and then nodded, seeing that this girl was maintaining the dignity of the office and also did not put up a show even though she was basically the empress now. Zeenat said, “Noor wants to challenge you for the throne.”

Morgana nodded, she was not worried about Noor coming at her, but then Zeenat said, “He has selected a champion to face against you.”

The princess raised her brows and said, “This way his life will not be at stake.”

Zeenat nodded and said, “I have told him that you will be given a condition that he cannot refuse. So, what do you want to propose?”

Morgana replied, “The life stake will not change.”

Zeenat was surprised and then asked, “Morgana, he is, after all, your half-brother. Can you not be lenient?”

The girl shook her head and said, “He knew that I have been selected by the council, yet he did this, so if I am to sit on the throne, do I have to bother with someone who can come at me from behind my back?”

Zeenat was surprised, but she understood that this thought was not baseless, someone as narrow-minded as Noor might grow up to be trouble, and a monarch should deal with troubles as soon as they smell one.

Zeenat said, “Morgana, you all are still young, you are thirteen only, maybe we can allow Noor to grow up and give him time to change his mindset?”

The princess nodded and said, “What you said is not wrong, after all, Noor is eleven only. However, aunt, do you think if we send him to some other place to grow up, he will forgive me? The more he grows the greater the threat, it is alright if you wish to have him spared, I will do so, but if he came back for me in the future, what shall I do?

Yes, as I grow I will be stronger, but does that mean I will be fearless as well? Even the shadow protectors can no longer be trusted, what if some foreign element tried to sponsor the sparks? Should I allow all this to happen just because I was soft-hearted for a moment?”

Zeenat heard all this and her conviction to convince the girl wavered, but Morgana had yet to finish her piece, she said, “Fine since you wish for me to spare him, I will do so, but I also want to have a champion.”

Zeenat was surprised and asked, “Do you have someone you can rely on?”

Morgana took a deep breath and said, “I will tell you my deepest secret.”

The prime minister became eager, and Morgana took a seat in front of her. She said, “I went to Lumen Empire a few months ago, and I met Valerian Verus, the fourth prince of the empire. He is truly adopted by the royal family, yet the treatment and love he was given were even more than the original children.

He took me to the Imperial Academy with himself. I was surprised at first but then he got an Archmage there to cure my ailments at a high price and called it a gesture of friendship. Despite having a lavish room, he sleeps on the floor and calls it something that connects him to his past...”

As Morgana spoke, the smile on her face became evident and Zeenat was surprised, She was taken aback when the princess mentioned a cure for an ailment. This surprise turned into shock when Zeenat was told that Azula had taken a liking for this person as he gave her the courage to hope.

The prime minister thought the reason Morgana probably was leaning towards the family slightly was because of this prince, this was all because of the princess weaving through blabber very smoothly. Zeenat nodded and said, “Fine you can have him as your champion but he must come to the challenge duel by tomorrow morning at the earliest. I will deal with the council.”

Morgana nodded and walked to the door, but then she turned around and said, “Aunt, this thing about my smile, keep it a secret for the time being.”

Zeenat looked at her and nodded with a faint smile. Morgana bowed and left the room, the prime minister leaned back in her chair and mumbled, “If only someone would get me a cure for this leg too. Well, let me finish work and go have dinner with my husband.”

...

Morgana told the entire thing to Valerian and the boy nodded, in the end, he asked, “So, we cannot really make his shoulders a bit lighter?”

The girl shook her head and said, “It is fine, I already have a way to deal with him. Since he wants to sit on the throne, I will have him go to the front when the campaign against the Valkyrians begins. I know how to get him to do things.”

Valerian nodded and said, “I will leave now, I need to eat and then find Fortuna. This girl is out in the woods, doing god knows what.”

Morgana nodded and said, “Can you pass her my thanks? If not for her the beasts would not have acted.”

Valerian smiled and said, “You can thank her yourself. She will be coming with me for this. Do not worry.”

Morgana nodded and after a few words of romance, the prince left the room and sneaked out of the palace, only to return the next morning with a sassy appearance and theatrics. He was going to be the champion of the Empress, so he must act like one.