A Duel "Do you have a death wish?" The man standing beside her yelled, his hands forming a fist. "Do you know who you are talking to?" Natalia shut her eyes as she braced herself for the impact of the hit, but it never came and then a sudden laughter tore through the quiet atmosphere. "Your Majesty, are you okay?" Draven asked worriedly; he was standing some inches away from where the emperor sat, wondering if the insults had gotten to his brain and then he had finally gone mad. Everyone knew the emperor's reputation-merciless, wicked, never one to stomach disrespect. And yet here he was, seemingly amused. So what was so funny about the words of this unfortunate princess? "Yes, Draven." He replied as he got up from the chair that was rather too small for his huge body. Natalia noticed how everyone trembled in fear, including his men. Then, his gaze shifted towards the girl. "Go on," he said, his voice laced with amusement. "Tell me more about this cowardice of mine. It's been decades since any man had the balls to suggest such a thing." "Then those men are worse than dogs," Natalia spat, but then the tall, towering figure stepped out of the shadows, his crimson eyes locked onto hers. Eyes unlike any she had ever seen-dark, deep, and glimmering like pools of blood. As he drew closer, the air seemed to shift and grow colder. The expression on his face was unreadable yet suffocating, cold, and commanding. Like a wild beast against his prey, suddenly, Natalia didn't feel so confident in herself anymore. He stood at least seven feet tall, towering above the rest with broad, Atlas shoulders. Unlike his men, he was dressed warmly, his cloak billowing slightly as he moved, adding to his regal, almost otherworldly presence. His skin was pale-so pale it was almost ghostly, with a sickly hue that should have repulsed her... And yet, he was the most breathtaking man she had ever seen. His looks were sharp and delicate at the same time; it was almost as if he came out from a myth. His dark hair was long, and it sprawled across his shoulder. "Emperor, please forgive her!" Izaiah yelled from the crowd, crawling on his knees towards the front. The guards were unable to stop him. Realizing the insult, the emperor might have been going there to kill her, and he couldn't bear to watch his daughter die right in front of him. "She is nothing but a foolish girl, this little child of mine. I am willing to take whatever punishment you want to give her." "Father, please stay out of this..." Natalia snapped, and the emperor smirked. He had seen a lot of women in his lifetime, but never anyone with this much spirit. Even though she was trembling like a leaf in a storm, her eyes showed no fear. "This is my battle." "Are you trying to get yourself killed, princess? Please listen to your father and beg for mercy!" One of the commanders of the village yelled at her, understanding her father's fear, but before Izaiah could reach them, he was grabbed by one of their captors. "Father, no!" Natalia yelled, her eyes glaring daggers at the man who was manhandling her father. "Have you no shame? How can you drag an old man in such a manner? Don't you fear the heavens?" Her eyes then fearlessly darted towards the man who stared down at her in amusement. "You might have a lot of power, but it is useless if all you do with it is oppress the weak." She snapped. "Then it is your fault for being weak," the emperor continued. "Why should I feel sorry that you are weak? It's not like you can understand because you spent more than half of your life being pampered like the spoiled princess that you are. But that is the order of the world; the strong prey on the weak, and I don't need little girls like you to tell me about justice and injustice." "What is going on?" Erevan asked Draven, who was also confused by the attitude of their emperor. He wasn't always this chatty, and they had been expecting the girl's head to roll ever since he got up from his seat, but instead, he was just talking to her. "I think he is excited," Draven muttered in disbelief. "I have never seen him talk this much before." "Just listen to your father, bow your head, and beg him for forgiveness!" Izaiah yelled, but Natalia's lips remained pursed stubbornly. "Wasn't it you who told me to never cower or bow my head at the sight of oppression?" Natalia asked her father, who was close to having a seizure, if she could go on disrespecting the emperor. Does she not realize how dangerous this man is? "Since the strong prey on the weak in your world, I refuse to bow my head because I am not weak." The emperor's eyes sparked; there was something undeniably unusual about this woman. Her thick eyebrows arched fiercely over narrowed, siren-like eyes; she looked divine, her long brown hair being scattered by the wind. She didn't resemble anything the news had told him; someone like this could never be the goddess Ishani. She was beautiful, but there was something more that seemed attractive: her strong will and stubbornness. Who would have thought he would find something so interesting in his quest for vengeance? "I know you are angry at me, but don't do this to me, I beg you, N-" Before the chief could finish his statement, Natalia interrupted him sharply, because she knew that he was about to mention her name, thereby exposing her lies, and when he did that, Griselda would be in danger. "This isn't about you and me anymore; this is about the welfare of my people." Natalia sneered, and then her dangerously narrowed eyes turned toward the dragon emperor. "You came here to destroy the village because of me. Now that I am here, you should keep the innocent people away from this. You are offended because I rejected your marriage proposal, but even a maiden has the right to choose her suitor. How can you bully me because of my basic human right?" "I am not here to bully you; I am here to fight for my honor, one that you threw into the mud in that silly letter you sent to me." His voice remained calm and composed as if those insults she had been throwing were nothing but mere words. "Then, if you want to fight for your honor, then I, Princess Griselda Ayala of the Green Shade Tribe, challenge you, the emperor of the dragon lairs, to a duel!" Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!