ebookland Chapter 71 The Bride
Chapter 71 The Bride
Under the bright sunshine, the knights were training diligently on the training ground. They stood tall and straight, their expressions focused, and the weapons in their hands gleamed coldly.
Kaiya led his team in archery practice. He had sharp eyes and superb archery skills, hitting the bullseye with every shot.
At that moment, Spoelstra walked slowly in. He was dressed in a magnificent robe, his steps were steady, and his demeanor was noble.
Upon seeing the prince arrive, Kaiya immediately stopped what she was doing, knelt on one knee, and respectfully said, "Your Highness." The others followed suit, kneeling in unison to greet the prince with the highest honors.
Spoels smiled slightly and said gently, "Rise, knights."
Everyone stood up and continued their training.
As Spitz looked at the bullseye, a surge of urge welled up within him, a desire to demonstrate his archery skills.
He casually reached for the arrows beside him, preparing to aim at the bullseye and shoot.
However, just as he was about to draw his bow, Kaiya suddenly stepped forward, stopped him, and said firmly, "Prince, you are not allowed to shoot arrows."
Kaia had great respect for the prince, but he was more loyal to the king's orders.
Spitz's face instantly darkened. He stared coldly at Kaiya, a hint of displeasure flashing in his eyes. He lowered his voice and said coldly, "Get out of the way!"
Kaiya was taken aback; he hadn't expected the prince to be so resolute. But he quickly stood up, stepped aside, and made way for the prince.
Just then, Hai Rui rushed over. He looked anxious, but his eyes were full of anticipation and joy. When he saw Shi Bozi, he was so excited that he almost cried.
"Sipoz!" he cried out the prince's name, as if he had seen his own hope. "My God, you have finally come, my prince."
Hai Rui was constantly uneasy because Shi Bozi had become increasingly indifferent to him recently, which made him very uneasy.
He knew that without the prince's support, he would face immense difficulties. But now, the appearance of Spartz rekindled his hope.
Hai Rui said mournfully, "My poor prince, what force binds you in this magnificent palace, making it impossible for your valiant sword to reach your palm?"
Schuberts responded politely, “Teacher, you should know that as a prince, how can my vision be limited to the edge of a sword? Of course, I must stand on the city wall and overlook the earth.”
He lowered his eyes, his fingertips gently gliding over the blade of the sword, now covered in dust by its ornate scabbard, as if offering it silent comfort, a faint smile playing on his lips.
Upon seeing this, Kaiya couldn't help but feel a ripple in his heart, sensing the subtle change in the prince's state of mind.
In the past, His Highness's desire to become a knight burned like a raging fire, which is why His Majesty resolutely opposed his obsession with swordsmanship.
Hai Rui awkwardly tugged at the corners of his mouth, forcing out a smile: "Of course, Your Highness, your primary concern is this country, and it is an honor for the country to have you. But please allow me a little selfishness. As your only teacher, the time without you has been a long and agonizing ordeal for me."
The reason Hai Rui was able to become Shi Bozi's teacher was entirely because of his care and protection for Shi Bozi. However, as time has passed, everything is no longer as simple and beautiful as it used to be.
Today, Hai Rui is driven only by self-interest and ulterior motives.
Spoelstra nodded slightly and said, “That’s right, you are my only teacher. Then, teacher, please let me witness your superb archery skills! Although I am not qualified to shoot arrows on a formal training ground, you can.”
A hint of unease flashed across Hai Rui's face as he secretly pondered the deeper meaning behind the prince's actions.
Was His Highness genuinely eager to see his archery skills, or was he deliberately trying to embarrass him?
Nevertheless, deep in his heart, he had already etched the humiliation he had suffered today into his memory.
He forced a smile and said calmly, "It's alright, Your Highness, we don't need to worry about places that don't welcome us. Let's go to our own training ground."
His response did not meet Schubert's expectations, but it was not abrupt either, as if everything was expected.
Perhaps his gratitude towards Hai Rui was so strong that he forgot his identity as a student.
Upon careful consideration, Hai Rui, apart from urging him to train diligently, did not impart much of the essence of his skills to him.
Out of politeness and respect, he still decided to follow them.
After catching up, Spitz earnestly expressed his doubts: "Teacher, you are a level three swordsman, why don't you show your skills in front of them?"
Perhaps due to his own limitations or the subtle influence of his inferiority complex, he misunderstood the "third-level swordsman" mentioned by Spartz as a contemptuous jest.
He tried to mask his humility with anger, saying, "Your Highness! Your words are too sharp and have deeply pierced my heart!"
Spoelstra was momentarily confused. He stood there, his voice hesitant.
Hai Rui: "I think you may have misunderstood me. I didn't mean any harm; I was just asking a question. Your reaction seems a bit excessive."
"I will make some arrangements for the knight training according to my own situation, so you don't need to worry about it. I'll take my leave now." He picked up his robe and left without hesitation.
As soon as Shi Bozi stepped out of the training field, he spotted Qiao Xiao, who was dressed in a gorgeous gown.
In an instant, Spohr's face changed from solemn to bright, a casual smile appearing on his lips and a spark of joy dancing in his eyes. He excitedly called out, "Mother!"
Qiao Xiao responded with a gentle smile, her voice soft and full of care: "Sipoz, are you alright?"
She quickly approached Qiao Xiao and expressed her respect with a humble yet elegant bow: "Thank you for your concern, Mother. I am well."
Qiao Xiao nodded slightly, her eyes full of approval. She gazed at the handsome face of Shi Bozi and said slowly, "I heard that Prince Aiko is waiting outside the city gate. We must not neglect our manners. You should go to greet him in person to show your royal demeanor."
Shi Bozi silently agreed, saying nothing more, and quietly followed behind Qiao Xiao.
He listened intently to Qiao Xiao's gentle voice, silently praying in his heart, "Mother, let's live together like this forever, okay?"
His eyes shifted between brightness and depth, as if concealing a thousand thoughts, making them elusive.
Whenever his gaze fell upon Qiao Xiao, that unique emotion would quietly emerge, carrying a strong feeling that was not easily detected, yet cleverly hidden beneath his gentle and refined appearance.
Daisy, standing to the side, observed all these subtle changes. She keenly sensed Spartz's unusual behavior but dared not speak.
Some secrets are meant to remain buried.
Prince Aiko rode a snow-white steed and slowly approached, standing by the city gate.
The prince stood tall and straight, dressed in magnificent attire, his golden armor gleaming in the sunlight.
His face was resolute and handsome, and his eyes revealed confidence and authority.
The white horse was tall and majestic, with a coat as white as snow, without a single stray hair.
Prince Echo gripped the reins tightly, guiding the white horse forward with graceful and practiced movements.
Behind the prince, a group of people watched quietly, admiring Prince Echo's handsome face and sighing with admiration.
Just then, a little boy suddenly exclaimed, "That prince is so handsome!" His voice was filled with innocence and curiosity.
However, the little girl next to her didn't think so. She gently shook her head and said, "I think our prince is more handsome." Her tone revealed a sense of determination and pride.
Prince Aiko overheard their conversation, and a smug smile crept onto his lips.
He is very confident in his looks, even to the point of being narcissistic, which makes his personality appear somewhat arrogant.
However, this does not stop him from enjoying compliments on his appearance.
He didn't show any unusual reaction, but patiently listened to the two children's conversation.
He thought to himself that the boy would definitely continue to refute the little girl's words, or that the little girl would regret what she said.
After all, who can resist his captivating charm?
However, something unexpected happened.
The little boy nodded without hesitation and chimed in, "Yes, our prince is indeed much better looking than him."
After saying that, the two of them ran off laughing.
Prince Echo's face instantly darkened. He clenched his fists tightly, his heart filled with anger and resentment.
How could anyone think he's less handsome than someone else? That would be a serious blow to his self-esteem!
His expression was somewhat ferocious due to anger, which caused his originally delicate face to lose some of its beauty.
Just then, the city gate slowly opened, making a creaking sound.
In an instant, Ai Ke's solemn expression became fixed on the direction of the city gate.
After the city gates opened, a figure appeared before everyone.
Aiko's eyes widened instantly; he was deeply attracted to the person in front of him.
Then, Spoelstra rode a tall and majestic steed through the city gate and slowly approached along the bridge.
His appearance was like a dazzling light, illuminating the entire scene.
She was wearing a magnificent robe, the color of which was as blue as the sky and embroidered with exquisite patterns.
Spoelstra's short hair fell over her shoulders, swaying gently in the breeze.
His face was delicate, and his eyes were deep and captivating, making him irresistible.
Riding the magnificent horse with light and steady steps, Spitz steed moved with a mane that fluttered in the wind like silver flames.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled patterns of light on Spitz and the horse.
In the dappled light and shadow, Spoelstra resembles a fairy who has stepped out of a fairy tale, beautiful and mysterious.
The moment Eko saw Spitz, a strong impulse surged within her.
He jumped off his horse without thinking, rushed forward, knelt on one knee, and looked at Spartz with deep affection, saying, "Oh, my dear princess, will you be my bride?"
At this moment, he had forgotten everything around him and was wholeheartedly devoted to confessing his feelings to Spoelstra.
Unexpectedly, the child next to him suddenly shouted, "Look, it's our prince!"
Another voice chimed in: "Oh my god, our prince has been proposed to by another prince!"
Ai Ke looked up at the person on horseback, her gaze lingering on that familiar face.
However, at this moment, Spoelstra's face turned completely dark, as if shrouded in dark clouds.
His once gentle gaze had now turned sharp as a knife, filled with indifference and anger, as if he wanted to tear Eko apart alive.
Spoelstra's voice was low and cold, filled with obvious displeasure and accusation: "Prince Aiko, you have traveled a long way to visit my country, is it just to say these words to humiliate me?"
After saying that, he suddenly pulled on the reins, rode off at breakneck speed, leaving Ai Ke standing there dumbfounded.
Aiko was completely unable to accept what was happening before his eyes. His eyes widened, and his face was filled with disbelief. His lips trembled slightly, and an indescribable sense of loss welled up in his heart.
He originally thought he had found that special person, the one who could make his heart race and his face flush.
But now he realizes he was completely wrong; the person was actually a prince from another country.
Aiko's mental defenses crumbled instantly. He felt a wave of helplessness wash over him, his face turned as red as a ripe apple, and his heart was filled with shame and self-blame.
A group of children were still laughing and repeating what they had just said: "Haha, a prince from another country actually proposed to our prince!"
They laughed so hard they were doubled over, as if they had heard the funniest joke in the world.
Suddenly, a girl stood up, glaring angrily at Eko, holding a small pebble in her hand. She then threw the pebble forcefully at Eko.
"You big bad guy, how dare you bully our noble prince! Get out of here right now!" she shouted angrily.
This action attracted the attention of the other children, who followed suit, picking up pebbles from the ground and throwing them at Aiko.
Suddenly, pebbles rained down on Eiko, catching him completely off guard.
Finally, Ai Ke was awakened by the stones. He slowly opened his eyes, his gaze vacant and blank.
He struggled to his feet, swayed as he mounted his horse, his steps unsteady, as if he might fall at any moment.
His posture was no longer as upright as before; he appeared weak and tired, as if he had lost all his strength.
He rode his horse helplessly and slowly left the place.
Qiao Xiao sat quietly in her bedroom, enjoying the peace and tranquility.
The cheerful songs of birds drifted in from outside the window, and sunlight streamed into the room, making everything seem so beautiful.
However, this tranquility was soon broken by a series of hurried footsteps.
Shi Bozi burst into Qiao Xiao's bedroom and quickly closed the door.
His breathing was rapid, and his forehead was covered with fine beads of sweat, clearly indicating that he had run all the way here.
Qiao Xiao looked at Shi Bozi in surprise and asked with concern, "What's wrong, Shi Bozi? What happened?"
With a wronged expression, Shi Bozi approached Qiao Xiao, squatted down, and buried his head in Qiao Xiao's knees.
His posture appeared somewhat humble, but his face was flushed red with anger, creating a stark contrast with his actions and making him seem somewhat comical.
Sipoz raised her head and said in a tearful voice, "That wretched Prince Aiko actually proposed to me, Mother!"
His voice was filled with dissatisfaction and indignation, and his eyes were glistening with tears.
Qiao Xiao frowned: "A marriage proposal? How rude of you?!"