14 Place your bets

"Let's see. Shall we compete for the most believable acting? I'll be expecting a full theatre type of acting. Just like you did when the Queen died."

The way all those words flowed naturally from her mouth. All of those came from her as Kim Aera from the real world and as Princess Asteria. Kim Aera may have hated going into this novel, but what's special is that she loves how evil Asteria's character is. Just much to her liking. It's so satisfying.

She then tucked Mistress Geneva's hair behind her ear as a tease.

Mistress Geneva had tears in her eyes now, showing her that she was really hurt.

Princess Asteria wanted to just push this woman to the river and drown her, but she's not a killer, so a threat will do for now…

"Good. Now, this is just a threat. Keep on attempting to kill me because I'm done having to deal with your stupid antics. I'll surely return the favor. Understand?" She said and walked away from the mistress.

She then strolled around, when suddenly, something stopped her.

"Where did you go last night?" A deep voice whispered from her ear and she turned to see Lord Eros. He was referring to the time when she left Vita with them and ended up getting kidnapped and saved by the female lead.

But Lord Eros doesn't have to know about that.

"Somewhere." That was all she replied.

"I left when I didn't see you in your room." He said. "And the upcoming contest, I'm excited to win that."

She looked at him in the eye, "I thought you won't even reveal yourself to my father, the king. Why are you trying to win me over? I thought you hated my bloodline?" She asked he just pointed at the glasses he was wearing.

"I created a spell to these glasses. Well, not that they know what my face would look like. But if I put this on, they won't even know I am the real one. But I appreciate your concern about my identity, princess." He answered. "About this contest, I'm afraid I won't be able to perform at my best as I couldn't even catch a wink of sleep thinking about you."

She widened her eyes at him. Goodness, that sounded weird if someone might have heard it! "You…if someone hears that."

"Hear what?" Suddenly, another voice appeared from the curtains and she saw her brother, Prince Ares.

She instantly pushed Lord Eros away and smiled, "Hello brother."

"Hmm...Lord Eros, leave me alone with my sister, I'll talk with her." Asked Prince Ares, who eyed her and Lord Eros.

Lord Eros nodded and glanced at her one last time before leaving.

Prince Ares sighed, "Did you know what father has been planning? About that contest?"

"Some details…yes."

He looked at her with a disgusted look "And you agreed?"

"Why not? It's for the future of our kingdom."

"Asteria, you know you can say no. Brother Apollo has been trying to negotiate-"

"I agreed to father already, why to make this a big deal?"

"We know no man can stand you." He said seriously but then joked.

"I'm aware, thank you. If you're going to play around me brother, now is not the time, I must make haste and prepare."

Prince Ares sighed, "It's just…we're not ready to give you out to some man. Atlas won't have anyone to play with anymore, I won't have someone to play pranks with, and brother Apollo will miss you."

"I won't be gone. I'll visit after, brother. It will still be me." She reassured. Really, Prince Ares has not been open to her like this before, what made him admit it today?

Prince Ares just nodded and left her alone with such dark thoughts. "I will run a background check on the lord. Whatever you are hiding sister, it will be uncovered soon." And he left.

***

"Everyone! Listen to the announcements!" Yelled a royal knight while reading the parliament, earning the attention of the citizens.

"Today is the day that a competition will be held!" Everyone in the kingdom was shocked, and citizens peeked at the pieces of announcements that the royal knights scattered across the town. Some whispered with each other, some curious, and some left and was not even bothered by the news.

That is right. The competition for all the suitors in winning over the princess is going to be held today.

"Alright, place your bets, everyone! Remember, you can not change you're bet!" Yelled the taverns as drunk men bet on the suitor that they think will win the princess.

There were twenty suitors who wanted to compete. Yet two were outstanding in ranks in terms of the bet. Almost everyone vouched on Prince Griffith from Orthosdem Imperium, the future king of their neighboring country. With his stable status and strong physique, they are sure that he will win the competition.

Second in the leading is Prince Griffith, who came from Warkinless kingdom, the vale of the warriors. Although their kingdom was struggling, they cannot deny the influence of the mighty warriors and witches that came from that kingdom.

The two princes were almost tied in the number of bets, while the rest of the suitors had a few votes on them.

But among the participants, no one even bothered to vote on Lord Eros as he was just a fellow with no stable status.

Behind them, was a fellow who laughed at the announcements, finding it funny.

"Why are you laughing there, kiddo?" Asked the person in charge of bets.

"You're all betting on the wrong people." He muttered as he sipped on his beer.

All the men looked back at him with furrowed eyebrows, yet it didn't intimidate him.

One raised his eyebrow at him, "You stinky fellow, who do you think will win then? Have you placed your bets already?"

He smirked, grabbed a huge bag of coins from his pockets, went to the counter, and smiled at the man, "100 grand on Lord Eros, please."

The man laughed at him, "Lord Eros? Why would you bet on someone with no status-"

The fellow's hand instantly met the man's face, releasing some blood on his nose and they yelped in pain.

The rest of the men gulped, trembling a bit as they knew that this new fellow is not someone to be messed with.

"W-who are you?"

He scoffed, grabbing a carrot and munching at it, "Well, I'm Lord Eros's brother, nice to meet you, lowlifes." His green eyes shone as he wrung his hand through his red hair.

"I'm rooting for you, brother," Anteros muttered to himself, leaving the tavern. "This is going to be so much fun."