Sansa could hardly believe her actions from last night.
To be so bold, meeting the Prince for only a few hours and doing that kind of thing.
It was truly embarrassing.
After a night of calming down, Sansa reverted back to her demure, ladylike self.
She didn't dare to be alone with the Prince today. Yet, every moment without him felt like a large void in her heart, making everything seem meaningless.
She could only hide by the window of the enclosed bridge, gazing wistfully at her Prince.
This bridge connected the main keep and the armory, and the window offered a panoramic view of the entire training ground. It would be even better if her annoying sister Arya weren't nearby.
Sansa glanced helplessly at her sister, who was shouting excitedly.
On the training ground at Winterfell.
Prince Tommen and Bran Stark were sparring with wooden swords.
Both boys wore thick protective leather armor, and the white-bearded Winterfell master-at-arms, Rodrik Cassel, acted as the referee.
Sansa's gaze was fixed solely on Prince Joffrey, who was watching from the side.
Bran and Tommen had been awkwardly fighting for quite a while. Finally, the slightly plumper Tommen fell first, and Bran raised his wooden sword, showing a victorious smile.
Arya on the bridge also cheered for Bran.
Ser Rodrik looked towards the side of the field. "Your Highness the Crown Prince, Robb, would you like to have another bout?"
The attendants and knights around Joffrey burst into laughter.
In the previous match, the Crown Prince had held an overwhelming advantage. If it hadn't been a match to first blood, Robb would have lost very badly.
Joffrey stopped his subordinates' rudeness. "Let's change opponents. Theon?"
Theon Greyjoy, who was already nineteen, was surprised. "Me? Did Prince Joffrey choose the wrong person?"
Joffrey was full of confidence.
The hardships he had endured under Jaime's training over the past month were not in vain.
His effort went without saying, but the spiritual growth brought by the Runes also greatly improved his learning talent. He was confident that his technique was no longer inferior to the famous Kingslayer.
Although his experience might not be as great, his physical advantage was enough to win him the match.
The Magic Energy produced daily by the Growth Rune was making him stronger, and his increasingly powerful spiritual force allowed him to control his body better. Even without using obvious or hidden magic, his current physical attacks alone were enough to defeat any normal human.
Joffrey and Theon walked onto the training ground.
Both tied on their protective gear, held blunt wooden swords, and slowly circled each other, approaching.
Everyone was looking forward to it.
Theon was the oldest, his experience and technique honed over time. The Crown Prince had also previously defeated Robb, so it seemed another intense battle was about to unfold.
Joffrey decided to end it quickly and teach Theon a good lesson.
He wasn't just here today to show off out of boredom. He wanted to leave a deep impression on the future players of the game of power, making them dare not easily oppose him, and even eventually bring them under his command.
For someone like Theon, who was sensitive, insecure, and arrogant, beating him into submission was the simplest and most effective method.
The two stared intently at each other, shuffling their feet and closing in.
They were only five meters apart now.
Joffrey seized the opportunity, exploding with strength and lunging forward in one step, launching a whirlwind of strikes.
Theon only saw a blur of light and shadow.
The bang of the wooden swords colliding grew more frequent and louder with each breath. People seemed to hear the groan of the wooden swords before they broke.
Theon desperately held his wooden sword, blocking based on experience. "Impossible!"
Theon was in disbelief.
Although this arrogant Prince was tall, he was only twelve years old. How could he possess such monstrous strength?!
But his arm was already numb from the impact, and his steps were constantly retreating.
Crack!
Theon's wooden sword shattered into several pieces. He stumbled, then froze in place.
The Crown Prince's sword was held against his throat.
Sansa on the bridge showed a charming smile. "I knew it, my Prince is definitely the best."
Arya pouted.
On the training ground, those who had come with Joffrey applauded and cheered wildly. The Stark retainers were also full of exclamations.
"Truly the son of King Robert, the demon of the Trident River has a worthy successor."
"King Robert's warhammer is renowned throughout the world. It seems His Highness the Crown Prince will also inherit his father's prestige. The Seven Kingdoms will surely prosper even more in the future."
Theon Greyjoy was completely stunned.
Although he was currently living as a ward, often subjected to ridicule and scorn, Theon knew he wasn't useless.
I am the heir of the Iron Islands, a tenacious Ironborn!
My archery, my swordsmanship.
Robb can't even beat me!
But now.
I lost to an arrogant brat of twelve?!
Theon felt as if his last shred of dignity had been trampled underfoot.
The various emotions in his heart overwhelmed his mind. At this moment, he forgot all sense of hierarchy and order.
"Switch to real swords! Do you dare to fight with real swords!?"
Theon roared hysterically.
Ser Rodrik immediately reprimanded him, "Theon, are you mad? Using real swords is too dangerous. Only blunted swords for duels are allowed. If you lose, you must admit it!"
Robb also frowned, "Calm down, Theon, don't offend His Highness the Crown Prince."
Most of the others watched with cold eyes.
Joffrey, however, didn't mind.
"It doesn't matter. If Theon wants to see a real sword fight, I am naturally happy to oblige."
Theon Greyjoy smiled with a twisted expression.
Joffrey glanced at him.
"A kind reminder, my sword is not ordinary. It alone can beat you. Don't blame me if your sword breaks."
The Hound by the side immediately brought over Joffrey's "Dragonflame".
Everyone's eyes turned towards it.
Joffrey extended his right hand and gripped the hilt of Dragonflame.
Amidst the pleasant, cool sound of metal friction, a gleaming white light grew out of the scabbard from thin air.
The sunlight obscured its appearance.
Dragonflame lowered itself into its master's shadow, and the sword body finally appeared before everyone.
People were instantly mesmerized.
Dark, mysterious patterns, and a faint, flickering crimson light.
A Valyrian Steel Sword?!
No, a more beautiful and noble treasure sword than that!
Theon, who was already not favored, completely lost people's attention now.
Robb and the others started to dissuade Theon again.
Theon also felt the shadow of failure, but how could he back down now?
No matter the outcome, he had to continue.
Theon urged for a long time and finally received his sword from a servant.
Joffrey stood still, watching Theon cautiously advance and retreat, probing, and even had the leisure to wave to Sansa on the bridge.
Sansa gasped and shrank back inside the stone wall outside the window. How could the Prince see this side?
Arya giggled at her foolish sister.
The spectators in the training ground were already impatient, jeering and telling Theon to either attack quickly or surrender quickly.
Theon took a deep breath, as if he were about to jump off a cliff, and charged towards Joffrey.
Dragonflame danced in the air. People saw a fiery red veil floating towards Theon's steel sword.
Clang, clatter~
The upper half of the steel sword fell to the ground. Theon only lasted a few breaths. The half-broken short sword in his hand also broke free from his control and returned to the ground.
The outcome was without suspense. But people were still shocked by Dragonflame's sharpness.
If war broke out, how much blood and life would it absorb on the battlefield? It was unimaginable.
Joffrey sheathed his sword.
Robb, Jon, and Theon were all here. It was the right time.
"Just dueling isn't very interesting."
"One-on-one combat should be left to the soldiers. I've thought of a game that might be more suitable for us."
-----------
Machine Translation by: https:// randomtranslator.com/
Read 777+ original & fanfic translations in English, Español, Português, Deutsch, Français, or Русский at: https:// randomtranslator.com/
Join our Discord: https:// discord.gg/NSWvfN7vua
-----------