109 Provocation

"Milk Tea?"

"I came across an old woman when I was searching for proper targets, she was selling teas and the aroma was too good to ignore it"

As she said she took a sip from the cup and immediately a smile appeared on her face.

Seeing Arrora Don didn't know whether to laugh or knock her on the head.

He sent her to do a job and even though she did it without failing him, she bought a new kettle, cups, and presumably the key ingredient to make tea to the castle on her way.

"How is it?"

Arrora asked as she tilted her body towards Don with a small delighted smile on her face.

Since he trusted Arrora enough to know that she wouldn't poison him and the fact that he's immune to the poisons, Don sighed and gently took a sip.

And the moment the tea touched his taste buds, his eyes almost opened wide in surprise. Mostly Don would only drink water or juices if he's thirsty so he didn't have many delicious drinks in his life but this drink could be the tastiest drink he ever had.

And also Don could feel that it has a purifying effect on his organs which would boost his cultivation level slightly.

"It's good"

"It's great, we should open a shop for selling teas in Everlight when we get back"

Don could see the excitement on Arrora's face and he knew it's a great idea because it would boost the cultivation level of the people in Everlight and it would be a good step towards the economical development of Everlight.

"So is everything ready for tomorrow?"

While taking another sip, Don asked Arrora

"Yes, everything's ready"

While Don and Arrora was drinking tea and enjoying the view outside, someone knocked on the door

"Come in"

As he said, the door opened and the one knocked on the door revealed to be Darlene.

"Am I interrupting anything?"

"No"

"Here, don't betray my trust, King Don"

Don saw a small box in Darlene's hand as she held out the box for Don to take it from her hand.

Seeing the intricate engravings and the sheer quality of the box, Don knew that it must be the access key to the ancient dungeon.

"Don't worry, Princess. My work here is not done"

"Alright, keep the key safe and far as my father is concerned I have the key"

Don nodded and grabbed the key from Darlene's hand as she nodded and left the room without asking anything about the cups in Don and Arrora's hand.

"You sure we can't kill her now?"

Don didn't know whether he was a good influence or bad influence on Arrora hearing her.

"She's not worth the risk"

**************************************

"He asked for a duel?"

At the moment, King Garreth was sitting on his throne with a scroll on his hand and Princess Kate was with him.

"Yes Kate, Jowan is challenging Don for a duel"

King Garreth was having a headache as it is and the last thing he wanted Darlene's lover to be killed by the Agorian Prince.

"If sister would have chosen a better man, we wouldn't be worrying now"

Kate was rolling her eyes thinking about how weak Don is even compared to the Agorian Prince.

"He must be good at something else your sister wouldn't have chosen him"

"I don't know about that, he's having a girl for as his bodyguard for god's sake"

King Garreth had no idea what made Darlene fall in love with the guy but since she did and he understood that he couldn't stop Darlene even if he wanted to, all he could do is drag the matter for another two months until Darlene's get into the cold moon palace as an inner disciple.

If Darlene was married to Prince Jowan before the selection begins, it would have been another great thing for King Garreth and Agoria because having an inner disciple of a powerful place such as Cold Moon Palace as a Queen had its merits and benefits. However since Darlene was annulling the marriage and if she got into the Cold Moon Palace, a king of a rank 4 kingdom could do nothing and King Garreth knew that very well.

"What about the secret thing you told mother the other day?"

"Garreth's not a fool, he should have taken the deal or at least he should have talked to me"

Realizing that her father didn't want to tell her the secret deal he tried to make with King Garreth, Kate started to think about the solutions for their current problem

"I don't see many options here father. If we do let the duel happen, Prince Jowan will certainly kill Don but if we don't, they will have every reason to declare war with us"

Kate couldn't help but get frustrated and mad at Don thinking about their current situation and deep down she even wanted Don dead so her sister could end up with a better man than he is.

"The only good thing is the Agorians would think before declaring war with us since we have Emir with us"

"But we should start hiring mercenaries from the guild, I have a bad feeling about this" King Harold said as he rubbed his forehead due to the headache he was having today.

"What's going on father?"

King Harold saw Darlene walking towards him with a calm and serene look on her face unlike him.

"Jowan wants to challenge your man for a duel, that's what's going on"

King Garreth said and threw the scroll at Darlene.

Catching the scroll, Darlene started to read it and when she laid her eyes on the scroll, she was surprised and slightly shocked then at the end of it Darlene couldn't help but chuckle

"What are you laughing at sister?"

Kate asked and wondered what could exactly be funny in this situation for Darlene as Darlene gave the scroll to Kate to read

And just like her sister, Kate also want unable to keep a straight face when reading the scroll

"Spineless frog, eat mud for breakfast, wear girls clothes, if you have a d"

"Kate!"

King Harold's shout made Kate stop reading highlighting points on the scroll

"Who wrote this thing? Even I want to go to a fight after reading this"

Kate said.

"That's what they want Kate, they want Don to accept the challenge"

"You think he will?"

Just like Kate, Darlene had the same doubt and she couldn't wait to see Don's reaction after reading the scroll. And the provocations written on the scroll could make any young man's blood boil so she was sure that Don would accept the challenge although he was not as powerful as Prince Jowan because it was not a mere duel challenge but a challenge of Don's dignity and honor.

Darlene had pretty good backing behind her so even if Don accepts the challenge and get himself killed in the process, she didn't have anything to worry about. As far as she's concerned, Don was just a pawn in someone's game, and this whole acting and dealing with everyone about a simple marriage agreement made Darlene want nothing but this whole fiasco to end.

"So are you going to tell him or you want me to tell him?"

Since the scroll had some pretty nasty provocations, even some about the male parts, King Harold felt like he should be the one to tell it to Don.

And even though King Harold had no reason to like Don, he didn't like the contents on the scroll. King Harold never thought that the Agorians would stoop to this low because the way they challenged Don to a duel was like a drunk man cursing at another drunk man in a tavern fight.

***********************************

On the same day evening, there was a thunderstorm coming in Korrinth. There were growling, gloomy dark clouds gathering above, hovering over the castle and kingdom.

After putting the access key into his space ring, Don was sitting on a chair looking at the sudden downpour through his window while Arrora leaned on the window with a cup of tea in her hand. Rumbles of thunder and flashes of lightning came along with a downpour. The destructive unforgiving wind raced through the streets and the rattle of loose windows could be heard from the rooms located beside Don's.

"Your majesty"

Just like before there was someone knocked on the room but hearing the voice, Don knew that its Uncle Steve as he said

"Come in"

Although Uncle Steve and Don didn't know each other very well, Don could see the distress behind Uncle Steve's fake smile.

" Your majesty, his majesty King Harold is requesting for you in the throne hall"

Even though it was somewhat disrespectful of King Harold to summon Don like this and Arrora frowned upon hearing Uncle Steve, Don didn't mind as he decided to play along with King Harold just a little bit. Don knew that if he revealed his true power to King Harold, he would have come by himself to meet Don and threw a red carpet underneath his feet in the process.

"Alright, lead the way"