Never in your life would you have imagined yourself in the situation you find yourself in right now.

Prince Gadriel, the same man who as a child purposely pulled your hair and constantly insulted you, is now standing up for you. And not just standing up for you, but tossing his glove in declaration of a duel. In your honor!

His cheeks are flushed under the beating sun in this garden pavilion, the ladies and gentlemen around you murmuring and staring over the scene.

The baron who, in his own words, found your presence to be utterly repulsive, and demanded that you 'hide that disgusting heritage' far from his family, is now face to face with a very upset prince.

Gadriel straightens up, even as he feels a drop of sweat bead down his neck. He'd never dueled before, he'd never even stepped into a training ring outside his mandatory lessons in swordsmanship growing up!

But with a hesitant glance at you, he feels courage well in him. Sure, he thought you were an annoyance fluttering about his palace, but you were his annoyance. No one else was allowed to treat you poorly, it was utterly immoral!

With a huff, he flicks his hair up. "See to it you prepare properly, Baron. I won't be taking apologies in any other way."

The older man shrinks slightly, before muttering a semi-polite acknowledgment, scuttling back to his wife, who proceeds to slap him across the wrist.

With the main entertainment having passed, people around you start moving away. Gadriel, sensing your gaze, glances back at you.

His freckled cheeks flush a bit more, but less from the heat and more from the realization that you hadn't left yet. "What? Don't think this means anything. I'm just... setting him straight. No one speaks so crudely in my presence except me." He clarifies, assuring both himself and you that this bold challenge had no ulterior motives.

He certainly wasn't trying to get in your good graces. Not at all...