With an annoyed huff, Anna settled down on her seat. Leon’s actions didn’t sit right with her, however she tired to think about it.

What’s wrong with him?

She threw a guarded glance at him as he took his seat on her left side. His eyes remained focused ahead, his posture impeccable and exuding a commanding presence.

Wow. Holy side profile.

His side profile was sharper than glass, well defined, the kind of side profile one might find in a video tittled "how to draw handsome men that pop off the page"

His good looks are the only thing going for him.

Anna scoffed and turned her head away.

Leon noticed the loss of her presence.

Subtly, he glanced at her from the corner of his eye. He hated to admit it, but the Princess was a stunning woman. Her features had a delicate appeal about them, he felt like if he touched her skin he would bruise her. Just from a touch. Her spores floated in the spare around her, a soft pink. Those spore he knew could turn purple at any point and coil around his lungs like venomous snakes.

He turned away, telling himself that he didn’t care. She still had him imprisoned. Lotus was still in coma thanks to her. And to cap it all off, there was a six month deadline hanging over Leon’s neck like a gulloitine.

Councilor Valor watched the both of them, and the only thing he wanted to do was return to his chambers and continue the book he was reading. Do I really have to be here? He wondered with a heavy sigh.

Minutes later, the open arena filled with all manner of beastmen in military uniform. Most of them were from the Eastern Army, and a few were civilians who thought to try their hand at the shiny position of Temporary General. Anna felt the manliness in the air, and excitement raced down her spine.

Among them, Anna spotted a familiar head of blue.

"Kai?!" She called out, her eyes widening. "What are you doing here?!"

Kai skipped to the front of the row, his brilliant smile glinting in the morning sun. He was still dressed in only a pair of shorts, no shirt and no shoes. Anna winced seeing the marks on his fair skin accentuated by the morning sun. And the collar around his neck made her feel sick. Despite that, he remained cheery as always.

"Good morning your highness, General, Councilor." He greeted, giving a quick bow to Leon and Counvilor Valor but bowing a full ninety degrees to Anna. "I hope you’re in good spirits."

"Yes, Kai. Her highness woke in high moods today. Praise to the gods."

"Praise to the gods indeed."

Anna’s gaze traveled between Kai and Leon, her eyes narrowed in mild annoyance. She couldn’t help but feel a gang up forming between the men.

"What are you doing here, Kai?" Anna asked, pining her gaze on the shark beastman.

He clasped his hands behind him, standing upright and firm. "I’ve always wondered what it’s like to be General, even for one day."

Anna looked at him, his scrawny arms and the ribs jutting out from under his skin. Then she did a sweeping glance over the crowd of candidates, majority of them big muscled and tall and looking like they squeezed juice out of rocks and drank it for protein shakes. Then she looked back at Kai.

"Kai, you’re not—"

"You’re welcome to try out." Leon cut her off. "We welcome everyone, regardless of who they are or what they used to do. Join the rest, Kai."

"Why thank you, General." Kai said and returned to the crowd.

Anna turned to face Leon. "What are you doing?! He’s not a solider!"

Leon flashed her a fanged smile, one that made her reel back into her seat. "I know that, your highness. Isn’t the goal to find my replacement? Would you prefer to do this halfway?"

I’m going to strange this man!

Anna inhaled deeply, her eyes drifting shut as she imagined all the soft and beautiful things she liked. She vowed not to show any bad behaviors today, no matter how much Leon aggravated her.

When she opened her eyes, her demeanor was calmer. She relaxed into her seat, her back ramrod straight as her eyes focused on the candidates.

One of them stepped forward.

"Oh," the squeak was out of Anna’s mouth before she could stop it.

The candidate was tall, but as was almost every man around him. What struck Anna the most was his face. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

He’s like a doll...

He had long blond hair that glowed under the sun like a million spun gold threads. He moved with a fluidity Anna had seen in ballet dancers, or assassins. He wasn’t as muscular as his mates, although his body had a willowy appeal to it. He had a charming aura and a soft smile.

He’s better suited to be a Prince than a soldier.

"Who is that?" Anna whispered.

He bowed, hair falling gracefully down his shoulders. "Good morning your highness,"

Even his voice is beautiful.

"How are you?"

Anna blinked. She looked around to make sure he was talking to her. "You’re asking how I am? Do I know you?"

"My name is Tristan, your highness. I served under General Leon."

Anna glanced at Leon. He gave a small nod of approval.

"In that case, thank you, Tristan. I am doing wonderfully well this beautiful morning."

Tristan smiled, before bowing and returning to the crowd. Anna watched him leave, an uncomfortable feeling brewing in her chest. The crowd parted for him as he walked, and eyes followed his form.

Anna grabbed her chest, to her surprise, her heart was racing.

What?!

"Has no one ever asked after you before?" Leon asked, a cold smirk on his lips.

Anna ignored him.

Something about Tristan worried her.

She didn’t know what it was, nor did she have a name for it. But immediately after he stepped forward and introduced himself, she began to truly notice him. It was like he was suddenly visible.

Among the crowd, he easily stood out.

Most beastmen had dark hair. He had a startling gold that was hard to miss. It made Kai’s unnatural blue hair pale in comparison.

But it wasn’t just his hair.

He was too beautiful. Too smooth. And that name, Tristan, it was a modern name.

Anna knew that most modern names still existed here and had gotten twisted and tied. But hearing "Tristan" out of the blue was not what she expected.

That’s also the name of my ex....

Anna didn’t want to think about that jerk.

"What is his beast?" Anna asked Leon. She noticed her voice was trembling. Clearing her throat, she swallowed some of her discomfort and turned to Leon.

"A goldfish."

"A goldfish? And he’s in the army?"

"Are you saying he’s unqualified?"

"I’m saying that a goldfish beastman isn’t exactly that useful in his beast form."

"Calm down, your highness. We haven’t even begun the games yet."

"Don’t tell me to calm down!" Anna snapped.

A silent hush fell over the arena, and she realized how high her voice had gotten.

"My apologies," Leon said, his face anything but apologetic. "Shall we begin?"

Inhaling deeply, Anna clenched her fists and grit her jaw.

Let’s crush this, Anna Carson.

"Let us begin." Anna rose to her feet, her voice despite soft and kind, carried through the air with authority. "Today marks the beginning of the selection process. As you all are aware, the kingdom is in need of a General as ours is...out of commission."

Murmurs rose from the crowd, deep and unsettling. Heads turned as the candidates exchanged glances. Anna stole a glance at Leon and he looked ready to smash his fist into something.

Then he rose to his feet and assumed a commanding stance. "First, you all will be divided into teams of five. You will then be tested in three specific categories. Strenght, intelligence, and leadership. Being a General is much more than wearing a fancy uniform and leading men to their deaths. Being a General is a role that isn’t for the faint of heart. Don’t be decided by the "temporary" title. You will be expected to carry out your duties till your last breath."

The crowd watched, held spellbound.

Anna turned to Leon. And she saw for the first time, that he wasn’t just a heartless husband that tried to kill her on multiple occasions, he was the General of the Eastern Army.

Her unease rose. Her palms turned clammy and she grabbed the skirt of her gown till her nails ripped through the fabric.

Her eyes turned to the crowd. All of them, every one of them, looked at Leon like he was some sort of savior. No one dared move. No one dared blink. He held their full, undivided attention.

Charisma.

Anna had never seen such a charismatic male before.

If he asked these men to die for him, I bet they’ll do it in a blink.

Anna’s eyes met with brilliant green ones framed with gold strands of hair.

Her unease grew and grew till it lodged in her throat.

Tristan smiled, tipping his head forward.

Leon’s speech continued, his voice commanding and authoritative. Anna couldn’t make out the words over the droning in her ears. She felt like she’d been pulled underwater and was drowning fast.

Cold sweat dripped down her back.

Her breaths came out fast and hard. What’s going on?! What’s this?! Fear claws at her insides, and she trembled.

Someone touched her arm.

"Princess?"

Anna blinked, turning to her right. Councilor Valor leaned closer to her, his eyes worried. "Are you alright?"

Anna nodded vigorously. "Y-yes, yes I’m—"

The crowd exploded into cheers and shouts. Anna jumped, her shoulders coming up to her ears. Leon must have said something to rouse their spirits.

She turned to him and their eyes met.

He was smiling.

Like he’d just gone to war and come out victorious, covered in the blood of his enemies.

Anna’s heart dropped all the way to her shoes. She didn’t like that smile. She didn’t like the darkness coiled around it. She didn’t like the sight of his fangs.

She didn’t like this.