The Rose That Blooms In North
Chapter 10: Labyrinthe de Glace

Anna stumbled across the high walls made of solid ice. The wound on his leg from his previous duel with the Westerians made it difficult for him to walk. Nordhalbinsel's extremely cold night air made the pain in her legs worse. That night, Anna is inside the Ice Labyrinth of Nordhalbinsel Palace which is said to have been created directly by Empress Selena's magic to trap anyone willing to infiltrate the Palace. Rumors have it that the labyrinth has no definite way out. Because it is made of magic, the labyrinth can change according to the wishes of the Empress. Once inside, there is no way out, unless the Empress removes the labyrinth with her magic.

The Survival Test turned out to be not as terrible as Anna had expected all along. Or maybe it was actually indeed as horrible as he had imagined all along, but Crown Prince Xavier, with all his wisdom—that's what they announced— changed the rules in the Survival Test. The candidates did not need to kill each other in that labyrinth. They only had to snatch a necklace with an ice-grain pendant belonging to the other candidates symbolizing their lives. The necklaces were given one by one to each candidate before entering the Ice Labyrinth. And now Anna has bagged five necklaces including her own because she had previously managed to defeat two people who each already have two necklaces.

Anna knew she would not win easily. Her opponent was people experienced in this field while she was a Royal Princess. People who are used to being protected instead of protecting. He was never required to take up arms. So he used his brain and set up a strategy. He hid his necklace in a hidden place, not worn around his neck so people who saw him—more with his small stature and looks weak— will think that he has been eliminated for not wearing a necklace. So people won't bother fighting him. He would observe others, waiting in silence. When he sees someone has managed to pocket one other necklace belonging to his opponent, he will fight the person to directly get 2 necklaces. So far, the strategy has worked.

"Stop there." Say someone.

Anna turned around to see who said that, but just before she turned around, an arrow shot towards her and scratched her cheek.

Anna immediately pulled out the Nordhalbinsel dagger she had hung on her waist and pointed it towards the man who had attacked her.

“Did you forget the rules, Mister?” Said Anna.

According to the rules read out directly by Elias before the Second Stage Trials began, they should not make such a surprise attack. They had to do a duel to get the opponent's necklace. When the opponent declares surrender, then they can take the opponent's necklace.

The man smirked vilely. “How can Crown Prince Nordhalbinsel's dagger be in the hands of Royal Princess Schiereiland?”

Anna was surprised to hear that. Not only was the man aware of his identity, but also regarding the fact that the dagger he had, the dagger that Leon had given him turned out to be that of the Crown Prince. It was only fitting that he felt that this blade was of good quality. This knife should not be able to be purchased cheaply at thrift store markets. But Anna tried to hide her surprised expression and focused on her assailant.

“Who are you?” Anna asked, still holding the dagger, preparing to attack if the man did anything to harm her. Of course it wouldn't be too difficult to fight him if only his legs weren't injured.

The labyrinth is not so wide. Anna just had to jump to the side, to the man's blind spot, then kick him, and knock him out before the man realized that the girl before him could do all that. Of course the training with Leon over the past two weeks was really beneficial for Anna in conquering an opponent of any size.

“Let down your weapon, Princess. Someone could get hurt.” Said the man while chuckling.

Anna observed the man and recalled whether she had met him before. The man was a big tall with brown skin and black clothes that he had assumed came from the Orient. But the man spoke with a Nordhalbinsel accent.

Just as Anna was about to find out who the man before her was, an arrow shot back from the other direction and stuck it on her shoulder. If only Anna's instinct had not sensed the arrow darting from behind, perhaps Anna would not have had time to dodge and the arrow would have stuck in her back, piercing through her heart.

"Tumben once you miss." Said the man before him.

"I never miss. This young miss who managed to dodge" said the second man who had just fired an arrow.

"Where is your manners before the Princess of the Land of Merajah?" Said the third man. Then the three of them laughed at him.

“You.. No, you guys..” Anna grimaced with the pain while looking at the other two people who had just come with a bow from the opposite direction. Anna's surrounded. “You are not a candidate for personal guard, apparently.” Anna said with a grimace as she plucked an arrow from her shoulder. The blood seeping out stained the only clothes he had. Cold took control of his body instantly.

“True. But what a pity, you won't make it through this stage.” Said another man who had just arrived. He shot his second arrow, but Anna managed to dodge it.

“You're from Black Mamba.” Anna said, more to herself as soon as she saw the black snake tattoo on the neck of the first man.

Anna could have attacked all three of them, but she wasn't sure she could win. It would probably be better if he brought his sword. Nordhalbinsel's dagger was too small to be worn against the three men with such a large body.

“What do you guys want?” ask Anna.

“Nyawamu.”

Just then someone in a black hooded robe and wearing a mask came jumping between them and directly swung his sword towards one of the Black Mamba members. The sword struck his heart and the bandit instantly collapsed falling onto the hard ice surface. With a swift movement the person immediately turned around and prepared against the other two bandits.

“You want to run?” said the black hood.

“Leon... Hey, it's Leon! Lion from the South!” Said the bandit who shot Anna earlier.

Anna watched the masked man up close. Anna knew why the two bandits thought that the person in front of them right now was Leon, it was because the man was wearing the Lion Emblem just like Leon in his robe. But Anna knew full well it wasn't Leon—even though the man was exactly the same height as Leon—because Leon had sold his Lion Emblem. Moreover, Anna was very familiar with Leon's voice. And that's definitely not Leon's voice. The sound was— with a very thick Nordhalbinsel accent—s sounded cold and haughty but also very respectable. The man's voice was not as heavy as Leon's.

Although half frightened, the bandits came forward to fight the man before them. One of them holding a spear attacked the man, but with a quick movement, the man managed to dodge his attack. The other bandits fired arrows at the same time, but the arrows were captured and immediately broken by the man.

Anna saw the bandit holding the spear rise and prepared to attack from the black hooded man's blind spot. Anna immediately threw her dagger right into the hands of the bandit so that his spear fell. With a very quick movement, Anna immediately took out the spear and her dagger. He pointed the two towards the bandit.

"What are you waiting for? Quickly kill me with that spear." Said the bandit.

"Who sent you?" Ask Anna.

"We won't answer your question. We'd rather die than betray." Said another bandit who had been successfully paralyzed by the black hooded man earlier. He took one of the arrows from behind his back and immediately killed himself with the arrow.

"No!" Anna yelled to try to prevent it, but it was too late. The bandits in front of him did the same. He committed suicide by plugging himself into the tip of the spear Anna was holding.

Anna turned to look at the masked man.

"Who are you really? Are you the same person who sent me the letter?" Anna asked as she held the Nordhalbinsel dagger.

The man did not answer him directly. He just looked at Anna in silence. Staring at all his wounds with clenched hands as if about to do something, but holding himself back. All of his movements made Anna even more curious as to who his helper was.

The masked man looked at the dagger in Anna's hand, then smiled. The smile that somehow felt familiar was as if Anna had already seen it a thousand times. It was as if Anna missed that smile when she didn't know him at all.

"My respect to Her Majesty the Princess." He lowered his head in the noble man's salute to Anna, then jumped high up on the labyrinth wall and immediately disappeared from Anna's sight.

***

The Survival Test Time ended just as the royal clock chimed three times. The walls of the Ice Labyrinth suddenly disappeared as if there had never been anything there. As the entire wall of the Ice Labyrinth disappeared, Anna was able to see the other candidates clearly. Honey Welsh, who was standing not far from him immediately ran up to him.

“Thank God you're okay!” Honey said as she hugged Anna.

Anna grimaced in pain from the wounds on her shoulders and legs.

“Gosh! I'm sorry.” Honey said. “What happened to you? I heard that there are Black Mamba members who infiltrated the Ice Maze by disguising themselves as candidates. Do they not do this?”

“You know about that?”

Honey nodded. “Some other candidates keep talking about it. They attacked several candidates and many of them were seriously injured, some also died directly on the spot. I heard it from my fellow Montreux female knights. They also say..” Honey shrank her voice until it sounded like a whisper even though no one else was near them. “Sang Lion from the South is also seen in the Ice Labyrinth.”

“Really?” Anna pretended to be surprised to hear it. Anna knew it wasn't Leon.

Honey nodded back. “You know, he's like a legend. So I doubt that a little bit too. I mean, why would someone as extraordinary as General Leon come here?"

"really. That's impossible." Anna consented.

"Here you go, let's treat your wounds.”

***

“Your Highness, please calm yourself.” Elias chases him from behind, trying to stop Xavier.

“Shut!”

Xavier stopped in front of the Nordhalbinsel army. They all stood up straight, forming a perfect row. No one dared to look directly at the Crown Prince before them. Everyone looked tense and no one dared to open their voices. Even Elias could only sigh heavily.

“Quick say!" Xavier's voice rang out throughout the field. "Who among you is letting those bandits into the Ice Labyrinth!”

No one answered. None of those in the place opened their voices.

"His Highness—“ General Orthion was just about to start speaking up, but Xavier's sword that was pointing at his neck instantly stopped him.

"General Orthion Richterswill, it's quite a coincidence that the bandits came while you were at the Palace." Xavier said, staring intently at the General before him.

Instead of being afraid of the Crown Prince's anger, General Orthion laughed sarcastically at him. "You accuse me without basis, Your Majesty. With all due respect, please lower your sword." General Orthion.

"Thank you for your sword, Orthion." Xavier's orders. "I'm not against unarmed people."

"Your Majesty!" Elias tries to break up a dispute between the two of them that may be imminent. "Please stop."

General Orthion obeyed Xavier's orders. He pulled out his sword. "Your Highness Crown Prince, I hope you know what you're doing right now." General Orthion drew his sword. "This sword was made only to protect you and the rest of the royal family, and will continue as such. Please don't make me betray my own oath."

Everyone in that place seemed to hold their breath looking at the scene before them. The King's favorite son and the King's trusted general. They pointed their swords at each other.

Xavier did not even drop his sword the slightest bit as the General raised his sword. He stared at General Orthion sharply. Jaw hardens. His eyes filled with anger. "General Orthion Richterswill, I challenge you in a duel—“

"Stop!” The voice of a woman shouting from a distance rang out to the field. The voice made Xavier immediately stop his words.

Everyone in that place now turned to the source of the voice. Along with the voice of the woman, their swords all—swords belonging to Xavier, swords belonging to General Orthion and belonging to all the soldiers even the swords belonging to Elias— fell into the snowy ground at the same time.

A very beautiful blonde woman in a very beautiful and graceful long dress descended the stairs towards the warrior training field. His face was both annoyed and worried. Her forehead was furrowed with furrowed eyebrows, but all of that did not reduce her pretty face in the least. She went down the stairs quickly but still looked graceful even though it was not an easy thing to do with a long, obedient dress with high heels.

"Eleanor, what are you doing here?" Elias asked in a sharp whisper as he saw his older twin sister a few minutes away from him coming in a hurry.

All the soldiers in that place looked at Eleanor with astonishment and gaping mouths. It was rare for the Crown Princess to descend into the field like this time, so they were unable to take their eyes off them at all. The beauty of the Crown Princess that they usually only heard through excessive rumors in the Palace finally they could see directly, and they also realized that the rumors were not excessive at all. Despite not saying it directly, all the soldiers who were there agreed that the girl before them right now must be the most beautiful girl in the world.

Eleanor ignored all the longed gazes of the soldiers and the questions of her twin brother. Eleanor just stared at Xavier who seemed to not divert the slightest attention to her. "We need to talk, Your Majesty." Eleanor said, keeping her voice soft and respectful.

"I'm busy, Elle." Xavier replied briefly, without even a single glance towards his fiancee. Even so, while talking to her fiance, she softened her tone. Manners forbid him to talk rudely to women even when he is angry.

Eleanor was visibly annoyed by that answer. So he put something in a whisper. A magic spell.

"None of you can lift up the swords until the sun rises tomorrow unless I allow it myself." Eleanor's words sounded like a terrible curse. He then saw General Orthion desperately trying to grab his sword that had fallen on the snowy ground, but his efforts were fruitless. Eleanor said, "And you, General Orthion, my father says there is something to talk about with you. Please talk to him directly."

***

"The duel? You you? With Orthion? You must be crazy!" Eleanor raised her tone as the three of them—Xavier, Eleanor and Elias— were in the Crown Prince's den. Xavier told all the servants to get out of his room.

"He who had let those bandits into the Ice Labyrinth and killed some of my personal bodyguard candidates." Xavier said, still feeling angry.

"really? How can you be so sure Orthion did it? What if—“ Tanya Elias, who was immediately cut off from seeing the fierce gaze of her twin sister.

"Even if that's true, you have to face this with a cool head. You have to keep your emotions stable. No one should know that you are—“

"I knew. I know, Elle." Xavier sighed. He closed his eyes and tried to regulate his emotions. "I'm sorry."

"You almost destroyed the whole Palace if Eleanor didn't stop you right away. I don't know what else noticed this, but your eyes almost turned red." Said Elias.

"And what the hell are you doing? Why not stop it?" Eleanor Protest.

"I tried to stop him! But he told me to shut up. "

"And you shut up just because he told you to? Since when did you become a submissive puppy, Elias?"

"He is the Crown Prince of this kingdom, Elle! At least I should be seen obeying his orders in public."

"You—“

"Enough! Stop!” Exclaimed Xavier who has since noticed the dispute between the two brothers that has no end.

Eleanor and Elias fell silent.

"How can you be sure that General Orthion is the culprit?" Eleanor asked later, repeating a question from her unanswered twin sister.

Xavier sat in his chair and pulled something out from under his desk. A sword.

“It... Orthion's sword? But, how can it be?” Elias asked after carefully observing the sword.

“The sword that Elle dropped on the ground earlier was a fake sword. By the way, can you please give me back my sword, Elle?” Xavier asked Eleanor after her emotions had stabilized enough. Eleanor nodded and cast a spell that made Xavier's sword suddenly appear before her. Xavier nodded in thanks to him. He continued his explanation, “At first I was just bluffing. I just want Orthion to show me his sword to make sure that this is the real sword and that he is holding is a fake sword. But I got more emotional when I found out that I was right. Because that means—“

“He's not Orthion." Elias said, cutting off Xavier's words. "Someone like Orthion couldn't just remove his sword and buy a fake sword that was similar. Especially if it is a sword given directly by the King when he was appointed General.”

Xavier nodded, confirming Elias' assumption.

“After all, no matter how much General Orthion hates you, I don't think he's the kind of person who recklessly raises his sword before the beloved son of the King he serves.” Eleanor.

“Then, if he's not the real Orthion, who is he? And where is the real Orthion?” ask Elias.

Xavier. “I don't know where the real Orthion is either. I only found this sword in General Orthion's study. He's like he just disappeared.”

“Could this be Selena's doing?” eleanor asked, calling her future mother-in-law without any frills of respect. A sign that she did not like her future mother-in-law at all.

“At first I thought so too." Xavier said, half-thought. "I also suspect that the fake Orthion is one of the Black Mamba members. Selena probably used transformation magic, turning her into Orthion and allowing the bandits to enter the Ice Labyrinth. But what is the purpose?”

Elias smiled obliquely. He glanced towards his twin sister who was immediately greeted with a nod of agreement. They became two compact brothers. "That's what we need to find out, right?"

***