Hex counted five people in the group. Four women and one man.
"He is the Crown Prince, Sven Frostfeather." Leave it to Sterling to be well-informed about everything of importance. "And those women are his wives."
Okay, that did surprise him. And not only him. By the looks of it, their entire group turned to take a better look at the newly-arrived group.
"All four?" Quid voiced the surprise everyone felt. "They all won each and every match. I even heard each participated in a second mode too. To think his four wives are so talented."
Quid’s comment reminded Hex of the conversation between Percy and Donnel, the two judges. They did say the Crown Prince’s team had won all of their matches, individually, and completed their tasks. The only team with full marks, so to speak.
"They are talented. Or the empire invested heavily in its future Queens," Hestia remarked with a chuckle.
Following the comments of the women, such as, if only I could marry him and I rather believe in myself than allow a man to carry me, Sterling hushed the groups and explained.
"They are indeed the best and most beautiful women in the Empire up north, but you are getting one thing wrong. They aren’t this good because they are his wife. They are his wife because they are this good."
"You mean he chooses the most talented women as his bride?" Hex was the first to pick up on the meaning behind Sterling’s emphasis on certain words.
"Yes. Each of them are gone through major competitions and military services in order to become his brides."
That wasn’t normal as far as Hex could tell but at the same time it made sense. As the Crown Prince he would wish to tie some of the talented people to him. And what better way to do so than bind their interests to his. He didn’t ask about the male talents of the Empire. It didn’t interest him.
The four women were scanning the crowd. It was easy to tell because they weren’t even hiding it. Sven, flanked by his four wives, seems uninterested in anyone. Untill, he saw Althea.
Even from this far Hex could tell the look in the eyes of someone interested. Seeing the Crown Prince grin as he whispered something to one of his wives – she laughed flirtingly at it – and then all five stared at Althea.
The crowd inside the arena quietened down.
He should have realized it sooner. No one here was naive or stupid. Every person here had researched and gathered information as much as they could have. They might not know each detail about every contender, but Sven and Althea weren’t just anyone. They belonged to the topmost factions and had plenty of rumors about them spread out. After all, one was believed to be the most worthy heir of an Emperor, and the other was Heaven itself. Or heir of Heaven, depending on the source.
Huh? Hex looked at Sterling, feeling confused. "What do you mean?"
Not only was Sterling looking at him encouragingly, the others too showed their consolidarity. Gronke and Quid were even cracking their knuckles. Heck, even the likes of Ella and Elron were giving him a thumb up.
"They mean," Hestia started, patting his back, "they will stand by you if you decide to beat that moron up. So will I."
Why were they discussing beating the Crown Prince up? They had never met. He had no animosity toward the guy, despite him being a dick. And for some reason he did feel annoyed when that bastard sat beside Althea. He suppressed his desire to knock that flashy smile of his face, though.
"Why? The same reason why you are eying him as if you wish to tear him up," Dollaire sneered from the side. She looked disgusted. At Sven. And she had worn her Transformation grade gloves.
With a scowl on his face and a warm fuzzy feeling inside, he turned toward Althea and Sven.
That guy surely knew what he was doing. Hex had seldom seen Althea showing interest in something being told to her.
’His wives don’t mind?’ He wondered, observing the four women. All four were beauties. Not in Althea’s league but still. They just sat behind Sven, engrossed in their own thing.
He tried to listen in. Normally, he would be able to hear everything. Even at such a distance between them. But no matter how much he pushed his ears, he couldn’t hear a thing. Not even a whisper.
And it had nothing to do with other noises either. Because there was none. Everyone, all the hundreds of people inside, including the servants, sat in complete silence. Each wished to listen. Their frowns and displeasure revealed their inability to do so.
"They are using sound blocks," Sterling whispered. He tried to be silent but in the dead silence inside, his whisper spread out.
Numerous gazes landed on them.
For better or worse, the whisper had reached Sven and Althea. They looked at the crown inside the arena. At once people tried to look here and there, with some even studying their nails in detail.
"It seems people are interested in whatever we are talking about, Your Highness." Althea chuckled melodiously.
Sven looked annoyed. A good sign. Perhaps. But then the man stood up, appearing regal and imposing. Silence fell again.
"I don’t think they are qualified to listen in. But it also doesn’t matter if they hear us."
He sounded pompous. In Hex’s opinion, at least.
Sven turned his gaze toward the crowd, like a ruler addressing his subjects.
"I asked Lady Althea to join our forces in the upcoming war. By marriage."
Hex turned his gaze toward Althea. Why she was smiling and not shoving her spear through his heart, was beyond his understanding.
The crowd squirmed in their seats. Some looked enraged. Some were relieved. Some were awkward. Basically, Sven wished to marry someone they had to worship. And no one was okay with it. Aside from Sven’s wives.
"So, what is your reply, Lady Althea? I am sure they wish to hear that too."
Indeed. Everyone was looking at her. And she...she was looking at him.