A Princess Named Harry

Chapter 49

The time finally came for Harry to fight Nathaniel. She arrived at the field pretty early, but there were already multiple people there to watch the match.

Harry looked around at all of the people. She was trying to find Nathaniel among them; she also was trying to find some people she knew. She didn't have to look for long because as soon as he saw her, Nathaniel immediately started heading in her direction. He stared down at Harry as if she were a lowly insect who found its way into a prestigious person's home.

"So you actually showed up here?" he asked smugly. "Can you believe it?" He shot looks around at his buddies.

"No, I certainly can't," said a boy who looked like his chin was punched in, had ratty hair like a bird's nest, and pucker-fish lips.

"Yeah, she has a lot of nerve to show up here," spoke a guy with a squeaky voice. He was built like a lamppost with a long face.

"Right?" chuckled a short chubby boy. His face was shaped like a round pumpkin.

They glared at Harry like they were all seeing the same bug. Harry felt intimidated, but she tried to not let them get to her that much. She smiled and politely pointed out the reason why she was participating in a duel in the first place.

That immediately shut the boys up. They looked at Nathaniel to see what he would say back. They had expected his anger to erupt like a volcano, but instead, he said emotionlessly, "You can refuse now."

His response made Harry feel very confused. "Why?" she asked.

"Because there's no way you can possibly win against me."

Harry was about to refute his words, but before she could, her own entourage appeared. It was made up of Kahil, Varian, and Terrance.

"And why is that?" Varian asked.

Nathaniel gritted his teeth as he stepped back away from the guys. "Why?" he repeated. "Obviously because she's a-"

"Surely you won't say it's because she's a girl," said Kahil interrupting him. His glare was even colder than Nathaniel's. "If you say that, then, one of us might just fight you in her stead."

After hearing Kahil say that Harry quickly stepped in. "It's fine," she said hastily. "The challenge was meant for me, so it's only right for me to fight him."

"Harry, you don't have to do anything," Kahil said in a very concerned tone.

"That's right, Princess, you can leave this to us," agreed Varian.

"But," Harry protested.

Terrance then stepped in front of her. He took her by the hand and started to lead her away. "Now, let's go, Princess."

As they walked away, Harry kept glancing back. She tried to wiggle out of his grip, but it was too tight. "It's okay, Princess; I'll take you far away from him." Terrance had mistaken Harry's hand wiggling for shaking.

She stared at the back of his head with a tearful expression. She was suddenly overcome with fear and sadness that all of her hard work and determination would become useless in a matter of minutes. She spoke timidly and weaker than she had wanted to. "Please . . . let me go back . . . I . . . I have to go back!"

"No, you don't," replied Terrance. "Your brother and your knight will take care of it. You can just sit back and relax. It'll all be over soon."

Harry didn't want to sound mean; she knew that Terrance and the others were only acting in such a way because they cared for her deeply. She understood that and appreciated it, but she didn't want them to fight in her place.