THE PRINCE'S MATES

CHAPTER 52 | Challenge Starts

The Mer Kingdom only have one topic buzzing around their underwater streets for the whole three days and two nights. And that is the 'Bai Ying's Fifth Mate Challenge'. Though it's only something about a certain blue haired merman's future challenge, many still assumed to be the so-called 'fifth mate'.

Yeah! There are a lot of thick faced gals around whether they are indeed men or women. Which is kind of brow-raiser because it is clear that the mate being talked about is clearly a man. But here they are, still coveting what this girl's cannot and will never have.

Some citizens asks themselves: who is Bai Ying?; what is he?; what power he holds to make their monarchs to bow their heads respectfully to him?; who is the lucky gal to be mates with him?, and; how can he tame these four men?

Yeah! They are indeed nosy to stick their gills to other's businesses. But Bai Ying doesn't even mind it. Nor his company. As in, no.

What they think is only the challenge and the outcome. And also the impending 'doom' that is about to be delivered by an old senile man of their mate that is named Bai Wang.

Bai Ying, who loves his family actually don't want that day to come. He actually wants to drag his mate to their realm already. He is running out of time. But he thought that once he do so, unlimited supply of headache courtesy from his father will be given to him for eternity. And he doesn't want that. He may have thought to persevere with the annoyance Tsaritsa can offer than to be annoyed and be guilt-tripped by his father.

Well, no one will know but himself, of course.

Back to the challenge. After four days since they arrived. It finally began.

Inside the throne room that the monarchs insisted to be used, at least thirty fish tails arrived along with the blue haired prince. The harem did not comment about it while Bai Ying just busied himself with the game of Go with the very lucky— and currently being thoroughly educated— Mer King.

Bai Ying let his mates to choose the challenges given to the 'challenge recipient'.

Ellis chose the challenge of Wit. It's all about problems and how to solve it with minimum choices and requirements per problems. It also all about the possibilities that can be said to be applicable to their current situations and reality. He who holds the most knowledge aside Bai Ying gave the 'recipients' 'real' challenges that even Bai Wang will be so ashamed to be compared. There are also situational problems that the harem are thinking during their journey before and after they are found by Bai Ying which didn't go unnoticed by the latter.

The beautiful crescent moon finally showed up the moment the challenge ended. Nineteen were eliminated due to— according to Ellis— unbelievable stupidity that made Blaze cackle, Sebastian to snicker and made Duan Luan shake his head helplessly.

"Not everyone is a genius like you," Duan Luan sighed as he is looking for a robe for his beloved for the next day.

"Yeah! Don't be so hard on them," Blaze agreed instantly.

"Yeah. Don't be. If the participant turned out to be Blaze," Sebastian mocked his best friend while brewing the tea leaves for his mate.

"HEY! That's big word coming from you, Sebastian!," Blaze retorted that only responded by the other three's laughter.

"Yeah! It's indeed big compared to your claim," Sebastian grinned as he looked at his red-faced friend that seems to about to blow up in embarrassment.

"Anyways, come to think of it. How come there's a lot of people there, though? What do they think of this? Examination of sorts?" Blaze wondered that aside of changing the topic about his intelligence, makes them wonder as well.

"Maybe an examination on who is the most thick-faced there is in this kingdom?" Ellis sneered that made Duan Luan sigh once again.

Duan Luan knows how pissed Ellis is because of the audacity these people have. But who can ever blame them if their own mate even intentionally did it? He sometimes wondered what is his intention. But he knows full well to not trust his judgement and decisions. Because after all, ever since they are still little kids, he is not doing things with no reasons at all.

Hearing the others cackle and laugh with their own answers and assumptions about the display they witnessed, he snapped out from his stupor as his hand also touched a royal blue silk robe that hangs carefully amongst the millions selections of robes his mate owns. He smiled as he also carefully picked it out from the selection.

"Whatever their intentions is, I am still glad that 'fifth' is still there. It only proves his worth." - Duan Luan.

"You are right. There is nothing but pride that I feel as he effortlessly solved every questions Ellis thrown to them." - Sebastian.

"I now wonder how strong he is." - Blaze.

"Hmp! He is selected by the Weaver Of Fate, of course. He is bound to be a great person." - Ellis.

With Ellis's word of acknowledgement, everyone paused. Everyone looked at him as if he just grown with a second or even third head. It made him scowl and then glare to his brother's but didn't comment about it. He, after all are rare to praise someone except his own mate. According to Ellis, "my praises are only limited that I will gladly use it to my mate.", but here he is, praising their unofficial brother. Well, it made a certain brother of his to get jealous a little bit. But he swore to get back to his green-haired brother soon.

"Anyways, that is a very beautiful robe for our Ying'er." Sebastian said dreamily while looking at the robe in Duan Luan's hand.

Every attention now turned to Duan Luan, specifically to the royal blue silk robe with the signature golden embroidery of it.

Duan Luan smirked but said nothing as he busied himself with grooming the robe.

He is proud to himself for picking such beautiful garment for his beloved. Because ever since they were kids, he always thought of Bai Ying in every shade of blue robes while walking elegantly and smiling while looking at him, them with unadulterated love and care. He also thought of his lovely mate in red robe while they together walk down the red-carpeted aisle at the Bai Royal Palace's grand throne room. At that thought, he cannot help but to smile lovingly while looking at the red robe amongst the selection.

He is also proud to his brother's change and improvements. He is also anticipating the challenge Blaze and Sebastian planned to execute tomorrow and the next day for their fifth brother. He is also proud to see the blue haired merman succeed. And lastly, he is anticipating on what the kind and brave YongBao will hold as position in his beloved's life.

He sighed again and with a turn, he faced the silent Bai Ying that silently watching their display of brotherhood.

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To be Continued...

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A.N: Aaannndd I am back!!
As I announced I am back after 'that' event that seems to be inevitable to happen in one's life. Despite the pain. I need to move forward.
He once said that he liked the One Piece's Dr. Hiriluk's quote:

"When do you think people die? When they are shot through the heart by the bullet of a pistol? - No... It's when… they are forgotten!"

And now that it happened. All I can say is that I want to keep his memories embedded in every nook and cranny of my being so that he will never 'die'.

I love him and misses him. But I need to overcome it for the future we both wishes to achieve while he is still alive.