The Dragomir Heir (Watty Award)

The Challenge

It has been 3 days since Lucius tried unsuccessfully to open the gates. Even as his men bought ladders, rope and lock picks, nothing worked. The lock pick would break in twos, ladders would fall apart even before one of his men could climb over and the rope ripped apart as they tried to pull the gates off the hinges. He paced around his study wondering why his betrothed have not visited when a knock at the study door sounded. In stepped his cousins, with Dante in the lead, who extended a small golden metal cylinder with a scarlet ribbon tried around its waist.

“This arrived this morning and it’s from the Dragomirs,” greeted Dante, a man who is always straight to the point and frowns on lengthy pleasantries. Lucius grabbed the cylinder and opened it to obtain a scroll from which stated:

Regent King Vladius Constantine Dracul Dragomir

&

Regent Queen Elizabetha Carolina Sonia Dragomir

Cordially invites

King Lucius Caesar Aramis Vladonov

To the ball that will take place at Palace Dragomir in announcement of

Crown Princess Valentina Aurora Daenerys Dragomir

“Finally, a response!” sighed Ramus, who fell back into a leather chair. “Oh, there’s something else you should know cousin and I think we have found a way to finally meet her face to face.”

Lucius eyed his cousin to continue. “While I was in the tavern, getting acquainted with Laura, the bar maid”, at that he paused and sighed happily before continuing, “a few of the locals were recounting about their night. They said something along the lines of female rider on horseback from Dragomir Palace. Apparently, the princess likes to ride at 11:30 through the Carpathians and get back to her palace at 12:30. They say that she is the best rider they have ever seen. What say you cousin? Challenge accepted? Shall we extend our greetings tonight?”

At that, Lucius grinned widely and said, “I believe the full moon tonight will be beautiful…and they are peasants; they don’t know anything besides cows and manure” and with that the cousins made their plans. The princess will not be expecting them nor will she want to see them, so unfortunately, they will have to trap her. It was predicted that the night will be cold and Lucius saw to that his manservant readied his best black coat, polished his boots and that the stableboy gave his stallion a tidy. If this is the first time the princess sees him, Lucius decided that she will fall head over heels in love with him.

It was nearly 11:30 when Valentina sat on top her great midnight black stallion, Titan, in her fine red cap, Italian leather boots, and Italian leather gloves and waited. Vera came up to her and handed her a black lacy mask.

“I have heard word that Lucius and his cousins will be attempting to trap you tonight. Put this mask on and play with his ego”, said Vera merrily. Then she became serious, “Me and Vanny will be watching from the towers, if any trouble occur, hide in that secret place in the woods we showed you and send Titan back to the palace. We will come immediately”.

“Nothing will happen Vera, just stick to the plan and make sure that the gate closes as soon as I enter the grounds”, Valentina waved off Vera’s caution.

As soon as it was 11:30, Valentina pulled on Titan’s reigns and nudged him into a walk. Once outside the grounds, they galloped at full speed to the Carpathians. Valentina felt uneasy at the quietness of woods, especially when it should be infested with Vladonovs. So to get their attention, Valentina galloped to a high peak that overlooked the Dragomir territory and nudged Titan to rear back and neigh three times. As predicted, in the distance, she saw 5 figures on horseback galloped towards the peak, with a lean vampire in black at the lead; the king.

Making sure that her mask was secured and her hood completely covered her head, Valentina galloped to her first planned destination, which was by the river, at the entrance to the wild woods. Here, she will let Titan  drink some water while she wait for the Vladonovs. Hopefully, they will think that she is trapped and will not think of escaping through the woods, which had been her hunting grounds every school holiday since she was five.

As Titan drank from the river, five figures rounded the corner and nudged their ride into a trot until they were five metres away.  Pretending to be surprise at their approach, Valentina stilled Titan.

“Princess… can I persuade you to take a midnight stroll with me?” said the leader, who stepped into the light from the full moon. The man was indeed tall and towering with black hair and grey eyes. The man smiled and then smirked when she moved closer to take a closer look. Asshole

Trying to hold onto her pretend naïve little girl countenance, Valentina backed her horse. “You are trapped my lady… it is wise that you come with us so we can take you home”, said Lucius. At that, Valentina lifted her head so that only her rouge lips showed and grin wickedly before she turned Titan towards the woods and galloped through it. Without turning her back, she knew the Vladonovs were shocked at her sudden flair of confidence and the speed of her horse. The shouts from Lucius to reorder his cousins and his attempted to follow her only confirmed to her that Lucius expected a silly little girl as his betrothed. Poor thing

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A photo of Vera ====>