Elena''s POV


    After thest night of drama, Prince Deacon walked me to my tent, and Iy on my bed, letting sleep consume me. And for the first time in a long time, I felt very refreshed as the weight I was carrying was no longer as heavy as before.


    Feeling energetic, I woke up and changed into mybat clothes before I tied my hair into a ponytail.


    Since I woke up in a great mood and the weather seemed so nice outside, I nned to go for a morning run.


    The warriors greeted me enthusiastically; some even offered me bread and drinks, but I respectfully rejected them, telling them I''d go for an exercise.


    "I always thought Prince Deacon was a man of honor and discipline. I heard he had always been imperial and would give punishment and merits to those deserving despite rank. It''s very disappointing that the god of war we looked up to is not as great as we thought he was."


    "Indeep, I never imagined that our kingdom would be lowered to this. How can they easily hand outranks based on familial merits? Warriors underwent training and sacrifices to be deserving, but what about her? Where are her battle scars? What can she be proud of?"


    1 halted at one behind the tents newly arranged at the backwn where the new troops bought by Bryson and Glenda were staying and wiped off my sweat. My brows furrowed as I beat them, talking about Prince Deacon.


    At first, my blood boiled, thinking they were badmouthing him, but when I heard more of their words, I scoffed, realizing what it was really about.


    What a petty tricks!


    Glenda was on it again. She really had no other tricks but to make schemes instead of fighting fair and square.


    I leaned back on one of the trees near me, basking under the sunlight while enjoying how Glenda sailed her made-up stories into rumors that made these warriors so easily manipted.


    "It''s almost insulting. We''ve fought hard to be here, yet she just gets promoted because of her father? As much as I respected Alpha Dooley, this is still not eptable! Guess it''s nice to be privileged and not have to earn anything," another warriormented as he grabbed one of the barbeques from the fire before aggressively biting on it as if it wronged him.


    Seeing how the others nodded like puppets and how they agreed so easily, I shook my head and finally decided to


    I clenched my fist a couple of times before I fully rxed. Once I had myposure, I stood up, strained, and walked toward them, intentionally bending to snatch one of their barbecues.


    They all went silent and looked at each other. Smirking, I gave each of them a meaningful smirk as I taunted, "A good warrior questions only what matters on the battlefield and not whispers in the wind like some gossip- addicted teenagers."


    Triggered, they stood up, one asking, "What do you mean by that?"


    I took a bite from the barbeque stick and shook my head, thinking, “As a warrior, shouldn''t they be smarter than this?"


    I wanted to taunt them further, but I knew better than to act the role Glenda wanted me to be in.


    One of the warriors in the other group stood up and joined us. He was buff and had tattoos on his arm. He looked


    1


    straight into me without hesitation or fear, his arrogance vividly reeking on his face.


    He lifted his brow and kept his chin up, challengingly asking, “You might be right, but don''t you think you owe us a little proof? We haven''t seen all this talk of your ''family glory'' or ''actual skills.""


    My smirk became wider upon his rebuttal, and I felt victorious before I pointed out, "Exactly, you haven''t seen anything yet, and you talked as if it''s really as you heard it to be."


    His lips instantly closed shut, and his jaw clenched. Steppin; closer to him, I stared at him with sternness and dominance as I added, "If you seek proof, then wait for a battle and see for yourselves. If you can''t wait..."


    I nodded at the other side where the other warriors were staying. "Then... by all means, ask those who have witnessed something."


    The more I heard the thought process of Glenda''s troops, the more disappointed I became. They didn''t even have the basic manners to greet the stationed warriors on this border and isted themselves on their own.


    They''re just as arrogant as their general.


    I was ready to leave after seeing them speechless, but they all suddenly bowed their head as footsteps echoed


    behind me.


    "Since when is leadership being questioned on the battlefield? Warriors follow their leaders instead of creating chaos. This is not time for a meaningless game like politics!" his voice bombarded the ce, making everyone nce at each other.


    However, unlike those disciplined and respectful warriors here, these southern warriors were as reckless as


    Glenda.


    "We don''t mean to defy anyone, Prince Deacon, but we''ve earned our ce here. We want to know that those leading us have done the same," one of them stepped forward, bold enough to look Prince Deacon in the eye.


    Keeping his patience, Pre Deacon nodded his head and exined anyway, "Elena''s role wasn''t just handed to her, and those who''ve seen her in battle understand that. Perhaps..."


    A smirk shed on his lips as if something hade into his mind, and he nced at me before continuing, "It''s time you do, too."


    "Then let her prove it... maybe against one of us," the arrogant tattooed guy earlier challenged.


    I immediately red at him at his reckless suggestion, reminding him, "A battle among allies isn''t the way to settle this. When the timees, you''ll see my worth. And if there''s any doubt left, you can voice it directly to me afterward."