Chapter 22. Kingdom of Yelwraek

Like Alice, When Clare teleported home, all she could think about was Ken that night. She wondered why she suddenly decided to kiss him and the more she thought about the interaction, the more frustrated she got at his lack of response.

"I gathered all my courage to kiss him and all he does is joke about kissing other girls! How do you feel about me? Am I just a regular friend who can teach you things and keep pests like Xandrian at bay because of my status? Do you not have any romantic feelings for me? How can you be so nonchalant when a princess of Yelwraek kissed you!" Not able to sleep, Clare rolled around in her massive bed talking out loud to herself.

"Who did you kiss Clare? It's not that Xandrian guy from Nafluica is it? I don't like him much from the few times we have met."

"Chloe! How many times do I have to tell you to not to sneak into my room!" Clare snapped at her little sister who looked like a mini version of her with the same white hair, blue eyes and facial structure but shrunk in size.

"Clare! You have been gone for over 5 months! I have missed you so much! Obviously, I am going to be staying in your room tonight! You need to tell me all about the guy you kissed!" Chloe said excitedly while jumping into bed with Clare.

As the two sisters chatted, Clare complained about all the annoying people that tried to butter her up, about Xandrian and how persistent he is and won't leave her alone, about Genesis and how lucky she is to go home with Ken, about Lovetta and how lucky she is that Ken was always so close and helping with her school work, about Alice and how annoyingly intimate she gets with Ken and always able to make her mad but mostly, she complained about Ken.

Clare went on and on about how this commoner boy doesn't treat her with respect at all or show her the proper etiquette, how he is always making fun of her, playing jokes on her and doesn't treat her like a princess at all. As she continued to rant about Ken, she peeked over and saw her little sister already sound asleep and decided she should follow suit.

When Clare was woken up the next morning by a servant, Chloe was still sound asleep by her side. After being told that her father had requested for her in an hour at the dining hall, Clare knew that today would be one of those days where she wished she was a commoner.

While Clare was getting ready, Chloe also got woken up by the servant and the two headed to the dining hall together to have breakfast and to greet their father.

After entering the dining hall, Clare saw right away that sitting at the head of the dining table is none other than her father, Cyril Yelwraek. Surveying the room before she sat down at the closest seat next to her father which was obviously left open for her, she saw most of her siblings were already seated.

After Clare and Chloe got seated, their father waved his hand and instantly, servants quickly filled the table with dishes befitting the king and his children.

Cyril Yelwraek, current king of the Yelwraek kingdom is one of the most powerful and influential beings alive, the only rival in terms of power and influence is the king of Darrumburgh. Lean but strong, with shoulder length golden blonde hair, clean shaved, penetrating blue eyes and the aura of a king.

The youngest child of the previous king, born when his father was already over 400 years old. Cyril took the throne at the tender age of 22 after the death of his father in the most brutal throne war in recorded history.

With over 150 princes with the rights to the throne, the death of the old king resulted in the full out civil war between the different frictions that left the kingdom in shambles, and many thought the days of glory for the Yelwraek kingdom was near its end.

Eventually after 2 years, Cyril was declared king of Yelwraek and it was not by choice. Ruthless, intelligent and one of the few princes with the potential to be selected by the Dragonspire Academy. When his father passed away, Cyril dropped out of the academy at the age of 20 to compete for the throne.

Head on clashes between armies, poisoning, assassination, alliances formed and eventually betrayed. In 2 short years, out of the 153 sons from the previous king, Cyril was the only one left standing. Not willing to risk rebellion, all direct descendants of all his deceased brothers and every male sibling of his own father were all mercilessly executed on his orders.

Even though the act was absolutely brutal and shook the high-class and nobles. With his ability to control, manipulate and falsify information, the incident did not even reach the majority of those within this very city wall and much less to those around the world.

Most of those that heard of the rumors brushed it off as propaganda from competing kingdoms and the few high-class and nobles who knew the truth are either extremely loyal subjects or have since disappeared from existence.

Soon after Cyril took control of the throne and eliminated all of his obstacles. With his connections from the academy days, his natural born charisma, strength, intelligence, the kingdom's land mass, natural resources and population, it didn't take long for Yelwraek to return to prominence.

For the past 100 years as its ruler, the kingdom of Yelwraek thrived and today, only Darrumburgh can rival in population, land mass, wealth, power, and influence. At only 122 years old, Cyril is still well within his prime with many centuries left as the ruler and with his cousin Zishell's recent growth in power, the debate between Yelwraek and Darrumburgh as the greatest kingdom is tilting in the favor of Yelwraek.

"I have heard from your siblings that your actions at the academy are less than desirable, do you care to explain?" Cyril spoke calmly while slowly savoring his breakfast.

"In order to defend myself, could you please provide me with what you were informed on about my actions that are less than desirable" Clare replied formally to her father.

"According to the reports I have heard, the general reception of you is not positive at the academy due to your general behavior and the group you have decided to partake in."

"I am sorry father, but the moment I was selected to attend the academy. I have decided that my one and only goal is to surpass Uncle Zishell and become the number 1 hero. I did not feel it was necessary to waste my time acting friendly with those that could not help me reach my goal." Clare answered calmly and with conviction.

"Are you implying that the group you are currently a part of will benefit the goal you are trying to achieve?"

"Yes father. I decided to join this group because of the beastman named Lovetta. As you are well aware, even though I was able to win the tournament. My physical enhancements are lacking even with the tutorship from Uncle Zishell.

For the first-year students, Lovetta is the only one who had things that I am lacking and by training with her, I have learned different techniques that even Uncle Zishell had no knowledge of.

While it's unfortunate that by learning from me, she had kept her advantage in the first semester. I believe this rivalry will push me farther and improve faster than any other individual had to offer at the academy and that's why I have decided to continue and be part of this group."

"Since you are the first of my offspring to be selected by the academy, I have high hopes that you will achieve goals that my other children couldn't. While I can understand your drive to reach greatness, part of being a royal is to build connections and spread our influence.

How do you feel about Xandrian Nafluica? He is strong and won the tournament for his year. His father had made a marriage proposal during the banquet and deepening our relationship with the Nafluica would be very beneficial." Cyril replied while pondering at Clare's answer to her reason for hanging out with Ken and the girls.

"Sorry father, I have no plan of marriage anytime soon and I hope you can understand my reasoning. From my position, to aim to be the strongest, I don't believe marriage would be an option. I have nothing against Xandrian or the Nafluica but to reach my goal, I would hope you can look into other potential routes."

"Very well. Cecilla, at the next tournament, I want you to offer yourself as the marriage partner for Xandrian." Cyril declared with no room for dispute.

"Yes father." Cecilla answered without hesitation or objection.

After hearing Clare's goal and reasoning for hanging out with Lovetta, her father was satisfied enough with her answer to not question her anymore and the group sat in silence as they finished their meal.

Up until the moment Cyril finished his breakfast, none of the children spoke a single word and as Cyril got up to go back to his duties as the king, the children wished him a good day as he walked out of the room.

When one of Clare's sibling's personal servants gave the clear sign, the Yelwraek princes and princesses collectively relaxed after being in the presence of their intimidating father.

Like his father before him, Cyril has a myriad of wives and also a large concubine. Children born from wives who are of noble or royal blood are declared princes and princesses and children of the concubine are not given a title.

While Clare is the 14th royal child, and there are currently 27 princes and princesses. Including children that do not have a title, Cyril currently has 88 children. With each of the wives and even some of the concubines having their own private wing within the enormous castle grounds, other than Chloe who is her full blood sister from the same mother, her interaction with most of her other siblings are nonexistent except when her father requires their attendance at events and gatherings.

Not wanting to stay longer than she had to, Clare quickly finished her food and left the main dining hall with Chloe tagging along heading back to their wing of the castle.

"That went much better than I expected! You really convinced dad to let you keep on hanging out with your boyfriend while also getting rid of that Xandrian!" Chloe declared happily while skipping around as the two strolled through the castle grounds.

"Quiet down Chloe! What if someone hears you and goes snitch on me and I have to explain to dad all over again." Snapped Clare.

Even as she scolded her 10-year-old sister, Clare felt a deep sense of relief that she is able to convince her father with the story and gets to keep on spending her days with Ken in peace while also getting rid of Xandrian.

After getting back to their wing, Clare happily told a servant to prepare some of her favorite dishes for lunch and went to the garden to just relax in the sun now that she knows both of her worries at home have been resolved so quickly and smoothly.

"Must be nice to come home and just gets to relax and enjoy the sun, doesn't it?" Cecilla commented as she sat down in the chair next to Clare under the patio.

"Hi Cecilla, what brought you here today?" Clare replied formally.

"Stop. You don't have to put on that act around me, it's not like I don't know the real you after us having lessons together for the past 10 years."

Cecilla Yelwraek, Clare's half-sister who used to be Clare's closest sibling and best friend. Only a few months older and their wings built next to each other, the two sisters played and studied together since birth and were inseparable. However, during the selection when Clare was selected and Cecilla wasn't, their relationship suddenly turned awkward, and the time apart had made it even harder for Clare to reconnect with her rival and best friend.

"Sorry that our father decided to force the marriage onto you. I didn't expect him to be swift with the decision." Clare apologized sincerely.

"It's what it is. As a child without potential, I am nothing more than a throwaway chess piece for him to win the game. But I guess you are now the golden child? I can't believe how easily he believed that lame excuse."

"That was not an excuse! I am learning a lot from Lovetta, and it's one of the reasons why I want to stay with this group." Clare claimed defensively.

"I believe you. She is one of the reasons and that human boy is the other 99 right. What do you see in him anyways? If you are into humans, isn't that Darrumburgh guy better? I personally think that Luke Darrumburgh is very handsome, he is also a noble and good enough to finish second overall for the grade. If you want to marry him, I am sure our father would gladly accept." Cecilla suggested.

"Cecilla, I can't just like a random guy because you think he is cute. Besides, I don't even know if Ken likes me or just thinks of me as a friend." Clare answered, remembering her frustration with Ken and his lack of responsiveness.

"Well, when I spoke with him, he said you are only his 2nd best friend behind the wolf girl. Even if he likes you, for the princess of Yelwraek to not even be his number 1 option, I can't understand why you are this interested in him."

After not being able to have a genuine conversation or even see each other for the past 5 months, the resentment and jealousy that Cecilla felt towards her best friend had faded away greatly.

Likewise, while Clare still feels that she was getting blamed unfairly for something totally out of her control. Having her best friend back to study with, train with and more importantly vent about Ken had mended most of the awkwardness between the two sisters. And for the remainder of her break, Clare spent most of her days with Cecilla and Chloe training, studying and more importantly, happily discussing strategies on how to get Ken to confess his love for her or make sure he falls in love with her if he isn't already.