The next two days were more like a blur. I was too tired playing the double role and even felt dizzy at times.

"Are you okay?" Elias asked because my face might have revealed my agony.

"Not sure."

"You need rest. You are studying with all the guarding as well." He held genuine concern in his voice.

He didn't know I was also fighting for Norgivia.

"Did you have any useful information from our palace spies?" I asked him since he himself seemed drained of all energy.

Since he heard his mother was alive, he had been waking up at night due to some dreams. It was a good thing I was here else the lonely life of his might have killed him already.

"No information. " His tone was disheartening.

"Don't worry we will find her."

"What if I didn't lose to Norman and they hurt my mother."

"You will not have to loose to Norman." Because before that, he will have to fight me.

***

After four days of competition of archery, spears, swimming and maze Norgivia was second because I was not a great swimmer so I came third in that one surprising myself but this made a difference in the points and in the second position while Elias was third and Norman was somewhere was down the list on ninth.

Since half the games were done out of kingdoms the one having warriors in top ten could stay and others had to leave. Norman was fighting as a representative for a Kingdom called Kazak. It was the same kingdom whose daughter King wanted as Elias's wife so that he becomes a mere puppet.

I had no idea what damn kingdom had or how important it was but Norman was forced to represent it since King wanted ministers and rest of the crowd to know his son's caliber. Seeing Norman fight he was nowhere close to impressing people. As per Elias' details, Norman was brains but to be a Prince you need brains and brawns as well.

And truthfully Elias was really good with both.

Now what was left of the competition was hand to hand combat, sword fighting and ring of fire. In the ring of fire, last four opponents are put to combat and we can use any skill we know of to win, the one we are best at.

We can choose our opponents for a sword fight and so I didn't loose time in choosing and picked Norman. Elias and the one in the first place were fighting each other. I was glad it was not me and Elias because he might have recognized me that close.

Elias came in the practice arena fuming over something.

"That jerk choose Norman, why?" He asked probably referring me as a jerk.

"Because it will be an easy victory." I gave the most sensible answer.

"And he will be shining in her eyes again." He seemed perplexed at the thought.

"It's better for him to reach the top and then you defeat him. Wouldn't that make you shine even better." I was like a mother of a spoilt kid right now.

He seemed impressed with my idea and nodded with a smile.

"If Norman wins today we might have to face each other for hand to hand combat."

"He will not win." I was sure of that.

"How are you so sure?"

"Well, because I have seen that Norgivian warrior and he is good." Praising myself felt weird.

"He can't be better than you." He gave me a proud smile and a thump on my back which had me gloating like a fool.

***

Next day I was ready for the sword battle and happy about my idea of helping the Prince. For now, since he was focused on saving his mother I was relaxed that he didn't think of meeting the Princess again. Or else I will be in triple undercover; Bodyguard, fighter and Princess.

It started with the one who ranked first but I was surprised to see him fighting with someone else and not Elias. Maybe Elias had a change of thought and changed opponents. The fight ended really fast since the one battling the first one was the one on the tenth position. First was really good and even before I can relax it was my turn being the second.

I didn't want to hurt Norman just enough to defeat him and with that mindset, I moved forward to battle the lanky cute Prince.

But the shock hit me when my opponent walked out and it was not Norman. How did this happen? Where was Norman?

"What are you doing here?" I asked a buffed man under the helmet.

"Sword Fighting?" He seemed surprised at my outburst.

"Where is Nor...I mean Kazak warrior?"

"He was changed." His tone indicated that he has no idea of what was happening.

My eyes found the wooden block where they wrote the competitors name to check my worst fear which just came true. Elias' name was listed against Norman.

***

The one against me was buff and all but my moves were far better. I was fast, alert and sneaky. I ended the fight as quick as possible surprising the crowd and my opponent.

The seventh fight was Norman and Elias and I was freaking out. So I hurried off to the only person I could ask for help; Agnes.

"Help me," I said out of breath due to all the running.

"What is wrong?"

"Elias can't fight Norman in today's fight. It will create a lot of trouble."

She gave me a calm smile and walked away to a wooden shelf. Her calmness was making me want to scream in frustration.

"You are up against sabotaging people so you defeat them with their game." And handed me a little bottle of clear liquid.

"What is this?"

"Hoax liquid. It magically creates delusion whatever the caster of the magic wants. Pour this on the name board when you want and the wicked ones will be shocked to see the sudden change."

She knew freaking magic.

"You know magic?" I asked though short on time.

"Run along Alisha, you don't have time for interrogations."

She was right so I reluctantly let that go and hurried to correct the drastic situation.

I looked at the board and the fifth fight was going on. I went behind the board praying that this will work I threw the liquid changing Elias' and Norman's opponents. I ran forward in the audience area to see what was being displayed and I could see that I was successful.

I sighed in relief when finally Norman stepped in with some other warrior. My eyes wandered off to the minister's seating area and noticed few of them scowling at the change while some looked confused.

It didn't matter now, the problem at hand was solved but there were two more rounds.

I secretly wished that Norman was defeated and didn't move to the next round but that didn't happen and he won. Next was hand to hand combat and there were five opponents left that meant one was either lucky or really unlucky.

But now my worry was not Elias against Norman because ministers were not foolish to put a lanky guy with someone well built like Elias in a hand to hand combat. My main worry was if they put me against Elias.

***

"My mother is in the dungeon of the King's palace," Elias told me as soon as I returned with my daily meeting with Norgivia guys.

"How did you find that out?"

"Norman." He answered shortly pacing in anxiousness.

"You seem to trust him explicitly," I said carefully and he turned sharply.

"What does that mean?"

"I mean that are you sure he is not the enemy?"

"No, he is not," Elias said in a defensive tone.

"You don't want him to be but he is King's son after all." I tried explaining him my piece of mind.

"And you don't know him like I do." He snapped and I was not surprised at his attitude for his brother.

Norman was the only family he has cared for.

"Fine then let's go rescue your mother before either of you get hurt," I said getting up with a sigh.

"What? But that prison is heavily guarded." He looked astounded at my suggestion.

"And your mother is sitting there like a criminal when she is innocent." I provoked him.

He thought for a moment and looked at me with internal conflict in his eyes.

"Fine, let's rescue her then."

IDOL SITUATION.