Hand to Hand combat was my thing. I was great at martial arts back home and I was even good enough for trained assassins here. With five opponents in running the first one was getting an advantage here for holding the position and they do not have to fight with anyone. The other four were paired with each other and I was up against the last one while Norman and Elias were opponents.

I was not worried now since they had no leverage over Elias now.

My opponent was not as good with hand to hand combat. He was easily fooled. I attacked the points that are scientifically weak and broke few of his bones in the process. But due to my unhealthy form each hit was taking a toll on me and I was feeling pain all over.

Flying kick was my favorite so I used it finally to hit his neck and he fell on the ground groaning in pain. I sighed and wiped the sweat feeling dizzy with all the fighting. I walked to the tents set up for the competitors to grab some water but I was about to fall due to loss of energy.

"Arthur, what's wrong?" Elias asked and I snapped back to senses.

"My injuries haven't healed yet," I answered.

I can't tell him I was fighting for Norgivia, now, can I?

"You need a doctor. I will call for one now." Elias said in a panic not asking many questions where I got my injuries from.

"You go win the match or you might just lose your lady love." My words made him conflicted.

"I think I will do what I think is best right now." He started walking towards the tent pulling me along where medical help was given.

"I can survive. I was survived worse situations highness." I forced him to leave because going to a doctor in hidden identity scenario was not safe.

There was an announcement for the next round and I was saved. He had to leave regretfully and I walked towards the tent by myself feeling the pain and open stitch even more now.

"We need to find the girl he is going to this extents for." A voice said and I knew immediately it was that wily minister.

After all my research I found out that he was King's advisor and holds a lot of power. For now, he looked frustrated as he lost the Queen. And now somehow I was next target or the princess for of me was. I bet the attackers that day saw me and informed him about Elias' alleged love life.

"She is a princess and we can capture her as a leverage. Young love is always foolish." Another man next to evil minister said.

Douchebags! They thought I was some damsel in distress here. They should try capturing me and get a kick in their asses. And just for the fun of it I bumped into him and walked away. He cursed and turned to look the one dared to bump into him.

What was he doing near Norgivia's tent anyway?

Did they know that the princess was Norgivian?

I got treated and even the doctor seemed surprised to see the injuries on me. I was wearing my helmet and left him guessing why a girl was in a warrior outfit. Getting my medicines I returned to the ground to see who won the match between Elias and Norman.

And I saw two brothers laughing as Elias tended to Norman's injury. The winner listed on the board was Elias and I felt extreme happiness on his win. He was one step closer to becoming the King. And the waving brothers the crowd realised that I was out of time here. I didn't belong here and even if Elias' did like me enough what will he say when I will reveal myself.

Who will he introduce me as? I am no princess in reality.

"Can we talk?" The man next to minister was asking me.

My face was masked with black cloth and I wanted to hide behind the metal helmet right then.

"Why?" I asked before nodding a yes.

"You seem to be quite skilled with weapons and fighting." He said and I saw the minister nowhere in sight.

He would recognize me as bodyguard without a metal helmet.

"And you are fighting for the kingdom we are interested in." He said with a cheap sly smile.

"So?" I said in a bored tone.

He seemed agitated at me nonchalant behavior.

"We are the ruling Kingdom here." He said to make a statement.

"You are agitating me old man." I snapped and he looked really shocked.

"I want to meet the Princess of your Kingdom." He came to the point.

"Why?"

"Just to have some important talk." He said carefully.

The sleazeball was lying obviously. He wanted to check if the princess was one Elias was interested in. Sure he could meet the Princess because she was not the one. I was the fake princess they needed to find.

"Then go ask someone with authority. I am just representing them. I haven't even seen the princess." I tried to walk away.

"Then can you help us with something else and you can have anything you want." He said.

He did not just come here to me to assassinate the Prince. Was he from some historical drama?

"I am not killing the Prince for you. But if you annoy me anymore I can slit your throat right here and no one will know it was me." Or maybe they will but I was threatening him.

He turned pale with fear.

"See you later old man." And with that, I left him to ponder on that thought that someone from this time could talk like that.

***

After seven days there was the final round. Enough time for me to recover and also hunt down Agnes for sending me back in time. But I realised that second was not a big priority. Leaving Elias will be quite difficult now.

Agnes was gone with the Queen and this was frustrating me very much.

"There is festive market today," Prince informed me lifting his head from the boring stuff he has been reading since two hours now.

"Great," I responded with least interest.

"I think I should take her to market with me."

Bad idea!

"Don't do that. You are giving the bad people leverage over you." I warned him.

"I can protect who I care about." He said with a determination.

"Then I guess you don't care about yourself."

"What if she just leaves after the tournament ? And never meets me again?" He was really worried.

I can't even leave this time and forget about him.

"Why do you like her?" I asked not as Arthur but as Alisha right now.

He frowned at my question and thought for a moment. It was kind of worrying to think about an answer.

"Because her smile and her eyes or maybe everything about her give me hope and courage." His answer left me flustered.

I had no idea I had this much importance in his life, in his thoughts.

"Market will be a careless place, though," I said half-heartedly.

"We can go undercover." He said sounding excited by this.

Undercover? Was I not undercover enough?

"And I will be in the crowd protecting you from afar." I said making my way out as a bodyguard since I have to be next to him as Alisha.

"Why are you always against my meeting with her? Do you not find her beautiful or a nice person?" He was asking if I thought I was beautiful or not.

"I think there are more beautiful for you out there , Highness."

"Well, I have never seen a girl more beautiful than her." He defended me.

Even her name is beautiful." He said and I turned to look at him with shock.

"You call her Princess, you know her name now?"

"Yes, Agnes informed me when I told my mother I liked Norvigian Princess." He said as if it was not a big deal.

"What is her name?" I asked afraid my heart will be addicted to this if he called my name.

I already liked him calling me Arthur.

"Alisha." He answered and I inhaled sharply.

***

He gave me the letter to drop it in Princess' room inviting her to dress up for the market. I didn't have to go anywhere since the letter was for me. I was not going to go undercover since no one will recognise me anyway. And even if some slimeballs did manage to recognise the Prince they will know he is not with Norgivian Princess since she looked nothing like me.

Next day Prince was standing on the meeting point and I had to find the right time to step back and come as Princess. But before I could make a lame excuse or even think about an excuse we saw a girl in lavish gown being taken forcefully by some men. She was unconscious and her eyes were covered with a black cloth. But I knew from her tresses that she was the real Princess of Norgivia.

"Who the hell are they taking?" He asked since I had dark hair and not anything like blonde Princess there.

"Apparently Princess of Norgivia." I answered and he looked confused.

"No, she does not have golden hair." He said. "We should save her Arthur."

"You stay here Highness. I will tend to this." I said running forward to help the girl who was in trouble because of me.

I used the stones on the floor to hit the men taking her and as soon as I got their attention I used my sword to injure most of them. It was too easy and I dragged the Princess with me with great difficulty as her dress was twice the size she was.

"I thought right." The evil minister came out of somewhere.

Hell, he is from some historical drama as well.

"Do you want to die that much?" I snarled at him.

"Prince's bodyguard is protecting her. She must be special for him." He was as foolish as he looked.

"Think whatever you would. You don't cross my path again." I picked up an arrow from one of his injured men and shot his arm.

He yelled out in pain and looked shocked.

"I can report this to authorities." He threatened me.

I am used to such threats from gangster I had around me.

"But this arrow comes from one of your men. Who will you blame? Do you have a witness to prove I did it." My words left him speechless.

"Last warning. Stay away from the Prince." I gave him the cold deadly glare I used to give my dad's enemy.

He turned and hurried back with a bleeding arm and piercing arrow.