"My lady, I have got big news," rushed Weinne into the library where Leesa was reading yet another book on wars.
"Keep it down Weinne it's a library for god's sake," says Leesa intrigued by the disturbance in her reading. "What is it?"
"The crown prince has announced a fighting competition in which anyone can participate, and the winner gets to be the crown prince's assistant!"
Upon hearing the news Leesa's eyes flashed, she was already in her own world and the only thing she heard was a fighting tournament and the rest could not reach her ears. She recognized this as a chance to evaluate her skills and swiftly made her way to approach the duke to talk about if anything that could ever make Leesa put her book down was anything related to fighting or food.
"Father," Leesa said with a voice filled with excitement, as she opened the door of the Duchess's office where the Duke and the Duchess were having a meeting about the dukedom's affair and the recent news of the tournament and debating who to send to the competition on behalf of the Marlene dukedom.
Leesa had always been well-versed in the skill of proper behaviour, having received strict lessons on disciplined conduct during her early years at the Marlene residence. Thus, when she forcefully swung the door open, it immediately raised concerns for Darrell and Lilian. They could not help but wonder what unfortunate event could have occurred for Leesa to act in an uncharacteristically way.
"What happened dear?" said Darrell and Lilian in sync.
"The crown prince is organising a fighting tournament and I wish to participate in it."
Darrell was taken aback by his daughter's words as if struck by a bolt of lightning. His beloved, calm, and precious daughter expressed her desire to participate in a fighting competition, which will also be crowded with male participants. What if she got injured? What if other participants tried to take advantage of his kind and innocent daughter? Just imagining such scenarios filled Darrell with a deep disdain for the vision of exposing his precious daughter to the harsh atmosphere of the competition.
Leesa attentively observed Darrell's reaction, noting how his face turned white as a sheet at the mere idea of her participation in the tournament. However, she could not let such an excellent opportunity slip away, and she attempted to reassure her father about her capabilities in combat.
"It is ok Father, trust me. I assure you I can take care of myself and will definitely try to not get hurt" said Lessa, trying to make Darrell trust her and let her participate.
As Darrell witnessed Leesa addressing his concerns head-on, his anxiety grew even more potent. However, Lilian had an entirely different train of thought brewing in her mind.
Lilian Marlene's eyes sparkled with esteem upon hearing Leesa speak of her participation in the fighting contest. She had always held a deep appreciation for independent women who could stand on their own two feet, unlike those superficial ladies who only engaged in idle gossip and psychological warfare in the name of love. Lilian had made a personal commitment to be a self-reliant woman, capable of confronting challenges directly without overly relying on others. Regardless, she recognized the inherent nature of humans as social beings, acknowledging the importance of having a supportive partner by her side. This was precisely why she had chosen to marry Darrell Marlene, as their shared competitiveness and drive complemented one another harmoniously.
Nevertheless, Leesa had always lived a tranquil and unpretentious life, which led Lilian to believe that she might not possess the same desire to embrace strength and independence. Consequently, Lilian had let go of any expectations she had for Leesa in that regard. However, her perception of Leesa took a sudden shift when, during a walk through the woods, she stumbled upon the secret training sessions where Leesa trained her combat skills. This discovery left Lilian in awe, as she witnessed the embodiment of her own resilient spirit reflected in her daughter. She couldn't help but feel a surge of pride, knowing that her genes had not been wasted and that Leesa, too, had a fierce determination within her.
Upon learning of Leesa's newfound interest in participating in the fighting contest and her eagerness to discuss it with the duke, Lilian knew that she had to extend her support. She understood the significance of nurturing her daughter's passions and encouraging her independence.
"Leesa dear, please hold for a moment," Lilian says to Leesa as she glances at the duke to leave them alone to talk for a bit.
The duke thought that Lilan would be able to stop Leesa from making this unwanted request but in that moment of anxiousness, he had forgotten all about how his wife actually is.
Lilian crossed her fingers and sat straight, "Listen up dear, no daughter of mine is gonna come home without winning" commanded Lilian. She knew how hard Leesa had practised and trained herself and how talented was Leesa that she could even be on par with any commanders of the dukedom's army even at such an early age.
"Understood," said Leesa with a smirk on her face.
"Good, so now let me know if you need anything prepared for the competition, a sword, a dress fit for fighting, or the knives that you love to use.
At that moment, Leesa realized that her mother had witnessed her secret training sessions in the woods. The realization filled Leesa with a mix of surprise, gratitude, and a newfound sense of validation. It was an acknowledgement that brought them closer, she was grateful to have a mother who recognized her power and believed in her potential, and it only boosted her desire to triumph in the fighting contest and make her family proud. Considering her mother's words Leesa demanded, "I may need a proper outfit which is comfortable to move in".
"Say no more," said Lilian, putting down a memo of fetching a merchant to design for Leesa's outfit.