Princess Skyla played powerfully at the beginning, then conservatively in the middle, and finally defensively during the endgame when Adrian started attacking and cornering her.
Adrian saw plenty of opportunities where he could have simply checkmated the princess, but he held back as it wouldn't provide the best lesson if the game ended too soon. Beside her, her ladies were chattering and whispering about which move they would make or how Adrian had seen through the princess strategy.
They played two games, which lasted over an hour. The sun was setting by the time the princess called it off, though reluctantly.
"I now understand why you think it needs an hourglass to play, it would take too long otherwise," Princess Skyla said, standing up and patting down her dress.
"It's possible for a single game to last longer, Your Grace. Once, I played a game with my steward that lasted four hours, mostly because we were busy and kept pausing the game, though." Adrian added, standing up.
Princess Skyla smiled. "I enjoyed the game. Did you really create it?"
Adrian wanted to say no, but he didn't think the sarcastic response, 'I got it in a dream' would be suitable here.
"I did."
If the princess sensed something in his tone, she didn't say anything. "Quite an interesting game… I would like to play with you again soon."
Adrian saw the ladies to the side gasp, though they covered their mouths.
Playing and socializing with the princess?
'I don't want to.' Adrian thought, before he smiled widely. "I'm at your beck and call."
-----
Word spread fast through the keep that Lord Adrian Harrow had managed to pique Princess Skyla's interest, and rumor had it they had arranged to meet from then on.
Because of this, Adrian's supposedly peaceful night was peppered with guests, from Lord Bronsone to Lord Sean and Lord Eaton, along with various other lords eager to know what had happened.
Since they all aske how he had captured the princess's attention, he was forced to introduce them to chess and explain how it worked, which took a grueling amount of time. It reached the point where Adrian was tempted to injure himself just to have a valid excuse to kick them out.
He nearly did, right before he realized it was late into the night and the stream of visitors had finally ended.
After Adrian and a few servants tidied his ruffled room, he finally collapsed into bed.
Morning arrived quickly, marking the first day of the tournament. Adrian planned to disappear into town to avoid the local lords, but just as he opened his door, he found a servant waiting. The man's clothing was so refined that Adrian initially mistook him for a lord.
"Lord Harrow, Princess Skyla requests your presence for breakfast... it would be best to bring the… board."
Adrian's lip twitched. "Of course. Let me just... dress appropriately."
After dragging his feet as long as he could without being outright rude, Adrian followed the servant, with his knight, Dexton, trailing behind him. They were led into a private garden where a fancy table stood in a small clearing. Several people were already seated.
It wasn't just the princess. Lord Jayson Edwards leaned casually in his seat with his shirt loosely unbuttoned, and beside him sat Lord Bennett Attareus, the heir to Applebye.
"Lord Harrow, is it?" Prince Bennett spoke. "I must say, from what my sister tells me, you have created quite a game."
Adrian bowed deeply. "I thank you, Your grace."
"How did you come up with such a thing?" Bennett asked, his tone carrying more idle curiosity than genuine interest.
Adrian pondered for a moment before answering, "It is the product of an idle mind, Your grace. I created it during the winter months, when the weather left me with nowhere to travel."
Prince Bennett laughed. "Indeed, when one is bored, the mind can be quite inventive. I imagine there isn't much to do in the South. Your ceremony was handled by Prince Cale, was it not?"
Adrian was taken aback by the sudden shift in topic but spoke without pause. "That is correct. I was graced to have my ceremony overseen by a Prince."
"And are you loyal to Prince Cale?" Bennett asked. He spoke casually, but the weight of the question was anything but.
"I am loyal to the Crown." Adrian answered immediately.
The quick response seemed to surprise the Prince. He laughed, shook his head, and stood up. "I heard you are participating in the joust and the melee? With such a mind, I would think you'd be ill-suited for such things."
He turned to his sister. "I'll be training with Lord Corvus, sister. Keep Lord Jayson in check, will you?"
Lord Jayson snorted but returned to his bored expression as Lord Bennett nodded and departed.
"Have you had breakfast?" Princess Skyla asked once her brother was gone.
"I have." Adrian lied instinctively. Skyla raised a brow but didn't press him.
She gestured to an empty spot at the table. "Please, sit. I was just introducing Lord Jayson to your game."
"I am honored that a Duke's son would take interest," Adrian said.
"Sure." Jayson responded with a roll of his eyes.
Adrian took his seat and ignored the slight. Dexton placed the board on the table, and Adrian began arranging the pieces. He found it curious that the Princess hadn't commissioned her own board yet, surely one made of the finest materials.
Perhaps her interest wasn't as deep as he had thought?
"You have interesting pieces." Skyla muttered, admiring the knight Adrian had carved into a horse wearing a helm.
"Thank you, Your Grace. Wood sculpting is a hobby of mine." He had almost said 'woodworking,' but changed it to sound more fitting for a lord.
"You made this yourself?"
"I did."
Princess Skyla looked at him with renewed interest before setting the piece down. "Shall we start?"
"By your lead."
The game began. The princess moved with more confidence than the previous day, while Lord Jayson watched with an air of profound boredom. Princess Skyla seemed determined to keep the pace fast, playing her moves quickly to deny him time to think.
However, haste breeds mistakes, especially against the man who "invented" the game. Rather than waiting for the endgame, Adrian found an opening and checkmated the Princess early. She leaned back, astonished.
"The Princess has improved significantly." Adrian praised. He realized too late that his wording was poor as he caught a faint glare from her.
'There goes my head on a platter.' Adrian thought. But before he could retract the comment, Lord Jayson snorted.
"I thought you were supposed to be good?" Lord Jayson teased.
Princess Skyla shot Lord Jayson a narrowed look. "Lord Harrow, as the creator of the game, is naturally superior. I am still learning."
Jayson huffed a laugh as the Princess began quickly resetting the pieces for another round.
This time the game lasted much longer. Lord Jayson's bored expression vanished, replaced by interest as he watched the board, occasionally offering unsolicited advice to the Princess or goading her. After more than half an hour, the game ended with the Princess defeated once again.
Lord Jayson laughed at her loss. She simply gestured to the board. "Would Lord Jayson care to try his hand against Lord Harrow? I am certain you believe yourself to be better than me, right?"
Lord Jayson took a sip of his wine, narrowing his eyes before flashing a confident smile. "Sure thing."
They rotated the board so one side faced him. The Princess looked at Adrian and said openly, "Make it quick."
"Nonsense," Lord Jayson countered, directed more at the Princess than Adrian. "Lord Harrow, go easy on me, yeah?"
As a mere Baron, Adrian could only watch in silence as they bantered, not daring to join their high-born chatter.
The game began. Lord Jayson played conservatively, appearing relaxed, until his confidence shattered. Adrian executed a fork attack, forcing Jayson to sacrifice his Queen.
Princess Skyla let out a triumphant harrumph, clearly finding the turn of events amusing.
What followed was a series of stressed moves from Lord Jayson. He leaned forward, doing his absolute best not to be cornered, but he was eventually checkmated.
"Not so confident now, are we?" Princess Skyla mocked, turning the board back toward herself and quickly rearranging the pieces.
"Hey, I was still looking at that!"
"Looking at how you lost?" she retorted.
Lord Jayson grumbled under his breath and poured himself more wine. He looked at Adrian, a new light in his eyes. Adrian, however, kept his attention fixed on the board. It was better to focus on the game than to risk a conversation and say something rude with them.
Time passed as they played. Midday arrived just as Adrian checkmated Lord Jayson for the second time. Lord Jayson, looking far more ruffled than he had at the start of the day, reached out to reset the pieces again, but Princess Skyla spoke up.
"I think we have taken enough of Lord Harrow's time. I believe he needs to prepare for the tournament."
Adrian fought to control his expression, doing his utmost not to show his delight while mentally giving the Princess a thumbs-up. Lord Jayson looked as if he wanted to argue, but he simply shook his head and leaned back in his chair.
"Of course. Thank you for your time, Lord Harrow. Though, with the game you've created, I think you're far better suited for this than the lists..."
Adrian bowed. "Thank you for the praise, Lord Jayson." He then turned to the Princess. "Your Grace... if you wish, you may have my board. It is yours, if you will accept it."
The Princess raised a brow. "Truly?"
"Of course. Please... take it," Adrian said, bowing deeply while inwardly speaking, 'Please take it and don't bother me anymore.'
He made sure his bow was low enough to hide his expression.
"Well, thank you for the gift, Lord Harrow," Princess Skyla said. "Perhaps next time, I will finally have the chance to beat you."
"I don't doubt it, Your Grace."