♦️okay guys, here’s the first official part of this series! i really wanted to push myself in trying out new themes, so i thought this would be interesting. i have a lot of fun chapters planned ahead, so stay tuned…
pairing: princess!vi x knight!reader
⛔️ cw: mention of dueling and blood
act i — the edge of victory
benzo supplied you with armor of far greater quality than you had expected - no doubt thanks to his apprentice, ekko. it was sturdy enough for protection, yet light enough to preserve the swiftness of your stride. ekko had even taken the courtesy of sharpening your blade.
after a week’s wait for the armor’s completion, you bid the two farewell and pressed onward upon your journey.
the sky was a pale blue, the sun not yet risen above the horizon. you held your reins tightly as the castle walls came into view, its looming gates hung with bright banners in celebration of the tourney to be held later that day.
a few stragglers rode ahead, their horses burdened with weapons and armor piled high. you kept your distance, trailing them until you reached a great camp laid out for the competitors.
you lingered a moment in hesitation before claiming an empty spot beneath a wide oak, at the quieter edge of the encampment. swiftly you saw to your steed, fetching a pail of water and a measure of oats, even offering him an apple as thanks.
once settled, you set to checking your gear and running through practiced drills, though your attention often strayed to the looming castle. it was far grander than you had ever imagined - towers of stone casting vast shadows across the field, their windows glimmering with colorful stained glass.
your gaze followed the curve of one tower, landing upon the far left, where you caught an intriguing flash of vivid ruby: a figure watching from above. before you could ponder further, a bright voice startled you.
“why, i think you’re the first soul here who isn’t draped in fine raiment and gilded trinkets.”
you turned to see a woman with short ginger hair, freckles dusted across her cheeks, and a broad smile. she extended her hand, grasping yours in a firm shake.
“i’m maddie. maddie nolan,” she said briskly. “i hail from noxus,” she added, shifting on her feet in restless anticipation. “can you believe it? the king opening his lists to all corners of the realm? it must be grave indeed, if he seeks a knight beyond his own sworn host.”
you gave her a small hum, not particularly inclined to converse with one who might very well be your rival.
“have you ever laid eyes on the princesses? i’ve heard the second-born is a wild card, while the first is full of… odd surprises,” she went on.
you’d never seen either princess, though of course you’d heard the gossip that clung to princess violet like a shroud - that she was spoiled rotten, rebellious, cold to all, and even thorned.
“well, we’ll be competing for the honor of serving her highness, so perhaps we should choose another subject of interest,” you remarked.
“right! a clever thought. i wasn’t meaning to slander the princess, only… passing along what i’ve heard,” maddie nodded quickly.
as the morning wore on, you found yourself with maddie at your heel, chattering without pause, until at last the blare of trumpets cut through the camp. you breathed a quiet sigh of relief as a herald’s voice boomed across the lists:
“hear ye, hear ye! all knights who would contend for the honor of guarding our most noble princess, step forth into the ring! our maidens shall divide the company into four quadrants, where trials of strength, wit, and valor shall be met. from thence, the tourney shall proceed until the final hunt decides the victor.
know this: his majesty king vander, and his daughters, princess violet and princess powder, are present to bear witness. let no shame be brought upon their house. fight with dignity, keep to the laws of the lists, and prove yourselves worthy.
now, take your stations, and let the tourney commence!”
as you stepped into the vast arena, you were sorted into groups of four, your body jostled by the press of armored knights surrounding you. the stands above were brimming with citizens eager to witness the grand competition, their cheers ringing like thunder. at the heart of the ring stood a high pier, draped in fine cloth for shade, upon which rested the regal thrones.
your gaze flitted over the king first, robed in his customary silks and bearing himself with quiet command. beside him sat his daughters. powder, you surmised, was the one with the long blue hair, intricately braided and threaded with elegant adornments. but it was the other who snared your attention - the fiery crown of hair you had glimpsed before from the tower.
your heart betrayed you, skipping a beat as your eyes met the princess’. the tales had painted her as sour-tempered and frigid… yet none had spoken of her beauty. in truth, seeing her there with your own eyes only dismantled the gossip whispered throughout the kingdom. there was a warm naivety in her gaze, softness in the way her eyes lingered, almost as if she were unguarded… helpless, even.
you inclined your head in a low bow, swiftly averting your gaze, unwilling to stare so openly at royalty - especially given your humble station.
from the dais, violet’s eyes lingered. the other knights glittered in steel and fine cloth, yet it was you - plain, unadorned, standing with quiet resolve, who drew her notice. she found herself curious despite her better judgment, her lips pressing into the faintest smile before she looked away.
you had come determined to win the tournament regardless. yet now, having beheld the princess with your own eyes, your resolve burned brighter still.
the tourney commenced with a test of marksmanship. each knight was given a bow and a quiver of arrows, their fletching marked with colored feathers to distinguish one from another. the task was plain: strike true upon a series of painted targets, and prove your precision before the crowd.
you passed with ease, landing each arrow as though it were second nature. the still targets were no challenge compared to the fleet-footed prey you had hunted in the countryside. one after another, your shafts struck clean, drawing murmurs from the onlookers as well as your opponents.
as you advanced to the next challenge, it became plain the squires meant to weed out the unworthy. pairs were quickly drawn, each knight handed a blunted weapon - dull axes, swords, and maces laid out upon a long bench.
your first opponent, a meek knight, surrendered almost instantly after his weapon went flying from the very first clash of your axes.
the next to approach was a familiar redhead. “well, it’s nice to see you’re still here,” maddie greeted, stepping into place across from you.
“hm. likewise,” you muttered, your fist tightening at your side. “i want this to be a challenge. take your pick from the table - whichever suits you best,” you offer boldly.
she let out a soft scoff, flashing you a cocky smirk. “then let’s do this as traditional nobles do. with swords,” she declared, snatching one up before tossing its twin toward your feet.
you stooped, fingers curling around the hilt, testing its weight in your hand. “i hope you’re not one to yield so quickly, miss nolan,” you said, your gaze flicking up to meet hers.
maddie lifted her blade, stance sharp, movements practiced - almost theatrical as if her swings were meant as much for the crowd as for you. no doubt she was hoping to draw the eye of the princess in the stands.
“i wouldn’t dream of losing to the likes of you,” she muttered through gritted teeth.
“that’s music to my ears,” you purred, your sword flashing up to catch her first swing with a resounding clang.
too easy. her strikes were strong, but her rhythm - predictable. each step, each arc of her blade, you had seen before. you remembered slipping away from the schoolyard as a child, climbing the iron bars to peer into the academy yard a few miles down, watching knights drill those very same movements until they were etched into your mind.
they were textbook. rehearsed. flawless on the surface, but rigid.
and you - after years of mimicking, rehearsing, then breaking those forms in secret - had long since carved your own shortcuts from different masters.
your blade moved like the beasts you once watched from the shadows of the woods - fluid, merciless, unbound by human formality. you fought with the sharp cunning of an enchanted predator, darting in and out of range, exploiting every lapse. the crowd saw only a strange, scrappy style. but the princess, watching from the podium, saw something else: a creature moving with instinct, each strike carrying a quiet ferocity.
maddie faltered, overcommitting in her eagerness, and you twisted her blade aside. in the heartbeat she left herself open, you stepped close and set your edge beneath her guard - controlled, precise, yet brimming with the promise of finality.
your lips quirked up triumphantly as you drew back your blade, the edge stained with bright red, the cut along her ribs a clear mark of your skill. maddie staggered, hissing a breath through gritted teeth, before finally lowering her weapon and raising her hand in surrender.
now you were simply left with the final challenge. the great hunt.
after that, victory was yours.
