Abigail walks at a hurried pace, with a serious expression, she stormed off Kanna towards Kire village with Saki on her tail. "H-hey, wait up!" Saki catches up to her side. She looked worried as she saw Abigail's stern look. "At least tell me what's going on!" Her plead made Abigail look at her. She didn't speak for a few seconds before replying. "You will know soon" She immediately drops any conversation and remains quiet as they traverse the dirt path towards Kire village.
Upon arriving at Kire, they immediately hear someone yelling at the center of the village. All the villagers around are facing the source of the voice, their backs turned to the two ladies. "That's him. He's so loud already" Abigail stops momentarily before heading towards the crowd. "W-wait up!" Saki pushed through the crowd as Abigail had already gone through.
"I will marry your daughter as per Cassery's law in marriage! You will abide by the law and allow me to marry her!" The yelling was getting clearer and clearer as they passed through the crowd. "Screw the law! My daughter should have a right to refuse! She doesn't want to be married to the likes of you!" A man argues back.
"Arranged marriage... This isn't how it was supposed to be" Abigail mutters as she passes through the crowds. "By refusing to offer me your daughter's hand, you are violating the law of Mandatory Matrimony instated by the Foreign Relational Affairs of Cassery" The man's voice was threatening and shocked the crowd.
"Prince of Saintsville!" Abigail called out as soon as she got into the clearing past the crowd, Saki followed to her side quickly. In the center, a man was riding a beautiful white horse, his suit as white as the horse stood out from the rest of the crowd, and his well-groomed light blue hair and tidy appearance reflected his noble background. It was obvious at first sight that he was the prince that the chief's son mentioned. Behind him are some armored guards and the man he was arguing with was in front of his horse, a man, and his daughter behind him. They turned their attention to Abigail upon hearing her call.
"Your outlook on the law is untrue!" Abigail firmly declared. The prince of Saintsville frowns upon seeing her and takes a closer look. "Don't I recognize you?" He asked. Abigail just crossed her arms and didn't reply. The prince scoffs. "This day is getting more interesting! Two more beautiful maidens for me!" He boldly stated. The two girls' expression twists into anger and disgust "But of course, I can only compliment your beauty so far, lady Sylviana. Perhaps someday" The prince then turns to Saki. "But your friend there might do. I demand you to come closer to me, o' beautiful lady" He extends his hand as an invitation.
"No way" Saki firmly declines. The prince laughs in return. "A bit of defiance is indeed exciting, but I'm not in a playful mood. I demand your presence near me immediately!" He now yells at her. The guards faced the two girls as they heard their prince's heightened command.
Saki was unfazed by his aggression and kept her glare at him. Before any further trouble, Abigail spoke up. "You perceive the law incorrectly, prince of Saintsville. The law of Mandatory Matrimony doesn't state marriage by force". The prince scoffs again. "It is in the name, lady Abigail. Mandatory! The Saintsville prince, which is me, is required to have marriage! And I'm only doing my due diligence to adhere to that law" He pressed his chest to express sincerity.
"You are forcing a lady to offer her hands, Prince of Saintsville. And no part of the law states that an individual cannot refuse a marriage proposal. You are abusing your status to twist the law to your desires" As Abigail corrects him, the crowd begins to whisper among each other. It was clear that the prince was in the wrong, and it was getting to him.
"Tsk... As always, you Sylviana folks are always in the way" He mutters angrily. "In the way of what exactly, Prince of Saintsville?" Abigail tilts her head as she questions him. It was clear to the crowd that Abigail had more authority than him, and thus it was nothing difficult to question him on equal grounds.
The prince just scoffs and replies. "Never you mind" His response made Abigail smirk. The prince couldn't do anything anymore but seethe in anger. Taking this opportunity, the man spoke up. "Leave my daughter alone, that lady Sylviana already made it clear to you. Let's go, Rumi" He then led his daughter towards the crowd to leave the scene.
The prince grunts and then declares. "I won't leave this place empty-handed! You!" He aggressively points at Saki. "You will be my partner, whether you like it or not!" He said as he made his way down from his horse to approach the two girls.
"She already told you that you can't force anyone into marriage" Saki replies, however, the prince has an idea in mind. He puts up a smirk as he looks down at Saki's waist. "I know. That's why we're gonna have a deal" He proposed, much to the two's surprise. "You're that lady from Shigure who I hear desires the adventurer title on her name, Saki Nisshin. How about it? You will be my bride, and I will make you a bonafide adventurer! We will travel around the world together!" He said with excitement and hopeful expression.
However, Saki was quick to refuse. "I refuse. An adventure while bound to a marriage. That doesn't sound plausible to me" She stated. The prince quickly twists into anger. "Not only once or twice, but you have defied me many times already!" He immediately calms down and puts up a smirk again.
"Then how about a duel?" His proposal made Saki gasp. "If you win, I will accept my defeat and look for another bride, a willing bride. In other words, I will be true and honest. However!" He yells the last word before proceeding. "If you lose, you will be my bride, my partner in life, and of course, we will travel the world as you desire" As he finished his explanation of the deal, Saki went into thinking.
Abigail observes her as she thinks. "There's no point thinking about this. As the prince of Saintsville, you are required to follow my words. You will have a duel with me" Saki glares as he shows his authority over her. "You're a sick man" She growls. The prince is amused and walks into a distance to initiate the duel.
Abigail chuckles to Saki's surprise. She looked at her and asked. "What?". Abigail then looked at her and spoke with a reassuring tone. "You go accept his duel. He's not allowed to hurt a villager nor force them into submission in any sort of way. This is merely a low-life trick for any people who aren't completely aware of the laws and rules" She then leans closer. "And I know you wanted these kinds of battles" She winks at her. "We both know you will lose this, but I hope it would at least give you the thrill of a fight" She gave her a supportive smile.
Saki understood Abigail's intention, she was planning to turn the unfortunate event with the prince into something that would benefit her friend who desires adventures, and of course, battles. "Once you're done, I will put him back in his place, and of course, you won't be his prize. I won't let that happen" Abigail pats Saki's shoulder. "Now go. Show him that you're serious about being an adventurer" She gave her one more smile before observing the prince again. Saki walks to face the prince in the distance, the crowd roaring in awe as the duel is about to start in front of them.