Erling slams her sword down on Siv's again. A shock wave runs from her right hand and spreads through her body. It feels like when you hit one of those Tibetan bowls and the vibrations just keep on going.
They have been training for the past week, but Siv feels there is no improvement. Her hits are still weak, her defense is lacking, and her stamina is still non-existent.
She sighs.
"That's enough for today." Erling says, taking the wooden sword from Siv's hand.
"I can still train." Siv protests.
"No, you can't. Your hand is continually shaking." Siv squeezes her arm. "Go rest."
'F*ck.'
Siv drags her feet toward the palace, exhausted and disappointed. She knew it wasn't going to be easy, but she had hoped that after a week of intense training every day, she would at least be able to block one hit from Erling.
'This is so frustrating.'
"Oh look, isn't that the prince's EX-fiancee?" A female voice sneers from a distance.
Siv turns in the direction of the comment and finds a young lady walking toward her with two servants on her heels.
'Who the hell is she?'
"Lady Holmen, how have you been?" The woman's lips are curled upwards in a satisfied grin.
"And who might you be?" Siv asks not even caring about her inappropriate tone. The woman's smile falters a bit.
"How dare you speak to Lady Vagle in this rude manner?" One of the servants spits. "She is related to the Queen."
'I don't give a rat's ass who this is. I just want to bathe and sleep.'
"I am in a hurry, so don't mind me." Siv turns away from the shocked woman and starts walking toward her destination.
"I heard the prince despises you, now." The woman shouts.
'Don't even think about it.'
"I heard he can't even be in the same room with you."
'Don't stop, just keep going.'
"He can finally get rid of a pest like you who has no power or talent to bring to this kingdom."
Siv's feet halt. No matter how much she tries to keep walking, her body does not respond. She turns around and walks back to the chatty lady in the green dress.
"Who are you again?" Siv asks towering over the tiny woman. She is a bit intimidated, especially that she watched Siv train earlier, but she holds her ground.
"I am Lady Gunvor Vagle, daughter of the Duke of Salo who is also Queen Ylva's second cousin." She introduces herself proudly, even though it is considered inappropriate to introduce oneself to others for the first time. "Oh, and should I add that I am the future crown princess of Pyama?" The last part makes Siv burst out laughing which surprises Gunvor. She was expecting a different response.
Siv takes a step back and folds her arms in front of her chest to study the woman. She is probably around nineteen or twenty. Obviously, a noble. But what catches Siv's attention are her emerald eyes, they seem innocent, inexperienced, and childlike.
'I can easily take her. No, what am I thinking? This fight is not going to be physical.'
"Is that so?" She finally reacts.
"Why, yes. The Vagles have always supported the king and the royal family, we are basically a family already. Where was your family all these years?" Gunvor mimics Siv and folds her arms too.
Siv smiles.
This girl is so naive if she thinks that she stands a chance in this competition because she is a distant family member of the queen's or because her family supports the king. Probably, all the candidates have those qualities or even better ones. The fact that she is engaging in this conversation alone is proof that she is not mature enough to be a threat.
"Alright, Lady Vagle. Have a great day, now." Siv resumes her walking to her room not waiting for an answer. This makes the young woman angry. She pouts like a little child and stomps her feet.
"You are not enough for His Highness." Gunvor shouts. "He will never marry you."
"My lady, this is the palace garden, you shouldn't scream." One of her servants tries to calm her down.
"Who would want to marry someone like you?"
Siv hears every word she says. They should have no effect on her. But maybe she has been emotional these past few days with everything that has happened with Brandt and her frustration with training. She feels the need to cry as her eyes start tearing up.
'I am not going to cry here.'
Siv violently wipes the couple of rebellious tears that have escaped down before taking a deep breath. But as she hurries to her room, she collides with someone at the corner of the corridor.
"Damn it." She looks up and finds the prince looking down at her with knitted brows.
'Double damn it.'
"My apologies, Your Highness." She bows and tries to get away as fast as she can, but Brandt grabs her arm.
"Look at me." The prince orders, which takes Siv by surprise. The three words bring sweet memories to her mind. She immediately meets his hazel pools. "Are you crying?"
Seeing her bloodshot eyes makes Brandt's heart ache. He has no idea why, which confuses him. He wants to wipe her tears and take her into his arms, tell her that everything is going to be alright.
'But why?'
He doesn't even know this woman or at least he doesn't remember knowing her.
'Was I really in love with her?'
The question rings through his mind but is soon replaced by pulsing through his head. He grits his teeth and covers his eyes as the pain reaches them.
"Your Highness?" Siv squeezes his arms.
'This is the second time this happens. Is it because I am too close to him?'
Siv takes a few steps back and keeps going until she is about twenty meters away from the prince. His headache disappears slowly as if it never happened.
'I knew it. The curse is not only making him forget about me but it is also working to keep him away from me. Well, this might make my plans a little more complicated.'