It took us a couple of days before finding anything useful. The mastermind was so discreet and careful that everything had taken care of before we can even find any traces of them. Because of that, I figured that the mastermind of those assassination attempts can also have a strong connection with someone inside the Imperial Palace. And that person probably has a higher rank that's why he can manipulate such things.
Like uncle duke.
Nah. Impossible. Why would he even harm me? The book says that uncle didn't have any interest with the throne? But what if things changed after I had got here? That would be really cruel and troublesome. I wouldn't want to take down family!
I want to enjoy tea time today and the warm breeze that's gently nuzzling against me. The weather feels so nice that I don't want to think too much and just relax. Unfortunately, I can't let my guard down yet.
Anyway, he's been acting weird after that night. He seemed like he's still hiding something important that I should be aware of. But I can't force him, right? I'll have to trust him and wait for the right time.
"Princess! I heard about what happened a few days ago." Keita? Why is he here in the main palace grounds?
I placed my teacup down and smiled at him. He looked healthier today than the last time I saw him. "What are you doing here?" I don't mean to be rude, but until we find any clue, I should always be on guard.
Keita was taken aback with my sudden question, but he did try to look more confident than last time. He flattened his left hand across his body then bowed his head. "I apologize, princess. The royal knights that will soon guard her highness were already chosen, and we were transferred here to be trained personally by the head knight."
I couldn't help but let out a soft giggle at his change of attitude. From the clumsy Keita to this serious one. "Ah, apologies. You look cute just now. Anyway, have a seat. You're my guest for today." I gave him a warmer smile, making sure to make him feel more comfortable.
I have to appear harmless if I need to gain more information. And I have to make sure that the people who will surround me in the future won't think of any means to betray me.
"How was training? Are the seniors still treating you badly?" I asked while I pour some Keemun tea on his cup. "Would you like some cake?"
Keita smiled softly at me as he nods his head. "Thank you, princess. The seniors seem to follow her highness' order, and they even apologize to us. Because of her highness, us, new trainees, are becoming more eager to become real knights."
I could feel some sense of relief with Keita's answer. To be honest, I was a little worried after implementing such rules to them. I was worried that their seniors might feel furious after what I did, and they might bully them more. But thank goodness they did the opposite.
"How about her highness? Are you bothered by anything?" He asked. Now that I can clearly see him, he looked younger than me with those green pair of eyes and his chestnut hair. He might've noticed how careful I was staring at him that his cheeks turned pink. "Did I say something wrong, your highness? Was I too rude?" He sounded too flustered.
"No, I just noticed that you looked younger than me," I laughed softly, teasing him a little. "Amy, call me Amy when there's no one around us. I'll feel less stressed if you'll refer to me with that made up nickname of mine." Keita seemed to blush even more with what I said.
Is this his first time conversing with a lady? Or is he naturally shy?
"Also Keita, if you find anything suspicious around you, can you please report it to me without informing anyone?" Now my real business with him. I have to resort in using others as my extra pair of eyes and ears, or else I'll be killed without knowing anything.
I couldn't help but smile as I noticed his serious expression, he looked like he was already anticipating this. "I will, your highness." Keita stood from his seat than he kneeled on one knee in front of me, he gently took my hand then he bowed his head and pressed the back of my palm against his forehead.
"I'm still not an official knight, but I will be forever loyal to you." I can feel the sincerity he's offering to me. Is this like a payment because I helped him before?
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I wonder what's inside Keita's mind. It's been an hour since I dismissed him. He didn't emit any gloomy, sad, mad or any negative aura. He just radiated something flowery. Is that happiness or what?
"Aurelius! Come back here!" My eyebrow raised when I heard an unfamiliar voice shouting from the garden. I looked around and noticed two unfamiliar boys running around.
The golden haired boy looked like he was running away from that purple haired boy. What are they? Toddlers?
"I don't want to stay inside, Rowan! Leave me alone!" The Aurelius kid with the golden hair shouted.
He sounded childish. I'm saying this as if I'm not a kid myself.
"I'm older than you, Aurelius! Stop calling me by my name and come here!" The Rowan kid with the purple hair shouted back.
Where did they come from anyway? Based on their clothes, they looked like nobles. Ah, should I help him stop his brother?
"Don't run inside the garden. You might see the giant snake sleeping in there!" I shouted from my seat. I sounded unladylike, but who cares.
They seemed to hear what I just said that the Aurelius kid quickly made his way back towards his brother. Wow, I didn't know that kids of nobility can be so gullible.
I got up from my seat and stood in front of the table. I watched the two of them as the golden haired kid whined even more. Weakling. Try harder!
"Brother! Let's go away from the garden!" Ah, such a whiner. I bet Arthur can whine even more than him.
"Hey! Stop teasing my brother!" Oh, feisty. I bet 10 golds that this kid will be flustered once he finds out who I am.
Hah, I'm not bragging here.
"I'm not teasing him. I was just warning him," I answered, feigning innocence.
The Rowan kid looked upset that he really marched his way towards me. He looked like he'll hit me right away. Don't I look too girly for him or he just loves his dear brother so much to hurt a girl?
"You should be thankful that I saved the two of you from the big snake."
"You little─" His short-tempered and aggressive.
His hand formed into a fist then he raised his fist, aiming to my face. I quickly grab his raised arm with my left hand then pulled it forward. I placed my right hand on the small of his back and grabbed the back of his coat. I applied some strength on both my arms then threw his body on the ground.
I stood up properly after then brushed my hair off my shoulders. I didn't really intend to hurt him since I still held his body properly. He should be fine. He looked stunned with what I did, but I think that's the right lesson for an arrogant kid like him.
"Wow! How did you do that?!" His brother looked so amazed, though. Is he not mad that I took his brother down?
Anyway, it's just me. There's no explanation; I'm just overpowered. Heh.
"Prince Rowan! Are you alright?!" So he's a prince. Is that why he had the audacity to raise his hand against me?
The new kid with black hair looked like a knight based on his clothes. But I should go for now.
I was planning to go away from the scene and hide from the impending doom that I might receive once uncle duke finds out about what I did. But I stopped when the new kid who just arrived pointed a sword at me.
Seriously? Are they clueless? No one really knows who I am here.
"Put your sword down before I pierce your heart out." Hendrix really knows when to arrive, huh?
"Calm down. We were just playing around, we didn't mean to hurt each other, right, Prince Rowan?" I gave him a 'tell-them-and-I'll-let-them-know-that-you-raised-your-fist-against-me-first' look.
He glared at me with those piercing golden orbs then he stood up properly. Hendrix looked really pissed that he looked like he was already torturing the black haired kid inside his head.
Before this escalates in to a much serious situation, I quickly held on to the side of my purple dress and bowed gracefully in front of them. "I apologize for this inconvenience and my rude behaviour. I am Henrietta."
And as if on cue, uncle duke and an unfamiliar guy entered the garden. Wow. I was only having tea by myself just awhile ago and now this place is stuffed with people.
"Ah, so you've already met our guests. They are the royal family of Talares Nation." With that kind of expression; that small, mocking smile on uncle's face, I knew that he's been watching from inside!
"How rude of me. I apologize for being rude earlier. Allow me to personally invite you all for dinner and offer a comfortable place that you can rest for the night." Yes, good girl. I should play along.
"I didn't know that the crown princess stayed in the Imperial Palace. But she did grow up beautifully." He looked like their guardian. Like an uncle? "I also apologize for my nephew's rude behaviour. I'm Marquess Louis, and they are Prince Rowan and Prince Aurelius of the Nation of Talares." Wow. My first time in meeting a not rude marquess.
"We should go inside." Uncle duke is always like that with guests, but I guess everyone's already used to his stormy mood swings.
I stayed still and waited for that Rowan kid before following uncle. I should apologize, it might've hurt his man ego.
"I apologize for being so harsh and for teasing you and your brother earlier. I didn't mean any harm, I was just helping you to stop him from going farther in the garden," I said, honesty lingering on my voice.
I glanced at him and noticed his sulky side. "I'm also sorry for raising my fist at you. It was a very bad behaviour for a prince like me."
"It's not really bad if you were only doing it for the sake of the person you cherish. It seemed that I pissed you off because of how I sounded earlier. I guess that's the main reason why you tried to hit me."
Rowan didn't say anything else. He must've felt embarrassed because of how he acted. But don't kids act rashly and rudely during their teens age?
Though I wonder why uncle duke's meeting with a royal family of another nation. Is he planning something else? Or are they really here to help us find a clue or two?