It's Thursday. As Elie said, the royal system is very loose on Thursday. A lot of guards take turns guarding or passing positions.
The kitchen maid didn't seem too busy either. Breakfast has been cooked since this morning and distributed to other guards and servants.
Ariadne has, of course, eaten at her dining table. That girl forced Elie to have breakfast with her this morning. Yet again and again Elie refused the invitation. Elie's busy making Darian breakfast. Elie really doesn't want to take Meghan's food anymore. And Ariadne doesn't know it's only Elie's dish now.
All Ariadne's food is mandatory for Elie to try first. A princess must be taken care of. And if Ariadne's food is filled with poison, Elie will be the first to feel the pain. But all this time Ariadne's food has never contained any poison or anything. Elie ensure the food for Ariadne will always be safe.
Darian was seen still having breakfast with Marlyn and Jason. The three of them always ate at the other table away from Ariadne's dining room.
If Ariadne is able, Ariadne will invite the inner circle to have breakfast with her. But it never worked because Elie forbade it. Elie says a princess is not allowed to eat with servants. Ariadne does not consider Elie, Darian, Marlyn, and Jason to be her attendant. To Ariadne, these four are like Ariadne's family.
"Elie, thank you for the food. Give Meghan my thanks, too. This breakfast was delicious. Tell Meghan I want another one for the evening." Said Ariadne, wiping the corners of her lips with her handkerchief.
Elie nodded politely and was followed by the servants. "Yes, princess. I'll tell Meghan. Are you really going out today?"
Ariadne smiled. Elie's face looked troubled and worried for Ariadne. The girl got up from her seat and walked slowly. "Of course, I'll go out with Griffin. Make sure Darian doesn't know this, Elie."
"Yes. My son is going to the diamond mine."
"Good for you. I'm very grateful to you, Elie."
"Princess, can you go with one bodyguard? If you don't want to be too watched, then I'll have the guard follow you from afar."
Ariadne's two steps stopped at once. The girl turned to Elie walking behind her. "Not Elie. You promised me. If you send a bodyguard for me, then I'll be angry." Ariadne said in a disapproving tone.
Elie was a little surprised. Ariadne has never acted like this before. Why is Ariadne so quick to anger now? Even Elie was very worried about Ariadne that the girl had gone out to leave the kingdom alone.
"Ah, yes, princess. I'm sorry I upset you. You know, you're like a daughter to me. I'm just worried about you."
Ariadne holds both of Elie's hands. "Elie, I can take care of myself. I will tell you many things when my legs are strong enough to stand on their own. Trust me, I'm going somewhere safe."
Still, Elie's face still worried. How is it not to worry? Ariadne is a princess. Only Ariadne commands this diamond empire. If anything happens to Ariadne, then all of it will be Elie's fault.
Ariadne smiled and rubbed Elie's shoulders slowly. "Well, I'll be honest with you. I'll tell you one thing. I went out to see Charlotte. The things I did with Charlotte were completely harmless, Elie. You know that Charlotte's been my best friend since I was fourteen."
"Princess, why are you meeting charlotte? You wouldn't do anything weird, would you?"
Ariadne shakes her head. "Give me your trust, Elie. Then I'll be fine to be outside. Have my horse ready and bring me enough food. I'm gonna get changed in the room."
Elie nodded with a resigned face. She cannot forbid Ariadne constantly. Ariadne also needs to know the outside world. Now Elie's job is to guard the diamond empire when Ariadne leaves her throne. Anyway it's just for one day and it's only once a week. All right, Elie will allow Ariadne to come out.
***
"Charlotte!!"
Hearing the screams, Charlotte sitting on the rocks turned her head. It appears Ariadne has already arrived on her white horse. Charlotte ran in excitement and immediately embraced Ariadne when she had come down from the horse.
Their rendezvous point of course remains the same. Behind the falls. Nobody knows this place. This place is so bright and beautiful in the morning and noon. Even though it's surrounded by rock walls, it's quite large and very beautiful.
"Ariadne.. We meet again at last." Charlotte said very pleased. The girl's hair seems to be getting shorter just like the boys.
Ariadne softly ruffled Charlotte's hair as she felt soft on her fingers. "Ah, did you cut your hair again Charlotte?"
"Yes. If I get a little longer I feel a lot of pain."
Ariadne chuckles. "All right, shall we start now?"
"Why? Are you in a hurry?"
"No, charlotte, let's start now. So that at noon we can take a break and have lunch and chat."
"Okay. I need you to warm up first. Won't you mind Ariadne if we practice battle with swords again?"
Ariadne smiled. "Of course I don't mind. Incidentally, the only thing I brought from the palace was my sword. Teach me until I can master the sword with great skill. Attack me if at all it will increase my speed controlling the sword."
"But what if a part of you gets hurt?"
The truth is Charlotte's worried sick about this. Honestly, Charlotte has never hurt Ariadne. Because Charlotte always let Ariadne train alone without any opponent.
"Charlotte, I've come to this point. This exercise I'll do once a week with you. If I get hurt from practice, I can still fix it. If you're my teacher, then act professional and just attack me. It's my request."
Charlotte took Ariadne's eyes very seriously. Before they actually began the practice, Charlotte taught Ariadne to return with a sword to the enemy.
Ariadne also warmed up first so that the body would not feel aches.
Until finally Ariadne began her training with charlotte as her enemy. Their swords jingle. Holding back, swinging, trying to scratch the opponent's skin, and the most important point is to be able to drop the opponent's sword.
Ariadne's power is just as steady as charlotte's. Ariadne's movements are also remarkably swift and balanced. On several occasions Charlotte had also been rather shaken by Ariadne's strong hand.
They both dissolved in sword training. Sweat flooded into both of them. Of course Ariadne is now wearing a suit of protection. So Ariadne will not have a scratch, but may have been cut by a sword in the fingers or facial skin. That if exposed, if not exposed means Ariadne will not be injured.
***