I might have been an abandoned princess but that doesn't mean that my palace was something to sneer at. After all, I had his Majesty to maintain his benevolent image, and the archducal family to maintain their pride appearances were something the nobles loved to keep.
After leaving me with the envoys I introduced myself shortly and started guiding them to my palace. They were technically my guests after all.
" I hope your journey wasn't too hard this way follow me, please" I started in the hopes of having a conversation. My conversational skills were quite lacking and the way to my Palace was far and I didn't want to be drowned in uncomfortable silence.
" Not at all your Highness, I won't say it was pleasant but it wasn't hard either after all the distance is not great and the roads are well paved, and with the usage to the gates we reached here in 5 days." replied the crown prince aide Caville who was very chatty.
Magic and its usage were very common in this continent it can be used by anyone as long as they have knowledge and mana, but it is strictly taught only to the nobility for them to regain over the commoners. Tools such as gates which were made to shorten the traveling distance were also made for the convenience of the high-ranking nobles and officials.
And every person had an affinity with a certain type of magic fire, water, wind, earth, light, and darkness. The rarest were light and darkness. His Majesty the Emperor had an affinity for water Magic which is highly valued in our kingdom that was nearly surrounded by water on most sides, while the empress was a rare light user. Crown Prince Derek had an affinity to water while the second princess had an affinity to both water and light. His Highness Issac had an affinity with fire, wind, and darkness which was quite rare he also had a large mana pool according to the rumors.
And from that person who called himself Zack Edwell, I could feel a small amount of mana. He was either carrying a magic tool or had a spell cast on him.
It was suspicious It felt like he was hiding something so I guided Caville Cronwell to his room first just to get more time to quench my curiosity about Mr Edwell.
"This will be your room please make yourself comfortable lunch will be served here for your convenience, and a servant will come to inform you about the start of the banquet, in addition to guiding you," I said
"Then where will my companion be staying if you mind me asking?" said Sir Cronwell
"His room is further down the hall and I will be guiding him there shortly there is no problem with that is there?" I asked.
There was an exchange of glances between him and Sir Edwell that I pretended not to notice and then he swiftly replied:
" No, thank you very much, your Highness see you at tonight's banquet" He replied and entered the room that was assigned to him.
Guest rooms were typically on the first floor and as I walked down the hall I turned to Sir Edwell and said: " This shall be your room a tour of the palace should be left for later though I don't think that it is needed" knowing fully well that they will be only here for two weeks and I shall be leaving with them knowing the layout of this palace will be useless as I have no way, nor intention to return here after leaving.
Before he could enter his room I interrupted him by placing my hand on the door handle he was so tall I had to strain my neck looking up at him my head reaching his chest. And he appeared well-muscled. I gestured for him to hunch down which admittedly was bold of me, but I couldn't help it.
He bowed a little and I approached him and whispered in his ear " Now would you like to join me for a cup of tea in the garden and explain the situation, your Highness or will I have to find out by my own means" I couldn't even help the playful smirk that played on my lips.
I stepped back and looked into his eyes only to find amusement and curiosity in them. By that, I knew my hunch was right.
I looked at the maid standing at a distance pretending she saw nothing and called for her.
"Prepare tea and snacks and bring them to the rose garden"
Sitting face to face I placed down my cup of tea and dismissed the maid.
"Now then your Highness Issac nice to meet you. Would you enlighten me as to why you are using such means to meet the woman who would be your wife?" I asked knowing full well no one was listening.
"I am more intrigued to know how discovered me. I thought I had good control over the transformation spell and the amount of mana leaking from me" he stated
"I thought you will pretend to be oblivious to what am talking about. Seeing as you easily told me you had no intention of keeping this from me from the start" I replied
" Answer me first" he demanded
" I see how about we play a game?" I asked while smiling.
"What are you on about?" he questioned
"Well both of us have questions and neither of us is inclined to answer so how about a game in which one asks a question, and the other has to answer truthfully and take turns? You can go first" I proposed
He looked at me as though he was looking at something absurd but promptly asked " How did you know?"
"Know what exactly?" I teased knowing fully well what he meant. I don't know what go into me it was the first time I was this playful with anyone at all. As he glared at me I giggled "I felt it was weird you were emitting faint mana and the Crown Prince that was supposed to be here is not, and when I guided you to your rooms earlier the glances between you and Sir Cronwell it was as though he was seeking permission. And lastly, you confirmed it yourself when I stopped you from entering the room it was a gamble on my part"
"So you baited me into exposing myself" he frowned
"You could say that. Now my turn to ask" I started he frowned but gruffly nodded his head.
"Why are you pulling this off? What do you gain from this?"