A P H I A
"It's good they let you wear trousers this time," Aloisia commented while looking at me from head to toe the moment we descend.
My attendant lets me wear this kind of clothes every time I have scheduled combat training with Prince Kalmin. I am wearing a white Victorian blouse vintage-lotus-ruffled-long sleeve shirt, skinny chocolate brown pants, partnered with knee-high light brown boots. My attendant arranged my hair in a messy bun.
"You look gorgeous on your outfit!" She exclaimed, and I suddenly felt embarrassed. "Your golden bow and arrow look good on you too! You look like a warrior princess!"
A warrior princess?!
"Stop it. I'm sweaty, and my hair is a mess." I said while chuckling awkwardly.
"I agree." I froze when Prince Kalmin sniffed my hair. "You smell like Eeshaan after a long day of training." He commented, and I threw him a death glare.
"The insult is coming from a prince whose clothes are full of holes," I said before smirking. He looks at himself before sending me a death glare.
"I will make sure your arrow flame won't have a chance to touch me next time." He warned, and I chuckled at him. "What's funny?!"
I pat his shoulder and give him a teasing smile. "Good luck, master. I think your student might surpass you next time." I said before running to hide behind Aloisia.
I know he will snap anytime soon.
"Aphia!" Shit!
"I was just kidding!" I shouted. "I'm tired already! I don't want to fight you anymore!"
"You two are so childish," Aloisia commented.
"It's her/his fault!" Prince Kalmin and I said at the same time. We send each other a death glare.
"That's enough," Howard said, clapping his hands to catch our attention. "We are here to thank the two of you for helping our Orders." He said.
"What?" I asked.
"We prepared a simple dinner for all of us," Elbrus announced.
"It is Clovis's idea," Gunther said. "He wants to thank Lady Aphia for saving him." He said while looking strangely at Clovis.
"I would like to formally thank you for saving me and our knights, Aphia." He said while looking intently at me.
I gulped before smiling at him. "You and the knights thanked me enough," I said.
Gosh! Why do I feel nervous every time Clovis is around?!
"Clovis prepared it for you, so you better be thankful." Prince Kalmin said, and I rolled my eyes at him in annoyance.
"Great! Let's go! It's at the Chateau de Arcovia!" Howard shouted in excitement, and they all looked at me, waiting for my answer.
"Alright. I'll go." I said, and then Elbrus, Howard, and Aloisia shouted. These three always have the same energy level.
Gunther pats Clovis's shoulder before following Elbrus, Howard, and Aloisia going to the Chateau de Arcovia. Clovis smiles at me, and I smile back. Gosh! His admirers will shriek with happiness if they see that kind of smile.
Prince Kalmin suddenly clears his throat, catching my attention. "What?" I asked as I looked at his palm.
"Hand over your bow, arrows, and quiver." He commanded, and I looked at him in confusion.
"You already gave it to me, right?" I looked at him suspiciously. He flicks my forehead, and I wince. "Aww! It hurts!" I shouted while massaging my forehead.
"You don't have to look at me like that!" He snapped. "It's yours, but my attendant will take care of it." He explained, and I nodded.
"You should have told me sooner! You don't have to flick my forehead, you know." I complained while handing over my bow, arrows, and quiver. His attendant takes it from him together with his sword.
"Prince Kalmin, Aphia, let's go before they eat all the food," Clovis said, and we followed him going to Chateau de Arcovia.
I caressed my stomach when I heard it growl. I suddenly felt hungry while wondering what Clovis had prepared for us.
"Your stomach is as noisy as you." Prince Kalmin said. We are walking side by side, and I don't know he wants to walk beside me.
"I was using so much energy since I started my training with you, your highness," I said sarcastically. "I need a heavy meal," I said.
"I instructed your attendant to give you healthy food, but I will let it pass this time. You can eat whatever you want tonight." He announced, and I looked at him in surprise.
I did not know that he was concerned about my health. It's the reason why my attendant prepares fruits, vegetables, and fish for my every meal. I hate it because I want meat and sweets!
"Do not try to kill me in your imagination because you can't still win against me." He purses his mouth in a self-satisfied smirk, and the smugness on his face is as irritating as hell.
"I will definitely win against you one of these days," I announced while looking intently at him.
"I won't allow it to happen." He answered.
"Oh! For heaven's sake, you two haven't stopped yet?" Aloisia exclaimed, and we quickly stopped bickering. I am not aware that we have already reached the garden, and all of them has started eating without us.
"Come on! Dig in!" Howard yelled while holding a grilled chicken leg. Gosh! I want that one too! The long table is full of mouth-watering food, and I can see grilled and fried meat!
"Stop drooling. It's disgusting." Prince Kalmin said, and I quickly wiped the side of my mouth. What the hell?! I am not drooling! The prince instantly cracks up while holding his stomach. His laughter is loud enough to catch the attention of the commanders and the knights that are passing by.
In my anger, I use my magic to get even. "Inferno!" I uttered, and a blue flame surrounded his spot.
"What on earth, Aphia!" He quickly stopped laughing. It's a perfect circle and the prince is in the center. The height of the flame is as high as his waist. I smirked.
"Woah!" I heard Elbrus and Howard react.
"What are you two doing?" That cute voice caught my attention, and my smile widened after seeing Esmeray and Eeshaan walking towards us.
I meet them halfway and embrace them together at once. "I missed you both!" I exclaimed.
"We miss you too, Aphia!" They shouted before hugging me back while giggling.
"Aphia! Get rid of this flame first!" He commanded. I know he can't use his water elemental magic in that kind of flame. He cannot extinguish it that easily because I make it stronger than before.
I snap my finger, and the flame suddenly vanishes. "I hate you." He said with greeted teeth.
"The feeling is always mutual," I said before sticking my tongue out.
Esmeray and Eeshaan laugh at us. "We always find your fight a funny thing to watch," Eeshaan said.
"It's not funny." Prince Kalmin said with an annoyed facial expression.
"It is! We love seeing you together!" Esmeray said that give me goosebumps.
"Are you two drunk?!" I groaned in annoyance, and they both laughed.
The twins told me that they were busy with their studies and training. They gave me an invitation for their birthday next month, and I gladly accepted it.
I invited them to eat with us, but they rejected my invitation. The twins just waved their hands at Clovis before returning to the castle. "They are not sociable." Prince Kalmin said while we were both looking at the twins. "They hate crowds." He added.
"I see. But what about Clovis?" I asked. The twins seem close to him.
"Clovis is our cousin." Wow. I did not know that! "Your face shows you did not know." He commented, and I nodded. "The king and Clovis's mother are siblings. Our aunt married the duke." Oh! So, Clovis is a royal blooded noble! I have no idea. "Clovis is the closest relative to our twins."
"So, what about their birthday celebration? I thought they hate crowds?" I asked while looking at the invitation. I wonder if they wrote the letters using a quill.
"They invited a few relatives and you." He said, and I felt honored.
"I am happy they invited me," I said while smiling. It means the twins consider me one of their closest people to them, right?
"You know what. I really wonder why my siblings invited you." And just like that, he crushed my self-admiration.
"You--!" He ran before I could reach him. He is even laughing, for Pete's sake! "Get back here!" I used wind elemental magic to catch up to him, but someone stopped me from chasing after the annoying prince.
"Lady Aphia, eat!" Aloisia said while glaring at me. I chuckled nervously at her.
"Yes, ma'am!" I shouted as I saluted at her before walking towards the long table.
Prince Kalmin and I are sitting across from each other. We are eating silently while sending a death glare to each other.
"His highness and Lady Aphia seem very close, aren't they?" Gunther said, and we both looked at him in annoyance.
"No!" We both said at the same time, and they looked at us in surprise. "We hate each other!" We both shouted again simultaneously, and this time they looked at us in a straight face.
I pour all the remaining energy into my body to eat all the food in front of me instead of bickering with Prince Kalmin.
"Lady Aphia, Clovis has something to ask you," Gunther said while smiling at me. A kind of smile that gives me shivers.
Clovis looks at Gunther angrily, and Gunther chuckles at him. "What is it?" I asked Clovis.
"When is your day off?" Clovis asked after a few seconds of hesitation. "Would you like to come with me to the central city?" Gunther and Aloisia shrieked while Howard, Elbrus, and I gave him a questionable look. What is he saying? Is he asking me on a date?! No freaking way! It's impossible. Probably he only wants a companion.
Well, speaking of the day off, I suddenly feel chills all over my body as I sense someone is sending me a creepy smile and smug look. I slowly divert my eyes towards Prince Kalmin, and I startle after seeing his facial expression. "What the hell?!" I exclaimed.