PREVIOUSLY
PREVIOUSLY
"That was a wonderful trip." I said cheerfully as I thought of what I should do next.
I snapped my fingers. "Ah! Let's go to my brother!" If they were training, then it would be the perfect time to go humiliate my dear brother some more. Oh, the look on his face when I first beat him with a simple fireball back in the days. I wonder what the tally was now, after how much I'd beat him in all the friendly duels.
"You just want to cause trouble for Prince Ivan," Meera sighed. "But, as you wish."
I clapped my hands and gave her a big smile. "To my brother we go!"
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We went around the palace towards our destination. The place was big of course, with tall walls right by the outside. There were quite a lot of guards walking around, wearing their armor. Perhaps that was supposed to be expected. But it seems they were only plain soldiers, I have yet to encounter a knight.
Ah, he must be playing with the knights.
I shook my head. Just as how I took after my mother in being an academic maniac in all fields of prana, my brother took after our father in being a muscle-head who loved his own muscles more than his duty. Seriously, if it weren't for mother being there, father would have already led the kingdom to disaster.
Now then, how should I play with the knights and my brother this time? Perhaps, I should play the cute and innocent act again this time? Surely, if they saw the usually aloof Crown Princess acting cute, they would protect me to the death even if a House-Head were to attack us right now. Yes, they will be very useful meatshields.
Since Elm left, and I'd been holed up in my room for a week, the world might have already forgotten the reason why I'd been known as a mischievous princess.
Some young soldiers passed by and halted in their tracks. Their eyes wide and mouth agape as they stared at me, captivation evident in their eyes. There was even a delay of their bow when I walked past them.
I guess the flower by my ear boosted my attractiveness.
But of course being super attractive had its downsides, I remember my mother used to scare me with stories of what happened to beautiful women when their homes were being pillaged or invaded. But then again, to be honest, this beauty of mine was terrifying, wasn't it? I mean, this level of beauty that puts other beautiful women to shame should be illegal.
Not for long, we arrived at the courtyard. I could hear the shouts of men as they delivered their strikes to the strawmen, and some to their sparring partner. Some men wore their knights' armor which had the color set of dark bluish and white. I should say, the design of their armor was cool. Well it should look cool, I was the one who ordered it to be like that when they came out.
Then, amidst all that, I saw my brother, Ivan, having a spar with a young knight. They were not wearing their armor, but rather plain clothing. Sweat beaded their brows and wet their hair. They breathed heavily as they grew tired from their activities.
I glanced at Mera, whose eyes were uneasy as she looked all around. A playful smile crept up on my face, of course masked in a sweet smile.
"If I may ask, Mera."
"Yes, Crown Princess?"
"There are quite a lot of good looking young lads around here, aren't there? So, which one do you think you'd prefer?"
She looked shocked by my question. "W-What are you talking about?"
"Hm~" I pointed to the curly-haired guy. "What do you say to the young man sparring with my brother?"
"Wh-Wh-" She looked towards what I was pointing at. "Um. . ."
"What is the matter? Come on, this is our little secret conversation."
"Um…" Mera looked like she was hesitating, but then began to speak. "... I think he looks handsome. Yes, he looks quite charming."
"Oh? Does the mere sight of him send your heart aflutter?"
Mera frantically looked at me. "What are you saying, Crown Princess? He may be charming, but that's only appearance-wise. Besides, I'm much too troubled looking after you, dear Crown Princess."
"Oh? So, he's not your type?"
"No."
"You don't sound sure."
"I am very much, sure."
". . . .I see."
I was a bit disappointed. This didn't end up like I imagined but at the very least, I got some sort of reaction from her so I did my job.
"What about you, Crown Princess?"
I was taken aback for a bit when Mera asked me. I didn't expect this. Oh? Finally striking a conversation back? Well well, that's good,
I had a delighted smile as I answered her. "You know I'm not-"
"Everyone knows how you fancy the Celestial Hero," Meera said, secretly rolling her eyes. "But, she isn't here and your father always inquires of your relationship. In his royal words, 'When will that daughter of mine find herself a husband?!'"
I rolled my eyes. "All the men my father tries to match me with are either cold-blooded jerks or hot-blooded muscled idiots. Can you guess who he favors more?"
"I much, much prefer a dashing golden-haired knight, with a holy sword that will fell all evil from this world, and ask for my hand from her galloping white steed!"
Meera stared at me with what I thought to be apathy, and traces of pity as well. "Well, be that as it may, Crown Princess, I think some of the men here are enamored by you."
I peered around. "Hm, wait. Wouldn't one be so lucky if a princess like me looked favorably at them?"
"Oh, I think they would be so happy that their life would be fulfilled if they realized that," she confidently said with a proud smile.
I gave the knights a wave, and they all seemed to be working out even more intensely than before. Ah, the male pride of wanting to show off one's hard work under female scrutiny.
"If only there were enough of me, for everyone. Then, the world would be a much better place," I sighed jokingly.
"Of course, only those worthy of you can win your heart, Crown Princess," Meera nodded her head.
I gave her a nod back. "Anyway, I believe it's time to go greet my brother." I said so, like a cute young girl eager to speak with her dearest brother.
We entered the courtyard as I pulled Mera by the hand. Several gazes immediately shifted to focus on us, causing Mera to become uneasy. They were all the eyes of men, and we were the only two women here, so I suppose it was to be expected she would be this way.
There were supposed to be a few female knights here. Where were they? Not here it seems.
The knights who saw me immediately stood up straight.
"Her highness, the Crown Princess Eliza!"