At the riverside,
After the morning meeting, Duke Darwin had to go around the palace as he wasn't allowed to the Eastern Garden to reach his son.
From far, he saw a redhead lady leaping excitedly at the river bank.
"Yay… Master Darwin, I did it." Alora was delighted to run faster without losing her energy and covering a good distance.
Alora started addressing Arihan as a master but she had failed to bring a smile to his face. She never saw any kind of expression on his face other than a grumpy old man's look, as if she owed him a fortune.
Duke Darwin always witnessed ladies trying to flirt with his second son but his sharp gaze on them was enough to make them run with their tails between their legs.
Hence he was amused watching and hearing Alora. There exists a lady who could happily and fearlessly speak around Arihan. He had unawarely expected to see a meek or arrogant girl.
Recalling Little Alora who was bubbly, cheerful, and boisterous, Duke Darwin got the urge to believe she was the real Alora. After all, the royals have no reason to bring a random lady as their princess.
Arihan was expecting Alora to complain to her grandparents to change her tutor, unable to cope up with the intense training.
However, he was wrong. She was whining about exhaustion, complaining about not giving her a long break yet she would thank him at the end of the day and return to the palace.
To give her breathing space, he leisurely walked watching her bright smile for just taking the first step when she had numerous steps to climb.
But a flower caught her attention and she started running around and picking small flowers and vines. Without his awareness, his eyes followed her everywhere.
In no time, she prepared a beautiful floret. She was wearing it when all the petals of the flowers shredded off. As an anthophile, her eyes instinctively filled looking at the floret which looked like a coronet of thorns.
Duke Darwin: "..."
Why didn't he know his son was so insensitive?
Alora tried to hold back, she wasn't just sad but also angry. What was the mistake of those flowers? She glared at Arihan with a pout of her lips.
How could somebody be so stony-hearted?
Arihan was least bothered about her anger. He mocked her for preparing the floret and trying to wear it during training, "We aren't playing princess games here, Princess Alora." Princess Alora from his mouth sounds like a sneer as if she wasn't qualified for that name.
Alora threw the thorn coronet on his face and snapped at him, "Hell Master, if you have a problem with me, come at me. What had those flowers done to you?" She would have kept the floret away, there was no need to wither them.
'Hell Master!' Duke Darwin had a smile when he heard her. Somebody is courageous to voice their true thoughts on Arihan's face.
Arihan didn't care. He just waved his hand and the coronet fell aside before it could reach him.
furious with his arrogance and heartlessness, Alora grabbed the fallen branch and hurled it at him.
Arihan just lifted his finger, the branch fell aside. He looked at her provokingly. She couldn't hurt him with her puny strength.
Seeing him still unapologetic for the flowers, Alora grabbed a stone that filled her fist and lifted her hand to throw it at him.
Arihan was prepared, Duke was waiting while Alora tried to make her heart cold and throw the stone but couldn't bring herself to do so. She could never hurt anybody intentionally.
In the end, she threw the stone on the ground. She didn't want to see his face anymore.
Alora tried to run towards the palace when her eyes fell on Duke who cleared his throat, with his backhand in front of his mouth to hide his smile filled with mirth.
Arihan's expression returned to aloof and greeted his father, "Father."
Alora glanced at Arihan and easily deduced who the man was. Her hands naturally went to hold her skirt before realizing she was in trousers. She offered a bow, "Greetings to Duke Darwin. I am Alora Linwood Roosevelt." Keeping her emotions aside, she behaved as she should.
Duke merely nodded at his son and approached Alora. He had met all the princesses, there was something about Alora that makes one relaxed if the color of her hair and eyes were ignored.
'Her sincerity,' He concluded and bowed to her, "Your Highness, Princess Alora."
Arihan was approaching them to ask his father about his arrival but Duke lifted his fingers, stopping him right there. He wanted to see his son at first, but now he wanted to have a few words with Alora.
"If I may…" He extended both his hands for Alora.
The Darwins are most trusted by the monarchy. So Alora didn't fear and she also didn't see any kind of agitation or reluctance in him. She looked at her hands and curled her fingers, "My hands are soiled."
Duke wasn't just patient, he was calm and comfortable as if taking care of his daughter. He didn't mind her soil hands, however, she did seem uncomfortable. He removed a piece of fabric from his robe and extended his hand again.
Alora hesitantly placed her backhand on his palm and the duke wiped her palm. He repeated for her other hand under the surprised eyes of his son.
It wasn't new for Arihan to see his father being gentle and tending to a lady. Apart from his grandmother, and mother, little Alora, the redhead lady was the new one.
After wiping her delicate hands, Duke again asked for both of her hands "Mind if I check your powers?" He mentioned the reason for her.
Alora, who was giving her hands, paused. She didn't know the purpose before, but now, she wasn't sure if she should let him check.
Why does she have to prove to everyone?
Alora asked carefully with several thoughts in her mind, "Will you know if I am a witch?"
Arihan: "…"
She wasn't a witch, so why did she ask that question?
Duke promptly nodded, "I guess." He could read the power of a mage. If her power was something belonging to a witch, he could say that.
Instead of fearing him, Alora smiled with hope in her eyes. Duke Darwin was very respected and had a very reputed name in the nation. Even the throne doesn't take his words lightly. Thus she wished to get out of her never-ending questions about her birth and identity.
"Will that be enough to prove that I am not a witch?" She asked earnestly, yearning to hear the solution to her problem.
Both father and son were taken aback by her question and her desperate attempt to get away from the label of witch. But the reality was harsh.
Duke wished his words would have been enough but it wasn't enough and it's complicated. If he stands for her, both the royal family and Darwin will be in trouble.
As the main source of military strength to the nation, it was very important for them to stay out of such controversy so that soldiers don't lose hope in them. Or else the nation's security will be at risk.
Hence he couldn't always follow his will, "When the time comes, I will provide my support." He stayed neutral despite seeing her face fall.
Alora gave her hands and watched him close his eyes. After a good few seconds, he opened his eyes and smiled.
Duke initially felt nothing from her as if she was a mere human. However, she had a power he couldn't read or measure. "Your Highness, you are indeed special." He slowly let go of her hands.
'Special!?' Alora hated it more than being called a witch. "I wish I wasn't." Her voice filled with despair barely reached their ears. She just wanted to be normal, or just a commoner.
Sometimes she recalled Edur who had given her hope. She had discerned that finding her powers is what he meant by finding herself. And that would solve her problems.
But she was slowly losing hope of having any magical powers as it had been four days and she couldn't find her powers or solve his riddle.
Duke was confused by Alora's words. He meant in a good way, "Why do you think so, Your Highness?"
Alora smiled bleakly. Nobody could understand even if she explained, "I wouldn't have to prove my identity then." She nodded at him and walked away.
Why doesn't no one accept her as she was?
Duke realized his actions hurt Alora who didn't show it to him. His intention wasn't to check if she was a witch or mage. He was curious why her cultivation of power was so late.
He felt bad realizing his impulsiveness considering how she was always under the eyes of scrutiny.
Her training had just started for the day, "Princess Alora." Arihan grunted. That made her run towards the palace.
Arihan: "..."