After a month, all the other refugees have left except for us because my body hasn't fully healed.
During this time, the princess enrolled Si in a school, saying that young kids should have a proper education.
Si was surprisingly bright in terms of learning. Teachers said he caught up to the materials very quickly. He was also able to make a lot of friends.
Ly Giai asked the princess to help her find a job. The princess asked what she could do and demonstrated her sewing skills. She brought Ly Giai to the royal seamstresses to demonstrate her work. They really liked her skills and eye for detail. So she was accepted to work with them.
As for me, it wasn't as smooth sailing compared to Ly Giai or Si. While I was healing, the princess suggested I go to the training camp and observe how her soldiers were training as a way to kill time. At first, I was afraid that the soldiers would know who I was and that I would be beaten up again. But after a few times showing up nervously while hiding my face, I realized they didn't recognize me. So I gained confidence day by day and eventually showed up with my bare face.
Besides that female soldier, all the others were men. I tried to memorize as much of their training routine as possible and secretly tried to imitate despite not being fully able to replicate them because of the injuries.
During the first few days, the female soldier directly told me to leave. Not because she realized I was Grass, but because she remembered me being disrespectful to the princess when she visited me. But when I told her that the princess allowed me to watch them, she had to accept it even though she clearly didn't want to.
Eventually, when the other soldiers saw how stubborn I was showing up every day, they slowly became friendly and welcomed me as one of their brothers. The female soldier was later sent somewhere far away for a mission. So I didn't have to bear her glaring anymore.
During a break in their rigorous training, the soldiers and I would gather together to chat about all kinds of stuff. One day, One of them curiously asked me, "What are you planning to do after your body is healed?".
"I don't know yet. I'm still trying to figure out what I want to do," I replied honestly.
One slapped on my back. "Don't stress yourself. Just try out different things here and there until you find something you like," he said.
"Ouch! That hurts," I complained. "On that said. Why did you all become the princess soldiers?" I asked, turning the conversation to another topic.
They all looked at each other, then pulled me in and whispered, "Have you seen the princess?" they asked.
"Yeah? And?" I was confused.
"Do you not see how ho… I mean... how charismatic she is?" They changed their words, but it was too late. I knew exactly what they meant.
"Oh? So you're telling me the reason all of you are here is to be able to see the princess every day?" I said cheekily.
They all nodded seriously. I smirked.
"Did you catch all that your Highness?" I said loudly.
All the soldiers tensed up and quickly got back to a formation. They then turned behind, expecting the royal highness, to see that no one was there. Seeing how they reacted, I was die laughing.
"Haha! Ouch! Wait! Stop!" They punched me while I was laughing. "Oh, your Highness!"
"Don't think you can fool us again," they said, thinking I was trying to fake again.
But I wasn't joking this time.
"What's happening here?" her voice was enough for the soldiers to know that they f*ked up.
They quickly reassembled in a formation nicely on the side. With the clear view, she saw I was lying flat on the ground. Standing up, I glanced to see them all nervous. Looking at the princess, I saw that she was wearing a regular dress now that she was not battling, a light purple dress. Even though it highlights her feminine side, it couldn't hide her aura as a charismatic leader. She stood confidently, with her back straight, and that was enough to command respect from anyone in her eyesight. Standing in awe at her presence, I could understand now why those men obediently became her soldiers.
"Did they bully you?" she asked nicely. Her voice was soothing yet full of authority.
Her words brought me back to reality. I quickly bowed my head, remembering the basic formality Ly Giai had taught me. "No, your Highness. We were just playing with each other," I replied as respectfully as I knew how to.
"That's good," she nodded and turned away. "Let's go for a walk," she said and went ahead.
I soon followed but felt a sense of threat behind my back. Looking behind, the threat aura came from the soldiers. They were jealous that I had the chance to be alone with the princess. I quietly turned back to the front and followed her.