A week has passed. My wounds were fully healed, so the three of us busied ourselves packing up our belongings early in the morning, about to leave. With the help of the princess's connections, Ly Giai was able to rent a place for us that was affordable.
The day we were leaving, the princess wasn't away from her daily court duty. As we packed up our things, she watched us quietly. Opposite to how normally I see her, always having a fierce, unshakable look, that moment, her eyes show signs of vulnerability. I guessed she was saddened and felt lonely to see us leaving. But it was strange, we hadn't been at her residence for long, only about two weeks. Aside from regular visits from Si, the princess barely talked to me or Ly Gia the entire time. Then why did she look like saying goodbye to childhood friends?
Perhaps the princess was too lonely? That our minimum interactions were enough to find her?
She watched us packing our stuff and walked with us to the front door. With her, some of the soldiers I have befriended also came to see us off.
"I have a small gift for each of you," the princess announced, her voice was soft and endearing, showing us genuine affection.
Si's eyes sparkled with curiosity and excitement. "Oh! What is it?" Si asked.
The princess kneed to meet his gaze. "Take your hand out and close your eyes," she instructed.
He immediately did as she said. It was quite cute seeing him so obedient.
With a tender smile, she placed a mysterious object on his palm. "You can open your eyes now," she gently told him.
Si's eyes slowly opened to see what he was given. He scratched his head. "A wooden box?" he asked.
"Open it," the princess encouraged.
"Woah! Brush pens!" he excitedly said.
Inside were two brush pens. There was no need to say, they looked precious. The bodies are made of rare marble. The brush itself was very shiny, it was made of healthy and beautiful hair.
"My friends at school will be jealous when I show them these!" Si chuckled. He was probably imagining the scene of all the other kids surrounding him in awe.
"Si. What do you say when someone gives you a gift," Ly Giai also kneeled down and gently reminded him.
"Ah! Sorry, I forgot. Thank you very much!" he crossed his hands and bowed.
The princess couldn't help herself but lightly laughed at his cuteness. She patted his head. "Such a good kid. I wish the royal family had a child like you," she mused with wistfulness in her words.
Ly Giai, also noticed how down the princess's mood was, proposed, "If you don't mind Your Highness, can Si visit you from time to time?"
Hearing that, her face brightened a bit. She patted Si's head daringly. Her voice was so soft and yearning, "Yes. Come visit me whenever you have time. Anyone of you can."
She then stood up and turned her attention to Ly Giai. "You too, take out your hand."
Ly Giai raised her body and put out her hand as instructed. The princess then placed a badge on her palm. It was made of orange jade, with the shape of a rising phoenix carved on top and some words at the bottom.
"This is my badge. Whenever you need help, use this," she said.
I glanced at the badge and caught myself having to read the words on it twice.
[Great General And Crown Princess Sa Mi]
"GREAT GENERAL!?" I almost fell when reading the badge. "Aren't only men allowed to be generals? Not only that, Great General? This means she oversees the army of the whole nation of Sa." I sweated thinking about this in my head.
But that wasn't all. Crown Princess meant that she would be the next King, no, Empress of Sa. Something that had never happened in the history of Sa. What did she do and accomplish to get to this?
Just then I realized, that standing in front of us, was someone who would leave their name in history. And because of that, I was having a panic attack internally.
"T… Thank you, princess. W… We have received so much of your help but couldn't return anything," Ly Giai replied. She was probably just as shocked as me when received that badge.
Sensing the pressure that both of us were feeling, Princess Sa Mi lightened the mood. "What can you possibly return? I have all the money and power one could wish for," she half-joked. "Anyway, it's time for you to go," she grabbed Ly Giai's and Si's hands as we walked to the front gate.
We walked outside the mansion and the gates were closing, but I kept having a feeling of missing something.
"Wait!" I told the servants that were closing the gates. "Your Highness, they all have a gift. What about me?" I complained.
I could see her smirking, "Took you this long to realize. I was about to think you are an idiot."
"He is," Si immediately joined in.
"Hey!" I played along.
"Alright. Calm down. Here," she handed me something sharp.
"A dagger?" I uttered. A black dagger, with a handle that was perfectly fit for me to hold. The blade was also black. It was durable and extremely sharp, cutting through paper with ease.
Princess Sa Mi nodded. "Far more practical than the kitchen knife you are having and easier to conceal. Keep it close."
"That is very thoughtful of you. Thanks," I said.
"Good to hear," she smiled. "So, that is everything," the princess said. She then looked at me with hidden intent, "Remember to keep it close to you." I nodded. "Close the gates," she told the servants. As the gates shut, we saw the image of her back return to, once again, the cold and lonely mansion.