The next morning, I had just finished carrying out my morning training and was about to head back to sleep when I remembered that I had a guest over. To be more precise, my fiancée. One that I definitely did not wish for.
Something about her unnerved me. And until I knew exactly what that was, I plan on keeping my distance from her and associating only when necessary.
But sadly, different people have different takes on the word necessary.
"Young master, the princess has requested your presence." Ars said from beyond the door and I groaned and picked myself of the bed.
"Tell her I'll be coming soon." I didn't hear a response but could see him nodding in my mind.
Ever since I revealed that I was a reincarnated person to my parents, I've been able to get a lot of freedom in the stuff I do.
I remember the first thing I did was dismissing all the servants in my room. Having them around when I was still a baby was fine and all, but after I made up my mind to do my training, they would only have gotten in my way.
And due to that, I had to take my bath alone and requested a small room to be built in as a shower. Though I still use the general bath occasionally.
Being the son of a noble is amazing.
Having idle thoughts like that, I got ready and checked myself in the full length mirror in the room and noticed my handsome and dashing self staring back at me.
Hair as white as snow with a lock of pink providing a bizarre contrast. Red eyes that resembled rubies with a little bit of mischievousness in them. Delicate facial features that could make me pass for a girl if I wore the right clothes.
Yep, I'm definitely handsome.
"Let's not keep her waiting." Opening the door, I said confidently and walked out the room.
...
"Look Sai. They're attacking me." I looked at the black haired girl that was currently frolicking with the butterflies in the garden with a pure and innocent smile and began to think what I saw yesterday was an illusion.
No, don't get caught up in her pace. This may all be an act to trick you.
Shaking my head, I reaffirmed my relative to not fall for that extremely cute smile Katarina was showing.
I don't know what motivations she may have, but knowing how awesome my magic is, she may be after it to participate in the battle for the throne.
You see that stuff happen all the time in novels and stuff.
"If she's trying to control me or something, it should most likely be through a type of magic or an artifact."
Artifacts. Tools that possess miraculous magical effects. Some of them are said to possess their own personalities and can choose their master.
"Sai! Come over here." My train of thought was interrupted my my fiancée who was currently tugging at my hand and pulled me up.
Well, trap or not, I guess I'll just enjoy this moment of frolicking with a pretty young girl.
And no, I'm not a lolicon.
...
"That was very much enjoyable." Katarina said as she washed her face with water from a faucet in the garden.
As for me, I was currently placing and arranging cups and plates for the next activity on our schedule, lunch.
For a princess, I guess Katarina can be surprisingly crude at times. Just earlier, she was playing around like an ordinary girl and she even washed her face and hands carelessly like she didn't care about her status at all.
"For a princess, you sure don't act like one." I remarked as I took a seat. Normally, that would have been considered rude but the princess has already ordered it so what could I do?
"I am Katarina before I am a princess. I refuse to do anything that is against my wishes." The girl in question said in a manner unfit for her age as she dried her hair with a towel.
"Besides, it's a tradition for a member of royalty to go on an adventure before their coming of age ceremony at eighteen. I wouldn't have the luxury of being a princess so it's natural I not fuss about some things." She continued and sat down opposite me.
I couldn't help but feel a small speck of admiration at the firm was and conviction in her voice and gave her a point in my head.
"While we're on the topic," she called out and I leaned forward subconsciously.
"... Are you interested on going on an adventure?" She asked with a mischievous smile and I found myself about to nod before stopping my jaw with my hand.
"You almost nodded there." And of course, she noticed my reaction and her eyes shone and judging from experience, that wasn't a good sign.
"No. Non. Nonononono." I repeated like a broken record and shook my head in denial.
"Aww, what's the harm." She leaned over the table and stared into my eyes.
"Why are you refusing so hard? Is there something reason you can't?" My heart skipped a beat at her questions and I tried my best to keep calm. On the surface at least.
"What might you be talking about? I just don't like putting myself in danger. I'm just a weak little healer you know." The look in her eyes became darker and she lowered her eyes slowly from my head to my abdomen and back.
"Please don't stare at me like that." I hugged myself and stared at her vigilantly and Katarina giggled.
"You aren't tricking me. I can see it. The muscles hidden under your cloth." Her voice suddenly became serious and I righted myself. This wasn't an intelligent child I was dealing with. This was a crafty, experienced negotiator.
"Fine. I have muscles. But that doesn't prove anything."
"A scar on your left shoulder. A bite mark on your left heel. A claw mark in the middle of you back."
My eyes widened at her words. All of the places she mentioned were,
"You got those wounds from battling monsters. And not just any random one. You are acknowledged as the person boasting the strongest healing ability in the entire world in the past thousand years since the demon king was defeated. A random wound won't leave a scar so the monster that attacked you most likely had some kind of unique magic or curse." I held my breath at her words. Everything. Every last bit of what she said was true. If there was something I needed to know, it was...
"How did I come about this information, you say? Most of it were guesses but judging from your reaction, it's the truth."
Is she reading my mind?
"A little. I'm mostly just making predicted guesses and a little bit of profiling with intuition."
"And what exactly do you plan to do with all that information?"I faked my calm and asked.
Katarina smirked and something about it irritated me and I frowned and sharpened my gaze.
"From the fact that you asked me that question, it seems that your parents aren't aware of it. I don't know what they would do if they found out."
Breath in, breath out. I started reciting numbers in my head to calm myself down. As her senior in life, it was my job to be the adult here and teach her that extortion is a bad thing. But...
"You really piss me off." I dropped the polite speech and cussed through gritted teeth. Katarina's smile increased and I felt something about to snap in front of me.
"Thank you. They say I have a talent." I sighed and gave up. It was my loss.
"So, why so you want to go on an adventure? Right here, right now?"