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Chapter 11: Meeting with the Princes
The soft light of the late afternoon filtered through the tall windows of the palace as Aria, Ryan, and Princess Alice made their way back from the garden. The quiet walk had become more comfortable than it was earlier. Alice still hadn't said much, but there was a slight shift in her demeanor. After the brief moment of laughter in the garden, she seemed less stiff, though her responses remained cold and distant.
As they approached the palace doors, the sound of voices drifted down the hall. Aria exchanged a glance with Ryan. They stepped into the large sitting room where they had first met Queen Clarice. Two boys stood with her.
"Ah, there you are," Queen Clarice greeted warmly as they entered. "I'd like you to meet my sons."
The two boys turned toward them. The older one had dark brown hair and sharp blue eyes that flickered with curiosity. He carried himself with an air of confidence that made him seem older than his age. Beside him was his younger brother, with sandy blond hair and a more relaxed expression.
"This is my eldest son, Prince Lucas," Queen Clarice introduced, gesturing toward the older boy, "and my second son, Prince Eric."
Lucas stepped forward first, offering a polite bow. "It's a pleasure to meet you," he said in a steady voice. His eyes flicked briefly toward Ryan and Aria, his expression thoughtful. "I've heard a lot about the Alestra family."
Aria curtsied respectfully, feeling a bit nervous under his gaze. "The pleasure is ours, Your Highness." Ryan followed with a bow, his calmness never wavering.
Eric grinned, giving a quick, informal bow. "Great to meet you! I've heard about you, Ryan—especially how you could sense mana so young. That's really impressive."
Ryan blinked, surprised by the compliment, but nodded politely. "Thank you, Prince Eric. "
Lucas remained quiet for a moment, his eyes flicking between Aria and Ryan. "Sensing mana at two is rare," he said to Ryan. "Most people don't even come close to that. I was five when I first sensed it."
"I was five, too," Eric added eagerly. "Didn't it feel strange when you first sensed it?"
Ryan paused for a moment. "It felt different, but I had help. Aria helped me a lot when I was learning control."
Aria smiled slightly at the mention, grateful for the acknowledgment. "Ryan's always been determined. He picks things up quickly."
Lucas nodded thoughtfully. "That's a valuable trait."
Meanwhile, Alice stood silently beside them, her posture a little too stiff, her face expressionless. She glanced toward her brothers, her eyes briefly narrowing. It was clear that, despite being in the same room, she felt apart from them.
Queen Clarice smiled warmly and gestured for everyone to follow her. "Why don't we all sit together for dinner? Alena, please join us as well. We're so glad you'll be staying with us for a few days."
Alena, who had entered quietly behind them, smiled at her old friend. "Of course, Your Majesty. We are grateful for your hospitality."
Together, they made their way into the grand dining hall. The long table was already set with platters of food, and candles flickered softly in the center. Aria, Ryan, and Alice sat on one side, while Lucas and Eric took their seats across from them. Queen Clarice and Alena sat at the head of the table.
For a while, only the clinking of silverware filled the room as the meal began. Aria occasionally glanced at Alice, who was quietly picking at her food, clearly not comfortable with the situation. Lucas and Eric spoke quietly to one another, and Ryan, as usual, observed in silence.
Eventually, Lucas spoke, turning his attention toward Ryan. "I've heard many things about your excellent control of mana."
Ryan looked up from his plate and nodded. "Yes, I'm gifted in that area, but it's not as exaggerated as the rumors."
Lucas raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed. "That's no small feat. Most people struggle for years."
Eric, his eyes gleaming with interest, leaned in. "Yeah, I bet! When I first sensed mana, I didn't know what to do with it. Have you started focusing on a specific type yet?"
Ryan shook his head. "No, I've been focusing on control and basic techniques. I haven't chosen a path yet."
"That's smart," Lucas commented. "It's important to have a strong foundation."
Across the table, Alice sat quietly, her eyes downcast as her brothers praised Ryan. She knew this conversation well—talk of magic, talent, and potential. It was a language she couldn't speak. She hadn't even sensed mana yet. At seven years old, she already felt leagues behind her brothers—and now, behind Ryan and Aria, too.
Even Aria had sensed mana at five, and she was only nine. Alice pressed her lips together, feeling the familiar sting of inadequacy.
Sensing the tension, Aria glanced at Alice, trying to include her in the conversation. "Alice, do you like learning about magic?"
Alice's head jerked up slightly, her gray eyes narrowing. "I don't know," she said coldly, her voice cutting. "I haven't sensed mana yet."
The table fell silent for a moment, the atmosphere suddenly tense. Aria immediately regretted her question, her cheeks flushing. Before she could say anything else, Queen Clarice spoke up, her tone soothing.
"Alice will sense mana when the time is right," she said, smiling gently at her daughter. "There's no need to rush."
Aria nodded quickly, trying to smooth things over. "Of course. It's different for everyone."
Ryan, sensing the discomfort, added in a calm tone, "It's important to take things at your own pace."
Alice shot him a brief glance, her expression unreadable, but said nothing.
Lucas cleared his throat, breaking the silence. "Ryan's right. It's not a race. Everyone develops at their own pace." He glanced at Alice for a moment, his gaze softening, though he didn't say anything directly to her.
Eric, always eager to lighten the mood, grinned as he chimed in. "Yeah! When I first sensed mana, I got so excited that I tried casting a water spell. I ended up flooding part of the library!"
Lucas chuckled, clearly remembering the incident. "It was a mess. Mother was furious."
Eric laughed, not the least bit embarrassed. "It took a week to dry everything out."
The table relaxed as laughter spread through the room. Even Alice allowed a faint smile to flicker across her face, though it quickly disappeared.
Aria felt relieved. The tension had eased, and the conversation shifted to lighter topics. Alena and Queen Clarice shared stories from their own childhoods, while Lucas and Eric continued to swap tales about their magical mishaps. Even Ryan seemed to enjoy the back-and-forth.
Throughout the conversation, Alice remained mostly quiet, her expression guarded, though Aria noticed that she was listening closely. It wasn't hard to see how much she felt out of place. The praise her brothers received for their magical abilities only seemed to deepen the distance between them. Aria could relate in some small way—being compared to Ryan had always been difficult—but at least she could sense mana. Alice was still waiting.
By the time the meal drew to a close, Aria felt a new kind of sympathy for the princess. She might have appeared cold, but beneath that icy exterior was a girl who clearly felt like she didn't belong.
As the plates were cleared away, Queen Clarice smiled at her children and their guests. "It's been such a pleasure to have you all here tonight. I'm glad you'll be staying with us for the next few days. I think there's much you can learn from each other."
Alena nodded with a warm smile. "We are grateful for your hospitality. It's been a wonderful evening."
Lucas, now more relaxed, glanced at Aria and Ryan. "Maybe we could do some training together while you're here. It would be interesting to see how the Alestra family handles themselves in a sparring match."
Eric's face lit up. "Yeah! That'd be great. I'd love to spar with you, Ryan. I want to see your mana control techniques."
Ryan smiled softly. "That sounds fun. I'd like that too."
Aria, feeling her own competitive spirit rise, added, "I'd be happy to join, too."
Alice remained silent, watching the interaction with a distant expression. She seemed resigned to her role as an observer, even when it came to her own family.
As the conversation began to wind down, Alice quietly excused herself from the table, her head held high. Aria became a bit sad when she saw her like that, but she didn't know how to help her.
Suddenly, Aria felt someone holding her hand. She looked down and saw Ryan grasping her hand, his expression calm .
"Don't worry about her," Ryan said softly. "I think I can help her feel better."
"What...?" Aria looked at him doubtfully.
"Just leave it to me," Ryan replied confidently, standing up as the princes rose from their seats.
Aria hesitated but nodded, trusting her little brother, who always seemed able to handle things in his own way.
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