I opened my eyes as the soft light filtered through the room curtains, casting gentle shadows on the walls.
Is this my bedroom…?
Then a warm, slightly scratchy sensation pressed against me, holding me tight.
"Princess, you're awake!?" Anna's familiar voice filled with relief and disbelief, wrapped around me as she hugged me tightly. Her arms were shaking, and I could feel the wetness of her tears on my shoulder. "Thank goodness! Thank goodness!"
"O-Ouch!" I winced as sharp pain flared across my sore body.
"I-I'm sorry, Princess! I didn't mean to hurt you!" Anna gasped and immediately released me.
"Heh. That's alright."
She brushed her tears away quickly to regain his composure as I took in my surroundings.
"By the way, how did I end up here?"
"You fainted after sparring with Sir Owen."
"Oh yeah! My training! Did I pass?"
"Ugh… Forget about that, Princess!" Anna's clenched her fists. "That man! How dare he injure a princess like you!?"
Whoa. I had never seen Anna being outrageous like this before.
"I already heard the rumor about how tough he is, but to push a seven-year-old girl like you until collapsed on your first day… It's unforgivable! Oh, but I already give him a damn piece of my mind!"
I laughed, feeling amused yet touched by Anna's protectiveness.
My gentle nanny scolded a high-ranked knight like Owen? Just imagining that, makes the dull ache in my muscles feel almost worth it.
I moved to sit up and then noticed that even my body still throbbed, yet surprisingly, there was no visible wound left. "Wait… my injuries?"
"Well… After he brought you back here, Sir Owen called the palace healer to treat you." Anna's expression softened.
"He did…?" I blinked in surprise.
Anna nodded, though her mouth tightened slightly. "Yes. And you don't need to worry. He will take full responsibility for your recovery… Or I will report him to His Majesty!"
"You don't need to. His Majesty wouldn't care."
"Princess, you can't say something like that!"
"Oh, come on, Anna. Do you think my father would come to see me?" I asked while smiling cynically.
Anna's expression turned somber as she shook her head gently.
Of course. There is no fucking way that heartless king would spare even a thought for his daughter from a concubine like me. And I'm totally fine with it.
Then I noticed a small wreath of flowers carefully wrapped around my wrist.
"Huh? What's this?"
"Princess Chrisola made that for you. She was so worried when she heard what happened," Anna explained, her eyes softening.
"Did she cry?"
"Yes. She cried until she could barely breathe. She even insisted on staying with you here all night, Princess…" Anna responded with a sorrowful smile.
A twinge of warmth settled over me, coupled with a pang of guilt as I imagined my sweet little sister's tear-streaked face. She was only five, yet here she was, worrying herself sick over me.
After being reborn as Luna, I often thought of how absurd that the original Luna could despise Chrisola to the point of wanting to kill her. The thought seemed more deranged than anything else, especially when Chrisola had done nothing but shower me with kindness and affection.
"It looks like I have to invite her to play with me after my training tomorrow," I murmured while running my fingers over the delicate flower bracelet.
"You don't need to worry about any training tomorrow, Princess. After what happened today, Lady Shilien gave you a day off…" Anna gently brushed a stray strand of hair from my face. "You can spend the entire day with Princess Chrisola if you'd like."
What?? Shilien is letting me rest? Is this real, or just some kind of fevered dream?
"Now, try to get some more sleep. I'll stay right here with you." Anna smiled and pulled my blanket.
But I hesitated as an unexpected and rather childish thought crossed my mind. "Uhm… Anna?"
"Yes, Princess?" she asked, tilting her head slightly.
"I… I'm hungry. Can I have a glass of warm milk?"
Anna's face lit up with a chuckle. "Of course, Princess. I'll bring you your favorite chocolate cake too. Just a moment."
As Anna hurried off, I let myself relax. But then I felt a strange warmth radiating from my right palm. I looked down to see a red, ember-like design in the shape of a flame, now etched onto my skin, pulsating softly as if it were alive.
What the heck!?
"Is this…?"
***
Meanwhile, in the King's study…
The King's voice crackled with disbelief and irritation as he sat behind his massive desk, his steely gaze fixed on his knight.
"An EMBLEM? Emerging from a child as young as seven? What kind of nonsense is this, Owen!?"
"Yes, indeed, Your Majesty," Owen replied steadily. "I saw it with my own eyes…"
"Why be so shocked?" Seated elegantly on a velvet sofa, Shilien seemed unbothered by the conversation's tense air. With a sly smile, she flipped a strand of her silver hair over her shoulder. "Isn't it a testament to our daughter's exceptional talent, a clear sign that she carries your powerful lineage, Your Majesty?"
The king looked at her with a scornful look. But he didn't say anything and just kept tapping his fingers on the table.
"Should I start calling the Royal Magicians to help her develop her talent? Or would you prefer I teach her myself?" Shilien's gaze remained steady, and her smile deepened.
The King gave a dry laugh. "What could you teach her? Curses? Black magic? Poison-making?"
"Oh, Your Majesty… You wound me," Shilien chuckled softly, though her eyes flashed dangerously. "I would never teach such things to our precious daughter. At least… not without permission."
"With all due respect, Your Grace. No matter how strong her magical aptitude is, Princess Luna's physical strength and stamina are still weak. It's too early for her to delve into something like magic," Owen interjected.
The King nodded in agreement with Owen. "For now, let her focus on developing her physical strength and swordsmanship with Owen. As for magic… there's no need to rush."
"Very well… Then I entrust Luna completely to you, Sir Owen. For now…" Shilien said then stood up from her seat gracefully. "I'll take my leave, Your Majesty."
Once the woman left and the door closed behind her, Owen's face darkened. "Do you actually trust anything that woman says, Sire?"
"Of course not," the King scoffed, his eyes narrowing. "She'll undoubtedly act on her own, with or without my approval."
"But Princess Luna… She's something remarkable," Owen said thoughtfully, a faint smile on his lips.
The King looked at him curiously. "How so?"
"Her powers awakened not out of necessity but… out of anger. This reminds me of someone I once knew in his youth, doesn't it?" Owen replied, casting a playful glance at the King.
The King rolled his eyes at Owen's words. His fingers stilled on the desk, tapping it continuously as he leaned back. "A fire EMBLEM, huh? Now, that is intriguing..."
***
The next day…
I was playing games with Chrisola in my room. We laughed as we pieced together a puzzle. Meanwhile, Anna and Elly sat nearby. The nannies kept a watchful eye, yet looked pleased to see us enjoying ourselves.
Suddenly, a knock sounded on the door.
"Yes? Who is it?" I asked, looking up to the entrance.
"It's me, Princess," Owen's voice called through the door.
Ugh! What does he want? Don't tell me he's going to ruin my day off by dragging me into sword training again?
"Yes, come in," I replied calmly, trying to hide my irritation.
The door opened and Owen stepped in with his composed and unreadable expression like yesterday.
"Good morning, Princess Luna. Princess Chrisola," he bowed slightly, greeting us politely.
"Good morning, Sir Owen," Chrisola chimed, her voice as bright as ever.
"How are you feeling, Princess Luna?"
"Better than yesterday," I replied with a hint of sarcasm. "To what do we owe the pleasure?"
Owen's eyes held a glint of amusement as he approached me. "His Majesty the King requests your presence for tea in the palace garden this afternoon, Princess Luna."
Huh? Did I hear him correctly? The King? That wretched old man wanted to have tea… with me??
"Can Chrisola come, too?" my sister asked hopefully while tugging on my sleeve.
"Of course, Princess Chrisola. His Majesty would be delighted," Owen replied smoothly.
"Yay! Tea with Sister and Father! It'll be so much fun!" the innocent five-year-old girl squealed, clapping her hands together.
But somehow, I couldn't shake a feeling of unease as a quiet instinct warned me that this invitation was anything but casual…