Chapter 4:
Abigail's P.O.V
Abigail walked through the castle halls, her hands steady as she carried a silver tray of breakfast and a steaming cup of milk tea. A faint, unseen smile graced her lips as her thoughts wandered.
I've always prided myself on being diligent and hard-working, but when I was assigned as Lord Jayden's personal maid five years ago, I was understandably shocked. The stories I'd heard about him were... unsettling. While I never believed the wild rumors, I was skeptical. But as I cared for him, I realized just how misunderstood he truly is. Even at age five, he was brilliant—far beyond his years. He could comprehend things children his age shouldn't even grasp.
Her footsteps echoed softly in the empty corridor as she made her way toward the training field. The morning sun streamed through the windows, casting long shadows across the stone floor.
It didn't take long for her to reach the abandoned training field, a quiet, secluded area that Jayden often used. As she arrived, she paused, watching from a distance as Jayden sparred with Lady Celina.
Jayden's movements were calculated and sharp, each swing of his wooden sword brimming with raw determination. Opposite him, Celina moved with equal intensity, her fluid motions resembling a dance. Their wooden swords clashed, the dull thud of wood meeting wood reverberating across the field.
Celina lunged forward, aiming a thrust toward Jayden's midsection. Jayden sidestepped, countering with a swift horizontal strike aimed at her shoulder. Celina ducked beneath the blow, spinning gracefully as she brought her sword upward in a sharp arc. Jayden blocked it just in time, their swords locking together as they both pushed against the other's strength.
"Your reflexes are sharp, but your defense is too predictable," Celina remarked, a small smirk on her face.
Jayden narrowed his eyes, shifting his weight and breaking the lock with a sudden shove. "And your footwork is too showy. You leave yourself open to sweeps," he countered, sweeping his leg out toward her feet.
Celina jumped back to avoid the maneuver, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "I'll take that under advisement, Demon Prince."
They continued exchanging blows, neither giving an inch. Abigail stood watching from a distance, her smile growing slightly.
Since Lady Celina joined Lord Jayden in his training, this is the first time I've seen him so... content? Happy? I'm not sure, but he looks like he's enjoying himself.
Her soft smile turned warmer. Normally, Lord Jayden is so guarded—neutral and cold to everyone around him. But now, he looks more like a child his age, unburdened, if only for a moment.
Gathering herself, Abigail approached the sparring duo, her neutral expression slipping back into place. As she got closer, Jayden and Celina noticed her and immediately stopped their sparring, stepping apart.
"Lord Jayden, Lady Celina, the breakfast you requested," Abigail said with her usual composed tone, bowing slightly.
Jayden wiped sweat from his brow with a cloth and nodded. "Thank you, Abigail."
Celina also wiped her face with a delicate handkerchief. "Thank you, Miss Abigail."
Abigail inclined her head, carrying the tray to a nearby table with two chairs. She set the tray down and began arranging the meal, removing the covers from their plates and pouring them each a cup of tea. Jayden and Celina followed her, taking their seats at the table.
"Thank you," they said in unison before digging into their meal.
Jayden sipped his tea, his expression thoughtful. "So, Celina, let's review the spar."
Celina picked up a piece of toast, nibbling on the edge. "Let's start with the obvious. Your thrust needs work. Your stance is too rigid, and your feet are too close together. It's throwing off your balance," she said, pausing to take another bite.
Jayden hummed in agreement, setting down his teacup. "Fair. But your downward slashes leave you wide open for counterattacks. You saw how I exploited that during the match."
Celina nodded, brushing crumbs off her lap. "You're right. I need to work on closing those gaps."
Abigail stood silently to the side, watching as the two critiqued their sparring techniques with an ease and familiarity that was rare in Jayden's interactions. It was... refreshing.
He's actually engaging with someone, sharing a moment of camaraderie. I've never seen him like this before.
As breakfast concluded, Jayden and Celina stood, their wooden swords in hand. They walked back to the center of the training field, retaking their positions.
"Let's commence round two," Jayden said, his tone confident.
Celina smirked, lowering into her stance. "Yes, let's."
Abigail stayed nearby, quietly gathering the empty tray. However, as she prepared to leave, she noticed someone lingering at the far edge of the training field. Her heart skipped a beat when she recognized Liana. The young princess stood in the shadows, her piercing blue eyes fixed on Jayden and Celina with a calculating gaze.
Why is she watching them? Abigail wondered, her instincts stirring. Liana was clever, too clever for her age, and her presence here was unlikely to be coincidental.
With a subtle glance back at Jayden, Abigail resolved to keep this observation to herself. For now.
Later that afternoon, Jayden, now cleaned up and dressed in fresh clothes, made his way to the castle library. Abigail followed closely behind him, carrying a tray with a teapot and a cup atop it. They moved through the winding rows of bookshelves until they reached the forbidden section of the library.
Once they arrived, Jayden took his usual seat behind the large wooden desk. Abigail, ever diligent, placed the tray neatly on the table before heading to the shelves. She retrieved a small stack of books and carefully set them on the desk in front of him. With practiced grace, she poured a cup of tea and placed it within his reach.
"Thank you, Abigail," Jayden said, glancing at her briefly.
"Lord Jayden, if I may," Abigail began hesitantly, "you've been visiting this section of the library often. Are you studying... magic?"
Jayden paused, his expression unreadable as he set down the book he had just picked up. "That's none of your concern, Abigail."
Abigail bowed her head immediately. "Of course, my lord. My apologies."
"Take the rest of the night off," Jayden said after a moment, his tone softening slightly.
Abigail blinked, caught off guard by the dismissal. "Are you sure, Lord Jayden?"
"Yes, I am." Jayden's tone was calm but firm, leaving no room for protest.
Abigail hesitated before bowing deeply. "Thank you for your generosity, Lord Jayden."
As she left the library, she cast one last glance at the forbidden section, curiosity flickering in her chest. His studies in magic have progressed a great deal. But why won't he trust me with it?
Abigail watched as a faint white aura was being emitted from Jayden's body.
Once alone, Jayden exhaled deeply, letting the stillness of the library envelop him. He reached for the first book in the stack, its leather cover worn with age.
"Alright, time to resume mana activation training," he muttered to himself, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "I really need to come up with a better name for this process."
Chapter 4: End