I soon spotted a boy standing by a tree, his movements are sharp and precise as he practiced with a sword. He was wearing a black suit, resembling that of a knight, and dark blue eyes gleamed with a cold, distant intensity. His hair was as dark as the night sky, falling in untamed waves that framed his expressionless face. He swung his refined blade with deadly grace, striking the tree again and again. Despite his intense focus, there was no flicker of emotion in his eyes, just emptiness, a dullness that seemed unnatural for one so young.
"Who is this kid? Is he a knight? At such young age?" I muttered to myself, observing him from behind a bush. "Well… I guess that is possible in this stranger fantasy world I have ended up in."
I shrugged it off, but something about his emotionless demeanor unsettled me. How could a child be so… void of feeling? There was a haunting quality to his stillness. Was he forced into knight training? Perhaps trained by the higher rank royal knights and pushed into a life of duty with no room for childhood. My heart tugged with sympathy, and I wondered how someone so young could bear such an isolated existence.
Then, a thought struck me…
"that's it." I whispered, my eyes lighting up with sudden excitement. "He could teach me how to use a sword! If he can, I would not have to keep struggling with all these magic books that only give me headaches."
The idea made me smile. I had always wanted to learn to fight, to protect myself in this strange world. But before I could act on it, I took a small step back, only to accidentally step on a branch, causing it to snap underfoot. The sound startled me, and I froze, looking up with wide eyes.
To my shock, the boy was gone.
"Huh? Where did he go?" I whispered, my mind racing to process what had just happened. I hadn't seen him move, hadn't even heard him leave. Had I imagined it? was I seeing things?
Before I could finish my thoughts, a cold voice rang out behind me.
"Who are you?"
The voice sent a jolt of terror through my body. I whipped around; my breath caught in my throat. There, standing just inches away, was the boy. his sword was already raised, its sharp edge aimed at my neck. I stumbled backward in surprise, falling onto the dry, leady ground.
How? How did he get behind me so quickly?! My heart pounded in my chest, and I could not help but tremble. Sweat beaded on my forehead as my legs shook uncontrollably.
What did I do? How could I be so foolish? I cursed myself internally. I should never have let my guard down.
The boy's gaze was unwavering, his eyes cold and unblinking, as if studying me like a prey animal. his sword remained poised, and his expression gave nothing away. The weight of the moment pressed heavily on my chest, and I could barely bring myself to speak.
"Speak," he said, his voice cold as ice. "Or else I'll cut your tongue off."
His words made my heart skip a beat. My throat felt tight, and I could not seem to form a single word. I swallowed hard, my mind racing, but my body refused to obey. I just stared at him, frozen in place, my hands trembling at my sides. My dress was now dirty, the hem torn from my fall. I clutched it tightly, my knuckles white from the strain.
Then, something strange happened. The boy's cold eyes softened for a fraction of a second. His lips parted slightly, and his sword dropped to the ground with a clatter. He suddenly kneeled in front of me, lowering his head in an almost deferential gesture.
"I apologize for shamelessly drawing my sword at you, your highness," he said, his voice now softer, though still monotone. His words were formal, his posture rigid. Yet his expression remained dull yet respectful.
I blinked, completely caught off guard. "o-oh so you recognize me that quick?" I asked along with a soft chuckle, my voice still trembles with fear that left earlier. He probably recognizes me by my eyes and hair color. That is quite a relief!
I sighed and relaxed a little.
"I was wrong for not recognizing her highness immediately," he continued, his head bowed lower. "It is a grace offense against the law, and I shall fully accept any kind of execution as my punishment."
Execution? The word hung in the air like a heavy weight, and I could not help but laugh, though the nervous tremor in my voice was undeniable. "Execution? That is ridiculous. Its just a mere mistake, nothing to take so seriously"
I gave a nervous chuckle, though I felt my heart pounding in my chest. A cold sweat trickled down my back. 'Right… no big deal. I could have died if he had not noticed I am a princess' I thought to myself, still unsure what to make of the situation.
The boy, still kneeling, looked up at me with a mixture of disbelief and guilt. "How dare I, a mere knight, even stand before the princess of the empire? I do not deserve such a thing, let alone drawing my sword against you. I deserve to be executed for my offense."
I shook my head. Still baffled. "You don't need to go that far, "I said, trying to ease the tension, though my voice wavered. I tried to steady myself. The boy's reaction was so extreme, so over the top, that I could hardly think what to say or do at this moment.
I cleared my throat and stood up, brushing the dirt from my dress as I did so. But then, an idea struck me, one that felt both daring and bit mischievous.
"What if…" I began, as sly grin creeping onto my face, "You teach me how to use a sword? That could be your punishment for drawing your sword on me. Of course, lets keep it between us, alright?"
The boy, still kneeling before me, looked up with those cold, emotionless eyes. For a long moment, he did not say anything. Instead, he seemed lost in thought, his gaze drifting down as if contemplating my proposal. The silence stretched on, making me second-guess myself for a brief moment. Was he going to reject me? Was I asking too much?
But then, to my surprise, he spoke.
"If it is the princess's request, then I shall obey."
I blinked in shock, my heart racing. That was easier than I thought! I had braced myself for a few moments of begging, or maybe even rejection, but this boy seemed to have no hesitation at all. His response was so automatic, so devoid of emotion, that it only served to make the situation feel even more surreal.
A smile slowly spread across my face as I felt a wave of triumph. "Perfect! Its settled then!" I said, trying to hide my excitement, though I could feel it bubbling up inside me.
"I am Lyunette, the youngest child of the emperor," I introduced myself, offering him a polite bow of my own.
"Theodore," the boy replied, his voice flat but respectful. "I am Theodore, a knight."
"Nice to meet you, Theo!" I said, the excitement bubbling through my words. "I'll do my best to learn from you!!"
Theodore didn't react much to my exuberance, his face still unreadable as he bowed in acknowledgement.
"And I will do my best to teach her highness," he said in a voice that was as stiff and emotionless as ever.
I grinned, feeling like I had just won a small victory. This was a start, after all. I had no idea what kind of knight he was or how skilled he was in teaching, but the thought of learning from him filled me with anticipation. I knew this would be a challenge, maybe more than I realized, but for the first time since I arrived in this strange world, I felt a spark of hope.
I could still feel my legs trembling, the aftershocks of the fear I had just experienced still pulsing through my body. who wouldn't, right? Id almost died by the hand of this emotionless brat!!
The way he had drawn that sword on my neck, cold and calculated, brought back memories of my worst nightmares. I shuddered, a cold sweat prickling down my spine.
Ugh, just thinking about it made my stomach churn. I could feel the tension in my body, and I could almost hear my own thoughts mocking me. What if I had actually peed my pants? That would have been so embarrassing, especially with Theodore, this stoic kid, standing there.
How would the servants react? How could I face them if I was just a frightened little girl, so terrified I couldn't even control myself?
I shook my head, trying to brush the thought aside. No, that was not going to happen. I'm not a little girl anymore.
"Can we start tomorrow, then? Same place, same time?" I asked, trying to act as normal as possible. Theodore just nodded; his movement stiff as he gave me another bow. His formality was over the top. He was like a trained dog, obedient without question. I could not help but wonder what kind of life he had, growing up without a sense of freedom or joy. Whoever had forced him into this rigid existence… they were a total jerk.
"See you tomorrow then," I said, my voice carrying a small edge of finality. "I expect you to be here."
I didn't wait for a reply. I already knew he would not respond the way a normal person would. Instead, I turned and walked away, my heart still pounding from the earlier ordeal.
I needed to calm down.
I went back to the spot under the huge old tree where I had left my book, picking it up with trembling hands. The sunlight filtering through the branches was calming, but my mind would not quiet itself. The encounter with Theodore, the sudden terror, all of it kept replaying in my head. I had to remind myself to breath, to focus.
When I finally made my way back to my room, I was greeted by the usual bustle. Amy and the other maids were there, busy cleaning and tidying up the room. As soon as they noticed me, Amy immediately kneeled down, concern filling her face.
"Your highness, I've been looking for you everywhere," she began, but before she could finish my legs gave way beneath me. I stu7mbled, and before I knew it, I was falling into her arms. The weakness in my legs was overwhelming, and I felt like my body just couldn't take it anymore.
The maids immediately become alarmed, their faces full of worry. They rushed to ready my things for bed, helping me sit down and adjusting my pillows. Amy's face was full of concern as she looked me over, her eyes filled with questions.
"what's wrong, princess?" she asked, her voice trembling with worry.
I could not help but let out a sigh. They are all so over dramatic, they act like I am about to die. "I'm just tired. I ran around earlier, playing tag with the butterfly." I lied.
The maids seemed to accept my excuse, though they were still hovering around me, fussing over every little detail. I could tell they were not completely convinced, but they did not press any further.
Still, as I lay back in my bed, exhaustion starting to take over. Amy stares at me worriedly and place a blanket over me.
"take a nap, ill wake you up later for dinner," Amy said, her gentle hands adjusting the blanket around me.
I watched her stand up and begin walking towards the door, her footsteps soft as she moved with grace. The other maids followed suit, leaving me alone in my room, likely so I could have some peace and quiet. But just as Amy was about to leave, she paused by the door.
Her voice, though quiet, cut through the stillness. "Be careful around knights, princess."
I blinked, unsure if id heard her correctly. She turned to me with a warm smile, but there was something about the way she said it, so deliberate and heavy with meaning.
"They are not as kind as you think they can be," she continued, her expression suddenly more serious, despite the smile. then, without another word, she turned and walked out, leaving the door to close softly behind her.
I was left in stunned silence. Why would she say that? Out of nowhere, like a warning I hadn't expected. Was it because of Theodore? No, that is impossible. She doesn't know that I encountered with him earlier.
Be careful.