Water Balls and Bumps

"Close your eyes. Alright, now, gather that energy into your heart, Princess Elle."

I closed my eyes, and willed this 'familiar energy' to combine together into my heart. It was a slow and gradual process, but I had made great progress since a few weeks ago. I could feel the warmth spread as I gathered it, slowly and carefully... carefully...

"Now, Princess!" my instructor shouted. "Aim at the target now!"

I let the energy swirl into a torrent, guide them out of my open palms, and shot it at the target a few meters away. I cracked open an eye to look at the results. Did I do it?

The good news? I had successfully conjured a Water Ball.

The bad news? I had my eyes closed, so I had quite accidentally hit my tutor instead.

"Ha ha ha... Sorry, Madame Crooch." I bowed at the old magic tutor, dripping wet with her immaculate bun coming undone.

However, the tutor was only slightly peeved, as she waved her wavy wand around to dry herself off with a blast of warm air. She was quite happy instead to have such a talented protege.

"I believe I had only taught you how to conjure the Water element only yesterday, but here you are, already quite capable at it. I was wrong to doubt the magical prowess of the King Prodigy's own daughter," Madame Crooch complimented me.

'I suppose I shouldn't tell her then that I am already capable of conjuring all four of the basic elements...' I thought. 'After all, I have been practicing alone since a long time ago.'

I surprisingly found it easy to recognize the 'familiar energy' and use it as I willed. I later learned it was called "notes". And when I further practiced meditating to feel this energy, I realized they were similar to the little balls of light and music that I saw in my dream. It made sense that these balls of energy were called notes.

"Thank you once again for the lesson, Madame Crooch," I curtsied my tutor farewell. "This one will see you again next week."

I waved at my tutor as she got up on her coach.

I have been having magical lessons every week since the return from the trip to Mond Empire. I couldn't have too many magic lessons even though I did want to focus on improving my magic. After all, my schedule was fully packed with general history, commoner and noble knowledge, and even foreign customs and traditions. I had once told Miss Hestia to assign at least five hours of magical lessons per week, but she fiercely declined.

"And, pray tell, when will you ever get to eat or sleep or play, Elle?" my nanny screamed, forgetting to even address me properly.

However, I did like hearing her call me by my name without all the honorifics.

I backed away from the palace windows when my Madame Crooch's coach had already disappeared behind the tall castle walls.

Still staring at the window, I bumped into someone.

I was about to bow simply to apologize, when I realized it was a noble man I had accidentally crossed paths with. I immediately felt a deeply ingrained fear that I have had since my past life. I forced my body into a deep curtsy.

"This princess has behaved incredibly without care and, in turn, has troubled this honored guest," I spoke softly. "This one begs for your forgiveness for my carelessness."

I hoped endlessly that he would let this go simply with no more complaints. Alas, I was finally about to experience my first real challenge upon coming back to my past.

"Who in Solus' name are you to dare bump into me?" The man's voice drawled in distaste. He was probably already looking down at me with peering eyes.

"... This one is called Princess Eleftheria of the Kingdom of Saule," I answered politely, my head still bowed down low.

I heard the man huff at my introduction. "The only female spawn of the great King. I have heard rumors of your great magical talent and your refined manners, but I must say... You have come to me as a great disappointment. To not even look where you are going. That is to say..."

I heard him tut and sigh dramatically.

"Get up," he ordered me, and I followed. I sneaked a short glance at his face. I almost didn't recognize him if not for the house crest on the lapel of his jacket. "Do you not know who I am, little princess?"

I did know him, but I could only said no. After all, no five-year-old child had the right to know of any noble man from another house.

He was Sir Saturno of House Genta, the first born son of the renowned house. It was a rising merchant family who had quickly secured connections with the great, ancient houses in the past few years. Suffice to say, they grew arrogant, but they had all the right to be. Even though the man in front of me was still young, my future self already knew he would come quickly into their seat of power. His father, Sir Royl, would die from an unfortunate disease, and he would immediately take over.

Although their house wasn't one of the ancient families of the Kingdom, their vast amount of wealth has grown too large to not be ignored by even the royal family.

"I will remember your name, princess." He sneered at me with upturned, snake-like lips. "It would do you well to ingrain in that little head of yours, now especially that you are still young, that there are people in this Kingdom that you simply don't want to mess with."

'That I know far too well...' I thought to myself.

This man was especially bad. Sir Saturno was a known ally of the crown prince's faction: Prince Ara's political group. It won't be too far-fetched to say that he was involved in the bandit attack that occurred during our last trip. After all, they were a great duo: the one with the bottomless pocket and the one who had the greatest potential to hold the most power.

My oldest brother may be weak-willed and quite stupid, but he lucked out after getting a huge ally in Sir Saturno of House Genta.

Now that I think about it. Wasn't Sir Royl, his father, a witness during my Ceremony of the Children of Solus? Perhaps, House Genta might be more deeply involved with the royal family than I thought...

"WELL? Won't you say anything?" I realized I hadn't spoken a word after Sir Saturno's warning.

I bowed deeply and apologized again, but he didn't seem to want to dismiss me. His lazy eyes looked at me closely with a gloved hand on his chin. "On second glance, you do have the makings of a great temptress, even in your unripe age..."

Then, he smiled in a way I have often seen on the clean faces of the men of the Temple. He bowed to lean in closer to take in more of my face. "Yes, you will surely grow into a beautiful lady. Do you know I am great friends with your eldest brother, the crown prince? What do you say in visiting my residence in a couple of years? Surely, I will take good care of you."

I paused in any thoughts of submission when I heard his words. As a silly child, I could have easily agreed and in my honor as a princess, I would have no choice but to fulfil my promise. Although I may not see them now, I am absolutely sure that there are hidden guards listening in to our conversation; witnesses from both of our parties. Even as a child, my promises will never be taken for granted.

'Did this young man really want to take hold of a child's body?' I wondered in disgust. 'He might as well be four times my current body's age.'

I wanted to puke. But, instead, I gathered the dancing notes around the air and made the warmth spread throughout my body. It succeeded not only to calm me, but reassure me that I could protect myself from whatever might happen.

I breathed in deeply, and said in a loud, clear voice, "I am deeply sorry if I may have troubled you during your walk. However, I must decline your invitation to your residence in a few years. As a girl and as this Kingdom's princess, I hold my duty to preserve my beauty inside these castle walls, lest I tempt the common men."

I looked straight at the noble man, allowing some of my anger to show in my eyes. "Besides, Sir Saturno of House Genta, I prefer my second brother over Prince Ara."

I watched as the man's face transformed from shock to confusion and finally, into deep anger.

"How dare-!" he screamed, bringing up a hand to lash at me. I quickly condensed the notes inside my body, preparing to conjure magic...

"STOP!" I heard a shrill and panicked voice. Sir Saturno had frozen his hand in mid-air, looking at the shouter from behind me. I turned around and saw Miss Hestia hurriedly running towards us. "Do not hurt the princess, please."

I stared as the man's eyes grew wide in recognition, and then, he smirked. "I should have known a wretched princess would only have a wretched nanny to raise her. It has been a long time, Lady Hestia. I believe the last I had heard of you was that your body was already buried six feet underneath the ground."

Miss Hestia deemed to glare at the man. "Hold your tongue, boy. I am older than you by eight whole years. It would do you good to show some respect."

The man laughed. "HAH! Show respect? To a vile temptress like you? I would never dare give even the slightest face to a liar and a traitor like you. Do you even know the grievances you have given to the old lord of House Aron? You are worse than the Empire's filthy whores."

I watched as my nanny seethed in anger, but she only took hold of my shoulders.

Sir Saturno spat at the ground in front of us. "I am greatly shocked. This palace holds whores and tiny temptresses. I have no interest in staying here any longer."

We glared at the man as he stormed out of the castle and into his lavish carriage.

I heard my nanny sigh from above me. "Oh, what have you done now, Lady Elle?"

I grabbed her gloveless hands with my pudgy ones, and turned to look at her. "Miss Hestia. He almost made me promise that I would visit his residence so he could take good care of me."

Her face paled at my words, and I knew she already knew the real meaning behind the words.

"As a princess, I know when to decline a malicious offer. I only told him my refusal, but he grew angry."

She sighed yet again, but this time more from tiredness than from frustration. "... You did well, Princess. Now, come up and I shall clean you up."

"But the afternoon still hasn't ended..." I complained. "Why should I be cleaned u-"

"Bah!" She waved her bare hands, as though dismissing my very words from the stale air. "I'm cleaning you up from the dirt from that nasty man. He may have spit at you with his poisonous saliva. I must exorcise you to the best of my abilities!"

I was laughing and giggling as she gathered me up into her strong arms, and brought me into my room. She filled me with a warmth even all of the magical notes combined could never give.

At that moment, I felt that no matter what challenges would come into my life, as long as I wasn't alone, I'll always be fine. Laughing with Miss Hestia, I doubted anything could defeat us.

I should have known not to hope for too much.