Is the shadow under the bowl a bit too light? I think I need to make it a bit darker for contrast. And what about the light reflecting from the table's surface? I think I need to make it more prominent on the bottom of the vase.

Morrigan stared intently at the still-life composition in front of her, doing her best to recreate it as faithfully as possible. She took dark blue paint and dabbed a little bit of white and then yellow in it, creating a lighter and slightly warmer tone. Then she took a brush with wide bristles and ever so slightly dabbed onto the painting, trying to create a bounce light on the vase.

She then looked at the dark blue vase in front of her, trying to understand whether the color she picked was the correct one. After comparing multiple times, she nodded in satisfaction, having ascertained the tone to be right.

"Let's move on the flowers next," Morrigan said resolutely to herself, turning to the red and orange paints. A bright orange lava flower sat in the vase – one of the most beautiful flowers in the Underworld in her opinion. In shape it resembled a lily, however the petals' colors went from bright red in the center to yellow at the edges. It would be a challenge to properly recreate the color transition.

Morrigan hummed as she dabbed a round, soft brush into red paint and painted the basis of the flower onto the canvas. It was nothing more than a shape, merely a guide for her to continue applying colors onto. She took a smaller brush and then began to slowly transition from red to orange, making it as smooth as possible to mimic the real flower.

"Here you are, Princess!" Azrael stormed into Morrigan's little art studio which was a repurposed storage room, appearing annoyed. "Aren't you forgetting something?"

"Nope," she called back, cleaned her brush in the water jar, and moved on to the yellow.

"Why, you little!" Azrael growled and stomped up to her. She had grown considerably over the past six years, now being ten years old, but Azrael still towered over her whenever he got close. Her red hair had grown longer as had her horns, and she was also beginning to lose her childish features, beginning to look like a teenager. "Because of you, I received an earful from Weisedun. Do you know how annoying that guy is?"

"I am well aware," she replied, taking the smallest brush and dipping it into white paint to create reflections of light on the flower.

"Then why do you do this to me? Why do you avoid his lessons? The old man won't ever give me room to breathe at this rate," Azrael continued complaining. Morrigan's brush stopped moving, a heavy sigh escaping from her lips.

Never would she have thought that studying would become the bane of her existence in the Underworld. While she wasn't exactly an honor student with perfect grades back on Earth, she never had trouble with her studies.

Here in the Demon Kingdom, it was completely different. As the next heir she had to know far more than others thus her teachers were especially strict towards her. Things like history, math and languages weren't bad. The history of Doppelta was actually interesting, and Morrigan wouldn't mind learning it earnestly if the teacher actually bothered to change her tone at least once during the lesson.

Math, while not the most interesting subject, wasn't very difficult. In fact, it was much simpler than the difficult mathematical formulas she had to learn during high school. Languages was by far the most interesting subject as it not only helped her strengthen her knowledge of the demon language but also gave her insight into other languages like elvish and dwarfish.

But the lesson that she absolutely dreaded was politics. It was the first lesson that she had to learn as the Crown Princess. The first time, she approached it with an open if a bit worried mindset. She thought she was ready to tackle the task of becoming the next heir. However, once the teacher began recounting one noble demon house after the next, she lost it.

There were so many names to remember and so many things to know about them. It all quickly turned into a jumbled mess in her head. The Weisedun warned that it was only the first step and they would not be able to move with their lessons until she memorized it all.

"Morrigan," Azrael poked her cheek gently, a slight smile finally creeping on his lips. "You know you can't just skip it."

"But I just can't remember all those names! Duke of this, count of that, viscount of over there. Shouldn't I be studying geography first instead so I could at least know what place those barons are ruling over," she grumbled, swishing her brush in the water to get it clean. As it was done, she took the red paint and mixed it with black, to create shadows in her flower.

"Well, normally children start with geography, but you're the Crown Princess, so you have to be better than others," Azrael shrugged.

"Do you remember all those names and places then?" Morrigan asked, her voice filled with annoyance. But it wasn't Azrael she was annoyed at, but rather her inability to remember what was expected of her. It was her first true task as a Crown Princess and yet she was failing it miserably.

"Of course, I do. I am the head of House Ultimagi after all. If I didn't know that much, I would have never risen to this high a station," Azrael straightened and his chest visibly rose up from all the ego that was inflating it. Morrigan sighed. "But I guess it is too much for a little girl like you."

Her eyebrow twitched and her eyes narrowed at the white-haired demon who grinned with satisfaction.

So you want to challenge me? So be it.

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"Fine, I'll get to that lesson and learn all those names. How long did it take you to remember them all?" she asked, and carefully applied the dark painting, creating a popping contrast between each individual flower petal.

"Well, I could name all the duchies within a week, and within a month I could name every house down to the last baron," Azrael's purple eyes seemed to glow as his smile clearly issued a challenge towards her.

"Then I shall learn them faster," Morrigan retorted, pointing the dirty brush at his face. The demon appeared unbothered, radiating confidence.

"Oh, really? Well, you've already lost three days due to your little painting escapades. Can you really do it?" he teased, looking down at her from above.

"Just you watch me," she spat and then drew the last dark line on the bottom of the flower. The piece was complete. Perfect recreation of the vase and flower in front of her.

"Is this done?" Azrael asked, leaning in to inspect the painting.

"Yes. What do you think?"

Azrael looked at the painting, then at the vase, and then nodded, "Yeah, I can't see a difference. You've really improved over the years. I reckon with your artistic sense, you'll soon become the best shape-shifter this world will never notice."

***

I said I could do it, but this is impossible!

Morrigan scribbled down all the names of the nobles that her politics teacher Lord Weisedun was calling, but she was barely able to keep up with the demon. Even if he showed the location of the house on the three-dimensional map of the Underworld, and then explained what exactly the region specialized in and the general type of populace in it, Morrigan quickly got lost in the sea of information.

"This is the territory of Countess Shallren whose house has been ruling over it for more than fifteen thousand years. As it is part of the Demon Kingdom, then the main populace there are also demons, mostly succubi and incubi or those with inborn ability to charm others," Lord Weisedun, a tall and thin demon with dark gray skin and red horns, illuminated the specific area on the map with a red light.

Morrigan looked at the spot on the map, but she had no idea where that actually was. Three-dimensional maps that demons used to chart the Underworld were something that completely blew Morrigan's mind the first time she saw it. Every cavern and turn in the giant underground tunnel was neatly documented and reproduced into something that resembled a hologram of an anthill. Only much larger and more complex.

There was only one thing that she understood in this map – it was the location of the Demon Castle. Sitting in the very heart of the Underworld, Linberor was located in the largest cavern that existed underground, so it was much easier to discern from other places. The lava river that flowed near the capital was also a good indicator of its placement.

But aside from this iconic place, every underground labyrinth looked just like the other. The only conclusion she could draw from the one Lord Weisedun was pointing to was that it was comparatively close to the capital.

"Alright, moving on to the next house," the demon then lit up a completely different area way across the map, and Morrigan groaned inwardly as she tried to quickly finish writing about the previously mentioned Countess Shallren. But Lord Weisedun moved on so quickly that she barely managed to scribble down the name and location.

"Could you please slow down?" Morrigan spoke, trying to keep her frustration concealed.

"Princess, I am afraid that this is of utmost importance. If you do not learn the noble houses as soon as possible, then we won't be able to learn more serious topics," the demon appeared insulted by her interruption, pointedly glaring down at her.

"But what is the point of just listing all of the houses if I can't remember even one of them? You should go slower so I could at least write them down," Morrigan glared back at the man, and he took a step back in shock, covering his mouth with his hand like an insulted lady.

"Princess Morrigan! Are you doubting my teaching methods?"

Yes! They suck!

But of course, she couldn't say that. Even if she was the Crown Princess, she couldn't just waltz around insulting everybody she didn't like. A little voice in her mind suggested complaining to her father.

No, Morrigan. You are better than that. You can't run to Father because of every little thing that you don't like.

"No, I would never," Morrigan plastered on a polite smile, something that she was getting better at, and held the inkpen in her hand, showing her willingness to learn.

Lord Weisedun nodded in approval and then turned back to his map, "Then let us continue. I will not repeat myself, so be sure to listen carefully, Princess Morrigan."

"Of course," she confirmed but groaned inwardly.

This isn't going to work. He could list all those names a hundred times and I still wouldn't be able to remember even one-third of them. I need to find a way to learn these effectively.

As Lord Weisedun continued pointing out various places on the map and listing one noble house after another, Morrigan kept pondering on what she could do to solve her problem as she hurriedly scribbled the names.

Perhaps the reason why I am having trouble remembering all these names is because they are of demon origin. Even if I've learned demon language for ten years now, their names still sound very foreign. What could I do to remember something foreign?

Morrigan began to doodle at the side of her notebook as her focus moved away from the lanky demon, who continued his lecture without any care. One line joined with the next, forming an oval shape, then some hair appeared on top and then Morrigan scribbled in some vague facial features.

I got it! What if I were to request portraits or at least drawings of the nobles I am supposed to remember? Surely it would be easier if I could put faces to the names I'm supposed to remember. Not to mention that then I would be able to study the art that they have in the Demon Kingdom. It's a win-win!

"Princess Morrigan, are you listening?" Lord Weisedun tapped on Morrigan's desk, his face filled with annoyance.

"Would it be possible for me to see the portraits of the heads of the houses?" she asked, excited by her own idea.

"Portraits? Whatever for?" the demon asked,his features softening.

"So I would be able to recognize them when I meet them. It would be embarrassing if I messed up their names upon meeting them, wouldn't it?" Morrigan said with a smile. She really didn't care how the most likely pompous demon nobles looked. But the art – now that was an exciting prospect.

"Oh! I commend your intentions, Princess Morrigan, but I'm afraid it would be quite troublesome to look through all the portraits one by one. It would take a long time to gather them and even longer to properly look through them."

"But…"

"Do not worry. You shall meet the nobles and receive proper introductions when the time is due," Lord Weisedun said and returned to his speed run of listing all noble houses.

Fine, if you won't cooperate, I know somebody who will.