It had been a week since the incident. As for the recruits who were wiped out... the investigation team just said that the ogre attack and due to their inexperience gave them no chance of surviving. So knight training became even harder...
"Good morning Terrence." [Elaine]
"Good morning prin-." [Terrence]
"It's Elaine. How many times do I have to tell you that?" [Elaine]
"Allow me to correct myself... Good morning Elaine." [Terrence]
"Mmn-mmn better." [Elaine]
I smiled at him and he shyly looked away, this has now become a daily occurrence. Every morning when I open the door of my room he greets me like this outside.
He comes with me wherever I go. When I go to mother's grave, at parties in the castle and also during my magic lessons.
When we got back. I've decided to learn some Healing and Supportive magic. So that I can heal and treat injuries whenever possible, because of what had happened I never want to experience that again...
I've noticed that was getting difficult for me to go around the city in incognito, because of my extra knight escorts. From that, I requested father to allow only Terrence to look out for me. At first, he was reluctant, but when I told him that Terrence defeated the three ogres while defending me, he changed his mind.
~~~
"Wait, aside from Terrence aren't the extra escorts supposed to be only two?" [Regina]
Mother shows a mischievous smile.
"Ahh." [Maria/Kate/Regina/Angelica]
Blake just looked at us dumbfounded... he didn't know how evi... cunning Michelle really was...
~~~
Since that day, I went out with him. Some of which are dates, but he doesn't seem to know it was...
I asked father if he could have his generals teach me more about strategies and formations.
After learning and improving via trial and error I've managed to get the hang of it. I'd just have to factor in a few stuff to make sure that my plan would work.
Like morale, numbers, terrain, weather, equipment, training, supplies, specialty and the type of enemy, we or they are facing.
~~~
Well, that was certainly a few...
~~~
My skills were tested when there was a threat against the kingdom. Originally, the Blackrock Republic was a small nation and because of that, other nations try to invade our territory.
In the past, because of our small and weak presence. Negotiations weren't possible and they just took us as small-fry.
But as I've led our forces. We've managed to push them back and got a part of their territory too, until our kingdom grew and the attacks have ceased, that is for now...
Now that our kingdom is big. Father, has gotten a lot busier, and also because of that, he has given me more guards in which I cannot simply turn down. It would be problematic if I was suddenly kidnapped and taken hostage by another country or kingdom.
My strolls to the city became lesser as father became strict with my security, so I was almost always in the castle like before...
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
Terrence, knowing the person I am, knew that I wouldn't stay still... and so he helped me snuck out of the castle. During that time there wasn't any restraint so I was able to fully enjoy the city while with him.
He took me to places where people flocked like the market, there I saw people merrily doing their business. Selling their wares, I've also eaten at food stalls. I never knew that the food there was that delicious. Most of the food that I ate in the castle was prepared by cooks, I had already tasted most of them ever since I was a child. Now their menu mostly consists of the same food in a rotation of at least a month, so I am getting sick of eating the same stuff over and over again.
He also took me to various shops like the magic store, where they sell potions and stuff, we got to enter a weapon shop too.
I saw various weapons on display and it was eye candy. I felt like I wanted to clear the shelves and just take them home with me.
~~~
"Finally! I have found a connection!" [Angelica]
I held mothers hands and that my smile was ear to ear.
~~~Blake~~~
If we talked about weapons. Angelica can go for hours chatting with them. She enjoys talking casually with her mother.
"There were also greatsword's on display, I wanted to wield them, but they were too heavy..." [Michelle]
Michelle suddenly became gloomy after saying that. Angelica... gestured at her to come nearer. She whispered something in Michelle's ear when she heard it their eyes lit up and sparkled.
"The possibilities are endless!" [Angelica]
"Right-right!" [Michelle]
They are both jumping at the same while their hands are held together. They also hymn in unison. I wonder what it is that they talked about?
Then... I saw them both drooling at the edge of the lip... They really are mother and daughter!!
I just wryly smiled and looked around. Aside from Maria, who was already used to it. Kate also showed me the same wry smile, so she too knew about it huh...
"Well back to the story." [Michelle]
~~~
We stayed for a bit and I kept on looking at a knife. It had this beautiful decoration on it, with a golden handle a violet gem at the pommel a red gem at the guard coupled with other smaller gems.
I tried to reach for it but was stopped short by a dwarf.
"I would like it if you'd remove your hood first before checking it out miss."
It made a commotion within the shop, the other shoppers looked at us suspiciously. Well, I'm not mad, since we did look suspicious considering our get-up. We wore a hooded cape, he might've mistaken me for a thief.
Terrence got in front of me to confront the dwarf.
"Is there any problem?" [Terrence]
"I was just asking if you can both take your hoods off."
"Why? Is that a way you should treat a patron?"
"Already heard of that excuse before. I have had my weapons stolen a couple of times so I'm not taking any chances."
In a low tone, I called Terrence.
"Terrence we're leaving." [Elaine]
"Yes." [Terrence]
As we were about to exit. The door was blocked by a crowd. Their weapons at the ready.
"You're acting more suspicious."
"Show your face, if you try to fight well make sure that you won't get away unscathed."
The people said as they started to threaten us. Terrence was ready to draw his spear at any moment.
In order to defuse the situation, I removed my hood.
"?!!"
"P-p-princess?!"
Terrence, seeing that I had removed my cover, he also went to remove his.
"It's her personal guard Terrence?!"
"The one who killed a dozen ogres single-handedly?!"
"I'm sorry! Please don't execute me!"
They all dropped their weapons and immediately gave way to the door, even as far as keeping it open for me. Somehow there was a rumor that Terrence, exterminated a dozen ogres circling around the city since he was the last surviving knight and my personal guard, they thought that he was that strong.
"Whoa... It's the princess!"
"Also Terrence?!"
The dwarf was frozen stiff at the counter. When we got outside there was an uproar.
As I walked about a meter...
"I-I'm sorry princess!!"
It was the dwarf, he was holding something in his hand.
"Please have this as my apology!"
"No... you don't have t-" [Elaine]
He immediately took my hand and handed me a small box. What it contained was the knife that I had looked at earlier. I took it out, the gem shines as the sunlight hit it, it was really beautifully designed as I got to inspect it. The blade was made of mythril, aside from being strong it is designed also very well, making this an expensive item...
In order not to be impolite to the dwarf by giving it back, I returned it in the box and slid it into my pocket.
"Thank you." [Elaine]
"Again I apologize for my rash behavior..."
"It's alright, you are just running your business." [Elaine]
After I smiled at the dwarf and he blushed and made a bow. We started to walk away, but not far from them I could still hear people shouting.
"The princess brought a knife from this shop!"
"Is he a famous blacksmith?"
"How wouldn't he be? He had the princess at his shop!"
When we got back to the castle. I got a scolding from father...