The sounds of footsteps and whimpers echo throughout the room. The first obstacle I have to face in this world was etiquette training. The excessive amount I had to understand was mind-boggling. Maybe this is the peasant in me talking, but damn, this shit is hard.

"Sweetie, keep your chin up," My mother chided me gently, As I adjust my position. I push out my chest, stood straight, and kept my chin up.

As I do though a persistent feeling of being watched catches my attention, I turn and look only to be met by tree branches sticking to the window.

"Sweetie, Don't forget to bow in greeting" My mother catches my attention.

I bow up to my waist.

"No, No, sweetie, such things are unnecessary. You're a prince. Bowing up to your chest level should be more than enough." Trying to determine the smaller angle. I try and bow.

"Yay, Now that's done," Mother looks at Faye. "Faye, you can start playing" She claps her hand, and I look towards Faye sitting in front of a piano. Faye started playing from it a beautiful melody bursts out of the piano.

I look towards mother, holding her hand out to me. I accept it, and as she steps backward and I follow.

I try and follow her, But my inexperience in dancing shows the moment I stepped on her foot. I wince, looking at her.

"I'm sorry, Mama," I spoke, a bit sad.

"It's fine, sweetie. No one is great at the start." She softly smiles as we continue the dance. Minutes pass like this, me and mother happily dancing to the tune.

"You should follow the music's rhythm. Sweetie," Such lessons continued. And as time passed, the feeling of someone looking returns. It threw off, my rhythm once again broken, making me step on Mother's foot.

Before I could apologize, though, she interrupted with a smile and spoke.

"You did well for your first time, sweetie, and we should stop for now. Faye will be the one teaching table etiquette," She smiles mischievously.

"But before you go, give mommy a kiss." She grabs me, giving me a kiss and a hug. And I lean into her touch. As Faye and I leave towards the dining, another man enters. He was dressed in what I would call a butler uniform.

"Milady, We have" The door shuts, and I ponder what it could be about. But before I do, Faye carries me towards the dining room.

"Milord, our next lesson will be the different utensils and how it is best to use them."

Dammit, that sounds so difficult.

"Milady, We have found a spy. He is currently held at the lower cell." A man speaks, bowing.

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"I am aware. Bring me to him," Ann spoke coldly. They walked through the mansion.

The man leads them both to an old decrepit door—the familiar smell of rotting wood and an earthen floor.

"Milady, We captured him as he tried to escape." The guards spoke, holding the fainted man up.

"I see then. It would be best to chain him up," Ann replies as she points toward a table. The sound of ragged breathing reverberates through the dungeon as the guard straps the man on all fours.

A sphere of water appears above him. Ann flourishes her arm downwards, waking the man.

"Hello," Ann spoke with a sweet smile. The man looks at her in fear

"I don't know anything!" The man pleads quickly.

"I know you don't. That's why ill be helping you remember" Ann flourishes her hands once again as the sphere of water hangs above him.

The man fearfully looks on, pulling on the chains.

"This will be so much easier if you just answered me honestly. Who sent you here?" Ann asks as she smiles, sending a shiver down the man's spine.

"No one, Please, I don't know anything." Pleadingly replied the man.

"What a shame," Ann mutters disappointedly.

"Guard! Tie the towel over his mouth," Ann orders.

"By your will." The guard obeys as he ties the towel, With the man screaming and struggling.

The water sphere lowers, engulfing the man,s head. The man struggles for air. As half a minute pass, Ann flourishes her hand to the side with the water sphere disappearing.

"Now either you die here drowning, or you tell me who sent you?" Ann smiles after as another water sphere appears above his head.

"I don't know, please. They'll kill my family." The man answers, crying—his cries filled with sorrow.

"How about I double their offer then? Ill torture your family, then kill them." Ann smiles sweetly.

"P-please don't. I really don't know who it was. I was just given the money along with the task." The man answers in despair.

"I see, then when and where will you be meeting again?" Ann talks seriously

"Next week, please, ill cooperate. Just don't hurt my family," The man answers tiredly.

"Great, Bring your family here for their safety, and bring the guards with you." Ann claps with delight as she hurriedly leaves the room.

Phew, that was taxing. I don't want to act like that again. He certainly wouldn't. It just isn't for me. Well, anything for my baby, though I do wonder who could be sending them.

Charles isn't even of age yet. What could they possibly gain from this? I walk towards the dining room to at least relieve a bit of stress.

Hoping to see my dearest baby boy, But as I do, I only see Faye cleaning up the table. "Have you found anything milady?" Faye asks, looking back at me as she clears the table.

"No, they were careful enough not to hire him directly." I sigh, looking for any signs of Charles. And ducked my head disappointed.

"If you're looking for his highness, it'd be best to check the library," I perk up. The library? Well, he certainly got his smarts from me.

"That's great. Every bit of knowledge will be useful. Seeing as our enemies don't seem to have the patience to wait, How about you, Faye? You have any ideas who sent him?" I ask to hope for a clue

"How about the Agrods?"

"If John had a man on the inside, we wouldn't even be talking about it. The man was so bad even my Charles could feel him," I answer dismissively.

"The Soreds?" Faye responds

"They're not the type to spy," I answer, aware of that family's background.

William! I stand up straight.

"WILLIAM! That stupid bastard." My veins are filled with boiling rage with the thought of the man.

"Your brother? But why?" Faye looked at me, confused.

"The bastard probably wants to observe Charles. Thinking he could use him to remove his exile." I scoffed.

"I see, but what could he gain from this? Prince Charles isn't even ten yet." Faye replies worriedly.

"I do not know, But I am not going to wait to find out." I grip the edges of the table in anger.

"Milady, keep in mind this is all but mere speculation. It is best not to point fingers this early," Faye responds, trying to soothe me.

"Fine, I get it. I'll keep an open mind. We can find out who did it next week anyway," I huff, trying to relieve my anger.

I need to walk this off. I am going to need the best stress reliever to do so. I exit the dining room, but before I do.

"Thanks, Faye" I look back at her, smiling. "As always, Milady," She responds with a smile. And I close the door. I hasten my steps towards the library and hope my baby is still there.

I'm going to need that energy boost! I thought as I skip my way to the library.