Truthfully, Reya wasn’t too bothered by the fact that she’d been requested to enter into the war games.

It was something she knew she could handle, and on top of that, was an opportunity to expand her influence further. She had seen the amount of publicity that her father had gained from a previous war game victory, one which saw him gain a tremendous amount of political influence and wealth.

“Lady Metron, your appointment at 9 has been moved back to 11 per the request of the Delcit Company. Will you require any other meetings to be changed?”

Solze, her newly hired personal assistant, and the second in command of her retinue, spoke to her over a cup of tea. The two were currently inside Reya’s room, and had just finished outlining what their training regimen for the upcoming week.

“No, I won’t, thank you.” She smiled at the woman, who returned the gesture right back. Honestly, it made Reya sick. It was the same expression that came across the face of everyone she met nowadays, a polite, eager smile for the first in line to the throne.

“Hey, Solze?” The woman sitting at the table jumped at the mere sound of her name, and her eyes darted towards the princess.

“Y-yes, Lady Reya? How may I help you?” She was clearly caught off guard, but Reya thought nothing of it, as if it was the natural response for the situation.

“Tell me… did you ever wish you could go back in time and return things to how they used to be?”

Solze was puzzled, but by no means stupid. She looked from side to side, to make sure no devices were listening in on the conversation, before answering, “Princess, don’t tell me that you wish to forfeit the throne now that you finally have it?”

For the first time that day, Reya sighed. It was an expression of emotion which she felt was becoming all too commonplace since her ascension from the bottom ranking of her siblings to the top.

Since then, she had found herself with less and less time to relax, and more and more on her plate to worry about. On top of managing the relationship with her father, she still hadn’t properly made amendments with the person who helped her get to where she was in the first place.

“Honestly, I just wish to go back to when the only problems I worried about were what I would wear and who I would go shopping with. Now my mind is only filled with thoughts on who I can trust, and how I can use their relationships with me to further my own political career.”

Solze made a motion to put her hand on Reya’s back but stopped herself midway. She didn’t want to appear overly familiar to the princess. Despite that, however, Reya herself stroked the head of the younger woman.

“Thanks, but it’s not anything that can be solved by just wishing. When I was at the bottom of the barrel, and I mean the very bottom,” she chuckled, “I used to wish to be one of the big players, and have my name be praised throughout the Metronian Kingdom. The difference between fantasizing and wishing for a position, and actually holding it, is the amount of work you have to put in.”

Solze studied Reya, while the princess sat up from the chair, and walked over to sit on her bed. “I never wanted to feel weighed down by my own life… but maybe that’s why I couldn’t succeed before in the first place. I didn’t want to put forth effort that would make my life difficult, and only wanted to take it easy while reaping all the benefits.”

Solze dared not speak, and instead knelt on the ground while listening to the princess’s musings. Reya smiled sadly before speaking, “Thanks for meeting with me today Solze. You’re dismissed. Make sure to enjoy your next couple of days off, because after that we’ll be doing joint training with the other members of the War Game team.”

The soldier stood up and gave her a salute before quickly leaving the room. As the door closed quietly behind her, Reya sighed again. “I never was good at making friends, was I?” She muttered to herself.

At some point, Reya had realized that she was alone at the top of the proverbial mountain, having pushed away potential allies and even her own family due to her selfish need for attention.

Is it so bad to want to feel needed? Reya unzipped her dress and lay on top of her bed, letting out her second sigh of the day in just as many minutes. Solze doesn’t understand. Of course, my sisters would, but they probably feel like they have an obligation to get along well with me. In fact, Lucina has outright spent less time with me, and we’ve stopped having in-depth conversations. I just want a friend, someone I can completely-

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

Reya’s thoughts paused mid sentence as the door to her room slid open, and Paladin Joshua Cole stepped in. His piercing gaze rested on her body. Unfortunately, it only lasted for a moment before he rolled his eyes and turned to look at the wall.

“Really now? You call me in telling me that you have something important to discuss for the joint training session, but I find you like this? I should have known that this was just another plan to wrap me around your finger.”

“No!” Reya bolted upright, completely forgetting about her state of dress. “I didn’t-, I couldn’t have-,” Her mind went back to the conversation she had just had with Solze. Damn that woman! She must’ve taken my complaints too seriously and called him here!

Joshua turned to leave the room, but she ran up and grabbed his hand. Play it cool, Reya! “Sorry about my appearance, I just didn’t expect you so soon. Please, let me get dressed and sit down with me.”

The paladin looked reluctant, but nodded and turned around to allow her a modicum of privacy. Reya walked back to her bed and observed her own sports bra. I would’ve picked better underwear if I knew he was coming.

She frowned, but picked her dress up off of the floor and zipped it back up. ‘Really? Clothing off the floor? Not acting so much like royalty right now, are you?”

Reya thought she would be annoyed with the undermining of her royal authority, but she simply smiled instead. She couldn’t recall the last time someone just joked around with her.

“Please, take a seat.” Reya had on a genuine smile as she sat down on a chair, and poured some Avalon tea for the two of them. “How do you like your tea? Any sugar, milk?”

Joshua continued to stare at her. She paid it no mind, however, and merely sat while stirring her own tea. Finally he acquiesced, and sat down across from her, in the very seat Solze had been in only minutes before.

“So, what did you want to talk about?” He broached the subject, and took a sip of the tea. He frowned, and put copious amounts of sugar into the steaming liquid.

Reya almost giggled at the unexpected gesture, but figured putting her relationship through two strains in one day might end poorly for her.

“How do you do it?” He raised an eyebrow, but waited for her to elaborate. “What I mean is, how do you not let the pressure and loneliness of a powerful and important position get to you?”

Joshua looked at Reya like she was dumb. It was something she missed, surprisingly. To just have someone who didn’t take her as seriously as the rest of the world did. “Of course it does. Why are you even coming to me with this problem. Shouldn’t this be something that your parents explain to you?”

Reya smiled sadly and shook her head. “Dad’s been busy lately since mom has been on a forced vacation, and mom won’t even give me the time of day. She truly believes that I was the reason you rose to power in the first place.”

Joshua shook his head and took a drink of his tea. A small, rare smile graced his lips. It was immediately replaced by a frown, as he shook his head. “The amount of pain and inconvenience your mother has caused me is nothing to scoff at.”

Reya felt for him, but she knew that she had caused him pain as well. She had tried to seduce him for her own needs, not out of love or lust, but out of political acumen. “I know, and I’m sorry.”

Joshua’s eyes narrowed as he studied her. “Don’t apologize for her. I’m equally wary of you.”

Reya smiled, something which seemed to make him even more alert. “In that case, would you like to put me under a slave contract again?”

Now, the suspicion was replaced by pure, unadulterated confusion. “I’m sorry, I think my Judgment Panel’s sensors were acting up. Can you repeat that?”

“I said to put me under the slave contract again. If you really can’t trust me, and need to find a way, there’s an easy one.” Joshua slammed down his cup, and stood up from his seat.

“I think I’m done here. If you actually have any updates to discuss, you can send them to Lucina.”

He began walking away, causing Reya to bite her lip. This might be my last chance to mend this bridge! She gave a mental order to the Judgment system installed in her room, causing the doors to be deadbolted shut with a loud clunk.

Joshua half-turned back, and gave her a look that seemed to pierce through her soul. Reya instinctively balled her fists. “You know that using Judgment devices doesn’t work on me.” As he spoke, the doors unlocked and opened on their own.

“Please wait!” Reya ran after him, and grabbed onto his leg. “I’m sorry for trying to manipulate you. I just want to have friends! It’s been so lonely for me!”

He kicked her softly, and she landed on her butt, looking up at him. He gave her a sinister smile, “See? Was that so hard to say?” He turned away and walked out the door before briefly stopping, “Consider this upcoming War Game a trial period for getting back into my good graces. Don’t disappoint me.”

And then Reya was alone. However, despite that, she didn’t feel lonely anymore. In fact, the door she had been waiting for for so long had finally opened up to her again.