Chapter 1

“Why was I the only one sent to the villa for the summer? I should be at the castle performing my royal duties!”

"Please, you don’t even have any official duties.” My attendant, Simon, rolled his eyes; he was a tall young man, five years my elder, with short black hair and brown eyes framed with glasses. He's been my attendant since I was little, so I didn't reprimand him for his tone.

“That’s exactly why I should’ve stayed in the capital! How do you expect me to earn my place like this?”

“You are a student, first and foremost, right now. If the royal family didn't send you away, you'd get too absorbed in administration and stretch yourself too thin. It’s your last year at the academy… You should allow yourself to take a break occasionally."

“I do take breaks! All the time at the academy!”

“That isn’t taking a break, and you know it. Not even the princes performed official royal duties while attending the academy; you’re trying to take on too much, too fast." I grumbled at his argument, one I’ve heard since I was twelve. He pushed his glasses up and smiled a bit at my attitude. “You know that I support what you’re trying to do, I always have, but pushing too hard will only cause you more problems in the future.”

I just sighed while looking out the carriage window. The forest we were passing through was beautiful, and I admired the vivid hues of green as we passed by. We were currently on our way back to the capital from the royal family's vacation villa. At seventeen, I was about to start my final year at the Royal Aster Academy, but I was desperate to graduate and start my official duties as the first princess of Venyth. Ever since I was little, I dreamed of being someone who could protect her people and stand alongside my older brothers as an equal and not just a tool for marriage as past princesses have been. Thanks to my father's efforts to reform our kingdom into a meritocracy, more opportunities are made available every day. While this still mainly applies to men, just extending to commoners, I’m certainly abusing my position as the princess to be more involved in the government. However, many aristocrats oppose the king and his ideas, instead trying to hold steadfast to tradition. Most notable among the opposition is Duke Rose.

The carriage suddenly stopped, jolting me from my ruminations and nearly throwing me from my seat.

"Stay here, my Lady. I’ll go see what’s going on.” Simon stepped out of the carriage, letting the door close behind him. I sat back up and fixed my hair, which had gotten messed up when the carriage stopped. I wonder if a tree collapsed on the road. This road is relatively safe, so bandits are unlikely, I thought. After a few minutes passed, I got impatient. Since everything was quiet outside, I figured it was probably safe, so I stepped out of the carriage. I closed my eyes for a minute to enjoy the fresh air, listening to the sounds of the forest. my attendants and knights were making quite the commotion, crowding around something at the edge of the road. I stepped forward and called out for Simon, and he started as he turned around and walked away from the group.

"What's going on, Simon?" I asked him as he drew closer.

"It isn't something my lady should witness; please, let us handle it and wait inside the carriage," he pleaded, but I just smiled at him.

"Now you've got me curious! What is it? An animal?" I stepped closer to the group, some fallen leaves and sticks cracking under my weight. They parted as they noticed me. What I saw lying there was not an animal but a person. Before me was a young girl who looked around fourteen years old with long, muted red hair. She was dressed in rags that resembled a servant's uniform but were falling apart. But the most shocking thing was how thin and pale she was. Not only that, but she was covered in bruises, wounds, and scars. I could see her ribs through her clothes, and she looked like a gust of wind could blow her over. I could see her chest faintly rise and fall, so she was still alive, albeit barely. This looks like months, if not years, of abuse and malnutrition! It wasn’t the first time I’d seen conditions like this, but even in my volunteer work, I’d never seen something this bad.

The assumptions of how she ended up like this alone were enough to get my blood boiling. I reached down to check her pulse, but Simon reached out to stop me. "Please, my lady! Let the knights handle it!" but as I stared at the girl, something inside me was drawn to her… like I was being pulled along a gentle stream of water. But I held myself back. It will turn into a huge mess if she wakes up on the way there… and bringing a stranger into the castle could pose a massive security risk. The princess within me objected. I heard a distant crack of thunder as I debated, which decided for me.

"Put her in the carriage," I said.

"But, my lady!"

"Just do it, Simon. My royal duty is to help my citizens, from the richest noble to the impoverished beggar. I’m certainly not someone who would leave a girl in the rain. Especially not in a condition like this." He looked like he wanted to say something else but stopped himself.

"Of course." he bowed his head, then instructed the knights to carry the girl to the carriage. As we got in, I laid her head onto my lap, but as I touched her, I felt a shock run through my body. There was no pain, and while a bit uncomfortable at first, it gave way to calm that washed over me. When I blinked, I found myself in a dark void, feeling almost weightless… but it disappeared as quickly as it came, and I was back in the carriage. What was that? A hallucination?

"What's wrong, my lady?" my expression must have changed as Simon scrutinized me.

"It's nothing. Instruct the driver to get to the castle as quickly as possible. We must get this girl medical treatment." Simon nodded, opened the small window to the driver, and gave him instructions, then faced me.

"My lady, I hate to ask, but what are you planning to do now?"

"That depends on the investigation."

“Investigation? Into what?”

"Whose land are we currently traveling through, Simon?"

He thought momentarily, "I believe this route is on the border between Earl Barrington and Duke Rose’s territories.”

"Exactly, and we need to figure out who this girl is and why she is in such a state. It bears to be cautious and rule out foul play."

Simon nodded in understanding. "I will conduct a thorough investigation when we arrive at the castle, my lady."

Suddenly, the girl resting on my lap groaned. "I'm sorry, Sasha…"

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Sasha? The name sounds familiar, but where have I heard it before? I stroked her hair, which seemed to calm her down. It was a fairly common name, so there was no point jumping to assumptions, but it makes a good lead. I’ll have to inform Luke about this right away to ensure I’m available when the girl awakens. I moved my fingers through her tangled locks. While her hair was obviously grimy, I found I quite enjoyed the sensation. My heart thumped at the thought, a nameless feeling assailing me. The ride to the castle was far from smooth. There were a few moments along the way when I thought she would wake up, but it seemed she could not escape her dreams. Asinine thoughts fluttered through my head as the capital came into view. I wonder what color her eyes are.

We arrived at the castle a while later, and I told the servants to put the girl in the guest room closest to mine and to call for the royal physician. After seeing them off, I quickly went to my brother's office. He raised an eyebrow at me as I stormed in. "It's almost like you think I'm not the crown prince, Lydia."

My eldest brother, Prince Luke Venyth, was twenty-four years old and had the same blonde hair as myself, but his was short and a shade or two darker; with our mother's piercing blue eyes, he looked slender, but at a closer look, you could see his toned physique through his clothes. His aura alone betrayed his position as crown prince. His office was decorated sparsely but still felt refined. The castle’s classic white, gold, and blue color scheme held true, even in our private spaces.

I walked past the white sofa in the center of the room, right up to his desk. "I have something urgent to speak with you about, brother." I ignored his earlier comment as I sat down across from him.

“Look, if this is about us sending you to the villa—”

"No, it isn't that, though I do have some choice words about it. I can’t believe Mother and Father agreed to that kidnapping ploy. I am a princess, you know? All that just to get me out of the castle?" He smiled sheepishly, and even that looked dignified, A true prince, through and through… not that I’d ever admit it to his face… Get back on topic, Lydia! He opened his mouth to defend himself, but I interrupted before he could say anything else. "I found a girl passed out on the road on my way home." he raised an eyebrow at my sudden declaration. He put the document he was looking at on the desk as I continued, "She looked horrible, with fresh and scarred wounds. She was so thin it looked like she hadn't been properly fed in years!" I was starting to get heated, but my brother stood up and held a hand on my head to calm me down.

"I understand you're worried about her, but take a deep breath, okay? Did you bring her into the castle?”

"Of course I did! I couldn’t just leave her with a random doctor." I sulked as he patted my head, but I took a moment to compose myself. He laughed as he apologized and sat back down.

“Of course you did… Well, that compassion is what I love about you. So where’s the girl now?”

"I had the servants put her in the room closest to mine."

"I see. I can't step away at the moment, but I'll stop by when I get a break, okay? Just don't do anything reckless until I can evaluate the situation."

I nodded, then stood up to leave, but Luke stopped me on the way out. "Talk to Abel; I'm sure he can send you a trustworthy female knight to help guard our guest." I waved a hand as I stepped out and asked a passing knight to fetch Abel. My second eldest brother was the Vice Captain of the royal guard, all to prepare for leadership. When Luke ascends the throne, Abel will become the captain and stand at my brother's side. I was determined to stand alongside them when the time came. I was lost in thought as I made my way back to my room, where the maids helped me freshen up and change clothes from my journey. When I was done, I went to the guest room and ran into the royal physician outside the door.

"Your Highness, how was your trip?" he asked with a slight bow.

"It was fine; more importantly, have you seen her yet?"

"No, I just arrived. I was about to perform my examination."

We both stepped into the room and as we made our way to the bed, the doctor gasped when he saw her. It looked like the maids had done their best to clean her up with towels and change her clothes, but she still looked horrible.

"The poor thing…" he trailed off. He was an elderly gentleman, so he probably saw his grandchildren in her. With the help of the maids, he examined each part of her body. Lashes covered her back, there were bruises all over her body, and her hands were cracked and blistered. When he was done, he sat back, distress evident on his face. “I won’t be able to do much for the scars and major injuries. Healing magic can only utilize one’s natural healing ability. In her state, it’s possible it could make her condition worse.”

“So she’ll have to naturally recover more before magic can really be applied, then?”

“I’m afraid so. A good dose of holy magic could help, but that’s outside my expertise. I can only alleviate the pain and minor bruising. For now, at least.” He closed his eyes, constructing the magical equation in his mind, before hovering his hands over the girl and chanting. "Recovery!" A warm yellow light washed over her, and the bruises began to fade, and she seemed to finally rest peacefully.

"Hmm…" he tilted his head in thought. "I've done what I can. All she needs now is rest and good food. She won't be able to handle anything that needs to be chewed, so stick to soups and porridge for a while, and make sure she stays hydrated, however…" he hesitated.

"What is it, Doctor?" I asked nervously.

"Aside from the physical maladies, it seems she’s suffering from dysmagia. Her body, to protect itself, stunted her magic growth. Since she's so weak, she wouldn't have been able to handle the magic a sixteen-year-old would usually have.

My eyes went wide. "You think she's sixteen?! She looks like she's fourteen years old at most!"

"That would be because of the body's self-preservation and malnutrition. But I believe her to be around your age, Your Highness. I imagine once she starts recovering, so will her magic, and she will experience a rapid growth spurt," he sighed. "While a case this extreme is rare, it is said that the rapid growth is very painful for the patient, so make sure someone is by her side at all times."

I nodded. "Please don't worry; I'll take care of her."

He smiled on his way out, but as he reached the door, it slammed open, almost hitting him. Abel stepped in, boisterous as usual. "Hey, Lydia! You needed me for something?" He had our father's short black hair and green eyes. Due to him being a knight, he was much more muscular than Luke.

I put a hand on my forehead. "Brother, please. We have a sick patient here; mind being quiet? You almost injured the physician!"

Abel apologized to the doctor on his way in and approached me. He looked at the girl. "Wow, she looks awful. What happened to her?"

"That's what I'd like to know, but as you can see, she hasn't woken up yet. Please don't be the reason she does," I said, exasperated. Abel scratched his cheek sheepishly. "Sorry, I'll be quiet."

"Thank you." I reached over and grabbed the girl's hand. There was no accompanying shock like the first time, and I was slightly disappointed for some reason. "I wanted to get a female knight from the order to watch over the room, just to be safe. Think you can spare someone?"

"Yeah, I'll send someone over when I return to the knight's quarter."

"Thank you, Brother," I said with a smile. I watched the girl as she rested; she seemed to breathe better now, at least.

"What's this? You've never shown this much interest in someone before." he teased.

“I don’t know what it is, but there’s something about her…” I trailed off uncomfortably, averting my gaze.

"Well, I'm sure Mother and Father will be ecstatic you've finally shown interest in someone. Maybe they should've been trying to find you a wife instead of a husband this whole time!" he grinned as he continued to tease me. I reached out and tried to hit him, but he nimbly danced away.

"It's not like that!" I pouted, "Don't you dare tell them anything weird!" He laughed as he walked out of the room, waving his hand behind him. I sat back down, still holding the girl's hand. Goodness, what did he even come here for? He could’ve just sent the knight… I was suddenly worn out after the long journey home and the unexpected situation, so I rested my head on the edge of the bed to rest my eyes for a bit and let the din of the castle lull me into a light rest.