Chapter 12

The wooden practice sword slashed through the air repeatedly, an exercise I've repeated every day since my failed sparring match with Sir Theodore. I couldn’t even touch him. I’ve got to do everything I can to improve. It was still early, the dawn only barely breaking the horizon, and I had come out to the practice field. It’s been a while since my schedule started so early, not since my time at the mansion. Yet, unlike back then, I immensely enjoyed the rigorous schedule.

I wiped the sweat off my face with a towel and sighed in relief after a refreshing drink of water. Sitting down, I started to stretch, My body straining with the effort. It’s been a week since my physical training began, but I haven’t improved much, at least not that I’ve noticed. An unconscious grumble escaped me as I blew a stray strand of red hair out of my face.

“Almost there!” I muttered as I pushed my arms out to touch my toes. I thought girls were supposed to be naturally flexible! I could almost manage it, but was falling just short. Suddenly, I felt a slight pressure on my back that lightly pushed my upper body forward. I didn’t even notice my fingers touching my toes as the soft sensation on my back filled my mind.

“I knew you’d be out here!” Lydia said. Instead of pushing me with her hands, the blonde girl had practically draped herself over me, her arms lightly wrapped around the front of my body. She wore the same attire I did. The academy's standard gym uniform consisted of a lightweight black T-shirt and red shorts that stopped above the knee.

“H-Hey… I just finished my practice swings, so I’m really sweaty.” I cleared my throat awkwardly, doing everything possible to keep a straight face. For some reason, ever since we went out to town, Lydia has been really clingy with me. Not that I mind, though.

“It’s fine! I came out to join you, so don’t worry about it.” She giggled as I sat back up, and I could feel her breath in my ear. It’s not like I hated physical intimacy, but unlike when Leah or Lucia touched me, Lydia had a peculiar effect on me.

“Sounds good. I was just about to start my run.” I shook off the uncomfortable warmth filling my chest. We helped each other stretch for a while longer before starting a light jog around the field. The blonde girl kept pace with me, not even losing her breath. My endurance still wasn’t very high, so I was doubled over trying to catch my breath roughly twenty minutes later. Lydia’s emerald eyes were filled with pity as she watched me wipe away my sweat again. I averted my gaze as she took a drink of water. She may not have been out of breath, but there was still a light sheen of sweat on her collarbone, and her hair was slightly disheveled. The look was very alluring for some reason.

We had a light sparring session, which once again ended up with me covered in dirt.

“Are you alright?” Lydia’s head quirked as she crouched beside me and looked down at where I lay. I covered my eyes with my arm, panting for breath after she had thoroughly routed all my attacks. She hadn’t even counter-attacked; she just dodged and parried all my swings.

“Yeah. I’ll be fine; I just need to rest for a minute.” I saw her shadow move and looked up at her, feeling her hands on my head.

“Here, lift this up for me.” I did as I was told, only for her to slide her legs beneath the back of my head. “Hopefully, this is more comfortable than the hard ground.” My head lowered back down, and I felt the softness and slight warmth from her thighs. Honestly, it was very comforting. I once again closed my eyes and let the rays from the morning sun wash over me as I rested for a bit.

Then the princess spoke and blew all the relaxation away.

“I’ve always wanted to try this! I read about it all the time in my romance novels!” She giggled excitedly as she ran a hand through my hair. W-Wait, is this something l-lovers do?! I rolled to face away from her to hide my embarrassment and watched as the vibrant green grass swayed with a slight breeze. I had never been more grateful than at that moment that the practice field I used was more secluded than most.

“So, what’s next on your regiment?” Lydia asked after a couple of minutes of silence. Her hand continued to stroke my hair. Does she think I’m a pet or something? Yet I never thought about raising a complaint.

“I usually do some meditation and mana control before I start weight training.” This allowed my body to rest between exercises and allowed me to sneak in some magic practice. I didn’t want to overdo it, as taking on too much training immediately would harm me more than help. Even the small amount I’ve been doing, three hours of training in the morning and an hour before bed, left me exhausted by the end of the day. My body hasn’t stopped aching, but every night, sleep came quickly, and I looked forward to waking up.

“I see. Well, don’t let me stop you. Go on ahead.” Her pink lips turned upward into a grin at my perplexed expression. “There’s no need for you to move then, right? Don’t worry, I’m perfectly comfortable like this.” Her emerald eyes twinkled with mischievousness.

“I guess that’s true… Are you sure? Won’t your legs fall asleep or something?”

“It’s fine! I’m pretty resilient; I’ll have you know!” I don’t think that has anything to do with it, but whatever. I gave up with a sigh. As long as she’s having fun, I guess it won’t be a problem. My eyes closed as I directed my consciousness inward. The flow of my mana was slightly different since I’m usually sitting up while doing this, but it wasn’t much of a problem for me.

Unlike swordsmanship, mana control was something I excelled at, but I didn’t want to grow overconfident and lose my edge. However, what really kept me motivated was this mysterious force I felt beneath my mana. I still struggled to move the white energy around. It would react when I tried to move it, just slight ripples mostly, but I had yet to control it properly. Some part of me intrinsically understood that it was powerful, but I still had no idea what it even was, and that made it dangerous. But I longed for the strength to protect the people I held dear and this new life my Goddess had bestowed on me. Next time I get the chance, I’ll ask Aurora.

When I finally opened my eyes, the sun was much higher in the sky. I always lost my sense of time when meditating, so it didn’t come as a surprise, but then I remembered I wasn’t alone.

“I-I’m so sorry!” I hastily sat up and turned in a panic as Lydia drew in a sharp breath. Her mouth was pursed, and her eyes were closed tight. She almost looked pained. “Lydia!? What’s wrong?” My hand naturally fell onto her leg as I leaned closer in worry. This time, a short laugh escaped her before she covered her mouth with her hands. Don’t tell me…

I poked her thigh with my finger, which elicited a sharp gasp and another laugh from the blonde girl before she quickly slapped my hand away.

“D-Don’t do that!” Her eyes brimmed with moisture as she stared at me pleadingly. An instinctual urge to tease her welled in my chest, and I couldn’t help the sly smile that slid onto my face.

“What’s this? Did your poor legs fall asleep after all?” I smirked as she turned away, her cheeks puffing. Since she wasn’t looking, I quickly poked her leg again.

“P-Please stop, Audrey! I can’t even stand!” My eyebrow raised at that, and her eyes widened as she realized her mistake.

“So what you’re saying is that you can’t escape!” I fainted a jab at her leg and caught her hand as it moved to deflect mine. Her other hand was soon caught as well, and all it took was me standing up slightly to push her backward onto the grass. She cried out as her legs moved with the motion. With her hands pinned tightly around her head, my other hand squeezed slightly above her knee. I looked her directly in the eyes as she squirmed and pleaded with me to stop.

“What’s wrong? I’m just trying to get your blood flowing again.” I laughed as she glared at me accusingly and traced my hand all around her thigh. After a few minutes, she stopped squirming around, but now her face was flushed, and she was panting heavily.

“A…udrey…” Her voice was wispy, and her golden hair was messy and dirty from the grass. She looked at me with glazed eyes as she said my name. W-Wait… What’s with this atmosphere?! Suddenly, I returned to my senses and heard a voice behind me.

“Oh my! Doing it out in public? How bold, Audrey!”

“T-This isn’t what it looks like, Leah!” Did I just commit Lèse-majesté?! Am I going to get executed!? The lady-in-waiting didn’t look convinced as I released Lydia. I quickly scrambled up, desperately trying to explain myself. “Her leg fell asleep, honest! I was just trying to get her feeling back!” Leah didn’t look convinced as her gaze flickered from me to her master.

“And, pray tell, how did her legs fall asleep?”

“I… was using her as a lap pillow…” My voice shrank as I answered, and the black-haired girl just stared at me with a slight smile. “S-Stop teasing me!” I ran away, back toward the dorm building, as the shame of my own actions gave chase.

***

“That must have been rough. I’m proud of you for enduring, my lady,” Leah smirked at me as I lay dumbfounded in the grass. Did that really just happen?

“Don’t patronize me. I’m still your master.” I slowly sat up, the numbness in my legs having long disappeared. Leah helped me to my feet, but now my legs were unsteady for another reason.

“Well, at least you know she doesn’t hate you, right?” My face flared as my attendant continued to poke fun at me.

“Hmph. Maybe I’ll have Audrey take over your duties for a while. How’s that?” My counter-attack didn’t faze the black-haired girl at all, as her smile turned devious.

“It seems you’d quite enjoy that, wouldn’t you, my lady?”

***

“Here are some more budget applications.”

I nodded, not looking up from the document already occupying my attention as Sasha Rose placed a stack of papers on my desk. We were in the student council office and are currently the only ones present. At the moment, I had the brown-haired girl only performing basic tasks, but much like her sister, she was a swift learner. Soon, she could do some of the more in-depth paperwork that the senior members usually do.

“We’re back!” The door to the room opened as two students entered. These were the only other council members so far, though I still planned on appointing two more.

“Ah. Brandon and Yuzuki, Welcome back. I hope you didn’t run into any issues.” These two were the only former members who returned this year. The others all had prior obligations or had graduated.

“None at all, as usual.” The brown-haired boy shrugged his shoulders, his hands behind his head. Brandon was a commoner but also the heir to a successful merchant family. That alone wasn’t enough to get him into the academy; he had an incredible mind for mathematics and logistics. His carefree demeanor was met with a glare from Yuzuki.

“Be more respectful! That’s the princess you’re talking to!” The black-haired girl had black eyes to match, features commonly found among the citizens of the Yamada Islands. She was a foreign exchange student, but even I didn’t know much more then that. Her grades in magic were top-notch, and she consistently outscored her classmates in most other subjects. They were two years below me, and it was their third year on the council together, so their bickering was nothing new.

“You’re always such a stickler for the rules; you should lighten up, Yuzu!” The pair continued to squabble even as they sat down and stole some paperwork from Sasha to look over. I smiled to myself as I watched. Even if they fought like cats and dogs, at least they efficiently performed their duties. I glanced at Sasha, but she seemed to have tuned out the commotion.

I returned my gaze to the document I was working on. It was the preliminary work for the annual tournament. Every year, students could participate in the tournament to showcase their developing skills in both magical and physical combat. Participation was entirely optional and had no bearing on one’s academics, but many scouts from the knight order and court mages attended to survey potential candidates. It was an excellent opportunity for noble children who wouldn’t inherit their respective houses, commoners, or lower-ranked nobles to rise through the ranks.

It wasn’t set to start for another couple of months, but what weighed on my mind was Audrey. She had taken a surprising interest in her combat training and seemed to enjoy her sparring sessions, even if she had lost every time so far. I had a feeling she would want to participate, but while her existence wasn’t wholly unknown to the other students at the academy, her circumstances were.

My eyes drifted to Sasha again, still diligently filling out forms. Sasha isn’t daft. Based on their relationship, there’s a decent chance she realizes who Audrey is pretty quickly. An unbidden sigh escaped me as I filled out the necessities on the form. It would be a while before the tournament is even announced; I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it. Who knows? Maybe they will have reunited by then anyway.

As much as I wanted to throw the two of them in a room together to work out whatever reservations Audrey may have had, I still had to play politics. It wasn’t out of the question that if the Duke learned of Audrey’s survival and her status as a Divine Guardian came to light, he would demand she be returned to his custody, and I refused to allow that to happen.

A quiet sound drew my attention as I rubbed my brows in frustration.

“Here, You look a little tired, so I made this.” Sasha placed a cup of warm tea in front of me, and the slight scent of camomille wafted from the surface, soothing my exhausted mind.

“Thank you so much. I wasn’t aware you could brew tea.” It wasn’t usually something noble women learned, having maids and such to do it for them. The girl twirled a brown lock of hair around her finger bashfully.

“I learned to make it for my sister… She had a tendency to overwork herself.” The sad look in her eyes made my heart hurt, but I was happy to accept something she did for Audrey.

“Well, I shall enjoy it as I’m sure she did.” The warmth spread through me as I sipped at the tea. Sasha returned to her chair to continue her work after pouring cups for Brandon and Yuzuki. They both thanked her gratefully, and the room fell into a comfortable silence. After finishing the paperwork for the tournament, I pushed it from my thoughts as I focused on the more pressing event.

Most of the council's work at the start of the year was club and budget applications, so it only took a few hours every day for the four of us to finish. However, the main event of the first term was the homecoming ball that would happen in a couple of weeks. So, I also spent a lot of time in the academy’s ballroom, planning decorations and refreshments.

Every dance had a theme; it was something Luke started while he was at the academy, and I wanted to continue. My hope was that it would become a full-fledged tradition after I graduated since the dances before then were basically the same as the balls of noble society, and those were boring! Kids needed to have fun, and the students looked forward to the themed dances more than ever. This year's Homecoming theme was “New Beginnings,” with a night-time motif. I smirked at the coincidence; the whole thing seemed tailor-made for Audrey, and the idea had come from none other than her own sister.

“Let’s hang the lights like this,” I pointed around the room, indicating various pillars and such to hang decorations on. “We’ll use some mystic stars around the center of the room.” Mystic stars were magic tools. They were lamps shaped like stars that used wind and fire magic to float around the room, leaving behind little sparks as they went. Since this would be Audrey’s first time at an event like this, I went all out to make it as unforgettable as possible. We drew up blueprints and planned every detail thoroughly, down to the shape of the cups.

Outside of planning with the student council, I also enlisted Leah and Lucia for another plan.

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“I want to ask Audrey to be my partner to Homecoming.” Saying I was nervous was an understatement; I was essentially confessing my feelings by doing this, but my attendants were always the closest to me, and I’m sure they both already had suspicions.

“Of course, my lady.” my reliable lady-in-waiting nodded.

“We’d be happy to help.” Lucia grinned, then went deadpan with a blank look. “I don’t know how much longer I could stomach watching you two flirt around the bush.” Her uncharacteristic comment shocked me.

“Was it really that obvious?” I mumbled, wringing my hands together in embarrassment.

“Obvious as the sun on a clear afternoon, Your Highness.” Her sky-blue hair moved as she shook her head in exasperation. “Not that the girl in question seems to notice.” Her comment was like a dagger straight to the heart, but Audrey couldn’t be blamed for that. Her view of herself had been warped, but I intended to do everything I could to fix that.

***

“Begin!” I dashed forward at Mr. Tressum’s signal, water already coating my hand as I attempted to close the distance between Leah and myself. I threw a ball of water at the black-haired girl, but a gust of wind redirected it just enough that it flew over her head.

Leah responded by gathering air in her hand before launching the projectile at me. While I couldn’t see wind magic all that well, I could sense the mana surging at me. I swiped my hand upward, creating a water blade that sliced the attack in half. The blade continued onward, but Leah sidestepped it before using her magic to fly into the air. Damn it.

“Do you really like flying that much?!” I yelled as I dodged a wind blade aimed in my direction. A few strands of my scarlet hair fell to the ground, but I didn’t have time to complain and dove behind a dirt wall. Just like the first time we sparred, Mr. Tressum created some obstacles for us to use. Unlike the first time, however, I had weeks of practice and training. She still has the upper hand, but if I can just surprise her… I focused all my mana directly below my feet, forming and condensing water but not letting it go. Not yet. I had taken inspiration from the move Lucia had performed to scale Lydia’s flame wall when school first started but had made one slight adjustment.

Finally, Leah floated overhead. We were in the same position as our first spar, but it would end in a different result this time! As soon as I saw her, I released the water beneath me, shooting me upwards several times faster than Lucia had done. However, she easily performed it when I showed her as well.

The distance quickly closed between us, and Leah’s eyes widened as I nearly tackled her out of the sky. We grappled briefly, but Leah couldn’t maintain the flight magic with the added weight, so we crashed toward the ground. Since it was a magic spar, we didn’t move actually to strike each other, even in close quarters, but we each vied for dominance to restrain the other.

The lady-in-waiting used her wind magic to push my hands away, increasing and decreasing the air resistance as it suited her. Her mana control was impressive, especially considering she didn’t have much combat experience. The series of close-range magic attacks was hard to keep up with, and my gym clothes soon had a couple of tears from them. I just can’t match her sheer output yet, but… I had only been using my water for defense, creating localized barriers on my body to bolster my resistance, but Leah missed one crucial thing.

“Got you,” I said with a smirk, and Leah looked down in surprise as a wave of water encased her body from the ground up. It takes significantly more mana to launch a spell away from yourself. Even a Novice mage like myself can detect the increase in mana to anticipate attacks. But using my own body as a vessel and moving the water along the surface? In the heat of battle, it can be hard to sense such a minuscule movement, and that's precisely what I had done. While Leah had been focused on the magic on my upper body, I lightly touched her foot to mine and unleashed my magic as soon as I did. Manipulating the water, I restrained her arms behind her back and forced her to her knees. Everything but her head was covered as she hung her head in defeat. Or so I thought.

“Surrender?” I asked, a bit ecstatic about my first victory. But Leah suddenly smirked up at me. Her brown eyes flashed with confidence. “Wha—” and a scream escaped her mouth. I was blown backward, colliding with a nearby obstacle and slumping to the ground. I hadn’t reacted in time and failed to soften my blow with water, so my body ached all over.

What was that?! I coughed the air out of my lungs and looked up to see Leah standing over me triumphantly, magic circulating in the palm of her hand, ready to be unleashed on me. My ears were still ringing a bit, but thankfully, I hadn't completely lost my hearing.

“Sound magic. It’s a branch of wind magic. Sorry for keeping it a secret, but I figured it would make a good lesson.” She smirked and let the magic she was holding dissipate. She held a hand out to help me up, and I gratefully accepted, taking a few deep breaths as I steadied myself.

“Alright, it’s my loss. Again. Thank you for the spar.” I shook off the lingering disappointment as Lydia, Lucia, and my two instructors came over to go over a post-fight lesson.

“You have improved significantly in controlling your output, Audrey.” Mr. Tressum said, adjusting his glasses. It was true. I could control how much water I used and when, compared to my first couple of spars, it's a significant difference. “Not to mention your resourcefulness. If Leah hadn’t used sound magic, you would have won.” He looked to her for confirmation, and Leah nodded her head.

“I wanted to keep it a secret for as long as possible. Having to use it this early in the year means you’ve made amazing progress, I think.” Leah said with a genuine smile. How could I be depressed after that?

“Now that I know, I’ll win for sure next time!” I said emphatically, and everyone else just nodded at my determination. Next up is swordsmanship, and I’d be sparring with Lucia. My physical training really shone through here. I still couldn’t land any hits on either Lucia or Sir Theodore, but I could spar for much longer. Lucia only sidestepped and parried my blows, even giving advice and reminders about my stance mid-fight along with Sir Theodore from the sidelines. My wooden sword was soon knocked out of my hands, and I lay on the ground, panting in exhaustion. The position reminded me of Lydia, laid out in the grass, flushed and panting from my touch. It’s not like I did anything untoward, alright?! I had no idea who I was yelling at in my head, but It felt like someone was judging me.

Lydia has been a little distant since that day two weeks ago. Maybe she hates me now? The thought brought my spirits down, and I looked around for my friend, but she and Leah seemed to have left. Lucia noticed the frown on my face and my wandering gaze. She giggled into her hand, her sky-blue hair tied into a ponytail swung with the movement.

“If you're looking for Her Highness, she has council business to attend to.”

“It’s not like I was looking for her specifically. I was just wondering where she went…”

“So you were looking for her,” I grumbled another argument, but it seemed there was no point.

“Does she… not like being around me anymore?” I unconsciously wondered aloud and bit my lip.

“Why would you think that?” The knight asked, a little concerned.

“It’s just… I did something she probably didn’t like…” I was too embarrassed to explain fully and bashfully brushed a few strands of red hair out of my face. Lucia’s face morphed into understanding before breaking out in laughter. I didn’t appreciate her laughing at me like that, and my glare only served to make her laugh harder.

“Leah told me about that! I can assure you that is absolutely not the case.” She said, wiping a tear from her eye.

“But she hasn’t been practicing with me as much in the mornings, and our conversations have felt strained…” Lydia was my first friend, and the thought of losing that terrified me. The lady knight finally caught on to my worry and knelt down next to me.

“I promise it isn’t as bad as you’re thinking. She’s just been busy preparing for something, and you’ll find out tonight.” She winked at me. Her brown eyes matched her gentle smile. “Alright, stand up. I’m sure Sir Theodore has many things to say about our match.” I groaned as Lucia pulled me to my feet, and we walked over to where the knight captain patiently waited.

***

I’m so nervous! I fidgeted restlessly in front of the small fountain at the courtyard's center. Audrey had her sparring sessions earlier today, though I couldn’t stay to watch her fight with Lucia due to preparations for tonight. It was the night of the homecoming ball, which would start shortly, and Leah and I had spent hours decorating one of the smaller courtyards, getting everything just right so I could ask Audrey to go with me. My gown was sleeveless and went down to my feet, which was the only thing preventing me from pacing so I wouldn’t get the hem dirty. It was silver, with a darker layer that glittered in the colorful lamplight and crossed diagonally down my chest. It was a simple but elegant design.

“You look amazing, Your Highness!” Lucia gushed as we waited for Audrey. Leah had spent an hour curling my hair and doing my makeup; I wanted to look my best, after all. Currently, my lady-in-waiting was helping Audrey into her dress, though I’m sure the poor girl didn’t know why she was getting dressed up. It was possible that Audrey had overheard talk about the dance while we were in public spaces like the cafeteria, but that didn’t seem to be the case. At least it didn’t seem like she knew, which meant my surprise was bound to have a good impact.

Suddenly, a strong gust of wind blew through the courtyard.

“That’s Leah’s signal! She’s going to be here any moment!” I breathed deep and slowly exhaled as Lucia hid behind the fountain. Leah walked into the courtyard a minute later, guiding a blindfolded Audrey. Leah met my eyes before telling Audrey to count to thirty before removing the blindfold.

“I didn’t tell you to blindfold her!” I whisper-shouted at Leah as she walked past me to join the knight.

“I thought it’d be more interesting like this!” She winked at me before disappearing behind the fountain.

I turned my attention back towards my hopeful date for the night. She finished counting and slowly removed the blindfold, blinking at the change in light as she stared in wonder all around the courtyard. Magic lamps flicker with low, colorful flames, and mystic stars I had swiped from the ballroom preparations floated in a lazy circle around the fountain. The redhead seemed in awe of it all before her blue eyes landed on me, and I could’ve sworn time stopped.

She wore the same dress I did, but hers had short sleeves on it, and the dark, glittering sash crossed the opposite way mine did. Her scarlet hair was done up in a beautiful braid dotted with subtle ornaments that fell down one of her shoulders. She was stunning, and I couldn’t bring myself to look away.

Audrey moved first; maybe it was wishful thinking, but she seemed just as entranced by me as I was by her. She stopped a foot away from me, a blush creeping up her neck as she spoke.

“W-What’s all this, Lydia?” She looked at me up and down. “You look gorgeous, and we match, apparently.” Her bashful smile knocked the wind out of me, and I stuttered my opening line.

“Y-You look stunning yourself, Audrey!” I cleared my throat nervously. “U-Um… The homecoming dance is tonight! I was hoping you’d go with me… as my partner.” Great! I totally blew that! I’ve spoken better in front of foreign royalty!

But Audrey didn’t seem to notice or care about me tripping over my words as the blush overcame her whole face.

“I would love to… If you are fine with someone like me.” She whispered quietly, but her words struck a nerve with me, and I laid a gentle hand on her shoulder. Her eyes met mine again as I spoke.

“Don’t say that, Audrey.” I took her hand in mine, intertwining our fingers like lovers do in all those novels I read. “There’s no one else I’d rather have at my side.” A gentle breeze blew through the courtyard with my words, causing her red hair to flutter, and the fountain's water suddenly burst into little floating hearts—Those meddling attendants. But the smiles on both Audrey’s and my faces were priceless as we made our way to the ballroom, hand in hand.

As we entered the room, all the students near the entrance turned to look at us. I felt Audrey’s hand flinch, but I refused to let go. If there was to be a future for us together, we had to pave the way ourselves, which started here and now. I donned my best royal smile as we walked through the room. There were no social obligations tonight, which meant there was no need for me to separate from Audrey at any point. I looked up at her beside me; her face had gone pale from all the attention, so I squeezed her hand to get her to look at me.

“Hey, it will be okay. I’m right here, remember?” Her beautiful blue eyes regained some clarity as she gave me a thin smile.

“I know. I’m just worried about Sasha.” She heaved a quiet sigh, and I could tell she was fighting the urge to run away. But I held her hand so tight there was no chance of that happening.

A song started up, one of the waltzes Audrey had been practicing in class with Mr. Tressum. “I do think you need to speak with her, but only when you’re ready. For now, let’s dance!” I dragged her onto the floor and assumed the man’s position. Audrey hesitated but took my hand and put the other on my shoulder. A squeak escaped her as I slid my hand around her waist and pulled her a little closer. “We can deal with the situation if we run into her tonight.” I stared into her eyes. “I want to be the only girl on your mind right now. Please, let’s have fun and give me your undivided attention, alright?” I hit her with the biggest puppy dog eyes I could, along with my sweet whispers, and it seemed to be effective as her face once again matched the tone of her hair.

“O-Of course.” We moved through the steps of the dance, Audrey only stepping on my toes a couple of times, but even that charmed me. The rest of the world seemed to fade away as we focused only on each other, laughing and grinning, getting lost in the moment. When the song finally came to an end, and the world fell back into place, I performed a deep bow and spoke in as gentlemanly a voice as I could.

“Thank you for the dance, my beautiful lady.”

“It was my pleasure, my handsome princess.” She moved into an elegant curtsy that showed all the practice she had put into etiquette since coming to the academy. We stared at each other for a moment before breaking out into giggles as we retook each other’s hands.

“Can we go grab some water? I’m so thirsty.” She fanned her face with her free hand as we exited the dance floor and moved towards the refreshments. I noticed Lucia and Leah having changed into some butler’s uniforms to blend into the staff keeping an eye on us. Leah shot a thumbs up my way when our eyes met, and I just rolled my eyes. At least the uniform we bought Lucia is getting some use. Audrey grabbed a glass of water from the table, took a sip, and admired the room's decoration. The dance hadn’t started till after sundown to match the night motif, and the magic lamps through the room were all set to their dimmest settings to set the ambiance. Mystic stars left behind sparking trails, and Audrey seemed to follow one with her eyes.

“That’s the same thing you used in the courtyard, right? They are so pretty.” I nodded in agreement before smiling mischievously.

“I swiped a few during preparations just for you.”

Her face glowed with happiness as I said that, and all the hard work I’d put in, both into the public and private events, was well worth the stress if this was my reward. After resting for a bit, we took to the dance floor again. I introduced her to Brandon, Yuzuki, and a few other classmates. They all clamored to compliment us in our matching dresses and said how perfect we looked while dancing. Yes, This is exactly what I wanted. I knew most of it was flattery, but these students would report to their parents about the night. Rumors will spread among high society, paving the way for me to secure our relationship. I was aware that most nobles in same-sex relationships hid it out of fear of being ostracized, but with the princess openly showing off like this? Hopefully, it will encourage others not to be so ashamed of who they love.

I could have hidden it until later and laid the necessary groundwork behind the scenes for our relationship to flourish, but I didn’t because of one thing. I simply couldn’t hold back anymore. I still intended to do what I needed to do in the shadows, of course, but I wasn’t ashamed of who I loved, and I intended to make that known.

Audrey and I danced and laughed the night away, inseparable. I didn’t wish to dance with anyone else and refused to allow anyone to ask my date. She didn’t know how to say no, after all. She was mine all night long, and as the night wound down to a close, we crossed back through the courtyard where the night had begun. Audrey paused before the fountain, her hand still interlocked with mine as I waited patiently for her to speak.

***

The water gushing from the fountain seemed to sparkle in the lamplight. I still held Lydia’s hand in mine, awkwardly trying to organize my thoughts before I made a fool of myself. I was grateful she was so patient as the minutes ticked by.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve felt so loved.” I guess I’m just going for it! I had wanted to start more subtly, but my true feelings just continued to pour out. “Not since my mother died, not since the little moments I managed to get with Sasha…” I sat down on the fountain's edge, and Lydia followed suit. Those emerald eyes looked at me gently, urging me forward. “After all those years of torment, I had thought myself incapable and undeserving of love.” Her grip tightened in mine, and I stared at our joined hands. “Ever since you found me, it was like I had been transported to one of those fairytales I always read to Sasha. But I didn’t get a handsome prince on a white steed.” I smiled at her, her eyes rimmed with tears as she listened. “A dazzling princess took my hand, her family welcomed me with open arms, and I realized for the first time what a real family should be.”

I knelt in front of her. The dress would get a little dirty, but it was a sacrifice I was willing to make for this moment. “At first, I was content just being by your side. Then, when I started to train, I resolved myself to be your knight.” I spoke from the heart, allowing the words I’d held back for so long to escape. “I didn’t realize… no, I intentionally ignored the feelings growing inside my heart. I didn’t dare to dream of more than what you’ve already given me, but I finally understand. I still want to be your knight.” I paused, preparing for the next few that would change my life forever. I met her eyes, but her expression seemed to wither as she processed my words. A small laugh escaped me. “But I also want to stand by your side as an equal and partner. For as long as you’ll have me.”

“I also—” My finger pressed against her mouth, stopping her confession. I already knew what she was going to say. I’d known, deep down, how she felt for a long time. But I wasn’t ready yet.

“Please, wait.” I sucked in a deep breath. “I am not yet worthy of this. Of you. There is something I must resolve before we can move forward.” Tears pricked at my vision, and I gave my best smile to ask my selfish request. “Would you be willing to wait for me?” That’s right, I still need to face my past. When I set my sister on her own path to happiness and free her of that wretched house, I can only then stand proudly beside you as ‘Audrey Rose.’ I raised our joined hands, laid a gentle kiss on her hand, and waited for an answer. A long silence passed, and my anxiety grew by the second before she finally spoke.

“Fine. I’ll wait.” My head shot up to look at her. “But only on two conditions.” Her emerald eyes looked at me unflinching. Suddenly, she pushed herself off her seat, wrapping me in a tight hug. Blonde hair filled my vision as she continued. “Whatever you’re struggling with, please… let me help you.” Her voice was pleading, and I could feel her trembling as she held onto me tightly. That’s right, I'm no longer alone.

“Of course.” I agreed and returned her embrace. We stayed like that for a while, both of us sitting on the ground. I’m sure Leah will forgive us for dirtying the dresses. Finally, we parted slightly. “What about the other condition—” and something soft enveloped my lips. Lydia’s eyes were closed as she kissed me, and after the initial shock, my eyes drifted shut as I sank into the feeling. It was a slow, deep embrace that lasted for a few minutes before she finally broke away. Her cheeks were rosy, and I’m sure mine matched as we both gasped for air.

“That’s my condition. You were mistaken if you thought I’d settle for a kiss on the hand.” I couldn’t help the giddiness rising in my chest, so I brushed some red hair that had come loose behind my ear. I brought our foreheads together as we stared into each other's eyes.

“Sorry, I wasn’t prepared… and it was my first kiss.” Her eyes widened at my words.

“W-Well, it was my first as well.”

“Then we should do it again to ensure it fulfills your condition, right?” Is that my heart or hers that’s pounding so loudly? I thought as we fell into another embrace.