Masaro was shocked to hear me laugh. It makes me think he wanted to insult me and make me react negatively.

But unfortunately for him, I genuinely found it funny, how he was trying to remove himself from the picture while his brothers fought for my attention.

It would make sense. He was probably forced into this. Being the youngest, he cares very little about the throne.

"They said you were a genius, but you don't seem all that competent," Masaro frowned.

"And what are those accusations based upon about my competence?" I asked calmly.

"The fact that you were attacked by a magicless drunk says a lot," he said plainly, his eyes flashing with smugness.

That hit a string. But it's not something to show.

"It was quite shocking. I almost dirtied my hands, good thing someone else did the job for me," I smiled.

No one would know what really happened. They just know I had to be saved by my father, they don't know that I almost killed my attacker...

"I thought your father had to save you," he pressed, clearly annoyed by my calmness.

"I think that's enough, Masaro," Ken glared.

"No it's alright. Leave it be," I said with a smug snicker.

The other princes looked at me with curiosity and pure intrest.

I looked at Ken and Kazuki, signaling to play along.

"Right, the Princess is benevolent, dismissing such distasteful comments," Kazuki praised.

"Please, call me Snow," I said kindly.

Osamu's expression didn't change, but he was gripping a little too tightly at his fork.

I felt an air of annoyance come from Akihiko, Kiyoshi, and Masaro.

"If the Princess permit, I would like to show you around the palace," offered Osamu gently.

"I'm sure the Princess would prefer taking a tour around the Aqua facility," Kiyoshi said quickly.

"... I have training with the knight commander... You would probably like to meet him, come if you'd like," Masaro offered begrudgingly.

He most likely wants me to reject.

"I'm more of a gardener myself. If you would choose, I could tour you around my private garden. Given there are plants that you've probably never seen before," Akihiko said with a slightly cold look.

"If you need us, Snow, me and Ken could show you to our private animal sanctuary," Kazuki said with a small wink.

If I go with Ken and Kazuki, we could talk more about tactics and preferences of the other princes.

But it would delay the process.

"Hm... So many intresting places," I laughed slightly.

I was tempted to go to the training field and see how good Slade's knights are.

"Maybe I could tour these other places next time. I would like to get a proper layout of the palace first," I said, glancing at Osamu who brightened up in arrogance.

'Let's start with the eldest'

Akihiko and Kiyoshi were displeased and Masaro let out a sigh of relief.

Ken and Kazuki nodded with a smile. It's good that they know what to do.

Osamu helped me out of my seat and escorted me inside.

He explained the palace layouts in great detail and I didn't say much. I just couldn't be bothered to fake my cheerful attitude today...

So I looked around in intrest, slightly unimpressed.

"The Princess looks a bit bored, would you like to see the private animal sanctuary instead?" Osamu laughed lightly. But his eyes showed a condescending glint.

"It's not that I'm bored but you're only explaining the layout, not showing me where things are," I said in indifference.

He was only dragging me around hallways, pointing at doors when we passed them, it's mundane...

He seemed a bit shocked.

"Well... Things like the dungeons, library, and spire of magic are no place for a princess," he explained gently.

"But those are the most interesting parts," I furrowed my brows.

"Do you not think we have those in Sterling? I came here to see what Slade was like, not come and have someone tell me what Slade is like," I said, clearly disappointed.

Osamu looked surprised. He definitely wasn't expecting this.

"Then the library we will visit first," he smiled, still showing disbelief that a princess would want to go to a library.

He thinks I'm faking it.

We went to the library and I quickly pulled out a book.

Osamu just smiled, but his look told me that 'she just probably took out some random book to impress me'

He looked at the cover and held back a snicker.

"Princess, that's a spell book for mages, I don't think you'd be able to read that," he smiled, offering to take the book away.

"Elkard, Cinten, Afteria," I chanted.

A magic circle appeared below us and out came my magic wand that I summoned.

Alzeck said that only the most powerful wizards could summon a wand befitting their personality.

The spell was easy, but I wasn't sure if it would work for me, but it clearly did.

A white wand with a blue gem at the handle.

"How could you... You can read that?" Osamu asked confused.

"Yes, I was trained by an imperial mage after all. He taught me how to read and write spells like a mage, and I even successfully summoned a persona wand," I said triumphantly.

Osamu could only grit his teeth. How could she know something that he didn't? He was older than her by 4 years and yet he couldn't grasp the spells in the mage's spell book.

"That's wonderful, Princess. You really are a genius," he complimented begrudgingly.

I smiled, waving my wand around.

"I could teach you if you like," I offered.

"No, no, I probably wouldn't get it as easy as the Princess did. It must have taken you so long to master," he shook his head.

Even now he's belittling me.

"Not at all, Prince Osamu is quite amazing as well, you could run this whole palace with your eyes closed, Prince Osamu was also very kind to me, and is the epitome of grace," I praised adoringly.

I'm surprised I could still fake it.

Osamu smiled and took my hand and planted a kiss on the back of it.

"The Princess is too kind," he smiled.

I took both of his hands in mine.

"So would you let me teach you? Please? I would so love to teach the amazing prince Osamu," I begged sincerely.

"Well... If you insist, how could I say no?" he said, brushing my hair behind my ear.

I cringed slightly at the gesture.

"Ah, I probably shouldn't have touched the Princess without permission," he said, retracting his hand as I grabbed it.

I put his hand on my cheek and smiled gently.

"I don't mind it, the small gesture was very sweet of you," I cooed, as he pulled my chin to meet his gaze.

"If the Princess likes such gestures, I'll make sure to keep that in mind," he whispered in my ear.

'I'm so close to my breaking point...'

"Then shall I teach you the basics?" I asked lightly.

We spent the whole day in the library practicing elementary mage spells.

"I believe in you, prince Osamu," I cheered as he tried to summon a persona wand.

This was like... His 10th try. I tried to tell him that 'It took me years to master so he probably shouldn't try it on the first lesson'

But truthfully, I summoned it on the first try today, he's so stubborn, trying to impress me.

He's also been annoying me with the unbearable pick up lines and touching me while I was explaining...

"Elkard, Cinten, Afteria," he chanted again.

A small breeze came in but that was about it. No grand magic circle and bright lights when I summoned my persona wand.

He finally sighed in defeat. I thought I was going to be here all night, watching him fail, good thing he gave up.

"It seems that I'm still not ready," he said dejectedly.

I hugged him and laughed.

"Who cares? You did very well for your first time! Even if you can't get such an advanced spell yet, you have to remember we're still on the basics, and I believe you'll get better if you want to," I comforted.

He seemed slightly surprised. Why? Was he expecting me be disappointed in him for not being able to do an advanced spell when he's just a beginner?...

... Oh... Wait... That's exactly what his mother did...

"The Princess really is too kind," he said, slightly flustered.

"I failed and yet you're still happy," he said with a light laugh.

"I'm happy because you tried, because you want to learn, and because you agreed to learn from me, a young girl," I replied as he flinched slightly.

"It's common knowledge that men here in Slade look down on women like me, not to mention a young woman. But you were willing to learn from me nonetheless! Prince Osamu is very open minded, and that's why I'm so happy," I praised.

His true intention was to just please me, but if he can adopt this kind of thinking and even just pretend to be open minded in front of me, that would be a good start.

"Y-Yes, unlike the elders, I think women are just as good as men, or even better than, and you are living proof of that," he smiled, going with the flow.

Liar.

"But you'll have to excuse me, I do still need rest and you have dinner with your family, no?" I asked sweetly.

"Ah... That's right... Do you think the Princess will be able to continue our lessons tomorrow?" he asked nervously.

"Of course," I smiled as he breathed a sigh of relief then escorted me to my room.

Then it was my turn to sigh in relief.

I shuddered at all the times he touched me and decided to prepare a bath.

I desperately need to be cleansed...

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°and cut!°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°