I sat at the table quietly, feeling the glares of my brothers Akihiko and Kiyoshi. And why shouldn't they be jealous? The throne rightfully belongs to me anyway.

But those who mattered. Kazuki and Ken didn't even bat a lash. It's no secret that neither Ken nor Masaro covet the crown. But Kazuki... No one knows what Kazuki thinks.

It keeps him safe, and it gives me more chance to take the throne. As much as I'd hate to put so much effort into competing with anyone, my freedom is not my own...

If I were to have the crown, I might have a competent queen by my side in just a few days. I just have to keep her happy, if I can do that she'll trust me.

But she's not as simple as she seems, she was purposely pressing her beliefs on me, knowing that I couldn't say no.

Her beliefs are modern, practical, and quite different from the beliefs in Slade.

In Slade, you must act a certain way or lose your life. That is what this kingdom believes in. She's trying to help us.

But unless she changes the whole kingdom... Those who share such beliefs would bear only loneliness and heartbreak, the price on our heads out weighing our own value as people.

This kingdom cannot be changed without blood...

"I heard that you spent time with the Princess today," our father said with a glance.

I sighed internally. Day by day, I grow weary of my own facade. But I'm scared for my mother. I'm the only one who she depends on for her sanity...

"Yes, she's quite naive, but she has skill I'll give her that," I sneered.

Father nodded in approval.

Sometimes I wonder what father is really like. He never showed his face at any of our births. He doesn't tutor us directly and only calls when there are affairs of the palace our relatives want us to attend.

But despite that, he seldom shows affection to Kazuki and Ken. And that alone is a problem.

No one can know who he truely is or what he plans, as long as he obeys the word of the elders.

We are all puppets to those in power.

"I heard you learned how to cast 'spells' like a mage," he added.

He never made such conversation. But when it's about the Princess, it's like he can't stop probing for something...

"I was surprised when she told me she was trained by an imperial mage. She saw my natural talent and begged me to be her disciple," I smirked as Kiyoshi suddenly laughed.

"Ha! Tell me you rejected! A young little girl like her? Your master? Haha! It's too funny!" He laughed uncontrollably.

Though I never minded the princess as a young woman, I took whatever knowledge I could get, I cannot stand by and let him and his clan disrespect me, else my clan would have mine and my mother's head.

"At least I was chosen, how about you get her to grovel at your feet and then you can talk," I shot a glare.

"Grovel at your feet? The princess? Now that is quite interesting," my father said calmly.

With father's word behind my back Kiyoshi could talk no further and shut his mouth.

"How could you let a lady grovel at your feet? That's not very gentlemanly, if she is as gifted as you say, we must treat her with slight respect, no?" Akihiko asked with a small smile.

"You are correct, Akihiko. Why don't you try and get chosen as well? I'm sure the Princess would be charmed by your slightly feminine appearance," father snickered.

To take it as an insult or as praise is what Akihiko decides.

"I'm sure she will be, father. I'll do as you say," Akihiko smiled.

Though he acts airheaded, Akihiko knows how to behave and gain favor. He depends on it immensely...

-------------------

Day 2 of training...

"Prince Osamu," I greeted.

"You'll have to excuse me today, Princess, you have my deepest apologies," he bowed sadly.

"Oh? It's only been the second day, you can't seriously quit on me now," I said disappointed.

"Father has assigned new duties to me today so--," Osamu was cut off by a triumphant voice.

"I shall accompany you today," it was Akihiko, holding a bouquet of silver Virens, a beautiful silver flower that grows in seawater.

"Don't get too excited, Akihiko. Father sent the three of us to entertain the Princess," Kazuki smiled, with Ken by his side.

"Then I'll leave it to the three of you," Osamu glared slightly at Akihiko before leaving.

I curiously looked at Ken and Kazuki, I thought I had made it clear that I would work with Osamu first, but it seems that king Minoru has a favorite...

"We will be visiting my garden today, it's considered the treasure trove of the kingdom, but if you were to be in it, I wouldn't doubt you'd be the most precious," he smiled, handing me the bouquet.

"I thank you for your praise," I smiled and took the flowers.

Silver Virens are rare not only because they only grow in the sea, but because when dried, they turn into a shiny, comfortable, satin like cloth that's used for high quality clothes.

It's a pretty good gift.

"Then you shall lead the way, Akihiko," Ken smiled pushing Akihiko to the front as me and Kazuki were 10 steps behind them.

"What? But I--," Akihiko couldn't even protest.

"It's your garden after all, father said that me and Kazuki would choose the venue, but we were being nice when letting you decide," Ken smirked.

Akihiko could only grit his teeth and started off.

"Are you here to explain why Osamu has new duties and you plan on leaving me with Akihiko?" I whispered with a slight smile.

"What's there to explain? It seems that the Princess has already guessed what father prepared. He did say you should try to target only Akihiko," Kazuki laughed quietly.

"Alright then," I sighed.

"We've already provoked Akihiko by tricking him into choosing a venue therefore giving the two of us time to talk alone," Kazuki explained as I nodded.

"He'll try to lose you in the gardens then?" I asked as Kazuki smiled.

"His garden is more like a labyrinth, no doubt he will," he nodded.

"But that's what we want," I giggled.

"Absolutely, mother has taught us well," Kazuki laughed.

I glanced at Ken and Akihiko. Ken seemed to be talking Akihiko's ear off as Akihiko silently tried to listen in to the cause of our laughter.

"We've arrived at the entrance," Akihiko stopped as I was greeted by a daunting golden gate.

The walls of leaves seemed to travel on for miles in terms of width, to say it was a labyrinth would be quite the accurate description.

Akihiko quickly grabbed my hand and ran in as Ken and Kazuki tried to grab me back but to no avail.

He dragged me through many twists and turns, so many lefts and rights that I lost track of everything.

"You wouldn't mind me checking on something for a moment right, Princess?" Akihiko asked hurriedly.

"Oh, well I--,"

"Great, stay here," he said, going left through some hedges.

Now that I had a moment to process my surroundings I realized I was in the middle of a transfiguration garden.

A special and specific array of plants that could turn into certain material if cared for properly.

There were flowers made of wood, metal, even crystal.

"Wow," I gawked happily, examining the flowers of wood.

But something about the crystal Raspberries stood out.

I have no idea what it is but I felt a strong magic power coming from it.

Stranger still, it wasn't raw magic, it wasn't mana, it was specifically one attribute of magic. Earth.

I approached the berry bush and saw nothing out of the ordinary. Maybe it was a few earth crystals to enrich the plant? But I couldn't see them.

Though the crystal berries twinkled, there was a slightly brighter sparkle coming from the inside.

I pushed back a few thorny branches and saw it.

A spirit's Arcana.

When a spirit is summoned, they leave a bright crystal-like manifestation of their source of power and their owner's secondary source.

It's like my big tree but this one was a small daisy.

"Is this his?" I asked to myself, touching the daisy's petal. True to what Roxas had said, it drains magic when it's touched.

"How rude of you to snoop, Princess,"

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