The abandoned princess watched her family from a distance. They were smiling together, she wondered if she could smile like how the new princess does.

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Dance.

Dance wasn't my forte. I was so bad at it that I might as well have two left feet.

"Sorry, brother," I apologize with a sullen face as I removed my foot.

Two meetings had already passed and yet we were still in the basic movement of dancing. Would it be much better if I just gave up than keep stepping on Aiden's foot over and over again?

The vibrant and rich sound of each note continues to play with the utmost care by the artist. Can I just listen and be mesmerized by the pianist's performance without dancing?

"One two and three. One two and three. Stop looking down, princess!" The instructor spoke loudly reverberating around the almost empty room. "Listen to the music and let the beat guide you."

"Y-yes."

"You don't have to say sorry every time you step on my foot, sister," Aiden spoke softly against the music. "Like I said I won't feel any pain because of the body enhancement magic. I can strengthen my skin, so stop worrying."

Ahh, how convenient.

"Look up, princess. The prince's eyes are still attached to his face and not on the floor. One two and three! One two and three! Now twirl!"

With an awkward twirl, I found myself not tripping and kissing the floor for the first time.

A proud smile awaited me when I faced Aiden. "As a celebration for that perfect twirl, do you want to sneak out tomorrow since we don't have any lessons? The Winter Carnaval will open tomorrow at the Central, let's go and watch the performance of the Viera Troupe," Aiden said as he led the dance.

My eyes quickly shone in excitement. I couldn't care less about the carnival or the troupe but the thought of being out of the palace wall made my heart beat faster that it almost made me want to sneak out today.

"Alright, that's enough for today," the dance teacher spoke halting the music to a stop. "The party is just around the corner so please do practice when you have time, princess. It would be awful if you embarrass yourself in your first appearance in front of the public. And as your teacher, I won't let that happen." She looked at me full of determination with fire in her eyes like I was her lifetime goal. "I'll see you next week."

Only when the door shut leaving just me and Aiden did my brain finally comprehend the information. I quickly asked in a panic, "Pa-party?! What does she mean by the first appearance in public?"

What kind of party is she pertaining to? Is it– Don't tell me...

"It is what she said. It's already been decided that you'll be attending my birthday celebration." Aiden took my hand and dragged me towards the door. "You looked about to pass out, you must have been so hungry after dancing for two hours."

Aiden's birthday was on January fourth. I could feel the dread crawling slowly on my skin with the thoughts of appearing in front of the public's eyes. Two weeks is not enough for me to prepare myself.

"W-wait. I—"

"You can rest in the dining room, we don't want father to wait."

News after news came hitting me on the head.

"Why? " I wheezed in fright. I really think I might pass out. And whether I pass out or not I know for sure that Aiden will still drag me to where the king is. The last time I saw Edmund was months ago on my birthday. Did I do something to gain his attention?

I just want to lay down on the floor and curl myself into a fetal position...Ugh, maybe after visiting the restroom.

"Did I not tell you that we'll eat lunch with our father?"

No, you did not!

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L U C A S

Silence hung heavily in the air, broken only by the sound of cutlery against the plate echoing throughout the dining hall.

I, Lucas Bismarck, the second son of Earl Bismarck, couldn't let this occasion pass. An opportunity to watch these three filling up their role.

It was a sight to see. A family was dining together in the Emerald Palace, consisting of a father, a son, and a daughter. A family full of misunderstandings.

The king who was glaring down at his plate probably struggling on how he would approach his children or start a decent conversation. With him deep in thought, he failed to see Elaine's visage.

The abandoned princess who kept on drinking the tea that I requested to serve just for her. She looked like she was on the verge of running away and passing out at the same time.

The crown prince, who drastically changes after his training camp. His attitude somewhat became like Edmund's, always frowning and scowling when his sister wasn't there. He sat on the table, opposite from the princess, enjoying his food unaware of how uncomfortable the other two were.

"What a family," I mumbled watching them dine together near the wall with the other knights.

My gaze went back to the princess when I felt that intense stare. But alas, even if I want to I could only give her my charming smile as an assurance that she's doing great while her blue-green eyes were asking for help.

"Father, are you busy tomorrow?" Prince Aiden broke the long silence hanging between the three of them.

"Yes," his majesty shortly answered. But the unexpected question from Edmund made Princess Elaine choke on the tea. "...Do you want to do this again tomorrow?"

She tried to stop, forcing herself to silence the sharp sound of wheezing but ended up coughing louder. Her teary eyes glance fearfully at the king.

I watched Edmund furrow his perfect brow ever so slightly in worry and open his mouth. "Are—"

"Are you alright, sister?"

"Ye- Yes," the princess answered after her coughing subsided.

Interrupted midway Edmund shoved a piece of meat into his opened mouth, a cover-up, and quickly glared at me as if he knew that my mouth was curling in amusement.

Whoops..!

"If father is busy tomorrow we can eat together next time, right sister."

The princess nodded.

Both siblings were staring at each other in silent secret.

It seems that we'll be investigating all day tomorrow outside the palace walls just as planned.

A number of children from the slums were reported missing just yesterday. We would have left this case under the hands of The First Order if it were simple human trafficking but a priestess-in-training was kidnapped in broad daylight and right in front of the church today.

If their suspicion was correct then they needed to find the girl who was blessed with light magic and the children soon before it was too late.

The unsettled feeling sat in my stomach.

"How are your lessons?" Edmund asked his children.

Instead of speaking Princess Elaine listened with Edmund as the prince spoke, chattering about what he had learned and wanted to learn without being interrupted by the father and daughter.

Watching them made me remember how Prince Aiden came barging into Edmund's office just to brag that he got an embroidered handkerchief from his sister. I knew that his majesty wanted to show off the flower crown that the princess made but decided not to. Later on the crown flower with preservation magic—in order for the flower to not wither in time—was placed on the glass shelf in his office.

And so an unknowing showdown had begun inside the king's office.

My smile widens. "Should I perhaps ask for a gift?"

I couldn't help but silently laugh imagining how the father and son would react if I gloated right at their face when I received my present.

There's no way that Princess Elaine wouldn't give me one.

"Are you alright, Captain?" My fellow knight asked with a worried look. "Captain?"