A week after my audience with the king, I was back at the castle again. My instructors for magic and swordsmanship had been selected, and today I was scheduled to meet with the knight that would be teaching me. I arrived at the palace a little early, and as I was wandering around I ran into Luminaria and her escorts.

"Lumina!"

"Tia!"

We ran towards each other and hugged. Her escorts stiffened as they saw me approach, but relaxed when they recognized me as the girl who saved the princess.

"I miss you, I haven't seen you in a while," I said.

"Sorry." Luminaria looked down. "Because of what happened, they're keeping me close and under heavy guard."

I turned towards her escorts and bowed. "Thank you for your work."

The knights bowed back to me. "It is us that must thank you, Tiana-sama, for protecting Her Highness when we couldn't."

Luminaria leaned to the side and looked behind me. "Is that thing still following you everywhere?"

By 'thing' she meant the floating katana. "Yeah, sort of." I shrugged.

"How did it happen?"

"I still don't know either." I held Luminaria's hand. "But because of it, I was able to protect you. And I wish to always protect you from now on too."

Luminaria blushed and looked away. "You're always like that."

"Your Highness, it's time for your lesson," said one of her maids.

"Thank you. I'll see you later, Tia." Luminaria waved.

"Bye, Lumina." I felt a pang in my chest as Luminaria left.

I continued on my way to the practice grounds of the Royal Knights. Towards the side was a knight turning around as if looking for something. He had short brown hair and a tall muscled figure. He looked to be in his late teens.

"Oh! You must be Lady Tiana," he said as he saw me approach him.

"Tiana Bracklin. I'll be in your care." I straightened the sides of my short culottes skirt and curtsied.

"Dan Lohrengrin. You can just call me Dan, no need for formalities."

"Thank you for taking the time to teach me."

"No worries. Besides, I'm curious about you too." Dan grinned. "They say you were like a whirlwind of death."

"I'm sure those were just exaggerations. And since I have no memory of it, it makes me wonder if I was just under some kind of magic."

"Well, we'll find out today. For now, I'll have you do some footwork drills." Dan led me onto the grounds, and instructed me on how to move. In my past life I had been in the kendo club for a bit, and took a college class in fencing, so some of it felt a little familiar.

My physical abilities did get quite a boost, as I was able to keep up the drills without feeling tired for longer than I would've before. It seemed like I had a sort of instinct for using swords too, but I still paid close attention to what Dan taught. I want to make sure to know my techniques inside and out. I can't rely on just my weird powers when our lives could be on the line.

While I was swinging a practice sword along with a group of knight trainees, someone shouted at me from behind.

"Tiana! Tiana!" It was a boy's voice that I recognized.

I turned around to confirm. "Geh."

"Is that how you're supposed to greet a prince?" Chrom frowned.

"My apologies, Your Highness, I was just exhaling from the physical exhaustion."

"Oh Your Highness!" Dan's face cracked into a smile. "Are you here to chase after the girl?"

"You got it!" Chrom gave him a thumbs up.

I looked between the two. It clicked in my head. "SO YOU'RE THE ONE TEACHING THE PRINCE UNNECESSARY THINGS!"  I kicked Dan in the side.

"It's stuff that all men need to learn!" Dan chuckled.

"He's eight!"

"You're eight too," Chrom mumbled.

I turned around. "Yeah but- argh- whatever." I sighed and resumed my sword swings.

Chrom picked up a practice sword and fell in line beside me. "Hey," he said as he swung along with us. "Marry me."

"I refuse."

"Why!"

"I'm not interested," I snapped at him.

"Hmmm. Then let's just be sword buddies for now."

I sighed. "I guess that's fine."

The knights around us all chuckled at the display. My face turned a deep shade of red and I couldn't concentrate for the rest of the lesson.

After the drills, Dan asked us to sit and observe as the knights sparred against each other.

"So," I asked while watching a knight bash a practice sword into someone's armor, "why are you interested in me?"

"Because you're not approaching me for my position," said Chrom.

"That's not enough of a reason."

"Hmm." Chrom held his hands behind his head and lay on the grass. "You're interesting. You saved my sister, you're into swords, and the way you talk and act is different."

I sighed. "And you want to marry me for that reason?"

"There's only a small pool of girls I can marry, you know? Because of ranks and factions and stuff. If I have to pick like that, I want to at least marry someone that will keep my life interesting."

I hugged my knees. His Highness was only eight, but he's already sensitive to the issues surrounding him. There must be all sorts of power struggles going on behind the scenes in the palace too. That kind of environment can't be good for a kid.

My leftover instincts as an adult from my past life reflexively made me pat and rub his head. "You're already forced to grow up so quickly..."

Chrom raised an eyebrow at me. "We're the same age, why do you act like you know more than me?"

"Because I do know more than you."

"People who say that are more childish."

"Hmph!" I pouted and turned away.

The knights finished their sparring practice. Despite using practice swords, injuries were unavoidable. Almost everyone had cuts and bruises, and there were even a few sprained ankles.

I trotted over to where they were sitting down on benches.

"May I see that?" I asked a knight. He looked confused, but showed me the sprained ankle. I placed my hand above it and invoked my magic. Gasps and shouts rang out as a warm light came out from my hand and healed his injury.

"Whoah," said the knight. "Thank you, ojou-chan!"

"You're welcome." I gave him a warm smile. "Thank you for protecting this country."

"It's an angel!" said a knight.

"An angel has appeared!" said another.

"Weh?! I'm not anything like that!" I covered my face with my hands until I recovered from the embarrassment. "I'm still only a novice, but if anyone else wants me to treat you please line up."

More shouts and whistles rang out. I healed everyone that I could. The knights all looked way more energetic and motivated to train for some reason.

Because I still couldn't control my magic very well, all the healing tired me out and I dozed off on the grass.

I woke up to find myself sleeping on Chrom's lap.

"Good morning," said Chrom.

"Waaaaaaaaa-ow!" I sat up and bonked our heads together. We both fell on the grass clutching our foreheads.

"That hurt!" said Chrom.

"Why was I on your lap?!" I shrieked as blood rushed to my face.

"You fell asleep and I was trying to make you comfortable!"

The knights were laughing at us again.

I got up in a hurry and pat down my clothes. I'm only into girls, so stop making my heart beat so much, you stupid prince!

"Y-you, you, Chrom you dummy!" I shouted and fled the scene.