As he had said, Prince Chaker was waiting for me once again after my lesson, ready to take me to the next. I felt like he was watching me too closely as I went out the door, which made me straighten my already straightened back, and hold my head higher. He shouldn’t have anything to point out.

I floatingly made my way over to him, curtsied, greeted him as proper manners would have it, and took his outstretched arm without a hint of the disgust I felt towards it.

“Is something the matter today, Lady Amy? I feel like you have been awfully quiet, both this morning, and then again now. The times I saw you with Sir Windsor you didn’t strike me as the quiet type” He broke the silence.

This was totally him trying to get a reaction out of me. No doubt. He knows fully well why I’m silent. This was just a stupid hit at me, mentioning Sir Windsor.

The pit in my stomach flares up as I imagine how good it would feel to punch that smirk from his face. His polite-act was enraging me even more. The guilt I had was overpowered by my absolute hatred for this man I linked arms with. Boy… He was totally a boy. A few years younger than me, if I remember correctly.

Calming myself before I spoke, I took out violent and aggressive actions on him in my fantasies and got it out of my system. For now.

“I did feel a bit tired this morning, Prince Chaker, but nothing worth being worried about. Now I am mostly silent since I had the most interesting history lesson, in which my mind still seems to wander” My voice felt unfamiliar to me as I spoke sweetly.

“So hard-working you are, Lady Amy. Please take care and try not to overdo it. Try to not go to bed too late” He said it as if he knew I had staid up late crying myself to sleep. He was most likely just guessing.

“Thank you ever so much for your concern, Prince Chaker. I will take care in the future”

I wanna hit him I wanna hit him I wanna hit him. CAN I PLEASE HIT HIM?

Escaping to my mind isn’t a good idea either, as it could lead to a careless mistake. I can’t wait till this day ends.

I had never been more grateful for my lessons. I dreaded when they were over and I had to walk around with Prince Chaker again.

The day, however, ended without me making any mistakes, and a promise, which felt more like a threat, that he would see me again tomorrow.

Just as I breathed a sigh of relieve upon returning to my room a knock interrupted me.

In came Prince Horus. Two days in a row. Whatever did I do to deserve that?

“Good evening, Lady Amy. I know you have had a tiring day, and as such I will only have a short stay” He said. The worry in his voice felt calming, though he probably wouldn’t admit it if I said anything.

“As you got escorted to your room, and not an isolation cell, I take it today went well. I had some food smuggled into the cell of Sir Windsor earlier today, so you do not need to concern yourself about him”

Huuuuuh? Was it out of concern for me feeling guilty or was it out of concern for his deaaaaar Sir Windsor he had food smuggled in, despite saying he would be fine either way? Maybe a mix. In any case I appreciated it.

“Why in the world are you wearing that stupid grin? I do hope that you haven’t shown it to Prince Chaker”

After it being pointed out, I notice I am smiling for the first time in what feels like forever, but is probably only a day.

“Noooooothing” I say, teasingly. It’s funny how I feel relaxed with him all of a sudden.

The deep sigh he lets out feels familiar and safe.

“Lady Amy, a day has been set for our betrothal party. Lady Sandoval has promised your manners would be up to par in a month, and as such, please work hard. It is your first real test as a part of the royal family”

HUH? Already? But she keeps sighing at me? I didn’t think my manners were anywhere near there yet!

“Also, I was debating whether to tell this to you or not, but as we are already engaged, and as you are already caught up in this entire thing, I do believe it is your right to know. This is why, even though I know you are tired, I need to tell you this now”

Oh-oh, this sounds serious all of a sudden. The lightheartedness I felt just a second ago vanished just as fast as it came.

“My brother, Prince Chaker, is a sad existence”

WOW, not really where I thought he would start, but okay then. Also, what part of him is a ‘sad existence’? To me it seems more correctly to say that it is sad he exists. Not that he himself is a sad existence.

“By the time he was born, our mother, the second empress, Lily, was very sick and very weak. Giving birth to hi, of course, did nothing good for her condition either. Because of this, he almost never saw her. As such, he was brought up by his tutors and our father” His tone is sad, but his face doesn’t give anything away.

Also, is it just me or am I getting yet another history lesson?

“In particular, there was this one tutor, that had a rather… Alternative way of teaching. Couple that up with our father never showing weakness or kindness, and the results speak for themselves”

Huh? Is it just me or did he just brush super easily through something that sounds super terrible? What’s with the alternative way of teaching?

“I, too, did not pay him any attention either. Something I still regret” He wasn’t lying. His voice told me that.

Ah… A thought hit me.

He wasn’t just my gay baby… He was a real person… He had a story. The people around him had stories. This is a novel, but this is also real life. MY reality.

How could I be so stupid? Him opening up to me like this sparked something in me.

I will protect this person in front of me.