“For your information brother, I refuse to tell you anything more without the proper compensation. I do have a debt to repay.” I said matter-of-factly, dining on my breakfast sausage and eggs.

“So it’s true!” Alphonse shouts, bristling in rage. “You became Father’s apprentice?!”

“Why, rumors spread fast in the palace don’t they” I say, smiling coyly, “especially when they’re true.” Alphonse turned red with rage. “Fear not brother, I dare not impose on your succession to the throne, I am but a mere apprentice.” I took a bit of sausage, knowing full well the weight of my own words. A day ago, I wouldn’t dare say such a thing. Having power is a really great thing isn’t it. Alphonse was about ready to flip the dining table, knowing well that being an apprentice for the Emperor was basically a direct challenge to the succession of the throne. He knew exactly what I was implying by saying such a thing: that I am clearly mocking him. The other brothers watched in utter awe, not knowing what to say at the exchange between Alphonse and I. Armand just ate quietly without even a glance in our direction, lost admiring the color of his sausages.

“Anyways, as I was saying brother, I cannot tell you anything more about my trade secrets without the proper compensation.” Ezra pouts at me disappointedly.

“Price.” He says, determined to make me talk. I would say 'a million ruby crowns' but obviously that would never work out.

“Hire me as an advisor for the Tower brother. I would be able to provide you with all my knowledge under legal pretences and be paid in return.”

“Advisor?” He mumbles, looking down in thought.

“Yes. It would be shameless of me to ask for compensation everytime you require my help, so it would be better to regulate our exchange under a contract. And this way, my knowledge could also act as an exclusive source of information for the Tower. I would be contractually bound to provide only the Tower with my knowledge and no other third party. So, brother? Does it sound like a fair deal to you?” Ezra looks at me doe-eyed and nods. “That’s great to know. I shall send you a letter in some time regarding my conditions of employment. Hehe.” I giggle happily. Watching the cute expression of joy Ezra was showing on his face made my heart swell with joy. He’s gotten cuter lately.

“You seem to have it all figured out for yourself, haven’t you, sister.” Kalei says, with a hint of animosity. “It seems it was only a few days ago you were a timid and naive pushover of a princess, and now, you’re Father’s apprentice and Ezra’s advisor. What brought about such a change?”

The room went into pindrop silence, probably because everyone had been wanting to know the answer to that question. The question was simple enough and so was the accusation behind it. ‘You are not the Princess Mia we know, so who are you?’

“I suppose I woke up on the right side of the bed one morning brother.” I say this with a confident smile, hoping they drop the topic. It’s not that I didn’t expect them to ask about this, I knew people would ask sooner or later, I just didn’t have a proper enough excuse ready yet.

He scoffs, “That must’ve been some bed, to change a person entirely.”

“It was the dream I woke up from on that bed that changed me, brother. A dream I almost died from, one in which I was deadly sick and no one I cared for had visited me.” The men visibly stiffened. “A nightmare unlike any other. I suppose the fright I felt and the relief after waking up to be healed, changed my perspective on life. I realised that I should invest in myself more, since it seems I couldn’t trust in anyone else.” An uncomfortable silence hung in the air and I watched them with cold eyes. “Don’t you suppose a near-death experience could change anyone, brother?” I didn’t even try to hide my resentment. The more uncomfortable they feel, the better it would be for me because they’ll probably never mention this topic again.

“I-I suppose so..” Even Kalei didn’t have anything to respond with. After staying in awkward silence for a bit, which I thoroughly enjoyed from watching their uncomfort, Armand clears his throat.

“The room was to your liking?” Armand asks me, making eye-contact.

“Beyond my liking. You have outdone yourself Father.” I say with genuine gratitude, smiling.

“Hmm.” He said with a blank face, though his eyes softened a bit in the corners. The brothers all sat in their chairs quietly during our exchange, though Alphonse showed obvious surprise when I called Armand as ‘Father’, he was clearly displeased when Armand showed no signs of beating me up for it.

“Though I am curious Father as to why you chose blue as the room colour.”

“Blue?!” Alphonse yells out. The other brothers also seemed shocked.

“Yes brother, blue. Did I stutter the first time?” I say, rolling my eyes at his reaction.

“But–” Armand raises his hand to interrupt Alphonse.

“It is your favourite colour, is it not?” Armand asks.

“It is, but I was informed it wasn’t one that Father was fond of.”

“My fondness of it shouldn’t matter, I won’t be the one frequenting there.”

“I suppose. But I’m still curious, would you mind telling me why you don’t like blue?”

“I do mind.” With that, he doesn’t say anything more.

“Ok then. It is but a color.” I drop the issue, not wanting to provoke him even more. “Anyways, I was wondering, Father, would I be able to visit the palace library today? I didn’t want to go without asking permission from you first.”

“You are the Emperor’s apprentice now, you have access to anything under my domain. There’s no need to ask for permission.”

“Really?! I will take those words to heart then!” I giggle in joy. My eyes lit up at the idea of visiting the imperial library. According to rumours, the imperial library had a collection unlike any other in this world, filled with forbidden works of art and literature from the dark ages of history, a limitless amount of books on all kinds of subjects, and ancient tablets and artifacts dating back from the time humans lived in harmony with other species. It was nothing short of a paradise for anyone who hungered for knowledge. Many scholars around the world dream of being able to visit the library once in their lives. I couldn’t wait to go check it out for myself. I wonder if the library is actually all that people say it is to be.