"Your Highness Charles is here," Edith said, knocking on the door. I looked through my journal once before closing it and tucking it back into my drawer.

 

"Enter," I said, adjusting my glasses as Charles entered the room with Edith close behind. I leaned back from my chair and looked at the two giving them a warm smile.

 

"Thank you, Edith. Do you mind getting us some tea?" I asked.

 

"Yes, any preference, your highness?" Edith asked, looking at me, and she looked nervous, and I chuckled, and she flinched.

 

"I trust your judgment," I said. I shifted my attention to Charles, and he looked at Edith with a confused look.

 

"Of course, your highness," Edith said, leaving the room. I looked over at Luna, and she was reading a book she picked out earlier and said she needed entrainment and that this was the next best thing. I assume she felt my gaze on her because she peaked over the book locking eyes with me before she held the book even higher to cover her face. Even though her face was covered to hide her emotion, it didn't do anything about her hair, which was bright pink. I heard Charles clear his throat. I looked over at the older man, who stared at me like he was studying me.

 

"My apologies for disrupting you, but I need to discuss some problems that I have been happening, and I believe they need to be addressed," I said.

 

"Of course, Prince Stephen," The old man said.

 

"Let's start with my visitors. I would be happy if Lady Angela stopped visiting the palace unless a royal family member requested an audience with her," I said.

 

"Are you sure because you seem very adamant about having Lady Angela come and go as she pleases without any hassle?" Charles asked.

 

"Yes, I am sure," I said.

 

"Can I ask why you have a change of heart about Lady Angela's visits?" Charles asked.

 

"Well, it is fairly simple. If I want to become ruler of this land one day, I need to stop acting like an irresponsible fool and start acting like a fair ruler like my father," I said. I moved my glasses off my face and looked at Charles, who was looking at me on the verge of tears, holding his hand close to his chest.

 

"D- do you really mean that, sir?" Charles said with his voice cracking.

 

"Jeez, you moved the man to tears," Luna quipped, resisting the urge to roll my eyes.

 

"Yes, Charles, I do," I said. The older man sniffed and nodded.

 

"Is there anything else you need from me, sir?" Charles asked. Right on cue, Edith walked into the room with a tray full of tea.

 

"Yes, I have a few requests for staff changes, and the first one will be that I would like to make Edith my personal maid," I said, and I heard loud clattering. I looked over, and Edith was placing the plates on the table even though a look of shock was painted on her face.

 

"Really, your highness?" Charles asked.

 

"Yes, I believe that she is the perfect fit. I fell ill not long ago, and she was the only person to step up and care for me even though she was not directed to, and ever since then, she has been caring for me. She is also someone I can trust, which I need right now," I said.

 

"As you wish, your Highness. And about the other request?" Charles asked.

 

"Yes, I would like to dismiss Magus as my personal knight," I said. It was only for a split second, but Charles looked somewhat relieved. The older man cleared his throat, clasping his hand behind his back and nodding.

 

"Now, your Highness, I know that I sound repetitive, but is there a reason why the change of heart for the knight Magus?" He asked. I sighed and pushed my chair back, walking over to the sofa and sitting beside Luna, watching the older man. Edith handed me the tea, and I smiled at her taking a sip of the sweet tea. I happily sighed, placing the cup down before giving Charles a looked gesturing him to sit. The man nodded and sat on the couch across from me, and took the cup of tea that Edith handed him.

 

"I assumed you have noticed how the knights have been treating me, yes?" Charles nodded, taking another long sip of his tea. "Good, I have also discovered that reason because of how Magus has talked about me to the other knights. Also, he has been treating me like I am not a royal family member. I don't remember us being close enough to talk to each other like that," I said, bringing the cups to my lips and taking another long sip.

 

"Very well, I should start the processes. I do assume that you have a knight in mind?" He asked.

 

"Yes, I do. It is my mentor," I said.

 

"Your mentor?" Charles asked.

 

"Yes, I have been practicing sword training with one of the best sword masters there is," I said.

 

"That is wonderful, your Highness. Might I know who he is?" Charles asked.

 

"She," I said, taking another sip.

 

"Pardon?" Charles asked.

 

"My mentor is a woman," I said, and Charles almost dropped his cup, and Edith gasped.

 

"Jeez, they are acting like I am some madwoman," Luna grumbled.

 

"But, your Highness, would it be easier to appoint someone from the imperial army? Why are you going this far to have an outsider guard you?" Charles asked.

 

"Because I needed to be surrounded by people I trust, and she is highly trained, and I trust her with my life. Before you say anything, it is too late now. I just received news that she will be arriving by tomorrow morning," Charles shut his mouth and nodded. "Well, thank you, Charles," I said.

 

"Would you like me to prepare a room for her?" He asked.

 

"Yes, I would like for her to be as comfortable as possible because she is traveling from very far," I said, and Luna laughed. I smiled in my cup before finishing the last of my tea, glancing over at Luna and smiling, flipping through pages of the book.

 

"Very well. Will that be all?" Charles asked.

 

"There is one more thing I noticed my study has been cleaned," Before I could thank Charles. I noticed that he gave Edith a nervous glance shaking his head slightly before looking back at me. Ah, I see it now. "Charles, I would like to find the person in my study and bring him to me," I said, placing the cup down.

 

"And what would you do with them?" Charles asked, placing his cup down as well.

 

"I think that would be between me and that person, don't you agree?" I said.

 

"O- of course, sir," Charles said, rubbing his hands on his legs.

 

"Great also can you train Edith with the material she needs as my new personal maid and help set up my mentor's room," I said.

 

Is that all, your Highness?" Charles asked.

 

"Yes, you both are dismissed. Thank you for your time," I said, and the two exchanged looks with each other and gave me a bow before leaving my study. I leaned back and looked at Luna, deep in her book.

 

"I told you that the old man would flip," Luna said, flipping a page, not tearing her eyes from the book.

 

"I know, but who would be better to ensure I don't get killed than you?" I asked.

 

"That is true," Luna said. I smiled and leaned back, and sighed, staring at the ceiling.

 

"Do you think things will get easier?" I asked.

 

"Honest?" I nodded, and she closed the book, finally looking at me. "In my 120 years in life, I don't think things are supposed workout this easy," Luna said, opening the book up again.

 

"I thought so," I said. I pinched the bridge of my nose, sat in the room with Luna, and started to work out the next step of my plan in my head.