Chapter Three; Learning To Walk

Four months later...

Okay, Rubia. I stare outside my barred prison with a frown on my lips, and my eyes narrow. One more time, I think to myself, reaching my hands out to grab the bars. Just one more time, you can do it. One...Two...Three!

Using as much strength as I could, I pull myself up so I'm now standing inside of my crib. I hold onto the bars tightly to make sure I don't fall, and I steady my swaying body. I breathe out heavily after using up almost all of my stamina just to get myself to stand.

Being an infant sucks I think to myself as I look through the bars, glancing around the dark shack.

It's been four months since my rebirth as Princess Rubia, and I've lived inside this small shack with Archer since. The shack is a simple one-room area. A small bed in the corner, a fireplace next to it, some rundown dressers and a couch in the middle of the room with a small table in front of it. My crib is next to the bed, a safe distance from the fireplace that is always lit.

I haven't seen or heard from Rubia's mother or twin brother since the day Archer and I fled into the forest. And judging from the mumbles and laps around the room the past couple of months, Archer hasn't heard anything either.

I grip the bars tightly as I look at the small bed, where Archer lies asleep. I listen to his breathing patterns to make sure he's asleep and not on guard duty. After I confirming he was asleep, I use my remaining strength to climb over the bars and fall to the small pile of blankets and stuffed animals I had made earlier.

I breathe a sigh of relief finally being free from the crib and I slowly crawl out of the pile of softness. I crawl until I'm right in front of the body mirror that rests on the wall near the foot of the bed.

In four months my hair has grown excessively, barely passing my shoulders. I stare at myself in the mirror, studying my appearance. Soft porcelain skin, soft silver hair that can make even the moon jealous, and the most gorgeous red eyes I've ever seen, which resemble a sea full of glowing rubies.

If this is my appearance at only four months old, how will I look when I'm sixteen? Rubia truly was a beautiful girl. But it serves as proof that I've been reborn as her and not some unknown side character.

In the novel, it's mentioned how the twins, Prince Rohan and Princess Rubia took in the appearance of their father the most. While the most of the other children bore a resemblance to both of their parents, the twins only resembled the Emperor.

My heart aches at the thought of becoming Rubia.

It's not like I've been rejecting the idea that I have become Princess Rubia, I've accepted the truth long ago. But I couldn't shake a tiny part in my heart that humoured the idea of being a simple side character. One that did not have a death flag ahead of her.

Not that I'll allow myself to die a second time of course.

Since Archer had brought me here I've been creating my survival plan, starting with building the strength in my arms and legs so that I can start walking. I only achieved crawling three weeks ago, to the amazement of Archer, but walking has been challenging for me.

Normally, a child will take about a year to learn to walk. But at only four months old I'm able to crawl and stand up using support. As long as I keep practicing the way I am I'll be able to walk around in no time!

I need to learn to walk and talk as soon as possible. Once I learn those I'll be able to move on to learning to read and write. Thankfully I'm able to understand this world's language, so it shouldn't be too difficult to understand reading and writing, after all, I have the mindset of a nineteen-year-old.

Moving away from the mirror I grip the blanket that hangs off the foot of the bed, gripping It tightly I pull myself up so I'm standing. Okay, this time I'll try to take two steps on my own! For the past three weeks, each night when Archer is asleep, I climb out of my crib and teach myself to walk.

Even after four months together, Archer is still clueless about raising a child. During the day he'll hold me by my underarms and have me stand on the bed, but he doesn't help me move or walk.

So I've been slowly teaching myself for the past three weeks. When will Rubia's mother and brother return? I think to myself as I lift my leg. Rubia's Mother will teach me properly. I can learn faster with the help of adults, who know how to handle a child. I carefully place my foot down before lifting my other one and taking another step.

Alright. Two steps. I think to myself as I release my hold on the blanket. My tiny body sways as I stand on my own, using my strength I take one step. I panic as my body sways even more, but I'm quick to gain my balance again. Breathing out heavily I calm my racing heart.

A sudden movement from the bed next to me startles me and I turn to look at the large lump underneath the covers. Archer moves from his side to his back, letting out a huge breath before he continues sleeping.

Turning away from the bed I focus on my task at hand. One down, one to go. I think to myself as I look down at my feet. This is so difficult. Lifting my leg I go to take another step when suddenly a loud noise scares me, causing me to lose my balance I end up falling onto my butt.

Ouch, I think as I turn my head towards where Archer is sleeping, but the noise isn't coming from him. The front door vibrates as something bashes into it. I whip my head around facing the door as another thump echoes through the small hut.

Rustling beside me diverts my attention to Archer who leaps from the bed, the blanket slipping off the end partially covering me. Luckily I manage to uncover my head, but the blanket wraps around my tiny body. Archer is standing next to my empty crib, his hand tightly holding onto a dagger.

Archer is frozen, his back to me I'm unable to see his expression, Oh no, I think as I struggle to get out of the blankets, he can't see me, he must be thinking I've been killed by one of the princes!

I manage to get my hand out and I reach out towards Archer. "Bah!" I cry out. Don't do anything stupid! I'm over here! "Bah!" I call out again.

I can see Archer flinch slightly and he quickly turns around, and I froze. For a split second, I thought I saw a red hue in his eyes. But as he blinked his eyes returned to normal and all I saw were soft honey eyes, with tears in the corner.

I stare at Archer as he's quick to scoop me and the blanket I'm trapped in up in his arms and holds me close. Yeah, I'm just seeing things, after all, I've stayed up most nights to learn to walk. I think to myself as I grip Archer's shirt.

Another bang echoes in the room and Archer holds me tighter against his body as he holds up the dagger. He and I stare at the door as a click sounds before the door slowly creaks open. Who is it? no one should know about this place! Is it one of the princes? Or is it the emperor?

The door slams open, and the cold winter breeze mixed with snow blows inside extinguishing our fire leaving the once-warm room suddenly cold. Through the blizzard outside I can make out a cloaked person standing in the doorway.

Archer notices the cloaked figure as well as he firmly keeps his back against the farthest wall from the door. Using his free arm to try to hide me. "You are trespassing on Lady Ophelia's property! I suggest you reveal who you are and leave before I take extreme action!"

I'm shocked.

I look up at the sixteen-year-old boy who I suddenly don't recognize. Only yesterday he panicked and nearly began crying because he dropped my baby food, and now he's stiff and alert, his voice that once sounded like a child is now deep and menacing as he threatens the unwelcomed guest.

"Calm down Archer" a voice that reminds me of candy.

I turn to the door and watch as the blizzard removes the hood from the mystery person revealing curly pink hair, and piercing shappire eyes. A four-month-old boy in her arms wrapped in a cloak himself.

"I've only calm to visit my daughter and her knight whom I missed dearly."

It's Rubia's mother! Ophelia!.