“Used to?” Veronica raised an eyebrow.

“It’s a long story, princess,” Nate’s eyes were downcast for a second. “I don’t want to bore you with the details.”

She blinked. Technically, she has no right to know Nate’s past. She did, however, know how it feels to bottle something up for so long. Who knows what’s going through his head when he thinks about his ‘long story?’

Veronica placed a hand on his shoulder, startling him, “If you want to talk, I have a lot of free time. You can always train me then.”

She saw a twinkle in his eyes, “Princess…”

“Of course, I’m not going to force you. You’ll have to ask the emperor if it’s okay to step away from your duties to train me, too.”

She continued, taking her hand off his shoulder, “I’m too weak for my own good and it’s healthy to get out of bed everyday. I would really appreciate the guidance.”

Veronica jumped when she saw tears come down his face. She’s not one for waterworks. Ephraim sighed, coming between the man and Veronica, so he can have a little bit of privacy.

“Princess, your heart is pure,” Ephraim began. “You don’t have to choose this emotional buffoon just because he gave you a few pointers. I can always ask his majesty to have one of his official instructors to help you with stamina training.”

Veronica shook her head, “No. I want it to be Sir Nate. I’d like to be selfish, just this once.”

And I think he needs a little variety throughout the day too… Veronica thought. He looks like he could jump out of his own skin.

A little sniffling was heard from behind Ephraim, “I’ll see if I can get his majesty, the emperor’s permission, princess. I can only hope to arrive at your door tomorrow with good news.”

Ephraim rolled his eyes, “For a knight commander, you’re incredibly emotional. I’m starting to have my doubts that you can truly lead an army.”

“That means I didn’t lose my humanity yet,” Nate sniffled through his joke. “Unlike someone I know.”

“I guess you’re okay for the princess to see your pathetic face,” Ephraim was about to move.

Nate kept him there, “Hey! My eyes are still red!”

He shouted at him, annoyed,“It’s going to be red for a while regardless!”

“Why are you so mean, Sir Ephraim?!”

“You put this on yourself!”

Veronica stifled a laugh, “Pfft!”

They act like brothers who don’t care about each other but their actions speak differently. Nate acts like the energetic and annoying younger brother while Ephraim acts like the cool and collected big brother. It was nice to see.

“Alright, alright.” Veronica wanted them to calm down some. “Really… How did my father ever deal with you two?”

A shiver went down both of their spines, “P-please don’t ask…”

—

Since the knights were to come back within twenty minutes, Veronica thought it best to take a gander in the garden before going back to her room. On the way there, Nate and Ephraim taught her a few breathing techniques.

“Learning how to hold your breath for a long period of time comes in handy when it comes to emergencies,” Nate pointed out. “I’m sure you’ll never need to do so since the palace is the safest place to be in, but you can’t be so sure.”

“Our princess won’t need to because she will have guards on her at all times,” Ephraim walked ahead of them. “Speaking of which, I didn’t see any guards posted on your floor, your highness. Do you not have a personal guard?”

“I’m supposed to have one?” Veronica asked, putting a finger to her chin and tilting her head.

The question caused the two young knights to display a menacing aura. Veronica understood immediately.

Empress Delilah stopped Genevieve from having her own personal guard. Maybe it was because Genevieve was bedridden and going back and forth between her room and the empress’. In fact, Genevieve would go in the garden with the empress’ knights.

When did this girl ever exercise her right as a princess? Veronica blinked. That damn empress made her out to be a prisoner.

Ephraim’s eyebrow twitched, “Yes, your highness. Every member of the imperial family needs to have a guard when traversing. We’ll have to bring this up to his majesty as well.”

“It’s preposterous for a princess, a firstborn, no less, to not have a guard. Even if you were bedridden, what if an assassin came through your window while you were sleeping?!” Nate was boiling with rage. “Exactly what was that woman doing for your wellbeing anyway?”

“Sir Nate,” Ephraim put a finger to his lips. “These halls echo. I suggest you watch what you say from here on out unless you want your tongue hung up on the palace walls as a trophy.”

“As much as I don’t mind you slandering her,” Veronica began. “Please calm down, Sir Nate. I need you around as my trainer.”

He twiddled his thumbs, blushing a little, “I’ll be good just for you, your highness.”

She couldn’t help but pat his head. Adorable.

They gazed upon the gorgeous garden and relished in its splendor. Rows of roses were riddled against round rocks, paired by petunias playfully poking their petals by the entryway. A myriad of marigolds marvelously aligned with sporadic spider mums over yonder. Daisies danced daringly about and poppies propped up prettily amongst them. Not to mention the wonderfully arduous arrangements of large anthuriums bunched beautifully with bleeding hearts.

This garden was paradise for the eyes and a symbol for the emperor’s. The same color that Genevieve shares, and by association, Veronica too. She knew about the garden from digging into the girl’s memories but seeing was believing in this aspect. And what a treat to see her cursed eye color given some form of recognition.

But it made no sense. It was obvious that Genevieve adored this garden for not only the solitude, but the color. Since that was the case, why is her room so different? How is it that she shied away from expressing herself in the comfort of her own room? Why would Empress Delilah bar her from even that?

The more Veronica thought about it, the more confused she was. Genevieve was just a princess. She was of no threat to the throne as far as she knew. Someone with little affinity to mana, let alone a single ruby, shouldn't have a target on their back.

So why was one on hers…?

Veronica stared off into space hard enough to find herself in the center of the garden, standing in front of a large red anthurium among its tiny ones.

Don’t they call this thing the Queen of Hearts? She touched its large leaf. Does this one symbolize anything other than the emperor?

“Hey,” Veronica slowly turned around to the two knights. “By chance, do you know anything about the previous empress?”

Both of them flinched. There was a brief silence before Ephraim spoke up, “Unfortunately, we wouldn’t know much, your highness. We were appointed as commanders only a few years ago. The only things we’d know about the late Empress Angelica are through his majesty.”

“Such as…?” Veronica was egging the conversation.

“I remember two things,” Nate responded. “One was that the late Empress Angelica had almost as many rubies as his majesty, the emperor. Maybe around forty. The second was that she was a summoner mage.”

“So my mother was not only strong, but a summoner. What about his majesty?”

Ephraim stepped in, “His majesty is well known for his pyromancy. His red eyes are proof of his capabilities with fire.”

She blinked, “Red eyes…are proof?”

Ephraim nodded and continued, “There’s also the fact that the emperor comes from a family descended from ancient dragons. It only makes sense that his magical element is fire.”

“Please don’t be discouraged, princess,” Nate quickly said. “Even if red eyes means an affinity to fire, it can mean more than just having magic. Since you’re a descendant from dragons and summoners, you’re probably more immune to fire than in tune.”

Veronica opened her mouth to say something but immediately thought against it. They don’t know that she actually has mana and can manipulate it. They’re trustworthy to tell but it’s way too early to let anyone know when her stats are scraping the bottom of the barrel. She can throw a punch, but can she take a hit? Highly unlikely.

Once she gets her stats up, then maybe she can tell them. Until then, she’ll just pretend that she’s weak so as to not draw too much attention.

But, now she has a general idea why the empress was so hellbent on killing off the princess in the first place.

Emperor Isaac has fifty rubies. Late Empress Angelica, Genevieve’s mother, had forty rubies. Now there’s their offspring, who carries twenty-one. Last time she checked her memories, Dominic and Winslow, her two little step-brothers, both have ten rubies each. Empress Delilah only has five.

Was Princess Genevieve…poisoned with suppressants…?