Nate bit his bottom lip. Ephraim sighed, “Don’t do anything that could jeopardize your chance of training her highness. She’s counting on you to give her good news by the morrow.”

Nate’s nose flared when he exhaled deeply, swerving his head away from Ephraim, “I know what I have to do! I’m just worried about the princess is all!”

“Our princess is fine. Worry about yourself, idiot.”

Their childish bickering came to an abrupt stop when they finally reached Emperor Isaac’s door. He’s aware that the both of them get along like cat and mice but they push their differences aside when it comes to even bigger matters.

They were comrades-in-arms, the commanders of Emperor Isaac’s army. The left and right of his majesty, the emperor. It’s an honor to stand beside such a powerhouse, especially one who held fifty rubies on his person.

Nate and Ephraim only held ten each, the same amount as the potential crown princes. The difference is that their mana pool can’t expand anymore than it already has. It reached maximum capacity a few years ago. Nate was the first to reach his. Then Ephraim soon after.

Because Nate had already reached his capacity, Ephraim had thought that he could surpass him. It fell flat when it felt like his mana was ‘touching the ceiling.’

For having the most rubies in their unit, Emperor Isaac trained them himself. The years of ruthless training paid off when they had to clear an A-class gate near the outskirts of the empire. Even though they barely got along, their synergy was unmatched. A dream team, if you will.

Together, they led the empire’s knights and suffered little to no casualties in the gate. They brought spoils of unimaginable wealth to the empire. That synergy was what made the emperor keep the two by his side. He rewarded them with wealth, titles and land, with Ephraim being the strategist and Nate being the sword.

Ephraim went ahead to knock on the door, “Your majesty, we’re reporting back.”

Emperor Isaac’s voice boomed, “Enter.”

The two men entered his office. They got closer to his desk and stood at attention. Isaac had his reading glasses on to read the extremely small text on a classified document. When his peripherals spotted the two, he took them off and set it at the side.

“So,” Isaac began. “How is the princess?”

Ephraim went first, “Her highness is well, your majesty. She decided to go to the training grounds and the garden for some fresh air.”

He raised an eyebrow, “What was she doing at the training grounds? She shouldn’t have training clothes.”

Nate went next, “Her highness was wearing training clothes when we came across her on her floor, your majesty.”

That doesn’t make sense, Isaac thought. She should only have the dresses that I got for her.

Emperor Isaac went into deep thought. He knew that he wasn’t around Princess Genevieve as much as he would like. With the state of affairs and delegating the clearance of gates to his sons, he’s been swamped with work. He hoped that Empress Delilah was taking care of the sick princess to the best of her abilities and giving her the love and attention he wished he could give to her.

Instead, he showed his love through adding more money to Princess Genevieve’s budget so she can have everything that she wanted. As far as he knew, the empress only said that she got dresses. So where was this training outfit coming from?

Nate decided to continue after a moment of silence, “Her highness went for a run in the training grounds while the knights were in the mess hall, your majesty. She wanted some stamina training.”

Isaac looked at him, “She even went for a run? Why would she do that when she’s been bedridden all this time? She just woke up from a month of being in a casket.”

“We were worried about it too, your majesty,” Ephraim said. “But it seems like the princess wants Sir Nate to continue training her since he was the one who gave her pointers on how to breathe while running.”

Nate flinched, “I-I was getting to that, Sir Ephraim!”

Ephraim scoffed, “You were taking too long. A snail would be faster than you at getting to the point.”

“What did you just say?!” Nate was ready to swing at him.

“I do hope that you weren’t acting this way in front of my daughter,” Emperor Isaac warned.

Nate and Ephraim flinched when Emperor Isaac placed emphasis on his words. They stopped bickering and stood at attention. They try not to act this way in front of him but their distaste for each other is just as unmatched as their synergy. They were friendly enemies. Rivals but comrades. They trust each other with their lives on the line but also not at the same time.

“Don’t make me regret sending you two to keep her company.” He glared at both of them. “She’s not one to complain when she doesn’t like something.”

They got on one knee and bowed their heads in unison, “Yes, your majesty!”

“As for you, Sir Nate,” Emperor Isaac looked at the blonde knight. “As long as the princess is fine with it, you may train her whenever she’s ready.”

Nate’s eyes widened as he looked up at Isaac, “Y-Your majesty…”

Isaac sighed, “It’s not like the princess has mana, let alone rubies. Her aptitude is pretty much nonexistent. If it’s just simple training to get her stamina up, I’ll allow it.”

He almost wanted to cry again and kept his head down, “Thank you, your majesty. Your benevolence knows no bounds.”

“Be sure to get your paperwork done by the end of the week or I’ll change my mind,” the emperor added. “I know how you are with training so don’t slack off if you really want to do this.”

He smiled through his tears, trying to keep them from falling, “Yes, your majesty.”

He’s such a baby… Ephraim let out a soft smile. But I’m glad that he could get another chance.

A touching moment was soon halted by the sound of calls for help. Pleading and crying was heard down the hallway from Emperor Isaac’s office. Both Ephraim and Nate stood at the ready, eyeing the door with caution. They couldn’t feel anyone’s mana in the vicinity besides their own and the emperor.

“What’s going on out there…?” Isaac squinted his eyes at the door.

Footsteps stopped from beyond the door and a familiar voice screamed out, “Your majesty, your most neglected daughter is here!”

“Your majesty, your most neglected wife has arrived!”

That announcement sent random shivers down the emperor’s spine. It felt no different from the one from years past, when the late Empress Angelica announced herself and simply came into his office, ready to unleash her fury upon him.

Now the same thing was happening with his daughter, Princess Genevieve.

Eyes widened when the princess announced herself and simply kicked the door open, slamming it in the process. How she was able to open the door with just her feet was an enigma.

Sir Ephraim and Sir Nate shouted in unison, “Princess?!”

“Hi guys, I know that we just got acquainted today,” Her sarcasm was seeping out, putting her foot back down. “But unfortunately, I have a situation that needs to be rectified.”

All eyes landed on the maid that Princess Genevieve dragged with her. It was the same maid that they saw going upstairs with the bowl of medicine. She was a pathetic mess, crying from both her ears and nose and sniffling in pain.

“What’s the meaning of this, princess?” Isaac’s question sounded like an interrogation.

“Why, hello to you too, father dearest,” she smiled venomously. “I hope I’m not interrupting something important. I won’t be long.”

“Why, greetings to you too, dear husband. Hopefully, I’m not disturbing you. This will only be but a moment.”

She acts just like her mother. He flinched.

Nate and Ephraim watched between the father-daughter duo as they exchanged words. Neither backed down from their staring contest, but it was clear that Emperor Isaac wasn’t winning this one.

While the maid was getting man-handled by the princess in one hand, Ephraim realized that in the princess’ other hand was a piece of steak, dripping brown liquid. He remembered when Nate said that the maid had brown liquid in the bowl instead of red. That same brown liquid was dripping from the steak. Realization kicked in and his expression grew dark.

“Sir Nate,” Ephraim looked at him. “Apprehend that criminal at once.”

“You don’t even have to tell me twice.” He stepped in front of Princess Genevieve. “Princess, please don’t dirty your hands with filth. Allow me to bring the perpetrator forward.”

She looked at him, “Are you going to be lenient with her?”

“Why would I be lenient with anyone who would dare harm a single hair on your head, your highness?” Nate was almost offended. “I might as well hang my sword if I’m going to be soft.”