Chapter 2

Alice 

It was almost midnight when we reached home last night. A couple of realizations hit me, and somehow, those realizations made me want to become a more humble ruler in the future. Ianie, the kid, slept in my arms last night as I tried to give her comfort before my cousin and I went home. It was such an experience that I've treasured.

This morning, I woke up early, just as I do every day, for my daily training. Contrary to the common belief that a princess's life is easy, it's far from the truth.

I dressed in a pair of well-fitting black shorts, matched with a snug, buttonless long-sleeved top. My hair was neatly tied up in a bun, and I wore comfortable combat boots. Today's training focused on archery, though I wasn't sure if my cousins, Harriet and Karina, would join me. We had different trainers. After getting ready, I headed to the underground training area.

"Good morning, Princess," Niccolò, the head of the castle's weaponry, greeted me. "Are you ready?" he asked. I nodded in response, and Niccolò already knew the King's orders for my training.

Upon reaching the training field, I was surprised to find my cousins already armed with bows and arrows, receiving instructions from their trainer. I waved to them, and they returned the gesture. I hurried over to my instructor, wondering if I was running late or if they were simply too early.

Before the actual session began, there were some brief introductions. Lourde, my trainer, explained the proper technique and demonstrated the correct stance for aiming at the target in front of me. Initially, I struggled to follow his instructions, missing the center circle repeatedly. My trainer scolded me a few times for missing targets that either flew outside the board or didn't score any points. However, as time went on, I began to grasp the proper stance, hand placement, and focus. Eventually, I started hitting the target consistently.

"Great job, Princess. Well done. Now, let's move on to the Arch Agility Test," Lourde said. He explained that this test involved hitting moving targets quickly. Sweat started to drip down my face, and my arms began to feel numb. We had been training for five hours straight without a break, and fatigue was setting in.

I retrieved 12 arrows and loaded them into the quiver. Glancing at my cousins, who were still practicing target shooting, I noticed their determination despite their exhaustion.

"FOCUS!" my trainer snapped, jolting me from my fatigue. Could I not have a short break?

"During training, always remember the first rule: do not let yourself get distracted," he added, to which I simply nodded.

"Raise your bow when you're ready," he instructed.

I took an arrow and nocked it on the bowstring before raising my bow. As soon as the machine started, a swarm of moving targets rushed toward me. There were so many of them.

I began to shoot at each of the targets, some of which moved quickly, while others moved more slowly. I didn't miss a shot, and none of the targets reached me. But as time passed, I grew weary, and my arms grew heavier, making it increasingly challenging to aim. I did my best, but the targets seemed endless. With only five arrows left and about ten targets still moving, I needed a plan to win.

I changed my strategy, intending to take out two targets with one arrow. I positioned myself and aimed at the first two targets in front of me, managing to hit both. I continued this tactic, but unfortunately, I missed the last target, and it reached me.

I had failed.

Disappointed, I sat down and massaged my numb arms.

"It's alright, Princess. Failure is part of the journey. Your performance is impressive for a beginner," Lourde said, patting my back to encourage me.

"Tomorrow, we'll be practicing outdoors. It's real-life training, just like we would do in the palace field archery," my trainer explained, widening my eyes in surprise. We were still beginners; why were we moving to this advanced level of training so quickly?

Field archery was where palace knights trained, and it wasn't just a sport—it was focused on combat. If I recalled correctly, it would be us against them. I glanced at my cousins, who were still in the Arch Agility Test Training.

"Can't we practice a little more here, Lourde?" I asked, feeling that the training process was rushed.

"Archery training is different, Princess. Our goal is to quickly familiarize you with archery by simulating real battles in the field. Only then will you be able to fully utilize your skills. Injuries may happen, but we'll ensure they're not severe," Lourde explained, emphasizing his point.

I tried to understand, but something didn't feel right. As we discussed further, a scream interrupted us.

"I CAN'T DO THIS ANYMORE!"

I jumped at the sudden shout, realizing it came from Harriet's direction, on the left side of the training area. She wasn't shooting arrows at the targets; instead, she seemed to be fighting them. This was unusual for Harriet, as her combat skills were the best among us. The trainers struggled to contain her. What had happened?

I rushed over to her with my trainer following closely. Harriet rarely acted this way unless she was hungry. I realized it was past 2 p.m., and we hadn't had lunch yet.

"What's wrong?" Karina asked first, as she helped the trainer restrain Harriet.

"I told her I'm hungry, but she won't let me take a break," Harriet complained, pointing to the female trainer. One of the rules was that we couldn't take breaks unless absolutely necessary, but eating was essential. Did the trainer want Harriet to faint? I hadn't seen this trainer before; she must have been new, so I decided to let it slide.

"Have you not read the 'Trainer Rules'?" Karina asked sternly.

I sensed trouble brewing. When Karina, usually quiet, got angry, it was best to tread carefully, for she was silently formidable among us.

The trainer quickly apologized and begged for Harriet's forgiveness. Karina seemed ready to say more, but I intervened, dismissing the new trainer.

"Enough for today; let's return to our chambers," I said as I left the training area.

"Harriet, please don't do that again. It's not how a Princess should behave, and if they report you to Dad, you'll likely be reprimanded. Learn to control yourself better next time, and if anything happens, let us know immediately. You could have seriously injured the trainer if it weren't for Karina," I said calmly, expressing my thoughts.

"Sorry, I got carried away," Harriet replied, pouting as she clung to Karina's arm.

This was what usually happened when we trained together. As I sighed, I realized that some things never change.