7: The Sixth Princess

THE following week after Bram's visit, the Cloud Forest was at peace when the apothecary left. 

Nesca sat under the shade of a gigantic ancient tree a few meters away on the rear garden of the cabin. She was meditating while absorbing the faint essence flowing through the air as she had just finished the daily exercise task given by the system.

The misty forest had become her sanctuary. Nobody whispered about her stupidity, nor laughed at her appearance. Well, except the dangers that lurked around, everything was perfect.

Nesca would be forever thankful that Agni stayed by her side, faithfully serving her.

However, the peace surrounding her did not last long.

"Princess, you have been training since sunrise," Agni said as she approached her while meditating.

Nesca opened her eyes. "I still have a long way to go."

Agni sighed. "You are already much healthier than before. You should rest more to give your body time to adjust."

Nesca smiled. "You sound like Bram. You should be an apothecary like him once we leave this place."

Agni crinkled her nose. "I will never leave you, Princess. Besides, I think the old apothecary is suspicious." 

"Yes, kind of. But he is also good, I commend him for that."

Before Agni could respond, a cold voice suddenly echoed from a distance, followed by the sounds of flapping wings.

"Finally, we arrived at this wretched and cursed place!"

Nesca got up to check for the intruders. She saw a group of demon guards standing outside her cabin, clad in their dark armor with the crest of the royal family. Their beast mount was a Ghorzain, a black-winged horse with four horns. 

"Agni, it seems we have visitors." Nesca checked each faces at a distance.

At the front of the guards, there was a beautiful female with long black hair, adorned with precious gems. She has golden eyes and a slim figure that perfectly fitted her a dark purple dress that screamed she was royalty. At a glance, she looked human, apart from her slightly pointed ears.

"Come, Agni. Let's meet them and show our hospitality."

Nesca and Agni went to the cabin's back door so they could greet them. 

Agni immediately arched her head down as soon as they met their visitors, she gave the lady a ninety degree bow. 

"Greetings, Sixth Princess Sitri."

Nesca remained at a distance, trying to figure out the best approach.

'So, this is my sixth sister,' she thought as she kept scrutinizing her.

Sitri walked inside, her eyes scanning the simple room. "This place is a lot worse than I imagined. Even rats wouldn't want to stay here."

Nesca came to Agni's side. "Welcome to my humble abode, sister."

Sitri's lips curled into a mocking smile. "I suppose nobody expected the weakly princess to live long enough to need a better residence. Anyway, this place suits you."

Agni's face dimmed, but as a lowly servant, she couldn't afford to offend the sixth princess.

"Sixth Princess, please be respectful..." Agni said calmly.

Sitri ignored her. Instead, she looked at Nesca. "So the rumors are true."

Nesca raised an eyebrow. "What rumors?"

"That you recovered. I didn't believe it at first."

Nesca's brow flicked. "And so?"

Sitri walked closer. "I heard you were nearly dead. Everyone expected your funeral announcement."

Nesca calmly replied. "Disappointed, dear sister?"

Sitri chuckled and circled around Nesca. "How amusing. You actually gained some courage."

"I was born courageous." Nesca met her sister's mocking gaze.

"I didn't know you had a sharp tongue, Nesca. Although your appearance has not improved. You're still fat and sickly."

Agni clenched her fists, trying to gather patience. "Princess Sitri!"

"I will be the healthier version of myself soon," Nesca promised.

Sitri examined Nesca's body. "You spent years eating and doing nothing. Do you expect your body to change overnight after being on the verge of death?"

Nesca's expression remained calm. She was truly unfazed that she even laughed at Sitri.

"I am not interested in your opinion, Sitri. Who says I want to change overnight? My body is naturally voluptuous, unlike yours that could be mistaken for a bone. So be careful, a rabid beast might suddenly take you for a feast, or not. Since you're all bones, no meat."

That surprised Sitri. Before, Nesca would have lowered her head and wouldn't even meet her gaze. But now, she looked different, dangerously fierce.

"What did you say?" Sitri her eyes glinted in amusement and disgust. "I'll pretend I didn't hear that since I've come in good faith."

She pulled out a golden envelope and placed it on the table. "I came here because of this."

Nesca looked at it. "What is it?"

Sitri rolled her eyes. "An invitation."

"Invitation to what?"

"The Centum."

"Why should I go?"

Sitri glared at her. "You're obviously dumb! A representative from every branch of the royal family must attend."

Nesca scoffed. "Then why don't you attend? I'm a discarded member of the royal family. Have you forgotten?"

Sitri laughed. "You do not have that choice." She leaned closer and added, "whether you like it or not, you are still a demon princess. You can't deny your bloodline, little sister."

Nesca stared at the invitation. "Whatever."

"I only delivered the invitation. Do not embarrass the royal family by appearing like this. The Centum is held at Zolheim, in case you don't know."

Nesca looked uninterested. But Sitri kept talking.

"Although I highly doubt you can avoid embarrassing yourself. With your weight, I'm certain you can't manage to trek up to the Dragon's Peak."

Meanwhile, Agni was on the verge of talking back, until she finally did. "Princess Sitri, you have no right—"

Sitri interrupted. "Take care of her carefully, maid. After all, she'll surely collapse before reaching the Black Palace."

The guards laughed, disregarding her status as the seventh princess.

Then Sitri left. She gracefully went back to her carriage carried by a magical beast.

 

THE cabin quieted down when their visitors left. Agni came to Nesca, looking at her with genuine empathy.

"Princess…"

Nesca held the golden invitation in her hand. Her expression was unreadable.

"Agni."

"Yes?"

"Prepare yourself in the next couple of months, we will attend the Centum."

Agni blinked rapidly as if she heard it wrong. "You mean…"

"We are going to the palace in three full moons."

The maid appeared surprised. "But Princess, you said you did not want to attend."

Nesca smiled mysteriously. "I didn't. But this is an opportunity."

"To meet the Supreme Emperor?" Agni guessed.

"No." Nesca shook her head, and her purple eyes sharpened. "To leave this forest."

"A-Are you sure?"

Nesca gazed at the invitation again and smiled coldly. "For more than half a century, you and I lived here like a scavenger ghost in the Cloud Forest. Now everyone will remember that the seventh princess is alive."

Agni felt a chill. The princess standing before her was no longer the same, the drastic change made her excited.

"Whatever your decision is, I will come with you, Princess."

Nesca smirked as if she was planning something evil. "Soon, we will enter the fray!"