Chapter 103
Queen Anastasia's footsteps came to a halt.
Her gaze remained fixed on the lone girl in the distance.
The wooden sword rose.
Again.
Again.
Not once did the child stop.
Not once did she look around.
It was as though the entire world had disappeared...
leaving only the sword in her hands.
An elderly knight standing nearby followed the Queen's gaze.
"...That is Lady Guinevere, Your Majesty."
"The Second Prince's daughter."
Anastasia's brows knit together.
"...How old is she?"
"Eleven."
The Queen fell silent.
Eleven.
She had seen soldiers older than that collapse from exhaustion.
Yet that little girl...
continued swinging.
A servant hurried toward them and bowed.
"Your Majesty."
"The Second Prince has already prepared tea."
Anastasia gave one last glance toward the training yard.
"...Very well."
---
Inside the palace—
the Second Prince welcomed her with his usual elegant smile.
"My Queen."
"You've returned safely."
Anastasia smiled politely.
"The monsters along the eastern border were stronger than expected."
"I'm relieved the kingdom still has its greatest sword."
The prince poured tea himself.
"You honor me."
Anastasia accepted the cup.
For several moments—
they spoke only of politics.
Border villages.
Harvests.
Monster attacks.
Then—
she placed her cup down.
"...I passed the training grounds."
The prince's hand paused.
"...Did you?"
"I saw Guinevere."
A smile appeared on his face.
"My daughter is... diligent."
"She trains every day."
"So I noticed."
His smile never faltered.
"A noble child should never become complacent."
"The world is cruel."
"I simply wish to prepare her."
Anastasia quietly studied him.
Then smiled.
"...May I speak with her?"
A brief silence.
Only for a heartbeat.
Then the prince laughed.
"Of course."
---
The gardens were quiet that afternoon.
Guinevere sat beneath a large tree.
She was replacing the bandages around her hands.
Every movement was careful.
Practiced.
She didn't hear the approaching footsteps.
"...Guinevere."
The little girl immediately stood.
"...Your Majesty."
She bowed deeply.
Anastasia smiled gently.
"...At ease."
Guinevere slowly straightened.
Her eyes never rose above the Queen's shoulders.
"...May I see your hands?"
"...It's nothing."
"I still wish to see them."
Very slowly...
Guinevere extended both hands.
The Queen's heart tightened.
The skin was torn.
Fresh blisters covered her palms.
Some had already burst.
Others had bled through the cloth.
"...Does your father know?"
..she stays quite
"...Doesn't it hurt?"
Guinevere answered without hesitation.
"...Pain is proof I'm becoming stronger."
The words sounded rehearsed.
As though she had repeated them hundreds of times.
Anastasia didn't respond immediately.
Instead—
she gently took one of Guinevere's hands.
The child flinched.
Not because it hurt.
Because she expected to be struck.
That tiny movement...
made Anastasia's chest ache.
Instead—
she simply held the child's hand.
Warmly.
"...You've worked very hard."
Guinevere blinked.
Her lips parted slightly.
No one...
had ever said those words to her.
"...Thank you..."
Her voice barely existed.
The Queen smiled.
"...You don't have to thank me."
She carefully brushed a loose strand of dark blue hair away from Guinevere's face.
"...You deserve to be praised for sll the hard work.."
Guinevere looked down.
hard work....
Again.
Why did that word feel so strange?
Before either of them could speak again—
small footsteps echoed through the garden.
Fast.
Carefree.
"Mother!!"
A tiny girl ran straight toward them.
Her smile seemed brighter than the afternoon sun.
Six-year-old Princess Flora.
She threw herself into Anastasia's arms.
"You came back!"
"I did."
"Did you beat all the monsters?"
"I believe so."
Flora gasped dramatically.
"I knew you would!"
Only then did she notice someone else standing nearby.
She blinked.
Anastasia smiled.
"This is Guinevere."
Flora tilted her head.
Then—
without the slightest hesitation—
she walked directly toward the older girl.
Guinevere instinctively stepped back.
Flora stepped forward.
Guinevere stepped back again.
"...Hello."
Silence.
"...I'm Flora."
Still silence.
Anastasia quietly watched.
She didn't interfere.
Flora puffed her cheeks.
"...Mother."
"She doesn't like me."
Guinevere immediately shook her head.
"...No."
"...I..."
She struggled to find the words.
"...I've never spoken with the Princess before."
Flora blinked.
"...Really?"
Guinevere nodded once.
"...Really."
Flora suddenly smiled.
"...Then let's fix that."
Before Guinevere understood what was happening—
Flora reached out.
And grabbed her hand.
Tiny fingers.
Soft.
Warm.
Guinevere froze.
No one...
had ever held her hand before.
"...Come with me!"
Flora pulled.
Guinevere nearly lost her balance.
"...Princess—"
"It's Flora."
"...I can't call you that."
"You can."
"...I shouldn't."
"You should."
"...I—"
Flora puffed her cheeks.
"...That's an order."
Anastasia couldn't help laughing.
Guinevere looked completely lost.
She looked toward the Queen for help.
Anastasia only smiled.
"...It seems you've been given a royal command."
For the first time—
the corners of Guinevere's lips twitched upward.
Ever so slightly.
"...Yes..."
"...Flora."
The little princess gasped.
"She said it!"
She clapped happily.
"I like you!"
Guinevere stared.
"...You..."
"...like me?"
"Mhm!"
"...Why?"
Flora answered as though it were the simplest thing in the world.
"Because you're nice."
Guinevere blinked.
Nice?
No one had ever called her that either.
Before she could think—
Flora pulled her deeper into the gardens.
"Come!"
"...Where?"
"You'll see!"
The two girls disappeared between rows of colorful flowers.
Anastasia remained where she was.
Watching them.
Watching the little girl who had never smiled...
slowly begin to smile.
It wasn't much.
Barely noticeable.
But it was there.
A smile.
Small.
Shy.
Real.
Anastasia quietly closed her eyes.
"...Thank you..."
She whispered so softly that only the wind heard.
Not to anyone nearby.
But to fate itself.
Because after all these years...
someone had finally reached the lonely little girl...
without using a sword.
The palace gardens became quieter as the afternoon passed.
Flower petals drifted gently through the breeze.
Far ahead—
little princess continued pulling Guinevere by the hand.
"...Princess—"
"It's Flora."
"...Lady Flora."
"No."
Flora stopped walking.
She turned around with her hands on her waist.
"You have to call me Flora."
Guinevere looked completely serious.
"...His Majesty would punish me."
Flora blinked.
"...Father?"
Guinevere nodded.
"I shouldn't address the Princess so casually."
Flora thought for several seconds.
Then her face suddenly brightened.
"I know!"
She pointed proudly at herself.
"I'll become Queen one day."
"...Yes."
"And when I become Queen..."
"I'll make a law."
Guinevere tilted her head.
"...A law?"
"Mhm!"
Flora nodded proudly.
"My first royal law."
She pointed directly at Guinevere.
"You have to call me Flora forever."
Silence.
Guinevere stared at the little princess.
Then...
something escaped her lips.
A tiny laugh.
"...That's a strange law."
Flora grinned triumphantly.
"You laughed!"
Guinevere immediately looked away.
"...I didn't."
"You did!"
Flora puffed her cheeks.
"...You're a liar."
"...Perhaps."
The two girls looked at each other.
Then—
they both laughed.
Behind them—
Queen Anastasia quietly watched.
She smiled to herself.
---
From that day onward—
whenever Queen Anastasia found even a small break from governing the kingdom—
she would visit the gardens.
And almost every visit—
Flora would run ahead before anyone else.
"Guinevere!!"
The older girl would immediately stop whatever she was doing.
She bowed.
"...Princess."
Flora folded her arms.
"I told you."
"It's Flora."
guinevere noded
One sunny afternoon—
Flora dragged Guinevere toward the palace kitchens.
"Come!"
"...Princess, we're not supposed to be here."
Flora sighed dramatically
She pushed open the kitchen door.
Immediately—
the sweet smell of fresh cookies filled the air.
The royal chef smiled.
"Your Highness."
Flora smiled innocently.
"...Can we borrow some cookies?"
The chef laughed.
"...How many?"
Flora looked toward Guinevere.
"...How many do you like?"
Guinevere blinked.
"...I've never eaten one."
The kitchen became silent.
Even the chef stopped smiling.
"...Never?"
Guinevere quietly shook her head.
"My father says sweets make warriors soft."
Flora looked horrified.
"...That's stupid."
The chef almost choked.
"...Your Highness..."
Flora ignored him.
She grabbed two warm cookies.
Without hesitation—
she placed one into Guinevere's hands.
"...Try it."
"...I..."
"...Please."
Guinevere slowly looked down.
The cookie was still warm.
She hesitated.
Then took one careful bite.
Crunch.
Sweetness filled her mouth.
Her dark blue eyes widened.
Flora leaned forward excitedly.
"...Well?"
Guinevere swallowed.
"...It's..."
She searched for the word.
"...Good."
Flora laughed.
"I knew it!"
She happily took a bite of her own cookie.
From across the kitchen—
Queen Anastasia quietly smiled.
She pretended not to notice the missing cookies.
---
Months passed.
Autumn arrived.
The palace training grounds echoed with wooden swords.
Flora stood with both hands gripping hers.
"...Ready?"
"...No."
Guinevere smiled faintly.
"...Too bad."
Tap.
She gently nudged Flora's sword aside.
The little princess spun.
Lost her balance.
And—
Thump.
She landed on the grass.
"...Again..."
Flora groaned dramatically.
"My legs hate me."
"They're improving."
"...Really?"
"...No."
Flora stared.
"...You're mean."
"...Honest."
Flora pointed accusingly.
"You smiled again."
"...Did I?"
"You did!"
"...Strange."
"...You're doing it on purpose."
"...Perhaps."
Flora huffed.
"...I'm telling Mother."
"...Please don't."
"...Why?"
"...She'll laugh."
Flora blinked.
"...She laughs?"
"...Whenever you're around."
The little princess looked confused.
"...Really?"
Guinevere nodded.
"...You make people smile."
Flora smiled proudly.
"...Then I'll make you smile every day."
Guinevere froze.
For reasons she couldn't explain—
her chest felt warm.
"...We'll see."
---
Winter came.
Snow covered the palace gardens.
Flora excitedly ran through the snow.
"Guinevere!"
"Look!"
She scooped up snow with both hands.
"...Catch!"
A snowball flew toward Guinevere.
Smack.
It exploded against her shoulder.
Flora gasped.
Then slowly stepped backward.
"...I..."
"...I'm sorry."
Guinevere looked at the snow on her clothes.
Then slowly bent down.
She gathered snow into her own hands.
Flora's eyes widened.
"...Wait."
"...Guinevere..."
"...Don't."
Too late.
Whoosh.
The snowball struck Flora squarely on the forehead.
Silence.
Then—
Flora burst into laughter.
"You actually did it!"
She quickly made another snowball.
The battle began.
Servants walking through the gardens watched in disbelief.
Lady Guinevere...
The quiet girl who never smiled...
was running.
Laughing.
Throwing snowballs at the Princess.
Queen Anastasia watched from the palace balcony.
Her smile slowly faded into something softer.
"...She's finally living like a child."
---
One evening—
after hours of training—
Flora collapsed beneath a tree.
"...I'm tired."
Guinevere sat beside her.
"...You trained well today."
"I still lost."
"You lasted three more strikes than yesterday."
"...Is that good?"
"...Very."
Flora smiled proudly.
"I'll become as strong as you."
Guinevere quietly looked toward the sunset.
"...You'll become much stronger."
Flora rested her head against Guinevere's shoulder.
"...Then..."
"...I'll protect Mother."
A small pause.
"And..."
"...I'll protect you too."
Guinevere's eyes slowly widened.
No one...
had ever said those words to her.
She looked down.
Flora had already closed her eyes.
She had fallen asleep.
Guinevere smiled.
Very gently.
She carefully lifted the little princess into her arms.
"...You're getting heavier."
Still asleep—
Flora mumbled,
"...You're lying..."
Guinevere chuckled softly.
"...Maybe."
As she carried Flora back toward the palace—
Queen Anastasia stood beneath the entrance.
Watching.
She didn't interrupt.
She simply watched.
The lonely little girl she had first met months ago...
was smiling without even realizing it.
And somehow...
that smile was more precious than any victory she had ever won on the battlefield.
The time continued to pass.
And without either of them realizing it...
they had already become something far greater than Princess and guardian.
They had become family...
Fe months later....
The Royal Palace of Lumivale.
Morning sunlight poured over the enormous training grounds.
Thousands had gathered.
Royal knights stood in perfect rows.
Nobles filled the stone balconies.
Banners bearing the royal crest fluttered proudly in the wind.
At the center of the arena—
stood two girls.
One wore elegant white.
The other wore a dark blue training uniform.
Princess Flora.
Lady Guinevere.
---
"This year's Royal Examination shall now begin!"
The announcer's voice echoed across the palace.
The crowd erupted into applause.
---
Queen Anastasia sat beside the King.
Her calm smile rested upon the two girls below.
Not far away—
the Second Prince watched silently.
His cold eyes never left Guinevere.
---
The examination consisted of three trials.
The future rulers of the kingdom were expected to excel in all of them.
Strength.
Knowledge.
Judgment.
---
First Trial — Knowledge
Rows of desks had been arranged beneath the open sky.
Ancient scholars stood waiting.
One elderly historian stepped forward.
"The first trial..."
"...History."
---
Questions came one after another.
"The year Lumivale was founded?"
"The First King's greatest decree?"
"The Twelve Treaties?"
"The Seven Guardian Gods?"
The contestants answered quickly.
Some hesitated.
Others panicked.
---
Princess Flora calmly wrote every answer.
Guinevere did the same.
Neither looked around.
Neither rushed.
---
An hour later—
the results were announced.
"Perfect score..."
"...Princess Flora."
Applause echoed.
The little princess smiled brightly.
---
"Perfect score..."
"...Lady Guinevere."
More applause.
The Second Prince folded his arms proudly.
Queen Anastasia smiled warmly.
---
Flora looked toward Guinevere.
Their eyes met.
Flora grinned.
"I told you we'd tie."
Guinevere allowed herself the smallest smile.
"...Looks like you were right."
---
Second Trial — Strength
The arena transformed into a sparring ground.
Wooden swords were handed to every participant.
Knight commanders observed carefully.
---
Contestants fought one after another.
Some won.
Some lost.
---
Then—
Princess Flora entered the arena.
Across from her stood an older noble girl.
The match began.
Flora fought bravely.
But her strength couldn't match her opponent's.
After several exchanges—
the wooden sword flew from her hands.
Clack.
Silence.
"I yield."
She bowed politely.
The audience applauded her dignity despite her defeat.
---
Flora stepped aside quietly.
She tried to smile.
But disappointment lingered in her eyes.
---
Then—
Guinevere entered.
The atmosphere changed immediately.
The Second Prince leaned forward.
---
Three opponents.
Three victories.
Not a single defeat.
Every strike was precise.
Every movement efficient.
Even veteran knights exchanged surprised glances.
---
The final match ended with one clean strike.
Tap.
Her opponent's wooden sword fell.
The arena erupted into cheers.
---
"The winner of the Second Trial..."
"...Lady Guinevere!"
Thunderous applause echoed throughout the palace.
---
Flora clapped the loudest.
She didn't care that she had lost.
She looked genuinely happy.
"That was amazing!"
Guinevere walked over.
"...You clapped harder than everyone else."
Flora smiled.
"Because you were incredible."
Guinevere blinked.
"...Thank you."
---
Third Trial — Judgment
Unlike the previous rounds—
there would be no swords.
No written tests.
Only decisions.
---
An elderly minister stepped into the center of the arena.
He carried two wooden boxes.
He placed them before the contestants.
---
"The kingdom has enough grain..."
"...to save only one village."
He looked around.
"One village is larger."
"The other is suffering from famine."
"You may save only one."
"What will you do?"
---
Contestants answered one after another.
"I would save the larger village."
"The kingdom needs more people."
Another replied,
"I would divide the grain equally."
The minister shook his head.
"There isn't enough."
---
Guinevere thought carefully.
Then answered.
"I would save the starving village."
"If we delay..."
"...they'll die before help arrives."
Several ministers nodded.
A practical answer.
---
Then Flora stepped forward.
She looked at both boxes.
Quietly.
For a long time.
---
Finally—
she spoke.
"I would send the grain..."
"...to the starving village."
The ministers nodded.
The answer matched Guinevere's.
But Flora continued.
---
"Then..."
"I would travel to the larger village myself."
"I'd explain everything."
"I'd ask them to endure."
"They still have food."
"The other village doesn't."
---
Silence.
---
"If they refuse..."
"I'll remain with them until more grain arrives."
"They'll know..."
"...their Princess didn't abandon them."
The arena became completely still.
---
An elderly knight slowly smiled.
Another minister lowered his head.
Even several nobles exchanged glances.
---
Queen Anastasia watched her daughter quietly.
Pride filled her eyes.
---
The chief minister finally spoke.
"...Compassion."
"...Responsibility."
"...And leadership."
He nodded once.
"Excellent."
---
The examination came to an end.
The scores were announced.
Knowledge—
Tie.
Strength—
Guinevere.
Judgment—
Flora.
---
After adding every point—
only one name remained.
"The overall winner..."
"...Lady Guinevere."
Cheers erupted once again.
---
Flora immediately ran toward her.
"You won!"
She threw her arms around Guinevere without hesitation.
"So amazing!"
Guinevere nearly lost her balance.
"...Princess..."
People laughed softly.
Even Guinevere couldn't stop a faint smile.
---
Then—
another voice echoed across the arena.
Cold.
Sharp.
"You all witnessed it."
The applause slowly died away.
The Second Prince stepped forward.
His eyes swept across the gathered nobles.
"My daughter has surpassed the Crown Princess."
He looked directly toward the King.
"The result couldn't be clearer."
His voice rang through the arena.
"A ruler who cannot surpass another child..."
"...is unworthy of inheriting Lumivale."
Silence fell.
Flora's smile slowly faded.
Guinevere stared at her for several long seconds.
Then—
she turned.
And looked directly at her father.
The smile disappeared from her face.
For the very first time—
she took a step forward.
"I disagree."
The entire arena froze.
No one had expected Guinevere to interrupt the Second Prince.
Not even him.
His eyes slowly narrowed.
"...What did you say?"
Guinevere met his gaze without flinching.
"I said..."
"...I disagree."
...CHAPTER 103ENDS.