Chapter 42: Chapter 42 - Princess’s Feeling ( Part 2 )
Spring softly descended upon the Royal Academy.
Flowers began blooming in the academy gardens, the sound of blades hitting each other echoed throughout the training ground, and the academy halls were buzzing with students getting ready for their midterm evaluations.
Normal life resumed.
Or...
At least everyone else’s did.
Princess Lilia KingHeart had acquired a truly unique trait.
Namely that she had started to secretly follow Jennie everywhere.
Not in a creepy way.
At least...
That was what she kept convincing herself.
"Where is Jennie?"
Those were her opening words of every morning.
The royal maids exchanged a knowing glance.
"Miss Jennie is preparing breakfast, your highness."
"Oh."
Five minutes later...
"Where is Miss Jennie now?"
"She’s organizing your books."
"Oh."
Ten minutes later...
"And where is she now?"
"She’s... still organizing your books."
"...Then I’ll help her."
Jennie was meticulously organizing the books according to topics inside the royal study room.
History.
Mana theory.
Diplomacy.
Swordsmanship.
Etiquette.
Everything was neatly aligned.
Jennie was satisfied with her handiwork.
"There."
A voice suddenly came from behind.
"Do you need any help?"
Jennie turned around.
"Lilia?"
The princess eagerly rolled up her sleeves.
"I’ll help you with that."
Jennie stared at neatly arranged shelves.
"...There’s nothing left."
Lilia took a look around.
"...Right."
Uncomfortable silence followed.
Gently smiling...
Jennie said:
"You can stay here."
Lilia instantly brightened.
"...Okay."
She eagerly sat in a nearby chair.
For the next thirty minutes...
Jennie was organizing documents.
Lilia watched.
And wasn’t bored.
How...
Watching Jennie working had somehow become rather soothing.
Later on that day...
Jennie visited the academy library.
There she was met by a waiting Sophia Everwinter, who was standing beside a huge table, which was filled with ancient books.
"Lady Jennie."
"Good afternoon, Lady Sophia."
"I found another manuscript."
Jennie’s eyes sparkled in delight.
"Really?"
Sophia slowly opened the book.
"It’s a description of pre-imperial mana circuits."
Jennie’s curiosity was instantly aroused.
"I’ve read only fragments about them."
The two of them instantly began discussing the discovery.
Neither of them paid attention to an extra pair of eyes watching them from behind the shelves.
That was Lilia.
She quietly peeped around the corner.
"...They are smiling."
Lilia wasn’t sure...
But she felt that something in her chest was strangely discomforted.
At that same moment...
Princess Elena Valefor appeared beside her.
"You know..."
Lilia jumped in surprise.
"When did you get here?"
Elena innocently smiled.
"I’ve been here all the time."
"You were spying."
"I like to observe."
"...That’s spying."
Elena looked at Jennie and Sophia.
"They seem to get along pretty well."
"...Mm."
Sophia giggled at some remark made by Jennie.
And Jennie giggled too.
Lilia’s cheeks puffed up.
Elena immediately noticed it.
"My..."
"Princess Lilia."
"...What?"
"I think that your eyes have become a bit green."
Lilia frowned.
"My eyes are blue."
"I wasn’t talking about the color."
"..."
Lilia had absolutely no idea about what Elena meant.
Unable to endure it any longer...
Lilia marched towards the table.
Jennie looked up.
"Lilia?"
The princess sat in a nearby chair.
"I’ve decided to study too."
Polite smile on her face.
Sophia nodded.
"Of course."
And a happy smile on her face.
Jennie agreed.
"The more people who study together, the better."
Lilia sat next to Jennie.
Close enough so that their elbows touched each other.
Sophia silently noticed.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Jennie pointed to the ancient manuscript.
"This passage describes how kingdoms used to purify mana."
Lilia nodded.
"...Mm."
Five seconds later...
"...Jennie."
"Yes?"
"Could you explain it again?"
"I’ve yet to start explaining."
"Oh."
Sophia tried hard to stifle her laugh.
Lilia was hardly listening to the lesson.
She was staring at Jennie instead.
Her smiles.
Her expressions.
Her little gestures.
An hour later...
Sophia finally got up.
"I should return these books."
Jennie smiled.
"Thanks for bringing them."
"It was my pleasure."
With a polite bow Sophia left.
As she left...
She silently glanced back at the table.
Lilia was already smiling.
"...So that’s it."
The young mage smiled to himself.
"How adorable."
The following day...
The academy had sword classes.
Professor Gareth put everyone in pairs.
Jennie was not an official participant of the lessons.
She simply watched them from the side.
Notebook in hands.
Recording Lilia’s progress.
Aiden Drakon approached her.
"Lady Jennie."
Jennie looked up.
"Good morning."
"I have a question."
"If I can help."
Aiden pointed to the practice arena.
"My footwork seems a bit off."
Jennie thought for a moment.
Then nodded.
"Lower your center of gravity a little bit."
"And don’t lean entirely on your dominant leg."
Aiden tried.
His next hit became smoother.
"...Amazing."
Aiden smiled.
"Thanks."
"My pleasure."
Unfortunately...
Someone had just witnessed the whole conversation.
That was Lilia.
She marched up to them with a wooden sword.
"Aiden."
He turned around.
"Princess."
"I challenge you."
"...Now?"
"Now."
Professor Gareth blinked in surprise.
"...Princess?"
"I suddenly got inspired."
Five minutes later...
Lilia started attacking with amazing vigor.
THACK!
THACK!
THACK!
Aiden was barely managing to parry.
Professor Gareth scratched his beard.
"...She seems particularly competitive today."
Jennie thoughtfully nodded.
"...Perhaps she has finally recovered."
Recovered?
Recovered from what?
No one knew.
That evening...
The academy cafeteria was abuzz with conversation.
Jennie walked up to the table with a tray full of desserts.
She had barely sat down when Elena smirked.
"So..."
Lilia looked suspiciously.
"So... what?"
"You’ve spent approximately seven hours with Jennie today."
"I have not."
"I counted."
"..."
Calming drinking her tea...
Jennie calmly said:
"I’m sure it was closer to six."
Elena burst into laughter.
Lilia hid her face.
"You counted too?"
"I make schedules."
"...Right."
Lucas, sitting at a nearby table, quietly whispered to Arthur, who had just arrived to visit his sister.
"...Father."
"Yes?"
"Doesn’t Lilia seem rather strange?"
Arthur was watching the princess unconsciously reaching over and stealing a strawberry from Jennie’s plate.
And Jennie didn’t even protest.
She simply cut her cake in half and gave the bigger part of it to Lilia.
Arthur smiled.
"...Very."
That late night...
Lilia was lying awake in her bed.
Staring at the ceiling.
"...Why..."
She put her hand over her heart.
"...does it bother me so much that Jennie smiles at someone else?"
"...Why am I the happiest when she is beside me?"
"...Why do I always search for her first?"
There was no answer.
Only the soft moonlight entering through the window.
Above...
Goddess Miasa leaned her chin in her hand, watching the spectacle with endless amusement.
She quietly laughed.
"My poor little princess..."
"The first love is always the most confusing."
Down below...
Jennie was sleeping peacefully in the adjacent room.
Unaware of everything.
She had fought dragons.
Had faced legendary weapons.
Had explored ancient tombs.
And the biggest mystery surrounding her...
Was the princess who had unknowingly fallen in love with the former Sword King.
