Farewell filled with melancholy

It took a week to prepare for my residence. Nobody knew where I was going except grandpa. Before leaving, I went to have dinner with father. I wore a black dress, still mourning for mother, and went to the Amber palace, residency of Emperor. It was not as grand as I thought. The most beautiful and grand palace was the pearl palace. The emperor's palace gave a dull feeling. It was well decorated with different size of ambers. But the black and white jade was quite exquisite. There was a small group of people who served the emperor. They were all his guards even the maid servants were not an ordinary people, the weakest among them was a master. They were all few most loyal people of the emperor who only take order from his majesty.

When I reached the entrance of the palace, father's personal bodyguard escorted me to the receiving room. After a few moments, father came. He was also dressed in black and looked handsome. He only asked me how I was doing. I was doing just fine and kept myself busy.

The dinner was awkward as we just both ate our food as expected. When we were done with eating, father asked me for the last time if it was necessary to leave. He said he can give me all the things I need. So there is no need to go.

"A princess belongs to her castle". His words amused me. I just gave him a faint smile and told him that I felt suffocated here. After hearing me reply, he did not stop me and wished me luck on my journey. I didn't know what I was feeling at that moment. The palace was the place where I spent all my life with mother. It was the only world I knew. And suddenly my world turned upside down. I just couldn't find peace in the palace. That night's event played back again and again in front of my eyes. I couldn't even sleep properly these days. Though tears never came but I knew how broken hearted I was. I mean my I ku wish was to live peacefully with mother enjoying our privilege.

Thinking like that I came back and decided to take some rest. But that night I could not sleep. So I decided to take walk in the palace. I went to my mother's residence, though it was more than burnt but it will go under renovation. I then took one last glance at that place and moved on. As I was taking a stroll, I subconsciously reached the mother's favorite place, the garden. She spent her free time cultivating new breeds of plants. I still did not know what I was feeling but I felt empty. To fill that void, I swore to become stronger so that I can protect what's important to me.

With the first ray of light, our carriage started moving. Margaret and Rosetta were the only people who came with me. After leaving the capital we use teleportation gate to reach the harbor city of Ultah. Then we went to our place, it was comparatively small but the maids had already prepared our residence. Grandpa is quite meticulous in his work. There were just a few guards in the castle. The castle was a vacation home, mother bought for herself. Now it was my inheritance. I did not ask Rosetta to come with me but the day before yesterday she came to me and said:

"Your highness, I want to accompany you on your journey".

"Rosetta, I'll be happy to have people who I know but I want my people. You do not need to think it's your duty to protect me. As mother is gone now, you are free to go. I know how much you ha e sacrificed for my mother's sake. Now live for yourself".

Rosetta was taken aback at my words. Suddenly I saw tears in her eyes which was quite rare since she always wore an expressionless face, hiding her pain.

"Her majesty would have been so proud of you knowing that you have grown up. My life started with her majesty and this was given to me by her. I forever be obligated to her. And now that she had gone I have no family beside you if I'm not being impolite. I have seen you since you were born and saw you grow up and I sincerely want to be with you in your journey. And if it's my loyalty that you desire then I Rosetta, swear my loyalty to your highness", saying that she bent down and kissed my knuckles as oath. I was happy that I found someone loyal.

After reaching the castle I gave them one day for rest. Then I assigned Rosetta as head maid. Butler was someone who used to take of castle after mother bought this property. So he could be trusted. The castle was located on high mountain at a distance from the main town and was surrounded by dense forest but there were a few beasts, not so powerful but enough to keep people away from here. The castle had a protective barrier and we used teleportation gate to enter it. Other people could not enter this castle without the owner's permission. Mother spent a fortune on the castle defense. The best thing about this castle was that it had a similar architecture to that in the pearl palace. I was satisfied with my new residence. My room was located on the second floor. The main building was a three story house. I wrote a letter to grandpa about my arrival and asked about my teacher. After writing the letter, I called Rosetta and asked her to teach me her technique, assassin. She wasn't sure at first but I told her I want to become stronger. Seeing my determination, she reluctantly gave in.

After that before sun rose as I woke up and Rosetta and I went to the backyard of the castle where she gave me lessons. It was different from usual sword style now that I used daggers. Mastering the art of assassination was not as easy as I initially thought it would be but I practiced ten hours daily. After that I took a small break and then will continue my lessons on mana and cultivation. I especially paid attention to history, Geography and mana beasts. As I was aiming to become an adventurer, I had to learn about the survival techniques and Rosetta being as S class adventurer made sure I was learning everything. All the survival techniques and how I should protect myself in case of any emergencies. I need to increase my agility and speed. That's the most basic of an assainan.

It had been almost two years since I came here. Today was mother's death anniversary. My 12th birthday was yesterday and grandpa told me that he had arranged a teacher for me who was his friend. I was happy that everything was going smoothly. I readily get dressed for my lessons. Today Rosetta told me that she would be my opponent. It was our first time facing each other. I knew she had been going easy on me but today she was a bit aggressive. But I wanted to get her acknowledgement too. So I gave my best. Since we both could use magic, she used teleportation as if she was chewing candy. Teleportation spells are no joke, it consilumes your mana as af one was eating candies. I was awestruck as she was moving at the speed of light. One after another making her movements unpredictable. I dogded her again and again but speed was not enough to defeat her. After going through my training, I felt more close to nature as I had opened the inner eye but it was at initial stage only. But with sheer focus, I could feel her and just then she vanished before my eyes but I had already seen her, she was standing right behind me and just before her cold dagger could touch my neck I countered her attack and stopped her with vines and ice. She was defeated as I first took her down. Rather than being surprised, she smiled as if she knew what I would be doing which totally annoyed me. But then as if she had read my mind told me: "your highness, you have finally defeated me. Now you are graduated from my class. Congratulations!"

I also freed her and she told me that I should get ready to meet my new teacher. My new teacher was grandpa's friend. He was an elder elf but he lived in seclusion and hardly interacted with others especially humans. I don't know how grandpa managed to get me such a great teacher as he was a 7th tier mage and sword grand master. To have him as my teacher was truly an honor. But it's just that he was a bit ecenteric. He demanded that I need to come to his place alone. Grandpa was against it as I have a fair number of enemies. Anything could happen but I assured grandpa that it would be alright as he would not let his new desciole die at least.

So after finishing my training with Rosetta, I gave her another task to train Margaret not just as my assistant but also as a guard. Margaret was an ice mage. She had rare talent but had yet to be polished into a diamond. As I was going to inherit the Egilhard as the archduchess, my attendants need to be just as good enough. I bid farewell to all, Rosetta had a worried look but she knew I was strong enough to take care of myself and Margaret was crying. I joked if she was doing this to lessen her homework than it was a futile effort because that's not gonna happen. She wiped her tears and she stroked her chest saying that she would not disappoint me. I told her I would be waiting for positive results.

After I bid farewell to them, I began my journey. I had requested a special item that could hide my eye and hair color. Grandpa also prepared that and it changed my blue eyes to light green ones and blonde hair to light brown color and I looked like a boy with my short hair. No matter where you are, it was not safe for a lady.. I mean a girl to travel alone. Now I wouldn't get much attention and can even hide my identity well. And being dressed as a boy would safe me much troubles of being a lady.

After a day's carriage ride I reached the main town. I went to harbor as I needed to abroad a ship going to Euphoria from where I could easily access to Great Erigentes forest. Elder Hugo lived in the far side of kingdom of Avalon, so I had to enter it on my own. Luckily the ship was about to set sail as I was asking for it, so I abroad it. I was a bit excited as it was my first time sailing on a ship in two lives. In the start I had suffered from nausea. Captain told me it was the same for everyone I would get better with time. It was a two day journey but due to nausea I could hardly enjoy it. After two days that felt like eternity passed and we reached Euphoria.

Euphoria was not under any kingdom, it was like an independent state and a major trade center. All four kingdom's representatives took care of most of the trade. As it was a mojor route between other kingdoms and Avalon. It was a trade center initially but with time it turned into one of the biggest cities. It was a little smaller than the capital of Obelion.

It was almost night time when I reached Euphoria. There was a spring festival going on here because of this getting a room in an inn was quite hard. And I found one but it was one gold coin for one night. It was too much, I knew I looked like at least a teenager. But they were taking advantage of a kid so I protested. But they gave an excuse of the festival as lots of people have come here so it would be difficult to rent a room. So I had no choice but to give in.

I went to the inn's dinning area and ate my dinner. People were giving me curious looks but I ignored them. It's not often that you see a young kid traveling alone. Ignoring them, I ate in silent. During eating when I was using knife and fork then it struck me why people were looking at me because I was eating like a noble. I should have thought of this. So I quickly finished eating my own food. I just couldn't go into my room as it seemed someone was following me. So I went to a crowd place that was the festival. After mixing with the crowd I went to a dark alley. I think I had lost them. Then I changed the outer black jacket into a dark blue one that was more simple and even wore a black mask. Euphoria was not a safe place for weak. As bandits and others were found to harassing innocent. The law and order was not top notch. There were lot of dark organizations here. And since it was an independent state no one can just touch. I could only suppress my mana but anyone stronger than me would know that I'm a fourth tier mage at this age, perfect for their next victim.

Like grandpa I also did not think it was safe for me to travel alone but I had to do what elder Hughes demanded or else he would not take me as his disciple. Maybe it was his way of teaching a shelter princess about outside world. I may have come out of the palace but I hardly gone out of the castle as it would not be safe for me. But now I was traveling alone. Nobody would have expected a princess to move like this. I had to say that I was thrilled to be in this adventure. This society may have given women a bit freedom but they were still restricted as the powerful ones were the best mate. As they would give birth to strong successors as well. What a messed up society!