7 New tutor

Flipping through the pages of a history book, Anna absorbed like a sponge any information stated in the book. She has been frequently visiting the library under the pretext that she was playing in the garden. No-one seemed to mind leaving a child alone, even if the Palace had a total of twelve gardens, as well as two interconnected lakes. She could drown for all they care. But it didn't bother Anna who wanted peace. She didn't call for Angus as much as she used to, partly because she still thinks he's a bastard for making her come in this world.

She, however, made sure to ask for lunch and dinner to be served in her room faking feeling fain every afternoon. The maids were very much terrified of her, they alternated between neglecting her or worriedly asking her to eat more. Her father was really occupied these past days, with diplomatic affairs, so Anna found no reason to attend dinner with that annoying sister of hers. If there was no profit from showing up to supper, she would not waste her precious time.

Lately, a small notebook always accompanied Anna, wherever she went. This was a habit she learned back on Earth because she was a perfectionist and everything had to planned.

In it, she started writing important ideas about this place, families and culture in order to decide which country is best to run to.

There are three fifteen continents on this Earth, but only three of them had enough information written about them. The lack of data about the other continents varied depending on how far away they were from Viadora or if they ever had any interaction with the Empire be it for trading purposes or warfare. The Empire Anna resided in was called Viadora and was a relative big Empire compared to the other countries, however, it was connected by land with only four other countries Friella up north, Uflein and Skesau down south and Bloeland in the west.

There was a lack of books on Skesau, presumably because it is isolated by an L shaped mountain range extending from north to east, and has openings with the oceans. Viadora was bordering all these countries and two oceans, so trade was a big foundation. Merchants selling commodities between Friella and Uflein needed to pass trough Viadora, so cities surround that patch of land were the richest.

Its capital, Salin, was situated in the North West of the country partly because of the mountain area, packed full of precious stones and minerals.

If Anna wanted to run away she could either run to Bloeland, although a relatively small county, it has the richest forestland, so she can easily hide there. The woods never enchanted Anna, but rather than living on the run in her own country, or sharing a country with Selda's unrequited love, she would rather be eaten by bears and other creatures.

'I could also risk going to Skesau.' Even if little information about it was written in books, they seem to like riding elephants instead of horses and that seemed intriguing enough for Anna to risk everything and go there.

Anna felt her head explode, just thinking about how she was going to get there.

"Why don't we take a break?" asked Angus. It was lunchtime and he would inevitably ask her to get back to their room.

"You eat so much I'm surprised you are not fat." exasperation could be read on Anna's face. He began pestering her own peaceful study time about a week ago when he would start chattering continuously until she had to leave the library.

"Haha....very funny." said the snake sarcastically. All he seemed to be doing these past days were to eat and sleep, being afraid of Anna's catapulted food he kept quiet the majority of the time. However, he would put his defences to jeopardy just to be able to eat a couple of jam sandwiches.

'I guess there is no other way.' if she wanted to get physically stronger she had to eat a lot and for it to be nutritious as well.

"I need to get stronger."

"And how are you going to do that?" asked Angus. She will still be a fly in front of a strong opponent because she has no magical core. Logically speaking no matter how much she eats it still won't guarantee that her body will get stronger, leaner and taller.

Placing the book on the table in frustration, Anna gently walked towards the door when she heard a couple of excited voices outside. She hurried to hide behind one of the bookshelves in a dark corner of the room. She found this hideout while looking for a geography book three days ago; the view enabled her to see relatively the whole library, but it was well hidden. Soon a few people entered the library, to be exact her mother, Cecilia, together with two other maids and Imperial guards but also two new people not wearing any uniforms- a woman and a girl. The lady looked to be around the mid-thirties, dressed in a flared shirt tight around her waist and a red asymmetrical dress. Selda's mother was talking about something very quietly, showing around the library and the woman kept nodding as if in agreement. The little girl, being around 5 to 6 years old, holding her mother's hand looked curiously around the room. Her eyes suddenly stopped where Anna was hiding. She smiled maliciously in that direction.

'What the...." Anna stopped breathing for a second. Did she find out? How? It's the safest place she could find and she wasn't visible behind the bookshelves. Before Anna could come up with an explanation, the girl opened the small purse she carried on her shoulder, seemingly looking for something. She looked relieved when she found it but pulled nothing but her hand out of the purse. When Anna looked closely she found that the girl raised her middle finger while staring at her.

'Did she just-?...That little fucker.' if Anna would have been an adult she wouldn't have hesitated to go and slap that small fry. This situation didn't let her go and teach the girl some manners and that irked Anna. Her palms started itching to slap something but couldn't so her little finger started twitching.

'If I get my hands on you...' just you wait thought Anna.

"I will leave you to get familiar with the library. Later, my Lady can meet his Grace Azcan. My maid will show you the way." said Cecilia. Anna was surprised to hear the Empress talk so coldly. Whenever Selda was around, her mother carried herself gracefully and was docile, but it seems she had this side to herself too. Curiously Anna wanted to know who this pair of daughter and mother were, these important figures that could meet the duke of Azcan. He was the most powerful man in the Empire after the Emperor and was his right-wing. Kunt Jarter Azcan, the current duke of Azcan, inherited his position at the tender age of 16, twenty years ago, after his father was assassinated. Being supported by Selda's father, Kunt had no problem inheriting what was rightfully his and now years later, Kunt devoted his life for the Emperor. Also called the Hund, Kunt lived more in the shadows and was known for his strategic mind, which helped in the war between Friella and Viadora.

"Mother! I don't want to meet that Godless child!!" said the little girl after everyone exited.

"Alessia!" her mother covered the girl's mouth.

"Don't say such a thing here! Palace walls have ears!" the woman looked frantically around the room to make sure there was no one around.

Palace walls sure have ears, Anna was one of them.

'So they are here to meet me. Could it be...?' Anna took a better look at the pair, they both had hazel coloured hair and similar coloured eyes, pretty common around Salin. She couldn't remember reading about any of the two dukedoms or the three Marquise houses having any heirs with these features, so they must be less important than Anna initially assumed. That meant that they must from the Baron house of Fanglad. Her mother mentioned that she found a better tutor for Anna, to be exact Palama Fanglad. But why did she bring her daughter with her?

"Be quiet Alessia. As the new Princess friend you only have to entertain the Princess for a couple of hours per week. Then you can go train with his Grace." her mother reprimanded the girl.

'So they must have profited of the situation.' Anna's initial impression of them dropped to the depths of hell. But as long as they didn't behave outrageously and displease Anna, she would only act coldly towards them. There is no need to involve herself with selfish people like the Baroness, but that girl...she will teach her a lesson not to mess with Anna.

"But mother! She is useless!" complained the girl oblivious to the fact that the person she earlier noticed could have been a spying maid or the Princess herself.

'She isn't the brightest.' constated Anna.

"Alessia!" her mother's mood shifted noticeably to being annoyed.

"That is not her fault. Normal people also don't have powers." It was true. Normal citizens didn't have magical cores, it only runs in the nobility. The reason why there are only a few dukes and marquises with very old histories, is because it was extremely hard to advance from an Earl or Baron rank, besides the rarity of magical powers. Barons, Counts and Earls were many, but their ranks depended on their capabilities produce a decent heir. Normal citizens depended on their protection from wild creatures and calamities. If they abused their positions they could be stripped of their statuses or in worst case scenario they would be condemned to death. But to compare a Princess of Royal descent to a mere pheasant is an offence no Royal would like to hear.

Anna didn't care about what people around her said, but coming from the Baroness, Anna couldn't help but feel offended.

"I don't like her!" the girl stomped her feet on the floor. Alessia seemed to think too highly of herself, to be so brazen to complain about the second Princess.

"Enough!" her mother furiously looked at her daughter.

"If you don't want to spend time with the Princess you won't be able to train with his Grace. That was the deal with the Empress. Now deal with it!" her mother helplessly raised her hands.

'Why do they want her to be trained by his Grace?'

"Now then, let's go meet his Grace!" said Palama flustered. They hurriedly made their way out of the library.

"Finally!" Anna exhaled and her stomach grumbled, indicating the late hour she now needed to take her lunch. She picked her notebook off the floor hid it underneath her skirt and took a small handkerchief from her pocket. She unfolded it and took some of the dirt that was inside rubbing it on her shoes and lower part of the dress as if all this time she had spent it outside.

"It's time for food!" happily the snake appeared once again.

"What powers did that 'progeny' have?" asked Anna while checking if there was anyone in the corridor outside.

"She had a surprisingly powerful magical core - Warcraft." the snake nodded his head in appreciation. No wonder then...that she was getting lessons from the cold-blooded general.

"She thinks she's hot shit!"

"It must have irked you when she noticed you." snickered Angus while keeping a safe distance from Anna. He learned from his mistakes, now keeping at least an arm away from her.

"Yes...I don't expect her to be able to." finally they reached her room. Anna called the bell and soon a maid arrived, advising Selda to take a bath which she gladly accepted. By the time she was finished, her food arrived. Today she chose to stay outside on the balcony in order to enjoy the warm weather.

Dismissing the maids, Anna sat underneath a sheer umbrella and started with the appetisers.

"I wonder why it is so quiet."

"What do you mean?" confused the snake stopped liking a slice of salami.

"Isn't that a good thing?"

"The calm before the storm." Anna cleaned her throat with a sip from cold brew peach tea.

"I have no idea what my sister is doing." having no eyes to watch her didn't make Anna comfortable. Ignorance wasn't always blissful.

"She is probably trying to convince your father to marry her to the Dark Prince."

"Why do you keep calling him the Dark Prince?" asked Anna picking a piece of ham and cheese roll.

"He...he creeps me out. Out of all the characters involved in Selda's last life he was the most unpredictable. I even looked his death book from the library I oversee...his last page was blank." the snake shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

"Huh? What does that mean?" her eyes widened. Could he be immortal?

"That means he is not affected by fate. When he dies...it would be unknown. But it comes very quickly. It happens to some people, for example, you as well." Anna stopped chewing and stared at Angus.