Friendship blossoms

Facing each other, both of us wore a smirk. The Prince of Belfare stood there arrogantly, twirling his wooden sword.

"Alright, begin!" Father shouted from the side of the ring, and he worried how much the Prince's ego would suffer losing to a girl. Watching them circle each other, studying each other's weaknesses.

I took the first move by, rushing at him and running the blade by his calf, causing him to flinch, when he swung, the sword whistled as it brushed the top of my head. I kicked his leg from under him, but he grabbed my arm, stabbing close to my side, where I barely dodged the wooden blade.

"Look who is scared now, I told you that you wouldn't--" Kicking his sword across the room, and the wooden blade at his neck. I had to admit, I underestimated him, he was quick, but he soon got too cocky.

"Are you going to cry now, Your Highness?" I asked in a sarcastic tone, as I watched him turn beet red with embarrassment. "It was a good match though, it's been a while since someone my level fought me freely." I lowered my sword, tossing it to Father, who chuckled.

"Do you see why I wasn't worried for her?" He asked the Prince. Elias looked down at his feet and grimaced.

"How? You're so frail, but you have the strength of a man. I don't mean to offend you, my lady, but tell me." He looked straight into my eyes, and curiosity and defeat swarm through his eyes.

"I trained since I was five, see that sword on the shelf." I pointed to the tiny sword that my father granted me, and I've trained in secret since then.

"My Mother disapproved the talent, so I trained in secret, soon Father stepped in and started giving me elite training." I looked to the boy as I explained my story. Admiration was present on his face, as I haven't told this story ever.

"You didn't let the Duchess, take your talent." I looked at Father and he smiled lightly but looked slightly guilty.

"It was something that I've always wanted to do. I'm not like other young ladies, who read and sew and just be under a man's control. I love just coming to the arena and training with Father when I can." I looked out to the garden and smiled.

"Would you like to train with me?" He smiled as he asked the question.

"Yeah, maybe defeating you a couple of times would make me feel better." I chuckled when his face drooped a little bit. "Yes, I would love to train with you, Elias." I replied in a cheerful tone, with a huge smile plastered on my face.

The Duke looked between the youngsters, and he soon realized that they would become a troublesome pair.

"It's not time to be on a first-name basis. Let get some training done, Prince Elias. Rebecca, I think your mother wants you to join the tea party." The Duke interrupted in a cool tone, that Rebecca couldn't counter to.

"Yes, Father." Both of the males watched the girl walk away, it was a dreadful feeling. She didn't turn around and look back, instead, she straightened her back and walked with grace. Elias felt confused about what to think of the lady.

"If the Duchess heard that, she would have scolded both of you for not using titles." Elias was going to comment, but the man's glare prevented him.

"I think it's great that you resolved the problem, however, the Prince must keep his title and his image perfect when he is outside the castle." Elias stood there and lowered his eyes, then twirled the wooden sword.

"What if we are comrades?" Elias was intelligent, he could find loopholes if he wanted. He wanted to be around his partner in crime whenever he wanted. However, her father was already trying hard enough to keep the two in a low relationship.

"Then you can speak freely here, but nowhere else in this estate." I nodded my head in understanding. If the royal heirs are openly known to have friends then it will cause problems, especially for foreign countries. But Elias didn't care for politics.

"Alright," Elias spoke, in his velvet voice, and the lesson began.

***

Every day Elias would come by and train and study with Father, and occasionally I would be invited to compete with the Prince. I was always there to greet Elias, and during those few interactions, my days would brighten.

I tried to keep my distance, between the Prince and me, but there was something about his calming presence that I could confront him. When we were by ourselves in the garden, studying our books, or in the arena, we usually dropped our titles.

The Prince thought well of me, and I expressed my gratitude. He would sometimes come to speak of his times in the castle, and how busy the young boy is. Sometimes was I sympathetic and other times I just thought he was spoiled. However, I was no better.

"Rebecca, what do you think about the country?" I paused, my quill slightly raised above the paper, taking notes for history. I looked up to the gloomy boy and narrowed my eyes.

"Why?" I asked in response. Although our country was rich and luxurious, there were still high crime rates and other political problems.

"Rebecca, please answer." Elias looked at me with dark eyes, his usual bright ocean eyes dimmed like there was a storm within.

"You know the problems, crimes, this year was the highest in crime rates. People aren't feeling safe walking down the streets, and some businesses are suffering because of it. Why are you asking the obvious?" I went back to my notes, and the boy came over and placed a hand on my notes, thankfully not smearing the ink.

"I asked what, you, thought about the country." He stressed the word 'you', not moving his hand.

"I think it's home," I replied in a short tone, all that I wanted was dragons to come back to this country, but that was a silly request.

"So you think it has barely any problems?" I lowered my eyes, looking away from his eyes.

"It does have problems, I admit, however it's home. It does have high crime rates and doesn't even get me started on the political problems." I looked into his eyes, worried about what he was going through in the castle.

"My father is worried about what he should do about crime rates. And he's debating what he should do." I looked at him, then stood up, brushing dust off of the dark dress.

"Have more soldiers patrol the streets, and pay more to businesses that are suffering." I packed up my notes and looked at his area. it was messy with notes from my father's lessons, mostly strategic thinking, with a couple of sword moves.

"I'll relay the thought to the King." I quickly turned around with a frantic look in my eyes. I didn't want to bring attention to myself, I just spoke my opinion.

"Don't use my name," I spoke urgently. He looked confused and then chuckled.

"Why, none of his advisers have come up with the plan. This would put you in favor of the royal house." I narrowed my eyes, I didn't want my Mother and Father's unnecessary comments, about my relationship with Elias.

"You can use it, I'm sure that you would have thought of it later." I lowered my eyes as Elias's ocean eyes burned with slight frustration. "Your highness, I'm sorry to say that I must leave to attend another lesson." As I walked away, I felt a harsh tug on my wrist.

Looking into his eyes, I narrowed my eyes at the angered young man. Taking a deep breath, I took my wrist out of his hold, relieved to not see a mark.

"Yes?" I asked, looking up toward Father's office window, and he was standing there watching us.

"Lady Willow, I will use your name. I know what you're trying to avoid, you feel like you're using my friendship, but let me assure you, you're not." I lowered my eyes for a second, then looked at him.

"Fine, let's say it was both of us. You're right, I don't want to use your power, for any benefit. The King already favors the Willow household, any more and we'll become rivals for many households." I looked into his eyes. The stormy look calmed down, and he even brightened at the mention of sharing the opinion.

"You worried about something else." I deadpanned as he still didn't look relieved. He looked into my eyes, and His Highness had tears flowing down his face. I panicked, reaching for my handkerchief, handing it over while dropping my eyes.

For no man liked to see their tears be seen by others, especially by women.

"I'm okay, thank you for worrying. You're dismissed." I bowed then quickly left the gardens, not wanting Mother to scold me for being late to my lesson.

***

Watching her retreating figure, the Prince wiped his tears away and took deep breaths. He couldn't believe that he cried in front of a young lady, even she looked uneasy.

"Your Highness, the King requests you to be home early. He wishes to speak to you." Prince Elias nodded his head, cleaning up the stack of papers. His bodyguard looked at the youngster worriedly but left the topic alone.

"Let's go back to the castle," Elias spoke clearly, looking up at the Duke's widow, who was still watching them. Elias chided himself for reaching out toward Rebecca as he did, but he wanted to state the facts, as he's noticed she's been hesitant.

Walking out the gardens, the Duchess sent them on their way, with a small smile. The Duke and Rebecca were nowhere to be seen, not even when he looked up at the balcony where Rebecca would always be.