7 | 6th Chapter

/The Princess' Awakening/

Eyes open...

I held my hair on place...

A sharp blade on my other hand as I stare in a jade reflector, like an ancient mirror to be precise.

The sound of slicing filled the air as hair fell on the floor.

When I'm done I put the blade back to the same drawer where I first saw it. It was one of the princess' tools for her suicidal attempt. I must admit that its impressively sharp, maybe sharper than the last samurai sword that I held in the modern era.

I stared at the jade reflector and reach for my hair at the back. Starting from now on I will always make a fishtail braid out of my waist length hair. It's way too beautiful to be accidentally cut when I'm practicing weapons and it will be a great distraction when I'm practicing martial arts. Then I pickup the comb, eventually planning to arrange my newly created bangs. Surely everyone will be dumbfounded of what I've done and the village might be interested in making a new gossip to talk about.

It's time to choose an appropriate outfit to wear, a princess like me should have something elegant, it took me 4 days to completely modify all of the things that I'm planning to use. Since this era is a thousand years back underwear garments have not been up to the current, so I created my own to keep it comfortable. I also made army-styled suit pants that fit as an armoured undergarment whenever I'm wearing a gown. My point is that I don't want it to be inconvenient when disaster arises unexpectedly.

I decently tied the tip of my hair with a royal blue ribbon. I'll wear a blue robe today to match the ribbon. I must say I've done great in manipulating the gowns and turn it to something refreshing, yet presentable and more noble, compared to the eyesore colours that presents childishness. Makes me puke, I don't want people to see me as a kid. This body had already turned 18, heck I'm even wondering why it stayed single for long, since girls were usually married off by the age of 15.

From the modern era, my grandmother educated me strictly with the royal etiquette. An heiress should be someone who presents herself with much more pride, elegance, and good morals. The way she presents herself is the only way she earns respect from her people. Heck it was one hell of a learning system when my grandmother conducted lessons, bringing the righteousness in my words. She always reminds me that my words would reflect my actions.

So the easiest challenge I have for today when I get out of these walls is to change the way people perceive me. That immoral princess, who was psychotic in nature and probably too childish should be gone from their visions. I wanna be viewed as someone capable and not just someone who depend solely on her family background and their power.

With a light powder on my face and a lip tint, I immediately held my fan. Not an ordinary fan, but a hidden weapon. I found this when I was looking for hidden treasures at my mother's pavilion. This will do for now.

I stood up and walk towards the door. I gently turn the knob of the door and open it silently. Two of the guards along with the maids were put in a daze when I walk out of the room. The tray one of the maids was holding fell on the ground, breaking the porcelain tea cups. Everyone was pulled back from their daze, I released an indifferent type of aura making all of them tremble.

"Next time hold the tray properly, we don't just buy these things freely and neither do we pick money from the road with ease. Remember, you're service here is paid with the right amount of coins higher than what the officials can afford for their slaves. You're lucky that you belong to this household so don't take things for granted."

The maid lost her will to stand, so she fell on the floor on bended knees. Tears beamed from her eyes, as her body continuously shake.

"I'm sorry your majesty, I plead for forgiveness. I will never do it again and I will mind what I'm doing." She kowtowed till I raise my hand and stop her.

"I'll be expecting that from all of you, next time, it'll be punishments you'll receive from me."

"Yes, your ladyship" they answered in chorus

"Might one of you knew Emperor father's whereabouts?"

"Reporting to her ladyship, the Emperor was with the crown prince, they were venturing the Chamomile Garden of the Imperial Consort" I nodded

"I shall take my leave, guard the doors and let no one enter my room as I'll have it strictly forbidden, starting onwards I'll be the one cleaning my own room and all of you shall follow my rules within these walls."

I turned towards the door that leads to the main hallway. I need to talk to Emperor father and ask his permission to sort things out on my own. It's good that I'll see the crown prince, or might as I say, my twin brother. I remembered him being close and overprotective of his brat headed sister, we'll see if I can win his favour once more. I hope he doesn't suspect me and the changes in me.

As I walk through the corridors, the servants bowed in respect. But it was obvious that they were talking about me, finally having different thoughts about me. I hope it won't drive them crazy. Especially when I nod acknowledging their greetings. Three of my maids followed behind. So far nothing seems unusual, aside from the report I had with my falcon, that my fiance was taken by the demons. I need to ask Emperor father about the demons one day. As I see them, I dismissed my maids.

The both of them were driven in a serious matter, not noticing my arrival behind them. I sighed, how can these men put their guards down. Don't they know that danger is everywhere!

"Father, I know my days are counted and the both of us knew that the poison I've acquired is incurable."

"But your sister is nowhere ready, that's why I'm marrying her off. None of your brothers wanted the throne and they don't want to battle eachother nor claim the throne. We can't force them, the hope is in your sister's hands"

"I know father, I'll try to convince her later. I don't know till when my body would hold on, since that day that I've saved her and be poisoned instead of her, I know how my body's reacting. I'm getting weaker day by day--"

I can no longer stand and eavesdrop as they talk, I tried recalling how he was poisoned by saving me, but the details were blurred. My feet move as fast as it can take me, till I stop behind him.

"Drink this" I held out a bottle of liquid potion on my palm as I offered it to him.

Both of them turned at me with a millisecond difference. They stared at me with wide eyes.

"Since when have you gotten there?"

"Since you started talking about poison"

"Sis... I--"

"You don't need to explain anything, I know why you've kept it from me"

"I'm sorry" my brother said

"What is that?" My father asked

"It's a heavy type of remedy, it'll help him stop the poison from damaging more parts."

"Where did you get this?"

"You don't have to know it now, at the right time I'll tell the both of you. Brother as the crown prince you need to take care of your body double time" my gaze softened at him as I held his hand and pursue him in drinking the bottle

"Don't tell anyone about me giving you a cure, and father no one must know about this. I'll come to your chambers secretly at night brother, I'll give you a medicine that needs to be mix when you bath, it will completely heal you and eliminate the poison completely."

"Sister-- I-- thank you" he pulled me into a tight hug, when he finished drinking the potion.

"Father let's send him to his room, the potion will take its effects and make him drowsy for the rest of the day. It's better if he sleeps, I will take guard till he wakes up, inform everyone not to disturb us. I have prepared several silver needles, I'll take the opportunity to withdraw some of the poison and tell Imperial Mother that I'll be needing her assistance."

"As you wish my dear, ah finally she's grown up" my father patted my head as I and my brother broke the embrace.

"Let's waste no time"

"Alright, let's go"