"LL"

My afternoons for the rest of the week were spent on the training ground.

Luca made me do a recap of what I'd learned, working on my proper stance again and demonstrating the basic blocks. And then we moved on to the dummies, just so I could practice whacking on a stationary object with all my strength.

The dummy's torso, made of thatch, was very satisfying to whack, but whenever I hit its arms, which is a horizontal wooden pole, it caused uncomfortable vibrations to travel from the sword to my hands. Luca randomly rotated the dummy's arms so I could practice on different angles of blocking.

By the fifth day, and due to my persistent insistence, Luca finally allowed me to handle a real sword. Not a fully-functional one though. He gave me a sword with blunt edges. It could still cause damage with enough force, but it wouldn't slice off my skin if I were to touch it accidentally. It wasn't easy. I realized I was way over my head as soon as we began training with the real sword.

Several minutes later, I finally gave in.

"Why don't you teach me to handle something smaller?" I said breathlessly. I was sweating profusely. I tried to endure it for as long as I could, but my weak arms just couldn't handle the weight of the sword. I cursed myself for being born with such a small, useless figure.

Luca pried the sword from my clutches. My fingers were frozen numb in a curled position from gripping the handle hard. I flexed them and they hurt.

"Your right," Luca said, assessing me with worried eyes. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have made you do this."

"It's not your fault. I wanted to do it."

"Let's take a break for now. What do you like to drink?"

"Anything. Whatever's available."

Luca disappeared inside the barracks and came out with two wooden stools, followed by a guard carrying a jug and two mugs. Luca set down the stools on the roofed section just outside the barracks. He accepted the tray from the guard, who instantly left after shyly greeting me.

Luca had made sure we both had the training ground to ourselves whenever we used it, which I highly appreciated. I liked that I didn't have to keep up with royal etiquette and just be myself.

I sat down on a stool while Luca balanced the tray on top of a wooden crate. "I'm sorry about this," Luca said apologetically. He poured the jug's contents into a wooden mug and handed it to me. "It's not exactly what you're used to, but it's clean. I promise."

"Thank you." I accepted it with a smile and rolled my eyes. "I don't really mind, Luca." I took a sip. It was cool water. Sweet, with a hint of citrus. "What is this?"

"Lemon water and honey. Do you hate it? Sorry. I know you prefer expensive tea, but we don't have that here."

"It's good!" I said truthfully. Very refreshing. Perfect after a day of strenuous activity. "I should ask the kitchen to prepare this for me."

Luca sniggered.

"What?"

"Nothing, Your Highness."

"Luca!"

"Lena. Sorry," he said teasingly.

My annoyance melted at the sight of his smile.

I was suddenly overcome with self-consciousness about how I must appear to him right now — sweaty and unappealing with my hair a mess from the exertion. All the while, talking about ordering people to make me something I wanted. Like an incapable and entitled princess.

"Or, I can try to make it myself!" I said loudly, trying to redeem myself. "Can you teach me the recipe?"

"Have you ever made something by yourself?" Luca laughed, completely aware of what I was thinking. He knew me too well.

"I'll have you know," I retorted. "I've made a couple of things, mind you."

"Yeah, like what?"

"Like… like…" I trailed off.

Oh yes, I've made a couple of things. I made a painting, which I'm really proud of. And an embroidered handkerchief, which I'm not really proud of.

But those two things? They were made with only one person in mind. The person sitting right in front of me, teasing me relentlessly.

"Well?" he urged.

"Never mind," I muttered. At least nothing you should know about, I added silently.

He laughed again. "Lena, it's okay. You have servants for a reason, and they're more than happy to do your bidding and please you. You just have to live and breathe…"

"Oh, shut up. Fine! Look at this. I made this!"

I've been carrying the handkerchief in my pocket every day. Why? I have no idea. Maybe a part of me was still wishing I could give it to him. It just seemed even more foolish now, especially with the amount of faith he apparently had in my capabilities.

I angrily fished out the square piece of folded fabric and waved it in front of his face for a moment.

"Wait, let me see."

Luca grabbed the handkerchief before I could stuff it back in my pocket.

The handkerchief was made of ivory white cotton with a scalloped edge. It looks plain at a quick glance. But once you look closer and move it at different angles to the light, that's where you'll see the embroidered pattern.

I had embroidered the letters 'LL' in cursive near the corner, with a simple vine design curling upward and to the right of the letters. I used a white, silvery thread, so it wouldn't look so conspicuous.

I waited anxiously as he studied it, wringing my fingers in my lap.

"You made this?"

"Yeah. I know it's not good. But I tried my best, okay? Now give it back."

"Who says it's not good?" he replied, giving me a warm smile. "It's actually pretty nice. I like the subtlety. Wow, nice work, Lena."

Pleasure engulfed me, thawing out my frozen hands. "You're just saying that," I mumbled.

"It's true. What does L-L stand for?"

"My initials, obviously."

"Technically, your initials are 'E-L', Princess Elena. Or 'E-S-L', if you want to be specific."

Oh.

"Well… it doesn't really matter," I grumbled, slightly embarrassed. "It's mine. No one else needs to see it. Or judge it… technically. Give it back."

Luca smiled lazily. "Well, I could think of something else it would stand for, since it's technically incorrect."

"What?" I snapped. I took a sip from my mug.

"My name also happens to start with an 'L'. Maybe the other one stands for me. Maybe you were thinking of me when you made this," he teased.

I choked on my drink.

As I sat there, coughing to expel the liquid from my lungs, I could also feel my face getting warm, especially my ears. They're probably tomato red by now, but luckily I could blame it on the choking.

'LL'. Lena. Luca.

Oh my goodness! Was that really my intention?

No. The initials clearly meant Lena Lavien when I made it.

But… Luca suggested it. It came from him!

Oh my.

Does it mean he has some feelings for me too? A more-than-friends type of feeling?

"Are you okay? It was just a joke. Here, use this." He handed me back the handkerchief.

Flustered, I accepted it and used it to wipe my mouth.

And immediately regretted it. I groaned when I looked at the previously pristine handkerchief, which now had a light yellow stain on it. Great.

When he suggested — even if he meant it as a joke —what 'LL' stood for, it would've been the perfect excuse to give him the handkerchief. But it's all ruined now. I couldn't give it to him anymore.

Regardless…

I was happy! A giddy kind of happy that I was trying my very best not to show.

"Yeah, yeah. The second letter definitely means you," I said, keeping my tone light. "I'm ready to continue," I added cheerfully, just in case he takes me seriously and finds me weird.

The next day, I was surprised to see that Luca had invited a guard to join us for training. He was young, appearing to be around my age, and just a head taller than I was. He also seemed very shy. He kept his head lowered, hiding his boyish features behind a cloud of blonde curls.

I looked at Luca questioningly.

"Today, I will be teaching you basic unarmed forms of self-defense, useful if you don't have any weapons in sight, or if an unarmed enemy is coming at you," he said. "This is Elliot, a promising new recruit. He is also part of your royal guard."

"Nice to meet you, Elliot," I greeted with a smile.

The boy raised his head and smiled shyly. "Y–your Highness! I-it's an honor!" He glanced at Luca, as if seeking approval.

"You're doing well," Luca told him, smiling. Then he turned to me. "Elliot will be assisting in today's demonstration."

The two men moved to the grassiest area and faced each other far apart.

"The first form," Luca announced, nodding at Elliot.

Without warning, Elliot bounded up to Luca, fist raised, as if he was going to hit him. But when the distance was closed between them, Luca grabbed Elliot's outstretched fist and pushed it downward. Elliot was thrown forward, almost somersaulting in the air, before landing on his back on the grass with a loud thump.

Oof!

I stared with my mouth hanging open, completely shocked.