This Princess is an Extra-Chapter 50: Scenario One
"The king and the Crown Prince are aware and doing everything to protect us from any danger. So straighten your back and remember who you are. You are royal born of deep roots and grown under generations of sunlight to triumph over any blizzard no matter how robust it may."
Eli responded with a quiet, reassuring nod. Her doe eyes looked determined. The Queen offered her a soft smile and withdrew her hand, unaware of the turmoil inside Eli’s mind.
"Would you care for a cup of tea in my chambers, dear?" the queen asked gently.
"No, Mother, I would like to spend some time here."
At her answer, the Queen nodded. And just like that she turned to leave, with maids following her, her composed expression faltered, giving way to a faint trace of tension. The witch’s warning and the recent chain of events had weighed heavily on her mind. Like any loving parent, she wished to shield her children from every lurking danger, no matter the cost.
But what the queen didn’t know was that trouble was lurking outside in the world, waiting for Eli.
Moments after the Queen left, Eli was all alone beneath the Soriel tree. She sat on the wide swing, letting it sway slowly back and forth as her thoughts drifted while she looked down towards the ground.
She had never known that the tree carried such an emotional history and Callisto was far more emotional than he ever let on. He really was a perfect big brother. And perhaps that was why Eli found herself drawn to him more than she realized, Eli’s chin quivered subtly because in many ways he reminded her of her own loving brother she once had.
Then her gaze shifted toward the window shimerring beside her, and she let out a quiet sigh as she looked at the message upon it’s surface.
[Scenario 1: Elarion is under the threat of war from the golden intruder. Player’s task is to stop the war. Success percentage of preventing destruction of Elarion: 10%]
10%. At this rate he will definitely attack. That man claimed he’s fond of Lily, but he doesn’t even protect her! After capturing her, he killed everyone of her family. Then, he just leaves her to be tormented by the palace people: nobles and non-nobles alike. He just had the desire to posses all sparkeling things, thought Eli to herself.
It was then that Lily realised, the royal palace is a hell decorated with gems and gold. To survive and take her revenge in the world of villains one must push their limits and overcome all adversities! And finally after facing many adversities she was able to kill him.
But that was all Eli knew. She knew nothing of the path that led there. So how, in this godforsaken world, was she supposed to stop a man that terrifying? And she started to imagine worst.
As Eli remained lost in her thoughts, gently swaying on the swing, Talia noticed her and immediately walked toward her.
"Princess! I asked around, but I couldn’t find out where the Crown Prince has gone. They say it’s confidential." Talia reported to Eli for her to look up at her, "His Highness departed with his noble friend from Winterlake. It will take another four or five days before he returns."
Talia saw Eli’s shoulder slouch slightly in worry after hearing her. "Winterlake!" Eli echoed, looking down again.
Talia cleared her throat, "Princess, if it is something important, why not write a letter to His Highness? The royal palace, along with Lady Mirabel’s estate, is preparing the items the Crown Prince has requested. They are to be sent tomorrow. Would Your Highness like to send something as well?" Talia suggested to encorage Eli but she heard her let out a quite sigh
"U-um, Princess, please don’t trouble yourself so much," Talia said gently, trying to sound reassuring. "Everything will be all right." 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦
Eli looked up at her maid, ’How do I explain to a character that a war is predestined and it will happen unless I do something to stop it.’ Said Eli in her mind without telling about it out loud.
"Yes, everything will be all right!" she echoed softly, as much to herself as to Talia. Her words broke as if she was barely trying to contain her emotions.
"You’re finally smiling now." But after sometime Talia pointed, "However princess, though you are smiling even my lowly eyes can see that you’re scared." Talia had a faint inclination and somehow she could tell Eli’s distress.
The words left Eli inwardly shaken. Her color slowly drained from her face as her fingers tightened around the rope of the swing. ’I’m trying to pretend that I’m fine. But I’m scared... scared that I might never wake up, that this world will become my only reality. And worse still, if the war comes to pass, everything I’ve begun to care for will be swallowed by devastation and I’ll be left all alone.’
Talia broke into her thoughts, speaking with quiet resolve. "Princess, I do not wish to stand idly by when I know Your Highness is in pain. If I may say, pain can be shared with a friend. Does the Princess not consider me her friend? It would be my honor to share your burden."
Eli heeded to her words, her lips pressing tightly and she said, "Um... let’s say it’s like a game, but played in the real world with no rules," Eli said slowly. "You don’t know your opponent, and you don’t know the rules either. The only thing you can tell is that you’re about to lose and you don’t want that to happen."
"You’re trapped, with no clear move ahead. What would you do in that situation, Talia?"
Talia fell silent for a few moments, thinking carefully before she answered. "Princess, if I were but an unseasoned player, and the game was bound with no specific rules, then I would not rely on my skill alone. I would seek counsel or invite someone more experienced to play on my behalf." At those words, as she grasped the depth hidden within Talia’s simple reply, Eli’s eyes widened, a thought suddenly popped up in her head.
She suddenly sprang up from the swing and pulled Talia into a tight hug. "You’re such a darling, Talia!" With that, Eli bolted toward her palace.
"P-Princess! Do not run!" Talia caught the lower part of her dress and quickly went to follow the girl. "It is not proper for a lady to bolt like that!"
"But you’re chasing after me too!" Eli’s voice rang back, laughing, without looking behind her back.
By the time Talia reached the Princess’s chambers, huffing for breath, the scene before her eyes was pure chaos.
Several jewelry boxes had been opened and rifled through, their contents now lay scattered across the floor, a few of them were even overturned completely. Eli, however, sat deliriously at the office-cum-study table she rarely ever used as her quill moved swiftly across an expensive parchment.
After finishing her writing, Eli folded the parchment swiftly and slipped it into an envelope along with something else Talia couldn’t quite make out. Sealing it, she hurried over to Talia, who was still standing by the chamber door.
Placing an envelop into her hands, Eli spoke quickly to her, eyes bright with urgency. "Take these to the Royal Courier’s Guild, have them delivered this to brother’s friend from Winterlake. You may ask them for his name. My seal is on the envelope; it is a direct order. They will not object." She said without batting her eyelashes.
Then Eli tapped another envelop on her hand. "This one is for him as well. He’ll know what to do with it." Before Talia could voice a single question, Eli was already moving past her. "I’m going to Mother’s palace," she added over her shoulder. "Hurry and return quickly. We have many things to prepare for."
The day went by and when the next day arrived, Eli was outside the royal palace standing with Lady Mirabel outside her humble estate.
She turned toward Talia, who was busy arranging the materials and provisions being sent from both the royal palace and Mirabel’s estate to Callisto. Stepping closer, Eli took her hand.
"Talia, thanks to you and Mira, I was able to prepare few things for my brother as well, but I know I’m still lacking in my duties as a princess." Closing her eyes with a small, genuine smile, she continued, "So you have to promise me you’ll keep helping me. I’m counting on you."
"Your Highness....! You have us, so don’t worry!" Mira replied sweetly.
Talia also got a sudden sting in her eyes and looked away, deeply moved, ’Counting on us? To think her Highness would ever use words like that.....! She truly has grown up into an elegant lady.’
"I’ll see that everything is loaded properly, Princess." said Talia.
