Serene’s POV

"What?" I couldn’t believe what father had just said.

"No way I am taking Kilamin to the institute with me. I have my Senseis there. They are more than qualified to teach me." I protested.

"Maybe they are but they are not our kind. Kilamin fits the category perfectly and there is so much he can teach you. Besides I trust him with your life. He will keep you safe at any cost, I can’t say the same for others."

"But father..." I was cut off by a glare from my father.

"This is not up for discussion Serene, you are to listen to everything he will say and I want you to show him the same respect you show your Senseis. Is that clear?"

"Yes! father," I replied meekly and got up to leave.

Stepping out of his study I found Kilamin standing against the wall. Has he been listening to our conversation?

"Couldn’t you say no when father asked you to take that position?" I frowned at him.

"No, because it was my suggestion." He was as expressionless as a statue.

"Why? I don’t need you following me around in the institute. I can’t comprehend your incessant need to interfere in my life." My voice was raised and my face was flustered.

"You will one day." He was as calm as ever with no expression creeping up on his face.

"Ugghh..."

I stormed off with a storm raging inside me while he followed behind. I went to my room and slammed the door shut right in his face. He knocked multiple times but I didn’t answer.

After a while, I heard Agatha’s voice: "Princess Serene, can I come in?"

"Yes, enter," I ordered her. She came inside and stood near the door.

"Your grandmother wants to see you, Princess Serene." I was slumped over my bed so I had to raise my head to look at her.

"I will be right there." She nodded and waited for me to get up so she could follow behind.

I exited the room and heaved a sigh of relief for Kilamin was nowhere in sight.

I knocked and entered my grandmother’s room. Grandmother was sitting on a rocking chair near the window and gave me a warm smile.

"Come my child, sit with me." I went and sat near my grandmother.

"Serene, you remember when you lost your mother? How difficult that time was?" Grandmother asked me in a sad voice.

"I do grandma. Nothing felt good in the world. I missed her so much, still do."

"Yes, no one can replace a mother’s love in one’s life. Kilamin never knew his mother, she died giving birth to him. The rest of his family never really accepted him, so we decided to adopt him and bring him here as a kid. Your father saw something in that child and he has lived up to those expectations. He is giving his all for our well-being, especially yours. Try to get along with him, for our sake." I was flabbergasted, I knew he was an orphan but I had never given it this much thought.

"Serene he has dedicated his life to keeping us safe, especially you. He is not an enemy, I understand you feel irked by his constant presence. But try to see things from his perspective as well. We are the only family he knows." At that moment I felt sad for him and for how I had always treated him. I decided to maintain a better relationship with him in the future.

"I see grandma, I apologise for not living up to your expectations and I will try to get along with him. But he annoys me, I think it’s because I feel suffocated for not being able to move freely of my own accord. And it’s easy to take out my frustration on him." My emotions were all over the place.

"I can understand my dear, we will get through this together." She opened her arms for me and I gave her a warm hug.

"Go get some training done now." Grandma ushered me with a smile as I left her warm embrace and went on to find him. Agatha followed behind me.

I asked a guard about his whereabouts he told me Kilamin went to his room. So I made my way there. I knocked and he opened the door on the first knock. He stared at me with the same serious expression and red eyes. Why were his eyes red? Has he been crying?

"Princess Serene, how may I help you?" His tone was dull and almost boring.

"Agatha you can leave now." I turned to my chambermaid, who bowed before leaving.

"Will it be ok if I come in?"

"Sure," he stepped aside granting me access to his room. Once inside I faced him again.

"I would like to apologise for my earlier behaviour. I was so frustrated and on top of that, I am feeling suffocated. My privacy is being violated and I have all these pent-up emotions. But it doesn’t give me a right to treat you the way I did. I understand you are only trying to help me but it’s not easy having someone watch every step I take." He took a deep breath at my rant.

"You don’t have to apologise to me for anything. Any sane person would do the same in your position. I don’t enjoy encroaching on your privacy, my only objective is to keep you safe. That’s why I try to be as discreet as possible." He replied calmly.

"So should we set some ground rules if we are gonna work together as a team." I gave him a proposition.

"Well, King Eradius has permitted me to make choices on your behalf and train you to become stronger. And I plan on doing that. I must warn you my training will be rigorous. You will stop existing as a Princess to me and I will only take you as my student. And I don’t show mercy to my students." His words chilled me to my bone, what had I ever done to end up with Kilamin as my Sensei? I wanted to cry.