My Wonderful Second Life

Chapter 6- A place full of death traps

I soon realized that I would have been the happiest girl in the Sun Empire if I could have choked an annoying and most idiotic duke I had ever had the displeasure of meeting. Not that I had met any other before, but I was a firm believer that none could be as tiring as the man sitting in front of me, grinning like he had won a prize of some sorts.

Ohhh, if could... even if for a moment. But of course I could not. I wished to live a long life, and that was not compatible with choking the Mountnero Duke, the cold snake of the Sun Empire. So I stayed silent on our way to the palace. A place overflowing with death traps. And even though I was wearing a cute frolic pink dress and riding a carriage for the first time, this could not bring me joy.

To avoid the gleeful stares thrown at me by the Duke (and decrease my urge to punch him), I concentrated my view upon the window and the ever-changing scenario from outside. In a calmer state, I could now think of ways to avoid any undesirable encounters.

According to my knowledge, it was too soon for Jenni to meet the princes. That only happened when she reached her teenage years. They were introduced by Princess Odette, the older sister of Prince Francis. Jenni had gone to greet her, at the request of the Empress so the princess could have a friend of similar age and of the right pedigree.

During the visit, she found both princes hiding from their tutor in Odette's palace, an usual affair between the three. In the book it was all very romantic and full of charged destiny. A true fairytale.

Although it always baffled me how she got to meet BOTH at the same time. Even if there was a reason behind such a strange coincidence.

The Sun and Moon empires had a long relationship. It went back to the beginnings of their kingdoms at the hands of their gods. Their frosty and sometimes violent relation flourished with time, turning both enemy nations into brotherly lands. The past war forgiven and forgotten.

Or so it was told by those who wished to bury an unsavory history.

To promote both empires' good relations, princes of similar ages always studied together. That way, they would grow a bond, which would last for a lifetime. They would also share knowledge as proof of good will between nations. One year, the princes would study in the Sun Empire and the next in the Moon Empire. This would be the norm until they become adults, at eighteen.

Luckily for the story, both royal princes had the same age, and both were the only sons of their respective families. Just like their fathers before. What a remarkable coincidence....

I was not sure of the date or in which year would their studies fall in the Sun Empire. If I was lucky, they were busy studying magic at Luar, the Moon Empire capital. Though it would be anyway safer for me if I stayed far away from the Royal Residences and the Scholar Headquarters, where the princes studied when they were at the Sun Empire.

I was starting to feel hopeful, looking through the window while a festival grew in the main square of Solar, the Capital of the Sun. There were tents being lifted, merchants busy carrying baskets full of unseen things covered by blankets, and people already gathered on the fringes of the space even if nothing was ready yet.

The noise, the colours and the sweet scent that travelled through the air soothed my worries.

However, the Duke, being the ass that he was, had to ruin the moment.

"Would you like to visit princess Odette? You both are close in age and it would be good if you had someone to talk to besides your sister." He said while giving me a wholesome smile, as if he was doing a wonderful thing.

Oh no, you won't!

I put on my best sad face, which made that grin of his disappear fast. He came to my side, worried.