Before the tension could thicken further, Cassy stepped forward, her tone calm yet hesitant.
Cassy: "Your Highness, we are only commoners. How can we even dream of such a thing?"
Melinda, standing beside her, nodded quietly.
Melinda: "Sir Gerald is at least a knight… but we… we are only mere servants."
Evelyn sighed. She looked at each of them, her eyes serious.
Evelyn: "There is no rule that says a Guardian must be noble. Only the talented ones get the chance—because talent is what matters, not bloodline."
She smiled reassuringly.
Evelyn: "You may not realize it yet, but you all have talent. Some of us are not born with it—we create it. And I see potential in all of you."
Evelyn turned her gaze to Gerald, her expression unreadable.
Evelyn: "You chase strength like every other knight. But there is more to being a knight than brute force."
She walked over to the table, her steps unhurried. Picking up a single grape from a bowl, she turned slightly—then, without warning, flicked it toward the closed door.
Evelyn: "Catch."
Instinct took over.
Before anyone could comprehend what had happened, Gerald surged forward. In the blink of an eye, he was standing in front of the door, the grape resting neatly in his palm.
Even Cassy blinked, visibly startled by the speed.
A brief silence filled the room.
Evelyn smiled.
Evelyn: "You see? If we talk about reflexes and agility, i'm sure there are very few who can match you."
She returned to the couch with a graceful stride, settled herself comfortably, then picked up another grape and popped it into her mouth. As she chewed, her gaze shifted toward Gerald, calm and unwavering, as if waiting for him to truly understand her words.
Evelyn: "So? What do you think now?"
Gerald stood frozen, his eyes wide with disbelief. Slowly, he unfolded his hand and stared at the grape resting in his palm—as if it were something far greater, something precious.
Am I truly worthy of this trust…? the thought echoed in his mind.
The question echoed in his mind, but only for a moment. Determination replaced doubt.
His fingers curled tightly around the grape.
No... since Her Highness has chosen to trust me, then i will never let her down.
He bowed again, this time with resolve and determination.
Gerald: "If the Princess believes in me, then I will do my utmost. I will never let Your Highness down."
Evelyn turned her gaze to the others.
Evelyn: "What about you?"
They hesitated. Then one by one, they knelt.
They spoke in unison, voices firm and unwavering:
"We will never betray the Princess's trust. We will serve you with all our hearts."
Evelyn nodded. "Good."
Evelyn (Thoughts): "I'm relieved they didn't ask any further questions. How could I possibly tell them that I know all this because the system told me?"
She handed out books and practice instructions to each of them.
Evelyn: "I'll be checking on your progress."
Cassy: "But these—"
Evelyn: "No buts. Just do as I say."
They, in unison: "Yes, Your Highness."
From that day forward, their schedules were packed. They trained from sunrise to sunset, devoting themselves entirely to Evelyn's vision.
——————
Elsewhere, in a town far removed from the quiet palace where Evelyn plotted her future, life moved with a frantic rhythm.
A man in a cyan robe moved slowly through the bustling crowd. The noise of traders, children, and peddlers filled the air. Yet his presence was like a calm ripple amidst the chaos.
As he passed a bakery, a small child bumped into him, stumbled, and then ran off without looking back.
The man didn't chase after him. He simply stared at the direction the child had gone, an unreadable look in his eyes.
______
The child, heart pounding, ducked into an alley and opened the pouch he had stolen.
It was heavy. His eyes sparkled. Maybe it's full of gold...
As he opened it, his breath caught.
A loud roar echoed in the narrow alley.
A lion emerged from the pouch—a majestic beast with glowing eyes and golden mane. The boy shrieked and threw the pouch as far away as he could. He collapsed to the ground and fainted in fear.
The lion paid him no attention. Instead, it turned into a ray of golden light and vanished into the sky.
Moments later, the pouch floated back through the crowd, unseen by all, and landed softly at the waist of the man in cyan.
He glanced at it, unmoved. As if it had never been taken.
A gust of wind passed by.
A name whispered in the breeze.
"...Lisette."
And the man walked on, vanishing into the crowd like mist.
Little did the world know, the wind had started to shift.
And at its center stood a lazy little princess who was anything but ordinary.
——————
One evening - Evelyn's Room–
Twilight spilled golden hues through the curtains, casting the room in a dim, melancholic glow. Dust danced gently in the shafts of light, and an air of quiet anticipation lingered within the space. Evelyn had remained silent for most of the evening, her demeanor contemplative and unreadable.
Cassy, Gerald, Lily, Lora, Ella, Melinda, and Claire had been following Evelyn's instructions for the past few days. Though uncertainty loomed in their minds, not one of them voiced it aloud.
Evelyn had proven herself many times, and trust, even if tentative, had begun to form between them. So, when she asked them not to disturb her for the night, they nodded in silent agreement.
Evelyn's room was off-limits tonight.
Inside, Evelyn sat alone, her eyes scanning the floor where a strange circle glowed faintly. It had been drawn with intricate patterns of chalk and some unknown symbols that shimmered faintly in the dusky room. Candles were placed evenly around the circle, their flames flickering as if reacting to the energy building within.
Evelyn exhaled deeply, settling herself at the center of the circle.
Evelyn (Thoughts): "Although they're all capable, they won't always be with me. What if those rats come back while I'm asleep? I don't like to be disturbed while sleeping so, i need something reliable—a familiar. Something that can warn me beforehand."
Evelyn: "Let's begin."
She muttered a short incantation under her breath and closed her eyes.