Training the "Queen"
AURELIA/ LEXI
Morning in the underworld doesn't come with the sun. In fact, there's no sun at all, just red lights coming from between the clouds. I have no idea what it is.
The air changes, hotter and thicker, and the black torches on the walls burn with a deeper purple flame. That's how I know it's time to wake up. Like an alarm clock, there's no sound, but you wake up to the glow around you.
I sit quietly as the maids dress me.
Layers of dark silk, soft but heavy, wrap around me. It clings to my waist, then falls to the floor. Silver chains hang from my shoulders, attached to black crystals at my chest. The sleeves are tight, ending in sharp cuffs that touch my fingers.
"Vaerith," Nyx whispers to me.
I have no idea what that means.
"Vaerith?" I repeated, glancing at the cloth wrapped around me. "I'll assume that means I don't look ridiculous."
"It means you look… worthy, Your Highness," Nyx said with a smile.
"That's the word used when something is… worthy," Morgana said, adjusting the hem of my garment. "And you are, Your Highness."
"You're beautiful too," Celestine said softly. "But more than that… it suits you."
"Hmm, you're already teasing me," I said seriously.
The three maids looked at each other. "Tell me, Your Highness?" Morgana asked.
"What does that word mean, Your Highness?" Nyx asked.
"Ah… it means you're praising me too much," I replied. "It's like you want me to believe you."
Celestine lowered her gaze slightly. "That is not our intention, Your Majesty. What we are saying… is the truth."
Morgana spoke next, more carefully. "We would not dare lie to you."
Nyx tilted her head slightly, still trying to understand. "If that is what 'binobola' means… we are not doing that. You are… worthy of praise."
I just laughed at them. "Okay, fine. You are telling the truth."
I stood up and faced the mirror when I noticed that my outfit was too fancy. I glanced at Nyx.
"I just noticed, why do I look so elegant today? What is it? Is there something I should know?" I asked.
"Today you will be studying," a familiar voice answered.
I didn't even have to look back. "Commander Kael," I said softly.
Of course, he's here. It's a good thing I'm already dressed. Suddenly, he walks in, without knocking.
He's standing near the door. His arms are behind him. His posture is straight, wearing his black uniform. His handsome face is more striking; he only has horns.
It's annoying. What else does he need? Isn't he tired of spying on me? Even worse than a stalker, eh.
"You're early...." I said. "What the hell are you doing now? Didn't you sleep?"
"Early?" he replied. "You should get used to it because in the next few days, we'll be in the same room together."
"And in the same bed." Nyx suddenly said.
I looked at Nyx, who quickly covered her mouth. Morgana and Celestine immediately pulled her away, and they stood not far from me.
"If you're ready, let's get started," Kael said emotionlessly.
I blinked. "For what?"
He stared at me, his gaze fixed on me, firm. "To study."
I frowned. "To study… for what?"
"To act like a queen."
I almost laughed. "Rough," I said. "I'm doing it right. They're afraid of me."
Kael didn't say anything right away. He turned to my three servants. They immediately understood what Kael was trying to convey, so they hurriedly left my room and closed the door.
Kael took a step closer, which made me nervous. I stood up and immediately hugged myself as I stepped back.
"Hey, what's your plan? Why are you coming closer?" I asked. "Are you going to use your horn?"
Every step he took forward was a step back for me.
"I'm a green belt in karate, I can break your bones and...." I looked down at his lower half. "Make you impotent."
Kael frowned. "Interesting."
I was stunned when I felt the thick wall behind me. I was about to move away when he placed one of his hands on the wall just next to my head.
"Strange words." He said closer to me. "I wonder what those words are."
I swallowed. He was too close to me. "Don't ask," I said.
Silence broke between us. One, two, three seconds.
"What exactly do I need to study? Do I still have to do this? Do you know the danger of this? Everyone will doubt me. You're putting me in danger."
Kael didn't speak right away; he stared at me for a moment. It took a long time. I felt like he was going to kiss me like the ones you see on TV. After eye-to-eye contact, they were going to kiss.
"Don't worry, I'll teach you."
"I don't understand," I said. "You still doubt that I'm your princess?"
"I didn't say you weren't," he replied lowly. "But being a princess isn't enough. You have to look like a princess in the eyes of others."
I fell silent. He had a point. Even if he didn't admit it, I had a feeling he already knew that I really wasn't the princess. But why would he want to help me if he still had doubts? Is it because I'm in a princess's body?
"And you'd trust someone else to teach me?" I said. "There are traitors everywhere, Commander, I know you know that."
"I'll teach you," he said. "No one will know but the two of us."
Before I could react, his hand moved and adjusted my shoulder.
"Back straight."
I stiffened. "I'm straight."
"Lean when you're defensive."
I was stunned.
Right… that's it. I closed my eyes. "You're too annoying to be my teacher."
"You're too stubborn for a princess who's not real."
I fell silent as he stared at her. "So, you really know I'm not Princess Aurelia."
He didn't say anything; he just looked at me. Silent.
"How did you know? You were still doubting me yesterday." I said. "You're so quick to realize."
"I know the princess and you…" He said, not taking his eyes off me. "Even though you're in her body, you're a different creature. You're not a Vaerling."
Vaerling? What is that? Am I being insulted by it?
"See?" he said softly. "You don't know what a vaerling is."
I shrugged. "Maybe it's your secret little insult. Don't worry, I'll learn soon enough."
"Drayl-ka," he said with an insult.
I opened my mouth to answer, but he beat me to it. "Apart from being a princess, you also need to learn our words."
I was silent for a moment. Kael removed his hand from the wall. I was free to move away from him, but I didn't.
"Why?"
Kael frowned but didn't ask.
"Aren't you going to punish me, hurt me, or kill me?" I was nervous, but I asked anyway. "Why do you need to teach me?"
"Drayl-ka," he said again.
I could tell. It felt like this shameless horned man was cursing me. That word sounded like estupido, ah.
"It all started with you, so you will be the key to me returning the real princess to that body. And until I know what really happened and how I can bring her back, you will stay by my side."
"Yes, I know," I said softly. "If I get hurt, the princess will get hurt too. I'm getting it."
"If you have no more questions, follow me." Kael turned and started walking towards the door.
I blew out a breath. It was okay, at least I was still alive. Whatever Kael was going to do, I would definitely benefit from it, especially if he found out how I got inside the princess's body.
After leaving the room, Kael immediately said that he would walk first. I would be three steps behind him. I nodded in agreement.
As we walked, he began to teach me. When there were no creatures around, he would tell me what to do, and when there were, he would remain silent.
"Again," he said.
I took a deep breath, but adjusted my posture.
"Chin up," he added.
I raised it, maybe a little high. Kael glanced at me for a moment. From his perspective, it seemed like I had done something wrong, but he couldn't lecture me when we encountered some servants.
"Vaer-tha, Princess." They greeted me.
I just nodded at them and continued walking.
"Vaer-tha, Princess, that means they are greeting you," Kael said as the servants passed.
"Okay, noted," I said.
"Again," he said. "Chin up,"
I raised it like before. "Not arrogance," he said. "Control."
I lowered it slightly.
"There," he whispered. "Continue walking in that posture."
I stopped. "Isn't that annoying?"
Kael shot me a wicked look, so I took a step forward.
I made sure my movements were smooth… deliberately.
A little later, after a long loop through the hallway, we stopped in a room. Kael faced me. He stared at my posture for a long time. I didn't know whether he was studying me or had something else on his mind.
"How was that?" I asked.
"Acceptable."
I grinned. "You seem disappointed."
"Do you want a compliment?"
"Of course," I said with a smile. "A word of encouragement will help me improve faster."
He fell silent again. I no longer expected to hear 'good job' or 'good, you did the right thing'.
"You did a good job." "Aren't we going in yet?"
We spoke at the same time, so we were both stunned. He immediately recovered and grabbed the door lock.
"What did you say? I didn't understand." I asked teasingly.
"You need to clean your ears; a true princess has sharp hearing." Kael pushed the door open.
"Come in now," he ordered.
"Repeat what you said earlier. You said I was good?" I teased.
"Come in now," he ordered again.
"You're so stingy with compliments, you think there's a fee." I groaned as I entered the room.
I entered the room and immediately noticed it was different from other rooms; there was hardly anything but the basic amenities. But despite its small size, everything was clean and tidy.
There were large mirrors on the wall, positioned so that you could see every move and posture. In one corner, there was a simple podium that seemed to be for practicing greetings or standing like a princess. On top of it, piled up were several books and scrolls about language, proper speech, and body movements, all for a princess who needed to be controlled and careful in every move.
At the other end, there was a sturdy mat and some pillows for posture and movement exercises, to train the back and shoulders to stay straight. This wasn't for relaxation; it was more for discipline.
In the air, there was a faint smell of oil and powder. I took a deep breath and felt the weight of eyes on my back. Kael. He stood quietly behind me, as if he wasn't paying attention, but I knew my every move was being watched.
"You don't just have to learn what's here."
I turned my full attention to him. "So there's more?"
"Your power."
I crossed my arms. "Power? Seriously? I have one? Like a superpower?"
"I don't take jokes."
I grinned. "Yeah, it's obvious from your face."
"Ever since you learned I know you're not the princess, you've started showing your true self."
I took a step closer to him this time. If he could enter my space, I could do the same.
"Don't you want to know," I said softly, "what kind of creature is inside the princess's body?"
His gaze dropped slightly to my eyes, then down, then back up again.
"You can't do that in front of others."
"I know, I'm not...." I paused for a moment. "Drayl"
He paused for a moment, probably surprised, just not showing it.
"See? I learn easily. So don't worry, I won't torture you, Commander."
"I'm not worried; I'm used to torture and hardship."
I frowned but didn't say anything.
"Again," he said.
I groaned. "You're relentless."
"Yes."
"Haist."
________________________________________
They brought food after some posture lessons. Kael stayed serious about teaching me. My teasing didn't affect him at all.
Nyx, Morgana, and Celestine placed the food on the table with smiles. Dark trays sat on a low obsidian table.
Strange foods again. Dark meat with a thick red stuff. Bowls of glowing fungi. Thin slices of something glowing.
I stared at it. "Is any of this safe...?" I asked.
Kael didn't sit down. He came up to me.
"That won't kill you."
"That's not comforting."
"Eat."
I picked up a utensil, curved, almost like a nail, and poked at the food.
"Any instructions?" I asked.
"Yes." He moved behind me. "You're holding it wrong."
He put his hand on mine. I sighed.
"Relax your fingers," he said softly.
"I'm relaxed."
"You're not relaxed."
His thumb moved slightly on my hand. I fell silent.
"This isn't necessary," I whispered.
"Not at all."
"You just want to take my space."
Silence. Then—
"If I want to do that," he said softly, "you know."
My heart raced. I turned my head slightly, just enough to catch a glimpse of him.
"Is that a threat?"
"No."
"What a pity."
"Focus," he said.
"I'm focused."
"You're distracted."
I pulled my hand away. "Maybe it's because you're too close."
"I'm here where I'm supposed to be."
I stood up suddenly, gently scratching the chair on the floor. "I'm uncomfortable," I said.
"You're struggling."
"Struggling isn't the same as discomfort. People can struggle through discomfort, but they're not the same thing."
His eyes narrowed slightly. "Explain."
"You're too close."
"Close?"
"You know, it's like… this," I said, struggling to explain. "You're almost hugging me, your hands holding me like that. That's supposed to be flirting."
Silence.
For a moment, I thought I'd gone too far. I was being malicious, yes, but he didn't seem to get what I was saying.
Then he took a step closer.
"You're uncomfortable with me because you think I'm flirting?" he asked.
I didn't back down. "Yes."
"That's what makes you weak."
"Weak? These are normal feelings for someone like me."
"Like you?"
I suddenly sensed his curiosity. Oops, wrong word.
"Tell me, if you're not a Vaerling, what are you?"
Vaerlings are the creatures of the Underworld. I had thought I was cursed, but I was mistaken.
I smiled slightly. "You're manipulating me, Commander."
"You started it," he said.
I didn't move. I wondered if his actions were reaching me or just the princess. Would it be him? Would it affect him if I were the one flirting with him?
"Aurelia."
I flinched slightly at the way he said my name. It seems I'm getting used to the name Aurelia.
I sat down.
-
The rest of the training was quieter. We didn't argue much anymore. He straightened out the little things.
The way I held the cup filled with a dark liquid that smelled bitter and sweet, my response when an assistant approached and bowed.
"Don't thank them," he said.
"That's rude."
"You're the one above them."
"No, I'm used to it, and I prefer to thank anyone, lower or higher."
"You don't have to like it."
I glanced at him. "You don't like it either."
A moment's pause. "No."
I was surprised by what he said.
________________________________________
When the training was over, I stood near the high window. The twin moons still hung in the sky, unchanged. Red lightning flickered slightly in the distance. It was already night, and I didn't even notice.
I felt him move closer to me. I glanced at him slightly. We were together all day. Although we were constantly fighting, I could tell that Kael was okay. He was just strict, maybe because he was a commander.
"Am I making progress?" I asked.
"Yes."
"I told you, I pick things fast."
I looked at him. "I was honest with you, Kael. I hope you'll be honest with me too. It's not bad to smile."
"I'm honest with you."
I laughed a little. "Maybe we're both disappointed."
"Maybe."
I was silent for a moment. Then I smiled. "Same time tomorrow, Commander?"
His gaze lingered a second longer. "Yes."
Of course.
He wouldn't let it pass.
And for some reason...
Me too.