When evening came, the palace prepared for dinner.
General Don did not return home with his family. Instead, he and Lady Dahlia joined the imperial family in the grand dining hall.
The long golden table was prepared with dozens of dishes — roasted meats, honey-glazed fruits, fragrant rice, warm bread, and fine wine.
Servants moved quietly around the room.
Everything was ready.
Yet the atmosphere was strangely stiff.
Normally, dinners with the imperial family were lively occasions filled with laughter, teasing, and stories from the day.
But tonight…
The table was silent.
No one spoke.
Not even the younger princes dared to say a word.
Everyone knew why.
At opposite ends of the table sat Princess Keyla and Crown Prince Eric.
They were staring at each other.
Not blinking.
Not speaking.
Just staring.
It had begun on their way back from the arena.
After the ceremony ended and everyone began leaving, Keyla had calmly walked past Eric.
Then, without warning—
THUD!
She struck the back of his neck with a sharp chop.
Not enough to injure him.
But enough to make her point.
Eric had immediately turned around.
Their eyes met.
And the glaring began.
It had not stopped since.
Now they sat across the dinner table, continuing the silent war.
The rest of the royal family simply waited.
No one dared interrupt.
It was clear the two of them needed to settle this themselves.
But they did not.
They simply kept glaring.
Minutes passed.
Servants quietly placed the dishes on the table.
Still no one moved.
Finally, General Don sighed deeply.
He rubbed his forehead.
"This is ridiculous," he muttered.
Then he spoke aloud.
"Keyla."
She did not take her eyes off Eric.
"Yes, father?"
General Don leaned back in his chair.
"His Majesty and I spoke extensively today."
"And we have made a decision."
Keyla's eyebrow lifted slightly.
"What decision?"
"You will live in the palace from now on."
The words finally broke the staring contest.
Keyla turned toward him.
"Stay here?" she asked.
"Why?"
General Don waved a hand casually.
"Well, we think it will be a good opportunity for you to get to know your cousins better."
He smiled.
"And besides, after about a month, your mother and I will join you here."
Keyla tilted her head.
"So we're leaving the mansion?"
Lady Dahlia quickly shook her head.
"Oh no dear, we're not leaving it," she said gently.
"Your uncles and their families will be coming to visit soon."
She laughed softly.
"So the house will be quite full."
General Don nodded.
"Yes, exactly."
"So you staying here is simply… a small vacation."
Keyla leaned back in her chair.
"A vacation, huh?"
"Yes," Don replied confidently.
"A vacation."
While father and daughter spoke, Eric had not looked away once.
Even though Keyla was no longer facing him, his gaze remained fixed on her.
But now…
There was a faint smile on his lips.
The Emperor noticed.
He glanced at his son.
Then at his niece.
The corner of his mouth curled upward slightly.
Interesting.
The other princes also noticed Eric's expression.
Prince Sage leaned toward Prince Damis and whispered,
"He's smiling again."
Damis smirked.
"He clearly enjoys provoking her."
Sage chuckled quietly.
"That's a dangerous hobby."
The Emperor cleared his throat.
"Let us eat."
The family finally began dinner.
Despite the earlier tension, the meal itself was brief.
Everyone was exhausted after the long day at the arena.
The princes finished quickly.
The princesses spoke little.
Keyla ate calmly.
Eric still occasionally glanced at her with amusement.
Soon the dinner ended.
One by one the royal family retired for the night.
The next morning arrived quietly.
After breakfast, General Don and Lady Dahlia prepared to return home.
They embraced their daughter briefly before leaving the palace.
Keyla watched their carriage disappear down the palace road.
Then she turned and walked toward the training grounds.
The palace guards greeted her respectfully as she passed.
When she arrived, two familiar figures rushed toward her.
Fredda and Aldera.
The two newly knighted female soldiers bowed deeply.
"Good morning, Your Grace."
Keyla looked at them calmly.
Their wounds from yesterday had completely healed.
This was normal.
In this world, the life expectancy of humans was nearly two hundred years, and every creature possessed an extraordinary healing ability.
Even serious injuries could disappear within a day.
Keyla nodded.
"Good morning."
Then she added plainly,
"Never bow to me again."
The two women looked up in surprise.
"Get up," Keyla continued.
"We're going to train."
Fredda and Aldera exchanged a glance before nodding quickly.
"Yes, Your Grace."
They walked toward the stables.
Soon three strong horses were prepared.
Without delay they mounted and rode out of the palace.
They passed through the city gates and continued riding.
The road gradually faded behind them.
Trees grew thicker.
The forest grew deeper.
Fredda and Aldera followed quietly, but both felt slightly uneasy.
They had trained in many places before.
But never this deep into the forest.
After some time, Keyla slowed her horse.
Ahead stood a small bamboo cottage.
The structure was simple yet well maintained.
It stood peacefully within a clearing surrounded by tall trees.
The three riders dismounted.
"This way," Keyla said.
They walked past the cottage and into the forest behind it.
After a short distance, the trees suddenly opened.
Fredda and Aldera froze.
Before them was a vast training field.
Weapons racks stood neatly along the edges.
Stone pillars rose from the ground.
Wooden dummies, climbing structures, balance poles, and dozens of strange training devices filled the area.
It was clearly a place used for intense martial practice.
"This is where I train," Keyla said simply.
She turned to face them.
"From now on, we will train together."
Fredda straightened immediately.
Aldera nodded.
Keyla walked toward a wide empty field.
"Understand something first," she continued calmly.
"You will get wounded."
She pointed toward the far end of the field.
"But to qualify as my guards, you must endure at least half of what I can."
The two women stiffened slightly.
"All you need to do," Keyla said,
"is cross this field."
She pointed from one side to the other.
"The traps are meant for training, so they are not fatal."
She paused.
"But they will leave some… brutal scars."
Fredda swallowed.
Aldera tightened her grip on her sword.
Keyla stepped aside.
"Begin."
The two women breathed deeply.
Then they rushed forward.
They had taken barely ten steps—
When suddenly—
CLANG!
The ground trembled.
Large metal figures rose from beneath the earth.
One.
Ten.
Fifty.
Two hundred.
Within seconds, two hundred iron puppets stood around them.
Each puppet held a sword.
Fredda and Aldera stared in shock.
They quickly turned back toward Keyla.
Keyla simply smiled.
"Cut off their heads," she said calmly.
"That's the only way to stop them."
The puppets attacked.
Steel blades swung violently.
Fredda barely blocked the first strike.
Aldera dodged another.
They counterattacked immediately.
Fredda slashed one puppet's neck.
Its head rolled to the ground.
But three more advanced.
Aldera cut down another puppet.
Then another.
But their numbers were overwhelming.
Sword strikes rained down from all directions.
Metal clashed.
Sparks flew.
After several minutes of brutal fighting, both women were covered in shallow wounds.
Finally they retreated from the field, breathing heavily.
They collapsed onto the grass.
Keyla walked toward them.
"Good," she said calmly.
Fredda blinked in disbelief.
"Good?"
Keyla nodded.
"Listen carefully while you rest."
She pointed toward the field.
"There are two hundred puppets."
"They are made from superior crafting iron."
"Once someone enters their zone, they activate and attack relentlessly."
Aldera wiped blood from her cheek.
Keyla continued explaining.
"Each puppet contains a different sword technique."
"Every one of them uses a distinct sword art."
She looked at them seriously.
"So if you wish to pass this zone…"
"You must not only destroy them…"
"You must understand their sword arts and develop counters for each one."
Fredda and Aldera stared at her.
Then Keyla calmly walked into the field.
She picked up the dismembered puppets.
With quick, practiced movements she reassembled them.
Heads returned to bodies.
Blades were restored.
Soon the field was reset.
Keyla returned to them.
"Half an hour break," she said.
"Then we try again."
Thirty minutes later, the training resumed.
But this time—
Only one of them entered the field at a time.
Fredda went first.
She fought fiercely but was eventually driven back.
Aldera followed.
Her battle lasted slightly longer.
Again and again they entered the field.
Again and again they were beaten back.
By evening the sun was setting through the forest trees.
Fredda and Aldera were completely covered in wounds.
Yet their eyes burned with determination.
Keyla finally raised her hand.
"That's enough."
The two women collapsed onto the ground, exhausted.
Keyla looked at them quietly.
Then she smiled faintly.
"Tomorrow," she said,
"we start earlier."