A sealed imperial letter arrived at the palace early that morning.
It carried news from the Emperor's brothers.
Their long-planned visit to the capital had been postponed for three months, and the new date would now coincide with the twentieth birthday of Crown Prince Eric.
The announcement quickly spread through the palace.
Many officials were disappointed.
But the Crown Prince himself was delighted.
"Three more months…" Eric said with a grin.
Standing in his private training yard, he twirled one of his silver lances and turned toward the royal engineers standing nearby.
"In that case," he said, "add an arrow formation to my spear formation."
The engineers bowed.
"Yes, Your Highness."
Eric smiled.
"Good. I'll have plenty of time to master it."
---
Keyla also received the news during breakfast with the royal family.
When she heard the visit had been delayed, she leaned back in her chair and smiled slightly.
Fredda and Aldera immediately noticed the expression.
After breakfast Keyla simply said,
"We're going to the forest."
The two women did not ask questions.
They followed.
From that day onward, the three of them spent most of their time deep within the forest training grounds.
---
Meanwhile, inside the palace, Eric's training formations were completed.
The Crown Prince's private arena became a deadly playground of mechanical warriors and projectile traps.
Occasionally his brothers visited him there.
They tested the formations, laughed, fought, and challenged one another.
Every day Eric improved.
His spear techniques became faster.
Sharper.
More precise.
---
Deep in the forest, Fredda and Aldera had already mastered the Snive Formation.
Now they moved to the next stage.
The Strings Formation.
This formation was even more dangerous.
Thin metallic strings stretched across the field like invisible spider webs.
They shifted constantly.
Moved unpredictably.
And they were sharp enough to cut a person in half.
Nearly a thousand strings filled the training zone.
There was no pattern.
No fixed route.
Only endless movement.
Fredda stepped forward cautiously the first time they entered.
Then—
A string sliced across her shoulder.
Blood spilled immediately.
Aldera jumped back as another string cut across her thigh.
The two women quickly realized something terrifying.
There was no single correct path through the formation.
The field changed continuously.
Only instinct and combat awareness could guide them.
The injuries were severe.
Cuts opened across their arms, legs, backs, and faces.
Yet neither of them complained.
Their battle spirits burned brighter with every wound.
Again.
And again.
And again they entered the formation.
Day after day.
Finally, after mastering the strings, they moved to the final test.
The Arrow Formation.
Compared to the snives and strings, the arrows were slightly less sharp.
But they were still devastating.
When the mechanism activated—
Arrows burst from every direction.
Walls.
Ground.
Hidden launchers in the trees.
The attack pattern was chaotic.
It combined the principles of the Snive Formation's relentless attacks and the Strings Formation's unpredictability.
The arrows struck with heavy force.
Each impact bruised bones and tore flesh.
Fredda once took an arrow to the ribs that knocked the breath from her lungs.
Aldera was thrown backward by another that struck her shoulder.
But they continued.
Always continuing.
Two and a half months passed.
During that time the two women transformed.
Their reactions became lightning fast.
Their awareness expanded.
Their bodies moved like flowing water through the deadly field.
Eventually they achieved something remarkable.
Each of them could pass through the entire training field alone.
Swords.
Snives.
Strings.
Arrows.
All four formations.
They could complete the run in one hour and thirty minutes.
They still came out bleeding.
But they finished.
Without stopping.
Without retreating.
On one particular morning they finished training early.
For the first time in weeks, they returned to the palace before noon.
The soldiers at the gate stared in amazement.
Fredda and Aldera looked calmer.
Sharper.
More dangerous than before.
---
The next morning, after breakfast with the royal family, Keyla returned to her chambers.
Fredda and Aldera were waiting for her.
They freshened up together.
Then dressed.
Exactly the same way.
Blue leather trousers.
Knee-high strapped boots.
Tight blue shirts that emphasized their athletic figures.
Their hair—though different colors—was braided in identical patterns down their backs.
When they finished, the three women looked almost identical in posture and expression.
They had spent so much time together that Fredda and Aldera had begun to share Keyla's temperament.
Cold.
Composed.
Sharp.
They were not heading to the forest today.
Instead, Keyla led them toward the palace training grounds.
She wanted them to measure their strength against other warriors now.
As they walked through the palace corridors, people turned to stare.
Three women walked side by side.
Their arms were crossed.
Each held a sword resting across her chest.
Their faces were calm and emotionless.
Anyone watching could see their power.
If not for the fact that everyone recognized Princess Keyla, no visitor could easily tell who the leader among them was.
Their presence felt like three blades walking together.
When they reached the training grounds, they sat on a stone bench.
Side by side.
They crossed their legs and watched the soldiers training.
At that moment the gates opened.
Crown Prince Eric entered the training grounds carrying two silver lances.
He stopped immediately when he saw them.
Then he smiled.
He walked toward the bench.
"Hey ladies," he called casually.
"Enjoying the view?"
Fredda and Aldera stood immediately.
They placed their swords across the left side of their chests and bowed slightly.
"Good morning, Your Highness."
Keyla remained seated.
She did not move.
She acted as if she hadn't even noticed him.
Eric sighed.
"Hey cousin… are you ever going to forgive me?"
"It's been four months already."
At that, Keyla finally looked up.
She studied him for a moment.
Then she stood and smiled slightly.
"It's good you still remember how to apologize."
She turned.
"Let's walk."
Eric grinned and joined her.
"Oh lovely cousin, of course I know how to apologize."
"It just… slipped my mind."
He glanced at her outfit.
"By the way, our cousins arrive in two days."
"You should wear a dress. Some jewelry."
"You know… look like a woman."
Keyla snorted.
"Save it."
"I can't wear those things."
"Besides," she added bluntly, "I've got two large lumps of flesh on my chest."
"Everyone knows I'm a woman already."
Eric nearly choked laughing.
"You, my lady, are vulgar."
"Oh yeah?"
"Well it's still better than being a pervert like you."
Eric stopped walking.
"A pervert?"
"Just kissing you makes me a pervert?"
He smirked.
"Fine then."
"I'll give you a few more so I deserve the title."
Keyla turned slowly.
"Crown Prince… it seems you wish to lose your head."
Eric shrugged.
"Well, losing it after kissing you might be worth it."
Keyla stared at him.
"Nah."
"I think you're just retarded."
Eric burst out laughing.
"Perhaps."
"Hey… let's duel again."
"You'll still lose."
"I know."
"I'm just improving my battle arts."
He leaned closer.
"And maybe stealing a few kisses."
Keyla glared.
"That was my first kiss, you know."
"That's why I was angry."
Eric smiled brightly.
"I know."
"That's exactly why I'm happy."
He twirled his spear.
"I suddenly feel like getting married."
"Plus our birthdays are the same day."
"Beautiful coincidence, don't you think?"
"You wish."
"Of course I wish."
"I know you can use a spear."
"Let's duel."
"What's with you and dueling?"
"I don't know."
He grinned wickedly.
"But if you refuse…"
"I'll kiss you."
Keyla blinked.
"Are you threatening me?"
Eric laughed.
"Who threatens someone with a kiss? No, I'm not."
Fredda, Aldera, and the Crown Prince's knights stood nearby smiling as the two cousins argued for several minutes.
Finally Keyla sighed.
"Fine."
"We'll duel."
But before she could step onto the platform—
Eric suddenly leaned forward.
And kissed her again.
Then he ran.
Laughing.
Keyla's face turned red with fury.
"ERIC!"
She chased him onto the dueling stage.
The soldiers erupted in cheers.
For over an hour they fought with spears.
Eric was not winning.
But the soldiers cheered anyway.
Not because of his skill.
But because he had the courage to kiss a woman who looked ready to kill him.
Eventually the duel ended.
A draw.
Keyla threw her spear aside.
Then she stepped forward.
And attacked him with her fists.
The beating was brutal.
She struck him until he spat blood.
"That's for kissing me twice, you pervert!"
Eric wiped the blood from his mouth.
Still laughing.
"You can't blame me, cousin."
"Your lips are too inviting."
Keyla glared.
Stomped her foot.
And stormed away.
Fredda and Aldera followed her immediately.
---
Eric stood laughing as he wiped the blood from his face.
His brothers approached.
"Sage," one of them said.
"Third brother… you've got nerves."
Lahan nodded.
"Seriously."
He leaned closer.
"By the way… give me some advice."
"I've got my eye on the blonde one."
Eric smirked.
"You mean Fredda?"
"Yeah."
Eric shrugged.
"I told Father I wanted to pursue Keyla."
"He just told me to be careful."
"Ask him yourself."
"He knows how to pick up women."
Lahan nodded thoughtfully.
"I might do that."
Damnis crossed his arms.
"I'm interested in the chocolate-haired one."
"Aldera."
Eric grinned.
"Perfect."
"I'll take Keyla."
"You take Aldera."
"Fourth brother takes Fredda."
"Triple wedding."
"What do you say?"
Sage smacked him.
"Shut up."
"You haven't even started courting them."
"And you're already planning marriages."
Eric laughed.
"Well, first brother…"
"You're almost past marriage age yourself."
Sage sighed.
"I have my eye on Baron Keen's second daughter."
"But I doubt she likes me."
Damnis laughed.
"Brother, just try."
"If she says no, you'll know immediately."
"And if she says yes…"
"You'll be married in two months."
"The whole royal family is returning soon."
"Perfect wedding timing."
Sage nodded slowly.
"You're right."
---
Meanwhile, in Keyla's room—
She was still furious.
"That pervert…"
"If he wasn't my uncle's son…"
"I'd have cut off his head long ago!"
Fredda and Aldera sat nearby smiling quietly.
---
Elsewhere in the palace—
The Emperor and Don had watched everything secretly.
They laughed heartily.
Eric had fallen in love.
And the walls around Keyla's heart were beginning to crack.
Shortly afterward Sage approached them.
He explained his intention to court Baron Keen's daughter.
And his brothers' interest in Fredda and Aldera.
The Emperor smiled.
Immediately he issued a decree.
Fredda and Aldera were granted the titles of Noble Ladies.
They were given chambers inside the palace.
But the two women chose not to move.
They remained in Keyla's room.
Exactly where they belonged.