Creak
Slowly, Pluvia slipped out of the dining room. Her previous excitement for breakfast had long died down.
Pluvia wandered through the wide halls of the castle. Servants, maids, workers, and other subordinates bowed as she passed, but she paid them no mind. What good was it that lessers like them paid attention to her?
They weren't strong, they weren't important, they were nothing. There was no reason for her to pay attention to nothing.
Sigh...
Pluvia could feel her boredom growing as she aimlessly walked.
BANG! CLANG! BOOM!
Pluvia looked out the window at the training grounds. It seemed she had unconsciously wandered here. She could see soldiers training under the bright sun. Their blades clashed as they sparred fiercely against each other.
Pluvia's eyes moved to the man who was commanding them. His red kimono shone like fire in the light, and his twin black horns glowed under the harsh conditions.
"Benimaru..."
She recognized the man. He was Shuna's brother and the Minister of Defense of the Tempest military forces.
Pluvia had only seen the man from a distance a few times but had never gotten the opportunity to speak to him. It made sense, of course. He was always training the troops, and, in the end, why would the daughter of God have to train?
She could feel her jealousy for the soldiers rising by the minute. She remembered the days she had begged her father to let her train. He had refused her, saying that in these peaceful times she had no reason to get strong. He told her to find other ways of fun, like artistry and such.
Pluvia shook her head at the memory. She had dabbled in such topics following her father's words. They weren't bad for a bit, but she had quickly lost interest in them.
Instead, the one thing that had kept her interest was fighting and training. After all, what was more interesting to the girl who had everything than the one thing she couldn't do?
Pluvia had contemplated asking her father to let her train again but had ultimately tossed the idea aside. He had already said no, why would he change his answer?
Pluvia's eyes flickered to the smaller group training a short distance away from the main soldiers. A handful of goblins...no hobgoblins were training with an elderly looking kijn.
Lord Hakurou. Pluvia silently nodded her head as she saw him. She had met the kijn before and he had been quite nice.
Pluvia paused for a moment as she quietly debated with herself. Perhaps this was her chance? Father, Mother, and Lady Ciel were busy discussing whatever, and her brother was likely still eating right now. If she went down and asked Lord Hakurou to train her, would they know?
Pluvia grinned the more she thought. They would be too busy with themselves to notice, right? Pluvia nodded,
" Yes...this is it! "
Racing down the castle stairs to the outer edge of the training grounds, she paused and raced back in quickly to her room. She had to dress properly for this! If she showed up as is, Lord Hakurou might think she wasn't serious!
Yes, this is what she had to do. Pluvia could feel it in her bones, in her gut. Training...getting stronger, that is what she had to do.
As Pluvia made her way back, she questioned herself.
"What if her says no... no he can't! Can he? Hmm... no way. I'm the princess, there is no way he would say no, right?"
*---*
" No "
" Heh...?! Why not?! "
Pluvia stood before Lord Hakurou after he had beaten u- 'trained' the hobgoblins. She begged him to train her
" Come on, please...?"
" I'm afraid I cannot, Princess Pluvia... Lord Rimuru gave the order that we are not to let you train. "
Pluvia's eyes widened. Had he anticipated she would be here?
" W-when did he give this order? "
" Two years ago. "
Oh...that was when the first and last time she had asked him to let her train.
" C-come on, Lord Hakurou, that was so long ago now..."
"And yet, Lord Rimuru has not said otherwise since then. "
" ...Please? "
Hakurou stared at her as she tried her best to give as cute and pleading of an expression as she could.
Hakurou sighed as he spoke, " For what reason do you wish to train my lady? "
Pluvia's eyes sparkled as she saw her chance
" I want to get stronger! To get as strong as Dad! "
Surely, he wouldn't be able to reject her now.
" No. "
" Heh? "
Hakurou shook his head as he spoke, " That is a bad reason, my lady. I will not train you for a reason as simple and clearly untrue as that. "
Ah. He had seen through her lie.
" B-but I really do want to get stronger! "
" Why? It is not to be like your father, so why? "
How could he tell she had lied about that? Was she that bad at lying?
"U-um w-well... just cause...? "
"Go back and come find me when you find your reason for training, my lady. Once you find that reason, and I see you stop lying, I will train you. "
Pluvia dragged her feet as she made her way back into the castle, pondering.
"Why do I want to get stronger...? "