Little Lily nodded, but her curiosity got the better of her. "Grandpa, when will my training start? How about we start today?" King Riette's gaze turned firm as he replied, "Today? No, your training will start when you turn 11. It's already earlier than when your cousin Zerus began his training. You'll have to wait until then. Be patient."
He leaned in, his voice taking on a serious tone. "And remember, this is a secret deal between us. You're not allowed to share it with anyone, not your cousins, parents, aunts, or uncles. You have to achieve your goal before telling them. I'll let them know about your training, and they'll obey without question." His words were laced with authority, brooking no argument.
Little Lily's face lit up with a mischievous grin. "Okay, I won't tell them, Grandpa. Let's give them a surprise after I achieve my deal." But her grin faltered, and she looked up at him with pleading eyes. "But Grandpa, why do I have to wait another year? Lina's already sad, and she has to bear with it until I win my deal. Please, I want to start training now." Her voice was soft and persuasive, her eyes sparkling with determination.
King Riette's eyes narrowed, amused by Little Lily's eagerness. This little devil's too eager and already trying to manipulate me with her tricks, he thought to himself internally, before he suggested to her, "How about this? Let you start training just like your cousin Zerus did, at 12 years old, instead of a year earlier? Okay?"
Little Lily shook her head, her ponytail swishing behind her. "I think a year isn't a long period, Grandpa," she said, her voice steady. "I'll wait." Her response was swift and firm, leaving King Riette to wonder. He gazed at her, a mixture of surprise and admiration on his face.
As the year passed, Little Lily's training commenced, and her daily schedule became meticulously packed. Grandpa Riette had sent her trusted trainers to train her and to oversee her development. With her education seamlessly integrated into her assessment, she didn't need to attend a traditional school. Instead, her days were filled with physical training, learning new skills, and acquiring knowledge at an incredible pace.
As a quick learner, Little Lily grasped everything rapidly, whether it was physical development or mental growth. She was trained in a wide range of skills, from martial arts and horsemanship to diplomacy and strategic thinking. The sound of clashing steel, the smell of freshly sharpened swords, and the feel of worn leather beneath her hands became familiar to her as she honed her skills.
Every morning, she would rise before dawn, the cool air refreshing her face as she began her physical training. She would run through the hills near the palace, the dew-kissed grass beneath her feet, and the sun slowly rising over the horizon. After her morning run, she would engage in combat training, her movements swift and precise as she practiced sword fighting and hand-to-hand combat.
Her afternoons were filled with mental pursuits, where she would study history, politics, and economics, and kingdom rules, laws and regulations, her mind absorbing knowledge like a sponge. She would sit in the library, surrounded by different kinda of dusty tomes, her eyes scanned the pages with an insatiable for knowledge. Was there anything she find fun in her learning time was coding.
As the days turned into weeks, and the weeks into months, Little Lily's progress was nothing short of remarkable. She was a force to be reckoned with, her determination and intelligence driving her to excel in every aspect of her training. And Grandpa Riette, watching her progression, couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and anticipation for her future.
As the years flew by, when Little Lily will be turn 16 in three months, marked the end of her rigorous training. It was time for the Royal Heir/Heiress Assessment Test, a crucial milestone that would determine her readiness to take on significant responsibilities in the kingdom and to begin to build her own empire. She stood alongside her eldest cousin, Zerus Lellen, who was 18 years old, and prepared to this heir assessment to rule the Kingdom following after King Riette Lellen. They both prepared to face the challenges that lay ahead for them for different purposes in their lives.
The day of the assessment test arrived, and the atmosphere was palpable with anticipation. The two cousins walked into the grand hall, the high ceilings and stone walls exuding an air of solemnity. The examiners, esteemed members of the kingdom's council, greeted them with a mixture of warmth and scrutiny.
The tests were grueling, pushing both Lily and Zerus to their limits. They demonstrated their prowess in combat, strategy, and diplomacy, showcasing their mastery of various skills. The air was thick with tension as they completed each task, their minds racing with problem-solving and their bodies responding with precision. When the results were announced, both Lily and Zerus had not only passed but exceeded expectations, their scores remarkably high. Zerus Lellen was formally titled the Crown Prince of Halcyon Kingdom, a title that came with great responsibility and privilege.
Lily, on the other hand, didn't receive a formal title, as her training had been tailored for a different path. Even her test in the assessment was different and more tougher than her cousin's. However, the power and authority vested in her were no less than those of her cousin. From that day forward, both Lily and Zerus shared equal responsibilities in the kingdom, working together to ensure its prosperity and security under king Riette care.
As they stood side by side, receiving the congratulations of the council members, Lily knew, she only reached halfway to her goal and the road ahead will be more challenging, but she was ready to face it head-on, armed with her skills, intelligence, and determination.
After the assessment, King Riette summoned Lily for a private talk. She made her way to the familiar room where they had forged their deal six years ago. The king sat in the same chair, his demeanor unchanged, yet Lily's perception of him had undergone a significant shift. No longer did she see him solely as her grandfather instead she viewed him as a powerful monarch, commanding respect and authority.
As she entered the room, her memories of five years transporting her back to the countless hours she had spent learning from him. Over the past five years, she had gained a deeper understanding of his vision, values, and leadership style. She had witnessed his strategic mind and commanding presence, and had grown to admire his strength and conviction.
However, their relationship was not without its complexities. Lily's feelings towards her grandfather were tinged with a mix of emotions - respect, admiration, and a hint of anger. As she had grown older and gained maturity, she had come to realize that her grandfather's anger towards her parents had been misguided. While she understood that her parents' decision to elope had been wrong, she couldn't help but feel that the consequences he had imposed upon them had been excessively harsh.
In addition to that, Lily couldn't help but feel a deep sense of injustice as she reflected on her grandfather's actions. By placing an immense burden on her shoulders at such a young age, he had effectively dictated the course of her life. Yes, she was willingly agreed the deal, but she could understand her grandpa practically fooled a little girl and trapped her into this weight of responsibility. Moreover, the harsh consequences imposed on her parents for their decision to elope still lingered, leaving Lily with a sense of resentment towards her grandfather's unforgiving nature. Despite her admiration for his strength and leadership, she felt angry on him by giving unfair punishment. She wondered how he could be so unfair to both to her and her parents.
Despite her admiration for his grandpa's strength and leadership, she felt angry on him by giving unfair punishment. She wondered how he could be so unfair to both her and her parents.
Two years ago, (when she was nearing 14 years) Lily approached her grandfather, with a surge of determination, her heart pounding in her chest, and demanded to know why he was being so unfair. However, instead of an answer she was met with his justification, her grandfather insisting that her parents had made a grave mistake and that she had willingly accepted the deal, knowing what was at stake. The air was charged with tension as Lily's eyes flashed with anger, her hands clenched into fists, feeling the sting of tears but refusing to back down. She felt he had been petty in handling her parents' situation, clouded by his own emotions. In that fit of rage, that day she vowed infront of him to not to call him "Grandpa" until she succeeded in their deal, deeming it a fitting punishment for his unfairness.
From then on, Lily kept her word, addressing him formally as "Your Majesty" or "Mr. King" with a stoic demeanor, never even cracking a smile in his presence. Despite this distance, her feelings towards her grandfather were complex, she deeply respected and admired him, knowing he loved her just as much. She believed that beneath his anger towards her parents, he had loved them dearly too. She thought his love had been clouded by hurt and anger, gradually transforming into resentment over time. Lily tried to convince herself that his intense love had morphed into anger after they left, maybe that's why he punished them heavily.
Lily snapped out of her thoughts, stopping in her tracks to stand before the king. She greeted him with a crisp "Your Majesty," her voice formal and edged with a hint of strictness. The sound of her own voice seemed to echo through the room, a subtle reminder of her presence. The dimly lit room was illuminated by a few candles, casting a warm glow on King Riette's face. His piercing and wise eyes met hers as she stood before him. He nodded in response, his movements dignified, and handed her a card loaded with the reward money from the RHA results. "This is what you won," he said easily, his voice turned firm and measured as he complimented. "You did well."
Lily took the card, her expression remaining calm as she suppressed the joy surging in her heart at her grandfather's praise. However she didn't acknowledged his praise and stood before him composed and serene. The king's eyes seemed to bore into her, expecting her to flash a smile or make a comment to reply him. But Lily remained silent, her gaze steady. The air was heavy with unspoken words as King Riette exhaled slowly and began to speak again, his voice low and measured. "Now, it's time for you to build your own empire to win the deal. Do you need me to detail how you should proceed, or should I expect you already have an idea?" His piercing eyes locked onto hers, awaiting her response.
Lily nodded thoughtfully, the soft candlelight casting a warm glow on her face. "Yes, I want to know exactly what Your Majesty is expecting," she replied, her voice formal. "You won't need to detail the process, but I'd like to know what you're expecting me to achieve to win the deal."
Grandpa Riette measured her for a second, then spoke with a steady voice, his tone firm. "As a king, I wasn't able to maintain the kingdom's prosperity on my own. I need ministers, military, economy, rules, laws, advisors, guards, workers, and the people. I'm responsible for their livelihood, providing them with work, education, food and protection. And I need their help, their trust, their loyalty, and more. And most importantly I need greater power to be ready to face any challenge, to command and manage them effectively, to keep them in order, and to correct their mistakes and punish them for their wrongdoings. So, I expect you to build an empire that can achieve all these abilities and surpass mine by become more powerful than me and then you can successfully win the deal. You're already knowledgeable in many fields, so build a greater one, not just for show, but for real. I want to see how powerful you'll build it and what kind of leadership you'll demonstrate."