Chapter 107
The years passed quietly.
So quietly, in fact, that Flora almost failed to notice how much she had changed.
Her childish hands became steadier around a sword.
Her questions became sharper.
And somewhere along the way...
a strange feeling began taking root inside her heart.
There were parts of the palace that always fell silent whenever she approached.
Whenever she asked about the ancient gods...
or the forgotten kingdoms that existed before Lumivale...
someone would always smile with practiced gentleness.
Then the conversation would disappear.
"You are still too young, Princess."
It was always the same answer.
Queen Anastasia would simply smooth Flora's hair and redirect her attention elsewhere, as though nothing unusual had happened.
At first...
Flora accepted it.
She trusted her mother more than anyone in the world.
---
One quiet afternoon, she wandered into the Royal Library.
Sunlight streamed through towering stained-glass windows, painting rivers of color across endless shelves of ancient books.
Near the back of the library, an elderly historian carefully arranged weathered scrolls older than the kingdom itself.
The old man's tired eyes brightened the moment he noticed her.
"Princess Flora."
She smiled.
"Good afternoon."
He chuckled warmly.
"Would Your Highness care to hear the tale of the God of—"
A gentle cough echoed through the library.
The old historian froze.
Queen Anastasia had entered without anyone noticing.
Her expression remained calm.
Elegant.
Graceful.
Yet the old man immediately lowered his head.
"I believe," the Queen said pleasantly, "that today's history lesson has already been quite sufficient."
"There will be time to learn such matters later."
The historian bowed deeply.
"My sincerest apologies, Your Majesty."
Flora looked between them, puzzled.
"What story was he going to tell me?"
Anastasia stepped forward and brushed a loose strand of hair behind Flora's ear.
"Nothing that need concern you today."
Flora searched her mother's face for a moment.
Then smiled.
"...Very well."
She believed her.
She always did.
---
Another afternoon...
Flora wandered through the palace gardens.
The scent of blooming lilies drifted through the air as a company of royal knights returned from patrol.
The moment they saw her—
every one of them knelt.
Helmets lowered.
Fists pressed over their hearts.
An older knight smiled with unmistakable pride.
"Your Highness."
"As long as breath remains within our bodies..."
"...we shall protect the blood of—"
His words stopped abruptly.
His eyes lifted.
Only for an instant.
King Victor stood several paces behind Flora.
The King's expression remained as warm as ever.
Yet his gaze met the knight's.
Silent.
Steady.
Enough.
The knight immediately corrected himself.
"...the Royal Family with our very lives."
Flora blinked.
"Truly?"
"Without question, Princess."
She laughed softly.
"Then I shall become so strong that none of you will have to protect me forever."
The knights smiled.
But none of them answered.
---
Moments like that became strangely common.
Half-finished sentences.
Interrupted conversations.
Questions left unanswered.
Flora never understood why.
Whenever the discussion drifted toward the gods...
or the age before Lumivale...
or matters of the kingdoms beyond their borders...
the answer never changed.
"Later."
"When you are older."
"In due time."
If she was destined to become Queen...
shouldn't she know everything?
The question lingered quietly inside her heart.
Unable to uncover the truths they kept from her...
Flora devoted herself to everything they allowed her to learn.
Every morning began before dawn.
Swordsmanship.
Archery.
Horsemanship.
Hand-to-hand combat.
Endurance training.
The afternoons belonged to books.
History.
Law.
Economics.
Medicine.
Agriculture.
Trade.
Navigation.
Military logistics.
Diplomacy.
Court etiquette.
Languages.
Geography.
Mathematics.
Monster ecology.
Music.
Dance.
Public speaking.
She studied until candlelight burned low.
She trained until every muscle trembled.
Not because anyone demanded perfection.
But because she wished to become worthy of the crown that awaited her.
Worthy of her parents' faith.
Worthy of the people she had never met.
---
Sometimes...
she awoke during the middle of the night.
Outside her chamber stood dozens of royal guards.
Far more than any ordinary princess required.
One evening she quietly opened the door.
"...Sir Marco?"
The captain turned immediately.
"Your Highness."
"...Is something wrong?"
Marco smiled reassuringly.
"Nothing at all."
"We are merely fulfilling our duty."
She smiled back.
"Then... thank you."
She closed the door without another question.
She simply assumed...
every princess was protected this way.
---
Years later...
Flora would realize something.
No one had ever lied to her.
Not once.
They had merely stopped speaking before reaching the truth.
She had spent her childhood surrounded by secrets...
never realizing...
that she herself was the greatest secret in the entire palace.
---
The years continued to pass.
Flora reached her tenth birthday.
Her days became busier still.
Swordsmanship before sunrise.
Lessons until noon.
Books until the stars filled the sky.
Every hour of her life seemed carefully planned.
Yet one question refused to leave her.
One that had quietly grown with every passing year.
---
One afternoon...
Queen Anastasia sat across from Flora inside the Royal Study.
Tall windows overlooked the palace gardens while stacks of official reports covered the polished oak desk between them.
Flora finished reading the final document before closing it neatly.
"...Mother?"
Anastasia looked up from her own papers.
"Yes, my dear?"
Flora hesitated.
"...May I ask you something?"
The Queen smiled.
"You never need permission."
Flora glanced toward the window.
Beyond the palace walls...
she could see only distant rooftops and gardens.
Nothing more.
"I have studied every province of Lumivale."
"I know the names of our cities."
"Our rivers."
"Our mountains."
"Our villages."
"I have memorized our history."
She lowered her eyes.
"...Yet..."
"I have never seen any of it."
She looked back at her mother.
"Would it be possible..."
"...for us to travel through the kingdom?"
"I wish to see our people with my own eyes."
Silence settled over the room.
Queen Anastasia's smile faded.
"No."
Her answer was gentle.
But absolute.
"I have told you this many times, Flora."
"The time has not yet come."
"When it does..."
"You shall see everything."
"And you will understand why patience was necessary."
Flora frowned.
"If I am to become Queen..."
"...should I not know how my people truly live?"
The Queen folded her hands.
"The world beyond these walls is not as peaceful as it appears."
"I know."
"There are monsters."
"There are bandits."
"There are dangers."
"I have read all of it."
"Then you understand."
"I do."
Flora's voice remained calm.
"But is that not precisely why I should go?"
Another silence.
She stepped closer.
"I do not wish to know my people only through books."
"I wish to speak with them."
"To hear them."
"To understand them."
Anastasia lowered her gaze.
"Not yet."
Flora's shoulders sank.
"...Why?"
The Queen opened her mouth.
Then slowly closed it again.
She could not answer honestly.
Because the true danger was not monsters.
Nor distant roads.
Nor political unrest.
It was the blue flower-shaped birthmark hidden beneath Flora's clothing.
A mark that had already placed a price upon her life.
One known only to a handful of people.
Anastasia reached across the desk and gently held her daughter's hands.
"My beloved child..."
"The world is changing."
"Many kingdoms stand upon uncertain ground."
"Even royal palaces are no longer beyond the reach of monsters."
"If danger can find us here..."
"How much greater do you think it becomes beyond these walls?"
"You are the Crown Princess of Lumivale."
"The hopes of this kingdom rest upon your future."
"I cannot risk losing you."
Flora looked down.
Then gave a small, almost embarrassed smile.
"...But Mother..."
"...if I remain hidden forever..."
"...how can I ever become worthy of wearing the crown?"
The words struck Anastasia harder than any blade.
Before she could answer—
A knock echoed through the chamber.
"Your Majesty."
The doors opened.
Guinevere entered with perfect composure before bowing.
"The royal training grounds have been prepared."
Before the Queen could respond—
Flora suddenly turned toward her.
"Lady Guinevere."
Guinevere blinked.
"Yes, Your Highness?"
"Will you accompany us?"
The knight looked briefly confused.
"...Accompany Your Highness... where?"
"Outside."
"I wish to tour the kingdom."
She turned back toward her mother.
"If Lady Guinevere remains beside me..."
"...would that not be enough?"
The room fell silent once more.
Flora stepped forward.
Her voice softened.
"I am your daughter."
"I know you worry."
"But I also wish to become the kind of Queen who understands her people..."
"...just as you do."
"I promise I shall obey every instruction."
"I only ask..."
"...please allow me to see the kingdom I am meant to protect."
Anastasia closed her eyes.
For several long moments...
the Queen said nothing.
Guinevere finally stepped forward and bowed deeply.
"If Your Majesty permits this journey..."
"I swear upon my honor..."
"...that no harm shall come to Her Highness while I yet draw breath."
The Queen looked from the knight...
to her daughter.
At last—
she released a quiet sigh.
"...Very well."
Flora's eyes widened.
"...Truly?"
A faint smile returned to Anastasia's face.
"On one condition."
"You will not leave Lady Guinevere's side."
"You will follow every instruction given to you."
"And should I command our return..."
"you will do so without argument."
Flora's face lit up brighter than the morning sun.
"I promise!"
Before royal etiquette could restrain her—
she rushed forward and embraced her mother.
"Thank you!"
Anastasia laughed softly as she wrapped an arm around her daughter.
"You truly are impossible."
Flora smiled mischievously.
"I learned from the best."
The Queen shook her head with affectionate resignation.
She turned toward Guinevere.
"Prepare the royal carriage."
Then her expression grew solemn.
"And, Lady Guinevere..."
"Do not let Her Highness leave your sight."
Guinevere placed a fist over her heart.
"Upon my life, Your Majesty."
Neither Flora nor Guinevere noticed the shadow that briefly crossed Queen Anastasia's eyes.
It was not the journey that frightened her.
Nor the monsters lurking beyond the capital.
It was something far older.
Far crueler.
She feared the moment the world looked upon her daughter...
and recognized the child it had been searching for all these years.
...CHAPTER 107ENDS...