Chapter 234 - Worthy

'We should be grateful for everything the royal family has done for us. In exchange, there is only one thing I can think of. My only daughter, you must protect the Princess.'

Back then, before she met Princess Lyn, Pupillam imagined a Princess with vibrant hair, jewel-colored eyes, and skin as soft as snow. Somebody who carried herself with such elegance despite her situation. However, while she did get that, there was something more to the Princess. People often felt sorry for her, because she was a girl and born into a family who made weapons. They often said it was a shame because her appearance was one of her strong points. However, Pupillam always smiled and told them she never regretted it. Because she didn't, if she weren't a member of her family, she would never have met Princess Lyn.

At the funeral of a noble, Pupillam laid her eyes on the young Princess for the first time. She gave off a strong and dignified air.

--

Year 40XX Military Academy

"Pupillam Consillaro."

Pupillam turned and spotted a guy with short blonde hair and a gentle smile on his face. This person is the third son of the famous household.

"Ah, good morning."

"Yes, I heard that you'd be attending here for a while."

Pupillam nodded, "Before I serve the Princess, I must get a qualification first."

Lucas chuckled, "Surely, you don't need that?"

"It's a mere formality; people are aware that I have sufficient skills."

"But the Princess your serving..."

"I'm sure you've been informed about her. It's the second Princess."

"The Princess who is living in isolation," Lucas nodded, "When I heard about it I was surprised. But it is not uncommon for elite families to hide a child or two. She's the legit child of Queen Orthez though, so I do not understand why they keep her away."

Certainly, Lucas made a point there, royal families only hideaway children because they are illegitimate. There is no need to hide a legal child, "Perhaps her abilities fall short of what's expected?"

Pupillam shook her head, "It's probably the opposite."

Lucas paused but then nodded, "If so, you'll have to do your best protecting her."

Pupillam nodded. If it's the opposite, then the instructions those people gave her made a lot of sense. 'Ensure that she is within sight at all times, call for help if need be.' If it were a simple guarding the Princess job, such instructions would be considered unusual. That's why Pupillam felt there was more to it than what they said. So she thought long and hard about it, this was the only conclusion she could come up with.

"I heard your brother was hurt recently," Pupillam decided to change the topic. Thankfully, Lucas didn't question her.

"He's very careless. I haven't seen him in so long myself, but he went ahead and got hurt."

"He's studying in another country, right? Are you okay with that?"

"Were half brothers, and his mother's new husband lives there, so it's only natural he stays there. But I'm very worried about him."

"It does seem like he gets into a lot of trouble."

"Indeed, but I'm glad he is so lively," Lucas trailed off. " You'll be serving the Princess in the castle soon, are you not bothered? Your lifestyle will be restricted too."

"It's an honor for me to serve her. My parents told me to act as her companion too, so it makes me wonder what kind of life she's lived until now."

The mysterious Princess, what sort of person is she?

"And you? What will you do when these six months are over?"

"I was thinking; I'd serve at the main castle too..." Lucas trailed off, "Has your family name ever disgusted you?"

"It hasn't, you..."

Lucas smiled bitterly, "I see. It feels like I've lost the proud feeling I once had towards my family name. But I do understand; without my family name, I'm nothing."

----

Present

'A feint?' Pupillam kept back and got into a defensive stance. Rhys movements with a blade were very good. For somebody who uses spells all the time, this guys movements sure are sharp. However, it didn't take long before Pupillam overwhelmed him.

"You're actually good."

"Of course," Pupillam answered. If she weren't good, then she wouldn't have passed as the top of the academy. If she didn't have these skills, then she wouldn't be here right now. That thought always made her feel very bitter. What a harsh society, only the strong, will make it.

"That's enough!" a voice bellowed.

Pupillam's eyes widened when she saw who stopped her, "Prince Allen."

"..."

"Allen? Hold on; you can't just.."

Pupillam waved her hand out to stop the Princess. The Prince has the right to punish her, what is she doing acting based on her emotions for? As the Princess aide, she should know better. Her thoughts broke off when she spotted Rhys coming over until he stood in front of her.

Huh?

"I'm the one who started this; you shouldn't punish her but me."

"You?"

"Yeah."

Allen sighed, "Very well, Carlo take him to his quarters and tell the guards to watch over him. Make sure he does not sneak out."

....

"That really surprised me," Lyn said, "I didn't think you'd do that."

"Forgive me, Princess; I acted out of place.

"No, you're just protecting my happiness, right? There is nothing wrong with that."

The Princess is as understanding as ever.

"That man was holding back his strength."

"The same went for you, no?"

"Yes, but," Pupillam frowned. Why did she get the same type of feeling as when she used to train with Prince Andrew?

"Your hands are covered in bruises. I know you don't want to be a lady Pupillam, but you should at least take care of your hands."

"Your hands are just as bad," Pupillam mumbled. Unlike Princess Lethia's hands, Princess Lyn's hands are in worse state. The number of times she's practiced with a bow, the amount of times she's practiced with a sword. The evidence is all over her body.

The Princess responds with laughter.

"Princess Lyn, why do you care about those two so much?"

"I feel like we're the same type, me, Kazuya and Rhys."

"That's.."

"We all share the same mindset, the same pain, and burden - while the pain differs per person, we're all carrying something heavy on our shoulders. Kazuya and Rhys may act that way, but once in a while you'll notice, that they both have such hazard eyes," the Princess finished applying the ointment and started to bandage her wrist. "I know you think ill of them because they are interfering with my marriage. But please remember Pupillam, the reason why they act that way is because of Allen. Because they can see while Allen treats me well, he does not love me."

'The Prince loves you just as much,' Pupillam wanted to tell her. But she can't get more involved in this. "As your guard, it is only natural for me to side with your betrothed rather than the men who just appeared."

It's not like she had a personal grudge against them or anything. Those people are genuinely kind to the Princess, and since they came, the Princess has been pleased. Pupillam is very grateful to them; however, she understood that things weren't that simple. The rumors surrounding Rhys and Kazuya are awful. They aren't baseless rumors either; she conducted her own investigation and learned of how brutal the two could be. The Princess isn't innocent, but even then, Pupillam did not want to expose her to such things.