Chapter 4

After I finish getting ready I began my walk to the training grounds, witch wasn't far from the knights quarters thankfully. The sun was barley up by now but enough to be considered day time (though I still think 5: 17 am is far too early). I walk to the training grounds were around 14 people were either training or getting ready, more people on their way. The morning was always lively with servants and maids running about and knights getting ready to start or end shifts or perhaps train because they are some of who guard the royals on outings.

No member of the family go out much, except for the princes and queen for shopping and the king for war or matters that require his personal arrival in which cases of course they are all escorted by knights. I suppose even though I don't know too much about the family I know enough from talk and observation, the only time I spoke to one would only be Cassius. My job doesn't involve contact with no one really unless it was the people who deliver my food and pick it up quickly and during trading and walking the halls. Then nothing. Technically I'm not supposed to see or speak to the second prince, but he goes to were my shift is witch means that interaction the other night was the first meaningful one for about a year now. The last I had was at the orphanage when I left.

I'm only 19 now so the orphanage only goes too 18-year-olds. They give you about $200 when you leave since I never got adopted since 5 years old, they gave me something to live off until I got a job, of course I had made up mind long before what would be my job. I was excepted after some training, my job wasn't one that requires a lot of fighting, so it didn't call for much training, plus I was naturally quite skilled with a sword. I only went through a month of training before given this job and told to keep training at least an hour every day. Of course, I do, even though I was childish, I tried to stay respectful to others as much as possible, so obviously I would try my hardest to fulfil my role to the best of my abilities.

After I train awhile, doing some push ups and pull ups awhile before working with my sword and practice on the dummy, I plop down on the ground, breathing heavily and sweating, I looked at my watch. 5: 56. I sigh before standing up and putting my sword in its sheath, I make my way through the path leading to the direction that the garden Is. Once I make it there I go over to my post and prepare my legs for the next 15 hours. It sounds really long but your given water at the beginning and during meals. It was tiring to just stand for that long, but I sat while eating but normally just lean against the wall when my legs get tired since all the various bushes in the garden make it hard to see certain places that I need to see in order to do my job.

The palace had a huge stone wall surrounding the grounds. The training grounds had some stalls right in front of it even though the wall is far out, the training grounds are made to train big groups for newbie season and for groups taught how to work in a group like troops or those who work on outing-duty. Those people were a lot busier because one person slacking off could cause a royal to suffer for it. Punishment for failing to protect a royal because of not focusing could be torture or death in case they are a traitor.

It's not uncommon for assassins to be bought to go after royals but the Arkane family is known to be serious but loving people, even if they execute someone that person is allowed to be supervised visit by family. if course highly monitored while they speak. That's how lenient they are but also, all of them, even the princess and queen are taught good swordsmanship and fighting. They are known to come out safe when attacked without knights knowledge of failed attempt to protect them.

One time during an outing, it was widely spread that the queen had been attacked on the streets by 4 armed people with daggers and one bow. it's said all her 6 knights in the area had died trying to fight them but Kathryn had killed them all by herself with one of her knights sword. She only suffered a graze on the shoulder. The queen was widely known to be strong with a cold appearance but gentle heart. I'll get more into the royals later, but this is just an example of one of the royals. Of course all of them are known for some event or even just their beauty.

During my shift, I realized the fact that in a few more hours id probably see Cassius again. Part of me knows he probably won't acknowledge me like any other time but the other part thinks that maybe, just maybe, we can hang out again. I know that my job requires my focus but with the nervous thoughts my brain probably wouldn't let me focus either way. For the last like 11 months, I had just stood here in mostly silence except for muffled noises all around from people training, the help shuffling around, and all the conversation. My only real entertainment only came around 5-7 pm and since my job starts at 6 am that gave me about 11 hours to dwell on anything, normally manga or seeing how far away I can spot a big or sad games like that.

If there was any movement it's normally just the wind or the servants, or of course the prince. It was quite lonely but I have grown used to it. I occasionally listen to people talk as the walk by every now and then but that wasn't much. so I sit there every day, hoping that my new little flower would appear again. Yes I called him that. Yes I'm going to keep calling that. Just let me have this.

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