Grim stood in the hallway outside the princess's room. After the training session with Rowan had ended. Grim was getting frustarted with his slow progress. He decided it was ti to take matters into his own hands.
[This is risky,] the voice comnted. [Going behind your father's back to approach the Empress directly.]
"Shut up," Grim thought back. "Rowan's too cautious. At this rate, I'll be fifty before I master even one technique."
He waited until the door opened and a maid erged. Before it could close, Grim caught it with his foot.
Princess Liona looked up from her desk where she'd been writing sothing, surprise clear on her face. "Grim! No one said you were coming." Her confusion quickly morphed into delight.
"I wasn't invited," Grim said. "I need to talk to your mother."
Liona's just looked at him for a mont before saying. "Mother doesn't like unscheduled visitors. Even I have to request an audience sotis."
"It's important," Grim insisted. "It's about your birthday surprise."
That caught her attention. "My birthday? But that's not for a couple weeks."
"Which is why I need to start planning now," Grim improvised. "Sothing this special takes ti."
"What is it?" Liona asked, getting up from her desk.
"If I told you, there would be no surprise." Grim said, rolling his eyes. "I need to discuss it with the Empress. Will you take to her or not?"
Liona put her finger on her. Than asked, "What do I get in return?"
[Yeah shes the Empress's daughter,] the voice observed with amusent.
"I'll spend an entire day with you," Grim said. "No complaining, no questions asked. You can drag wherever you want."
The princess's mood chaned instantly. "Really? A whole day? Just the two of us?"
"That's what I said, isn't it?" Grim replied, already regretting his offer. "Do we have a deal or not?"
"Deal!" Liona shouted. She grabbed his hand and squeezed. "Mother should be in her private study right now. Co on!"
Grim was pulled along. The princess was beyond happy. The walk took Grim to a part of the castle he hadn't been to yet. Guards posted at regular intervals bowed to the princess but ignored Grim.
Finally, they reached a door that was guarded by 10 guards. Unlike the traditional white armour most guards wore, these guards were in all black. With white lining that made the color of their armour pop.
"Princess Liona," one of the guards acknowledged with a bow. "The Empress is reviewing petitions and requested no interruptions."
"This is important, Captain Renik," Liona insisted. "Tell Mother that I'm here with Lord Ambrose regarding a special matter."
The guard hesitated, then nodded. "Wait here, Your Highness."
A minute later, he returned and opened the door. "Her Imperial Majesty will see you."
Liona tugged Grim forward, but he pulled his hand free. "Actually, I need to speak with your mother alone. It's about your surprise, rember?"
Liona pouted, but couldn't argue with his logic. "Fine. But don't forget our deal."
"How could I possibly?" Grim said.
The room was smaller than he'd expected. Bookshelves around yje room and a large desk that the Empress sat at. Larhe glass windows that overlooked the imperial gardens. The Empress sat behind the desk. Grim couldn't help but look at her plentiful bust.
"Leave us," she commanded. The guards bowed and ckosed the doors.
The room was silent for a minute. Grim found the Empress hard to read.
"Well, young Lord Ambrose," the Empress finally said, setting aside the docunt she'd been working on. "What about my daughter's birthday couldn't wait for a proper audience?"
Her tone was clear. She knew he wasn't there to talk about her daughter's birthday.
Grim dropped all pretense. "There's no birthday surprise. I needed to speak with you privately, and Liona was my best chance of getting past your guards."
To his surprise, a small smile curved the Empress's lips. "Direct and resourceful. Your great-grandfather would like you." Grim sat across from her. "Since you've gone to such lengths to see ill listen to what you have to say."
Grim sat, eting her gaze directly. "I want to make a deal."
"A deal," the Empress repeated, amusent evident in her voice. "How interesting. What could a five-year-old possibly offer the ruler of the empire?"
"You want to get stronger and learn my family's sword arts," Grim stated. "I want the sa. But my father is holding back. I need a real sword to practice with, and I need ti away from him."
The Empress leaned back in her chair, studying him with new interest. Then, she laughed. It was a genuine laugh Grim hadn't heard before.
"How funny," she said, once her laughter subsided. "I can make that happen for you. But it will be brutual. You will be pushed to your limits and tested harder than you ever had."
"What do you an?" Grim asked, caught off guard.
"Your father has been... cautious in your training," the Empress said, choosing her words carefully. "While caution has its place, the empire doesn't have the luxury of waiting for your father's slow thods."
She stood up and walked towards the the window, looking out at the gardens below. "Even if you learn all the sword arts, Grim, you currently lack mana hearts. You lack battle experience. You need to grow, and quickly."
"That's what I've been saying," Grim agreed, suppressing his excitent at her words.
The Empress turned back to face him. "Ill arrange for soone to arrive and aid in your training. And your father will be out of the capital until the ball begins. Your schedule will change drastically." Her gaze sharpened. "You must learn how to use at least one of your great-grandfather's sword arts before the ball. Consider it a test of your potential."
Grim tried to keep his expression neutral. But, this was exactly what he wanted. He could barely contain his excitent.
"Who will train ?" he asked.
"You'll find out soon enough," the Empress replied. "They should arrive within the week. Until then, just wait."
"And the sword?" Grim pressed. "I can't practice these techniques properly with a wooden stick."
"There are training swords in the armory suitable for your size and strength," the Empress said. "I'll have the weaponmaster provide you with several options once your father has departed."
Grim nodded, satisfied. But then he rembered one more thing. "There's sothing else I need feom you."
The Empress arched an eyebrow. "Dont push your luck."
"Money for Liona's gift," Grim said. "Thats the whole reason im here rember."
For a mont, the Empress looked at him. Then, to his surprise, she laughed again. "You wish to give my daughter a gift?"
"I have to attend this stupid ball anyway," Grim said with a shrug. "Might as well do it right. But our family does not have any money right now."
"Indeed." The Empress returned to her desk and opened a drawer. She placed it on the desk. "This should be sufficient for a suitable gift. Choose wisely. My daughter cares more about you than anyone."
Grim took the pouch, surprised by its weight. "This is more than I expected."
"Consider it an investnt in House Ambrose's future," the Empress replied. "Now, is there anything else, or have we concluded our 'deal'?"
"That's it," Grim confird, standing. "When does my father leave?"
"He'll receive his orders tomorrow. You'll have approximately two weeks of specialized training before the ball." The Empress's expression turned serious. "Do not waste this opportunity, Grim van Ambrose. The future of your house—and potentially the empire—depends on your progress."
Grim t her gaze without flinching. "I won't waste it."
As he turned to leave, the Empress spoke once more. "And Grim? The next ti you wish to speak with , request an audience properly. I admire your initiative, but manipulating my daughter has... consequences."
The subtle threat in her words wasn't lost on him.
"Noted," Grim replied, then walked out without looking back.
Outside, Liona was waiting, practically bouncing with excitent. "Well? Did she help with my surprise?"
Grim patted the coin pouch tucked safely in his pocket. "Everything's arranged. You'll just have to wait and see what it is."
"Can't you give a hint?" Liona pleaded, falling into step beside him as they walked away from the Empress's study.
"No," Grim said flatly.
"Just a tiny one?"
"No."
"Please?"
Grim stopped and faced her. "Look, the more you ask, the less special it will be when you actually get it. So shut up about it, okay?"
Instead of being offended, Liona bead at him. "You really are my favorite, Grim. Everyone else is so boring."
"Lucky ," Grim muttered, but there was less bite in his tone than usual.
As they parted ways at the entrance to the royal wing, Grim couldn't help feeling a mixture of triumph and unease. He'd gotten exactly what he wanted—ti away from Rowan's cautious approach, a real sword to train with, and even money for the princess's gift.
So why did he have the nagging feeling that he'd stepped into sothing much bigger than he realized?
[Because you have,] the voice comnted. [The Empress had this planned all along. She rely let you believe it was your idea.]
"Shut up," Grim thought back, but the voice's words had struck a chord. The Empress had been too prepared for Grim to ask. Almost as if she'd been waiting for him to ask.
Grim made his way back to his room. He'd made his deal with the Empress, but he couldn't shake the feeling that he sothingnwas off.
"Back to training until I get word from father." I wonder who this teacher will be Grim thought.
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