Chapter 22: Favorite Cousin (I).

Chapter 22: Favorite Cousin (I).

Elizabeth's POV

The only solemn place I could be was my library, even here I had to attend to my schooling matters and study politics.

Yet for some reason the memory of how I first formally met Victoria ran through my mind. When I have mistaken her for any other maid that has served me, who knew she was making a sort of behavioral test that she was observing of me.

And that… even when the head chef was stubborn, arrogant towards my concerns about the hygiene and everyone's health Victoria was there.

So... she was always protecting me from the start. I never knew her name from the first time we met but, it seems that I owe her more than I calculated.

"Why are you smiling, your highness? A coin for your thoughts." (Victoria) my maid asks me curiously, peeking over my shoulder to see what I was reading. I lean my head to the side so she could see what it was.

[The Progress of a Kingdom], was the title of my book. It tells the tale of written works of former ruined kingdoms that listed their fall and problems encountered that made it broken or- may it be alive today.

It had a gruesome detail of some of its kingdom's worst and best leaders.

Yet, history could also lie.

Many rulers have something in common, they all had something to focus on improving or expanding for their land's reach. Whether it be improving the kingdom's health, wealth, agriculture, technology, military and territorial expansion.

It made me think, since I will be inheriting a kingdom I need to figure out what kind of ruler I should be?

As I have the memory of a modern woman born from another world where technological advances were the center of attention before magic- I want to perhaps pursue something like that for my people.

The only heir to the throne, here I am I wonder...

Despite being a princess, I never once visited any of my kingdom's cities so I wonder truly how they are doing.

"..."

I look up to the ceiling and stare at the wired handiwork of a lightbulb being powered by none other than mana. I still can't believe that something like this was engineered by the empress.

She needed to compress that power into a wire, letting it travel and calculate the flow including the risk of it knowing that the castle isn't exactly built for something like it.

Yet she made it work, I don't know how but I'll be able to get to the bottom of it if she has her blueprints lying around.

The technological advances that the former empress made to the castle, I wondered if it would be possible if I could give that for my people.

"Do you think I could invest or partake in some technological matters of our kingdom?" I ask her and she smiles patting my head, I hold the book up pouting.

Victoria was treating me like a child, while I did enjoy it. I have mixed feelings whether I should let her continue such affection... knowing that I would become more clingy by the hour if she spoils me more like this.

"When you're a bit older perhaps you can, however you're still very young... I love that you're thinking of your interests, your highness-" She turns to me happily hearing of my interests but soon she visibly relaxes holding my shoulder before turning to her tray. "But for now- aren't you forgetting something important that you have to settle with?"

I... do?

I tilt my head in confusion wondering what it could be.

"Something important..."

I couldn't place my finger on what important thing I had going on today, I thought it was mostly free time and some homeschooling in my schedule.

"The daughter of Duke Erhenzig, your cousin. Melrose Neyemar, is going to visit the castle today don't you remember?" (Victoria) reminded me of my feats back when I visited their mansion, coming back home with a settled promise that I would welcome the girl if she ever did visit.

Plop...

My book fell onto the table, how could I forget?

I invited her to come visit the castle one of these days- and that day was today. I have received a letter not too long ago of her planned visit.

I... don't have anything planned for entertainment.

"Victoria, I... I forgot that she was going to visit today." I told her with such honesty she could oy chuckle in response to my dire situation.

"Hahaha." (Victoria) laughs slightly, settling down with a cup of tea on the side.

"It's not funny... I don't have much time to spare and prepare- I don't want to look like an inhospitable princess who welcomes a noble lady with nothing in hand." I jumped out of my chair, the table shook almost making the tea cup fall down but thankfully it didn't.

"Come on, I have to plan some things- noble ladies prefer tea time, right? What do we even do in our past other than tea?" I held my chin thinking of a proper event we could do, while my arms crossed.

I've only been invited to some balls and tea parties from other noble families lower than me however, I want to treat Melrose differently from them.

"Melrose should be family, we should... I mean... Should I prepare something that would be considered 'family bonding enjoyment?', Victoria?" I turn to Victoria who frowns, looking like she doesn't know what to say.

"Apologies, your highness. I do not know how one family bonds with another... I um... come from an orphan background if you remember." (Victoria) scratches the back of her neck, the moment she told me that I immediately felt guilty for forgetting and asking her such a question.

Victoria coming from a background such as that, she may not have a family in her beginnings. It also seems she was not successfully adopted.

I also don't know how to properly welcome a family visiting, it was only my mother, father and grandpa in my past life.

There weren't many warm welcomes if one of us was visiting, for guests however it was either father's co-worker drinking with him or mother's friends just talking things over some hot tea.

"Apologies... the thought has slipped my mind." I answered her honestly and she shook her head, helping me think. "Your highness, if she's family- and you truly want to get to know each other better... why not ask her if she has ever wanted to visit a part of the palace before?"

"That's.... a great idea!" I couldn't help but smile widely, now knowing what to do.

I should've thought of that myself!

It would be no problem if we actually went to places where Melrose would love to be in.

"And if she says, I don't have a place that I want to visit- you can just recommend some of your favorite spots around the castle in return in hopes you two would open to one another about things you might have in common and adapt there." (Victoria) continues to give me good advice, taking my teacup away before patting my head again.

"I could help prepare snacks and a few board games to keep both of you entertained." I smiled briefly nodding to her suggestion and she immediately fixed everything that I'll need for the visit.

My room was one of my favorite places to be in.

Victoria would help me gather some of the pillows along with some of the maid servants that were available with nothing better to do, "I believe children like forts right?" (Victoria) asks me and I tilt my head at the question.

"I'm not sure but I think they do."

"Your highness, you're one... I was hoping you would know." (Victoria) tells me and I look away, knowing that I'm not really- technically a child.

"I mean... I like it, I have never built a fort before." I grabbed a pillow, lending a helping hand, the pillow I was holding was twice as big as my body and I plopped it right by the bed.

"One... two... one... two..." I walked like a penguin carrying pillows over to my room, Victoria chuckles seeing the way that I walked.

"That's a rather cute walk, your highness." (Victoria) laughs a little too loudly for my taste that the other maids heard of her comment to my walk.

"!!!" Enraged with a flustered face, I threw her the pillow I was carrying before she caught it placing it down gently continuing to build the fort.

Her hands hold it down, patting it right over the bed.

"Thank you for passing me the pillow that I needed for the upper part of the wall, you're truly a great help." (Victoria) thanked me and I could feel my cheeks puffing. That throw was supposed to throw her off, but her and that scary reflexes ruined my plan.

"Ah... you and your quick reflexes." I complained walking right over to her before grabbing her arm trying to climb it. This is what I have feared, I have indeed become too clingy and relaxed when Victoria is around that I couldn't help myself to be like this.

"Your highness, manners now." (Victoria) reminds me, not calling me by my name because there were a few more servants watching my every move. "You still have a guest coming around the corner, come on behave."

"..." I didn't mutter a response but just did what she said.