5 Chapter 3: New royal rules to follow (I).

Chapter 3: New royal rules to follow (I).

Elizabeth's POV

The years passed, my hatred for the god that killed me led me to think…

I wanted revenge.

I've earned a new name, a new life to become the princess of the kingdom of snow- Berovia. Positioned in the northern part of the world.

It has eight months of winter, three months of spring where the crops grow to their fullest and one month of perfectly good weather until it repeats it all back again.

Elizabeth Isoldein Nevemayr, the future empress of the kingdom.

All these years building my way into the life of an infant, while having the mind of a teenager was leading me to be impatient with my life. I wanted to devote my life to getting him to kneel, beg for mercy and then I will end his existence.

"Your highness, are you enjoying the book you're reading? You seem to be focused, your eyebrows are furrowing."

"..."

Was I?

I wasn't aware that I was.

"Yes I am… I like the characters in this and the things they do to defy the impossible." I answered, trying to sound as childlike as possible, and the servant who asked nodded affirming that I was enjoying my time, leaving me to read more things in the library.

"Hmm…"

I must say... Being a princess is less interesting than I thought it would be.

While it did give me basic necessities, even more to the level of comfort royalty would have. The duties, responsibilities and everyone's words would surround me everyday on who I am now.

It would feel as their whispers would slip by, the gaze on their eyes staring for hours with no end- from the servants, nobles and my acquaintances.

"Your highness, please walk more elegantly the council might see you."

"Pah! The princess left by the empress is no lucky egg. You'd think she'd be smarter like the empress but no!"

"Someday, your highness will turn into a wonderful leader and someone who can lead the kingdom to greatness just like your mother."

The empress, the past ruler and someone who I've been compared to all these years. I couldn't be mad, I've calculated the weight of her name she carried and the things she did for this kingdom was amazing.

Public heaters for the winter, the education reforms, kingdom diplomacy managing to keep two countries to keep on trading, was known to be a great inventor with revolutionary ideas that seemed so impossible and so much more-

For every birthday I've had, there would be a present that was meant for me from the empress.

The celebrations were rather forced upon me, I… am not the type to celebrate.

I never did and even if I did celebrate, I would only hold it with the people I like and frankly there's none of them here. The royal family related to my father's side was unresponsive, from my mother's side she was another princess from another country that was summer all around.

None of her relatives would go lengths to visit a winter country.

"Happy birthday, milady. From your mother- she… has prepared this for you with a lot of thought. I hope you like it."

My personal maid assigned to me, would give the boxed present and I would pull the ribbons apart, letting it fall, opening the box… I could see a little brush with my engraved name.

The only thing that kept my sanity upon the hundreds of people I don't even know well inside the party, excessive balls and other nobles trying to get close to my space were the lovely gifts that I could tell... the empress really wanted a child.

The birth mother of this body. I couldn't help but gain some sort of attachment to the stranger, whom I never met but clearly even after her passing she wanted her daughter to have something for her to remember.

…

Scratch… scratch…

"..."

My past time consisted of finding things the castle could work on.

Carrying my little folder, I took note of the room's not being used. Perhaps we can use it for something else instead, the currency the kingdom uses right at the moment were made of materials that can easily be melted to be duplicated- no ridges and an unpleasant design.

I was already writing reports on what possibly could be changed to make the kingdom better. Mother's ruling was certainly exceptional but there were a couple of flaws.

So I can read and write.

I'm now seven years old, more advanced than other children to having my past memories intact with me.

I actually haven't left the palace so I don't know what the average seven year old knows. I have only seen teenagers here, mostly guards who're young and were tasked with guarding me.

"Greetings your highness!"

Speaking of the devil, every time I would walk into a hallway they would give me a salute, I could hear their boots hitting the floor before going back to their standing position.

Not wanting to talk, I nodded my head and left to find more things we can improve upon. "Hmm…"

Now I'm in my daily etiquette lessons with my instructor and personal maid that is always making sure I have everything that I need. We would have our studies in a separate room in the library, there would be so many materials and resources at my disposal.

"Now your highness. We must raise our chin up while we walk! Showing pride in our name and kingdom as you'll be representing the heir of the throne." she would tell me, holding my chin up as I tried to keep up with her teaching.

Here I am being taught what etiquette is. As if I didn't have those in my past life.

"Hngh..."

Though even after knowing what sort of etiquette I should do, balancing a book while doing it is certainly not something I would consider easy. My body is still seven years old, untrained and limited in balance.

The person who's teaching me is the most loyal servant I could ever have known, Victoria Crumwell.

She's supposed to excel in academics, physical strength, teaching and being my maid overlooking my care as well as needs.

For as long as I've known she has been taking care of me since I was only a year old. At that time I had to fake myself as some dumb infant.

I tried keeping my chin up while maintaining my posture as I felt the heavy book into my head being unbearable to balance.

It fell down to my feet making me flinch but I made sure not to let out a sound… the fear of being punished if I cry or complain.

I still haven't… forgotten my past life completely.

"You're highness?! Are you alright?" (Victoria) quickly came running to my aid looking guilty, she held my hands in hers looking at my feet and then the fallen book that was in the ground.

"Maybe… That's enough etiquette for today."

I've always wondered.

Will balancing books really make me a great princess?

For all sakes, I'm just ruining these perfectly conditioned books that I haven't read yet... such a waste. I would always stick my nose into a book when I had time back in my old world… for my grandfather loved talking about them.

Telling me how novels would be his escape to another world.

Whenever he felt lonely, like no one could understand him- if we just opened a book and felt the character's perspective on their life seeing how similar they were to ours… the loneliness lessens when you find someone to talk about your love for the story.

And I fell in love with them.

I wonder how my grandfather is doing now...

I hope he's alright. I don't know how time works here but I'm sure the nurses are taking care of him. If only mother and father cared to bother visiting. I wouldn't have a reason to worry.

"Does your feet hurt, your highness? You've turned quiet."

"I am fine Victoria. It doesn't hurt," I said, giving a short reply to Victoria who pouts standing up, walking over towards the fallen book and then picking it up in her hands.

"If you say so then you can bear to do it again, yes?" (Victoria)

…

I nodded, swallowing the saliva that was forming in my throat. "And this time you will balance our dear holder of knowledge with the book for an hour, your highness." (Victoria)

She's too harsh!

But out of pride and ego, I simply nodded and agreed with the task. She picked up my book and gave it to me. I placed it into my head and I began to balance it while walking.

"Ah! Ah! Your back needs some work, your highness." (Victoria)

I sincerely wish I fainted. Within ten minutes of walking the book fell off again and I was forced to pick it up and continue.

These people are merciless even to children and I… have too much ego admit that it hurts, I'm tired.