Chapter 2: Growing Up

The Blanchettes and Rosenvelts are currently residing up North of the empire where winters were frequent.

Why was it cold here? Arisanna doesn't know. The winters just happen to last longer here in the North.

Due to this, the people had to adapt and grew food that was suited for the wintertime. Some of the food was also imported from other parts of the empire and so people got by each day.

Although the living conditions sounded horrible, the people here are used to it and could only deal with the weather. Actually, because of the weather, they were closer and a bit friendlier despite the rumors about the North being filled with violent people. Arisanna was also not sure why people thought that either.

They would often hold festivals here in the North and so she always looked forward to when everything became more lively. She liked the bustling atmosphere and the warmth of the people. She would always drag Reynold with her in disguises and they got to enjoy the truly festive mood.

However, they never made any friends when they are out and about having fun, but they didn't mind. They actually don't have many friends to begin with, especially those of nobility. There were only a few noble families here in the North, it was begrudging due to the cold weather. When winter comes rolling around, the noble families would always move to their other mansions at some other part of the empire.

Due to this, they only made one close friend. It was the son of the Rosenvelt household, the Grand Duke's household.

"Theo! Let's have a snowball fight!" yelled Reynold.

Theodore Rosenvelt, the future Grand Duke, would always come over to the Blanchette's. He also had black hair but clear blue eyes, similar to the color of the deep blue ocean. They were all very close in age and therefore got along well.

"Come at me Rey!" he excitedly yells while throwing a snowball.

"Sigh… let boys be boys," Arisanna would sigh. The attendant next to her laughed.

"Young lady, do you not want to participate?"

"They run around aimlessly all day. I simply do not have the energy to do so," she huffed.

The attendant only giggled and watched over the young boys running around.

She gazed back at her book and flipped over to the next page.

Theodore saw her huffing and yelled out, "Ari! Don't be a downer and join us!"

"As if!" she would yell back.

These were very fond memories from her childhood despite her not playing much with the young boys.

Despite this, they actually did many things together and were inseparable. From learning about swordsmanship and magic, they would grow up together.

However, what she likes to recall the most is their time together during the festivals.

She was over the moon in her naive days as she would always drag both of them from stall to stall.

It felt like home.

But her daydreaming would quickly come to an end as documents piled in front of her.

She sighed heavily.

'I wish I could just return to those days…'

Seeing her spacing out, Theodore called out, "Ari, focus. We have quite a bit to go through today."

"I know…"

One's childhood could simply go away with a snap of a finger. Oh, how she missed the days when she could just focus on studying and fooling around.

Unfortunately, they had grown up. She was now fifteen and began training to become an aide. They began taking up some of the work as their future roles in order to train.

The Northern Territory was known as something similar to a defense fortress. It bordered the wild area in which monsters reside. More specifically, demonized beasts that have multiplied lately. There was a clear difference between bests that have been "demonized" and just normal beasts. Demonized beasts are creatures that have been drained of a sense of reason. They will go berserk if not handled immediately.

Without the Rosenvelts in the North, people would be threatened by these hungry predators and so it was their job to defend the borders of the empire.

The aide's job is not to defend the borders but to help manage territory. Making sure of the well-being of the citizens while keeping up with the recent news of those from the capital. Enforcing regulations to maintain order in the territory. This involved dealing with the officials here as well as some of the noble families.

Unlike Arisanna who was going to be an aide, her brother was set to be the leader of the squadrons of knights situated there. Because the Grand Duke also had to manage the Northern Territory, Theodore won't have much time to train and manage the knights, and thus he needed a person to do so. Instead of enforcing the order, he was tasked with defending them.

Everything else was something Theodore had to handle. Thus, they began their days of training to take over their parents' roles.

A habit they started to develop is to gather at the end of the day. It wasn't something serious, they would just sit and talk. However, these peaceful moments were something Arisanna cherish.

"We would have to gather at the capital sooner or later. The Princess's coming-of-age ceremony is coming up," she spoke while drinking her hot cup of tea.

"Ah- at least we would get something like a break while we are there," Reynold responded.

"Well, we still need to socialize somewhat. We have a status to keep up," Theodore brought up.

"I respond to enough letters! Honestly, noble ladies don't even talk much. It's just pleasant exchanges yet we have to put so much effort into them," Arisanna complained.

"I am so glad I don't have to deal with it," her brother smiled.

"You two should try it someday. You have no idea how many different types of greetings I had to come up with. Besides greetings, I even have to come up with a boring topic to chat about!"

"I thought you guys also gossip too," Theodore questioned.

"Ah, they don't trust me enough to gossip with. I barely see them and can't physically be there at the social scenes so who would trust me to gossip? Besides, they only keep in contact with me because I am a Blanchette anyways," Arisanna ranted.

"Ladies have to stay ladies. Honestly, you seem more like a brute compared to them," Theodore and Reynold both laughed.

"A brute my butt. Not my fault women are viewed as delicate little flowers. Don't blame me if I all of a sudden explode some guy's face," she rolled her eyes.

She then looked at both of them, "You also would have thousands of suitors surrounding you all anyways so if anything, I am the lucky one."

They both groaned at the thought.

"You aren't better off either. You receive several letters from guys courting you," Reynold rolled his eyes.

"Ah, is the brother over-protected?" Theodore joked.

"As if! If anything I should be worried for the suitors who actually try to court my sister."

"Talk all you want but my outer appearance is that of an elegant noble lady!"

"I wish they could see your real side instead!"

They all laughed at these silly worries.

"Whether we should be worried or not, we should all get some rest."

And so Theodore bid them both goodbye under the rare quiet night of the Northern Territory.