Chapter 1

"I'm all set, uncle,"

Nash was dressed in a simple white dress and a black cloak over it, in her hand was a black glove. Dopey, her dog, was following her into the backyard, where her Aunt and Uncle were waiting. Behind her guardians, she saw a portal.

'I suppose this is it.'

As she prepared to leave, she wore her glove to her right hand and tightened it.

Terry, her aunt, approaches her with teary eyes. She treats Nash as if she was her own child since she and Vicor have yet to have a child.

She slipped a necklace around Nash's neck with a gemstone as its pendant. "Make a promise to me that you'll wear this all the time. This is where half of my power resides. In case you're wounded, all you have to do is wish for it to heal, and it will. Even if it won't heal a serious wound, it's best to have it on as a first aid."

"I promise. Thank you, Aunt Terry"

"Remember everything I taught you!" She giggled and embraced her aunt. "We'll return when the time is right."

"Nash," Vicor called and nodded.

She responded with a nod, indicating that she comprehended what Vicor was attempting to say.

"There's a letter under my bed. Read it. However, I'd like to apologize in advance...," she chuckled as the two were consumed with curiosity.

She bid her last farewell and walked through the portal, carrying her dog.

...

Terry and Vicor went straight to her room after Nash left to search for the letter. Once they saw it they took a seat next to each other and began reading the letter they had found.

After reading the last section of the letter, both of them sighed in disappointment.

"She tricked me," Vicor mumbled.

'Auntie, Uncle, I've decided to join the knights. Thank you so much for all of the valuable lessons you've taught me over the years I've spent with you. I'm sorry, uncle; I know you think I lied to you when I said it was for self-defense, but I didn't... It's purely for my own safety.

Auntie, don't get mad. I figured you'd be disappointed if I told you that uncle and I were training in swordsmanship and martial combat, so please accept my apologies for not informing you.'

...

After a couple of glimmers of light, Nash finds himself in a dark alley with no one else around. She put Dopey down and strolled outside the rear entryway to confirm where she was.

She drew her hand up to shield herself from the sun and look around. She noticed a slew of market stalls and carriages transporting goods from other towns.

"Grey Town," she murmured after reading the signage. She had to carry Dopey once more for fear of him being separated from her.

She searched for a carriage that could take her to the capital city, but all she found were carriages for trading goods.

"I guess we have no choice but to walk under the scorching heat," she sighed as she spoke to Dopey.

After she adjusted her hood to conceal her white silver hair, she started walking.

After nearly an hour of walking, she finally sees the entrance to the Capital City, where the Imperial Palace is located. Despite this, the Imperial palace is quite a distance from the entrance.

After entering the capital city, she took another look around and saw a few nobles and their opulent carriages. She also noticed various boutiques and shops frequented by nobles.

"Arf," she looked at Dopey, who seemed to be on the verge of collapsing. She took out her water and let Dopey drink.

"Can you please excuse," Nash lifted her head and squinted her eyes, trying to figure out who was talking. "Hey, I said move while I'm trying to be nice,"

"Oh, sorry," Nash took a stride back. The noblewoman flipped her hair and rolled her eyes at Nash.

"Grrrr," Dopey growled.

"Shhh... don't make a fuss. Let's go now. It's noon, and I'm starving!"

In an old, bumpy carriage, they ride to the Imperial Palace.

...

"At long last, we've arrived!" Nash exclaimed. The bumpy carriage ride hurts her buttocks.

She was walking towards the front gate when four spears were pointed into her throat. Dopey barked and growled at them.

"State your name,"

"Nashtassia Freya Marqueza" She stated. Her neck has come into contact with the spears.

"We haven't heard of anyone with that name."

"Wait, what?"

She was about to counter when a familiar voice interrupted her.

"What is going on here?" Nash's eyes sparkled as she saw someone she recognized.

'Thank heavens... but who are you again?' Nash thought to herself. She has a hard time recalling names, but she does recall faces with whom she has interacted...

…sometimes.

"Sir, this man over here claims to be a Marqueza."

'Do they think my name is masculine?'

Nash then took off her hood to reveal her identity.

"I'm a woman, by the way."

The familiar guy was taken aback and fixed his gaze on her. When he realized who she was, he told the knights to put down their weapons and quickly apologize.

Nash breathed a sigh of relief and gently stroked her neck, looking for a wound, which she found none. "Thank you, sir."

"Your welcome, princess. Open the door! Hurry!" The guards followed and opened the front gate with confusion written on their faces.

"Don't be too harsh with them, sir. And oh! Please don't tell the citizens that another Marqueza, with a name you don't recognize, has arrived at the Imperial Palace. You won't like what will happen," she warns, flashing her red demonic eyes as she slips back her hood to cover herself from the sun. Dopey was right behind her, trailing her.

After a few minutes of walking, she arrived at the main gate, where the Imperial Palace could be seen clearly. The Knights can be seen patrolling the palace, the gardeners mowing the grass, and the maids going about their duties.

"Please remove your hood and identify yourself. The guards at the front gate didn't inform us about a guest," One guard said. There are two guards, one of whom is asking the question and the other of whom is dozing.

She then did as the guard requested.

"I'm Nashtassia Freya Marqueza," she says as she pulls off her hood.

As she said it loudly and clearly, everyone inside turned their heads to the main doors. The guard who had been dozing had also awoken.

"I've never—"

Before he could finish his sentence, the workers dashed toward the main gate and caught the bars.

"Princess!"

"Princess!"

'It looks like I'm in prison and they're all my visitors'

"Open the gate!" The workers yelled.

"But—"

"She's the Imperial princess! There's no reason for you not to open the gates!" The snoozing knight said. The guard then opened the gate and let her in.

"I'm fine, don't worry about me."

"What's all the commotion about?" The staff who had surrounded her had split into two, with Nash remaining in the center. "Princess?!"

"I'm home, sir butler," she said with a smile.

"Welcome back, Princess," the butler said as he brushed away his tears.

Before assisting Nash inside the Palace, he instructed the knights to station guards on every corner of the Palace.

'He must be thinking that I will leave again', Nash thought to herself.

The butler assists Nash in entering the palace. In just a few minutes of walking, the butler had already told her about a slew of events that had occurred since she had left the empire.

"Then, two years ago, the crowned prince was chosen as the Knight Commander of the White Knights. Princess Celeste is assisting the Empress with her financial endeavors. Prince Daniel is planning to take over as Knight Commander from the crowned prince Vincenzo, who plans to retire and focus on becoming an honorable crowned prince," the butler explained.

"I see..."

Since then, all of her older siblings have their own obligations and duties, while she, on the other hand, does anything she desires and doesn't care the slightest bit about politics and such because no one but the people in the palace are watching her, which she doesn't mind as long as she has fun.

That was the case before...

She has now figured out a means to assist the empire, particularly since a future crisis is inevitable. Her only fear is that her parents will disapprove of her decision.

She turned to face the butler before entering the dining room. "After we eat, please prepare a bath for me and Dopey."

"As you wish,"

Before the guard announced her name, she pushed the door as strong as she could. She walked in with a big grin on her face.

"How insolent!" she chuckled at his oldest brother's voice.

"I'm home!"