Chapter 4

"The reason I stayed with uncle and auntie for years is because I begged uncle to teach me," she explained as she paused to drink some water.

'Their stares make me feel uneasy!'

"Teach what?"

"Swordsmanship and martial arts."

"You train swords?" Daniel exclaimed.

"I know you've learned those things before because you enjoyed physical activities, but swordsmanship and martial arts training for years? What is the reason?" Celeste asked. "Are you trying to join the knights?"

"You're quick!" Nash was taken aback and looked at her sister, astonished.

"Change the tone of your voice, it does not sound pleasant. Bear in mind that you're an imperial princess," Celeste chastised.

"So that's why you're reading that book. I assumed it was just because all the books on my shelves are about knights, but are you really going to?" Vincenzo said in disbelief.

Nash remained silent and awaited her parents' response.

"No," Ivelisse stated firmly.

"What!? Please!" she pleaded. "I swear, this is the last! After that, I'll take care of my responsibilities!"

"What in the world made you want to be a knight? Really, a knight? That's dangerous!" Ivelisse let out a furious shout.

"Father," Nash whispered as she waited for his response.

"What makes you want to be a knight?" Roven asked. "Don't tell me that it's cool. I'm looking for a sincere response."

"Well, first and foremost, I'd like to see how the empire is doing. I don't want just to monitor, but I want to do something to help while monitoring, so I'll know where to focus when it's time to do my duty." She responded with an excuse.

She had previously planned what she would say, but it was her anxious. If her parents find out that she is joining the knights in order to receive news about the forthcoming war, she will be stuck at home once more, with regrets piling up inside her.

"You can't even control your own demon," Roven said. "What if you lose control while performing your duties and end up in prison?"

"I can... uncle and aunt helped me."

"What if they'll be aware of your presence and the fact that you're a demon's vessel," Ivelisse stated, "Would you be able to tolerate it if they teased you as a demon itself?"

Nash naturally has anger issues and gets annoyed easily, which could activate the demon's power.

Both parents are attempting to convince Nash to stay, but Nash has already thought about it for years and no one can deter her.

"I'm not joining the magic knights, just the normal one. I can also alter my appearance and I intend to rely solely on my strength and maybe a little power. If you let me join I wanted you, mother, to seal 40% of both my demon and gravitational power. Only if it's absolutely required will I employ the remaining 20%."

Ivelisse, the empress, is from a foreign land where sealing ability is their main prowess. As part of her abilities, Ivelisse can both seal and lock things.

"Are you confident in your ability to fight?" Roven asked.

"But Roven... What about her coming of age? I thought it's about time to let the empire know about her?" Ivelisse asked. "It will be difficult for her to cope."

"Just a year, please. Let me be a knight for a year," With resolve, she peered into her father's eyes.

"No," Roven stood up and was about to leave but Nash stopped him.

"I'll show you... that I'm strong and can handle anything!"

"How?"

"You'll see,"

"I'll wait then," Roven left.

Nash inhaled deeply and shifted her gaze to Ivelisse. "I'm sorry, mother,"

Ivelisse didn't respond and simply walked away from the table.

'Mother is mad at me.'

Nash let out a sigh.

Only the four children remained at the table, as if waiting for something.

Nash broke out the silence and said, "Say what you wanted to say already."

"I can't even..." Celeste leaves without even finishing her sentence. Daniel just followed his older twin, shaking his head.

"So, what are your plans if father doesn't approve?" Vincenzo asked. They're the only ones left.

"Who knows," she said. She already had a plan in mind, but she wouldn't reveal it.

"Think about it again," he walked away leaving Nash alone at the table.

'I already did... countless of times.'

...

"Roven," Ivelisse called. "What are you planning?"

"I'll let her be a knight if she can prove to me that she's strong enough." Roven sat on their bed, "Even if I approve, she will not be an imperial knight. Since she's only 16 she might only be able to join a squad or become a squire for a senior knight."

"However, Vicor is the one who taught her. You do know how skilled Vicor is with his swordsmanship."

Ivelisse groaned, "I know, that's why I'm worried."

Ivelisse laid her head on the shoulder of her husband, "If I had known this would happen, I would have kept you from spoiling her."

Protecting his integrity, Roven replied, "I didn't spoil her too much,"

"I can't believe you," Ivelisse said, looking at her husband with disbelief.

'When will you accept that you are the one who spoils that brat? You think you're attractive? Well, you are.'

...

Midnight on Nash's room...

"It's time, Dopey,"

She kissed Dopey's head before leaving her room and walked towards her parent's room. She makes sure no noise can be heard.

She quietly crept in after opening the door. The only source of light was the moonlight, but thanks to her demon ability, she can see through the darkness. She saw his father and mother snuggling up to sleep.

She slowly grabbed her father's neck in her hands. Roven awoke and grabbed the arms of the infiltrator.

Roven then immediately knew who she was, it's Nash.

'So this is how you'll prove your strength?'

"Ivelisse, wake up!" Ivelisse woke up immediately.

Since her father is a powerful man, he immediately yanked Nash's hands from his neck and attempted to turn her arms behind her, but Nash fought and resisted.

Both are totally reliant on their physical abilities.

"What the hell is happening!?" Ivelisse yelled, the lights were still off and the only thing she saw were shadows of her husband and another guy.

"Open the lights," Roven ordered to his wife. Nash continued to fight back even though Roven had the upper hand.

When she can no longer take her father's dominance, she uses her gravitational power to push him. Roven's back rammed into the racks, shattering them.

"You have the courage to pursue the Emperor?" He unleashed shadow strings with dark auras and retained Nash's limbs. The lights went on at the same time, and Ivelisse was surprised to see her daughter in her pajamas hanging on her husband's shadow strings.

"Wha—"

"Is everything alright!?" Ivelisse didn't finish her sentence when her children entered the room.

"Nash!? What the hell!?" Celeste yelled, looking at her sister who was hanging on her pajamas.

"Grrr" Nash couldn't care less about her surroundings than her father, whom she is currently staring at. "Let me go, father."

Roven did release her.

"Goodnight," she said before leaving.