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The face that greeted me the moment I opened my eyes was the very person who went missing, just as what Jamie said to me.

"Eldest?"

The little girl before me is none other than my playmate and my tutor. I wonder what happened that made her look so gloomy all of a sudden. She was just fine yesterday.

"What?" she replied, an annoyed tone of voice is obvious.

I mentally frowned. Why does everyone seem to be in a bad mood today? Did they went to war or something?

"Where were you—well, nevermind." I sat up and grabbed the book in my tableside. "How are you?"

"Doing fine." She shortly replied, which is odd since she's the talkative type. The moment she noticed my confused face, she had this uninterested look in her face. "Don't mind me. Just staying here for a while. We'll continue your lessons tomorrow."

I was about to protest, but my mouth didn't budge to say anything. So in the end, I just let her be. While I'm sitting in my bed, she's sitting in the couch. Were both busy reading books, mine about nobles while hers is all about mages and magic.

"Uh, can I ask a question?" I took all the courage I could muster to speak. The silence inside my room is too suffocating. Her dull eyes glanced at me, and I felt tensed all of the sudden.

I gulped.

She flipped into the next page, giving me a bored look with a frown. "You're already asking, but fine."

I took a deep breath, not minding her sarcastic reply. "About the guardians we received from our birthday before, how are they properly used?"

Since I've never remembered anything about it in my glimpses as well, I needed to know every single info that I'm not aware of.

Eldest turned her gaze to her book again, but replied nonetheless. "As I said before, guardians take the form of an animal, but they are not to be considered as pets. They are someone who'll accompany you until you're strong enough to be independent."

I mentally took notes of what she stated.

"Usually, guardians are only granted to the Imperial family, but now it is also permitted to other high ranking nobility." She continued. "Some of them are for those who have the ability and potential in the field of magic. Guardians are just like knights, they protect and guard you. At thesame time, they are like mages. You can depend to them when it comes to mana."

Mana? I think I'm familiar with that. A mana is needed for a magic, that's what mages needs the most.

"Guardians will also fade away the moment you are independent." She flipped into the other page. "Sometimes, this happens when you've reached adulthood."

I nodded my head, finally understanding. "I see. Thank you."

It took her seconds before she replied back. "...an honor, your highness."

Althou I really want to ask what's wrong, about the Empress' meeting, about her going to her estate, about everyone being in a bad and gloomy mood. But I chose to shut it all in to myself first and find the perfect opportunity and timing to ask them the question.

I massaged my temples and frowned to myself. Hah, how I wish I can have a peaceful life as a 6 year old prince. I'm too young to be stressed. Even if I have a gold spoon, if this is how it'll play, especially the fact that I can die one day, it makes me anxious everytime I sleep.

I'm always glad that I still wake up and see another day. Otherwise, I don't think I'll be able to handle oblivion if my death arises.

So for now, I'll just stay put with my first priority before anything else: Survive.

I won't be raising any red flags, or else I'll meet the grim reaper earlier than intended. Focusing on the book I'm reading, I felt at ease and relaxed, but confused and tired at thesame time since no matter how hard I try, it's hard to understand any single thing about it.

The only thing my mind buffered is the ranking of the nobles. With the Baron being the lowest, followed by a Viscount, then a Count in the middle, a Marquess, and a Duke as the highest. Althou there's still an Archduke, just as how there's an Archmage for mages, magicians, warlocks or whatsoever.

Seriously, things just became more complicated because of magic but whatever. This is how it is, so I just need to go with the flow, be natural and survive.

"You're already reading that at such a young age?" I flinched when I heard Eldest speak. Unlike other conversations, she sounded strict today.

"Uh, yes."

"Well, that's not complete. The ranking of nobility there is just the shortest explanation," she went on as she still focused her gaze in her book. "A Lord, a Knight, a Baron, a Viscount, a Count or Earl, a Marquess, a Prince, a Duke, an Archduke, a Grand Prince, a Grand Duke, a King and ofcourse, the highest is the Emperor."

Holy sh-

I felt like my jaw dropped down the floor as my braincells buffered what she stated. It is indeed longer than what I have read. I think what she said is more accurate than what I read in this book. She stated them as if it was just as easy as stating the alphabet.

Not long after, we had our meal for lunch served, thanks to Jamie. After that, we continued reading books again. My eyes feels like they'll bawl out of my eye sockets. I had the urge to take a nap but since Eldest is here, I just continued reading again. Then snack time came, and Jamie served as a delicious pie. And seriously,

I'm so lucky to have Jamie.

It seems like hours passed again and I suddenly felt sore. I put down the book that I repeatedly read before stretching my body. My arms and legs to be specific since I felt stiff from sitting all day. I also massaged my nape since I've been reading for too long.

The moment my eyes landed infront, there I saw Eldest whose looking at me with a stare as if saying I'm weird.

What now?

"Is there something wrong?" I asked, my forehead creased in confusion.

"...nothing." she chose to answer that even thou her expression says otherwise. I frowned at her, but I didn't bother protesting. Something is wrong with Eldest, that's for sure.

"Are you still going to stay here?" I asked, looking outside. It's already getting dark. "It's going to be night time."

She closed the thick book she's been reading before leaning her back on the couch. "Should I leave?"

I raised a brow. "Shouldn't you?"

A shrug was the only response I received. Before I can even protest, Jamie asked for permission to enter. I sighed and answered affirmative before she entered, bowing down at me. "Your highness, dinner is about to come. My lady, do you wish to have dinner with the Imperial family as well?"

I quickly turned to look at Eldest. Just what position does she and her family holds? Or further more, who is she?

Not anyone from nobility can be comfortably invited to dinner with us. Then I remembered what Jamie said, Eldest is a trusted ally of the Empress. She even handled their own family matters since Jamie said she went back to her estate.

I stared at her with suspicion. She's just around thesame age as me, so how is that possible?

The moment Eldest stood up, her gaze landed on me and our eyes suddenly met. I felt chills ran down my spine, making me tear away my gaze. "I'll go change then."

Jamie smiled and nodded. "Yes, your highness."

With me and my nanny still standing there, I gave Eldest a look whose also still inside my room. "Aren't you leaving?"

She blinked her eyes. "Should I?" She asked back.

I frowned. "Yes you should." Seriously, we may be kids, but I'm not used to anyone being in thesame room while I'm changing clothes.

"Just be done with it." She replied before walking out of the room, making me and my nanny sigh in relief. I suddenly looked at my nanny.

"Is there something wrong? Why is Eldest like that?"

Jamie looked hesitant to answer me. "Well, your highness...I really can't tell you."

I sighed as she helped me change into a casual but comfortable and decent outfit. "Is that so?" To be honest, I'm a bit sad and dissapointed. They kept me on the dark, not even telling me the problem. Eldest seems troubled too, thou she looks more of annoyed than anything.

But one thing is for sure: It has something to do with those nobles the Empress is talking about earlier.

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