For the next couple of days it was all the same, every morning we went to the Royal Palace where I spent time my time with Asia. Then in the afternoon, back at the house, we would keep practicing for the day of the Royal Banquet. I haven't been training all that much these days because of the ceremony that's taking place but I hope to get back to it when it ends.

The day of the Royal Banquet finally came. We dressed up all fancy. Leon and I wore similar suits. I didn't bother to do my hair I just left it the way it usually is, tied back in a small ponytail with my bangs covering my forehead. Mia, Hanna, and Emma all wore different-colored dresses while the maids did their hair and makeup. I think this is the fanciest I've ever dressed.

"Hm?" Theodore let out in thought while taking in my image. "You finally look like a noble child." he said as we walked down the hall to the front yard where everyone else was waiting.

"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked.

"Well. . . You usually wear simple clothing." he said. "Even when we go shopping you choose the most boring clothes ever."

"I don't know what's in style here in Iradale." I replied to him. In fact, I don't know anything about the style in this world at all. "Please show me next time we go shopping."

"Will do." he said.

Once we made it out to the front yard, not everybody was ready so we sat down to wait on a few benches that were lined up underneath a small circular roof. When Theodore took his seat, the only other one available was next to Nina. Once I sat next to her, she shifted uncomfortably in her seat.

We didn't wait long before the others arrived. So we quickly hopped on the carriage and left for the castle. We all rode on one big carriage but it was still cramped we were all squished together. Except for Flare as she rested on my lap with Nina next to me happily petting her.

I stretched my body once off the cramped carriage as we were now in the castle. We were led by Orin, our grandfather, through the castle into a big spacious decorated room. Inside were people already waiting and chatting among themselves, all of them were nobles. Since we are high nobles we sat on a much bigger and fancier table. As we were about to take our seats I noticed that close to us were two more tables similar to ours. At those tables sat the other two high noble houses which were Sapphirus and Verninne. Two of them from each house were staring at Leon.

"Are those the guys you jumped?" I whispered to Leon who was walking next to me.

He nodded slightly in embarrassment.

I wanted to sit next to Theodore so when I did I realized I had seated next to Nina as well, Theodore to my left and Nina to my right. She was still embarrassed about that one morning. I hope this doesn't ruin our relationship.

"Hey." I told her to try and start a conversation. She's an outgoing person, so knowing that she's the type of person who would talk about anything.

But. . .

"Hi." she replied awkwardly and left it there.

Then a man showed up on a stage where another, much fancier table rested.

"Please welcome, his majesty the king along with the royal family." the man announced.

At that, everyone in the room stood up and bowed down as an old man walked onto the stage. Following him was an old woman who was the queen, and a younger woman, who was the second queen. Behind her was a kid about Hanna's age, he was the prince. Following him was a girl whom I recognized, Asia, who was. . . What is she doing up there?

"That's the princess!" Hanna said excitedly as she stared up at the small girl on the stage. "She's so pretty!"

Holy crap! She's the princess?!?

From atop the stage she waved at me. To everyone else, it might've looked like she waved at the crowd but I could tell it was directed at me as she had stared straight into my eyes. I returned the gesture unsure of how to react.

"Welcome everyone. I'm glad you could make it." king Morgen said as he took the stage with his fancy, stylish robes swinging through the air. "I won't spend too much time talking. Just enjoy yourselves." He paused. "Now, let this generation's royal banquet begin."

At that, everyone sat down. Meanwhile, servants came in through the doors with karts full of food. They first came to our table and placed our plates in front of us while pouring our drinks into the cups. Since the food was mostly steak, Flare happily started eating her plate.

After some time of eating food and talking among ourselves, music started playing and a group of young noble boys and girls lined up, including Alexander.

"What's going on?" I asked as I watched the boys lined up at the center of the room.

"It's time for the dance." Theodore said turning his head to see as well. "if the prince or princess wishes to dance they'll come down and choose one of them to dance with." he said pointing at the kids lined up.

"We don't have to be there, right?" I asked. If anything I'd like to avoid dancing. Even though I'm now decent enough to dance I still don't enjoy it.

"It's optional, if you want to go, then go ahead." Theodore said turning back to continue eating.

"Yeah, there's no way." I said turning my attention back to the food as well.

"I thought so." Theodore replied

As soon as we both turned our attention back there were loud gasps from the crowd. We looked at each other for a second, then turned back to see what was going on. Asia had stood up and walked towards the lined-up boys.

"Wow, the princess actually got up, do you think she'll pick Alexander?" Theodore asked now looking closely at the scene ahead of us.

"There's no way." I answered with the same intrigue as him.

"She's so beautiful." Hanna said also looking ahead.

"I agree." said Nina before turning toward me. "What do you think, Arata?" She asked me.

"Sure, she's pretty." I answered with no change in my expression. I wonder who Asia will pick. Hopefully not Alexander, it'll only make his ego worse.

As I was waiting to see who she would pick as her dance partner. I noticed her walking past all the lined-up boys without giving them a single glance. Everyone looked at her as she started making her way past them to our table.

"Is she coming. . . here?" Hanna asked as she curiously watched her walking our way.

'Don't tell me she's going to. . .' I panicked as I watched her coming closer and closer with each step.

"Hey, Arata." she raised her hand, her cheeks becoming red as she stared into my eyes. "Please dance with me!" she said a bit too loud.

Dammit, I don't want to dance. But I can't tell her that. How can I refuse her?

"A-Asia I. . ." I trailed off as I was about to make an excuse. I saw her face was bright red and she was slightly shaking out of nervousness.

I can't refuse her.

She worked up all her courage to walk up to me and ask.

Plus she's the Princess, if I refuse her it'll look bad for our house.

"You don't want to?" the sad voice in front of me broke me out of my thoughts. It was Asia who started lowering her hand as her face fell.

After staying quiet for some time, I looked around. Everyone eyed me with anticipation waiting for me to respond. As I resolved myself I looked back at Asia.

"Who said I didn't." I quickly grabbed her hand before she put it down. "let's go." I said getting off my chair.

"Hehe." she giggled as she started to drag me to the center of the room where a few others had gathered to dance as well. Mostly adults and a few other kids. Everyone's eyes were mostly on us which made me even more uncomfortable.

Once we were at the center of the room, Asia stiffened as I held her hand, and placed the other around her waist, while pulling her close to me. As she returned the motion, the music started playing.

The slow rhythmic music that played resembled that of our tutors clapping and humming. I took the first step on beat with the music, then she followed one beat behind. I had practiced violin and piano in my past life so I'm pretty good at staying on beat.

By the look on her face, Asia seemed impressed that I was able to perform a dance like this. As she was also smiling I could tell that she was enjoying this. While I put on a fake smile as I was not enjoying this.

Everyone's attention was on us which made me paranoid to not miss a step. I felt so embarrassed. I wanted to leave. I wanted to curl up in a corner. I wanted to bang my head on a wall. I ended up doing the thing I wanted to avoid the most.

Step after step and spin after spin. With me embracing Asia from behind while holding both her hands, the dance finally ended. Everyone around us clapped. As Asia turned around to face me I bowed down to her respectfully, since she's the princess, while she picked up both ends of her dress in a curtsy. I took my leave right after, relieved that the dance had ended.

As I walk back to my family's table, I could already see their questioning gazes as they looked my way. Once I got there no one said anything to me as I had my head down and began to giggle quietly to myself, loud enough for them to hear.

"Hehe." I giggled out of pure embarrassment as my face was bright red. "That was so. . . So. . . So humiliating." I said grabbing onto Theodore while banging my head on his chest.

"A-Arata calm down!" Theodore said while moving his hands in a complicated gesture unsure of what he should do. "I've never seen you get this worked up." he said looking down at me as I stopped banging my head. "Anyway, how do you know the princes?"

"Yeah! How do you know the princess?" Hanna asked narrowing her eyes questioningly following Theodore's question.

"I'm curious too." Nina said while looking at me from where she was sitting but broke eye contact with me immediately as I looked back at her.

"Oh?" Before I even got the chance to respond Hanna spoke up, bringing her hand up above her narrowed eyes. "She's coming." she said.

"A-Are you serious?" I said looking frantically at my surroundings with nervousness tinged in my voice.

"Why are you freaking out?" Theodore asked looking at my strange behavior.

"I'm not freaking out!" I then turned to look at him. "you're freaking out!" I mean, there wasn't any reason to freak out like this. But I was and I had no idea why. Maybe because of the revelation of Asia being the princess or all the attention that I had brought to myself.

"Arata!!!" I heard a familiar cheery voice behind me, it was Asia who snuck up on me and grabbed me by the shoulder.

"AHH!" I yelled startled then turned around to see her in front of me. "A-Asia, w-what are you doing here?" I asked.

"I asked grandfather for permission to sit here with you." she replied, behind her was a servant holding a plate of food along with a weird artifact.

He placed the plate on our table and readied the artifact. "Ready? Young mistress?" The man said facing the artifact toward us.

Then Asia forcibly latched onto my arm. "Smile!" she said happily striking a pose while holding onto me.

The next second a bright light engulfed my vision catching my attention for a second then it faded. "Eh?" I let out, I couldn't help but be confused at what was happening.

"How did it come out!?" Asia asked while looking at the servant with anticipation.

"The image will be ready momentarily. You'll have to be patient for now." the man said then bowed. "If you'll excuse me, I'll go get the image ready."

"Then hurry up!" Asia said signaling him to go away. And with a final nod, the man left.

"Was that, what I think it was?" I asked.

"Yup, he just took a picture of us." she said. "How cool is that?"

"You could have given me a warning beforehand." I said as I sat back down on my chair. "Anyway." I looked around to see that there were no seats left for Asia to sit on. "Where are you going to sit? All the chairs are full." I noted.

"Then scoot over." she said climbing up on my seat while shoving me aside and sitting next to me on the same chair. "There we go."

" . . . " I just looked at her in silence.

"What?" She asked staring back at me.

"You're the princess." I said in a serious tone. "why didn't you tell me?" I wasn't mad or anything, just shocked.

"Sorry, I was afraid you wouldn't want to play with me if you knew I was the princess." she said putting her head down, I couldn't tell if it was in apology or sadness. "Just like everyone else." she mumbled.

So, being a princess comes with its own set of troubles.

She probably grew up alone with very few people who she could really call a friends.

For her sake, I shouldn't make it a big deal.

I'll just treat her the same as I've always had.

"Don't worry." I raised my hand and patted her head while giving her a gentle smile. "I won't look at you any different."

"Promise?" she said turning red under my palm.

"Promise." I reassured her.

She smiled with the awkward silence that followed.

"So, how have you been doing with your training?" I asked to break the awkward silence while putting my hand back down.

"Look at this!" she concentrated mana on her hand then light blue lightning crackled around it "haha" she smiled excitedly.

Wow, she's even more compatible with lightning than me, if she hones it properly she will become a little monster in the future.

"Wait! Wait!" Hanna said catching both of our attention. "How do you guys know each other?" She asked.

"We met about last week when I came with father to the castle." I explained as Asia nodded her head beside me. "We've been spending time together ever since then."

"Wow, you're friends with the Princess." Hanna praised.

"Looks like it." I said.

Immediately after I heard growling noises coming from the girl beside me. Asia turned red in embarrassment as I turned to look at her.

"Sorry." she said while hiding her face and covering her stomach.

"You haven't eaten yet?" I asked grabbing the plate of food the servant had brought earlier and placing it in front of her. I then cut a piece of steak, poked it with a fork, and handed it to her. "Here."

"No. . . I haven't eaten." She paused still looking away from me while taking the fork. "I. . . wanted to eat with you." she said turning red while putting the piece of steak in her mouth.

Well, I already ate.

But I can't tell her that.

"Well, let's eat then." I said then realized my plate was empty. "but I already finished my plate."

"It's okay, if you're still hungry, we can share." She said moving her plate in between us. Then she held up a piece of steak in front of me and waved it around. "Say AHH."

I grabbed the fork from her hand catching her off guard. "I can eat by myself." I told her before shoving the food in my mouth. Then I handed the fork back to her

"Hm!" She pouted as she took it and used it to eat another piece of meat from it. Once she did, she stiffened and turned red. "Did we just!!!" She said but then trailed off.

"What?" I asked unsure of what had made her freak out.

"We just. . ." She awkwardly started to say as she looked away from me. "Ate from the same fork." she finished.

"Is that a big deal?" I asked still oblivious to the situation.

"Well not really. . . but that's something only. . ." she stopped saying what she was going to say and started to shake her head rapidly. "Never mind." she brushed it off as her cheeks were turning back to their original color.

As we resumed eating we continued sharing the same fork. I didn't see any problem with that but every time we did, Asia would stiffen and turn slightly red. I don't think she felt uncomfortable with it since she was the one who passed me the fork. Plus she could have stopped and said something but she chose not to.

"Hm?" Nina who was next to me caught my attention because of a food stain she had on her cheek. "Hey, Nina." I called out to her.

"W-What!" she said startled at my unexpected call then turned to face me.

". . ." I didn't say anything as I picked up a napkin and got close to her. She turned red and let out a small gasp as I just stared at her while I kept getting closer and closer. "You have a food stain on your face." I said as I wiped it off

"Hm!" her whole body shook and her cheeks turned even redder than before as soon as I made contact with her face. "T-Thanks." was the only thing she said before turning away.

"Hey." as I called out to her once again she slowly turned her body back toward me. "Are you okay?" I asked looking deeply into her eyes.

"Huh!" she jerked back under my gaze causing her to stumble and almost fall off the chair.

Before she fell completely, I grabbed ahold of her hand in time, stopping her fall. "Be careful!" I said in worry while setting her back down on her chair.

"HYAA!" A mysterious yelp escaped her lips as she broke her hand away from mine. "S-Sorry!" she said looking away while clenching the hand which I had held.

What's her problem?

I was just trying to help.

I turned my attention back to Asia as she started tugging at my side. "I-I have a stain too." She said awkwardly while pointing at it.

I reached out my hand and grabbed another napkin. "Here." I said then threw the napkin on her face. "Clean it up yourself." I joked.

"Y-You!!" she said angrily as the napkin fell from her face. Then with both her hands, she reached out and started pulling on my hair. "Take this!"

"OWW!" I said in pain while I reached up and grabbed her hands to try and stop her from pulling me any further. After some struggle, I was able to get her off of me somewhat forcefully.

"Hm!" with one last look in my direction she pouted with her arms crossed while turning away from me.

What's HER problem?

I was only joking.

"Seriously brother, you are very stupid." Hanna said across the table with no hint of mockery or joke, her words were just a matter of fact.

"Huh." I let out as I realized this. "And what's that supposed to mean." I demanded while I was fixing my hair that Asia messed up.

"Figure it out." she replied pointing her finger at me accusingly as if I was to blame for something.

"Anyway." Asia said still looking away from me while she wiped off the food stain on her cheek. "Will you finish the story you were telling me yesterday?"

"Oh, right! Where did I leave off?" I asked her.

"You were saying that some angry kid wouldn't shut up." she replied.

"Oh, right! So the angry kid insisted he could take care of the beast on his own, even though he was clearly struggling." I started finishing the story of one of my many adventures in Canavar.

After I finished telling her the story she seemed to be in a better mood than when I threw the napkin at her earlier. Through the corner of my eye, I was able to see a kid walking up to our table or more specifically, to the princess, as he stood right next to her.

"Greetings." the blonde kid said looking past me, his blue eyes locking on Hanna and Alexander. "Hanna, Alexander." he greeted them while they both nodded to him in acknowledgment. Then he bowed to Asia. "Princess."

"Earl?" Asia said in question while looking at the boy. "What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same." the boy named Earl said. "Since when have you been so close to the Arumani house? When we, the Sapphirus house, have been so loyal to the Royal Family?" he extended his hand toward her. "Come with me, to the place where you belong."

"I. . . Uh?" she looked at me for a second unsure of how to respond then turned back to Earl. "I'm sorry, but I'd rather stay here!" she said quickly.

"Hm?" his blue gaze was locked on to me for a second then turned back to her. "What's so special about this ignorant fool?" he asked her. "Don't lower yourself by spending time with such an incompetent simpleton."

What did I ever do to this guy?

He's just another Alexander.

Maybe even worse.

Man, I didn't know noble kids could be this arrogant.

"Enough! Earl!" Asia said her tone of voice being completely serious, maybe even with anger. "You're not in a position to tell me what to do. If I want to spend time with Arata then that is my choice."

"Are you saying that this brat is better than me?" he asked while glaring at me.

Did he seriously just call ME a brat?

"Yes, Arata, is way better than you." she said looking straight at him without hesitation.

"How so?" he said with narrowed eyes taken aback by her straightforwardness.

"He's really nice to me and treats me like an actual friend." she pointed her finger at him. "Unlike you, he listens to me and is far more interesting to talk to."

"Tsk." Earl clearly was not happy but even so, he held himself back which is quite impressive. "Forgive me if I offended you, Princess." he said then bowed. "I'll take my leave now."

"What's that guy's problem?" I asked out loud, to no one in particular, once he was some distance away. "He was bad-mouthing me like crazy."

"That's Earl Sapphirus, the most talented kid in our grade." Hanna said. "Maybe even the whole school. In just one year he managed to learn internal mana control, and even then, he outperformed most of the upperclassmen."

"He's just a dumb bully." says Asia. "Sure he might have some talent but he's nothing compared to Arata." she praised. "You can beat him in a duel, right Arata?" she turned to me.

"I think you're overestimating my abilities." I replied.

After that, we spend the rest of our time talking among ourselves until the banquet ended. As everyone started to leave I said my goodbyes to Asia unsure of when the next time I'd see her would be. I could tell she was sad but even then she send me off with a smile. Once outside we once again get on the cramped carriage that bore the Arumani house symbol. As soon as the carriage took off, questions started to arise.

"What was that? You've gotten close to the young princess, huh?" Leon said with a smirk across from me.

"First, my little girl, and now the princess How many girls have you seduced." said Creon while Nina, who sat next to me, turned bright red.

"I'd appreciate it if you didn't put it like that." I told him.

"This might be a good thing." said grandpa Orin. I have gotten closer to Orin this past year but I still don't talk to him often because he's a 'busy man' according to him. "Having the princess be your friend can be beneficial to both you and our house in the future, nice job kid." he finished.

I knew the explanation I had given them before wasn't going to satisfy them. So, after everybody calmed down, I explained how exactly I meet her, and what we talked about, since they witnessed her using lighting magic I had to explain that too.

It was still afternoon by the time we got back to the house. I immediately went to my room, removed my fancy clothes, and plopped down on my bed.

"Well, that was fun." a small silver wolf said while jumping up on my bed. "Don't you think?" I could hear her high-pitched voice as she got closer.

"You just went because of the food." I said as I lazily turn my head to face Flare.

"Yup." she said snuggling beside me. "And it was delicious."

Immediately after, my door slowly creaked open. As I again slowly turned my head to see, I noticed Mia peeking through.

"Hey, Mia." I called out to her. "Did you need something?" I asked.

"Well, I've been thinking. . ." she started to say as she walked inside my room. "That I want to learn magic." she said.

Magic, huh?

It's only natural she'd want to learn.

Every one of us knows how to use it except for her.

She probably feels left out.

She is in her mid-sixes.

So with enough effort, she should be able to make it happen.

"Alright, I assume you want me to teach you?" I said while sitting up on my bed while Mia nodded in response. "When do you want to start?"

"As soon as possible." she replied.

I then patted my bed signaling for her to come take a seat. "Come, let's get started."

As she sat down in a meditative position I told her the first step. Which was to just relax the body and meditate while clearing the mind and looking for that inner flow. I also told her not to try and rush the process, since being impatient will only make her feel anxious and lead her to failure. This process takes time, for a normal kid that is. After a few minutes of meditation, we called it a day.