Born As The Emperor’s Daughter - Chapter 240

And so, 2 weeks have passed after that.

The few days that have passed remained boring as usual. It’s just the same as ever. But due to her boredom and such, Alexandra somehow made another friend or something like that. It was Lillianna, the new maid. She was actually shy and hesitant in getting along with the princess who was friendly to everyone and just loves to get along with them. Though she slowly started to get used to her and would be talkative around her.

There are benefits, of course.

Especially when she gets along with chefs and cooks as they would give her the sweets and food that they have maid, mainly baked sweets and Alexandra would be happy with that. Sometimes you have to take advantage of such things. Just kidding.

Alexandra treats them preciously and fairly as they were the ones that immediately accepted her and didn’t think of her as something bad by the time that she was first introduced to everyone. Just because they were of different statuses, doesn’t mean that she can’t get along with them.

Alexandra learned that Lillianna came from a rather poor family, she worked multiple jobs and she was just 18. She was a waitress before she became a maid of this palace along with her friend who was named Beatrice. Beatrice was different from Lillianna who was shy, as soon as Alexandra talked and interacted with her for the first time, they immediately get along.

However, there was something strange about her.

No, she wasn’t completely strange. She looked normal and is normal but her mind and guts were telling her that she isn’t. It was like an alarm would go off in her head telling her that she needs to avoid or get away from her every single time that she talks with her. Her smile, though it was gentle and sweet, it was creepy and disturbing in her eyes.

Although she just ignored all of that.

If they did something funny, Carlos would be there to defend her and Alexandra can fight them, though with magic and a weapon. She was trying to learn how to use a dagger, she was taking lessons from her brother, Calixander though he was hesitant at first and he kept on declining her request, and eventually, he gave up.

[Flashback]

–“What?”

Calixander almost dropped the dagger that he was holding when he heard what his younger sister, who was standing in front of him smiling sweetly and innocently as they were in the training grounds, have said. He blinked his eyes multiple times, not believing what his ears have heard.

Alexandra opened her mouth to speak, repeating what she had said earlier. “Teach me how to use the dagger,” She said in her gentle voice as if she was just telling him ‘good morning’. It sounds so innocent and sweet in his ears that he was doubting if what he had heard was correct.

Her brother took a moment to respond and one word slipped out of his mouth.

“No.”

He said it sternly and coldly as if nothing would change his mind, that even if you ask him multiple times, his answer would still be the same. Alexandra was expecting that answer, of course. But she won’t give up until he agrees to do so. The dagger in her brother’s hand disappeared before he made his way towards the bench near them to take a rest and Alexandra followed him.

“Please teach me how to use the dragger, brother.”

“No.”

“Please, pretty please. This is just one small request from your little sister.”

“It’s not just one simple request, Alexa. Learning how to wield and use a weapon properly isn’t easy, especially for a girl like you,” Her brother said and he took a sit down the bench. Alexandra stood in front of him, crossing her arms.

“But brother, if I can’t wield a sword, then how about a dagger? It’s small and light, it’s also easy to handle,” Alexandra persisted, lightly stomping her feet as she pouted.

“But you could easily get injured with it if you aren’t careful. Its tip and blade are thin and sharp enough to leave a scar in your arm.”

“So does a sword but daggers are much easier to handle and I’m not that careless enough!” Alexandra responded.

Alexandra wasn’t timid nor was she weak, she was a healthy and energetic girl. Though she was slender and slim, she could carry a stack of heavy and thick books in her arms with ease, its weight near to the weight of a long and heavy sword.

Yes, that’s how strong she was despite her physical appearance.

She doesn’t train or exercise every day though, that’s why she would sometimes wonder how she could easily carry such heavy things.

Well, she was able to fight those kidnappers that took them. She was even able to knock their leader unconscious just by kicking his precious treasure (the one in between his legs, okay?) and head butting him. She was even able to knock some guards unconscious but she has to use mana back then and she fainted after that incident, mana exhaustion.

The reason why she chose Calixander to teach her how to use or wield a dagger is: First, he knows how to as his weapon is a dagger. Second, he was the type of teacher that you would like you to teach you because he wasn’t kind nor was he strict, perfect when it comes to training and such. Third, she doesn’t have any other options. Fourth, her trump card would only work against him.

Her two younger brothers weren’t here, they were at the academy but even if they were, Chandler wouldn’t be able to teach her properly, they might just end up ruining everything and would become confused as they were idiots. Christian would probably know how to teach her and he rarely uses his weapon. He would rather teach her spells that she could cast which she doesn’t need as she was already learning from Arthur.

Gilbert knows how to wield a weapon and might be able to teach her, however, he would be too lazy to do so and he might even forget about it or would escape from it.

Calixander was the only choice that she has left and he was perfect.

“Why do you want to wield one anyway?”

“Self-defense and such.”

“Sir Carlos is there to protect you. He is capable enough to do so, he’s the vice-captain of the royal knights after all.”

“But still, what if he wasn’t there or something like that?”

“You can use the spells that you have learned, distract your enemies for a moment, and run away from them or something like that.”

“The spells that I can use are only limited and what if they overpowered me with their strength? What if they used an item that might prevent me from using magic?”

“You have a point but still, no. It’s not like you’ll be put in a dangerous situation or someone is brave enough to infiltrate the palace and attack you. Sir Carlos is also there, even if they used a spell, barrier, or item that prevents you and Carlos from using magic thus making him unable to draw out the weapon which was made out of magic, and would leave him without a weapon or he might have one hidden underneath his clothes which he can use. Sir Carlos can also fight with only the use of his bare fists.”

Her brother heaved out a sigh before he responded, “Why don’t you try to wield a bow? I think long-range weapons are better,” Her brother tried to offer her a different choice of weapon, thinking that she would prefer that rather than a dagger.

Somehow, he thinks that Alexandra wielding a dagger would be dangerous and harmful for her. He knows how careless her sister is despite her just telling that she wasn’t earlier. Bows are easy and there is a low chance that you’ll get harmed with it, he thought to himself.

However, Alexandra remained resilient in her decision as if she just ignored what he has said.

“I want a dagger.”

“No.”

“Please, brother.”

“My answer would still be a ‘no’.”

Alexandra decided to use her trump card so that her brother would agree to her request. The gentle look on her face was replaced with a serious one, her lips that were forming a small pout were pursed into a thin line, and she narrowed her eyes down at him. Her whole demeanor has changed, it’s so scary how she could easily change her mood, personality, and demeanor like that.

“I’ll trade you my sweets. The ones that were always given to me by the maids and the ones that I have hidden.”

Calixander was silent and it took him a second to respond.

One word slipped out of his mouth.

“Deal.”

Alexandra’s expression brightened but before she could say anything, her brother spoke and interrupted her.

“But you have to tell father about this and see if he would agree.”

Her father had almost the same response and reaction as Calixander. He declined at first yet Alexandra didn’t stop bothering and pestering him about it non-stop so he eventually agreed.

She was taking lessons from him for almost 2 weeks already and he has given her a dagger as a gift or something to which she gladly accepted. She has it hidden underneath her dress or skirt always, nobody aside from her knows about it.

Now, Alexandra and Carlos were making their way towards her father’s office as he suddenly called out for her and asked for her presence in the office. It was just morning, half an hour after they finished having breakfast. What business does my father have with me at such a time in the morning? Carlos didn’t tell her the reason either and just remained silent. She knows that he knows what the reason was but he was just refusing on telling her about it.

Questions and thoughts were running inside her head, she was thinking of the possible things her father would say to her or the things that she has done for the past few weeks.

I didn’t do anything bad, right? As far as I can remember, I have been a good daughter these past few weeks. The only things that I did were just interacting and becoming friendly with the maids, training how to wield a weapon which is a dagger and the one that was given to her was now hidden underneath her dress and was just reading and lazing around almost every morning as she was busy during the afternoon. She would go to sleep immediately during the night after she eats and takes a bath.

Then why does my father wanted to call me in his office?

Alexandra was lost in her thoughts that she didn’t realize that she has already arrived in front of the door of her father’s office and Carlos has already opened it for her. She then entered inside and saw her father standing in front of the desk and not sitting behind it as he did his work which was quite unusual.

“A pleasant morning, father. You have called for me?”

“A pleasant morning, Alexandra, and yes, I did call for you,” Her father responded in his usual cold tone of voice. There was nothing wrong with the demeanor that he held, with the expression on his face, or with his tone of voice. He looked like his usual self but there was something off.

She just feels it.

“Why? What is it?”

“I have to show you something, follow me.”

Her father walked towards the door behind them and Alexandra just watched him in doing so before she followed him, curious and confused.

—

“What is it that you’re going to show me, father?”

Alexandra asked him as they were walking. Her father then stopped in front of a huge wooden door which was found at the end of the hallway of the 1st floor. Alexandra has always wandered around the palace but she has never made her way towards this place as she thought that there might be nothing interesting that could be found at the end of the hallway.

Her father didn’t respond to her and just watched Lysander and Carlos open the door for them. They entered and Alexandra just followed her father as usual. Alexandra swept her eyes across the room that they have entered as she gasped in awe. The interior wasn’t bright nor was it dim, there was a huge chandelier dangling in the middle of the ceiling illuminating the room with the light that is emitted.

There were also curtains seen around the place and Alexandra thought what is hidden behind those curtains.

“Father, where are we?”

And again, he didn’t respond to her.

They stopped in front of what it seems like a wall covered with a red curtain. Alexandra’s eyebrows furrowed and she was about to say something when her father spoke, interrupting what she was about to say.

“Diana has asked me to at least show you what your mother looks like as you don’t know it. I have discarded and hidden away all the portraits with her in it and I know you know the reason why. However, I left one. This portrait of her captures the beauty of her smile and eyes, I just can’t throw it away. This was also the first portrait that she has issued for herself. Throwing it away would be too much for me.”

And as if on cue, right after he spoke, the curtains were opened and it revealed a portrait of a beautiful woman, and Alexandra mistook it as a painting of a goddess. However, her eyes widened as she stared at the painting.

A pale and small face.

A sweet yet faint smile on her lips.

Platinum blonde hair and blue eyes.

The uncanny resemblance of her mother in her previous life and her current life.

As well as the name that they held.

Selena.

Alexandra knew that it was her.