-𝒊𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆.

08

7 YEARS LATER.

LUMIERE calmly placed away the papers and scrolls that he's been working on as another explosion yet again sounded inside his workplace, the sorcerer let out an inaudible sigh and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Idiot, how many times should I tell you to not put too much mana." Lumiere bit out as he approached the Princess who hid under the table.

Jennette cautiously peeked her head out, golden eyes shining through the smoke that's hovering between the both of them. Lumiere held his hand out and a tiny bottle appeared, and as Lumiere uncapped the bottle, it began sucking in the smoke and thus clearing their surroundings.

"I know, Lumiere! I always keep on forgetting your reminder, I was just so excited on finally seeing the outcome of our heat talisman!" Jennette whined in one breath, Lumiere always found it intriguing on how the Princess does this things WITHOUT running out of breath OR even panting.

"You are just like your father when he was just a child, cub. Always full of energy and radiating excitement anywhere." Frost chimed from where he's contentedly sleeping on a bed that was only made for him, his size wasn't a problem since he can just shift into a chibi sized wolf.

"Really? I didn't know that Dad was like me before."

"Mn. He totally was."

Lumiere just listened to the two of them all the while patting the dust particles, that clung onto the Princess, away. When he was done with his work, Lumiere took a step back and surveyed Jennette from head to toe.

"Lumiere?" She called out questioningly.

"Hn, now you're presentable again."

Jennette rolled her eyes at him and turned away, "I'll be back later or tomorrow, Lumi! I gotta go and do my weekly visits to the orphanage!"

Lumiere just let out a grunt as an answer.

———

Jennette climbed the wide expanse of the stairs that leads up to the main doors of the palace, the Princess just got back from her weekly orphanage visits. Through the years, Jennette has become somewhat of an advocate to the orphaned children and the elderlies.

She just mentioned it casually to her Father, a year ago, that the orphaned children or the elderlies that has no one should be cared for properly.

"Princess really took it to heart, hm? When his Majesty asked you to oversee those orphanages and home for the elderly people." Killian mused from behind her, Jennette turned around and smiled at him brightly.

"Of course! Other than the fact that I love helping those who are in need, it's one of the few duties that Daddy has given this one! And I intend to do it wholeheartedly, Killian!"

Killian chuckled and showed Jennette a warm smile, "Of course, Princess. I'm sure his Majesty is very proud of you."

'WAH! KILLIAN IS ALREADY HANDSOME BUT WHEN HE SMILES, HE LOOKS MUCH MORE HANDSOME!'

Jennette shook her thoughts away and nodded enthusiastically before turning away and continuing her steps, "I hope so, Killian!"

When they finally reached the platform, Jennette inhaled a lungful amount of air to even her breathing.

"14 years of climbing this stairs, and I'm still not used to it! Seriously, it's way too many!"

Killian just chuckled at the Princess' remarks and followed behind her, "You still have many years ahead of you to get used to the stairs, Princess."

Jennette was about to reply when an all-too familiar voice piped up from above them, "Or maybe you could use some stamina training"

Jennette and Killian both craned their head upwards and saw Lumiere in his teen form lounging on a floating pillow.

"That's Frost's pillow, why do you have it?" Jennette asked, squinting her eyes at Lumiere. Lumiere peered at them from above and raised a perfect brow.

"It's comfy, 'sides that wolfy has too many pillows, he'll barely notice that one of them is missing."

Jennette just rolled her eyes at Lumiere's antics and approached the main doors, the four guards guarding the heavy double doors bowed their heads at the Princess and pulled the doors open.

From behind the door, Alannys and Olenna appeared and greeted their little Princess, "Princess! Did you have fun from your visits?"

Jennette smiled widely at her two nannies and threw her arms around both of them, "Yes! If only Aly and Lena were there to see their smiles, I'm sure you two would have enjoyed too!"

"Oh, I'm sure that we will, Princess. Maybe next time, Alannys and I will be able to join you." Olenna replied, rubbing gentle circles on the Princess' back.

———

Jennette smiled and said her thanks at the lady that brought her snacks while she's spending her quiet morning in the library, she and her Father were not able to have breakfast together since her Father had to attend some abrupt meeting.

She's in the middle of reading a book that's about her ancestors when Frost appeared out of nowhere and laid his fluffy body beside her on the sofa.

"His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Thoren; is the first mage to ever have the now fabled golden eyes. Emperor Thoren was born a boy with grey eyes, however, when his Majesty was blessed by the gods on his 16th year of existence, Emperor Thoren evolved from a mage to a highly revered Magi and thus his eyes evolved from grey orbs, into glowing golden orbs."

"Huh? So that's the origin of our golden eyes." Jennette mused, Frost twitched his left ear and peeked his eyes open.

"You are only learning that now, Little Cub?"

"Yes."

"A magi, huh? I got to research that one later."  Jennette muttered and closed the book, the Princess stood up and straightened her dress.

"Well, I believe we have somewhere to go, Frosty." Jennette chirped.

Frost let out an icy breath, and hopped off of the sofa. "Lead the way, Cub."

———

"Idiot." Lumiere deadpanned as he observed Jennette practicing her magic, said Princess turned around and huffed at him.

"Well, sorry to burst your bubble, Lumi! But I'm not an extremely talented mage like you!"

Lumiere snorted and rolled his eyes at the huffing girl, "Of course, you can only dream of being on my level."

Jennette stuck out her tongue and turned away from him, "Whatever, Lumi! Go away if you won't help me!"

Lumiere was about to leave the Princess to her practice when a resounding BOOM echoed throughout the surrounding. Lumiere quickly turned around to see Jennette staring dumbly at the destroyed rock in front of her. The rock that was once a big boulder, it is now turned into tiny pieces.

Lumiere calmly stared at the scene, not the least bit surprised at the display of power by one of Thoren's descendants.

"Uhm, I did that, right Lumi?" Jennette asked, wincing as she pointed at the tiny rocks. Lumiere raised a brow and waved his hand.

"Of course you did. You should know that being a member of the royal family, even a flick from your finger can destroy a wall if you have fine mana control."

"But seeing you right now, you still have much to learn about control. Once you learn on how to control and focus your mana, you will be a formidable mage just like your ancestors were."

"However, I can't teach you right now because I am in the middle of something so you should go and bother your Dad. See ya, Idiot Princess."

Lumiere turned away from Jennette, grinning all the way to his lab.