Our Goddess Incarnate

Chapter 1: Islac Ve Consta. Vedi Ve Custi.

Thursday, July 18th ( Mizami, Dies Rei )

Mizarmonie lay entangled in the Den. Dawn was approaching, and she didn't want to get up. It was warm. However, her discipline won out. She slowly detangled herself from two of her chevaliers, crawling around several other sleeping bodies, and crept into her changing room to put on her morning workout clothes. Compression capris, sports bra, and running shoes. She grabbed her workout pack and headed to the kitchen for a protein bar, some fruit, and the smoothie she knew would be prepared by Cook.

"High Majesty," Cook said with a bow, "I hope you slept well."

"Yes, thank you." She responded, picking up the fork laid by a heaping plate of fresh fruit salad. Delicately taking a bite of pear, she reviewed her early morning schedule.

"Are you excited about your party tomorrow? You only get to turn 13 once." Cook winked at her as she sat her smoothie next to the bowl and returned to preparing the royals' breakfast as the rest of the staff finished preparing the Academy's breakfast. She picked up the protein bar and smoothie and headed to the elevator to the sub-level training hall.

She wasn't ready to Rise. She just wanted to be—to live a normal life like an ordinary teenage girl. Her father had promised her that, but still, she was preparing for her Rising—her accession into adulthood, and there were no plans for her to leave to experience the life she had asked for.

When she arrived at the training facilities, it was just like she expected. Her morning workout supplies were laid out for her. This is the life of a princess.

"Thursday." She muttered with a sigh.

Twenty minutes of non-stop moving. Miza sat down to stretch, twisting her body to warm up her muscles. Her watch beeped at 5 A.M, and she pushed the button on the countdown and got to work in quick succession, completing jumping jacks, high knees for each leg, sidekicks, squats, crunches, and pushups with weights. Exhausted, she started a slow jog onto the track to wind down. As her feet hit the ground, she repeated to herself.

"I will be the best. I'll make papa proud." Miza didn't fully understand why it mattered so much to her that he was proud. She knew his feelings about her. His disappointment was palpable. It was a heavy shroud that she and Mavrick wore. Mav was the 'dumb queer' who refused to live up to his duty as a prince. Too soft. Too weak. Not enough of a man. And she? She was a murderer in his eyes.

She may not be ready to Rise, but she knew who she was born to be and couldn't deny it. During the Spring Festival, it became apparent. She was losing a battle to be herself. The distance between her and her father had slowly closed since her confirmation into the priesthood, but she still could see the anger in his eyes when he looked at her.

There was a lot of resentment between them. He resented her for existing, and she resented him for not being her father and for entrusting her to the care of his soldiers. Donnie was always good to her. She adored him. He left her father's service for her, but she still hated her father for treating her less.

Coming back to the starting point, she grabbed her bag and drank the last of her smoothie, alternating sips and bites of the protein bar as she made her way to the Eminentia Taniere—her two-story residence nestled into the middle of the Provincial Palace. Various den-mates were still asleep as she re-entered the Nest, so she quietly slipped into the bathroom to shower for the day. As the hot water warmed her skin, she thought about what she needed to do that day.

Jamie had announced that her father would be returning from Lestania. He had a meeting in D.C. early next week but needed to consult her before her birthday festivities began. But her thoughts immediately dispersed when she felt Valon's presence.