The Crown Prince Thinks I'm a Guy

Water Balls and Bumps

"Close your eyes. Alright, now, gather that energy into your heart, Princess Elle."

I closed my eyes, and willed this 'familiar energy' to combine together into my heart. It was a slow and gradual process, but I had made great progress since a few weeks ago. I could feel the warmth spread as I gathered it, slowly and carefully... carefully...

"Now, Princess!" my instructor shouted. "Aim at the target now!"

I let the energy swirl into a torrent, guide them out of my open palms, and shot it at the target a few meters away. I cracked open an eye to look at the results. Did I do it?

The good news? I had successfully conjured a Water Ball.

The bad news? I had my eyes closed, so I had quite accidentally hit my tutor instead.

"Ha ha ha... Sorry, Madame Crooch." I bowed at the old magic tutor, dripping wet with her immaculate bun coming undone.

However, the tutor was only slightly peeved, as she waved her wavy wand around to dry herself off with a blast of warm air. She was quite happy instead to have such a talented protege.

"I believe I had only taught you how to conjure the Water element only yesterday, but here you are, already quite capable at it. I was wrong to doubt the magical prowess of the King Prodigy's own daughter," Madame Crooch complimented me.

'I suppose I shouldn't tell her then that I am already capable of conjuring all four of the basic elements...' I thought. 'After all, I have been practicing alone since a long time ago.'

I surprisingly found it easy to recognize the 'familiar energy' and use it as I willed. I later learned it was called "notes". And when I further practiced meditating to feel this energy, I realized they were similar to the little balls of light and music that I saw in my dream. It made sense that these balls of energy were called notes.

"Thank you once again for the lesson, Madame Crooch," I curtsied my tutor farewell. "This one will see you again next week."

I waved at my tutor as she got up on her coach.

I have been having magical lessons every week since the return from the trip to Mond Empire. I couldn't have too many magic lessons even though I did want to focus on improving my magic. After all, my schedule was fully packed with general history, commoner and noble knowledge, and even foreign customs and traditions. I had once told Miss Hestia to assign at least five hours of magical lessons per week, but she fiercely declined.

"And, pray tell, when will you ever get to eat or sleep or play, Elle?" my nanny screamed, forgetting to even address me properly.

However, I did like hearing her call me by my name without all the honorifics.

I backed away from the palace windows when my Madame Crooch's coach had already disappeared behind the tall castle walls.

Still staring at the window, I bumped into someone.

I was about to bow simply to apologize, when I realized it was a noble man I had accidentally crossed paths with. I immediately felt a deeply ingrained fear that I have had since my past life. I forced my body into a deep curtsy.

"This princess has behaved incredibly without care and, in turn, has troubled this honored guest," I spoke softly. "This one begs for your forgiveness for my carelessness."

I hoped endlessly that he would let this go simply with no more complaints. Alas, I was finally about to experience my first real challenge upon coming back to my past.

"Who in Solus' name are you to dare bump into me?" The man's voice drawled in distaste. He was probably already looking down at me with peering eyes.