The Crown Prince Thinks I'm a Guy

A Mentor's Advice

"Miss Eleina," Farseer called to the woman in a soft voice. He had stood up from his side of the room and started to approach us. "Would it be a great trouble if you would allow the princess and I some time alone?"

Eleina quickly nodded and bowed before heading out of the room. The door clicked softly shut, and silence once again resounded. Farseer only stared at me.

"... What?" I murmured, looking down again at my hands. The shaking had lessened.

I felt, rather than saw, him sit down on the chair Eleina had just left empty. Becoming more conscious of the silence, I cautiously peeked up to observe his face. He was looking at me with an unusual expression; much like the one a confused inventor would have on his own face when he sees an abnormality on his treasured machine.

"Farseer?" I uttered, silently bothered by his look.

"It seems like I have miscalculated by a considerable margin," he muttered, still staring straight at my eyes, but his gaze seemed trained at something far away.

"... What do you mean by that?" I spouted.

He tilted his head at me. "This... might be the first time I have seen you act like a child. You have never burst in anger nor wallowed in selfishness. Your high pedigree might have played a part in this, and so I had always treated you much like an adult."

"Th-There's nothing wrong with that, mentor," I said, quite surprised at his suddenly solemn expression.

He shook his head. "No, I have been lacking as a guardian; to you and to Janmira. And now, here you are, troubled about life, and I have never been more... helpless."

'Helpless?' I thought in shock. 'I could imagine Regina being helpless, but Farseer?'

"I don't think that's true," I said. "And it's not like you have any duty to raise me like I'm your child. I'm more than grateful for you simply helping me because of Hestia. So, you don't have to be troubled about these things."

Seeing his complicated look, I turned away from him. "Anyway... I didn't think you were listening to our conversation," I mumbled at the floor.

"I believe it would be nigh impossible to not overhear your heated discussion," he countered, to which I flinched at. He continued, "Besides, didn't the head assassin wish for the news to be given to you while I was around?"

"... You were in the room, so I thought it would be alright."

"And if I somehow simply ignored you?" he asked in a stern voice. "Would you have made such an important decision on your own? It was fine that you seemed to be against it, but what if you had readily said yes without thinking about the consequences? I believe a child as young as yourself should at least have some supervision."

"I don't really need it," I grumbled under my breath.

"Well, you do," he answered back. I huffed at his pair of amazing ears that worked better than the ones people have in their primes. "And princess... Observing the way you have been acting recently, I am now more sure of it. You are simply a child."

I grew so wronged that I actually dared to stare at his eyes directly. "In what way have I been acting childish, Farseer? I have been nothing but obedient and responsible in the months we spent together!"

"Well, for instance, you just had yourself stuck on a floating islet a while ago," he immediately answered. "Not to mention how you suddenly intruded in the middle of an important assassin ceremony, to which you ended up unconscious for more than a day."

"A day?!" I shouted in disbelief. It hadn't felt like a whole day. In fact, it seemed like I had just taken a short nap...

"Do you understand now, princess?" he said, leaning towards me with his wrinkled face all serious-like. "You hardly understand both your body and your mind. So... I can only beg you to talk with me about it. This old man will do his best to help you."