Beset By The Greatest Of Trials

*IN HEIDI'S JOURNAL*

The Queen of Vermillion, Viktoria Von Vermillion is a beguiling woman with brown hair and black eyes. However, the details of her past remains a secret to the public and her daughters to date. All is known is that she took over the Vermillion Kingdom, after the death of the King of the realm, Samuel Von Vermillion. As a Queen, Viktoria takes her job very seriously and is always working hard at it. She's fair and clearheaded, able to see both sides of the situation. To her children, she shows a more motherly side, getting emotional when she sees them, and when she learns about their progress. However, she can be strict with them when she feels she has to be. Her leadership qualities have built an army so strong and enormous, she earned the moniker, "The Goddess Of War."

*IN HEIDI'S ROOM AT MIDNIGHT*

In the middle of the night, just after Heidi concluded the drafting of the texts for the Princesses lessons, she looked out the glass window to see a carriage entering the palace gates. At that moment, there was a knock on the door.

Heidi answered to find an attendant delivering the message, "After gone for nearly half a year, Her Majesty the Queen has safely returned. Her Majesty wishes to meet you and the Princesses first thing in the morning."

Heidi replied, "I see. I'll be there."

*THE NEXT MORNING*

As the attendant was escorting Professor Heidi to the waiting room where the Princesses were already gathered.

As she entered the waiting room, Professor Heidi speculated that the Princesses must be overjoyed to see their mother after such a long time. But it turned out that all of them didn't want to meet up with her.

Brunia cried, "Ugh! I do not dislike my mother, of course! I respect her deeply but--"

Licha interrupted by saying, "Let's just say that as her daughters we have a few complaints." She then pointed out, "Truth be told, only Kaira is genuinely happy to see our mother, and that's because she has a humanly big heart."

Kaira responded, "I love her so much. And all of us should get along. All creatures on Earth are neighbors, and we are all one family!"

Professor Heidi thought, "Big? I would say that her heart is rather galactic in scale."

Leonora whimpered, "I can't believe we have to see our mother today!"

Professor Heidi thought, "Perhaps I should not be surprised by their reactions. Their relationship is that of a Queen and her potential successors. It's not just an ordinary mother-daughter relationship."

The attendant said, "Princesses and imperial mentor, Her Majesty is now ready to see you."

As the five of them entered the room, Professor Heidi thought, "This is the monarch of Vermillion; Viktoria Von Vermillion. Hmm... The Queen is an elegant, dignified, and gorgeous woman with waist-length brown hair and black eyes. Despite being the mother of six children, with one of them being an adult, she appears to be quite young."

The Queen looked over at her daughters as they were greeting in unison, "Your Majesty, we're glad for your safe return, and we humbly thank you for the services to the country during your travels." The four Princesses courtesy at the end of their salutation. Professor Heidi knelt on the floor, put her arm on her chest, and spoke with grace, "I'm Heidi Witzenberg, the imperial mentor and I am truly grateful for this honor."

The Queen clenched her hands on the table and quivered to reveal tears in her black eyes! She stammered, "F-Forgive me. I-I cannot contain my e-emotions. My daughters are already greeting their mother with such formality, grace, and poise. They've grown up so fast!" The Queen spoke the last statement and buried her face in her hands to cover up the flow of tears rushing down her tender pink cheeks. Licha, Leonora and Kaira gathered at her table and consoled her in their own way, it didn't seem very comforting in the opinion of the imperial mentor.

Brunia explained to the Professor, "The truth is, this happens every time we see her. I was embarrassed about you seeing this."

Professor Heidi thought, "Like mother like daughter as the old saying goes. So even the Goddess of War is an ordinary and emotional mother to her children, hmm?"

After the reunion moment, Queen Viktoria said with a wide grin, "Thank you for grooming my daughters, Professor Heidi."

Brunia observed the Queen's sincerity in her statement and asked in wonderment, "Are you then acquainted with our mother, Mistress?"

Professor Heidi looked down, avoiding eye contact with everyone in the room and replied softly, "No, only through letters."

The Queen added, "I heard about an excellent mentor, and we exchanged several letters. Based on those transfers, I offered her the post."

She asked her daughters with curiosity, "So, girls, are you getting along well with your new imperial mentor?"

Licha answered with arrogance, "Well... yeah, I suppose so!"

Kaira nodded her head with happiness, and she asked, "I don't know why, after I chatted with the Professor for the first time, I feel like I know her from ages!"

The Queen then glanced over to Leonora, expecting a response, Leonora hid her face and answered in a tender voice, "Umm... I don't really care."

The Queen responded, "If you aren't outright objecting, it must be going very well."

She then walked over to her desk, took a seat, and announced with sternness in her eyes and the same could be evident in her tone of speech, "Now, let's get down to business. From now on, I will be speaking to you not as your mother, but as Queen of this great realm. According to the imperial mentor's report, Brunia and Kaira did extremely well on the competency test."

She looked over at Brunia and instructed, "Brunia, your studies surpass perfection, but you will need to think more flexibly if you are to become a truly effective leader."

She then glanced at Kaira and notified, "Kaira, I have no complaints about your academic ability, but you should work on your communication skills and learn how to better convey your emotions."

The Queen's gaze then landed on Licha, and she revealed, "Licha, I'm positive that you scored 60 points because you thought it a chore and got sloppy, didn't you? You have to break that habit of yours."

Licha spoke with arrogance, "YES! Okay, fine!"

The Queen cleared her throat, and her gaze became harder due to Licha's half-committed response.

Licha was frightened due to that reaction, and she replied softly, "I mean, yes, ma'am."

The Queen then proceeded with her gaze eventually landing on Leonora, "But Leonora is the most problematic. I was so shocked by your score that I doubted my own eyes."

Leonora asked with concern, "Umm... did I do something wrong?"

Everybody's expression faltered when the Queen said that assertion.

Brunia thought, "One point on the competency test, oh no!"

Licha thought, "Only God knows what our cold-hearted mother is going to react!

Leonora eventually remembered, and she gasped in fear, wondering what her mother had to say about it.

The Queen then continued, "I was also surprised by the grading method employed. One point for spelling her name right when she answered all the questions on the examination incorrectly. You must have done so out of kindness, Professor Heidi, thank you."

Professor Heidi replied in sadness, "Of course, Your Majesty."

The Queen's gaze stiffened, and she continued with more increased sternness in her voice, "However, if this pattern of behavior continues, I fear you'll not be fit for the throne!" She then stood up and pointed at Leonora and shouted, "HEAR ME NOW! In three days, you will retake this test. Unless you match Licha's score of 60, Leonora, I will strip you of your right to the throne!"

Leonora's eyes filled with tears, The Queen ignored them and continued, "Initially, I asked Heidi to give each of you equal attention to your studies. But for the next three days, do everything you can to prepare Leonora for the upcoming test."

After the appointment with the Queen, Leonora rushed to her bedroom with her sisters, and Professor Heidi following her, sat on her desk with gloom, and began writing disaster diaries at a tremendous pace!

She wrote, "I'm too stupid to be Queen... It's all because I'm a dunce... What do I do now?"

Professor Heidi thought, "But I'm impressed with Her Majesty. When she speaks as Queen she is unsparingly stern, even with the daughters she loves so dearly."

Licha put her hand on Leonora's shoulder and tried to comfort her by saying, "Hey, don't be so upset. In my opinion, you're the lucky one! I bet being Queen is really hard, but if you're not in the royal line of succession then you'd be dodging the bullet!"

Leonora groaned and replied while putting her head down in frustration, "Ugh, Licha! I'm not upset about losing my right to the throne. It just hurts because our mother is so obviously disappointed in me! It's miserable! Who knew that bad grades can cause a person this much frustration; it's quite a shock!"

Leonora gave in and shouted, "Ugh! Think whatever you want! I'm no good for the throne, and everyone knows it! I'm nothing but a disappointment."

Professor Heidi walked over to the Princess and spoke, "No! You can always rise again. It is only truly over unless you don't care enough to be frustrated. You still have three days, and I will do my utmost to help you."

Brunia clamped her hand on Leonora's shoulder and responded with confidence, "We sisters may be rivals competing for the throne, but we are still sisters, first and foremost! I will do whatever I can to help you! I cannot sit idly and watch one of my own falter into deep despair! I'll help you to achieve the score our mother demands!"

Kaira replied, "Me too."

Licha acknowledged, "Same here. I'd look heartless if I abandoned you now."

Leonora spoke with tears in her eyes, "My dear sisters, you're so kind! Thank you so much! Bring on the exams, I'd show the Queen that I'm capable more than she thinks I am, if that's the last thing I do!"

Brunia proceeded, "Come to think of it, we won't be of any use until we don't correctly access Leonora's academic level."

Licha replied with confidence, "Well... at least Leo knows how to add 1+1, right?"

When all eyes were on her, expecting an answer, all that Leonora could say was, "Huh?"

All of the sisters screamed with horror, "WHAAAAATTTTT?!!!!!!!?!?!?!?"

Professor Heidi thought, "Looks like we all have work cut out for us!