Conflict

A month has passed since I entered into school, and three weeks since I requested the armor. Everyday I rush home to hear any news, however there was none. I knew that making the armor could range from a week to three weeks, however being notified the process would be nice to know.

"Rebecca, there is a conflict with your schedule..." Looking up to see Father standing in front of my table, in the gardens, I gave him a concerned look.

Summer was already here in mid-July, the weather was constantly hot, and our teachers decided to pile more homework on us, so we could be free during the tournaments.

"What do you mean? Which schedule?" I placed down the quill, giving the man my full attention. There was my school schedule, that I wasn't expecting to change until semester. Then there is the schedule with private teachers, and Lieutenant Jones was one of them.

"Your private schedule, two of your teachers have fell ill, and then Lieutenant Jones has to change his appointment to another time." I widened my eyes at this, I was alright with loosening my schedule because of the teachers, however loosing Lieutenant Jones affects the whole thing.

"What!?" I gasped, standing up I looked at him closely, making sure he wasn't joking. "Why is he changing?" I asked, regaining my composer slowly, while taking deep slow breaths, I waited for him to answer.

"He has another student, that he has to train for the tournaments, male." He paused letting me process the information, 'of course people would demand the male to be trained first.' I gritted my teeth, 'the way of this world!'

"And?" Taking a seat again, I took a drink of ice tea, closing my notebook and closing my ink jar, to busy my hands.

"He is willing to train you either earlier or later, however if you go later, then it will cut in other classes. If you go earlier, then we can possibly postpone your etiquette classes." I shook my head, thinking about who this new student was.

"There is no need, I can use the hour of free time for our lesson, he has nothing during that time, I'll speak to him tomorrow. Who is the student?" I questioned, looking up to Father's face, his face was scrunched up, like he didn't like what I asked.

Duke Willow reached out and patted his daughter's head, it was a calming to him to do so. She sat there waiting for her question to be answered. He lowered his head, taking a seat next to the youngster. Letting out a deep sigh, he spoke the words that she didn't want to hear.

"Jonas James, the son of Councilor James." He spoke his words and his heart hurt at the look of the youngster. Her eyes dilated at the mention of the Councilor, but returned to normal. Clenching bundles of her dress, the girl's features became cold, like an ice storm was raging inside.

"So he plans to play that way." I gritted through my teeth, this man knew that Lieutenant James had accepted to train me, and sent his own useless son to interrupt in my learning. Not only that, but he has set more securities on Prince Elias, that it's almost impossible for him to answer my calls and have a conversation outside of school.

When I get to see Elias face to face, its at school, but we're sometimes surrounded by people that we don't trust. They haven't caught Elias sneaking out of the castle at night, and I'm pretty sure that if they did, the King would turn a blind eye to it.

"Daughter, what do you plan on doing?" I looked up to my father, a man that has morals, and a man that I treasure for his ideals. Even when he brought fame to our country with the King, he did it with minimum violence, creating truces. It was one of the reasons, Belfare was currently at its glory.

Looking up at the sky, I raised my hand, reaching out into thin air. Letting out a deep sigh, I glanced at the stack of papers, between this and the conflict, at best I had a week to solve this problem.

"I will assess the son of the Councilor's, then I plan on finding a better solution to this problem, instead of backing down. I want to know what his son thinks about being thrown into a tournament, that he knows nothing about." Standing up from the chair, I gathered my notes.

"Whatever you plan on doing, your Mother and I will support your decision." He stood up and embraced my tiny body to his, it was comforting that know that Mother will now support my decisions.

"Thank you." Every step of the way, I knew Father would be my supporter, through all of these struggles, he's been the one to back me up. He and Elias are my biggest supporters, and the two most treasured people to me.

***

"Your Highness, this message came from Duke Willow." Alfred held out a piece of paper, the letter had the Duke's fancy writing, but it was written hurriedly. Taking the letter from the assistant, I opened the letter:

'Your Highness, please forgive me on writing to you so early, however there are some urgent matters. It seems that Councilor James plans on sending his son into the tournaments, and the only available teacher for him was Lieutenant Jones.

Rebecca is set on going against the Councilor's household, and I ask that you hold her off. I fear if she provokes the Councilor further, then he probably will have her banned from the tournaments. I fear that my child is in need of council, please do speak to her. -Duke Ryan Willow'

"It seems she is once again causing trouble." Mumbling to myself, I closed the letter, taking a candle, I watched the letter burn to crisp, in silence. Since I was being closely watched, I couldn't leave anything that would hurt the Willow household.

"Alfred, what is the recent news?" I asked, blowing out the candle, I studied the stream of smoke as it flew up in the air.

"It seems that the Councilor decided to put his boy in the tournaments this year, however this caused a conflict with the Willow and James households. The only instructor that is available for the boy, was Lieutenant Jones, however Duke Willow hired him first for his daughter." He paused and I looked out the massive window, 'No wonder he is worried about her.'

The day was hot and humid like a storm was coming by. It was sunny and bright for now, but with my head pounding, I knew a storm was coming soon, a heavy storm.

"So the Councilor took the instructor from the Willow household, because his male had the right to train." Gripping the arm rest tightly, it allowed me to hold in my anger, 'This man is getting on my nerves, this tournament is only adding fuel to the fire.' I thought to myself, looking at Alfred, he shivered in slight fear at the huge shift of my mood.

"What are you going to do, Your Highness?" He asked in a calm manner, however he was shivering like a leaf, which was ironic for how warm it was in the castle.

"Hmm, I suppose I will wait for her first move. She's usually level headed, I want to know what her plan is." Pausing to take in a deep breath, I released my arm rest, which was slightly crushed at the pressure. "The Duke overreacts, however he's not lying, I can sense hostility of the Councilor against Lady Willow."

"Would you like to relay a letter to Duke Willow, or not?" Alfred picked up the empty tea glass, and waited for an answer.

"No, I don't like speaking about Lady Willow behind her back, even if it's her father. I would like you to clear my schedule tomorrow, I plan on spending the day at the Duke estate after school." Watching him bow, he nodded his head, leaving me alone in the office.

All of the members of the royal family is assigned an office for their affairs and is usually locked by key, however Elias has nothing useful to hide, so he saw no point. The office had a desk, a seating area for guests, and couple of accent items to brighten the dark room.

"Hah." Letting out a deep sigh, I leaned back in my chair, looking at the plain ceiling. Letting my thoughts wonder, in the quite room. "I can't imagine how she feels now." Standing up, I stood by the window, it wouldn't be long before many oversea guests arrived, to stay in the capital.

The tournaments is a prized joy for all the citizens in Belfare, because it was an event that all classes could participate in, even foreign competitors came to fight our best. With the tournaments, the top three winners are given a chance to enter knighthood, if they hadn't already. This would increased the competition, making the matches even more interesting to watch.

Knighthood in the country of Belfare, is like any other country, they protect the royal bloodline. Although, there are some exceptions, some knights are placed elsewhere, to ensure our borders are safe from rivaling countries.

"I wonder who will rank in the top three this year?" Muttering into the quiet room, I smiled knowing the outcome of this years match, 'if she doesn't place in the top three, I'll be surprised, however, she'll be close to catch attention, from advisors.'

The rest of the day breezed by, and I learned more about the situation of the Duke's household and the Councilor's household. It was all just a plan to make their household lose their face, however, Councilor James did not know that I trained with Rebecca instead of Duke Willow.

Eventually the rumors of a lady participating in the tournaments, will spread when Rebecca wants it to be let know. Councilor James thinks that she is a puny human that is fooling herself, little did he know that she was a wildfire, that will burn him in later time.

***