Piece 12 (part 2)

I took a deep breath, and I began swinging my sword in intervals. It is a training method that I've kept doing for the past few years, to keep my mental stay stable. It was something Uncle Althorn taught me after I asked him about it, and this also helped keep my body fit.

The main purpose was definitely to train my patience. By doing the same thing over and over again for a long period of time, it allows my mind to relax a lot and learn to accept the unchanging lifestyle.

It is what kept me sane for so long. Otherwise, I'd just be a mindless entity. Watching Dad smile at me every time he and I talked, I always wonder if he too does mental training like this. 

I should keep doing this more often. I'm starting to lose my hang on reality the less I do it. It's probably because Mom and Dad are around, and they've been pampering me so much. I ended up not losing my mind that easily.

"Fuhh~. That should be enough for today." I said after feeling enough with the swings, and I turned my gaze to the skies above me.

The sun has completely disappeared, and the night sky has replaced the beautiful scenery above me. Starry night sky alongside the crescent moon is now above me, and I realized I might be quite late to come back to the diner.

Let's go back. Mom is probably worried sick for me. As for Dad…

Ah, he should be back from his work already, right? It's already sundown, after all.

Perhaps… I can ask someone about it?

"Excuse me… Mister Shadow knights? Anyone?" I tried calling out to the trees that are above me, expecting an answer to come.

However, no replies came back. Instead, the sound of rustling from the leaves above me was the one replying back, and I noticed there was indeed someone above the trees.

TAP!!!

A shadow knight landed in front of me, and he kept his knees on the ground with his head lowered. Seeing him appearing so quickly after I called him out made me realize just how closely these people have been watching me.

Surprisingly, I don't feel that discomfort.

"Do you need us, your highness?" The shadow knight asked with such respect towards me, which again, surprises me at how someone can be so respectful to me.

"Um… I just want to know something. Is my dad home yet?" I asked the silly question away, half expecting to get scolded for asking something stupid. But, to my surprise, the shadow knight did not yell.

"His Majesty is still currently at his new workplace. He usually comes home in about thirty minutes." The shadow knight told me, and I started pondering.

Thirty minutes…?

"Is it okay for you to… show me where his workplace is?" I tried asking softly, and the shadow knight nodded with his face still facing down.

"As you command. For now, please proceed back to the city. You'll find a guide waiting by the gate you're entering from." The shadow knight instructed me, and I nodded firmly at him.

After my confirmation, the shadow knight leaped away very quickly again, disappearing like the shadow under the moonlight. No matter how many times I look at it, it still amazes me that such a person can exist in plain sight and disappear in just a blink of an eye. The fact that there's multiple, over thirty in fact, made it even crazier.

I decided to follow along with what the shadow knight told me and headed back to the city. My body feels much more refreshed than I thought even though I just practiced swords, and I realized this must be what the progression with magic has done to my body. Mom's teaching definitely has more results than it looks.

Arriving at the city gate, I noticed a middle aged man waiting right next to the gate. He had a weird looking beard, and he dressed rather plainly, just like any commoner you'd find on the street.

"Ah! You're here, Milly!" The middle aged man said cheerfully towards me, and I became confused because I did not recognize him at all.

But, I do realize he must be the guide that the shadow knight was talking about. I'm just wondering why it has to be this weird looking man.

"Come on, now. Your dad is waiting." The mysterious man said to me as he signaled for me to come over, and I started walking to him cautiously.

He started walking ahead of me, and I just followed behind him carefully. After we've walked for a bit, I realized that the direction we're heading isn't exactly towards where the diner was, so he is definitely leading me somewhere.

"Apologies for the tone, your highness. Such an attitude was something that was necessary whenever we had to act in public." The middle aged man said to me as we walked, and I realized that his cheerful personality earlier was something he did on purpose.

Was it… to fool anyone who's watching?

"I-Is that so…? I had to admit, I was a little startled." I openly said with honesty, and the man in front of me only laughed as if what I just said was such a funny joke.

"It was one of the many secret methods for operating out in the open. This way, nobody will suspect anything about us!" The man in front of me said cheerfully despite what he was talking about, and I realized that this person is well trained. 

He is still acting. Even now. Even when his words are saying stuff that is rather serious.

"Aha… So, you are a shadow knight?"

"Actually, I was the same person as the one who spoke to you in the forest earlier. I am the shadow knight that is tasked to stick by his majesty at all times, so I always know about his whereabouts." The shadow knight that is currently dressed as a commoner opened to me, and I understand the big picture.

"Then, what about Mom? Does she have a shadow knight watching her as well?" I tried asking to learn more, but the person in front of me only looked troubled.

"It's... a different case for the empress. She's a very closed person, and she's not comfortable with so many eyes watching her. Even after his majesty pestered her to have at least one female bodyguard, she still wanted no one keeping an eye on her."

Ahaha… typical mom behavior, indeed…

"She's just a little wild, sometimes…" I blurted out without realizing, but the shadow knight laughs a little.

"It's best to not say such things to a mere servant like myself, your highness." The shadow knight reminded me, and I quickly realized my mistake.

"R-Right. My bad…"

Badmouthing the empress in front of her servants… how shameful. Even if I am the princess, such a thing should never have happened.

"So, where is Dad's workplace?" I tried changing the topic to fix my image, and the shadow knight only pointed his finger ahead.

"The construction site is only around the corner. Don't worry, we are already quite close." He explained to me, and I noticed a three way junction that is right in front of us.

We both kept on walking until we arrived at the junction, and he was right. A building is indeed being renovated not far from the junction, and I realized that a bunch of workers are currently sitting and resting on the empty land in front of the building. They are just enjoying drinks while talking about random things, and I realized that their jobs are probably already done.

One of them is a white haired man that seemed to be in his mid twenties. I noticed his appearance stood out the most compared to the other construction workers.

"Uhm… is he still working?" I tried asking the shadow knight, but the middle aged man in front of me shook his head.

"His Majesty's work was already finished ever since sundown. After sundown, he mostly spends his time hanging out with his coworkers."

Eh…? So, the reason he came home so late was because he was chatting with his new friends? A-Also, wasn't he an emperor, at one point?

"Does it confuse you when seeing your emperor sitting on the floor like that? Talking nonsense with his fellow construction workers and drinking beer all night--"

"Come. Your father has already noticed us arriving." He said as we started approaching the renovated building, and I just followed behind him awkwardly.

Was that not a question I should ask as well…? It's a question I genuinely wanted to know, though…