-Time to Train

"I wish to break off my engagement with the Crown Prince."

My mother's eyes narrowed in on me slightly as we traded glances. She didn't scorn me, but a look of confusion quickly overtook her face.

My father on the other hand, did have a subtle look of anger underneath his expressionless face. I was unsure of if he was annoyed or enraged, but he definitely wasn't enthusiastic about my proposal.

At the end of the day, the engagement was something the past Alicia wanted. I didn't have any intention of marrying that cheating prince. He can go be with the Heroine for all I care, however, I will definitely humiliate him whenever I get the chance.

"You want to annul the engagement that you begged us so much for?"

A peering pair of black eyes accompanied the stern and bitter tone that came from my mother.

While I believed she wasn't angry, it turned out that my assumption may have been incorrect. She didn't move from her seat at the table, but it felt like her figure towered over me.

She was correct that old Alicia was infatuated with that Prince, but why should I have to be tied to her fate?

Plus, It wasn't just that cheating Prince that I didn't want to marry. I didn't want to marry any kind of Royalty.

After all, they're gonna have concubines, and that is also cheating!

In the next moment, I went silent. I turned my gaze back to Freya, who observing me with eyes full of worry and anxiety.

I figured this kind of talk would end up going this way, but I wasn't just going to give up that easily.

"I do apologize for being so blinded by love when I was younger, but since I finally understood the potential I have with magic, I have no intentions of being bound to a Prince while I'm still in school."

Instead of beating around the bush, I decided to go with the most straightforward approach. My mother Claire Stardust and my father Asher Stardust both were known for their magical prowess.

If anything was going to convince them to allow me to leave this terrible engagement, it would be this.

Claire's face lit up with a beaming and radiant smile. She then jumped up from her seat at the table and circled around the table before wrapping me in a warm hug.

I thought they weren't accompanied by crying, until I could feel her wet tears dripping onto my neck.

"I… have… the best daughter!"

Her cries surprised me for a moment, but I quickly responded to her favor and hugged my mother's back as I wrapped my arms around her waist. While I was unable to see my father while all that was visible was my mother's stomach as she was still much taller than me.

However, it didn't take long before my father joined in on the affection and wrapped his arms around both of us. It also came to shock me that by the time he did this, my mother was still crying. While I didn't know her very well, I didn't expect her to be such a big crier.

Once my mother had finished bawling, she ruffled my hair with her hand as she met my gaze with her puffy eyes.

"When you said you wanted to marry the crown prince, your father and I were a bit sad because of how talented you are with magic. This Kingdom has never seen someone born with all the elemental spirits. Alicia, you have the most potential out of anyone whoever lived in this Kingdom. Sadly, your father and I thought it was going to go to waste."

Her solemn words revealed to me why Alicia may have never got along with her parents in the game.

Her parents even wanted her to develop her magic prowess, but that Alicia decided that chasing after that cheating prince was more important.

Sigh, at least now I know that my parents will be on my side for the coming future. Once I returned my gaze to meet my mother's eyes, I saw that her attention was fixated on my father as she whispered something into his ear which was inaudible to me.

When their gazes finally locked back onto mine, my father was the first to speak.

"Alicia, we were thinking of selecting a magic instructor to visit your estate daily. Is that something you would like?"

A magic teacher did sound somewhat neat, but I did wonder if there was any kind of teacher that could properly instruct me.

I didn't exactly want to sound arrogant, but I was an unparalleled talent to anyone within the nation. However, with my parents being as kind to me as they were, I didn't want to upset them.

"Yes, father, but please only select the highest caliber magician to instruct me. I fear if they aren't, I may grow bored with them too quickly."

My mouth curled into a smug grin as my father's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets for a moment.

Nevertheless, it was clear he wasn't angry with my arrogant response when my mother and father beamed a proud smile in my direction.

"Now you truly sound like our child."

His expression and proud demeanor finally helped me understand why it was portrayed in the game, like Alicia's parents weren't very fond of her. She was too focused on the Crown Prince when she had such insane talent.

Of course, they would be unhappy seeing their daughter wasting her talent in that way.

***

"Thank you, father. If all else is well, I will be departing soon."

The duo didn't hesitate to leave me with a warm embrace once more before sending me and Freya off and, as I made my trek back to the carriage; I noticed a smirk curling my lips wide.

Based on the information I now had, the Royal Magic Academy's entrance exam would begin in six months. Meaning that was all the time I had to prepare prior to the events of the game beginning.

"Well then, it's time to train."