Chapter 34

For the next three days, Ezekiel and his advisors were swamped with how to handle the aftermath of the disaster of the zombie invasion.

Some many people died, villagers and civilians were about to riot, blaming the royal family for not being prepared for such a disaster and for not stopping the zombies.

The dead bodies of the victims lined the streets and the survivors were wailing and crying, grieving for their murdered loved ones.

It wasn't just the commoners and villagers who lost loved ones and friends in the tragedy but nobles as well.

There were 25 kids who were of noble origin who were killed off during the zombie attack and their parents threatened to sue the royal family for neglect and for the deaths of their children.

5 instructors died as well.

Crying and grieving went on for the next three days as it was a complete tragedy for the entire kingdom.

Arya attended the funeral and she felt bad for Marisa and her mother for dying in such a tragic and painful way even though she never really liked Marisa.

The rest of the royal family also attended and Arya saw that they were somewhat sad about Maraisa and her mother's tragic death. Some nobles also attended and Arys assumed that they were the relatives of Marisa and her mother-maybe cousins, aunts, grandparents.

Arya spent the next three days in a haze of some sort.

She took to doing hours of training and swordsmanship practice in the training halls in order to cope with the zombie attack.

Her swords sliced and slashed through the air at the training dummy and left deep cuts and slashes in it.

Arya channeled aura into one of the swords and aura covered the blade of her sword.

She swung downwards at the dummy and released a solid blade of aura at the dummy.

The dummy got cut in half down the middle and a deep gouge mark in the wall was left behind by Arya.

"Impressive. Wish I could do that."

Arya whipped her head around and saw that it was Freya. Freya's hair was let down and she wore an airy and light dusty pink gown. It suited her, Arya thought.

"Don't you have training as well?"

Freya shook her head.

"No, my ability is rather weak."

"What even is it?"

Arya's curiosity got the best of her.

"Plant growth and manipulation."

Interesting, Arya thought, you could do a lot with that, like making vines trapped and tie up your opponents or making trees act as shields for you.

"That's a really cool power."

Freya was a bit taken aback by what Arya said as most people thought plant manipulation and growth was a lame power.

She and Arya spent the next few hours talking and getting to know each other.

…

"TRAGEDY OF THE ZOMBIE MASSACRE CAUSED BY IRRESPONSIBLE ABILITY USER!! CULPRIT OF THE MASSACRE ALREADY PUNISHED FOR THEIR CRIMES AGAINST THE KINGDOM!!!"

The newspaper's headline screamed at the reader, urging them to read how there was nothing to worry about and how the royal family already caught the culprit behind the zombie attack.

It was apparently the work of some madman with an ability to create and control monsters that he could create from thin air and mana.

The man was already arrested, tried and executed according to the law.

Arya threw down the newspaper onto the table in anger. 

"Bullshit. It seems more like a cover up to me, Myna."

Myna brushed out Arya's hair until it was silky smooth and soft. Myna already knew who was behind the obvious cover up: Royal Consort Selene Unis, that ambitious and shrewd woman. Probably because it was important that the royal family handle and take care of the problem and the consequences as soon as possible before things got ugly. Better to give the public what they wanted-a person to blame and justice-than to drag it out for too long. 

She's one smart girl, Myna thought.

But covering it up didn't solve the root cause of the problem of the potential and possibility that this was not going to be the end of such monster attacks like the zombie wave that happened so recently.

Myna was just about to put the hairbrush down when it happened.

Myna felt a flash of pain hit her and she went blind for a few seconds.

She dropped the hairbrush and clenched her eyes. The pain was red hot and it brought her to her knees.

Arya whipped around from where she was sitting with concern on her face.

She got up from her chair and knelt down in front of Myna, helping her sit in a chair.

"Myna, are you okay?"

Myna nodded, the pain in her eyes and head already disappearing, becoming more and more dull and numb.

"Yes, it's going away. It happens to be the result of overusing my ability during that zombie wave. Turning living beings into stone comes at a hefty price, my princess."

Arya planted her hands on her hips and bit her lips. Myna was like a sister to her and to see her in pain like this had her scared and worried.

"Myna, don't use your ability then. If it means being in pain if you keep using it."

Myna uncovered her eyes and looked up at her princess.

"Princess, it's fine. It only happens if I overuse it when I'm at my limit, not when I use it one or two times."

Arya didn't look reassured and it took a while for Myna to convince Arya to calm down and relieve her worries.

Myna started finishing up the final touches on Arya's tea party outfit. A few more adjustments to smooth out any wrinkles to the dress and to adjust the headdress so it looks perfect on Arya.

Arya thought Myna's real ability was having impeccable fashion taste and being able to make anyone look good. Whatever outfit and accessories Myna picks out went well with the wearer and enhanced their beauty.

Her emerald green and dark gold dress sparkling and looking beautiful in the afternoon sun, brown locks carefully pinned back in a half-up braided hairstyle thanks to Myna's careful love and attention, a glittering headdress of gold chains, diamonds and emeralds placed carefully on her head. The chains draped across her forehead to where an emerald teardrop rested on her forehead while the rest of the chains held up sparkling emeralds and diamonds in her hair. Gold chains dropped down and some droplets of diamond and emeralds hang down from them. A silver and emerald circlet necklace garnished her throat. 

Arya spun around a bit and admired how the dress poofed up and fluttered when she spun around. Her natural beauty was brought out by the simple jewelry and green dress with menial gold embroidery.

"Myna, thank you. I love it so much!"

Myna was admiring the results of her hard work and she just smiled.

"No problem, princess, making you look pretty is part of my job. And it's a bright spot in my boring day of cleaning, sweeping and doing laundry."

Arya raced up and hugged Myna tightly. Myna was almost caught off guard by the show of affection.

"Myna, thank you for helping me get ready for the tea party. But I'm kinda nervous."

"Well, it's your first tea party ever so I'll give you some tips. Number one, tea parties are a girls-only event so only the other princesses and some daughters of the nobility will be attending. Number two, tea parties may look like simple social gatherings for the girls of royal and nobility to socialize, gossip and to enjoy each other's company but it's a battlefield of mind games and politics with the girls of noble households trying to curry favor from a princess. Number three, the tea and snacks they serve could be poisoned. There have been cases where princesses competing for the throne have been killed off with poisoned tea or cookies so be careful.Well, I think that's it, my princess!!"

Arya was a bit scared by Myna's advice now.

"Oh, please, princess, don't let my advice stop you from having fun!!"

….

There was a lot of talking and conversation going on in the courtyard of the garden when Arya finally arrived there.

A large circular table covered in a white tablecloth with trays of various snacks and desserts placed in easy reach for the girls. Small porcelain tea cups with delicate and beautiful flower and butterfly designs were filled to the brim with a sweet-smelling tea.

A maid poured out tea for a girl in a fluffy and poofy lime green dress.

A male servant announced Arya's presence and all the ladies got up from their seats to pay respects.

Arya curseyed back towards them to repay their respects before making her way to the only empty seat at the head of the table with the other princesses.

"Glad you could make it, Arya."

"Me too, Freya"

Freya nodded. She was sitting on the right side of Arya. Her fiery red hair was pinned back in a braided bun with a few strands intentionally left out to frame her face. Light makeup including a hint of blush and some eyeshadow caked her face while she was wearing a deep red gown with a gold ribbon slash around the waist. A cirelet of golden leaves and ruby roses crowned her head.

 Little Azalea was there as well and she looked so cute in a baby pink fluffy and poofy dress with a crown of gold and her long white hair pulled into pigtails and a beautiful pink diamond rose was pinned behind her ear. Arya thought this is what elves and fairies from storybooks looked like in real life: innocent-looking, delicate and beautiful.

Lysandra looked ravishing and gorgeous in a baby blue gown that hugged her curves and showed off her figure in a way that drew people's attention. Her blonde hair was tied back in a braid but teardrop shaped blue earrings hung from her ears, the blue gems catching the sunlight and sparkling like ice itself. A diamond and sapphire necklace draped across her collar bone and matched her earrings. Arya saw that Lysandra wore a circlet made from silver chains that was minimally decorated with some light blue gems and diamonds; It looked similar to the one she was wearing herself. The diamonds looked like ice from where Arya was sitting.

Maybe that was the intention, Arya thought, Myna did say that Lysandra had an ice ability.

The only one not present was Marisa and her lack of presence was a stark reminder of the tragedy that took place just days ago.

Arya took in the girls, she recognized a few of the girls as students at the Royal Academy and the trio of girls that used to follow Marisa around like baby ducks.

A servant was about to pour her some tea when Arya shook her head.

"No tea, I don't like to drink tea so you don't have to pour me any. But thank you anyway, miss."

The maid nodded and retreated.

Lysandra took note of Arya's gentle tone and her politeness towards the maid.

"So gentle and polite when you rejected the tea, little sister. I like that."

A small praise. Many people were taken back by it since Lysandra wasn't one to give out praise or compliments that easily or freely.

They watched Arya's reaction to the compliment.

"Oh, thank you, Lysandra, but it's the least I should do since those maids and manservants work so hard for us, don't you think? I should be nice to them and address them with proper respect since they deserve it."

A mutter of agreement from the girls rang out.

Lysandra was amused by the response and Arya wasn't like most people she met before.

"Noblesse Oblige? Well suited for a sweet-looking and beautiful girl like you. I like your dress and your jewelry. I envy you for having such good taste."

"Well, it's not me, but my maidservant?"

Lysandra laughed.

"I envy you for having such an amazing and talented stylist then!! I'm glad I invited you to my tea party!!"

Arya thanked her and grabbed some cookies and a piece of cheesecake with as much grace and princess-like manners as possible.

She didn't eat anything all day so she could indulge in sweets and desserts in the afternoon.

Lysandra continued whatever conversation that was going on before Arya arrived.

"As I was saying, I truly appreciate all of you gathering here today to show support for me as I prepare to take the throne. With my poor sister Marisa gone-may she rest in peace-I finally stand a chance with at least one strong contestant for the throne gone."

Every girl listened to her words, eyes glued to Lysandra and their refreshments pushed aside for whatever Lysandra had to say,

Arya tried to not pay much attention to the topic of choice and to just enjoy her treats.

Freya seemed to be doing the same thing along wth Azalea.

Freya leaned over to whisper into Arya's ear.

"Lysandra knows that we are no threat to her since both me and Azalea over here are too weak to fight for the throne. You, on the other hand, she doesn't know much about so she invited you to her tea party so she can observe you and see if you're a threat or not to her."

Arya already knew that.

She had adapted and was fully adjusted to life as a princess now.

She knew that if she wanted to be left alone, she needed to make it clear that she had no intentions to fight for the throne.

Lysandra was busy talking to her group of allies and supporters to pay any close attention to Arya.

"...My father has not yet recovered from the horrible attempt on his life and still remains in his room recovering. I hope for his recovery."

Something in Lysandra's tone told Arya that Lysandra wished her dad would just kick the bucket already. Arya knew the irony was that her old man aka her uncle was already dead but his death was being covered up until Ezekiel regained his full power.

She stabbed her fork into a wedge of cheese cake and found it to taste like strawberries and vanilla.

Azalea was nibbling away on a cookie while a maid-probabyl her nanny-was wiping her face clean with a napkin and brushed off any cribs on her dress.

Freya wasn't eating anything and was just poking her slice of cake.

Arya stopped eating and looked at Freya.

"You okay?"

"I'm worried for my father. When I tried to visit him, the guards turned me away. It's been weeks now and he should have fully recovered by now."

Freya's getting suspicious about the truth behind her father's "illness".

"What is actually going on right now?"