Training, Suffering, and an Unwanted Letter

I smirked.

Of course, I did.

But before I could properly bask in my own success, Verania clapped her hands together. "Excellent! Now we move on to endurance training."

I froze. "What?"

Sylvithra nodded approvingly. "She must build her stamina."

I blinked at them. "I just finished fighting six enchanted dummies."

Verania grinned. "Yes, with a plastic sword."

I scowled. "That is not the point."

Sylvithra remained calm. "It is necessary."

Groaning, I turned on my heel to run away.

Verania caught me immediately.

I squirmed. "Mother, put me down."

She threw me over her shoulder. "Not a chance."

Sylvithra adjusted her sleeves as she walked beside us. "We will start with running."

I narrowed my eyes. "How much running?"

She gave me a serene smile. "Ten laps around the palace."

I gasped. "The palace is massive."

Verania patted my back like I was a warhorse being sent to battle. "Exactly."

Sighing heavily, I accepted my fate.

The worst part wasn't the running itself.

It was the fact that Sylvithra enchanted the ground beneath me.

Whenever I slowed down, the ground tilted ever so slightly, making it harder to keep pace.

Whenever I tried to cheat and cut across the path, I found myself back at the start.

Verania stood at the finish line, looking ridiculously pleased with herself.

I scowled at her. "You two are the worst."

She beamed. "We know."

By the fifth lap, my lungs burned.

By the eighth lap, my legs felt like lead.

By the ninth lap, I was deeply regretting every life choice that had led me to this moment.

Finally, after an eternity of suffering, I collapsed onto the ground.

I lay there, staring at the sky, questioning the meaning of my existence.

Then the familiar chime rang in my head.

[ Status Updated! ]

Name: Elyzara Thorne

Race: Highborn Tyrant (?)

Title: Imperial Heir of Velmoria

Level: 14

HP: 2000/2000

MP: ???

Strength: 60 (Increased from 45)

Agility: 55 (Increased from 40)

Intelligence: 85 (Still terrifyingly smart)

Charisma: 115 (Still absurdly high)

Luck: 0 (Less tragic)

[ New Passive Skills Acquired! ]

Endurance Training (Intermediate): Increases stamina recovery and resistance to exhaustion.

Combat Reflexes: Improves reaction speed in battle.

[ Skills List ]

Passive Skills:

• Natural Leader (People are drawn to you, even against their will.)

• Endurance Training (Intermediate) (You now suffer slightly less during training.)

• Combat Reflexes (Your ability to dodge angry mothers has improved.)

Active Skills:

• Phantom Strike (A precise, instantaneous attack that allows you to hit multiple points in rapid succession.)

• Swordplay (Beginner) (Your sword skills are no longer embarrassing.)

Despite my exhaustion, I grinned.

I had leveled up.

I turned my head to look at Verania. "Proud?"

She beamed. "Always."

Sylvithra nodded. "You are progressing well."

I sighed in relief. "Good. Now I will sleep for a week."

A voice interrupted.

"Princess Elyzara!"

A terrified palace servant sprinted across the training grounds. He skidded to a stop, bowing so fast I thought his head might hit the dirt.

"A letter has arrived for the princess!"

I frowned. "For me?"

Before I could react, Verania snatched it from his hands.

She read the front.

Her golden eyes darkened.

Sylvithra took it from her hands.

A dangerous silence fell over the courtyard.

I sighed. "Let me guess. It's from Riven."

Verania's entire aura became lethal. "That street rat is writing to you?"

Sylvithra looked equally displeased. "What could he possibly have to say?"

I reached for the letter. "I don't know. Maybe if you let me read it—"

Verania held it over her head. "No."

I scowled. "Mother, give me the letter."

"No."

I turned to Sylvithra. "Mother."

She tucked the letter into her sleeve. "No."

I crossed my arms. "Are you two really this dramatic?"

"Yes," they said at the same time.

I groaned. "It's just a letter."

Verania looked betrayed. "You do not understand. No one, no one has ever dared to approach my daughter like this."

Sylvithra's eyes narrowed slightly. "You saw him once. And he is already writing to you?"

I shrugged. "Maybe he was just being polite."

Verania let out a sharp, unhinged laugh. "No male is ever just being polite."

I blinked.

"…Mother, I am four."

She crossed her arms. "Irrelevant."

Sylvithra sighed. "She is too young for such matters."

Verania nodded. "Exactly. Burn the letter."

I gasped. "You will not."

Sylvithra sighed again. "At least read it first."

Verania groaned but finally opened the letter.

She read it.

Paused.

Read it again.

Her expression twisted.

"…He is asking how you are," she said flatly.

Sylvithra took the letter, reading over her shoulder. "He also says the orphanage food is terrible."

Verania snorted. "I like him less now."

I grinned. "See? Completely harmless."

Sylvithra folded the letter and handed it to me. "We will allow this. But we will be monitoring it closely."

Verania scowled. "If he writes again, I will personally—"

I waved the letter. "Yes, yes, threaten him, plot his downfall, whatever makes you happy."

She muttered darkly but let the subject drop.

For now.

I tucked the letter away, already thinking of what to write back.

Despite my exhaustion from training, I felt victorious.

Not only had I grown stronger, but I had successfully defended my first ever piece of mail.

One battle down.

Many, many more to go.