For the first time in what felt like weeks, Rynhara awoke to find no summons, no barked commands, and no Kaelira dragging her out of bed by her feet. She stretched luxuriously, her wings brushing against the edges of her bed frame.
"A day off?" she mused aloud. "Is this some sort of trap?"
As if on cue, Kaelira knocked on the door and entered without waiting for permission. "Good news, Princess. Her Majesty has declared today a rest day."
Rynhara blinked in surprise. "No training? No etiquette lessons? No getting yelled at for existing?"
Kaelira smirked. "Well, mostly a rest day. The staff has been told to leave you alone unless it's an emergency."
"And what's the catch?"
"No catch," Kaelira said, her grin widening. "Unless you count me being assigned to keep an eye on you. Consider me your shadow for the day."
Rynhara groaned, flopping back onto her pillows. "So much for peace and quiet."
Despite her initial complaints, Rynhara couldn't deny the appeal of exploring the castle without the constant pressure of training. She wandered through the grand halls, marveling at the intricate carvings and glowing runes that decorated the walls.
Kaelira trailed behind her, occasionally pointing out interesting tidbits. "That tapestry depicts the Dragon War of Ages. Her Majesty led the charge, obviously."
"Obviously," Rynhara muttered, eyeing the scene of a massive dragon incinerating an army with a single breath.
They passed through the kitchens, where a group of cooks greeted Rynhara with friendly smiles.
"Princess, would you like a snack?" one of them offered, holding up a tray of steaming pastries.
"Don't mind if I do," Rynhara said, grabbing two. She handed one to Kaelira, who accepted it with a rare, genuine smile.
Unbeknownst to Rynhara, her rare day off had become the topic of lively discussion among the castle staff.
"She's like a raging storm ," said one of the maids, polishing a suit of armor. "You never know what she's going to do next."
"I heard she vaporized three dummies with one spell yesterday," added a stablehand. "Her power is terrifying."
"She's still a child in some ways, though," an older butler interjected. "Did you see the way her face lit up when the cooks gave her that pastry?"
"Her mother must be so proud," said a gardener, trimming a hedge shaped like a dragon. "Even if she doesn't show it outright."
The staff collectively nodded, their opinions of Rynhara shifting from cautious respect to genuine affection.
The afternoon found Rynhara in the castle's vast library, a place she'd barely had time to explore. Rows upon rows of ancient tomes stretched to the ceiling, and the air smelled faintly of parchment and magic.
"This place is huge," Rynhara said, craning her neck to look at the towering shelves.
"Her Majesty collects rare texts," Kaelira explained, settling into a chair with a book of her own. "If you can think of a topic, it's probably here."
Rynhara wandered aimlessly, pulling random books from the shelves. Titles like A Beginner's Guide to Barrier Magic and The Art of the Villainess: Strategies for Courtly Dominance caught her eye.
She was flipping through a particularly dense tome on destruction magic when a faint hum caught her attention. A glowing book hovered on a pedestal in the center of the library, surrounded by protective runes.
"Hey, what's this?" Rynhara asked, approaching it.
Kaelira looked up, her expression shifting from bored to alarmed. "That's not for you! Don't touch it!"
Naturally, Rynhara ignored her. She reached out and brushed her fingers against the cover. The book sprang open, releasing a burst of energy that sent both girls flying backward.
When the dust settled, Rynhara groaned, sitting up to find the book floating in front of her, its pages flipping wildly.
"What did you do?" Kaelira hissed, brushing dirt off her uniform.
"I didn't mean to!" Rynhara protested.
The book finally stopped on a page, glowing text appearing before their eyes:
[Title Acquired: Curious Cat (Rank C)]
[Skill Acquired: Arcane Insight (Rank E)]
Kaelira sighed, shaking her head. "You're a magnet for chaos."
"Hey, I got something out of it, didn't I?" Rynhara said, grinning.
As the day wound down, Rynhara found herself in the gardens, watching the sunset. Kaelira sat beside her, for once not holding a tray or a dagger.
"You're not half bad when you're not being a brat," Kaelira said, breaking the silence.
"And you're not half bad when you're not nagging me," Rynhara replied, smirking.
They sat in companionable silence for a while, the tension of their earlier mishap forgotten.
"Do you think I'm doing okay?" Rynhara asked suddenly, her voice quieter than usual.
Kaelira glanced at her, surprised by the vulnerability in her tone. "To be honest when i first met you and your mother my only thought was on how to escape given your mothers well reputation. However, you're doing better than I ever expected. Even your mother's impressed, though she'd never admit it. So I've decidedbto fully commit to my own role and serve you withball my being. Just don'tforgetto promoteme to head maid when you're running this place"
" I'll definitely try to live up to you and everyone else's expectations of me . This i promise. So you betternot hold back during training becauseone day I'll surpass your speed"
" You can count on me."
Rynhara smiled faintly, the words warming her more than she cared to admit.
As the last rays of sunlight disappeared, she stood and stretched. "Well, back to chaos tomorrow, right?"
"Wouldn't have it any other way," Kaelira said, standing beside her.
Together, they headed back to the castle, ready to face whatever new challenges awaited.