I can't believe I have to train today. I mean, its pretty awesome, doing hand-to-hand combats, archery or sword fighting, but out of all the generals that could teach me, I would rather die then have the 'legendary' and annoying Corin teach me. Shouldn't I be hosting tea parties and being delicate, like what princesses should do? Mother always told me that a princess needs to be witty but pretty and delicate.

Mother insisted though. A darn training in winter. In the middle of the very, very cold winter. She said it was 'good for my brain'. She worried that I read too much, remaining in my room and devouring the latest novel of the The House of Legend series. I traded my dress for silver-lined protective leathers, made by Mother herself, a treat because she doesn't sew much these past few years. Cecilia almost laughed when I showed her the ridiculously-long training schedule with the 18 years old Corin.

"Its only two hours," she said, sitting on my huge bed and fanning herself with one of my old magazines she found at the back of my large wardrobe. "Besides, you have Corin to train you. The Corin."

She swooned, and fell backwards on my bed, sighing. "I wish I was given the chance," she told me.

I snatched my magazine from her hand and retorted, a smile blooming on my lips. "You're more likely to gaze at him for the next two hours and and faint like a weak damsel instead of doing the positions he'll be asking you to do."

She huffed a laugh.

"Probably," she humed.

Twenty minutes later, I was sitting outside on the bench in the training ring, freezing my butt of in the cold weather. Snowflakes twirled around me and landed on my leathers, and some melted, soaking the shirt underneath.

Corin arrived, in a polished silver armor that made him look regal and old, despite being extremely young. He was the youngest of all the generals, only one year older that me. He looked at me and smiled. My sister would definitely faint if she was standing here.

"Okay. Princess Amelia. Would you please come and stand up, back straight, and feet slightly apart from each other?"

I bit back a sharp retort and positioned myself. My teeth were chattering now, making loud clattering noises. Corin noticed and frowned.

"Well, training would help you master the cold."

I shrugged, and asked him.

"What now?"

He then showed me how to position myself so that my gravity and balance is well in the center.

"What's the use of this?" I grumbled. "Couldn't we just proceed to sword fighting or hand-to-hand combat?"

Corin chuckled.

"You could try heaving a sword," he mused. "But it would be very heavy."

"Okay, fine. Forget the sword. What about the bow? I'm good at archery."

His eyes lit.

"Oh! Well, why don't you show me your skills then," he challenged.

My eyes narrowed and I went to the bow racks. I tried each one of the bows to find the perfect length and weight for me to handle. Finally, I found one that isn't perfect, but well enough for me to handle. I shouldered a quiver full of arrows, and marched towards him, where he prepared three targets: one hanging above my head, one on the ground, and one above me but moving. I cursed, but straightened myself and took an arrow. I streched my arm and let go of the string.

Swooooooosh.

Bull's eye. I hit the first target.

I knocked another arrow at the one on the ground. It didn't hit bull's eye, but almost. I gritted my teeth as I readied myself for the moving target. I waited, then when its in the position I wanted, I released the string.

Swoooooooooooosh.

Bull's eye. Again. I smiled with cold triumph at him. His face broke into a huge boyish grin that gave me butterflies in my stomach. I pushed that feeling away.

"Gods, Princess Amelia, you're good." He nodded at the targets.

"I know."

"Let's make a bargain. I teach you sword fighting and other fighting techniques while you teach me," he nodded again towards the targets. "archery."

I reached out my hand. "Deal."

His hand clapsed around mine. His palm was warm, and his eyes unaturally blue. I pulled back my hand with haste, when I noticed that we were staring at each other. He looked away.

"Ahem." I choked out, uneasy.

He looked awkward.

"Let's resume."

❈❈❈

After training and a good bath, I sat on my bed with a book in my hand. I was about to read when someone burst through my door, and jumped onto me. Cecilia was screeching with delight, and she could barely contain her excitement, although she tries too.

"Sis! Amy! Mother said we could organize a ball for our upcoming birthday!"

I sat up, interested.

"Really? With no boring rules and parent in sight? Only those who we choose to invite?"

"Basically, although Mother said she'll invite the princes in the land. Marriage, you know." My twin rolled her eyes.

"Well, I say that this idea is absolutely great!"

"Anyway, Mother also said we can ask people out for the ball, to be our partner. No ranking differences. I'll invite Corin," she sighed, and batted her eyelashes.

I giggled.

"He isn't that interesting, you know."

"He is! But the important question is, what would the ball be? Decorations? Theme? Food? Time, letters? Who to invite?"

I jumped from my bed, suddenly stressed.

"There is so much to organize! Oh God."

I rushed out of the room, heading for the kitchen. Before I passed the doorway, Ceci called after me.

"The theme and color is the galaxy!"

I nodded and rushed out.