Alfie lost in heat suddenly grabbed her extreme end of thighs and turned her around on the bed. Now Little Princess was laying on her back and Alfie on Top, their eyes locked into each other as they stare into each other eyes and a distant memory resurfaced inside their head.
.
.
.
"Hey, how long is she going to train?" a Queen guard asked while curiously peeking at a very young Little Princess swinging her wooden practice sword through the air, doing her morning routine as usual in her exclusive training area within the Queen's palace grounds.
The wooden blade cut through the early morning mist with each determined swing. Sweat already glistened on her small forehead despite the cool air, and her breathing came in focused rhythms that matched her movements.
"Don't worry about her. There's still a lot of time left before she completes her training," another guard standing nearby answered, who was not peeking through the door.
"What's the point, though? It's not like she'll become a Queen. Why is she working so hard? For what?" The curious guard leaned against the training area's fence, genuinely puzzled as he watched the young girl push herself through another set of sword forms.
Her stance was surprisingly solid for someone her age. Each strike carried intention, even if her small arms couldn't generate much power yet. The way she corrected her footwork between swings showed she was paying attention to every detail.
"That's none of your business. Her life will be fine regardless of what she does, but..." The other Queen guard's expression shifted to a darker glint, his eyes threatening to eat his soul away. "As for you, hehehehe! How dare you peek at our lady like that! Kekekeke... let's go, newbie. It's time for your punishment!"
The guard suddenly grabbed his colleague by the collar, dragging away a man whose protests echoed through the training grounds.
SHING! SHING! SHING!
The sounds of Little Princess's practice continued undisturbed. She'd heard the entire exchange but didn't let it break her concentration. She'd learned early on….. that, people always questioned why she trained so hard. She is used to it now, so she let them wonder, and let them talk behind her back....
AGH!
Young Little Princess suddenly felt a sharp, burning pain shoot through her shoulder, forcing her to stop mid-swing. The wooden sword dipped in her grip as she grimaced, her other hand instinctively reaching for the aching muscle.
HUFF! HUFF! HUFF!
Her chest heaved as she tried to catch her breath. The pain pulsed with each heartbeat, a reminder that she'd pushed too hard again. But stopping felt like giving up, and she couldn't afford that.
"I have to catch up to my brothers and sisters," she muttered to herself, her voice trembling in pain but there was clear strong determination hidden in it. Her fingers massaged the sore spot on her shoulder, trying to work out the tension. "I can't be a dead weight to them when things matter the most in the future. This is all I can do for now."
She stared at the wooden sword in her hand, its surface worn smooth from countless hours of practice. The weapon felt heavier than it should, or maybe her arms were just that tired.
"Why work so hard?" she echoed the guard's question, letting out a long sigh.
The answer should have been simple, but it wasn't. She raised the sword again, preparing to continue despite the pain, when movement from the corner of her eye caught her attention. Someone was entering the training area.
Her head whipped around, and her face lit up instantly.
"UNCLE REMEK!"
Young Little Princess's expression shined with happiness seeing him stride across the training grounds. But her smile faltered almost immediately when she noticed a little boy walking beside him. The kid had messy, ruffled hair that looked like it hadn't seen a comb in weeks, and his clothes were dirty and dishevelled. He seemed to be looking around in a daze, like he didn't quite understand where he was or why he was there.
Little Princess frowned, her curiosity mixing with instant judgment.
"Little Princess, working hard early in the morning, even when Malina ordered you to stay put and rest!" Leader Remek spoke without any signs of anger or frustration in his voice. He was clearly used to her antics by now, used to finding her here when she should have been sleeping or recovering.
"I'm fine, Uncle. This much pain is nothing," she said quickly, straightening her posture to hide any lingering discomfort. Then her eyes drifted back to the boy. "By the way, who's that stupid-looking weak guy? I've never seen him before!"
She studied him openly, not bothering to hide her assessment. The boy didn't even seem to notice her staring at him, too busy gawking at the palace training grounds with wide eyes. That annoyed her more than it should have.
THWACK!
"OUCH! HEY, OLD MAN! IF YOU HIT ME AGAIN, I'M GONNA MAKE YOU BALD!"
Young Alfie tried to retaliate, swinging his tiny fist at Leader Remek, but the older man stopped him effortlessly with just one finger pressed against the boy's forehead.
Young Little Princess watched this display with growing bewilderment. The boy was trying to hit her uncle with his small fists, moving his arms in wild circles that looked more comical than threatening. His glaring eyes were doing absolutely nothing to scare Leader Remek, and his ruffled, overgrown hair covered his forehead, reaching down to his eyes and making him frown constantly just to see properly.
HE'S STUPID! That was the only thought ringing inside Young Little Princess's head as she witnessed this ridiculous display.
"Let me introduce my son, Alfie Barret!" Leader Remek announced, grabbing the struggling Alfie by the top of his messy hair and forcing him to stand straight in front of Young Little Princess. "After consulting with Malina, it's been decided that he'll stay beside you from now on to protect you. Even though everyone's eyes are fixed on your big sister, there will be situations where you might get hurt. For that reason, this guy will be on duty with you wherever you go, at any time of day."
Alfie squirmed under his father's grip but eventually gave up and just stood there, looking thoroughly unimpressed with the entire situation.
"WHAT?!"
She looked at Alfie completely dumbfounded. THIS GUY WILL PROTECT ME?! WHAT A JOKE!
Her eyes moved from Alfie's bored expression back to her Uncle's face, searching for any sign that this was some kind of test or prank. But Leader Remek's eyes told her everything she needed to know. This was a done deal. There was no changing this decision, no matter what she said.
Still, she had to try.
"Uncle, I can protect myself! I don't need a stupid-looking, weak little boy to protect me!" She huffed indignantly, crossing her arms and looking at Alfie again, hoping for some kind of reaction to her insult.
But There was NONE….
He just stood there, completely unbothered, picking his nose with his little finger and then flicking the snot carelessly to the side.
Young Little Princess's eye twitched. Then twitched again. She'd never seen a boy this weird in her entire life!
Even Big Guy was a little strange, but at least he cared about everyone. Hell, he cared a little TOO much sometimes! But this Alfie guy was his complete opposite. He didn't seem to care about anything at all!
Her head was starting to hurt just looking at his aloof attitude.
"All the best! Make sure you get along!" Leader Remek didn't bother answering her protests. He simply turned and walked away, his footsteps fading as he left the training grounds.
"UNCLE! WAIT!" Young Little Princess called after him, but he was already gone.
"GRRR!"
She stood there fuming for a moment, her small hands clenched into fists at her sides. "Fine. FINE! If Uncle Remek wanted her to accept this weird boy, she'd do it her way."
She made up her mind quickly.
WHOOOOSH!
Without warning, Young Little Princess attacked. She moved fast, her wooden sword aimed directly at the aloof Young Alfie, who didn't even seem to notice her charging at him.
"LET'S SEE IF YOU HAVE THE SKILL TO EVEN STAND BESIDE ME!" she roared, stabbing forward with her practice sword.
Alfie still wasn't looking at her, his attention seemingly focused on something else entirely. Young Little Princess smirked as she closed the distance. This would be easy. She'd beat him quickly, prove he wasn't qualified, and then Uncle Remek would have to find someone else.
I'LL BEAT HIM EASILY, she thought triumphantly. THEN... HUH?
Her mind had been racing ahead, already picturing her victory, when something changed. Alfie, who'd been completely oblivious this entire time, suddenly fixed his eyes directly on her.
SHIT!
Time seemed to slow down. She saw his clear, sharp eyes lock onto hers, and she felt frozen for a split second. All the lazy-looking posture vanished in an instant. A fierce warrior's look suddenly took over his small frame, transforming him into something completely different.
WHOOSH! THWACK!
"WHAT THE HELL?!"
Young Little Princess, still caught in that strange trance, actually swung hard. Really hard…. But Alfie never dodged. He let himself get hit directly in the face. A thin line of blood appeared on his cheek where the wooden sword connected, but he didn't even flinch.
"KYAAA!"
THUMP!
Before she could process what just happened, Alfie grabbed her sword-wielding wrist with surprising strength. His right leg hit her ankle and made her leg out from under her, completely destabilizing her balance. She fell hard onto the dusty training ground, the impact knocking the air from her lungs. Then he forcefully snatched the sword from her grip and pressed it against her neck.
HUFF! HUFF! HUFF! HUFF!
Young Little Princess breathed hard, her chest rising and falling rapidly as she stared up at the focused young boy looking down at her. His expression held no emotions whatsoever. No triumph. No satisfaction. Nothing.
"You lost, Little Girl."
Young Alfie tossed the sword aside carelessly and walked away, his personality immediately reverting back to that aloof, uninterested demeanour.
Young Little Princess's eye twitched as she lay there on the ground. He didn't even give her a second glance after defeating her. He treated her like some random person he'd passed on the street, not worth his attention or time.
"GRRR! I DIDN'T LOSE! YOU JUST SURPRISED ME!" She scrambled to her feet, brushing dust off her training clothes. "AND I'M INJURED RIGHT NOW, SO THIS DOESN'T COUNT!"
She pointed at him accusingly, but Alfie just scratched his messy hair, completely ignoring her protests.
"HMPH! MEET ME HERE EARLY IN THE MORNING TOMORROW! I'LL SHOW YOU MY REAL STRENGTH!"
Young Little Princess made up her mind right then and there. She would make him take her seriously. She would wipe that bored expression off his face. The complete lack of any reaction from this little boy was driving her crazy, and she refused to let it continue.
.
The next morning arrived with the same cool mist that always settled over the training grounds before sunrise.
Young Little Princess was already there, warming up, her wooden sword moving through practice forms. She'd arrived extra early, determined to be ready when Alfie showed up.
True to her challenge, Alfie wandered in looking exactly the same as yesterday. Same messy hair. Same dishevelled clothes. Same bored expression.
They fought.
THUMP!
"You lost, Little Girl."
Alfie scratched his ruffled hair and walked back to his corner, leaving her flat on her back again.
"GRRR! NEXT DAY!"
.
Morning after morning, the pattern repeated itself.
THUMP! "You lost, Little Girl."
"I'M LITTLE PRINCESS, NOT LITTLE GIRL! AND THIS IS NOT OVER! NEXT DAY!"
.
THUMP! "Lost."
"TSK!"
.
THUMP! "Lost."
"AGAIN!"
.
THUMP! "Lost."
"NO, NO! THIS IS CHEATING! YOU CHEATERRRRR!"
.
THUMP! "Lost."
Young Little Princess felt tears prickling at the corners of her eyes. "SOB! SOB! GO AWAY! I DON'T WANT TO TALK TO YOU!"
.
THUMP! "Lost."
"STUPID, STUPID, STUPID, STUPID ALFIE!"
.
For many days this continued. Alfie kept watching Young Little Princess practice hard every single morning. Even though they always fought and she always lost, something had started to shift between them. Their friendship had grown closer, even if they wouldn't admit it out loud.
But Alfie was still wearing that same casual mess of an outfit, and his overgrown hair still covered half his face like an untamed mop.
Alfie would arrive early each morning and just stare at Young Little Princess as she went through her exercises. At first, she didn't care. She was used to people watching her train. But his intense stare was starting to irritate her in a way she couldn't quite explain.
One morning, she'd had enough. She stopped mid-swing and looked back at him while glaring at him intensely.
"Oi, Alfie! Stop staring at me like that, or I'll poke your eyes out!"
Alfie, hearing this threat, he simply tilted his head to the side like a confused animal. Then he raised his index finger and made a taunting gesture, clearly challenging her to fight him again.
"GRRR! JUST YOU WAIT!"
THUMP!
"Lost."
Young Little Princess lay sprawled on the ground, pouting angrily. Some tears filled her eyes as she glared up at Alfie, who stood tall over her. Even though he was actually shorter than her when they stood normally, right now he looked impossibly tall. It made her feel so incredibly small.
But this time, Alfie didn't leave immediately. He kept staring at her, which only irritated her more.
"WHAT?!" she finally shouted. "SPEAK UP! LAUGH AT ME IF YOU WANT!" Her voice cracked slightly. "I CAN'T EVEN DEFEAT A LITTLE BOY! EVERYONE IS LAUGHING AT ME! YOU CAN LAUGH TOO!"
The frustration poured out of her in waves. Every loss, every whispered comment she'd overheard, every doubt about why she was even trying so hard when she couldn't even beat this one weird kid.
"Laugh? Why would I laugh when you're working so hard?"
Young Alfie's question was genuine, his tone actually confused by her assumption.
Young Little Princess huffed bitterly. "Is that why you're staring at me? Looking at me while thinking why this stupid Little Princess is working so hard despite not being an official princess?"
She lay back on the ground completely, putting her arms over her face to hide her eyes. Her breathing slowly grew heavier as she tried to hold back the tears that were threatening to spill over.
"Why would I think that?"
His voice was closer now. She could tell he'd moved nearer without getting up.
"I was thinking that you're the first girl I've ever seen who works so hard to get stronger. I was actually mesmerized by your dedication."
Young Little Princess froze under her arms; her breath suddenly stopped in mid panic.
"Little Princess, I don't think you need a reason to work hard. When I see you swinging that sword, all I can see is how brightly you light up. The way you move, the determination in every strike, the way you get back up every single time..." His voice carried an earnestness she'd never heard from him before. "LITTLE PRINCESS, I TRULY RESPECT YOU."
She felt rather than saw him shift position.
"And I, Alfie Barret, want to serve such an amazing lady. Please accept me as your personal guard, Little Princess!"
Slowly, she lowered her arms from her face. Alfie had dropped to one knee right beside where she lay on the ground, his posture formal despite his messy appearance.
For the first time since meeting him, she saw him smiling. Actually smiling! His eyes sparkled as he talked about how great she was, how much he admired her dedication. And with his excitement, his messy hair had somehow shifted away from his face, swept to the side.
She could see his face clearly now. His cute little face. His truthful eyes that held no deception. His genuine smile that transformed his entire appearance.
And what she felt looking at him was truly... truly...
"SO CUTE!"
AGH!
The words escaped her mouth before she could stop them, the word echoed in the empty training area!
Alfie's expression shifted from earnest dedication to complete shock. He stared at her face, dumbfounded, his mouth slightly open.
POOF!
Then Alfie's face suddenly turned bright red, like someone had lit a fire under his skin. Smoke might as well have been pouring from his ears. He slapped both hands over his face, trying desperately to hide his embarrassment.
"W-WHAT?! WHAT ARE YOU SAYING, LITTLE PRINCESS?!"
His reaction was so adorably flustered that Young Little Princess's eyes widened in shock. A smirk formed subconsciously on her lips as she sat up, suddenly very interested in this new development.
This was better than winning any fight.
She reached out and placed her hand on his forehead, gently lifting his overgrown hair up so she could see his completely flustered, shy face properly.
Her heart was pounding loudly in her chest. So loud she was sure he could hear it. She kept staring at him, unable to look away. She couldn't believe her eyes. The boy who had defeated her so many times without breaking a sweat, the boy who barely gave her any reaction no matter what she did, the boy who never showed any emotions was suddenly looking so unbelievably cute in front of her.
Her heartbeat got faster and faster. She reached for his hands, which were still trying to hide his red face, and pulled them aside easily. There was no resistance. He was too embarrassed to fight back.
Alfie, fully mortified, looked to the side, unable to meet her gaze.
But Little Princess wasn't satisfied with that. She caught his chin with her fingers and turned his face back toward her. She wanted to see every detail of his shy expression. She kept staring and staring, memorizing the way his eyes darted around, refusing to land on hers, the way his cheeks stayed bright red, the way he seemed to have completely forgotten how to breathe normally.
After what felt like an eternity, Young Little Princess suddenly smiled, all her worries from the past suddenly just vanished under his cute reaction. She no longer felt the burden of words because she has someone whose words matters more!
"IT LOOKS LIKE I WON! HEHE!"
She leaned in closer, her eyes shining with a mischievous glint.
"LET'S STAY TOGETHER FROM NOW ON, LITTLE BOY! HEHEHE!"
She kept studying his face for a long moment after that, enjoying every second of his continued embarrassment. Poor Alfie remained kneeling the entire time, too flustered to move. Only when Little Princess finally woke up from her trance did she spring to her feet and run away from the training grounds, leaving a completely exhausted Alfie collapsed on the dusty ground.
HUFF... HUFF...
He lay there staring up at the early morning sky, his face still burning hot, his heart still racing.
"I lost," he muttered to himself, the realization settling over him like a heavy blanket.
That was the only thought in his mind. After all those victories, after beating her every single day without fail, he'd finally lost.
And somehow, it didn't feel bad at all.
-----------------------------------------------------------
End Of Chapter 178 Part 2