I climbed the wall and left the castle grounds as planned. I walked into the forest and found that it was just as lonely as the castle grounds. I kept going even though I told myself I would stay close to Wistal. For a moment, I felt like I didn't care about anything anymore.

Mom?!

I leaned against a tree, allowing gravity to pull me to the ground. It has been a month since Mother disappeared. I don't know if she is ever coming back. Or if I will ever see her again.

"Isn't that the princess?!" I heard a voice say out of nowhere.

"Yes it is."

My head shot up, I was alerted to their presence. "What do you want?" I demanded. I was scared.

"People are morons. They want to exploit people with unique appearances. They would do anything to get their hands on people like that." Prince Zen's voice cautioned in my mind.

"Wouldn't you like to know, Ruby Rose?"

"Ruby… rose…?" I asked confused. Were they giving me some pet name?

"Your hair is like a beautiful red ruby. It is the finest color I have ever seen. Besides a certain princess, definitely the finest."

"Good for me. Now if your done, I will be taking my leave of you."

One man grabbed my arm. "What are doing so far from the castle? Without protection."

"That is none of your business."

"The prince is missing, the princess too. Wouldn't want another royal to disappear." He said in an intimidating way.

"This is the Clarines Kingdom, in which I am your leader. You really want to attack the crown? It won't end well for you, if you do." I warned.

"That is true. Wouldn't want to bite the hand that feeds us. But, your highness, you are just asking for someone to come along and take you."

"Is that a threat?"

"A friendly warning."

"I know all about people with negative intentions, you don't need to worry about me."

"Who's worrying? Rysa Wisteria."

"Let go of me!" I demanded. He was calling me by my given name, to show me just how much respect he really has for the crown.

I pulled my arm hard.

"As you wish." He let me go and I tumbled to the ground.

I pulled myself off the ground and dusted myself off. I knew if I ran, he would come after me. Running would be pointless.

"Leave her alone!" A woman with long platinum blonde hair, tied up in a high ponytail and tall, slender frame, came out of nowhere. She stood next to me. "Stop messing with her! Don't you have work to do? Don't want to be late for your first day."

"Ya. Ya. Ya. Just having a bit of fun, is all." The men turned and left.

I turned to face her. "Thank you." I gazed into her gorgeous magenta eyes.

"Don't worry about him, he's harmless." She reassured me. "What is your name? I haven't seen you around these parts before."

"Rysa." I felt like I might cry. I was holding myself together, but barely. I thought that man was going to hurt me. And not just that, he talked as if he might even be responsible for Mother disappearing.

I felt warm arms wrap around me. I couldn't take it anymore and started to cry.

She waited until I stopped, before releasing me.

"Thank you. I don't know your name. Would you tell me yours?"

"Aurora Cindryl." She smiled. "Come! I will make you some tea."

Normally, I knew I shouldn't trust others, but she seemed so kind and warm, like a mother.

I sat on her couch and she brought me a cup of tea. "Thank you. Why are you so nice to me?" I didn't really think it through. That was a strange question to ask, for sure.

"I know a broken heart, when I see one." She gave me a sad smile.

"You knew, ha?"

"Would you like to talk about it? I know how hard it can be, but it really does help. Sharing your burdens, can help you unload them. I understand if you don't want to." She seemed sincere.

I started to cry. "M-my M-mother… she's… gone…sob…Now… I am all alone… sob…"

She wrapped her arms around me again. "What happened?"

"She was… taken… sob…"

"Then, let's get her back!"

I was taken back, by her confidence. "You are going to help me? Why?"

"If my child had been born… I would imagine, she would be just like you."

She lost her child? She understands loss. She knows exactly what I am going through. "I want to bring her back. If that means, that I will need your help, then I will gladly accept it. What's the plan?"

"How long has she been gone?"

"A month…" I wiped the tears from my eyes.

"Hmm… Are you any good with a sword?"

"Not really. Are you?"

"I am a strong swordswoman. I will teach you."

"You will?"

She pulled out a rapier. "This is my friend. A sword built for precision and speed. Here! Try it out!" She handed it to me.

I swung it around. It was lighter than I would expect.

"Light, huh?"

"It is. I've never seen anything like this before."

"First things first. Tie you hair up like mine! Given it's length, it will get in the way."

I did as instructed. She gave me a special hair ornament, that complimented my hair style and colour perfectly. I noticed my hair still grazed across my lower back. I didn't realize it was that long.

I swung the rapier around. It was really interesting to see how easy it was to wield.

"Come! You should see how it works with a target." Aurora led me to a scarecrow in the middle of a field.

I turned to her. "Don't I need to know any moves or foot work?"

"I think you need to develop your own style. I want you to work on your speed. I will teach you some moves later."

"Okay." I turned back to the scarecrow and stuck it again and again, until I got really tired.

I turned to face Aurora and she handed me a cup of tea. "Thank you."

"How does she handle?"

"I never thought fighting with a sword could be so easy."

"It is not as easy as you make of it. There are a lot of steps involved. You need to lose your entire understanding of sword wielding."

"I thought that swinging a sword was as simple as that. Don't all swords work the same way?"

"No. There are many different kinds of sword fighting styles, but it is easier to focus on one style."

"The rapier is different than a typical sword?"

"That depends on what your standard is for a typical sword."

"I am ready to learn. Teach me!"

"First you need patience."

"Why? The sooner I learn, the sooner I-"

She cut me off. "You will not hone your skills overnight. It takes practice and dedication."

Then it will take me awhile before I can find Mother. What if something happens to her, before I can even learn the basics?

"You will get there, promise."

I nodded. I looked to the clouds. "It's getting late. I should get back home."

"The training will start at 2 o'clock."

"I will be here." I smiled at her, before I turned to leave. "See you tomorrow."

I hurried off, towards the castle. But before I got to Wistal, I came across someone, I didn't want to see.

"There you are! What do you think you're doing out here? All alone?" Tancity scolded.

"None of your business. Don't think you can just boss me around, because you're older than me! I am the next in line for the throne and you're nothing but a commoner!" It's true. She is a commoner. It was because of her being in the castle, being part of Mother's life, that Mother is gone!

"Rysa…? Why would you say that? I am just looking out for you."

"I never asked you to!"

"No… Prince Zen asked me to." Tancity's voice grew quieter.

"So what?" I retorted. I continued to the castle. I chose to ignore her for the rest of the trip back.


When we got to the castle, I noticed that people weren't aware that I had left the castle.

I joined my family for dinner. But I didn't say anything.

Shirayuki kept quiet and didn't press anything. She was in turmoil.

Tancity and I didn't even exchange looks. It was extremely awkward.

I finally stood up and left the uncomfortable dining table. I didn't want to stay any longer. I wasn't even hungry.

Shirayuki looked like she wanted to say something, but she held herself back anyway.


I knew I wasn't supposed to, but I entered Mother's office and sat at her desk. I looked around the room and felt the tears threaten, once again.

"Will I get an office one day?" I sat in her office chair. I pulled some papers close to me. Sure I was only six, but I wanted to feel important.

Miko giggled. "Why would you want to? You aren't required to perform these responsibilities. You're a princess." She came over to me.

"But I want to be like you, Mommy." I smiled cheerfully.

"I want you to be like you." Miko tapped my nose gently on the word 'you'.

"But I am me already…" I pouted.

"Why do children always want what they don't have?" She spoke softly to herself.

I gave her a curious look.

"Don't ever give up on your dreams. If you want to be something, don't let anyone tell you, you can't." She smiled to herself.

"What is it?"

"I got everything I ever wanted. I want that for you too." Mother smiled at me, before lifting me into her arms and kissed me on the forehead.

I burst into tears now. "Mommy…." I cried into my arms now. "I want to be like… sob… you…" I rubbed my eyes, to wipe the tears away.

Hours had passed and the door opened. I looked up to face Princess Shirayuki.

"I thought I might find you here." She spoke softly.

I looked back down at the desk. I couldn't look at her. I thought I might cry again, if I did.

She walked over to me. She then placed a tender hand on my shoulder.

I felt the tears brim. She pulled me into a hug.

That did it. I continued to cry until I fell asleep.

I woke up the next day and made my way to breakfast.

"Don't ever give up on your dreams. If you want to be something, don't let anyone tell you, you can't." She smiled to herself.

"What is it?"

"I got everything I ever wanted. I want that for you too." Mother smiled at me, before lifting me into her arms and kissed me on the forehead.

Mother told me to pursue my own desires. I will do what I must and won't let anyone get in my way, just like she told me. I began looking forward to meeting with Aurora. Something about her, made me feel appreciated and safe. Maybe it was because we both are suffering with significant loss. Only when I find mom, she won't have anyone again. It made me sad to think about that.


I made my way towards the walls after I ate the morning meal.

"Where do you think you're off to?" Tancity demanded.

"Leave me alone! You're the last person I want to talk to! Get it!" I sneered.

"Rysa….?" Her expression turned dark. "We are all taking it hard. You aren't alone, you can talk to me."

"What do you know about what I am going through?! You're not even her real daughter and she isn't your real mother!"

Tears formed in her eyes before she snapped back at me. "You think that I don't feel anything? That I don't miss her, like you do?!"

"That's what I said, isn't it?!" I retorted coldly. She plays all innocent, but it is all her fault, that Mother is gone in the first place! She took her away from me!

I turned tail and ran away, leaving her all by herself.


I made my way to Aurora's villa. I knocked on the door. "Aurora?! I'm here!"

The door finally opened. I saw her standing there with tears in her eyes. She wiped them and gave me a smile. "You're here. Let's get to it! Shall we?"

"I just wanted to ask… would it be alright if we trained at night?"

"Whatever for? You're still so young? Won't you be tired?"

"Something has come up and I won't be able to meet you during the day."

"I see. If that's the case and you think you can handle it, then I will be happy to."

"Thank you."

She turned around and handed me some tea. She gestured for me to sit down. "How are you doing with all of this?"

I didn't show up, looking like everything was right with the world, so it was bound to happen, sooner or later, that she would ask. "As well as I can…"

She pulled me closer and I felt something brake. "I am here if you need to talk about it."

"No, it's okay." I knew it wasn't her business, but I felt I might burst. I was ready to sink my frustration into my sword play.

She handed me her rapier. "Would this help?"

"Yes."

We went outside and I beat the target hard, over and over again. I poured my frustration into each swing.

"Families can be difficult." She gave me a sad smile.

How did she know? Was it really that obvious? I nodded slightly. "My sister is trying to act like my Mother. She was the reason Mother disappeared. She isn't even my real sister." I finally explained as I continued to swing the sword around.

"I see. She doesn't understand what you are going through. She must be reacting this way to relieve herself of the guilt."

"Guilt? You think she might actually be feeling guilty?"

"Can't say for certain, I have never met her. Was she really close to your Mother?"

"Not really… Mother was really busy, so when she had time, she mostly spent it with me."

"Then maybe your sister is acting out of jealousy."

I had never thought about it before. Jealousy? What does she have to be jealous of? My crown? My Mother's attention? A belonging? The people's admiration? Maybe she is jealous…

"Jealousy is a dangerous road. When people become jealous, there isn't anything you can do about it. They start to covet and eventually they try to take it for themselves."

"You really think she would…?" My sword fell to my side, loosely in my grasp.

"You know her best. What do you think?"

"I don't know. I never really thought about it."

"Does she spend a lot of time with your father?"

"No. My father has been away, ever since Mother disappeared. Even before that, he was away a lot. I only have my sister and grandma around. Everyone else is out searching."

"You are welcome here anytime."

I felt a tear tug at my eye. I felt like someone really cared about me. My family cared too, but it was different when someone outside of the family does.

I re-commenced my attack.

"Try jabbing motions. This particular sword is for stabbing your opponent." She instructed.

I tried changing my fighting style and adjusting my stances. I noticed a change. I felt a great improvement in all my motions. I kept going for a while until I managed to tire myself out. I walked over to the house and she had offered me a bite to eat, before I head back home.

"That's alright. Dinner will be ready when I return. Thank you, though." I hated myself, when I realized it wasn't the subject of having food ready that drove me to reject her kindness. My parents taught me to never accept food from strangers. If it was poisoned, I would be in real trouble. But I trusted her, so I should have taken her up on her offer.

I left anyways.


I walked around the castle grounds longing to leave again. All I could think about was being out there, training. I would soon join the search.

"Rysa!" Tancity stood there with Shirayuki.

Tancity told Princess Shirayuki?! What a snitch!

"Rysa… I think we need to have a talk…" Princess Shirayuki led me to her office.

I was prepared to defend myself, no matter what it took. But her expression was soft. Aren't I in trouble?

"You've been distant lately, is something going on?"

"I'm fine… nothing's wrong…" I wanted to know about how the investigation was going though. "Heard anything from Prince Zen yet?"

"I'm afraid not…" I saw the look in her eyes, that told me she was going to give me more crap about my mother being okay. "But-"

"I wish you would just stop it! I am not a little girl anymore! I can handle the truth!" I felt tears threatening again. How I wish I didn't feel so weak and helpless all the time.

She looked at me in grief. "I truly believe she will return to us."

"Maybe I don't! I am not stupid! No one has found her by now, then that can only mean, it's too late!" I thought I could push her to be honest. I couldn't standby and watch things anymore.

"Rysa… Don't give up, because the moment we do, we have already lost her."

What is she talking about? We have already lost her! I will tell her what she wants to hear. I want to see Aurora! She understands. "Okay…"

"Good. I am sure Tancity wants to talk to you."

"I don't want to see her right now." I turned and left her office.


I waited in my chamber until night had fallen and I left for Aurora's cottage once again. I entered to be greeted with the normal empathy she always possessed. I sat down for a cup of tea before practicing with the rapier.

We started talking but it ended up being a venting time for me.

"My grandfather and Father have left when I needed them the most. They can't accept that she is gone, or they don't want me to lose hope, even if it's already hopeless! I wish they could be straight with me! My… Mother… she isn't coming back, is she?"

"I don't know… I wish I had the answers… but no one does…" Aurora placed a gentle hand on mine.

"Tancity told my grandmother today, about our visits. I can't believe it. What is she trying to show everyone, how good she is, like they can just forget who's really responsible for this!"

"It seems that they don't understand you at all. Your mother… did she make the decision to leave on her own?"

"Yeah…"

"I don't know what it is like for a mother to leave her children. I think if I were you, I would just ignore them. Do what you want to do and don't let anyone tell you otherwise."

My eyes widened. That was exactly what Mother told me. In a way, it was like Aurora was like a mother. I know I have known her only so little, but I felt like she could protect me from the world.

We finally made our way outside and I was given a demonstration of several tactics, involving body movement.

"Can you show me, what you can do?" I wanted to see for myself. Her teaching style showed me, she was very knowledgeable with a rapier, but I wanted to know what else she could do.

I observed as she showed that her skills blew my mind. She was flexible, acrobatic and swift. Her movements were precise and I could tell, that she was not someone to mess with. "That was Amazing! Can you teach me to fight like that?"

"Of course."


A/N: Has anyone figured it out yet. I am curious to know. Word of warning, things will start to get dark and a bit heavy after this point. If you aren't in the mood for troubling turn of events, I caution you.

Anyways, that's all the chapters I am going to post at this time. I will try to post them weekly and maybe a couple at a time, but no promises. If you wish for me to post them faster, just keep leaving reviews and show me your interest in the story by maybe even giving so though-filled predictions. I have already written far ahead so I will not be using your ideas in my story.

Thank you for reading and I hope you are truly enjoying our series.