On some point, everyone will definitely encounter some kind of stressful or dangerous situation in their lifetime, especially when they were born into the infamous and worth mentioning, dangerous Khun family.

The theory also applies with Amelina.

Scratch that, that was how Amelina lived all these times.

The most obvious example is the current situation, where Amelina faced her greatest dilemma yet, forcing her mind to work and think thoroughly on how to get out of her sparring session.

'It's either fight or flight...'

But no matter how much she considered the first option, she couldn't exactly bring herself to face against a family head, right? It was as if the two years of harsh, grueling trainings were wasted and blasted away with the intensity of Khun Eduan's crackling lightning.

Though Amelina wasn't at all defenseless, she looked like a mere rat facing a lion in this situation...

Luminous electricity delicately coated the girl's figure, also serving as a boost as she zapped and jumped and dashed from one corner to another, absolutely avoiding any confrontation with her newly self-appointed sparring partner, Eduan. As in, her father.

The man let out a low sigh. The same smirk Amelina had seen when Eduan was in a good mood clearly plastered on his face. "You know you can't run away from me all the time, Ame."

'Ahh, he's really enjoying this useless spar. Whose fault do you think it is?' Amelina gritted amidst her escape. But true enough, she won't be able to hold out for long if she doesn't strike soon. 'Just why did Eduan had to be bored today?!'

Meanwhile, another figure stood on the sidelines, leaning against the wall with a stoic expression. Asensio was actually the one supposed to spar with his dear little sister that day, but he couldn't say no to Eduan who 'went out his way to make some time with Amelina'. (He didn't know why his father sounded like he was repudiating the fact that he dotes on Amelina. A lot.)

But contrary to how calm and cool Asensio was on the outside, he actually felt like his heart was going to explode anytime soon with the unbelievable speed of his heartbeats.

'Please don't let her get hurt. Please let father go easy on her. Please let her be safe. Please-'

Enough of Asensio's concern, Amelina was getting really tired repeating her random dashes by now. If it was Ran or Asensio or even the sadistic Maschenny, she wouldn't have had any trouble coming up with a counterattack. But her father? Not even one possibility came up even when she racked her mind inside out.

'There is one way, but...'

Deciding that it's worth a try, Amelina deeply inhaled as she gathered shinsoo into her palm to make a lightning spear, making a mad dash straight towards Eduan .

Maschenny Style: Lightning Spear Technique

'Electrica Perla!'

"Kid, you still lack a thousand years of experience to go against me," Amelina heard the man muttered as everything seemed to go on a slow motion when she saw the familiar palm that always covered her eyes during the nights-

Before she knew it, her small figure was harshly thrown towards the ground headfirst as wild electricity burst across the training ground, completely hindering Asensio's sight for a few seconds before the dust cleared up.

Upon spotting an immobile body (with a terrifyingly large crack on the ground), Asensio couldn't hold himself back anymore as he protectively shielded Amelina from Eduan, who was approaching the small girl.

"Father, don't you think it's enough?" Never would Asensio imagine he would worry so much about a younger sibling being beaten to death by his father.

On the other hand, Eduan yawned, stretching his muscles as he stared down into Asensio's unwavering eyes. "To think that you, of all people would dare to defy me."

"..this is hardly called as a defiance, father. I'm only concerned that she might not be able to continue her daily training if she receives more damage than this."

"Oh?" Eduan gave Asensio a smile that went down the male's spine. For Eduan it was really interesting how Amelina could make anyone get so infatuated with her, despite the limited number of people he allowed to take a step into the main estate. He noticed that the servants also seemed to be very attached with his daughter, evident with how they dared to smile when Amelina secretly waved at them (though he could hardly call that secretive since he could see everything).

But somehow, seeing his daughter warming up to the others except for himself irritates him to no end, and that includes Asensio. "Just what did you taught her all these years if she can't even stand on the same ground as me? Perhaps I should ban her from training under you and Maschenny at all."

The said male was holding his breath at this point, looking at everywhere except for his father. Sure, it wouldn't be good if his father really did that, but surely Maschenny can settle it? She would, won't she?

"Make sure she takes good advantage of using spears rather than just blowing it up," Eduan finally walked away, leaving the two siblings alone. Asensio could only wonder the true meaning behind his father's words, but for now, he's just relieved Eduan went away. It could get out of hand if he still forced Amelina to go against him when Amelina hasn't exactly finished her trainings yet.

"Ame?" Asensio gently shook the girl who nonchalantly brought up her face, revealing a thin line of red oozing from her nose, which elicited a gasp from the brother.

Asensio's calm demeanor crumbled as he reached out to the girl with a panicked expression, one that somehow he frequently showed around his little sister. "Ame, you need to get treated-"

"Sorry, big brother Asensio. I have to go now!" Amelina scrambled to get up, ignoring Asensio's calls as she once again start to run and left the speechless big brother behind.

'There goes my chance to say you did well' again...'

"Wait, Ame! Your nosebleed!"

Sure, Amelina felt really bad for suddenly leaving Asensio without anymore words despite knowing the older male's pure intentions.

At first, she thought he was somewhat a cold person since he would always wear the same stoic mask, but turns out he was just unused and most probably awkward in showing his affections. Ever since Amelina had known the Spear Master, he had been really nice and somewhat gentle on her, even during trainings, where he would later personally patch her injuries up and treat her to some sweets he brought from outside.

And today was one of those rare days when Maschenny wasn't present and Asensio happily took the chance to replace the Jahad princess.

Anyone wondering where did Ran go?

Well,despite being the closest to Amelina to the extent of being called twins, Ran also has his own private matters that Amelina never pried into. The boy usually went to somewhere when Amelina was preoccupied with harsh training, and mysteriously showed up in her bed the next day. The girl concluded that Ran managed to figure out the right timing when Eduan wasn't present since he was never caught by the father.

And now, Amelina giddily ran through the green forest as her ponytail swished with the wind, on her way to meet her beloved half-brother, Aguero. It has been long since the last time she'd met him! (two days ago actually)

Now, instead of meeting once a week, Amelina managed to sneak off a few days during the times when Ran wasn't with her. Like, now.

How did Aguero know when she would be free? It was all thanks to a certain messenger aka personal retainer, who gladly offered his assistance in 'inviting' or 'affirming' her schedules to the smart boy.

'Now that I think about it, Eduan noticed it... that I wasn't using the spear to attack him, or rather-' Amelina scowled.

Just when she thought she'd covered it up, the family head's last words confirmed that he noticed Amelina's approach wasn't to actually land a blow, but to decrease the impact when she was thrown to the ground.

After two years of being trained with Ran, by Maschenny and sometimes Asensio, Amelina was proud to say the least of physical damage she would get after a sparring session was a nosebleed and a few unnoticeable scratches.

She wasn't ashamed to say that she would always hold back, and sometimes even running away and thus never getting serious. Call her a coward, but she didn't want to take the risk.

Khun Amelina knew the price of a victory.

She had once experienced it during one of her sparring with Ran that went a notch too high, resulting in Ran's broken arm. Although it was the first time she'd won against any of her siblings, it wasn't the best memory she'd want to keep seeing she was also hit by lethal damages.

And no, Amelina wouldn't want to taste another painful week of being unable to lie down on her back.

Sprinting through the trees, a smile crept up Amelina's face, despite the still-trickling bloods from her nose.

'Just a little more!' Upon spotting a familiar hue of blue, Amelina enthusiastically called out, very unlike of her when she was around others. "Aguero!"

The called person turned around, acknowledging the girl's presence and closed his books. "Ame," Aguero greeted back but soon frowned as he noticed the oozing bloods. "Again? Aren't you sick of getting nosebleeds all the time?"

"It's not all the time!" Amelina huffed. "Besides, you'll treat it for me, right?"

"Aren't you getting ahead of yourself now?" the boy mused, but he was already taking out wads of tissue and a plaster from his pocket. These were the things he would bring and use every time he meets the girl, and today was no exception.

Aguero couldn't remember how many times did he reprimanded the girl to get herself treated before going to their usual meet-ups, but Amelina refused to listen.

"I'd get to spend less time with you if I waste it on my own treatment!" was what Amelina would say. Well, he didn't mind much since he was already used to the girl's constant injuries anyway.

Done patching the girl up, Aguero sighed, thinking back about what he was pondering on before Amelina came.

"What's with the long face? You look like you just swallowed something terrible," Amelina chuckled, poking the boy's side. But seeing Aguero didn't retort back, the girl tilted her head in question. "What's wrong this time? Is it Kiseia again?"

"Quite close, but that's not it,"Aguero leaned back on a tree, closing his eyes as if he was about to take a nap. "Have you heard about the competition of becoming a Jahad princess?"

Amelina frowned at the topic. She wasn't exactly fond of the role after being with one for a long time. Heck, she might want to puke now. "You mean, the one where there might be one or two being chosen from our family?"

'I think big sis Maschenny mentioned it one time...'

"Yeah. That's why every girl in our family are fighting for it. After all, there are a lot of privileges one would get if they were bestowed with such a title," Aguero further elaborated as Amelina pretended to listen intently, picking on he grass beside her. "So, aren't you going to aim for it?"

Amelina merely snorted at the question, throwing the grass away. "Me? Why would I take part in something so bothersome?" Perhaps Ran's habits had rubbed on her too much for thinking that way, but it's partially the truth. "How can I ever dream surviving as a princess when I can't even bear to live in this family?"

Aguero kept silent at the statement, seeing Amelina hasn't finished yet.

"Besides, you told me that if I managed to become one, I would get injected with the so-called king's blood, am I right?"

The boy nodded in confirmation. That was exactly one of the privileges he knew.

"Isn't it kind of disgusting to have another's blood flowing in our vein? So why bother?" Amelina pouted. The idea of becoming a Jahad princess didn't settle well with her ever since she knew about that.

On the other hand, Aguero could only face-palm at the reason. Others would be more than happy to even receive a drop of blood from King Jahad, but surely not this girl. Perhaps she didn't know the blood could give her more power or she simply doesn't care about it.

But that's what Aguero liked about Amelina.

During her times when Amelina would excitedly tell him about her dream of climbing the tower, she wasn't at all thirsty for power nor authority that he would sometimes wonder if she was truly a Khun all this time.

And what made him the all more interested was how Amelina never bothered herself about all the politics (perhaps from her trauma when the first time he met her), but steeled herself and aimed for one sole thing: entering the tower. It was evident with how much injuries she sustained after long hours of brutal training.

"So, why would the princess competition concerns you so much? Are you signing up for it- Ouch!" Amelina covered her forehead which Aguero flicked. Hard.

"Do I look like a girl to you?" Aguero huffed. Just when he was internally praising the girl... "It's my older sister. And Kiseia's been begging me about having herself to help along."

"Oh..."

Though the girl had never met Aguero's younger cousin, she'd heard that the other girl had quite the splendid techniques in handling knives. She would love to meet her if she got the chance one day.

That is, considering if the other party won't attempt an assassination on her.

"By the way, did you skip school again this week?" Amelina grinned, though she already knew the answer.

"Classes are boring, if you ask. You're lucky you didn't have to attend it yet."

'Yea, more to banned from attending it thanks to a certain person. But I think Ran has been spending more time there. I wonder what he's up to?'

And so on, the two mostly spent their evening by chatting until the sky turned ablaze with the fire of the setting sun. Only then Aguero noticed a certain retainer hadn't yet showed up to escort the girl back to wherever she lives.

"Aren't you going back now? Where's Miru, anyway?" Aguero asked, already standing up.

"Eh? Already?" Amelina whined, wanting to lounge around with Aguero longer. "The servants are always busy during this time of year anyway. They won't notice me disappearing for a night!"

"...why are they busy?" Aguero narrowed his eyes. He never had a good feeling with Amelina's sense of ignorance.

The clueless girl looked up, pleading with her puppy eyes. "Dunno. Miru and Eira never told me why."

"Ah..."

Amelina had a feeling Aguero actually knew why, but decided not to question the irrelevant thing now. "So, can we stay longer?"

"No can do," Aguero pulled the girl up, much to Amelina's dismay ("Ehhh?"). "We can always hang out another time. Just send Miru to call for me like you always do."

"Roger..." Amelina reluctantly turned around and walked away very slowly much to Aguero's musing. Only when Amelina completely disappeared from his sight did his expression turned dark.

.

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"...Miru, I know you're there. Come out already."

The retainer stepped aside from behind a tree, sighing out in defeat. "I could never hide from Young Master Aguero," Miru chuckled.

"Why didn't you told her about it?" Aguero cut to the chase. It never pleased him with how nonchalant Miru was with him, a son of Khun. "The 10-years old competition, I mean."

Miru visibly stiffened at the inquiry.

"Even Ame's not that stupid. She noticed the way you servants are bustling around in this time of year. Won't it be better if she knew about it sooner?" Aguero reasoned. "You know that you can't exactly protect her from the truth forever, right?"

The only reaction Aguero got was sad smile that wasn't exactly directed at the boy. "It's fine."

"You-"

"We'd rather have her not knowing the truth should the young miss constantly live in fear here. At least, until she managed to get out from here," Miru looked away from Aguero's burning gaze. "Trust me, she'd been through so much."

Aguero couldn't say anything at this point, knowing how sincere Miru was in everything related to Amelina. Too sincere that sometimes he looked quite infatuated. That was the reason why the servant approached him, after all.

"...whatever it is, don't push it on me later when she found out about it."

Though deep inside, Aguero hoped the otherwise.

Author's note:

Hello, everyone! Yea, I'm not dead yet. This fic is still alive, I can assure you.

But I have to inform you all that I may be away 'for a while', since I am currently busy with examinations and such, considering it's my last year of high school. I'll try my best to update more, but don't hope too much for it .

Anyway, thank you for the constant support and the new ones who are rooting for this fic!

Arigatou! Love chu guys!