The Princess' Harem
Chapter 79: The Royal Ward

Chapter 79: The Royal Ward

Viana nodded. "Many of them are. Stories, history, knowledge. You can read any of them, if you wish."

She noticed the look of longing in his eyes. Access to books was something he had never known.

Just then, a figure entered the library. It was Arden, Viana’s chief advisor.

He was a handsome man with a lean body, clearly honed daily through rigorous training in sword and archery. He moved with a quiet efficiency, yet his focused mind often led to small, endearing blunders.

He paused, his gaze settling intently on Viana, a subtle admiration in his eyes. He had been seeking the Princess for a report on the day’s schedules.

As he stepped forward, his foot caught subtly on the edge of a Persian rug, and he stumbled slightly, catching himself before any real fall. He pushed a stray lock of dark-brown hair from his forehead, a faint flush coloring his cheeks, his attention fixed solely on Viana now.

"Arden," Viana said, her voice even. "Just the person I was looking for." She gestured towards Cooper. "This is Cooper. He will be staying with me here at the palace."

Arden straightened his tunic, his movements a touch uncertain as he looked from Viana to the boy. "A... a pleasure to meet you, Cooper," he stammered slightly, his voice calm but with an underlying hint of awkwardness.

He offered a small, hesitant smile, his gaze returning to the Princess.

Viana continued, her gaze firm as she addressed Arden. "I want you to oversee Cooper’s education. He needs to learn. Everything. History, mathematics, languages. All that a young noble would learn, and more. Begin as soon as possible."

Arden’s eyes widened, a flicker of genuine enthusiasm replacing his usual reserved air, almost as if the request itself energized him. He clutched the scroll he carried a little tighter.

"Princess," he replied, his voice gaining a hurried energy. "That... that would be quite... delightful! An excellent initiative. I will make all necessary arrangements. Immediately. I have some fascinating texts on ancient history that would be quite suitable for a curious young mind such as his—"

Viana offered a small, satisfied nod, cutting off his burgeoning monologue. "Thank you, Arden. I trust you with this."

Her tone was polite and direct, without further encouragement for his obvious enthusiasm.

Arden, still looking a bit eager and slightly off-balance, bowed quickly, his precise movements marred by a slight tilt. He turned and left the library, his footsteps quieter now, his mind already undoubtedly consumed with lesson plans and obscure educational theories.

Cooper looked from Viana to the door where Arden had disappeared, a new kind of weight settling on him – the weight of expectation, of lessons.

As they explored more, Cooper’s natural curiosity started to become stronger than his caution. He still held back sometimes, a lingering fear of being scolded or punished.

But Viana’s consistent kindness slowly wore away his wariness. He would sometimes use a phrase from the slums without thinking, a common street saying.

Then he would quickly stop and look at Viana with worry. She would simply offer a small, understanding smile.

His manners, while polite for his background, were still unrefined. But Viana seemed to look past that. She saw only the boy, the wonder in his eyes, the simple joy in small discoveries.

As evening began to settle, painting the palace windows in shades of orange and purple, Viana led Cooper back to his new room. He still moved with a slight hesitation, but the tension had left his shoulders.

He looked at his grand bed, then back at Viana. "Thank you, Princess," he said. His voice was clear this time. A genuine thankfulness was in his small words.

Viana smiled, warmth in her eyes. "Rest well, Cooper. This is your home now." She left him in the comforting glow of the room.

The smell of warmth and fresh linen filled the air. As she walked away, a quiet satisfaction settled within her.

This small act of kindness felt like a significant victory. It was a quiet defiance against the harshness of the past.

***

Days turned into a routine for Viana, a disciplined rhythm quite unlike her earlier life. Her mornings began early, not with courtly duties, but in a small, seldom-used chamber adjacent to the royal archives.

This room, stripped of the usual palace opulence, contained only a large, heavy oak table, a worn map stand, and shelves filled with military texts. Here, she immersed herself in the intricacies of war.

It was an uncommon path for a princess. Most spent their hours on diplomacy, statecraft, or cultural pursuits. Viana chose strategy.

She studied historical campaigns, analyzing the movements of armies, the logic of sieges, the unforgiving consequences of flawed logistics. Large, detailed maps were spread across the table, charting terrain and probable enemy lines.

She traced routes with a steady finger, calculating supply lines, predicting troop movements. Her mind worked with a focused intensity, absorbing tactical principles, discerning patterns of victory and defeat.

Reyes, her chief knight, would often observe her from the doorway. His presence was a silent acknowledgment of her unusual dedication. He saw her pouring over ancient texts, their pages detailing forgotten battles, or sketching troop formations.

It was a rigorous curriculum, one typically reserved for seasoned generals, not royal heirs. The court whispers of her unusual studies were muted, but present. Some found it eccentric; others, unsettling.

Viana paid little attention to such talk. Her focus remained sharp. She moved through the day with purpose.

Afternoon hours were sometimes spent with Arden, discussing not just Cooper’s progress, but also abstract strategic theories.

Arden, despite his usual academic demeanor, possessed an unexpected grasp of military history, eager to debate the merits of a flanking maneuver versus a direct assault, or the role of reconnaissance in a complex campaign. His enthusiasm, though sometimes awkward, was a stark counterpoint to the gravity of the subject.

She understood the weight of her learning. This was not mere academic exercise. The kingdom faced internal and external pressures.

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.