BGM Set
[X] These are just more lessons. Study diligently.
[X] Spend time with your mother.
[X] Your mother does something cool.
You've come up with a term for a significant subset of your lessons: 'Princessing' lessons. They cover all sorts of things like the difference between a Baron and an Earl, the proper way to greet nobles of varying stations, refined tabled manners, how to dress appropriately for each situation, and many other skills. Nobles of all stripes learn most of this, but you especially are expected to be able to comport yourself with the dignity and grace befitting a Gallian Princess. You take this to heart, studying diligently to be a Princess that can make your mother proud.
You learn how to carry yourself with a certain gravitas and elegance that you didn't have before. Combined with your vaguely other-worldly features, you have a definite presence in everything you do, even at your extremely young age. Eyes are naturally drawn to you, and people will remember things you do and say more strongly. The old maid in charge of your lessons confided that you're the best student she's ever had, and she's taught multiple generations of royalty. She says you still have a long way to go, though.
Trait increased: Diligent F+
New Skill: Royal Demeanor F
It's bugging you, so you ask your mother about her preoccupation during your birthday party. She sighs as she explains her behavior. "Oh.. I'm so sorry, Charlotte. It's just- I don't want to let any of those horrible nobles anywhere near you. The royal palace is tightly guarded, but on an occasion like your birthday, they might try to show up. I know.. I won't be able to hold them off forever. We'll have to deal with them eventually.. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have worried you. I love celebrating your birthday with you."
You're reassured. It was silly to believe she might think ill of you. So many of the people you interact with are terrified of you, look down on you, or just don't like you, that you feel a bit of insecurity that it might spread to the ones you love. You don't think you could take it if your mother looked at you with fearful eyes. You hug your mother tightly, savoring her warmth. She holds you in her arms, and you both feel the powerful bond of mother and child. No matter what, you'll always be able to ask her for help, and she'll always be there for you.
--
You're walking to your room when you're interrupted by a voice calling out to you from across the hallway.
"You.."
"What?" You turn to face the speaker. You vaguely recognize him as one of the servants who works here, having seen him around occasionally. He has an an arm behind his back, and a cornered look in his eyes as he stares intensely back at you. He starts gibbering to himself madly as he slowly approaches you with measured steps.
"Unholy thing.. demon's spawn.. I have to get rid of it.."
"U-um.." You start retreating slowly, not really sure what's going on. His intentions are suddenly blindingly clear when the hand behind his back reveals itself to have an enormous butcher's cleaver in its grasp. You scream, loudly, and dash in the opposite direction, flight instincts telling you to get as far away as possible. He chases you, his longer gait threatening to quickly overtake you.
"Die!! Die..!"
You find your feet carrying you to your bedroom, your heartbeat racing as you dash in and slam the door shut as fast as you can. The servant smashes headlong into the wooden frame right as it closes. Glancing around, there aren't any other exits.. but your room is safe, right? Now that you're basically trapped in here, you don't know why you thought that. Loud banging assaults your eardrums. Somehow, he's tearing through the door with raw strength. You didn't even get a chance to lock it, but he's not even bothering with the doorknob. All you can do is cower, jumping every time the axe cleaves through the door.
Before long, it's blasted completely off its hinges and he comes roaring into the room, giving you a good look at your assailant. He's completely unhinged. His appearance is so monstrous, with bloodshot eyes, foam dribbling from his mouth, and screaming bloody murder, that you are utterly terrified. You huddle in the corner of your room, gazing fearfully at your attacker as he rapidly approaches you with his cleaver raised high. You close your eyes as he swings downward, but the killing stroke never comes.
Your mother's voice is the herald of your salvation. It holds none of its usual warmth, only a cold fury. "Ice Prison."
The crazed servant's ankles are quickly covered in rapidly forming ice. He panics, trying desperately to swing his axe at you, but you've already dashed out of his reach, and he can't move. He tries throwing it at you instead, but the ice has already spread up and encased his arms, halting his throw. In total, it only took a few seconds for him to be completely covered in a large block of ice, but they were the longest seconds of your life. You collapse onto the bed wearily.
Your mother rushes over to you, looking over you intently. "Are you alright, Charlotte?"
"Mm.. you're pretty, mommy." You're not sure why you said that. Your thoughts are kind of muddled, now that the intense situation has abruptly ended. You just ended up blurting out whatever came across your mind first.
Your mother looks embarrassed. "A-ah.. you've never seen me in my mage's regalia, have you?"
You shake your head negatively, looking at the staff she has gripped in her hands. She really does look pretty; her hair is pulled back in a pony-tail, and she's wearing a modest skirt and ornate deep blue cape that stretches down all the way past her knees. Mostly you look at the gorgeous staff gripped in her hands; it's taller than you are, the head inlaid with glimmering gemstones and the wood keenly polished. Your mother's presence helps you calm yourself.
"What will happen to him?" You reach for the solid block of ice, staring at the man's fearsome expression frozen in time. Your mother slaps your hand away before your fingers brush across it.
"Don't touch it," she chides you gently. She thinks on your question for a moment before replying with a smile that doesn't reach her eyes. "He'll be locked up far away. He won't be able to attack you anymore."
Your mother is lying to you. You know her well enough to be able to tell. If she's lying about something like this, it must mean this man is going to be executed for attacking you. It makes you sad. He wasn't driven by hatred or bloodlust, he was just terrified. There's nothing you can say to change his fate, assuming you wanted to. He did try to kill you, no matter his reasons. Still, you didn't realize the servants' paranoia was this strong. It makes you wonder if that's all there is to it. Did he really go that insane without any outside intervention?
You survived a near-death experience. You realize how short life is, and resolve to make the most of the time you have. The next free time action will have increased effectiveness.
You turned eight today. Your mother was extra-paranoid, using the attack on your person to justify increased security, and allowing both of you to have a quiet birthday celebration. It won't last forever. You are directly in the line of succession to the throne of Gallia; you must be seen by the other nobles, at least occasionally. The small amount you've seen of your peers has not given you a good impression. None of them are warm and kind like your mother or late father; you want as little to do with them as possible. Your lessons are at least valuable in learning how to deal with unpleasant things. You will surely have to put them to use in the future.
Thinking of your lessons, your mother told you that there aren't any tutors left for you. Apparently, it was decided that only she should be the one to teach her child. You're not sure how this was justified, but you're sure some twisted rationale was involved. You wonder what happened to the old maid. You liked her; she was too elderly to be scared off or intimidated by a little girl. Your mother will have to take time off of her other duties to give you lessons, and she won't be able to practice magic as much. You want to find a solution to this if you can.
Regarding your education:
[ ] You like learning from your mother, even if she has to sacrifice a lot of time for your sake. Things are fine as is.
[ ] Try to find a servant qualified to be a tutor who isn't terrified of you and arrange some secret lessons.
[ ] Attempt to convince your mother that she doesn't need to sacrifice too much of her time for your sake, and that you can do a lot of self-studying.
[ ] Try to find out what happened to the rest of your tutors; if your mother doesn't know or can't tell you, maybe you could ask your uncle, the King?
[ ] Something else. (Write-in.)
What do you do in your free time?
[ ] Work on your 'special' talents.
[ ] Spend time with your mother.
[ ] Exploring the castle, eavesdropping on castle residents.
[ ] Practicing your 'Princessing' skills; interacting with visiting nobles, practicing knights, the servants, etc.
[ ] Read in the library.
- [ ] What books? (Write-in.)
A breakthrough, your abilities have increased:
[ ] You find another way to use your Nerve Control ability.
[ ] You learn how to make a specific type of wire-animal.
[ ] Your healing ability has a 'remember wounds' setting.
[ ] You discover how to use willpower far earlier than should be possible.