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Cerberus meowed, pulled away from Maris to rub herself against Valda’s pants.

“Are we done?” Maris asked, standing up and walking to Valda, ignoring the groaning men surrounding them.

Valda nodded at Maris’s question and smirked. “Yes. I think that was a good start, don’t you think?”

“I think you shouldn’t be straining yourself. You need to rest.”

“I’ve rested enough,” Valda muttered.

Maris shrugged. In part, it was true, Valda hadn’t left her chamber for weeks, and although she clearly regained her strength and energy, she was still getting used to not seeing.

“I can feel you are tense.”

“Are your guards always so enthusiastic about training you and beating you up?”

“It is an honor to train with the High Commander of the Skylian army.”

“They were ecstatic about hurting you.”

“I can’t see their body language. You can. I think they were just happy to be participating in such training,” Valda said, squeezing Maris’s shoulder. “I can take care of myself, Maris.”

Sighing, Maris patted Valda’s hand to get her attention while Cerberus ran in front of them, waving her puffy tail from side to side. “What now? Do you want to get something to eat? Sit down and relax?” She hoped the princess would say yes. She needed to keep her out of trouble.

“I want to go out. To Ophelia Plaza.”

“Now?” Maris tensed again, and Valda chuckled.

“Yes, but I understand it wouldn’t be prudent.”

That was an understatement. There were so many things she didn’t like about the idea. The first one being that the princess was blind, and if her own guards wanted to make a joke out of her, Maris didn’t want to imagine what would happen when ordinary citizens knew about Valda. The second one being Maris hated being outside and surrounded by people. The constant antisocial behavior from her parents had rubbed off on her. She would rather stay indoors than go out.

“I don’t think you should just yet.” Valda’s hand on her shoulder tightened. She knew Valda itched to do more, to go back to normal, but she needed to be patient and wait to heal.

“I wish to be among my people.”

“Is that wise?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, would it be wise for you to be out and about the castle, with no protection and mingling?”

“I serve and protect my people. They protect me too.”

Maris tutted and shook her head. “You trust too much…”

“And you trust too little. I haven’t been given a reason not to trust them. They loved my father, adore my mother, and they love me too.” Valda nodded.

“I cannot tell you what to do, Princess. If you wish to roam about, we could. I do wish I could take a guard with us, though.”

“No guards.”

Maris frowned and raised an eyebrow at Valda. “No guards?”

“Did I stutter?”

Maris opened her mouth before being interrupted by one of the many castle maids. Kayden was in the castle and had requested to see Valda.

Maris tensed. Kayden was back in the castle but the queen wasn’t? Did something happen? Turning her gaze to Valda, the princess’s facial expression dim with worry. She wouldn’t say it out loud, but Maris had grown to detect the subtle changes in Valda’s demeanor, and knew when something was wrong.