As soon as I entered the huge meeting room, everyone who had already gathered there hushed to silence. They all bowed from their waists and then took a knee, putting one hand on it while pressing the other arm against their chests, with their fists clenched over their hearts. They all kept their heads low. I suppressed the urge to roll my eyes. Everyone was being so dramatic. They treated me like I was already the queen. They normally didn’t have to bow before me like this, and they also didn’t have to call me Madame yet either. This kind of bow was typically reserved for a king, queen, or both and only a queen got called Madame. A princess was usually addressed as Mademoiselle or milady, but for as long as I could remember everyone had always called me Madame. I remembered I had thought that was weird when I had learned about the royal titles. Of course, I had asked this question to my instructor.
Apparently, I had a lot of magical power. I even had a special skill; I could control the weather. Obviously, witches and warlocks could always control the elements — the weather included — to an extent because of their magic. But apparently, I had been able to control the weather during the last three months of my mom being pregnant with me. Pregnant witches always wore a bracelet blocking their own magic and therefore blocking their child's magic as well to prevent it from going crazy. Witches and warlocks were born with magic and already had it during the last few months of the pregnancy. The day and time I was born, I had created an enormous storm, containing hail, snow, lightning, and thunder, and afterwards the whole country had suffered under a snowstorm for a week. It was said witches and warlocks born with such power were destined for greatness. The media had probably gotten inspiration for my nickname because of this event. Honestly, they ought to call me the queen of weather or something like that, but I guessed that was not dramatic enough. The media liked to create sensation and drama around me.
“Stand up, please,” I said.
I scanned over the people in the room as they stood back up. I recognised a lot of them. Most of them were from the elite class and therefore members of the Council. I also recognised a few Commanders and Generals from other Warrior divisions. I greeted people as I walked through the room.
“Your tattoo has expanded a lot, Madame,” someone commented from behind me.
The back of my dress only reached halfway up my back, leaving my shoulders exposed and my tattoo clearly visible. I turned around to face the Council member.
“Not that much actually,” I answered.
I had killed three creatures over the past few days, just like my first time. I was a bit disappointed, I normally killed more.
“She’s just being humble and setting way too high goals for herself, Council member. I’m afraid I’m just going to repeat myself, but at this rate, you’ll die from overworking yourself, Madame,” someone next to me said.
I knew that voice very well. It was Maurice. He had come up to me and now stood at my side. I turned my head to look at him and smiled a bit. He wore a tuxedo; he had also dressed up for this event.
“Maurice, my Commander, you know I usually kill more than three.”
“I want to bet he stole some kills from you, Madame,” the man said, who had just joined our group.
I recognised him as the General of another division of Warriors. I raised my eyebrow. I was suspicious of this remark. It wasn’t very respectful towards Maurice. He made it sound like Maurice was deliberately holding me back or sabotaging me.
“Why would he do that?” I asked.
“To make sure you don’t end your Warrior’s career with more than two hundred kills,” the General answered in a serious tone.
I was even more suspicious now. I knew a lot of people were already betting on how many kills I would have by the end of my Warrior’s career. Was he implying Maurice — my Commander, teacher, and mentor — had placed a bet on me?
“Do you mean because of the bets?” I asked with a dangerous tone in my voice.
The General realised his mistake now. He suddenly became uncomfortable, shifting on his feet.
“I would never bet on my own General and future queen,” Maurice responded in a serious tone.
This made the general feel even worse. He was very embarrassed now and almost turned red.
Thank you, Maurice, I internally said to my commander.
“No, I don’t mean it that way. I meant your tattoo expands with each kill, Madame. It would be such a shame if that leopard disappeared between all those snowflakes.”
Why would he be concerned about my tattoo? It was mine, and it was on my body.
“It’s not just a leopard, it’s obviously a snow leopard, and it’s my tattoo, my body. I don’t really see what’s wrong with a snow leopard being surrounded by snow; that’s their natural habitat. Each snowflake represents one less demon in this world. Each snowflake is a mark I wear with pride because it gives us all hope, confidence, and comfort. Each snowflake means Mysaulia is safe,” I responded in a harsh manner.
The general pointed his gaze down. “I do realise that. My apologies, Madame,” he said regretfully.
“Please go,” was my short answer.
He nodded shortly, turned around and left me alone with the Council member and Maurice.
“I must admit it’s my pleasure to be your partner in crime in helping you live up to your nickname, Madame,” Maurice said.
I looked at him. He had a wide smile on his face. I liked having him around. Formal events like this one were always more fun with him around. He mostly acted formally towards me, but he knew I sometimes acted colder and harsher than normal, to mock my own nickname. He had known me for almost six years now, and he knew how much I hated the media and the attention.
“Thank you, Maurice.”
He smiled even more now. At that moment, my parents finally entered the room. Since they were the king and queen, everyone bowed from their waist and kneeled again like they had done when I had entered. Even I did this. Yes, they were my parents, but during formal events like this one, they were this country’s rulers. I carefully kneeled, paying attention so as not to damage my dress. Luckily, my very formal dresses were wide at the bottom, giving me some space for my legs.
“Thank you, that will do,” my father said.
We all stood up again and turned our attention and gaze towards my parents.
“Let’s celebrate the glorious victory and return of our precious Royal Warriors,” my father announced, and he snapped his fingers, activating his magic.
Several plates flew towards the guests. They were overloaded with food and glasses filled with an orange fluid, which was some kind of nectar. The party had finally officially started.
*****
After the party had ended, I went back to my room and got ready for bed. I was pretty exhausted from the past few days and from walking almost all day today. It wasn’t that late yet, but I decided I’d get up later than usual tomorrow morning and take it easier. I would still do some training, but I would do less and get more rest in between sessions.
The next day, I got up late — well, to my standards at least; other people wouldn’t call it late. It was like nine o’clock, which was still a decent time to wake up. The sun had already risen fully but was far from reaching its highest point. I put on some black trousers and a black shirt since it wouldn’t be too hot today. After breakfast, I started with my usual routine, which meant I went running around the palace grounds. I ran through the gardens and between the different buildings, but I ran slower than I normally would. After my morning run, I went to the training grounds and practised throwing some knives at a target. Some other Warriors and Hunters were also training here.
The difference between Warriors and Hunters was that Warriors were generally more brutish and used more force; they were physically stronger and had more endurance. Hunters on the other hand used more stealth, speed, and accuracy. Hunters were also more tactical; they always thought their plans through very thoroughly. Another difference was that Hunters worked individually, while Warriors fought in units. Warriors were sent to fight the demon-like creatures from The Great Darkness, while Hunters acted as scouts, were sent out on diplomatic missions, or were asked to check up on the werewolves, vampires, and hybrids in Mysaulia. Most werewolves, vampires, and hybrids lived in their own respective countries; only if they fled from their own country because they had picked a fight with the wrong individual, they’d come to Mysaulia. Werewolves and vampires both made up roughly two percent each of Mysaulia’s population, while hybrids made up only one percent.
I thought I had practised enough with throwing knives now, so I started cleaning up the area, walking up to my target to get the blades out of it. At that moment, my mom arrived at the training grounds. All the Warriors and Hunters immediately stopped what they were doing and dropped all their weapons. They bowed from their waists and knelt. This wasn’t a formal event, so I only bowed from my waist and held my head down while holding one arm against my body with my clenched fist over my heart. I didn’t need to kneel when I encountered my parents during the day. Inside the palace, I didn’t even need to bow or nod to them unless there was a formal event. But now I was outside, amongst Warriors and Hunters, so I greeted my own mother.
She walked towards me, and I moved my head to look at her. We shared the same kind of face, with the same green eyes, and we both had long, blonde hair. I was taller than she was, so I had to look down slightly.
“Madison, dear, can you please walk with me for a bit so we can talk?” she asked.
I nodded and left the knives and the target behind. I walked with her over the palace grounds. Only after we had left the training grounds did the Warriors and Hunters get back up. The training grounds were a part of the palace grounds; they were located just behind the Warrior and Hunter buildings, where they all could practice. The elite class rarely came to the training grounds, unless they were Warriors, Hunters, or both — just like I was.
“Is there a reason why you want to talk to me?” I asked.
I rarely saw my parents since I had turned thirteen. We lived separate lives and had other priorities; they were mostly royal and had royal affairs to deal with while I was mostly a Warrior and a Hunter. I ate separately during breakfast and lunch and had my training in between. I only saw them during dinner, when we ate together.
“I know you’ve only just returned from battle with the Royal Warriors, but the Council has a very special request for you,” she said.
I could hear through her words what she meant: I would get an assignment as a Hunter.
“What is the assignment?” I asked directly.
“You know there have been a lot of attacks at the border with Naremia the past few months, right?”
It was unnecessary of her to ask that. Of course, I knew about that matter. I had only been away with the Royal Warriors for a couple of days. The attacks had been happening for a while already. But she wanted to prepare me for what would come after her question. She wouldn’t say it like this if the Council just wanted me to investigate the attacks. There was more to this.
“The Council had sent a message with the suggestion to discuss a peace treaty with Naremia. We got a message back yesterday. The king of Naremia asked to send a diplomat to negotiate a place, time, and other requirements for those talks,” she continued.
Peace treaty talks usually took a few days, this was why diplomats were sent to negotiate the demands for the place and times when all parties would come together to start discussing the peace treaty.
“I assume the Council has chosen me for this job?” I asked.
“Yes. We think you’re the best option for this assignment.”
This was one of the rare moments she didn’t refer to the Council in the third person, even though she and my dad were both part of it.
“I hope you realise it’s risky to send the crown princess to a foreign country. Our diplomats are Hunters, and they aren’t popular amongst supernaturals.”
“We are aware of that issue. But you’ll be undercover, and you won’t wear your star.”
In a way, that made sense, but it would also be an issue. When I wore my golden star, everyone knew I was a Hunter. Not wearing it would be a protective measure. The only problem was that they wouldn’t immediately be able to recognise me as a diplomat from Mysaulia when I would arrive at the palace.
“I hope they will let me enter,” I said.
“It was their request to send a diplomat, so they’ll be expecting you. I don’t think that will be a problem.”
“Why me? I only just returned yesterday.”
I brought up so many counterarguments since I wasn’t really happy about this assignment. First, I had gotten a few back-to-back missions with the Royal Warriors, and I wasn’t even back for a full day before I got a new assignment as a Hunter. I didn’t really want to deal with the royal hybrids from Naremia. I wasn’t a fan of the supernaturals. No Hunter was. My mom sighed.
“Madison, one day, you’ll have encounters with the current king or the crown prince of Naremia. It’s in everyone’s best interest if you get to know them now, and this way they’ll have the opportunity to get to know you personally, too. You’ll be able to maintain a healthy relationship with our neighbours. You also know what’s best for our country, and you know better than anyone else what we want and need.”
“But they won’t know it’s me.”
“No, not this time, but they’ll probably realise it was you later on.”
So, I needed to make a good impression. During my training as a Hunter, I had learned hybrids were unnatural, wrong, and beasts, just like werewolves and vampires. This wouldn’t be easy. I would have to really watch myself and pay attention to what I’d do and say.
“I’ll do my best,” I said, giving in.
“Good. You’ll have a bit of preparation and rest before you leave. You’ll be leaving in exactly a week.”
That was good news. I would still get time to catch my breath. I didn’t need much preparation. I only needed to stop applying the red dye in my hair and dye it all a totally different colour. I nodded as a sign that I agreed.