Princess Nandini's POV

WHOOSH~

The tip of the dragger pierced the wooden target.

"Princess this is the first time you will going to attend the royal ball of Minnagara. Why don't you look excited?"

"There's nothing to be excited for" I traced my finger over the sharp edge of the dragger. I could feel the cooling in my skin.

"Princess Soma and Hansika was too excited. I saw their maids were going in and out of the palace now and then. They had already asked for the new jewelry sets to wear in the ball" Hanna informed.

My lips formed into a smirk, "looks like Queen wants to show her elegant daughters in the ball. Of course, she would want to form some kind of relationship with the great power. If one of her daughter get the upper hand, she could use it subdue me more and drag father to his side to do what she wants"

"His majesty won't" Hanna gasped, "his majesty has always favoured you even if there's some chaos. He loves you the most"

I know that. Father did treated me well even though I have always ruined his image and prestige. He cared for me, that's why I am still in my first princess position. I know how much Queen wanted my position to give it to Soma. But her every attempt was refused by father. Father always loved mother. He wouldn't have married again if the court and ministers forced him for the sake of the country. Afterall how can king rule without a queen and a male hair by his side? If I was a prince, maybe father would have rejected the proposal yet, I was a girl and he needs someone to sucess him and bring the tradition forward.

"There's no doubt" I said and threw the dragger towards the target again which pierced the middle of the wood discarding the first dragger.

"Princess your action is so smooth. You have mastered this field" Hanna smiled.

I have been practicing using the dragger technique for 2 years. I wanted to show this skill to Prince Harish to get his attention. But who knew it was never worth it. My learning the skills which a princess never should was all for that crazy admiration. I shook my head. But I am glad, I did. Afterall, I got something to hold onto. I couldn't live like my past self anymore. And to perform the change, I definitely need something to hold onto.

"Princess master will be happy to see how smooth you can use the dragger now. May be his majesty will be shocked to learn about you. You have leaned such skills yet, you never showed them to anyone, not even his majesty"

"It doesn't matter. My skills are not something to show off. Father will faint if he knows what I learnt secretly. Afterall, which princess would go for leaning such thing instead of mastering music and other delicate courses?"

"But you know how to play those music instrument and sing. You even know how to form poetry yet second and third princess always finds a way to pick on you" she huffed.

I smiled "because I was more engaged into chasing than improving myself"

"What are you going to do now?" Hanna asked holding the dragger case. She recollected all the thrown dragger and placed it back in the case.

"It's enough for today. I guess I should pick some dress for me too. Afterall I couldn't lose face in the ball"

"Princess do you want me to order the trailor to make few new traditional cloths for you?"

"No need" I smiled I have something more in my mind. I don't need other's chosen design. Let's go" I said walking out of the secret training place. This place was hidden at the back of the garden. Two willow trees covered the rock which also covered the secret path way. I found this place when I was young. I used to come here and cried thinking about mother. After growing up, I made this place as my secret place later it was turned into secret training field for me. Except me and Hanna no one knows the existence of this place.

As we walked through the garden I heard a whoosh sound. I moved my body to dodge and grabbed the thing shoot towards my direction.

"Princess are you alright?" Hanna jumped in shock. Her eyes widened as she looked at me. I frowned at arrow in my hand.

"Who blocked my target" there come an accusing voice. I looked up to see Dhanuk, the young Prince of Salaga and youngest son of the queen. He was 15 years old and shaped with arrogance. Behind him there was few males around his age. It looks like his friends.

"Blocked?" I raised an eyebrow "is this the way to practice archery?"

Dhanuk frowned "It's a practice field of course I can practice archery. Besides you don't even know anything about archery, who are you to tell me that?" His friends behind him snickered. This little guy don't know how to give respect to his elder sister yet he disrespect me infront of others. He does has some guts. In the past I never gave attention to him because I never faced him much other than some occasions.

"You should know your limits and manner to talk little prince.   Disrespecting your elders is what you learnt from your royal teachers?"

He smirked "says the one who is famous for being unruly?" This time his friends laughed. "You really don't have the right to teach me anything when your reputation is already a waste"

"How dare you?" Hanna yelled "is this how you talk to the great princess?"

Dhanuk laughed "great princess? It sounds more like a joke"

"You-" Hanna was about to shout when I raised my hand stopping him. I stepped closer to him.

"Looks like, the Queen couldn't get proper teachers to serve the little prince. To use such words for his sister, ruining the image infront of outsiders is something father will appreciate more. Father should really know your mannerism. I expect he will definitely see audience with you"

Dhanuk's expression changed instantly. His eyes hold the fear hearing the word 'father'. He looked at me with wide eyes.

"Are you afraid?" I laughed raising the arrow I was holding and pointed the tip to his face, "is this the arrow you are talking about?"

He looked at the arrow "how-how did you grabbed it?" He looked shocked.

"I must say little prince, your power of throwing the arrow was not satisfactory, see it ended up in my hand. Don't you think you need more practice to get the perfection?" I mocked.

"This is not true" he shook his head "how could you grab the flying arrow just like that?"

I laughed again "I have told you, your power was not satisfactory enough which resulted your arrow to land in my hands. For a prince like you who couldn't even throw an arrow to some distance can you consider it reliable enough? Wasn't it too shameful to show. Father won't be happy if he hears about poor performance. You need to see yourself first before going out and mocking others. If you continued to stay like this, maybe in future you will and up being only the prince in title"

It was quite harsh to say such thing but this little brat need to know whom he is dealing with? If he think he can over power me because his mother is queen then I would like to see if he has such abilities. Right now his expression was quite funny and his friends couldn't smile anymore. I traced the surface of the arrow and felt it's smooth texture.

"Since you are unable to hit the target then let me show you how to" as I finished, I moved my arm avs threw the arrow towards the target placed little further from us. With a 'whoosh' the arrow flew in rage and hit the target. I heard gasp from behind. Dusting my hand and turned back to him only to find him stunned as he looked at the place where the arrow stuck.

"See, how much you need to improve yourself. Next time when you are out with your friends boosting your power, don't shame the nane of Sagal like today. Others will laugh at you" I mocked before turning around and leaving him there. I could be careless about others watchful eyes. Things time I am holding back anymore.

"Princess, Prince Dhanuk is utterly shocked. He looked like he couldn't believe his own eyes" Hanna said.

"That little brat needs to take a lesson. I will see after today he had that gut to mock me whether it's in private or public" I smirked.

"I really admire your strength Princess. You never showed it off"

I smiled at her words. Now I admire myself. I never put myself above but from today onwards, it will only be me.

"Let's hurry, we need to prepare for the travel" I said as we entered the palace. There's a ball which getting in my nerves now. But little did I know, this ball will be different from the past where more exciting adventures are waiting ahead.

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Can you imagine little Prince's expression? 😂

Little Prince - 😰