IT'S BEEN FIVE DAYS since Antanasia and Akari have been playmates and she still hasn't talked to her father yet about her wanting to study in arlanta. today they're at Antanasia's chamber chilling, Akari noticed that her friend was in deep thought so she spoke up. "still haven't decided on going to arlanta, Nas?" Akari asked as she sipped her milk.

the princess snapped back from her trance as she looked at Akari and tried to process what to respond, and then she answered. "I don't know how to approach dad about it since he might say no immediately." the girl closes her eyes as she munches her cookie. "make sense since his majesty is quite protective of you. also, it'll be great to study there." Akari said while looking at her friend then continued talking. "I mean we had a dorm there. I'm sure his majesty will say yes to that. you can try to persuade that magician if you want."

"that magician you're talking to is a playmate of Athy so I can't let him join me in arlanta." she sighed as she stared at the big window beside her. "I'll try to talk to dad about this," Antanasia said. hopefully, Claude will allow her.

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after a long stern conversation and many convincing. "are you sure that's what you want?" Claude asks as he looks at his daughter. they are in the Emperor's office right now. Claude was sitting down on his chair while his daughter was standing in front of his desk. the girl nods as she didn't avert her eyes from her father.

"I'll be fine Dad. Plus Akari updated me saying that her parents are coming there to escort us they're a teacher in there too. I know that you trust them right." She reassures her father again a hundred times. " and I promise I'll try to send you a letter every week!" It was silent for a minute.

"I hired decent professional teachers here at the palace to teach you and yet you still want to go there?" Antanasia sighs.

"dad…" she mutters. "You know it's not like that, I cherish being here with you and Athy but… there's still a lot for me to experience, and lingering here in the palace can't give me that." Claude sighs in defeat as he leans on his seat. realising that her daughter also inherited her mother's stubbornness and he knows too well that he won't win this one not only that he's surprised how mature her daughter is when she's only ten years old.

Claude looks away from his daughter. "Alright… don't forget to send me a letter once a week-" before he could finish his sentence Antanasia hugged his father as the emperor was taken aback for a few seconds before patting his daughter's back.

"I promise dad! I'll send letters to you every week!" she retreats from the hug and she smiles widely. Claude just stared at his daughter. the door creaks open as both the emperor and princess looked to see who it was.

"sissy is leaving?" Athanasia asked as she looked so sad as she stepped into the Emperor's office. Antanasia looks at her sister before sighing and approaching her sister. "Athy… I am going to arlanta but it'll be only for a while. I promise to write you a letter once a week too." Athanasia then throws herself in her sister's arms and hugs her tightly.

"why?" she asked. "do you have to go?" she sniffs as she hugs her older sister tightly. the older princess comforted her sister afterwards. she tried convincing her but her decision is clear.

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the two princesses and the magician are talking right now in the emerald palace, spending the day before Antanasia leaves to go to arlanta.

"you know you can just play with Lucas while I'm gone," Antanasia teased her sister while eating some sweets.

"I'd rather join you than be stuck with him." she huffs as she rolls her eyes.

"you know I'm here right?" 

"why are you even here can't you see I'm spending time with my sister since she'll be gone for a while." Athanasia angrily said.

"because I want to. But Nas why do you even want to go there? perhaps you want to be close to mr white’s son?" Lucas lazily said.

"I'm already friends with him though so no. I just want to get out of here and explore. so don't miss me that much." she jokingly said.

"tsk… as if. but here you should wear this," he said while giving Nas a bracelet.

"a bracelet? What a lovely gift you gave me Lucas but why is that?" she asked.

"for protection, idiot. there's magic inside that bracelet. if something happens to you I would instantly know, so make sure to wear it always." he casually said to her.

"thank you, Lucas you're so nice." Nas then pats his head.

"whatever."

'I feel like a third wheel here' Athanasia thought, not wanting to disturb them. she slowly got off the chair, moving back and away from them, probably because she thinks they’ll be all lovey-dovey together.

“Oi Athy, where are you going?-” Antanasia caught the little girl, making her sweat drop, catching the girl’s idea. “don’t worry, Athy. You aren’t disturbing us. Now come here~” She spread her arms apart in a welcoming manner.

Athanasia walked towards her and got on the couch, crawling towards her sister and into her embrace. smiles filled their faces while Lucas felt left out. He just stared at them with a bland expression, slightly jealous of Athy, knowing that she won’t feel the princess’s embrace.

"enough of you two hugging. when are you going to arlanta?" Lucas asked Nas while eating sweets.

"well, Akari said that we'll go in three days so yeah." Nas casually said to the magician. "when will you come back?" Lucas asked the white-haired girl. "Depends." That is what she all said.

the day eventually came for Antanasia to leave for arlanta. "Nas are you sure you won't stay?" Athanasia said as she hugs her older sister earning a soft laugh from the girl.

"Athy, we talked about this already. don't worry I'll send you letters once a week," she said as she pats Athy's head.

"don't forget to send me letters every week." the emperor reminded her as they were here to see the older princess off. the older princess smiled.

"I won't dad." she looks at her sister. "Athy I have to go or we won't be able to catch the ship." Athy sighed as she hesitantly let go of her. Nas looks at Lucas and his father then smiles.

"have a safe trip, your highness," Lucas said as he bowed.

"I will Lucas." she then nodded at Felix and Lily before stepping into the carriage. when the door closed and the carriage started moving. she heard her sister yelling.

"have a safe trip, Nas!" Nas looks out the window in the seat of the carriage and then waved her hand while smiling at her. "I will! don't miss me too much!" she smiled and sat properly. 

the duke and the duchess will be waiting for her at the port with Akari so she won't be alone on the ship. when she finally arrives, the setsuko family and their servants/guards are waiting for her. she steps down the carriage and hugs her friend Akari. "Hello, Akari I miss you!" She yelled as Akari just looked at her dumbfounded. "your high- Nas we just met four days ago." she said to the white-haired girl.

"hello, your highness it's a pleasure to meet you." the duke said as he slightly bows. "same goes for you, duke Daniel."

"my, my it's true that you're matured at your age, your highness like my daughter here." the duchess said as she smiled sweetly at her.

"ah thank you for your compliment, Duchess Alanya." 

"now we should get going or else we will miss the ship." they all nodded as the duke ordered his servants to get the princess's belongings in the carriage. 

they were happily talking when suddenly a man who has black hair and black eyes greeted the princess. "you must be princess antanasia." the man bowed. "glory and blessing upon the first star of the obelian empire." nas raised an eyebrow. it's him. anastacius. his dead uncle. he has a smirk on his face as he eyed the princess. 'If only I wasn't related to him I would probably be jennette's stepmother already' nas thought jokingly.

the duke stands in front of antanasia completely shielding the princess from the man. "excuse us, we have a ship to catch. there's no need for a formal greeting stranger." the duke glares at the man as the duchess also pulls nas and akari aside who also glared at the man as they try to shield the princess as well. some guards of the duke also started to be alerted around the man.

"of course my apologies." the man smirked at the duke before glimpsing at the princess one last time and started walking away. nas swore her heart was about to burst when she saw him. the duke sighs in relief.

"we should get going now before we get more things like those." the duke sighed as he looked at the princess concerned. 

"your right dear." she then puts her hand on both of nas' shoulders. "walk between us your highness." the duchess stated as nas did what the duchess said. they all boarded the ship as the ship started to depart from the dock. suddenly nas imagined something. 'imagine we're going to see gon and killua muehehehe… okay I think too much.'

they were in the deck when Nas saw Ijekiel who looked at her shocked. 

"oh, my, greetings princess Antanasia," the young lad bowed in front of the princess as the girl waved her hand, signalling to him that he didn't need to do that.

"oh please, there's no need to bow" a warm smile was plastered on her face, showing a gentle and welcoming aura.

after meeting Ijekiel, Nas and the white-haired boy talked a lot. "what did the youngest princess say when you wanted to study in arlanta, your highness?" Ijekiel asked. Nas looks at Akari who's at the distance with her family for a second then chuckles.

"she was upset, she even tried to convince me to stay a few times." Nas raised her head as she looked at the blue sky as a soft breeze brushed through her hair and face. seagulls flying above. this was her first time on a ship. she never really did anything exciting in her previous life; she was nothing but a burden kid back then. 

"I see…" the boy mumbles as he also looks up. the girl glanced at the young lad. 'it's been a while since I saw him because dad wouldn't let him come into my palace.' she thought as she sweatdropped. "your high- Nas!" Akari called, which got Ijekiel and the Princess's attention. the white-haired boy looked confused.

"Nas?" he looks confused at the nickname as he glances at the princess who looks embarrassed. "what is it?" the princess asked. "I'm sorry for leaving you," Akari looked downwards, slightly nervous to hear the girl's remark. "It's alright, Akari. no need to apologize"

"ah right- father said that we should get in soon," Akari said as she looked at the boy. "If you're curious why I called her Nas instead of her highness then it's because it's her nickname." She answered with his unspoken question. "I am Akari Setsuko The daughter of  Duke Daniel Setsuko and Duchess Alanya Setsuko. It's an honour to meet you." She said to the white-haired boy. "nice to meet you Lady Akari. I'm Ijekiel Alpheus The Son of Duke Roger Alpheus. It's also an honour to meet the Famous Lady of the Setsuko Family." The young lad introduced himself. 

"the honour is all mine" The blue-haired girl bowed.

"no need to bow" Ijekiel sweatdropped at the girl's actions, taking her hands and lifting her head. "sorry, it's a forced habit" she placed a hand on her nape, nervously scratching it. both of them created quite an awkward scene, unable to speak afterwards until Antanasia decided to break the silence.

"yeah, since both of you know each other, let's get in now. we wouldn't like to get seasick," Akari and Ijekiel nodded as they headed indoors. Akari nudged Antanasia's side and mumbled, "thank you— I kinda needed that" she sighed and patted the girl's head before mumbling back, "no worries, Akari. and besides, it was getting kinda awkward-" both of the girl's giggled while Ijekiel took a glance at them and admired both of their faces, smiling at their joyful atmosphere.

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when they finally arrived at arlanta. the duke and the duchess took them to the academy with Ijekiel behind. the dorms are divided into boy and girls. Akari and Nas are roommates. "finally I can rest peacefully," Nas said as she lays down on her bed. "ah right, what's the uniform look like?" Nas asked Akari. "I'm not so sure—. let's go to the headquartersand collect ours!" Akari spoke excitedly while Nas just wanted to rest after a long trip. 

her white locks were scattered onto the bed and her face was covered with a pillow. due to tiredness and laziness, the princess refused to get up and out, which made Akari pull her up, in an attempt to raise her.

"get- up- argh!" she tried her best to pull the girl yet she wouldn't budge. after a few pulls and nagging, Akari finally succeeded in making the girl stand. she took her by the hand and headed to the main headquarters.

"I want to go back. i'm tired." Nas said lazily. "let's go back. i'm sure your mother can just bring the uniform to us or something." she said as she slowly walked away.

"Fine," Akari sighed. As she follows the white-haired girl.

as they arrived at their dorm they saw Akari's mother waiting at the door while holding two boxes in her hands. "ah your highness, Akari you two were outside that's why it's so quiet." she then handed the two boxes to the girls. "here's your uniform. i hope you two like it." she said as she started leaving. "i told you your mother will get the uniform to us," Nas said as she opens the door.

"so, this is our uniform," Akari said as she stared at the uniform. Nas nodded as she saw how fancy it was. "woah! we even have an armband. my armband is silver, what about yours?." Akari said excitedly.

"gold," Nas mumbled. "I guess it's because you're a royal," Akari explained to her friend. Nas just nodded at what the blue-haired girl said. 

"well, I hope we have a great start here in arlanta," Akari said while smiling. "I hope so…" Nas said as she slowly fell asleep.