Kě'ài - The Warrior Princess

Chapter 1                   Kě'ài walked out of the bathing chambers in her palace suites wearing her Royal garb. At 17, she looks regal and cold instead of looking enthusiastic and full of life like other young ladies. She does not have that privilege. She looks aloof and bitchy but none can tell that she's had an exhausting day with training to become the future Queen of Ohran. They have no idea how mentally exhausting her training for telepathy and telekinesis was. Her combat training can keel a veteran warrior. Hers is a training way beyond ordinary since she had to incorporate her mental powers to her fights. Being a charming, demure and alluring lady is something she can do but she doesn't have the luxury to be one. People may think that as a royal, she's living a life of indulgence and luxury. They can't be more mistaken. She works from dusk till dawn even until late evening at times. That her body suffers from her training cannot be seen from her facial expression. She gives off a cool facade even though she winces inside for the blisters and bruises she had acquired from practice. If it's only decorum and manners as royal, she'd had that perfected. She had long ago accepted her fate to a life of protocol and diplomatic games. Wishing for a different life is not even worth thinking over. She knows one day she's going to marry for political alliance to keep their planet's political influence if not to make it stronger.                 They are a small planet and they survived by their wits and talents. They are sought after in the entire universe for their talents and skills. Their citizens were scattered across the seven major kingdoms and countless planets. They are a peaceful race. But training them to reach the peak of their talents as warriors or artisans are necessary for their races' survival. Ohran may be the smallest of the kingdoms but it's one of the most powerful. They dominated space technology and medicine. They also own the most advanced computer technology in the seven realms and leads the commerce in computerized transportation.                 As the heiress and future Queen, a lot of kingdoms and planets already sought her favor if not in marriage then in friendly alliance. She sighed. Even with her intelligence and talents, she's still a young woman with dreams of something outside the set protocols of her kingdom. As her life has set its course, she has little choice in her destiny. In retrospect, she had been fortunate to have been born a royal.                 She may not have the luxury of freedom of choice, she still has the potential to make a difference to the universe. She knows a lot of other planets in the kingdom are still recovering from the effects of war from hundreds of years past. The toxic effects of biochemical weapons and neucleosulmites - the fusion of nuclear particles to the sulmethicones from supernovas, still inhabits a lot of them and rendered ninety percent of the planet inhabitable. Citizens converged in domed, shielded cities. The situation in those planets were so miserable she doesn't want to think about it for now.                 She trudged along the corridors of the east wing of the Ohran Palace. Her ladies-in-waiting walk silently a few steps behind her. A few of them giggling at the same time about some senator's son. Sometimes, she envied their life. Their training had been complete and they have the freedom to choose their hobbies in their free time. They even go out for dates or trysts with some handsome young men. Her ladies range from age 16 to 22. They're all young and pretty ladies sent by their parents at the palace to supposedly become a lady for the princess but it's actually to have the opportunity to meet eligible men for marriage. And being a lady-in-waiting for the Crowned Princess ensures their status and exposes them to the right gentlemen.                 Hearing them so carefree and young made her feel very old. Her oldest lady-in-waiting, Henrietta, may be the exception. She's 22 and had rejected eight suitors in the past 15 months. Her reputation of rejecting her suitors spread like wildfire throughout the kingdom and has become the brunt of jokes all around. Henrietta has been with her since the girl was 16. She was the one who helped her get through her changes to womanhood. She was the one who gave her the nickname Aiai. In fact, only her lady-in-waiting can be considered the closest to the Crown Princess. And they're both among the only few who know the reason why. they have the freedom to choose their hobbies in their free time. They even go out for dates or trysts with some handsome young men. Her ladies range from age 16 to 22. They're all young and pretty ladies sent by their parents at the palace to supposedly become a lady for the princess but it's actually to have the opportunity to meet eligible men for marriage. And being a lady-in-waiting for the Crowned Princess ensures their status and exposes them to the right gentlemen.                 Hearing them so carefree and young made her feel very old. Her oldest lady-in-waiting, Henrietta, may be the exception. She's 22 and had rejected eight suitors in the past 15 months. Her reputation of rejecting her suitors spread like wildfire throughout the kingdom and has become the brunt of jokes all around. Henrietta has been with her since the girl was 16. She was the one who helped her get through her changes to womanhood. She was the one who gave her the nickname Aiai. In fact, only her lady-in-waiting can be considered the closest to the Crown Princess. And they're both among the only few who know the reason why.                   As the heiress and future Queen, a lot of kingdoms and planets already sought her favor if not in marriage then in friendly alliance. She sighed. Even with her intelligence and talents, she's still a young woman with dreams of something outside the set protocols of her kingdom.                 She trudged along the corridors of the east wing of the Ohran Palace. Her ladies-in-waiting walk silently a few steps behind her. A few of them giggling at the same time about some senator's son. Sometimes, she envied their life. Their training had been complete and they have the freedom to choose their hobbies in their free time. They even go out for dates or trysts with some handsome young men. Her ladies ranges from age 16 to 22. They're all young and pretty ladies sent by their parents at the palace to supposedly become a lady for the princess but it's actually to have the opportunity to meet eligible men for marriage. And being a lady-in-waiting for the Crowned  Princess ensures their status and expose them to the right gentlemen.                 Hearing them so carefree and young made her feel very old. Her oldest lady-in-waiting, Henrietta, may be the exception. She's 22 and had rejected eight suitors in the past 15 months. Her reputation of rejecting her suitors spread like wildfire throughout the kingdom and has become the brunt of jokes all around. Henrietta has been with her since the girl was 16. She was the one who helped her get through her changes to womanhood. She was the one who gave her the nickname Aiai. In fact, only her lady-in-waiting can be considered the closest to the Crown Princess. And they're both among the only few who knows the reason why.