"This is far enough. You alright, Vera?" Maxim turned around to see Vera leaning against a tree, rubbing her ankle. 
"I think I walked too long. My feet are killing me." 
"Good. You aren't gonna be able to defend yourself if you're only taught on your best conditions." Vera scoffed as she stood up straight. 
"Alright, then. Let's get this over with." Maxim dropped his bag to the ground and stretched his arms up. She stood there in confusion, until his eyes jolted to her, and he started sprinting at her. She instantly threw her arms up in an "X" formation, to protect herself. He grabbed her arms tightly, but the momentum of his run-up caused them to fall to the ground. Vera groaned as Maxim landed on her. She looked up into his eyes, and felt her cheeks reddening. He pulled closer, but she kneed him in the side and rolled out from beneath him. She stood up quickly and held her hands out toward him. Maxim stood up slowly, and chuckled. 
"You're a fast learner." He grinned, looking into her eyes again. She crossed her arms and stuck her tongue out at him. 
"So what? Are we done? It's super late, and walking back to the castle would take all night at that pace." 
"That's why we're running." 
"W-what?" 
"You need to be more tactical when you run away." Maxim grabbed his bag, looked over his shoulder at her, and spun around. "Go." He grinned. Vera swallowed hard, but didn't hesitate. She instantly started sprinting through the forest, toward the castle. 

She glanced over her shoulder, seeing Maxim's figure chasing after her quickly. Then, she heard him shout, "Don't you dare hold back! I won't!" She chuckled, and sprinted as fast as she could, taking a hard right. She heard twigs snapping beneath her, as well as distantly. I'm actually having...fun...for the first time since my father told me I was the expected heir. Vera looked over her shoulder, but couldn't spot Maxim. She skidded to a stop and looked around her, not seeing him anywhere. "Gotcha..." She heard him whisper behind her, just before her arms were grabbed. She chuckled as he pinned her arms up against the tree behind her. She looked up to feel his heavy breathing on her face. Suddenly, he kissed her, his grip tightening on her arms. She turned her head away and shoved him back. 
"What the hell...?" She frowned. "Was that p-part of the training?" 
"Sure." He chuckled, turning his back to her. "We should head back, okay? Keep up." He said, just before pacing forward. Vera followed him quickly, crossing her arms as they walked. That was really weird... 

"Ma'am?" Vera heard, sitting up from her bed. She rubbed her tired eyes and glanced out of the window, seeing the brightly shining sun. 
"C-come in." She said, throwing the blankets off of herself. The door clicked open and Chrissy walked in slowly. 
"Maxim wants you to meet him in the courtyard after breakfast." 
"Ugh, it's too early!" Vera whined, marching to the other side of the room. She opened her wardrobe and pulled out a pair of pants to wear. She gazed over her shoulder at Chrissy and sighed. "Are you okay?" She asked, turning to face her. 
"Yeah, yeah. Don't worry about me, Ma'am." Chrissy grabbed the door and closed it as she left Vera alone. She's been strange ever since... Just as the memory began to repeat in her mind, she cupped her hands over her eyes and sighed deeply. No, stop...she's okay now... Vera breathed deeply and dropped her hands by her sides. She turned back to the wardrobe, and started to change. 

"Child!" She heard her father say with an upset tone. "WHAT are you wearing?!" 
"I'm about to start training, so I thought-"
"In my presence, you must always dress appropriately." Her father rose from the dining table and crossed his arms as he walked away. 
"Yes, father. Should I go change?" 
"No point to it, now. Go train." 
"Yes, sir." She rose from the table and rushed out of the room. She turned a corridor and gasped to the sight of Chrissy being held against the wall.
"You know what's supposed to happen to you, right?"
"What's going on here?! Let her go." Vera scoffed, approaching the two guards holding her arms. 
"Sorry, princess, we can't do that. It's for your sake, you know what she did."
"Excuse me? What do you think she did?"
"She's in love with you, Princess Vera." She frowned and looked into Chrissy's glassy eyes. "You know it's illegal."
"Shh." Vera said, stepping closer to Chrissy. 
"I'm s-sorry..." Her head dropped, as if she were too weak to hold it up any longer. 
"Why would you tell them?"
"They must have overheard me talking with Bonnie in the kitchen." 
"Princess, we've gotta take her now-"
"Take her where?" Vera snapped. 
"You know where. The cells. That's where people go who commit crimes." 
"She can't help her emotions!" 
"V, it's okay." Chrissy whispered. "I think it's for the best." She said, just before they jerked her away from the wall. They pinned her arms to her lower back and led her around the corner. Vera sighed deeply, but gasped to the clack of a shoe. She spun around to see Bonnie peering around the corner. 

"Y-you told them, didn't you?" Bonnie nodded slightly and stepped closer to Vera. She fell to her knees and pressed her palms into the ground. 
"I deserve whatever punishment I get." Vera gritted her teeth and raised her palm, as if she were going to slap Bonnie. She balled up her fists and crossed her arms. 
"Get...up." She growled, turning around. Bonnie jumped up to her feet. Vera walked away, hearing Bonnie start to sob. Her sobs faded quieter and quieter as Vera left. She rushed down the stairs, and out into the courtyard to see Maxim standing in the middle of the courtyard. 
"Good morning." He grinned. 
"What are we doing today?" Vera asked, extending her arms out to stretch. 
"You alright?" 
"You didn't see?" Maxim shook his head as he approached her. "Chrissy was taken to the cells."
"Do you know why?" 
"She and I had too close of a relationship. They thought we were together or something. So they took her away." 
"I'm sorry, princess." He reached out to touch her shoulder, but she slid back. 
"Let's practice, I need a distraction." 
"Oh, okay-" Vera suddenly slid closer to him, gripped his clothes, and stared into his eyes. She grinned slightly, and noticed him pulling in. She shoved him back and kneed him in the gut. He wrapped his arms around his stomach and coughed. "I didn't...expect that." He chuckled, glaring up into her eyes. She grinned bigger as he ran toward her.