Chapter Nineteen: Guests

Alice woke up the next day and immediately got dressed, putting on a simple red shirt and brown pants.

She put on her belt and attached her sheathed weapons. She walked outside and began training as the sun rose.

She trained for hours before Zach walked outside. "How long have you been out here?" He asked.

When Alice saw the sun, she laughed. "Since dawn. Wanna fight?"

Zach shook his head. "I just woke up. I'm going to go eat something. You have fun though." Zach walked back inside, passing Zirian and Elder Beezle.

"Alice," Zirian called her. "we will take you to the Gate after the arrival of our guests. They should be here in an hour or so. You'll find Cecile in your room. I suggest you go."

Elder Beezle bowed as Alice passed them. "She is quite strong for a nine year old. Most Demon children are fragile until their tenth birthday."

"Well you've been away from the capital for a long time, Beezle. Perhaps she is just different from other demons because of her mother."

Elder Beezle rubbed his chin. "Yes...her mother."

Alice walked into her room and found Cecile standing next to a rack of dresses. "Do I have to put one on?"

Cecile nodded. "Princess Maria of Inferna is coming today. Wouldn't you want to look pretty? She'd be your first friend that's not a boy."

As Cecile took dresses and forced Alice into them, Alice pouted. "I thought you were my friend."

"I meant someone around your age, Princess. She is 12 years old."

Alice laughed as she looked in the mirror. She wore a pure white dress with sword patterns running through it as the same white and pink necklace sat on her neck. In her hair was a white rose, bringing out the buts of white in her hair.

"You look beautiful, Princess." Cecile said as she smiled.

"You act like I'm getting married, Cecile."

"Well you will be, Princess. Eventually anyways." Cecile said as she curled some of Alice's hair.

Alice smiled wryly at that comment. "Yeah... Hey Cecile, how am I suppose to take the trial in this dress?"

"You'll be changed in time for it, don't you worry. There, all done."

Someone knocked at the door. "Princess Alice, Princess Maria and her knight, Sir Xander, have arrived. Would you like me to tell the king your on your way?"

"Yes please. Thanks for helping me, Cecile."

Cecile smiled and watched as Alice walked out of the room. 'I feel the poor thing doesn't wish to marry.' She then walked out and followed Alice.

As they arrived in the courtyard, they saw Princess Maria. "Hello, Princess Maria. I'm Alice Lucifer Night." Alice bowed slightly.

Princess Maria did the same. "I'm Princess Maria Inferna. Pleased to meet you. I can't help but ask, why is Lucifer not you last name?"

"My father believed it'd sound better as a middle name."

Zirian walked outside and saw the two talking. "Hello, Princess Maria. Good to see you again after all these years. You're no longer a toddler." He turned to Xander. "Sir Xander, hoe have you been?"

He and Xander shook hands. "I've been well, King Zirian. Though Princess Maria."

Zirian turned to her. "Yes. I see she doesn't get better by the day?"

"Worse, in fact. She hopes to find a Demon who can use the ancient healing magic."

Zirian shook his head. "I'm sorry, we haven't discovered one who can. My daughter is leaving today as well, so we'll begin talks of importance then."

Xander nodded. "Of course. Princess Maria would rather just you there as well."

Alice and Maria walked inside and talked about little things. Animals, flowers, anything that made Alice seem like a real girl. However, she seemed to really enjoy talking about the subjects.

"Princess Alice, if you are pretending for me, please stop."

"What? I'm not pretending. I was going to, but I'm actually really enjoying myself. I've never had a normal friend."

Maria tilted her head. "A friend? We've only know each other for an hour."

Alice smiled. "That's long enough to be friends, right?"

As they continued talking, Zirian and Xander sat at table next to a window. Zirian held a cup of tea as Xander spoke.

"How much time do you think she has?"

Zirian shrugged. "I don't know. Her aura is weak, and grows dimmer by the hour. I'd say two years, at the most." He turned to looked into Xander's eyes. "You're a summon, aren't you?"

Xander smiled. "Yes. I was brought here fifty years ago to be a knight of the Inferna Royal Family. Why?"

Zirian sat his cup down. "Have you ever heard of a novel? I heard my daughter mention it once, saying it was what she called her dreams."

Xander blinked. "You mean your daughter is a summon, too?"

"Of course not. She could be reincarnated though."

Xander laughed. "You Demons believed in the strangest things. It could be possible though."

"Sometimes she acts more mature than her age, and where she is going will reveal the truth... to everyone." Zirian laughed as he realized how serious he sounded. "I have to take her now. I'll be back in an hour. Alice, let's go!"