Chapter IV: *Wink*

"Princess Nina, you are not wearing that."

"Why not!?"

She had picked out the perfect ceremonial dress helmet. It was made of embossed steel and had ostrich feather decorations. Sword masters often wore such apparel when asked to appear in front of royalty so Nina had been sure it would not upset Sora's fashion sense, yet for some reason Nina was going against such strong opposition.

Sora put her foot down, with a look of strong rejection in her indigo eyes.

"Princess Nina, you simply cannot wear a helmet to such an important meeting. It is simply not befitting. You look foolish."

"Krrrk…what's so bad? I'm only going as moral support, anyways. Who cares if I show my face? Besides, people always ignore me when I wear this to events."

"That's because talking to a swordmaster while they are wearing ceremonial garb is considered an expression of a desire to duel."

"Oh, well that's even better then."

"Absolutely not!"

"You're a maid! I'm the princess here and I'll wear what I want!"

Sora pursed her lips. In truth, she wasn't hurt. Nina was known to play this card sometimes. Sora had even encouraged the behavior since it made her appear more like an actual royal. 

If you can't beat them, join them. Thought Sora.

"If you don't want to show your face, why not wear a cape instead? Just keep your hood up! That way, you won't mess up the makeup I just did on you."

She spoke with deadly calm while wearing a kind smile.

It was a face that made Nina realize she would really hurt Sora's feelings if she did something that ruined the past three hours of work on her makeup. Even if Sora was annoying sometimes, Nina didn't want to hurt her. Since she was young, Sora was the only one who looked her in the eye and put up with her even after getting bit.

"Krr…fine. Get me my robe then."

Sora brought out a silver robe with black embroidery along the hem.

She draped it over her shoulders and turned to look in the mirror.

It seemed the cape had been custom made to match her dress, which was also silver and black. The hood allowed her to conceal her crimson locks, and hung low enough on her head that her golden, cat-like eyes were hidden. She tied the silk ribbon into a bow around her neck to fasten it in place.

"Good!"

"Good enough…"

They had spoken simultaneously.

"Hee hee!"

Nina hugged Sora playfully around the neck.

"Thank you for making me pretty, Soso." 

"No one's even going to appreciate it if you keep your hood up."

"I'll take it off when I talk to the sword master afterwards!"

"Wait, what? What are you planning?"

"What do you mean? I just want to duel whichever one is a sword master."

Sora's forehead met with her palm loudly.

"Oh…did that hurt?"

"Princess Nina, did Wollis and I not clearly instruct you that the delegation is not here to fight with us?"

"Yes I know, but if they are true warriors they won't turn down a challenge right?"

"Th-that-that…"

"Don't worry! I won't challenge them before the trial ends! Shouldn't we get going? Giroux is ready too!"

Sora shot a glance at the black dragon who had made himself known on the balcony once again. 

This was his fault, she knew in her gut.

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As it was the time to introduce the dragon to the elven delegates, the meeting was being held in the inner courtyard of the palace.

Nina and Giroux landed on the platform that had been placed specially for Giroux purposes.

The royal family was already lounging on the throne area that had been set up, and there was even a spot for Nina on the far right, though she had no interest in sitting there.

Things with her family had always been pretty awkward after all.

Her father, the cowardly womanizer. Apparently, he had been quite the charmer in his heyday but his charms had faded over the decades and he now hid a double chin behind a thick beard. When she was young, Nina had never seen him, and it was only via maids that she even became aware she was his daughter. In truth, she had only started interacting with him after she became a sword master, and immediately became certain that he was a weak person at heart. He suddenly would throw her all kinds of requests, and because she fulfilled the interesting ones, a sort of awkward peace had developed between them. At least he had let her grow up in a palace of her own, she reconciled.

The Queen was another story. The woman sitting beside the King, Queen Aniala, was Nina's stepmother and greatest enemy. The snake had been trying to push betrothals on her for years now, but Nina had successfully scared off all of them, the ninnies. Worse yet, Sora had discovered that all the maids that used to abuse Nina were being instructed by the head maid, who was loyal to the Queen.

Then there was Prince Farlo, now 26 years old, and still unmarried. He sat to the left of the King and was reading from a book with a look of deep focus. His face held an androgynous beauty and his white-blonde hair was combed back with gel.

Nina knew little about Farlo since he had been gone to the royal academy for much of her childhood, and upon coming back was either busy with the duties of a crown prince, or locked away in the library. In other words, they lived in entirely different worlds.

Like Nina, Farlo had a different mother who had been the first Queen before Aniala. There was no great conspiracy behind it, as the woman had passed away from a chronic illness that had progressed quickly and was diagnosed too late. It was said that the King's 'dalliances' had begun after he descended into food and drink to dull his grief. It was during this time that Aniala rose to take the crown, and princess Delilah was conceived, followed by prince Wollis a year later. 

Queen Aniala's own children were the very embodiment of a royal upbringing. Nina butt heads with them a lot, but they had never truly done anything wrong to her. If anything, Nina felt a little badly towards Delilah. There had been a time once when a clueless seven-year-old Delilah had come to visit Nina at her palace. Nina, at four, had still been at the mercy of the awful maids and therefore had no idea how to treat another child her age. When Delilah offered to play with her, Nina may have gone overboard and underestimated her strength due to the excitement of a new playmate. Since news of this inevitably reached the Queen, even more maids were assigned to "keep princess Nina under control," though the subsequent treatment was more like that of a caged animal. Even though it hadn't looked good for Nina back then, this was ultimately what lead to Nina meeting Sora, and learning what it was she needed to do in order to survive.

"Princess Nina, you should just do whatever you want. Eventually, the others will get tired and leave. But don't worry, I'll stay with you."

Those were the words that had changed Nina's reality. If there was a family in this world for Nina, it was most certainly found in Sora. Ever since then, she had lived by those words, and like magic, the world became much brighter.

That's why Nina was nervous today. Asides from Wollis (maybe?) she didn't have a good relationship with any of her family members. In fact, she could count on one hand the number of times they had all sat in each other's company, and all of those times, Nina had actually been standing.

Wollis came up to greet her, though he had a look that gave away that he was going to yap at her about something.

"What's with the hood?" He said as she jumped down off Giroux's back.

"I don't want anyone to talk to me."

"Nina, they're going to want to talk to you. No doubt about it. Take it off."

"Krrrrr…Are you sure? Everything you mentioned before has to do with Giroux. I didn't help him destroy some old building…"

"Just…don't be difficult about this. Hood down."

Unlike with Sora, Nina couldn't fight Wollis while standing in front of the king and queen. She had originally hoped no one would care to mention it, but Wollis was extra on her case these days. If she fought with him here, she risked being thrown in a cell, and if she tried to break out of that, she risked having her palace being taken away. She already had two strikes against her in such a matter.

Nina huffed and undid the ribbon that tightened the hood around her face.

Wollis' eyes went big when the hood came down.

"Wow…you actually sat for makeup?"

"Sora did it while I was sleeping. I woke up like this."

"Figures…"

Wollis raised his arm to her, offering his escort and Nina, having been told to expect this, mechanically grabbed it while scowling.

"Relax, you're right that they don't need to talk to you about his crimes." Wollis gave Giroux a side-eye as they walked down from the platform.

As Giroux made to follow, two long spears crossed in front of him to block his passage. Though the uniformed men holding the spears trembled fiercely, their faces seemed to plead with him, silently saying they were only doing as they were ordered.

Steam shot from Giroux's nostrils as his upper lip curled back in displeasure.

"Please be at ease, Sir Giroux!" 

A silver-haired man approached, himself draped in sparkling sapphire robes and oozing the graceful age-defying beauty that all elves possessed, at least to some level. It was the palace's head mage, an elf named Pyreshi whose salary represented 1/16th of the kingdom's annual budget.

All the human kingdoms had one, as the Mage Tower in the Star Capital was stuffed with elven mages seeking work contracts from higher nobility. 

Pyreshi bowed.

"Your majesties, this Pyreshi greets the second prince and princess. I ask for your understanding as the platform has been specifically designed for the defendant during these proceedings. The circle I cast will ward off any hostile attacks, but it will not work if he comes off the platform."

"Then I'll just stay here too." Said Nina, letting go of Wollis and ducking under the crossed spears.

Pyreshi faltered, an expression of uncertainty in his face as he looked to Wollis for assistance. Wollis shrugged and shook his head.

"I can't make her. It's enough that she's here at all. But now that you mention it…Nina, if you stand there you'll attract a lot of attention and they may focus on you more. You may have gotten away with just stating your name, but who knows what they'll ask if they see you standing next to the dragon like you're his mom."

"Watch what you say, prince." Growled Giroux.

Wollis scoffed. 

"Don't ruffle your scales at me. I'm fine with her having your back, but you might drag her into something troublesome if you rely on her too much."

Giroux puffed more steam through his nostrils but he looked somewhat troubled by Wollis' words. He turned his long neck toward Nina, who stood under his wing.

"Your brother may be speaking wisely, Nina. I am the one on trial here, so there is no need for you to bring unwanted attention to yourself. It is enough that you came to support me as a friend."

"Krr…Are you sure?"

The dragon's red eyes looked almost gentle as he nodded towards her. 

"We each have a path we must walk alone."

His large wing pushed Nina from behind, sending her trudging reluctantly back to her brother.

"That's it, come with me, little sister." Placated Wollis as he walked a downcast Nina to her seat at princess Delilah's side.

"Hmph!" Chirped Delilah, fanning herself.

"Behave, Delilah. She's not going to do anything to bother you, isn't that right Nina?"

"Yes…" Corroborated Nina soullessly, taking her seat. She had been so confident when she left her palace, but nothing was going her way at all. She had to keep reminding herself she was here to support her friend.

"You better not." Spat Delilah. "I can barely look at you after the trouble you caused Count Cornadi's daughter. Do you know you broke her fiance's hand in that big duel you became involved in two month's back? He had to delay his graduation from the knight academy because he couldn't wield his sword for the evaluations! The poor lady has been beside herself since they were supposed to wed as soon as he earned his knighthood! Then on top of that you flew your dragon friend over her tea party last week! How could you!? Two of the guests lost their hats in the lake!"

Nina winced. Anytime Nina slipped up with the other nobles, Delilah was the one to go about mending bridges. Since she was 'society's flower' in Goldheart, she had connections to almost every household, and was friends with all the young noblewomen. It meant the duty of maintaining those relationships fell to her, since Nina could never be trusted. Wollis also carried some of this burden, but Delilah seemed to martyr herself in this regard. Anytime Nina saw her face, Delilah nagged at her endlessly and Nina couldn't say anything because it was all deserved. Any other day, she could just run away from it but there was no way out for her currently.

About a year before meeting Giroux, Nina's run-ins with the knight academy had begun. She happened to learn of the place when Commander Hirk mentioned it to her in passing (he immediately regretted it). She had raced there on horseback and demanded they let her join in the lessons. Nina couldn't stand that an entire institution for fighting existed yet she had not heard of it before (Sora had been keeping it from her).

Despite the academy technically being only for those who had come of age, this was allowed due to Nina's status and would have been fine if it weren't for Nina's skills already being that of a swordmaster. Once she got bored with the classes, she then challenged all the professors, humbling them irredeemably, and thus incited a riot from the students who wanted to avenge their masters. The elite class of knights had challenged her to one-on-one duels fought back to back until she met defeat. Sadly for them, her defeat did not come. The person Delilah spoke of now must have been one of them.

"I'm sorry, okay? It won't happen again."

"As long as you know."

Wollis nodded, satisfied that his two sisters were being agreeable with one another and went to sit next to Farlo, at the other end of the row of seats.

The King, who had been speaking to Pyreshi, gave a signal that they were ready for the delegation. Moments later, a group of finely dressed elves appeared from the entrance to the courtyard.

The one at the front was the same she had seen through Giroux's vision the previous day, though he wasn't wearing any armor and looked thoroughly well-groomed.

His deep navy hair fell straight down over his shoulders, and was trimmed to a razor-sharp line at his cheekbones. The bridge of his nose made a statuesque profile, culminating in pale lips like porcelain, and a sharp jawline. He wore an elven circlet symbolizing royalty, and on his chest glistened many medallions received by heroes who had led men into battle. His eyes alone could inspire an artist, as their hue shifted from a deep orange to striking violet like a sunset capturing one's gaze. This phenomenal eye color was possible only among those of ancient royal descent among the elves, but Nina just thought it was pretty.

This was Reave Alamar, a name Nina only memorized after confirming he was indeed a swordmaster.

Behind Reave was an assembly of elven officials specializing in legal and financial matters, but immediately to his right was a human man that stood head-and-shoulders taller than the rest. Nina didn't know who he was but she felt instinctively that this was a person she should challenge as well while she had a chance.

I hope this goes quickly. How complicated can it be? Nina thought. She looked to Giroux, who seemed to be making himself look as noble and dignified as possible while he was the center of attention. 

He winked at her and Nina smiled.