Fantasy Chasing Beloveds

[clockwork girl]

• Kiriya Lin •​

“How interesting,” Kiriya remarked, trying to find it in herself to smile politely. “In Yuélin, it is just the opposite. We often visit hot springs to stave off the cold in the wintertime, particularly up north. They may not be as luxurious as the palace springs in Altheana, but I extend the same invitation to you, milord.” It helped to talk, she supposed, to keep her mind off of what was actually happening. And what was happening wasn’t all that terrible, was it? The water was only up to her calves, and she was starting to get used to the sensation of the tide rushing against her legs. Unfortunately, that small amount of familiarity made her loosen her grip ever-so-slightly, enough for the Yuvraj to slip his hand from hers and move deeper into the sea when something caught his attention.

Suddenly bereft of her sturdy lifeline, Kiriya went as stiff as a carved statue. Still, she pressed down the rising panic, unwilling to make a fool of herself by calling him back like a scared child or risk chasing him deeper into the water. It’s nothing to be afraid of, she tried to remind herself. The water wasn’t any deeper. It couldn’t hurt her. Just because he’d left for a second, it didn’t mean any of the circumstances had changed. Trying not to look at the growing distance between herself and the prince, she turned her eyes to the churning waves--a grave mistake.

Thrashing. Twisting. Water churning, lungs burning. Fear.

She blanched. Her pulse immediately leapt into a rapid staccato, the fingers that had been around the prince’s hand clenching up into a white-knuckled fist as she desperately tried to steer herself away. No. Don’t think about that. Don’t, don’t think about that. This was different, completely different. She shouldn’t be thinking about that. This water was cold, not warm. It was salty, not full of oils and soaps, and most importantly, there was no one holding her head under the water. So...why couldn’t she breathe?

Just walk back to shore, she willed herself, but her body would not obey. It was as if everything had stopped except for the sound of the water and her pounding pulse. Luckily for her, just as the panic began to overcome her in earnest, the Yuvraj returned to her side. His voice was enough to snap her out of her frozen state, sending the world lurching back into motion. She inhaled raggedly, a gasping first breath that tasted like salt, not iron. Not like then. This wasn’t then.

The color gradually returned to her face as her skittish gaze went from the young man to the conch shell he was holding. “It’s very pretty,” the young woman mustered, and though her words were a bit belated, her voice sounded relatively even as she allowed him to set the conch shell onto her palm. All too eager to have something other than her fear to focus on, she studied it intently; it was bigger than the shells that she was familiar with, and far more colorful, being cream and pink instead of grey.

Then, much to her surprise, the shell shifted on its own accord. She blinked as a fleshy head protruded forth from the shell, revealing a pair of beady eyes.

“Oh,” she breathed, her onyx eyes round now as she carefully lifted her palm upwards for closer inspection. “Hello.” As frightened as the princess had been of a little water, the appearance of the marine creature didn’t seem to startle her. The snail, on the other hand, seemed none too pleased at being disturbed--soon made evident by the sharp pain that shot through her hand. Seconds later, tiny beads of scarlet began to well up in her palm, but the raven haired girl didn’t appear too concerned. “Oh,” she uttered again, only regarding it with an air of mild curiosity.

 

[Aster]

• Cassius Tesa •​

The Althean prince beamed, pleased to see that the Yuelin princess appreciated his gift(?). The rigidness in her countenance softened at the edges as she seemingly scrutinized the shell with a child-like kind of earnestness Cassius found adorable. However, the moment the shell jolted to motion, Cassius too flinched in surprise. He had foolishly expected the shell to be empty, having seen many of the sorts hollowed out but never a live one in person.

Too stunned at the slimy creature which head had popped out, the male only stared at horror until crimson welts ran up her arm. It was then he decided he could not allow Kiriya's curiosity be humored by the foul stinging animal.

With a firm hand, he took the shell from Kiriya's hand and very carefully, set it back into the ocean, facing it away from them. If he could, he would've simply flung the slug as far as he could, but he couldn't break character in front of a Yuelin ambassador.

"Okay, that's enough now," Cassius said, his plastered smile strained on his face. He gently took Kiriya's stung arm into his palm and frowned as he saw the skin reaction to the slug's venom. "We should probably get this check before it gets any worse."

His brows knitted as he led her out of the water, falling uncharacteristically quiet. Mentally, he was berating himself for such carelessness. If the Yuelin princess were to fall sick from the sting, it would be completely his fault. Princess or not, to let a damsel in his presence get blighted in such a way made him fail as a gentleman. How could he have made such a blunder?

"I'm terribly sorry for this, princess. I should've never let anything harmful come your way," he apologized with a self-deprecating smile, If Olissa had been here, she would've drowned him at sea. "Let's get you to a doctor. There's one back at the inn."

 

[clockwork girl]

• Kiriya Lin •​

Finally out of the water, Kiriya felt something deep in her gut relax. The stinging sensation throbbing through her hand didn’t stop, of course, but in her opinion it was nothing to be overly concerned about--it was just a little sting, after all, and hardly unbearable. In fact, hearing the prince apologize to her horrified her more than her trivial injury did. “No, no, there isn’t a single reason for you to apologize,” she replied at once, sounding rather apologetic herself. “There was no way you could have possibly known, milord.” If anything, she should have put the creature down when she had realized what it was. She was about to tell him so when his suggestion of a doctor stopped her short. A doctor? For these little welts?

“Surely there’s no need for such fuss,” she protested, embarrassment starting to seep into her voice. “A decent salve should keep any complications away--”

“Princess! Are you hurt?” Kiriya turned around to see the General rushing towards them, concern wrinkling his stern brow. Oh no. His sharp gaze went straight to the hand that he had no doubt seen the prince inspect. “Your hand!”

“I’m alright, General,” she tried to soothe him, “Really, it’s nothing--”

But for once the General was in whole-hearted agreement with the Althean prince, and being outnumbered, soon the princess had little choice but to give in and allow herself to be taken back to their lodgings to find the doctor. Of course, it was no grave injury; the marine snail’s venom wasn’t powerful enough to harm a human, and after a soak in some warm water and a dab of salve, most of the pain had subsided.

The princess barely managed to thank the Yuvraj for the lovely outing before being whisked away by her protector, who was most certainly not following her at a distance any longer. It was a bit funny to see him act more like a aggravated mother hen than the stern warrior he actually was, but knowing that it was merely an expression of his care, Kiriya did not utter a word of complaint. She humored his insistence that she rest until it was time for lunch, returning obediently to her room--but she dared not let herself fall asleep, lest her earlier brush with her more...unpleasant memories affect the contents of her dreams.

Instead, she returned to the book of poems she had been indulging in the afternoon prior, and she had just about reached the end of the book when a familiar knock interrupted her. “Enter, please,” she called, and as expected, it was the general who entered, a small envelope in hand.

“Princess, a message has arrived for you from the Imperial Palace,” the older man announced, striding over to place the envelope into her hands. Surprised, she met the general’s gaze for a moment before breaking the seal--a message from court? From her father, perhaps? She unfolded the paper within, not knowing what to expect.

It was indeed from the Emperor, but it wasn’t a personal letter from a father to daughter, the kind of letter they had exchanged throughout the years. No, this was a formal letter from an Emperor to a subject, though to call it a letter would have been doing it a favor. It was short and to the point, outlining the necessary action he required without any sort of added flair. “We are to travel to Ten-Nou and rendezvous with court officials,” she relayed, her brows furrowing. “There are new documents of importance to be taken along to the Devaraja...we are expected to be there by the end of the week.”

“By the end of the week?” General Sai echoed, also frowning. “But to account for the travel, we must leave by tomorrow evening, at the latest.”

“Yes,” Kiriya agreed musingly, turning to the General at her side. “Please send a messenger ahead to inform the Yuvraj and Amirah that I require an audience with them,” she requested, squaring her shoulders. “I will need to inform them of the change in plans--and then we must start preparing for the journey at once.”

“As you say, princess,” the older man bowed his head respectfully, then hurried out to find a page boy. Left alone, her gaze ran over the letter once more. There was something a bit different...the wording, perhaps. Her father was not in the habit of using short, commanding sentences, at least, not to her knowledge. Then again, most letters of official business were dictated to a scribe, not personally written, and this was hardly a private letter. Further dismissing the strange feeling was the seal in red, showcasing her father’s imperial seal--there was no mistake, this was from the Emperor.

A soft sigh escaped her before she could quite catch it. It wasn’t as if she thought that her father owed her an explanation, but maybe deep down, she had hoped for...something. Anything. Don’t be silly, she chided herself, tucking the letter into her sleeve. Father is a busy man. She would have to move about busily as well, if she was to be in Ten-Nou by the end of the week--there was no time to be wasted on childish disappointment.

 

[Aster]

• Cassius Tesa •​

General Sai's entrance was taken in with unwanted surprise, which eventually gave way to grudging acceptance. He should've known they would be shadowed for the benefit of their safety, but it still dampened his mood to have another join them on their walk. Keeping his chagrin in a stiff upper lip, Cassius barely glanced in the General's direction, even when the General acknowledged the Yuvraj with a curt bow.

While others would've found his behavior childish (should they know the reason for his sudden forbidding aura), Cassius was used to servants and guards tailing him but never were they allowed to intrude if he or the situation did not summoned. To see a guard care so much for a royal's well-being seemed... off, if not implying something scandalous.

He stayed out of courtesy, until the Princess was called to retire, all the while, keeping a watchful eye on the General and his interactions with Kiriya.

"Could they be lovers? He seems a bit old to be her lover," he thought, later scolding himself that love had no limits. If Kiriya was in love, that would just make his plans of pre-divorce easier.

Still, there was a bitter slab of resentment somewhere, which Cassius reasoned was from the disrespect Sai had shown to him. To direct a royal while his station was merely a General. How laughable. It was certainly not jealousy. Nope, not him. No siree. He wrestled alone with his thoughts, later spending his afternoon being annihilated playing chess with Olissa.

It was in mid-game when the two heard a knock at their door.

"A message from the Princess of Yuelin."

Cassius rose a brow while his sister shot him a pointed look, as though already blaming him for some wrong he's done. He shrugged at her, looking as lost as she was.

"Come in," she ordered.

A page boy walked in and repeated what he was ordered to say. Cassius' curiosity remained piqued while Olissa seemed to glower with annoyance. The two swiftly made their way to one of the meeting rooms in the hotel, where Kiriya personally filled them in on the rest of the details. Once finished, Cassius smiled, "I see. Well, I wish you and your company the best of luck on your travels th--"

When a sharp pain stubbed into his foot, his words were nearly bitten in and he glanced briefly at the offender. Olissa was smiling, but underneath the table, she grinded her heel against Cassius' boot, silently requesting him to re-phrase his words.

"I mean, we, of course, will join you on your journey. It would be unfair for the ambassadors of Yuelin to travel alone," he added and the pressure on his foot was released. He almost sighed and strained his smile. "We shall prepare for departure at once."

Snapping a finger, Cassius called one of his servants over, "Prepare carriages for tomorrow morning. Departure to... Ten-nou, was it?" Kiriya nodded in confirmation.

Once everything was said and done, the Yuvraj and Amirah excused themselves for the rest of the day. Neither of them was happy: Cassius, because he didn't get to flirt with any pretty mermaid ladies in Edenburgh and Olissa, because of all the traveling. The two went to bed after a light dinner and woke early in the morning for breakfast.

Olissa comforted herself with a nice, aromatic bath to prepare for the long journey ahead of her, while Cassius stole longing looks out his window. When it came to the appointed time, a large carriage was brought in at the entrance of the lobby. To make their travel efficient, only the royals and a handful of the most experienced guards were brought along. Horses were given for the guards to ride on, while Cassius, Olissa and Kiriya sat themselves in the carriage.

The Yuvraj fortunately had gotten the seat closest to the curtained window and left half it it opened for sunlight and fresh air.

 

[clockwork girl]

• Kiriya Lin •​

In all honesty, she hadn’t expected the Yuvraj and Amirah to join her in the journey to Ten-Nou--but perhaps it was a smart move on their part. After all, they were to collect important documents meant for the Devaraja, and being there could ensure they were not doctored in any way before it could reach his eyes. Clever or not, it was still not difficult to see that travelling again so soon wasn’t something any of them were overjoyed about. To make matters somewhat more awkward, the three royals were all enclosed in a single carriage, and no matter how large it was, it was hard for her to completely relax while in the company of the Althean royals--not when she was expected to be nothing less than a perfect lady.

While the Yuvraj thankfully seemed to have no qualms about conversation now, his sister was not as easy to incite into speaking, she found; her answers were mostly direct and efficient. There was a certain...air about her, an aura that could’ve been considered intimidating--but still, Kiriya did her best to be as personable as possible, scrounging about her brain for topics that would not invade too far into private territory, but still be interesting enough to warrant a response. The safest subject, of course, were about their respective countries--and though some of the answers she received from them were things she had already learned of in her studies, the princess listened carefully as if it’d been the first time she’d ever heard of them. When they were not speaking, she resorted to her usual method of occupying herself, reading and catching what glimpses of the outside world she could see.

By the third day of travel, though, things were becoming more...taxing. Kiriya couldn’t help but be relieved as they stopped for a break in a small town. The sun was beginning to dip in the sky, painting the horizon a mixture of pinks and oranges--they’d likely have to travel for at least another two hours before reaching their stop for the night, an inn on the border of Edenburgh and Yuelin, but for now they could find something to eat while the horses rested as well.

They settled on what appeared to be a family owned tavern of sorts, for the small town didn’t have anything fancier to offer. As they waited for the food to arrive, she glanced up the Yuvraj and Amirah sitting across from her, who were likely weary but keeping on a dutifully polite facade as she was. “It seems that we will be reaching the edge of Edenburgh tonight, if all goes as planned--we will be entering Yuélin in the morning,” she informed them, repeating what the General had told her earlier. Unfortunately, it would still take a few more days before they reached Ten-Nou, a bustling town on the fringes of Tenzuru.

“Once again, I’m deeply sorry about the sudden turn of events,” she murmured softly, bowing her head toward the siblings. “It was very kind of you to accompany us for the journey--and though it was unexpected, hopefully we will be able to show you some of the humble delights Yuelin has to offer.” Kiriya offered them an apologetic smile, folding her hands neatly in her lap.

As the princess of Yuélin, it made sense for her to play the hostess, but it was also rather ironic in some aspects, seeing how she’d also just been newly introduced to a vast majority of her own country...but they didn’t need to know that. “It is nothing special, but there is a hot spring of fair size not far past the border,” she brought up carefully. “In Yuélin, there is often no other method of relieving stress and fatigue as favored as bathing at a hot spring--if it would please your Highnesses, we could stop there for respite tomorrow.” She’d passed the spring on her way to Edenburgh, but had been far too apprehensive about getting there on time to indulge in it. While they were also on a schedule now as well, they had time to spare, as they had left early--not to mention that it would be a new experience she could offer to the Althean royals.

 

[Aster]

• Olissa Tesa •​

Apologies were addressed with usual formalities, but naturally Cassius had added his own flair, balancing between flirtatious and courteous. Travel was hard but given Altheana's rigorous training exercises, they endured it with much more ease than the Yuelin princess. Olissa, however, despite being a general of her own militia, hated long restless travels and found it much harder than Cassius. She would've much preferred to have been out riding on horseback like the soldiers than in a stuffy carriage, but appearances had to be kept and she kept her souring mood under tight lock and key.

It was only at points of rest where the royals were allowed to stretch their legs and stop for meals did she seem to relax more. As they neared their destination, the promise of a relaxing hot spring was far too appealing to decline.

"We'd be honored," Olissa said with a tired smile.

• Cassius Tesa •​

"That sounds lovely," Cassius added, smiling when the food arrived. Thick stews and loaves of bread were laid, followed by an assortment of hams, cheese and wine. Following that were more fruits, less common but not unknown to Altheana.

As they ate, Cassius noticed Olissa hadn't touched her food and instead, made a rare silent prayer before her meal. The act was subtle but noticeable when she touched her forehead and her heart before bowing her head in a solemn moment of silence.

"She must be really grateful for that hot spring break," Cassius thought.

Dinner was carried out as per usual and the meal was concluded earlier than expected. Instead of being ushered back to the carriage, the trio were given time to relax because the horses were still feeding. Cassius found this the perfect opportunity to explore what's left of Edenburgh and quietly snuck away, leaving Olissa with Kiriya. As much as he enjoyed his time spent with the ravenhead princess, the Althean prince was a free-spirit at heart, valuing his independence over all else.

He whistled as he took a stroll towards the woods, well "forgetting" to inform the others of his leave. Personally he didn't found the need to. He trusted his bodyguards to tail him like they usually do and even if they hadn't, he could defend himself just fine. He hadn't planned to wander too far either and if he had, his sense of direction was impeccable.

...or so he thought.

• Olissa Tesa •​

Perhaps it was due to a sibling connection or simply experience which told Olissa something was wrong when she failed to spot Cassius in her line of sight. He had been gone for some time now, and she highly doubted he was busy being constipated in the bathroom stalls.

"That idiot better not be stirring trouble," she muttered under her breath, surprised to see that Cassius' guards were not with him but rather tending to the horses.

"Strange," she frowned, clicking her tongue in disapproval. Seems there was negligence on the guards' part. Discipline would need to be whipped back into them.

Her eyes fell on Kiriya who was alone and she took the gambit in asking if she knew where Cassius was. When she replied in the negatives, Olissa's concerns grew. It was less worry for her brother's well-being and more of a growing irritation at how irresponsible he was.

Stupid Cassius. Her eyes fell on Kiriya's confused and questioning look. Stupid royal duties.

With a rueful smile she asked, "Want to help me find him?"

 

[clockwork girl]

• Kiriya Lin •​

Her suggestion seemed to go over well--even with the Amirah--and a bit of relief let her shoulders relax slightly. Dinner wasn’t an unpleasant affair, but there was less conversation than before, likely due to how worn out the three were. A side effect of having less small talk was finishing their meal earlier, which allowed them some time to enjoy the fresh air instead of having to get back into the carriage right away. Kiriya most certainly wasn’t about to complain. While the guards went about their business, she took a seat on a rough wooden bench to watch the rosy sky darken into purple-indigo hues. She’d always liked the night sky--there was something calming about it, even when it was lit up with lanterns or filled with the sounds of a crowd, and despite her fatigue, she found a small smile ghosting on her lips at the sight of the moon and stars beginning to shine against the dark.

It was during this stargazing that the Althean princess had suddenly approached her, inquiring whether she had seen her brother. Kiriya had not. Her eyes roved over their makeshift encampment, then back to the princess in front of her. “Is everything alright…?” she began tentatively. At the Amirah’s somewhat unexpected request, she felt her confusion turn into concern. Find the Yuvraj? He was missing?

Being the reason why the two Althean royals were here on the road, her first instinct was to panic and call for search parties to be formed. After all, missing princes--whatever the cause-was a catastrophe. The only thing that kept her from doing exactly as her anxiety dictated her was the Amirah: instead of looking fearful or worried, she exuded this sort of wry exasperation, as if she’d had to deal with such occurrences far too many times to be all that alarmed. If that was the case, it’d be best to follow her lead.

“O-of course,” Kiriya answered, quickly rising from her seat. Though, she wondered how much help she’d really be--she wasn’t a tracker, nor was she familiar with the area. Even if she was, it was starting to get dark…

Luckily, they managed to get their hands on a lantern to light their way, but she’d hardly taken a step out of the area when General Sai caught up with them. Though he had many duties to tend to, he always seemed to have one eye on his charge to make sure she was not endangered. “Princess,” he began, once he’d offered a respectful bow to the Althean princess. “Please do not wander far, it could be dangerous.”

“Indeed,” the young woman responded, having anticipated his worry. “But it seems the Yuvraj is nowhere to be found, and we intend to find him before it is time for us to depart.”

“His Highness is...missing.” The general repeated, looking unsure how to react to the news. Knowing him, it was clear to Kiriya that he disapproved of the two women going off to search for the prince--and had it just been the Yuelin princess present, he would’ve surely argued for another search party to be sent out. Nevertheless, he was in the presence of another royal, one who likely had been the source of this idea; it would be unwise to directly oppose such a thing. “Allow me to join your Highnesses, please--for your protection.” Kiriya also knew that the fatherly man would not be taking ‘no’ for an answer.

And so it was three figures that headed into the trees in search of the elusive prince. Frankly, the dark haired princess thought it a bit odd that the Amirah had not brought her own guards along as well--but she seemed to be so grounded, so confident in her movements, that it was difficult to question her actions. Therefore she settled on a different question, one that seemed rather relevant indeed. “Is his Highness in the habit of wandering off?” Kiriya spoke up haltingly as they forged deeper into the dark woods with only the lantern to light their path. Though she had decided to go along with the Amirah’s plan, unlike her Kiriya was not yet aware of nor sick of the Yuvraj’s habits--and thus was rightfully beginning to worry in earnest. It was dangerous to be part of a royal family. What if he had gotten kidnapped...or worse?

 

[Aster]

• Olissa Tesa •​

(I lied, gave into temptation and made another post when I should be studying.)

Olissa bared no ill-will towards the General's desire to follow. It was customary for royalty to be accompanied with protection, but Olissa and most Althean royals fell out of the conventional due to pride and training. Past years of war had them hardened to fine warriors, and she had no doubt that they were some of the first in the Tesa line to be proficient in combat as they were in other skills.

The flame within the lantern flickered as she walked, illuminating the warm caramel hues in her skin which contrasted against her stone-cold expression. The look of indifference was not uncommon, but determination was solid in nuances. Lips twitched a fraction upwards in something akin to mordacity as she slowed down to break the tandem flow between her and Kiriya. Her question brought eyes to lower behind the quivers of yellow.

"My brother does best, the things he likes," Olissa replied, letting unspoken thoughts complete her meaning. Words voiced in a dry chuckle betrayed loathing for the troubles caused. It was a habitual routine which grew to fondness over time, and while it still remained a nuisance, there was no hesitance in her aid.

"He is a pain, but at least he is mine," she used to think, lacking siblings like he did. Her maternal instincts regretfully extended to the young prince, despite their few years apart in age.

"It's seldom a burden," she continued, knowing that had the guards done their job properly, they wouldn't have to look for Cassius personally. "The King encourages that the Crown prince explores and experiences all that he can before he ascends to the throne."

There was a hard hint of bitterness, undetectable because of her Althean accent. The Devaraja had always shown ceaseless favor to his, son turning a blind eye to most of his blunders and enriching in him in his foolish conquests of pleasure. Olissa would watch with silent envy on the sidelines as she strove and proved her worth to get what she wanted, all while Cassius had it handed to him on a silver platter. It wasn't fair, of course but her determination had made her the respectable figurehead she was today: an inspiration and model to all Althean women.

"We're near," she finally says, after twenty minutes of seemingly aimless wandering. Hunting was a famed pastime and tracking Cassius was no harder than tracking a blind deer.

In the near distance there was a glow which stretched the shadows of trees. Enclosed within the cage of branches was a silhouette of a male, feet dangling from one of the low branches. The was a low hum of a familiar Althean melody, one which brought nostalgia to those who know it and a serene comfort to those who don't. As they got closer, pushing away low bushes to reach the gathering, the glow grew more visible and apparent, turning into c-like shapes.

In the midst of the small floating lights was Cassius, looking more than in his comfort zone despite being lost in the middle of no where.

"Ah, you're finally here," he grinned, voice filled with confident expectancy. His index finger was nuzzling the nozzle of a... seahorse? A floating, glowing one at that.

Jumping down from the tree branch, Cassius landed like a cat and his sudden movement had the group of candescent creatures moving back like a ripple, further up into the tree's branches.

"Cas... how?" Olissa poorly worded, amazed at the rare specimens before her.

The seahorses looked different from the ones in sea. Their translucent bellies were lucent and the ends of their tails curled like vines, ending with a leaf-like shape. Their colors matched the autumn streaks found in Edenburgh's dying tree leaves.

"Lady Fortuna's favor?" Cassius replied, Cheshire-grin etched like an artist's watermark. "Be careful of their spittle. It melts things like acid."

He holds up the edge of his shawl, revealing scorch-marked holes at the ends. He spoke from experience and perks at the sight of Kiriya.

"Oh, you're here too milady," he greets, easy-going and carefree, as though he hadn't been lost for hours. The sun had long set and their way to the inn was way overdue.

 

[clockwork girl]

• Kiriya Lin •​

There is was again, the hint of wryness, a certain inflection in her voice that conveyed her nonchalance. “I see,” Kiriya acknowledged simply, not knowing what else to say to such a vague, slippery statement. She would’ve thought that being the best at things one loved was a trait common to most people--but she knew it was useless to think too hard on the matter, as it was a way of saying something without saying anything at all. Still, the Amirah’s next words served as some reassurance that this wasn’t atypical of the prince to suddenly disappear, it being allowed and encouraged by his father. There was something in the way she said it, however, something that she couldn’t quite pin down, that made her refrain from asking anything much more. Instead, she obediently trailed after the other princess as she led the way through the dark woods.

Unfortunately, as their search grew longer and the moon rose higher and higher into the sky, she began to feel herself tire. It’d been refreshing to walk around for the first half hour, having spent so much time sitting still in a carriage, but stumbling through the uneven forest ground during the night with no indication of when it would end was another matter. Unlike the Althean royals, she had very little training in terms of stamina. What she lacked in physical endurance, however, she made up for with her mental fortitude, forcing herself to press on without a squeak of complaint despite becoming acutely aware that her heel was rubbing itself raw against her shoe.

“Are you alright, princess?” the general asked softly, far too perceptive for his own good.

“Of course,” she answered calmly, straightening her shoulders and making sure her stride was even. It couldn’t be helped, of course, these shoes weren’t meant for much walking--and she could hardly fault the circumstance either. While the Amirah had confirmed this wasn’t out of the norm, there was still a chance that he had found himself in grave circumstances. Surely that was much more important than aching feet or a few blisters.

“We’re near,” the Althean princess announced, and Kiriya glanced around the forest that appeared no different from the trees they had tread through over an hour ago. Then she spotted it, a strange, soft glow in the distance. As they headed straight for the lights she could feel her protector tense, his hand lingering on the hilt of his sword--but when the scene came into view, it was clear that the light was nothing malicious, but something quite curious indeed.

Wide-eyed, she stared up at the small luminescent creatures twirling about in the air like large fireflies, a beautiful sight that momentarily made her forget about the pain in her feet. The missing prince was sitting amongst them, clearly in one piece and in no state of distress. He didn’t even look lost; no, he looked perfectly at home in the middle of the forest. It was hard to say what amazed her more, but it was the glowing sea-horses she reached out for--only to quickly withdraw it when the Yuvraj mentioned their acidic saliva. The movement seemed to alert the prince to her presence and he greeted her as if nothing in this scenario was abnormal.

Kiriya dipped into a greeting of her own, putting on a pleasant smile to mask the exhaustion that was beginning to roll over her now that they had found the missing young man. “I am most glad to find you in good health, milord,” she told him. “We were worried that you had run into something unsavory.” Well, perhaps we was an exaggeration, but she was being completely truthful otherwise. In all honesty she was utterly grateful they hadn’t been met with the sight of him being held at swordpoint or already in teeny tiny pieces. She wouldn’t wish that for anyone, even if they weren’t a prince--though of course, the fact that she wouldn’t be responsible for a major diplomatic crisis was a relief of tremendous proportions.

“But, ah--if there isn’t anything else of pressing matter, perhaps we should be back on our way to the carriage,” the princess suggested carefully, sounding more like she was the one causing the inconvenience. “The hour is late, and it would surely do us well to get some rest as soon as possible.” Kiriya herself was certainly in need of some, and she found herself eager to get to an inn--though, she couldn’t say she was as excited for the trek back through the forest. She could only hope that the Amirah had as excellent a sense of direction as her tracking skills.

 

[Aster]

• Cassius Tesa •​

"Ah, yes. Of course," Cassius replied, dusting his hands with a light clap.

"Althea yubarik anima tua," he murmured a blessing before his departure, wishing his friendly glow friends farewell. While he doubted the creatures would understand what he's saying, their tails seemed to curl back in something Cas liked to think were waves. His encounter with them was pretty odd and while he was never the religious sort, there were multiple occurrences (this one adding to the numbers) which proved the power of something greater.

In truth, it was neither luck nor chance which had him stumbling on the nest of glowhorses. After wandering around blindly, for an hour, Cassius had indeed gotten lost, but retained far too much pride to shout for help (even when there was no one around him to hear). Being alone in the dark surfaced repressed memories. One of them, being a distant recollection of his mother; her hand stroking through his hair and her voice luring in a soft, familiar lullaby.

The Goddess' Song, she had said to him, Will be a guiding light through your darkest days, my son.

He had held those words dearly once.

But the Goddess didn't prevent his mother's assassination. Didn't stop the schemes that plotted against the royal family. Didn't help bring back the loving father he once knew. Didn't save N---

He remembered why he wasn't religious now and yet he sang. Words were husky as though rusted after long years of unuse. While the song flowed, his heart called out, wanting to be found, wanting to not be alone. The rest that happened could be cliche tales found in a storybook. A light had presented itself before him and he had approached it without caution. There, he waited, trusting in his sister, in himself, in his men and ironically, in the Goddess, that he'll be okay.

--- presently.

It didn't take Cassius long to notice the slight limp in Kiriya's steps. While she remained light on her feet, her face betraying any pain, Cassius had picked up enough cues to note the exhaustion in the Yuelin princess.

Easily taking her hand in his, he placed Kiriya's hand on top of his own palm, and offered, "Princess, you look tired. Allow me to assist you." His smile was polite and almost sympathetic but that glimmer of mischief was there, even in the shadows of the night. It danced in good humor at the ravenhead's flustered attempts in denial.

Before she could say anything else, he swept her off her feet, carrying her like a bride and walking on as though she weighed nothing. Her weight compared to the amount Cassius was used to lifting for training, was incomparable. The fact that she was so light was actually a slight concern but he said nothing, choosing only to smile and walk on.

Olissa looked perturb. Her furrowed brows and growing frown was left unseen as she walked behind the group. While most would've saw his actions as womanizing, she knew him well enough to know that Cassius had good intentions. He had always been softer on females, remaining a gentleman even in his flirtations. While his choices were bold, they were never perverse.

But she also knew that he harbored no feelings of true love for the princess, especially now that he's engaged to her. Had she been an ordinary girl, perhaps things would've been different. She would've been accepted into his harem, doted like his other courtiers. But if there was some small, rare chance that Cassius indeed, held any romantic feelings towards Kiriya...

well, Olissa worried for the both of them.


They were very behind schedule when they reached back at the inn. Worry was evident on the soldier's strained faces. Cassius' bodyguards apologized profusely, prostrating themselves before the prince. Their hands clenched in a prayer above their foreheads as they yelled with great remorse, "We're sorry to have failed you, my liege. These servants are willing to take any punishment you bestow!"

For a moment, he was torn on what to do. If he were to punish them, they'd only be on his heel more than ever. It would be a pain if he wanted to pick up more girls for his harem his alone time. But on the other hand, letting them go without would be far too merciful for someone of his status. He couldn't risk losing his reputation, even to such a small matter. There must be some way he could wiggle himself out of this.

His eyes fell on Olissa. Her face was even more hardened than before, indicating her exhaustion.

"Very well," he decided, "You're punishment is harsh training with the Amirah. For two weeks discipline shall be drilled back into you. I hope you're ready to endure hell." His voice was cold and spoken in a warning, but inside, he pitied them. Olissa was one of the strictest and hardest generals to please in the Althean army. Her training methods were indeed, hell. His guards seemed to understand that as well for they quieted considerably.

"Understood," they replied in unison, poorly keeping out the dread from their voices.

Olissa looked livid and if looks could kill, Cassius would be dead on spot.

Of course, he'd shove the workload on me, she fumed as Cassius smartly, retreated back to the carriage. He stuck closely to Kiriya, using her presence as a shield to keep Olissa from unleashing her rage.

For now, she could only clench her fist and sigh. She would have to deal with him later and if there was one thing she was good at, it was remembering her aggressors.


It was safe to say that the royals were close to nodding off to sleep when they had finally reached the inn at the borders of Yuelin. Their temporary living quarters were quaint and elegant, but only fully appreciated after a full night's amount of sleep.

 

[clockwork girl]

• Kiriya Lin •​

Morning seemed to come a little too quickly for them all. Still, Kiriya found herself waking before anyone came to rouse her--not because she was particularly refreshed, but for the fact that she was not in her own bed. As she sleepily rolled onto her side she could feel her body feebly protest, a twinge of pain ran up her leg as her skin pulled against the scab that had formed on her heel; the souvenir from their adventure into the woods...

A rush of embarrassment overcame her all over again at the memory, and the princess clapped her hands over her face as she willed it to pass. If it weren’t for the cultural differences, it’d been nothing short of a mortifying faux pas on both of their parts. To be carried bodily! By a man! In public! It would’ve been the new scandal of the Imperial Court if they found out; luckily, as disapproving as General Sai had seemed, he was not the sort of man to pass on gossip about his young mistress. It hadn’t made the experience any less embarrassing, of course. She curled into the blankets as if to bury herself in them, holding her breath until she had wrested back some semblance of control. Finally she rose, her face still a bit red and her hair a little more bedraggled than before. It was high time she got up--they still had a day’s journey ahead of them, after all.

It took every ounce of self-control in her to keep herself from blushing like a fool when she encountered the Yuvraj and his sister, who had been a clear witness to the whole folly, but she managed quite admirably. It helped that they were soon to cross the Yuelin border, and she was mentally placed firmly in the mindset of a proper hostess. As they came to a stop at the border and the General went ahead to speak to the guards, she was careful to carry on the conversation. “It is shame we will not be able to see Tenzuru,” she told them, smiling apologetically. “It is a colorful and lively city, filled with canals--particularly at night. Perhaps next time we may be able to stop by.”

While she thought it to be unfortunate that they wouldn’t enter Tenzuru, she was glad she had not been ordered to return all the way to the Imperial Palace. She’d had quite enough of it in the few days she’d been there recently, and with news of her betrothal, it would have likely been an even more uncomfortable situation.

The approach of General Sai broke her out of the dreadful thought, the older man bowing his head respectfully before saying his piece. “We have been cleared for entry, your Highnesses.”

“Excellent,” Kiriya acknowledged with a grateful nod. “Thank you, General.”

The seasoned warrior glanced up to meet her gaze before speaking up again. “It seems that they heard your words when we last passed this way, princess,” he told her quietly, though there was a smile in his stern voice.

“Pardon?” she blinked, her eyes round with confusion. Was he referring to the guards? Or..?

“The trees, princess,” he answered, and this time his stony expression did crack into a smile, however briefly.

“Oh,” she breathed, her face lighting up as the realization dawned on her. She turned to the Althean royals and spoke calmly, though the spark of excitement dancing in her dark eyes betrayed her feelings. “This might seem to be a strange request, but...if it would not be too much trouble, might I suggest that we proceed through the gates on foot? It will be only for a brief stretch.”

Once they had gotten out of the carriage, the guards stationed on every side of the stone bridge knelt and bent down low, murmuring their greetings to their princess and the two foreign royals. The general escorted them to the gigantic gates, and at a shouted signal the heavy doors began to swing open in front of them.

She knew what would likely be greeting her, and yet it still took her breath away. The scene that spread out in front of them was one of soft pinks and blues, a hazy corridor of pale pink that stretched out as far as the eye could see under the clear blue sky. The row of trees that had yet to bud when she’d travelled through before were in new bloom, proudly announcing that spring was truly here--a sight she had so longed for that she almost forgot that she was the one who was supposed to be introducing the flowers to her guests. A gentle breeze sent the petals swirling through the air like snow, settling on their hair and clothes ever so briefly before fluttering away and only leaving the nostalgic fragrance behind.

And oh, the scent was nostalgia itself, having been a marked presence in her childhood memories. In Xian-Yuzuru, there were hundreds of these flowering trees, to the point that the streets and rooftops in spring would be covered in pale pink petals. She and her mother would dress in hues of pink and green for the festival, weaving flowered branches into their dark hair. They’d watch the performing dancers mimicking the elegant twirling descent of the blossoms, their movements serene and their expressions wistful. It’d all been beautiful--the dances, the festival, the cherry blossoms themselves--and yet, little Kiriya had always felt that there was something a bit sad in that beauty, something she hadn’t been able to completely comprehend then. Of course, it was a concept she had come to grasp not many years afterwards. Wordlessly, the young woman held out a palm as a petal came to a rest upon it, but before she could take a hold of the fragile thing it floated out of her reach. A smile streaked over her lips, faint and melancholy. Beautiful, but fleeting--like many things in life. Like most things in life.

She finally turned to face the Yuvraj and the Amirah, her smile brightening into a sweeter one to better suit her next words, uttered with a graceful bow. “It is my honor to personally welcome you to Yuélin, your Highnesses.”

 

[Aster]

• Cassius Tesa •​

(short stumpy post bc I'm lowkey blocked on how to respond LOL studying is really taking a blow on my creativity and long posts just zap up my motivation)

The request to travel on foot was strange, but not taken poorly be either of the Althean royals. Cassius was more than grateful for a chance to stretch his legs. As much as he enjoyed the company of the Yuelin princess, staying in one place for too long bored him to no ends. If it weren't for royal protocols, the male would've gladly taken a capable stead and raced his way towards Ten-Nou, sun in his face, wind in his back. His sister was no different. Albeit, being the fickle person he was, after a day or two of hard riding, he would quickly come to appreciate the soft cushions in the carriage.

The view they were presented was beautiful and even then, he felt like "beautiful" wasn't enough to full captivate the scene laid out before him. Lips curved in appreciative awe and Cassius glanced over at his sister, noting that the scenery was enough to move even her. She held the same regal composure but her visage had softened around the edges and a ghost of a smile was present to those whose eyes were stolen from the pale pink trees.

A fallen blossom blew in his direction, twirling in the wind before landing at Kiriya's feet. Cassius' gaze followed in suite and he was about to compare her beauty to that of the flowers in bloom just as she turned around and stole his breath away.

He stood there, mouth parted for words that escaped him. All his suave words were blown away like a gust at her endearing smile and he found himself merely blinking as something in his chest—was it his heart? It can't be—began to race.

A very quiet and uncharacteristic "oh" was all he could manage and he reacts a moment too slow, too jerkily, with a polite nod of his own.

"The pleasure is all ours," he replied, reciting formalities with a closed hand to his mouth. He fakes a cough to hide his embarrassment (for what? Why did his face feel so hot? It must be the weather. The chill was getting to him) and silently thanks the Goddess for his dark skin, which did well in hiding the unwanted, creeping blush.

• Olissa Tesa •​

The short stop made their day's journey quite eventful and almost, Olissa daresay, worth the travel. While she was the last person anyone would expect to have a partiality towards the beauty nature had to offer, she found no need to hide her appreciation towards the aesthetics found and thus her mood greatly lifted as the faint scent of floral filled the air.

Seeing Cassius remotely flustered was just another bonus which stole her a knowing grin. Maybe things could work out between the two after all.

After sights were taken in, the trio were ushered back to their carriages and it wasn't long until they arrived at their inn. The promise of a nice relaxing bath at the hot springs became more tempting as the temperatures dropped to a biting cold.

The owners of the inn came to personally greet the royals, after having received message that they were staying at their humble abode. And while everyone---Olissa included---were in high-spirits after their little stop, she couldn't shake off the uncanny feeling that they were being watched.

 

[clockwork girl]

• Kiriya Lin •​

At the end of a careful tour and explanation of typical procedure at the hot springs, they were led to their quarters to settle in. It was not long before Kiriya reappeared, having donned the robes provided by the inn. General Sai was already waiting out in the hallway, also dressed in the plain garment instead of his usual armor. Kiriya had managed to convince her bodyguard to act as host for the Yuvraj in her stead, seeing that the hot springs were split by gender; it would be most rude to leave the prince alone and unattended when he was a guest, after all. The general had been worried about her safety, but she’d pointed out to him that there were still the other guards and the retainers from Altheana--and at last, the general had begrudgingly conceded to her. They traded silent glances as they waited for the Althean royals to emerge from their quarters--hopefully the owners’ explanations had been enough for them to put on the robes without too much difficulty.

Once the Althean royals had joined them, Kiriya gestured for the Amirah to follow her. “This way if you please, milady,” she uttered pleasantly, then turned towards the prince and motioned at her protector. “General Sai has humbly offered to accompany you, milord. I hope you find the hot springs refreshing, and that the stress of travel will soon melt away.” Offering the young man a smile and a polite bow, she escorted the Althean princess off towards the women’s side--though she did not fail to shoot the general one last pleading look as they walked away. General Sai was not a soft or overly friendly person to most, and it would be a disaster if his sternness would be taken as rudeness by the Yuvraj. She could only hope he would make an extra effort to come off as likable, even if it was just for an hour or two.

She had less time to worry about the general, however, seeing that she was going to be alone with the Amirah. It was hard to tell what the foreign princess thought about her, or about most things, in fact, but Kiriya was also determined to not let her nerves show. She steeled herself as she waited for the Althean royal, already immersed in the steaming hot water with a towel wrapped neatly around her slender form. While her aversion to water was not to be disregarded, a hot spring was a familiar setting compared to the ocean, one rather necessary in the frigid North, in fact. Still, she kept her back against the slabs of stone, with no possibility of anyone getting to her completely unseen.

When the Amirah did emerge, also wrapped in a towel, it took a split second longer than it should’ve for Kiriya to greet her properly. While she had noted in their first few encounters that she was curvy, she had been wrong to assume they were simply soft womanly assets--no, her body spoke of a life that was filled with vigorous activity, a physique that even the most dedicated dancers hardly achieved. She gnawed on this for a short period as the other princess entered the hot spring as well, wondering if it’d be rude to inquire.

Maybe it was, but she finally gave into her curiosity, turning her dark eyes towards amber ones. “Pardon if it is presumptuous of me, but..do you perhaps dance, your Highness?” Dance was a tasking exercise, especially the more active and acrobatic kinds like the Ren style--and there was a chance that Althean dance was also a spirited sort. “I noticed that you are rather athletic, and I couldn’t help but wonder.” It had been a long time since she’d had an occasion to dance, but she’d liked it as a girl. If the Althean princess had an affinity for it as well, she thought, it could hopefully serve as a common ground for them. It might have been a naive desire, but if they were to be sisters through marriage, she wanted to do her best to be on good--or dare she hope--friendly terms.

 

[Aster]

• Cassius Tesa •​

(not-so-ooc cassius: I'm back plebeians! Kneel before the loveliest man in the world.)

The robes given were not too unfamiliar to the two, although the thick stash (obi) used to keep the piece in place was far more difficult to tie than the usual Althean belts. While Olissa had mimicked the style of the outfit to perfection, following the instructions exactly, Cassius had placed his on with a loose sense of conviction. It hung opened past his collarbone but was secured safely at the waist, giving him more than enough leeway to "breathe".

Dusk had fallen outside their living quarters. The windows signaled such and Cassius found it somewhat surprising to see how quickly night fell in the north. Down south, days stretched on with the sky still bright even at six in the evening. Not counting dark storms and the rainy season, it rarely became this dark at such an early time in Altheana.

Cassius tucked this newfound information into his mind to consider when left in solidarity bliss in his bath. That bliss seemed to shatter when Kiriya offered the company of General Sai and while it might have been done out of good will, Cassius was more than slighted. To share a bath with a mere general? Him? The Yuvraj of Altheana? With another man, nonetheless! (If it was a woman, perhaps Cassius would've reconsidered.)

No. Absolutely not. Cassius was having none of it.

Putting his foot down, he raised a hand and quickly dismissed the offer with an unexpected terseness in his tone, "There's no need for that, princess. I'll much prefer to bathe in private."

He was smiling as usual, but it was one which failed to reach his eyes. With a brief bow in reply, Cassius wished his sister and the Yuelin princess a good time, before turning away, guided by the innkeeper's staff, towards the hot springs.

When Olissa and Kiriya had left, leaving Sai and Cassius alone in the bathhouse's male changing room, the prince merely glanced down (a feat really considering how they were so close in height) at the general with a look which dared him to defy.

"I'll have your head on a platter if you come in," it seemed to allude, broken by a polite smile as Cassius spoke, "I'll be going in first. I'll see you when I'm out." A carefree pat was given to the general as the Althean walked past him, entering the hot springs alone and unbothered.

The heat from the waters, however could not compare to the fanned flames of the General's tightly-gripped anger.

"That punk," he growled, throwing his towel at the floor in a miniature tantrum. (A bit OOC for Sai but I thought this was funny so I kept it in.)

Inside the hot springs, Cassius hummed to himself in perfect content.

• Olissa Tesa •​

The water was hot enough to roll boughs of steam into the changing room when Olissa slid the doors opened. It billowed around her feet as she stepped into the miniature pool. The heat crept up her legs in a pinchingly pleasing manner and her tense muscles relaxed as she waded further in, seating herself an arms length from the Yuelin princess.

Had she been alone or more comfortable with her brother's bride to be, she would've exhaled a loud sigh.

Arms were propped up on the rocks behind her as she leaned back both her head and her back in comforting leisure. Her limbs stretched out before her like a cat, all while she dominated the space around her with her presence and her aura. Even when relaxed, the Althean princess was intimidating. Her eyes were closed when Kiriya addressed her, opening only at the sheer randomness of the princess' question.

A brow was quirked and the water around her stirred as she moved.

"Dance?" she repeated, glancing down at her own body before looking back at Kiriya. The contrast was as stark as their complexion. While Olissa was toned, curvy and far larger in build, Kiriya was slender, lithe and delicate-looking like a willow branch. She could easily see why men like her brother would favor the Yuelin princess. She had the perfect build and complexion to suit.

Something twinged in her chest and she dismissed it with a silent click of her tongue. She hadn't the time to envy. Thinking rationally, had Olissa not trained to become the person she was today, she would've never garnered herself such a high title like the Amirah. Unlike men, women born into royalty were merely addressed as 'miras (princesses)' unless given a new title otherwise. Olissa's many exploits in war and battle was what won her the title of a general and as a reward for her heroic deeds for Altheana, she was given the title Amirah---the First Princess (which stood alone even if she hadn't been the first female child born to the Devaraja), rivaling that in name to the High Priestess of Althea itself.

It wasn't easy and many sacrifices had been made. Hands were dirtied, lives were taken, and all for what? There were times at night where she'd look down at her calloused hands and wonder if it had all been worth it. She had climbed, crawled, clawed her way up to where she was now but regardless of which, her glory will never leave her younger brother's shadow. It was a bitter pill to swallow but like her mother, Olissa had came to terms with acceptance.

She pondered on Kiriya's question for a second, wondering if combat was considered a dance. In a way, it was. A dance with death, that is.

A smile pulled on her face, something enigmatic and wry. "I suppose you can say I do," she answered finally, moving her body so that it faced Kiriya. Her chin rested into the nook of her arm.

"You can drop the formalities, by the way," Olissa said, closing her eyes: a sign of trust that she sensed no ill harm from the Yuelin princess. "There's no one here but us and we're to be sisters soon, right?" There was something warm and encouraging in her eyes as her body sunk further into the waters.

"What about you? Do you dance?" Olissa asked, bringing something easy to conversation. She was certain there were other questions Kiriya wanted to ask her. Doubts and thoughts about her fiance were indefinite and now was a perfect opportunity for her to ask.

 

[clockwork girl]

• Kiriya Lin •​

The Amirah looked somewhat nonplussed by her question, and for a moment Kiriya worried she had made a misstep. Then a smile spread on the older woman’s face--the kind that spoke to some inside joke, instead of being mocking or condescending, and the Yuelin princess could feel relief seeping back towards her.

Good, she had not offended the First Princess. But the next words made her give the slightest of pauses as she reined in a spark of surprise. Drop formalities? Because...they would be sisters…

Of course, she’d thought the same thing, but to hear it from the rather intimidating royal was something else. “...You’re right,” she admitted softly, a shy smile sweeping up the corners of her lips. It wasn’t easy to gauge what the Amirah thought of her, and while Kiriya understood that this too could be another form of courtly pleasantry, she couldn’t help but be a bit warmed by the gesture.

“What about you? Do you dance?” the Amirah posed the question back to her.

“Not much anymore, but I learned when I was a child,” she answered lightly, as if it was something she had simply outgrown. Looking back up at the other princess, she met her reassuring gaze with a warmer, more genuine smile. “Perhaps you could teach me to dance as you do someday. It will be interesting to see the differences.” Her words weren’t empty ones--she knew she would have to do her best to fit into the Althean culture, and it would be truly helpful to have someone to help her. Especially if that was going to be her sister-in-law.

Sisters...

“You and your brother seem close,” she spoke up carefully. It wasn’t like they were openly affectionate or coddled each other. In fact, much of the time it seemed that the Amirah was mildly irritated or exasperated by her brother--but there was care at the root of it all. One didn’t bother getting annoyed by someone or something when they didn’t care. Her thoughts wandered back to the cold indifference in Nanaya’s eyes and the blank confusion in Yue’s round ones. It was better, she thought, to squabble and bicker but care about one another, than to be apathetic strangers. “It must be nice,” she found herself saying without much thought, a wistful envy curled up in the corner of her smile. Then, realizing what she had said, she quickly added: “--to have a sibling close in age to you.”

 

[Aster]

• Olissa Tesa •​

There was a slight hardening in her smile at Kiriya's request to demonstrate her "dance". She highly doubted the Yuelin princess would appreciate standing in mid-battlefield, splatters of their enemies' blood raining down like a burst of crimson petals. From the innocent air the ravenhead carries around herself, it isn't hard to assume that she has never seen the light drain from one's eyes nor had her hands stained with the cold tears of mourning loved ones.

It was better this way, Olissa thought, far from cruel enough to wish her fate on other people. Ignorance was a bliss and dainty women with soft palms, never calloused from the touch of a blade, were blessed. She noticed this early on. A twinge of envy quickly snuffed as she reminded herself that it did more harm than good to compare.

The topic was no longer addressed with Olissa neither confirming nor accepting, choosing instead to comment on the new subject brought up.

She quirked a brow and the water around her stirred as she shifted. Her body twisted so it faced the Yuelin princess.

"That's a first," she mused, though from an insightful outsider's point of view, perhaps they do seem that way. It embarrasses her to know that their affections are apparent, but she wouldn't go far as to deny them. Kiriya wasn't wrong and while Cassius was the biggest pain she's ever had the misfortune to deal with, he was her brother and she would stand up for him.

...most of the time.

"You seem like someone who has siblings yourself. Are they far older or far younger?" she asked casually, noting her additional input. From the corner of her eye, a shadow flickered. It was subtle, almost unnoticeable if not under the careful watch of sharp eyes. Something inside her is alerted but she feigns cluelessness, remaining calm.

"We're not too far in age ourselves," she added, smile kind with a touch of mischief. It's a ghost smile to Cassius' but the resemblance is there. "Given that, you're welcome to ask me anything. I'm sure there are things you wish to know about my brother." And your future husband.

She doesn't say it but her implications are loud and clear. Underlying that was a test to see just what the Yuelin princess would dare to question, especially in the presence of a spy.

 

[clockwork girl]

• Kiriya Lin •​

“Far younger,” Kiriya supplied dutifully. “Princess Nanaya is twelve, and Crown Prince Yue is only nine.” Both were more than ten years her junior, though she knew that their large difference in age was not the real reason why they were not as close as she secretly wished. “They are both very sweet children,” she added with a smile that teetered dangerously close to wistful.

She wished she could say more about them, but that was all she really knew--what they’d been like eight years prior. She still remembered how Nanaya would follow her around everywhere, ignoring the fact that her mother would send her maids to chase her down and separate them. Still, it had only been a matter of time until she found those large, gleeful eyes blinking up at her and a tiny hand, sticky with sweets, willfully wriggling into her own.

As for Yue--the boy who didn’t even recognize her--she had held him exactly once, a bundle of warmth so mild tempered he hadn’t uttered a squeak at being held by someone new. She’d told herself then that she’d love this boy the way she would’ve loved her own little brother, the babe dead and buried in her mother’s arms. And she had--she’d loved them both, even if the Empress didn’t want her around them. Foolishly, young Kiriya had hoped they could still be a family.

The Amirah’s next words shook her out of her bittersweet memories, and she reminded herself that this was hardly the place or the time--though memories never seemed to care about that. “Ah, yes,” she murmured, returning the princess’ teasing smile with a timid one of her own. There was a kindness in Olissa’s faint smile, and her own widened a just a smidge before it dropped off abruptly at the Amirah’s suggestion.

It sounded innocent, but the implication was enough to send a flush of red to her cheeks faster than the hot water had. “Oh, um--” the dark haired girl stammered, before collecting herself again. Indeed, it would be wise to ask someone close to the Yuvraj for more information, and yet now that she was faced with this seemingly all-knowing one, she found that there was far too much unknown for her to form a coherent question. The Yuelin princess fell silent for a brief stretch, seemingly overcome.

“Actually, I’m not much practised in courtship,” she finally confessed, her voice barely louder than a whisper. “And I’m even more unfamiliar with Althean expectations of courtship, and so I fear I don’t know what to say or do.” Within the water, her fingers wove and unwove into themselves nervously. She didn’t want to get off on the wrong foot, and she didn’t want her naivete to be interpreted as coldness--even if she had not expected to wed, even if this was no more than her duty as a princess, she wanted to make the best of the situation.

The Amirah certainly would be familiar with the culture of Althean courtship, not to mention at least some of her brother’s preferences--but she also exuded an air of experience, a confidence, even, that made it seem to Kiriya that such things were child’s play to the dark skinned beauty. “If...if you have any advice on the matter, I’d be grateful,” she murmured, staring down at the water instead of the princess’ piercing amber eyes.

 

[Aster]

• Olissa Tesa •​

For someone as experienced in bed as Olissa, she personally did not know much on the rules and etiquette on courtship. What she does know are her brother's flirtatious antics on the girls he calls back into his harem. Most being so corny and absurd that Olissa is amazed people actually fall for it. (She's smarter than to fully believe that it's completely her brother's charm. With favor came power, riches and the promise is a comfortable lifestyle. Only a fool would turn it down.)

With her personality, and granted that she's the Amirah, the courtship she's faced are... very ineffective and a matter which she has brought to scorn. She finds most of her admirers pathetic and is far from the sweet, blushing maiden who grow weak at some glittery gift or flowery words. The thought would have her gagging but she couldn't admit that openly to the princess of Yuelin, especially when she was earnestly seeking her assistance.

If she were to give advice on personal experience, Olissa would only share stories on how to bring someone down. She had never fancied anyone to receive any courtship positively, making her a dangerous woman to court. Being the first princess, her standards were quite high.

Of course, telling Kiriya that would only serve to ruin the engagement between her and Cassius. And as much as she was against the arrange marriage (secretly, of course) going against their father's wishes would be suicide.

"Just be yourself," Olissa said after a moment's thought. She knew her brother's type and seen girls like Kiriya. Innocent as a lamb, naturally prompting the protective side from men.

While she spoke in relaxed tones, inside she was tense and alert. Her gaze shifted to the decor rocks which fenced the waters, eyeing one particular jagged stone as a potential weapon should the spy attack. Her arms stretched out as she sank back against the edge of the pool. Her fingers strummed listlessly over the stone, but fortunately, they never came to grip.

The spy's presence was suddenly gone and Olissa felt for sure now, that they hadn't been the target.

If that's the case...

She stood abruptly, still smiling to keep Kiriya from frightening.

"Seems I've been here long enough. We should probably leave. Dinner would be serve soon, if I recall correctly," Olissa said, leaving the bathhouse with hidden urgency. "Meals should always be eaten hot, don't you think?"

 

[clockwork girl]

• Kiriya Lin •​

Any inner rumination upon the single line of advice she had received from the Amirah were interrupted the instant the older princess stood, remarking upon dinnertime. Realizing belatedly that she had lost track of time, she too rose from the steaming water. “Indeed, meals should be eaten hot,” she agreed, tightening the dripping towel about her figure. “I’m quite sorry for the inconvenience, but I’d forgotten that I planned on making a quick trip to the nearby market before dinnertime--you and your brother the Yuvraj are more than welcome to join me, but if not, please go ahead and start the evening meal,” Kiriya offered. The Amirah seemed a bit antsy, perhaps feeling the bite of hunger creeping up on her. While it would be interesting to introduce the two Althean royals to a simple, everyday marketplace, it certainly wasn’t anything special enough to stave off hunger.

******​

The glow of paper lanterns were warm against the falling dusk, creating a welcome atmosphere in addition to the swell of people buying and selling their wares from stalls and shops. It wasn’t impressive on any grounds, but there was something quaint about it that made it endearing and comfortable. General Sai walked by her side, holding a couple of items she had purchased--mostly, some traditional snacks for the long carriage ride ahead of them in the coming days. As usual, General Sai was quiet, but she could tell that there was much on his mind.

Was he mulling over the route they would take come morning, or brooding over his disapproval of something the Yuvraj has done? Or was he thinking of his wife? The sons he left behind? The golden days when he’d been a real general, instead of a glorified babysitter? She didn’t have it in her to ask, so she too kept silent.

As they strode through the edges of the crowd, they brushed past a stall selling various styles of paper lanterns from all over the country of Yuelin. One caught her attention and she reached out to admire it, the woodwork and pattern typical of the region surrounding Iezuru. “How nostalgic,” she murmured to herself, but being sharply attuned to the sound of his mistress’ voice, the grizzled man turned his attention to the lantern as well. Their eyes met for a moment, and she knew he was thinking back to the same memory as she.

It had been so long ago, and yet the circumstances had not changed so much. They were once again on a journey to a faraway, unknown place because of a decision made upon her behalf--but perhaps this time was not as bad as then. Eight years ago, numb with fear and despair, she’d been handed over to a stranger who seemed to have a face and heart of stone. Now, he was a comforting presence, a trusted anchor that kept her grounded. This time, she knew she was not alone.

A brief smile lit up her face as they wordlessly moved on, nearing the edge of the marketplace. Her quick pace suddenly slowed as her eyes stopped on a particular sign, her footfalls coming to a stop at the entrance. The General too halted beside her, watching the raven haired girl’s eyes light up with recognition. “Ah…” she uttered aloud as if something had dawned upon her, hurrying into the depths of the shop. Where his charge went, so did he--and a few minutes later, the duo reappeared from the shop, a small bundle clutched carefully to the princess’ chest.

 

[Aster]

• Cassius Tesa •​

While it was proper etiquette to never refuse a request from a royal of higher or equal status, Olissa had to politely decline for unspoken reasons. She sent her brother as a proxy and made the excuse that the hard travel had made her feel faint. (A statement which Cassius would've scoffed at. Olissa could ride for days without stopping in battle.) Claiming to need rest, she left and sent a handful of the best guards to follow Cassius on his journey. This roused his suspicions but as per usual, he chose not to question. He trusted her to handle any threats. After all, her excuse was just a fabrication to give her space to roam the inn undisturbed.

The marketplace was a beautiful site even at the time of dusk. The glowing lanterns created a warm and lively atmosphere down cobbled paths. Children were out with playing pinwheels or spinning tops, loosely managed by nearby parents who are strolling through for purchases. It wasn't unlike Altheana's marketplace, but it carried its own charm.

Cassius lagged slightly behind the duo as he took his time admiring the sights. When Kiriya emerged from the shop with a bundle in her hands, he went over curiously to see what she had bought. Olissa had relayed to him earlier why the princess had wanted to shop in the first place, and considering how the meals were prepared by the inn staff, Cassius deduced that it must be a personal want which led her out.

"What could she have wanted so badly that she'd delay a meal for?" he wondered. Aloud, he asked, "You look happy. What did you get?"

 

[clockwork girl]

• Kiriya Lin •​

“Oh,” she startled--at his appearance or his words, she wasn’t quite sure. Did she look happy? Well, she supposed she was indeed pleased to have made such a lucky find. “I’ve bought some snacks for the journey ahead of us,” she explained, gesturing to the items that General Sai was holding. “And as for this…” she paused, her gaze flicking from the package she was holding to the Yuvraj. “It’s a surprise,” she finally told him, a shy smile flitting by as quickly as the words. “Would you care to further explore the marketplace? Or shall we return to the inn for dinner?” Kiriya asked, changing the subject before the thought could be dwelt on too much longer. She had all the things she needed, and it would be terribly rude to delay dinner any further if the Yuvraj was hungry.

She nodded primly at his answer, walking alongside him while General Sai trailed a mere three steps behind. The princess could not help but hope that the Althean royal would not find her secrecy offensive; there was no reason she couldn’t tell him the truth of the matter. After all, it was a gift for him--an attempt at displaying her goodwill in this courtship, even if might’ve been a clumsy one.

The Amirah had told her to just be herself. It seemed simple enough, but it had posed a difficult question to the young woman. After all, it seemed nearly impossible for her to imagine herself stripping off all the layers of duty and formality to find whatever she truly was without all the things that had been ingrained into her.

It was a conundrum, one she couldn’t make sense of. However, when she’d seen the sign, when she’d caught a whiff of that familiar scent, she’d known she’d found an answer-- even if it was an imperfect one. Something from a time before everything had changed, something so simple and yet full of the warmth she’d almost forgotten. The thought of it made her steps lighter, and her mood along with it. Still, there was the matter of actually giving him the gift...

“If it would not be too much of a bother--” she spoke up, steeling herself. “Might I have the honor of a private audience with milord after the evening meal?” Her voice and gaze were steady, despite her nerves--and despite the instant disapproval she could feel radiating out from the general behind them. It was forward, to be sure, but Kiriya had no intention of doing anything undignified.

 

[Aster]

• Cassius Tesa •​

The mention of a surprise had him raising a brow; one out of modest interest, but he did not let his curiosity take over completely. Surprises worked best when they were left completely in the dark. If that was Kiriya's desire, he was more than willing to respect her wishes.

They were walking back to the inn, presumably for dinner, browsing the night vendors as they went. Cassius saw a good deal of things that caught his interest. There were little toy drums with handles and beads attached to their sides made as little clackers, a toy for children to play, and colorful lanterns, some shaped as butterflies, lotuses and dragons. Then he saw candied fruits, glistening red underneath the yellow lights, tantalizingly tempting, pleasing to the eye. He motioned at them in curiosity.

"What are those?" he asked. There were many sticks of the candied fruits---tanghulu, he learned they were called. After discovering what they were, he bought two sticks. One for himself and another for Kiriya. The dessert was a real treat. The candied coating was crunchy and sweet, sticking to his teeth, while the fruit underneath was ripe and juicy. He praised Yuelin for such a creation, hoping to one day see such a thing in Altheana.

It so happened that Cassius' mouth was filled with the sticky sweet and he was making his best attempts to push the candied bits out of his teeth with his tongue, when Kiriya made her request. It was the last thing he had expected and being a naturally healthy male, with a naturally perverse (coughs) mind, Cassius assumed her request to be otherwise. But they weren't even married yet!

Fortunately, he wasn't so impertinent to speak with his mouth full, thus he merely nodded. The surprise quickly hidden, in case it should be taken as discourtesy. With a clean smile, he accepted, curious to what the Princess had in mind. She certainly didn't look like an amorous type of person. Could Cassius have judged her wrongly?

(Stupid boy.)

Dinner went by quickly with Olissa joining them halfway through the meal. She apologized for her tardiness and wore a stoic expression throughout dinner. She was doing a poor job in hiding her bad mood, but just what could've set it off? Cassius thought for a bit while trying to keep Kiriya moderately entertained. Could it be that Olissa hadn't caught the spy?

Cassius had noticed strange movement in the inn as well, and naturally assumed Olissa had taken time off to look into it. He had half-expected her to settle the problem herself, whether it be tying the spy up or killing them. Whatever she chose to do, the matter would be resolved, but from the looks of it, it seems this wasn't the case. Cassius' lips pulled down in a fraction of a frown. Just what sort of person was capable of evading Olissa?

Once dessert was taken away, the final course of the meal, the royals were excused to retreat back to their rooms. Remembering Kiriya's request, Cassius waited for her to join him.