"She's a student of Master Half Eye." Addie explained and The Empress froze. A look of total shock slowly turning to a grin. A series of chuckles escaped the Empress's pursed lips as she began slicing the rabbit leaving her companion in confused silence.
"Then things may get quite interesting." Empress Evelyn commented with a grin as she placed a rabbit quarter on her plate.
*************
Meanwhile, in the Palace of the Dancing Winds Dinner had been enjoyed and Prince Clovis had stepped out to the garden to work for a bit. At least until it was time to lay his daughter to sleep.
The happy little princess was humming as she put her new doll on her bed and went about her evening routine. Every now and then she would sing a word or two but all the maids could understand was 'rings'. The bouncy child in a mood that lit the house and brought happiness to the weary end of another long day. The guards were focused on the gardens but someone else was not.
A slender figure slipped through the doorway, closing it carefully behind itself after entering the room. Raina's bed room was still just as elegant and sweet as a child's room should be. Yet this figured dressed in shades of deep grey stood out to an adult eye but a child lost in her thoughts would see nothing at all.
As the figure went to make its move, the door opened and Prince Clovis walked in, dressed for rest himself. "Are you ready for bed, Princess?" he asked picking his little girl up and tossing her in the air, catching her around the waist while she laughed.
"Yes, Daddy." Raina agreed between sweet little giggles. He nodded and pulled her blankets up and tucked her in.
"Good Girl. Now then hair brushed, clean cloths, dinner eaten, and did you practice your practice?" Clovis asked, attempting to support her learning. If this was something she wanted, he wanted to push her to do well. Raina nodded, her expression serious.
"Yes, I did." she assured him and he had to restrain his expression. She was adorably amusing with that responsible expression. He nodded smiling softly. "I promised teacher and I am a Princess." the way she said that sounded like it meant something.
"I see, and what did your teacher tell you that means?" Clovis asked curiously, and she smiled.
"If a Princess gives her word it represents the people so a princess must keep her words." Raina replied honestly surprising Clovis. His daughter was absorbing so much knowledge from a woman who was supposed to just be teaching her music.
"She is a very intelligent. Speaking of Master Kyera…" Clovis began gathering his thoughts to ask the next question. "So, when Kyera agreed to teach you the first time, what did she say?" Clovis asked honestly curious. The expression of pure happiness on his daughter's face and renewed fire in her heart was enough to make him wonder.
"The best person to teach me is someone who believes in me." Raina replied a bit shyly and Clovis froze.
"And you think she believes in you enough to teach you?" Clovis asked, watching Raina as she smiled softly and nodded slowly.
"She believes in me, even if the royals don't, Warrioress Kyera doesn't need anyone's permission to believe in me so she can believe with her whole heart." Princess Raina's words hit hard on Clovis' heart. Was that why she thought he didn't let her do things? He had no idea what to say. Of all the things he had expected this was not one of them. He wasn't sure how to respond beyond the burning in his heart. The fourth Prince kissed his daughter's forehead and bid her a silent good night. The silence in part because there was no need to say more, but also because he feared his voice would reveal the pain in his heart.