"No, I am not. Do you know why?" Kyera asked looking down into Raina's blue eyes with her own warm goldens. "Because you are my daughter. No matter how tonight goes, you will do your best. That is all we can ever ask of you. Your father is worried about your feelings getting hurt but here is the thing, little love. What those people think, doesn't matter. Even if you don't score a single point tonight, you can only be who you are. Don't try to fit this beautiful, unique peg into a round whole. You will be just as beautiful and organic as your heart guides you to be. After who better to be here for you, than someone who believes in you."
Raina's little expression lit up as she heard Kyear's words. The child looked up at Kyera and held herself tall. The flowy dress she was wearing was perfect, and fit her well and looked like she had stepped out of a palace in the fae world. Ella had done an amazing job on this dress as well. It hid exactly what it was supposed to, but wouldn't get in the way of the music, or the dance. Something seemed to hit her then.
"But if I do badly we could lose and Papa worked so hard…" Raina said her nerves were back and Kyera hugged her.
"Your father worked hard to become emperor to protect you Princess. The thing is that was back when you were alone. Now you are the beloved Princess of not only Forest Gate, but also Shadowveil, and great great great granddaughter of the Frost Born Matriarch. There are so many people to help protect you, that even if the new emperor banished us from this land for evermore, we have homes to go to. You will always be safe and sound with your family. That is all that matters dear one." Kyera explained as she straightened Raina's tiara on her head. It was a simple silver circlet, and she tapped the jewel on her earring.
"It's really okay?" Raina asked and Kyera smiled at her.
"Raina, let me say this, no matter what you do, even if you refuse to go on stage, or throw a tantrum, you will always be our daughter. I have told you many times before, it's not the dress that makes the princess, but the Princess that makes the dress. Lovely, title princess or emperor is only as good as the person who wears it. You be yourself, the kind, sweet, sharp witted little girl I know you are, and it won't matter what your status is. We will be proud of you. We will love you. What more do you need?" Kyera asked softly and Raina pondered for a moment.
"I need you and Daddy to be happy and the Cub to be healthy." Raina replied and Kyera smiled, tears pricking her eyes. Raina saw this and panicked. "I am sorry, Mommy. I didn't mean to make you cry." She hugged Kyera who wiped the tears from her eyes.
"No baby, it's not that. I am just developing emotions for two people and sometimes that makes me cry happy tears because there's too much emotion for me and little cub to process." Kyera explained, kissing the child's hair. Raina visibly relaxed. This explanation seemed… plausible. So, she nodded and followed Kyera out into the courtyard.
Waiting for them was Kan, dressed from head to toe as a knight. His long hair had even been pulled behind his head and braided back to present a clean, put together appearance. Even his bangs which were just a little short to meet with the braid had been brushed into place just in front of his ears. Raina saw him and smiled, but then looked around. Her expression fell a little as Lya and Ryo caught her eye, sitting side by side without her orange companion.
"Is Talis going to be okay?" Raina asked turning her concerned little face up to Kyera who looked back at her. The lie would be so easy, but would that be the right way to handle Raina?