Noah saw her off at the castle gate. She waved goodbye, smiling softly as he skittered nervously through the crowd.
The warm feeling in her chest grew as she crossed the bridge and made her way past the engraved stone walls and into the court.
Alexis had the occasional issue with authority but as she entered the throne room she couldn't help but feel proud of the one she served.
The benevolent king of Zillah, Lord Adric Davu Amari, sat resplendent in flowing robes, calmly negotiating with foreign traders.
Alexis took her position by a pillar, twisting her face into whatever semblance of dignity she could muster.
The king spoke in an even tone though it was physically taking a toll on him.
The princess, a beautiful woman of seventeen, was as per usual, casually turning his hair grey.
She lounged on her throne, head thrown back and legs spread wide, asserting her dominance and drawing the gaze of the traders.
"Reyn.." The king's voice was low, his eye developing a tic.
"Mmm? Whatcha say?" She barely looked up as she repeated the words she had been taught.
"Please sit like a lady."
The atmosphere of the court changed with those words. A chill swept through the room, making them shiver. The traders stepped back, eyes wide as the king silently pleaded to a higher power.
But it was too late.
Reyn sat up slowly, turning her head to look at her father. Then, with eyes that stared straight into his soul, she let out a violent raspberry.
Had he been any closer, the king's crown would've blown off.
With each passing second, Alexis felt her ribs threatening to explode.
When she finished, Reyn stood up and flipped her hair, walking out of the room like a goddess. That was Alexis's cue to follow.
Neither one spoke till she closed the door to Reyn's chambers behind her.
"Excellent work, your Highness."
"I learnt from the best," She winked, reaching for an apple from her basket.
"Will you be in trouble?" Alexis asked, her pride shadowed by worry.
"Nah," the slang was alien on the royal's tongue but she used it with confidence. "Father wants me to look pretty tonight. He ain't going to do squat." She turned to her servant for approval.
Alexis nodded at her attempt at 'street talk'.
Reyn's father was convinced that she was going to find the love of her life during the festival week, hence the galas every other night.
"Love of my life, he says. Well, they can kiss my-" She grumbled inaudibly, biting into the apple as she cursed in her limited vocabulary.
As the princess devoured the fruit like a hungry camel, Alexis found her gaze drifting to the window which overlooked the courtyard.
Outside, young guards in their mid-teens were being trained by one who was barely older than Alexis herself.
Reyn was quick to notice the small smile that tugged at the corner of her lips.
"What're you looking at?" She crammed next to her, catching a glimpse of the guard who hastily turned away.
She gasped. "Whoa. Hot tea alert."
"It's hottie alert," Alexis corrected. "And also, really?"
"Positively. What was his name?" She scrunched her nose, trying to remember. "M- something."
"Markus."
Reyn snapped her fingers. "That's the bitch."
Alexis made a mental note to censor her words next time.
"You should talk to him. He looks at you whenever you arrive at the gate." Reyn folded her arms across her chest.
"Isn't that his job?"
"Yeah, but he looks at you." She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively.
Unfortunately, her servant possessed but one brain cell, making the suggestion fly over her head.
"I'm saying you should ask him out, dumbass."
"Oh!" Alexis's eyes widened. "No, I'm good, thanks."
"Well, as your queen-to-be.." Reyn licked her lips, her black eyes glinting. "I dare you to ask him to the gala tonight."
***
Alexis sighed as she crossed into the courtyard. She turned back, looking up at the window where the princess waved encouragingly.
'Triple dog dare. Shouldn't have taught her that one.'
As she approached the group of soldiers, one of them broke away, heading towards her.
"Act like you don't know me." She whispered.
"You're actually not supposed to be here." Markus raised his eyebrows at her.
"That's good," She took a deep breath. "So the princess dared me to ask you to the gala."
"Was it a triple dog dare?"
"Yep."
"Shouldn't have taught her that one."
"Yeah, I got that," She muttered, rubbing her shoulder unconsciously.
"Hey, how is that arm, by the way?" He nodded towards her injury.
"Well, it didn't help that you pushed me into the sewers."
Markus smiled, brilliant white teeth flashing against dark skin. "If I'm going to save you, might as well have fun with it."
Alexis held up a finger. "You just lost my gratitude."
He raised his palms in surrender, "Would it help if I came to the gala with you?"
"Obviously. I can't lose this dare."
"Alright then."
"Fine."
"It's a date." He smiled again as he turned to leave.
"Fi- Wait, what."