"State me your names." They straightened their back as they look towards the wall. Not bad for someone who's just starting.
"Knight Major, Augustus Paladin. A Noble."
"Knight Major, Naereus Osbornee. A commoner, Your Majesty."
"Knight Major, Eastorne Dionysus. A commoner."
"Knight Major, Theo Macedon. A Baron's child, Your Majesty."
My gaze returns to Vien. "Are they the winners of yesterday's fight?" It appears to be far too balanced to be true. "Yes, Your Majesty." I look at the other knights who seem to be fine with the current majors.
"Did anyone raise an objection to your choice yesterday?" It's difficult for me to believe that all of them agree to be under the authority of these knights. "Fortunately, there's none." She said as if she's proud about that.
"Your Majesty, your sister's arriving." Serina's voice drew my attention as I fixed my gaze on my sister, who was approaching us, smiling in a way that IRRITATES me. I crossed my arms as I groan. Why is she even here?
"I'd like to go out, but I'm not allowed without an escort; is there anyone who could accompany me?" The knights remained silent, staring at me as if they were afraid to leave the camp. AS THEY SHOULD.
"The General is your knight right?" I pushed Vien slightly as I return my gaze to the knights. "Accompany that annoying sister of mine. I will train these knights as my father's useless as ever."
"Get back at dinnertime, Lithia. Don't create trouble for the General."
***
- LITHIA -
"Don't you think the Princess is being too much? You're the King's legal daughter! Why are you allowing her to do as she pleases?" Her previous maid stated. Perhaps it's because I'm not as narrow-minded as others. I conclude reasons that can be helpful to understand my sister.
"I must be bothering you, General." I said while letting out a little chuckle. "If being honest, then yes, Your Majesty." What a straightforward answer. But it's not bad either. At least she's being honest.
"But I don't hate the idea of escorting you as you're still a part of the Royal Family." Straight face with a strong personality. It must be the reason why my sister chose her to be the next General.
"My sister seems to focus on those new batch of knights." I've been watching for quite some time now and her expression as she looks at the knights are the same when she looks at me.
She's ANNOYED.
"Her Majesty won't even check the old knights back then. But suddenly, she enters our den without any notice." I still couldn't believe that my father would go that far such as attempting to kill my sister.
It's pathetic that I consider her as one of my family, yet she sees me as an ANNOYANCE in her life.
But when you look at her from the opposite side, Helvetica is nothing more than a walking karma. She enjoys tormenting people's minds to the point that they'll beg her to kill them instead.
She may be a villain to others, but she is still my sister. I'm not sure why I'm still kind to her after she has caused me too many troubles.
"Lady Lithia, I know I'm not in the position to say this to you, but I hope you continue to have a long patience towards your sister." I know what she's trying to say.
"My sister has her own reasons." I know it. She's annoyed, but still cares for me. That time when I fell off the ladder, I saw her arms, wanting to help me.
But her maid helped me instead. The truth is that, if she's unreasonable, she'll easily get rid of her maid. But instead, she made another option and tells her that the maid should come to me.
She doesn't really throw her maid. But when her maid helped me, she knew that the maid is better in my hands so she let go of her for me.
All of those.. are for my sake. Like what she just did today. She chooses to be the knight's instructor and let Vien escorts me instead of fully disregarding my presence.
"I'm delighted Lady Lithia understands what I'm saying. Your sister will always be difficult to decipher. But, if you think about it, she wants people to be like her, so that we will never have to suffer again." That is right. Learned from the finest.
Learn from someone like my sister.
I chuckle as we stroll through the capital. "My sister's birthday's coming soon. It's the same every time; she's uninterested. She enjoys other nobles' celebrations, but not her own birthday." Vien looks up into the sky, and I can see her taking a deep breath.
"Did you know that your father wanted to assassinate her? But instead of being quiet about it, she punished the knights along with threatening to kill your father." She chuckles as she stretched her arms.
"Are you fond of my sister?" I asked all of a sudden.
"I dislike Her Majesty for being a narcissist and judgemental." YES! That is exactly who she is. She bows to no one and has no fear of anyone, including the King of this palace.
"However, I respect her devotion to her sword." She added. We stopped as soon as we reached the place. Vien, who smiles at me, opens the door as a form of being a gentlewoman.
It's really a fun sight for me. Speaking of gifts..
"I won't be able to please her with just simple things." She's the kind of lady who's impossible to be pleased. "How about a ring as a present?" I look at Vien as she looks around the jewelry.
"A ring?" She nods slightly. "After all, I'm aware of Her Majesty's impending marriage." She said as she chuckles.
It's honestly not a bad idea. Maybe 2 customized rings along with her fiancé? I saw how she gets along with the Grand Duke's daughter. It feels like a match made in heaven!
"Your Majesty must be hyped about Princess Helvetica's birthday." I shake my head. "Not that. It's just.. Have you ever seen the Grand Duke's daughter before?" She glances at me with a puzzled expression on her face.
I thought that my sister is just kidding about her, marrying a woman. But who would've thought that she'll actually choose a bride rather than a husband?
"I've heard about her name." She responds.
"I have a feeling she'll soon be my sister-in-law!" Devourah Le Fleur Ethereal. IT SOUNDED SO GOOD!
"Do you want Miss Devourah to be her bride?" I look at her as I nod.
"Why not? She seemed to be capable of taming my sister. I don't think that Helvetica will choose someone that has a lower rank in the hierarchy. It's her image that we're talking in here." I stated as I describe the customize ring that I want for her birthday.
"The Grand Duke's daughter must be so pretty."
"She's not just pretty, but she's also intelligent. Good enough to be the Empress of this Empire."
"Wouldn't it be better if you were the Empress?" I stopped. What is she even saying? Those kind of burden.. I don't think I can handle it for a long time..
"I don't want such heavy responsibility, General Vien. I just wanted to get married and to live with my sister and my future lover."
"It's selfish, but I want to look after my sister just like what she's doing for all these years." She did enough for me and it's time for me to repay the gratitude I owed.
"Then are you also meeting-up with a worthy candidate?"
"I did. But I don't want to marry someone who disrespected my sister. I feel humiliated as Helvetica and I are sisters." A black hanging cross earring caught my attention.
"Excuse me, but I'd want to buy this one as well." I point it to light as it starts to change colors. This looks pretty!
"A token of gratitude for escorting me, General Vien." I said as I place the earrings on right ear. Short black hair and tall posture, red lips, and a smooth face for a knight.
"As I thought, General Vien is cool along with her outfit!" She chuckles and dismissively shakes her head slightly. "Where did that even come from?"
"You need to check your eyes, Princess. I'm just an ordinary knight."
"Also, drop the formality, Princess. You may refer to me as Vien. General sounds nice, but you're not a knight. I'll make an exception for the 2 princesses of the royal family." I bow slightly as a form of gratitude.
For Hel's forthcoming birthday, we purchased several new goods as well as various gowns. To think of it, this is the day where she'll announce her chosen fiancé!
I express my gratitude as soon as we reach the palace.
"It was nice to have you— Vien." She kisses my forehand with a smile. "It is my pleasure to escort the Princess. See you around tomorrow, Lady Lithia."
As soon as we depart, I asked my maids to take care of my things as I went straight ahead to the dining room. As soon as the guards yelled my name, father greeted me with a smile. Tapping my chair beside him.
"This wouldn't take too long as I'm quite tired for today." That's Helvetica Ethereal for you. Her maid smiles at me as I cast a glimpse at her.
I despised the sight of that woman for some cases. "Could you please make an invitation and send it to the Duke's family, Father?" I coughed to gain their attention.
"You mean the Grand Duke's Daughter?" Her brows furrow as if I said something wrong. "You need to clean your ears, Lithia. I'm talking about the Duke's Daughter."
"Camilla Rosenblitz. She's my chosen candidate." Father freeze in his position as mother stops eating.
"Could you repeat that again?"
"Mother, I have chosen Camilla as my fiancé."
But.. Camilla can't even compare to Devourah.. So why?
Did that woman bewitch my sister? IT DOESN'T EVEN MAKES SENSE!