Children played. Soldiers trained. Men worked. Women cleaned.
Just beyond the horizon the sun rose a cleared the darkness that had been set on the kingdom. The God-like rays beamed onto the royal palace and cut through the white curtains covering Lecca's bedroom windows. Curled in a fetal position and with silver hair spread on the bedsheet; the Silver-Haired Princess was wide awake as she tried to find the energy to start her day.
The only thing on her mind was the interaction she had with Sergeant Randall, no, Mike, during the previous night. From the stories she was told, to Mike's past, it was now obvious that the moniker given to the Rangers, "Holy Knights", was nothing more than a mere political title used for negotiations and power on the world stage.
They were far from "Holy". Coming from a world that was not of her own, that much should've been obvious, yet here she was blinded by the false beliefs of those around her. Asking them to fight for a world they didn't even inhabit was a stretch, but claiming the Rangers were holy was something that would have been sacrilegious during the dark ages.
Pressing her hands into the half-firm mattress she slept on, Lecca's silver hair drooped to the side as she raised herself into a sitting position. She momentarily rubbed her eyes as she forced herself to stary awake. As she waited momentarily to let her mind focus, a soft knock came from the wooden door on the other side of the room.
Opening with a light groan, Lecca's butler, Harold Aramid stepped in with a plate containing tea and a small collection of pastries. The aroma calmed Lecca as her butler gave a soft smile and greeted her, "Good morning, Princess Araish." He said while walking to the large desk beside her bed.
"Good morning." Lecca yawned as she stretched her shoulders.
"The king once again requires your presence regarding the "Rangers". It seems that he has agreed to your proposition." Harold said as he walked to a cabinet in the corner of the room.
Opening the door to the cabinet, several white, red, and blue dresses shimmered in the few rays of sunlight that reached the cabinet. Raising from the bed and stepping onto the polished marble floors, Lecca's nightgown fell into place, and like a cat, she walked silently until she reached Harold.
"What is today's choice?" Lecca cutely asked garnering a small chuckle from the frail old man searching through her clothes.
"Though a forma formal event, it is still imperative that you are able to run." Harold explained as he took out a dark leather corset and an accompanying long white skirt and tan undershirt. "I've been slightly inspired by how the Rangers dress, so I've made a few adjustments to include some more earthly colors."
Lecca tilted her head at the altercation Harold made, but she didn't bother to question it as the old man turned around and held the tan undershirt in his hands. "Princess?"
"Right." Lecca said as she held her arms slightly above her head allowing Harold to assist her in dressing.
Harold assisted the Princess in dressing up until reaching the corset. He called in several maids to assist. It didn't take long, but after, Lecca's back slightly ached from the force applied by one of the maid's dress shoes, though for now she sat outside drinking the tea that was brought by her old butler.
Much to the protests of one of the guards that checked up on the Princess and Harold, Lecca wanted to enjoy the few minutes she had to drink her tea and enjoy a dew pastry before her duties forced her to leave the comfort of her room.
Yet such comfort and peace were immediately interrupted as she overheard a discussion between two guards on ground level. They spoke about the sudden arrival of the Rangers within the throne room, and that alone was enough for Lecca to regretfully snap out of her seat and exit her room at the speed of one of the many birds flying high above.
With her butler shadowing her, and her guards almost failing to keep up, Lecca sped down the hallways swiftly passing several paintings that held the faces of the founders of the kingdom and her old relatives. Momentarily her silver hair swept far enough to where she could catch a glimpse of one of the paintings at the farthest corner of her eyes.
She thought of something noteworthy to say to a specific painting she had passed, yet her thought was interrupted by her sudden arrival at the throne room. Now her mind was only focused on the request she had given the king during the night. It was a risky proposition, yet it could pay dividends in the upcoming war.
Towering above her, the large wooden doors were opened by two guards. Lecca's single step echoed around the throne room as she entered. Waiting in the middle of the room were the men that were summoned the day before. Given time to collect their minds, the Rangers seemed less jumpy, and instead they gave off an aura of control.
It has seemed that whatever conversation that had happened between the king overlooking them with a calculating gaze was momentarily forgotten as the Princess made her way to the front of the group.