"A lot of the villagers have been complaining that their crops are dying and the animals they have been taking care of suddenly became rampant and went out to attack other villagers. One of them also reported of a-"
Avione gazed intently at the man standing in front of her and her father, who had been seemingly avoiding meeting her eyes as he reported the situation where he came. The female cleared her throat to grab their attention. "So far all I've been hearing are the casualties and such. Have you found out what had caused it?" she questioned. Even if she knew what exactly had been causing it, it's better to hide it for now instead of attracting too much attention with knowledge unknown to any other.
An uneasy look from the man gave Avione the answer right away, "We haven't had any chance to march through the forests. Beasts have been attacking our men and we have lost far too many lives with just venturing the entrance of it." the way Phrygrine had been speaking in an apologetic manner, Avione could tell he's one to care about his subordinates. Not a mindless general who always puts his life first above anything else.
On the other side, Tristan stood up and headed to his desk. He grabbed a piece of parchment and a quill and started writing. "I'll ask the Silvestre duchy to provide shelter for soldiers who are in need of treatment. For now, what I would like for you to do is go over the villages in the northern border and evacuate the citizens." he said, hastily scribbling on the paper he had in front.
Avione shook her and stood up as well, "And where would they stay, father? The capital's flooded with more people coming from other kingdoms to witness my coronation. There would simply be no benefit for them to come over to the capital," she commented, heading over to her father's table and taking the paper and quill from his hand.
"There's no other way, Avione" her father replied, agitated of the crisis they are required to deal at hand. "If we let them stay at the northern border, it'd result to more people losing their lives and the Empire getting all the blame for their deaths. If news reaches the capital, people would go on a rampage and chaos would surely arise." he explained, brows furrowed of the possibility of ruin befalling the empire.
"His highness, Tristan, has a point." Phrygrine rose from his kneeling position, totally in support of what Tristan had proposed as a temporal solution. "Death would be their only option if they were to stay there, your highness." he faces Avione and investigates her golden orbs for the first time.
The knights takes direct orders from their commanders who then takes orders from the general. In the case of imperial knights, Phrygrine remains at the top of the chain of commands excluding Tristan as the acting head of warfare.
In the past, the only jobs of those who become the Empress' husbands were to bear children to their wives and simply show love and support to the mother of the Empire. However, Avery had seen that there were too many unsupervised activities within the empire so she made a few changes. The warfare and imperial knights' management have been under the prince consort ever since Empress Avery had taken the throne.
"I never said anything about leaving them there to die," Avione sighed, "I think I can do something about this situation but not now as I am still to be crowned."
Tristan beamed, happy his daughter learned to take matters into her own hands. Even as someone who hasn't spent a lot of time with his child, Tristan somehow knew how proud parents get when their offspring achieves something. "Do you have any plans we could put into action just until your ceremony, Avione?"
"Yes. Sir Phrygrine."
"Yes, your highness?"
"I would like the records of the knights under in your care, would you have those delivered to my chambers later today?"
Confused by the request of a lady who seemed to know more on tea parties than strategic plans, but her being the princess who will soon take over, Phrygrine decided it best to be in the same league as Avione. He serves the throne and whoever is the future heir would be his future master too. "Of course. I will personally deliver them to your highness."
"Perfect," Avione placed the paper and quill once again on her father's table, "I am agreeing with your plans to let the Silvestre duchy hosts for the injured soldiers but be sure not to add many details into your letters for them father. Everything must remain a secret until we are able to solve this. For now, I will be examining the soldiers who will be eligible to protect the Northern villages."
"R-Right," Tristan gulped and nodded, "I'll be able to send out this today. Is there anything else, Avione?"
The princess hummed as she paced slowly around the room, "If it would be possible, please send a letter of reinforcements to both Marquis Clement and Count Genovia for volunteer knights. Tell them to send you a list of those who would like to join." Avione stated, reaching for the door. "I must meet someone important, please excuse me, father. You as well, sir Phrygrine."
Only the sound of the door closing remained with Avione's figure heading out. Tristan had a smile on his face which certainly piqued the young general's interest. "Sir Tris, did the princess take lessons about knighthood and strategies?" he asked, dropping the formalities now that Avione had left them to be alone.
He had been under Tristan's care for quite some time and had the chance to get to know him. The two had developed a close relationship aside from their status. Tristan treats more of a son than someone who follows his order. Knowing how strict the young man's father has been on him, Tristan tends to be more open and flexible around Phrygrine.
Swinging his head to face the boy, Tristan simply smiled, "I have no idea that I would be able to talk to my daughter about this let alone talk to her at all, Fin!" he exclaimed, calling the younger male by the nickname he had thought of.
"She didn't take after you at all, Sir Tris."
"Hey!"
_
The next day came by quickly after Avione returned. She had morning dance lessons and inspected the kitchen for the food she wanted served at the banquet. Truly, Avione wanted to avoid being poisoned or sabotage on the day her life would start turning for the worse. She wanted to be prepared.
She walked alone inside the halls of the Moon Palace, pieces of documents containing the information she asked Phrygrine to deliver yesterday. Avione had planned to pick only those with high magical affinity to place at the front of the northern border. It seems that resistance to whatever dark energy's seeping there is higher only to those who possess magic in their bodies.
The injured soldiers were quickly catered by the Silvestre' and rumors of a kind beautiful lady there have been running around lately. Of course, Margaret would attract all kinds of attention from people. Having the signature features of a Silvestre', one would easily mistake her for a member of the household.
As she turned around the corner to reach her room, a female servant called out to her, holding a tray with a letter sealed by the office of the prince consort. "Tell my father that I have received this, make sure no one hears, and I'll be sure to give you a hefty compensation later."
The quickly opened the letters and it read the reply of Count Genovia who had refused her father's request and Marquis Clement who wanted an audience with the princess in exchange for his help. "As I thought, they're the Empire's scum which needs to be eradicated." Avione sighed.
She entered her chambers, arriving to Rowena serving Catherine some tea as the designer sat rather stiff on one of her couches. Alarmed by her sudden arrival, Catherine rose from her seat and bowed immediately.
"Greetings to the one and only star of the empire, I greet the Princess Avione."
Earning a chuckle from her. "It is good to see you too, Catherine. It's been almost a month since we've seen each other, correct?"
"Y-Yes, your highness. It is such an honor to be invite to the palace by her highness!" said Catherine, who couldn't hide the excitement and nervousness plastered all over her face as she sat back down.
Rowena bowed and offered her greetings before offering a lower set of heels to her princess who had just arrived, "Please sit down, milady." She speaks.
The princess nodded, fixing her dress as she took a seat directly in front of Catherine. "I don't want to take up too much of your time Catherine so tell me, have you brought the fabrics I requested from you in the letter?"
Catherine's face lit up and she nodded furiously. She grabbed the big suitcase that rested just a few inches beside her and put it on the empty side of the table. She carefully opened it revealing a bunch of fabrics with different textures and patterns but all in the same shade of red.
"Is it possible to create the design I sent you?" asked Avione, impressed by how prepared and carefully selected each of the fabric inside the box.
"Of course, your highness! I would put my utmost efforts into making this dress you have personally requested! Please rest assured that you will be the most beautiful in the whole land of Helione!"