"Your Highness." The woman greeted with a salute. Words failed to come out from Sessa's mouth, could his father had made a mistake or did this woman come with an ulterior motive?
"My father sent you here?" He voiced out in obvious disbelief. Nimo felt a bit of impatience, she thought he was looking down on her because she was a female.
"His Majesty told me he sent you a letter about my arrival." She said. But he didn't tell me you were a woman, Sessa thought. He wasn't looking down on her because of her gender, he just found it hard to believe. He once heard about a woman who infiltrated the Redhulk army, he had been impressed by her bravery but hadn't thought much of it.
"Well yes, pardon me if the room isn't to your likening." He said unsure of how to behave.
"If I were a man would you say all these Your Highness." Nimo asked feeling insulted.
"Well..." No, Sessa thought, he wouldn't have asked.
"Thank you Your Highness, the room is very much to my likening." She answered and followed the butler out of the room.
Sessa watched as her ponytail swung along with her movement before the door shut.
Well, women.
Unbelievable, Nimo thought in annoyance as she followed the butler to the room that had been prepared for her.
The Crown Prince couldn't even hide his contempt for the female gender, he had left a bad impression on her. What could the king be thinking by naming such a person as his Crown Prince?
The butler opened the door of one of the rooms.
"Miss." He gestured to the room.
"Thank you." He let her be and she walked into the room. The room was comfortable and simply arranged, it had a table at the middle and a place for sitting in opposite sides. A private bath at the side of the room demarcated by a light cotton.
Nimo dropped her sword on the table and decided to take a little nap.
•°•
Someome knocked on the door, years of battle made her very alert. Nimo woke up instantly.
"Miss, His Highness asks you to join him for dinner." The butlers voice came. Has she slept that long?
"I'll be there right away." She replied. She washed her face and wiped it with a napkin. She knew it was just dinner still she picked up her sword and stepped out of her room.
"Your Highness." Nimo saluted immediately she was led to the room where dinner was served.
"Be seated please." He answered distractedly deeply engrossed with the lines of the book he was reading.
She sat down and stared at the meal salivating. Different dishes were served including her favourite shrimp sauce, she had not had it in ages.
She waited for the Crown Prince to dig in so she could follow suit, instead he stared intently at the book in his hand totally oblivious of her presence. She stared at him in frustration, was this how all royalties disregard their guests? Even if she was now a mere bodyguard, she s also the daughter of the Grand duke and she also had the title of a princess.
Nimo dropped her sword at the edge of the table and drew the rice and shrimp sauce to herself. She began to eat, the prince looked up at the noise and felt apologetic.
"Forgive me, I seem to have lost my manner. It has been a while I had a meal companion." Sessa said and set his book down.
Obviously, Nimo thought.
Sessa ate quietly and watched as the young lady in front of him ate with obvious enthusiasm. A smile escaped him.
"What is your name?" He asked before lifting a spoon of salad to his mouth.
She chewed vigorously before she answered. "Nimo Selburn."
"Selburn." He repeated, the name sounded very familiar to him. "Are you related to Camin Selburn?"
"He is my father." Nimo took a cup from the tray, filled the cup to the brim and drank it all at once.
"I will be attending the royal court tomorrow." He said abruptly. Nimo was surprised at his sudden change of subject. What a weird soul, she thought.
"Yes Your Highness." Was her outward response.
The next morning, she opened her door and found a box at the door step. Nimo looked from left to right and found no one. Once she got inside her room she opened the book and found a long blue velvet dress, it was smooth and soft to touch. It must be expensive, she thought.
Nimo lifted the note inside the box and read.
I noticed that you brought no luggage with you.
The prince wasn't overall insensitive, she wore the cloth and it looked nice on her. With her sword in her hand she went to find the prince. Nimo was about to knock on his door when it swung open, the Crown Prince was dressed in white like the previous day.
"Your Highness." She stepped out of his way.
"You got the dress."
"Thank you Your Highness. You didn't have to."
"My ears hurt from hearing 'Your Highness' over and over."
"Huh?" Nimo blurted out in pelpexity.
"Call me Sessa." Sessa ordered and started forward. She stared at him dazed as she followed him towards the carriage. The ride to the palace was smooth, Purg had trained the horses to get used to noises. Sessa's horses had not been found nor did they have any clues as to who was responsible for the previous accident.
Nimo took her place at the entrance of the court hall along with other guard while Sessa walked in with other officials. The courtiers murmured among themselves as they awaited the arrival of His Royal Majesty.
"The king arrives." Leemack's loud voice sounded through the room, great silence befell the hall the entrance of King Sessa Tressor III in a long golden garment.
"Long live His Majesty." The courtiers greeted and kowtowed before the king's domineering presence.
"Rise to your feet." He replied them. The court session began, issues were debated, arguments issued among the courtiers and orders were given.
The Prime Minister stood forward. "Your Majesty, I heard a news from a remote village in City of Tens that heavy rainfall of the season made their river overfull which caused terrible flooding. Many lost their lives to the flood, houses were lost and rendered many villagers homeless, the flood washed away the farmlands of the villagers and hunger has spread through the village." He reported and stepped back.
"Ah." The king commented. "So how should we tackle this? Minister of National Affairs?" His Majesty asked gesturing for the Minister of National Affairs to come forward.
"Your Majesty, a representative should be sent there first to confirm and report the situation." The Minister of National Affairs suggested. The Minister of Revenue stepped forward.
"And what if the situation is exactly like the Prime Minister said, as for me I suggest that a representative should be sent with all the necessary supply so that we could come to their aid quickly." The Minister of Revenue opposed and stepped back to his place.
The king gave a nod of agreement.
"Okay then. Who is very suitable to be our representative?"