The elephant has finally arrived from the stables. I meet Vider in the garden, finding the elephant some leaves.
"Good afternoon," I say to Vider.
"Good afternoon, princess," he replies, taking a bow.
"How have you been?" I ask.
"Well," he says, "and you?"
"Well enough," I say, looking at the elephant. She is as beautiful as I expected. "What's her name?"
"Lily," he answers.
I pet Lily for a while, marveling at her gentle nature. Then, I slowly put some distance between us and stretch out my hand to cast a spell of undetectability. "I hope His Majesty won't need his elephant anytime soon," I say.
"Maybe the day after tomorrow," Vider replies.
"Great," I say. I focus my magic again and replicate the elephant, giving one a stronger sense of smell and the other a stronger sense of hearing. I walk up to both of them and pet them, whispering a command in each of their ears.
"You may come, ladies," I say. The handmaidens come quickly and put all the things I had organized earlier onto the elephants, strapping them in securely. After they finish, they stand at attention at the end of the garden. I wave at the elephants, and they start to walk out of the garden. I cast another spell of invisibility over them.
I look over at the handmaidens and blow a fog in their direction, causing them to lose their short-term memory. "You are excused," I say to them. They nod and leave, looking slightly dazed.
I glance up at Vider, who seems unfazed by everything. I know well that magic cannot work on him. "I trust you will keep my secret," I say.
"Yes," he replies.
"And don't bring it up to your master, either," I clarify.
"Understood," he says.
With the elephants safely hidden and my plan in motion, I feel a sense of relief wash over me. But I can't let my guard down yet. There is still so much to do, and the meeting with the royals tomorrow looms large in my mind. I take a deep breath and head back to my chambers, preparing myself for the battles ahead.
For the rest of the night, I try to stay calm, hoping the elephants reached their destination. But another thing is bothering me. Father summoned me to the court tomorrow. I had never attended a national court, let alone an international one. My stomach starts to ache, and I feel nauseous at the thought of it. I have no right preparation for this, and my body keeps reacting to the stress.
As I pace around my chambers, trying to steady my breathing, Miss Motan enters, her expression a mix of concern and determination.
"Princess, you look pale," she says, coming closer. "What's wrong?"
"I... I'm nervous about tomorrow," I admit. "I've never attended a court session, and now I have to present our case in an international one."
Miss Motan nods, her face softening with understanding. "It's perfectly natural to feel anxious."
Her words offer some comfort, but the anxiety still gnaws at me. "What if I mess up? What if they don't take me seriously?"
She places a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "You will not be alone. Your father will be there. Trust in yourself and the support around you."
I nod, taking a deep breath. "You're right. I need to focus and stay composed."
Miss Motan smiles. "Exactly. Now, let's go over what you need to know for tomorrow. We'll ensure you're as prepared as possible."
We spend the next few hours going over the details of the court session, the key points I need to address, and strategies for handling potential questions. Her guidance helps ease some of my anxiety, but the thought of facing Prince Malo and the other royals still looms over me.
I feel overwhelmed, so I decide to take a walk in the garden. "Where are you going this late at night?" yells Miss Motan. I don't respond, just continue slowly strolling on the palace grounds. The moon is high in the sky, casting a gentle glow. There are still large numbers of guards patrolling, hoping to find Flora. All I can hope is that wherever she went, she will be safe.
Lost in thought, I meander through the garden, eventually taking a seat next to the deep plant. It still looks dull and sad. "I will not go to that courtroom tomorrow if you bloom," I say softly, touching one of its leaves.
"I don't think it will bloom tonight," says a deep voice from behind. I slowly turn to meet Vider's gaze.
"I see you're on night patrol," I say, trying to mask my surprise.
"Getting ready for our journey back home the day after tomorrow," he says, his expression as stoic as ever.
"Last meeting is tomorrow," I say, feeling a weight settle on my shoulders. "It was supposed to be a beautiful week if my sister didn't run away."
Vider remains silent, standing still as if lost in his own thoughts. I look back at the deep plant, hoping for some miraculous sign of life, but there's no change. Vider takes a seat in the grass next to me, his gaze also fixed on the flower. We sit in silence, waiting for it to bloom.
As the minutes tick by, the quiet of the night envelops us. The only sounds are the distant footsteps of the guards and the occasional rustle of leaves in the gentle breeze. I find a strange comfort in Vider's presence, his calm demeanor grounding me.
"Do you think she'll ever come back?" I finally ask, my voice barely above a whisper.
Vider's eyes remain on the flower. "It's hard to say. People have their reasons for leaving, just as they have their reasons for returning."
I nod, absorbing his words. "I just wish I knew she was safe."
"She's strong," Vider replies. "Just like you."
We lapse back into silence, and I find my thoughts drifting. The weight of the upcoming court session still hangs heavy, but here, in the quiet of the garden, it feels a little more manageable.
The night wears on, and despite our hopes, the deep plant remains unchanged. I sigh, feeling a mix of resignation and determination. "It seems I have to go to that courtroom regardless," I say, standing up.
Vider rises as well, his expression unreadable. "You'll do fine," he says. "Remember, you're not alone in this."
I offer him a small, grateful smile. "Thank you, Vider."
As we make our way back to the palace, the moonlight guides our steps. The anxiety is still there, but so is a newfound resolve. No matter what happens in that courtroom, I will face it head-on. For my kingdom, for Flora, and for myself.