*Ana*
"Empress Anastasia, and Lord Mykhol entering" The announcer booms to turn all eyes toward us. I make no reaction but Mykhol puts on a smile. It causes a slight flurry from the floor of both the noblemen and women. As it usually does, and the whispering doesn't fall far behind.
"She comes with Lord Mykhol." Someone whispers from the side and her partner nods with a knowing smile.
"Of course she does." And both shot a look up to find Mykhol.
Mykhol again smiles back at them, as a habit. It again sets the women in the room into a new flush of whispers and fanning. Aunt Funda seems to find this a reason to beam a smile. She goes to look over the crowd as if counting the number of lookers.
"The number has grown." Aunt Funda whispers to Uncle Charles with a knowing smile. My uncle simply nods with a small more tame smile of his own.
Why would that matter? I find myself not seeing any reason to be pleased. But that could be because my mind is preoccupied with heavier thoughts and take my seat. Mykhol quickly takes my side to the right, with his parents close behind him.
"You look lovely, today," Mykhol whispers. His eyes flick down my gown and back up with appreciation. "the gown looks nice on you."
I ignore him to look to my advisors.
"Let's not waste more time." I begin and see my advisors shuffle under my stare. That same level of discomfort follows in the rest of the room. I can make out the nervous chatter. I frown a little.
Did they expect today to be filled with small talk and pleasantries? I find their disdain for work irks me.
The court is meant for business. Not exercises for socialites. I want my court to be efficient.
At least, that's what I aim for. But there are still such things not in my control. Despite turning twelve, months back, the bleeding has not come.
But it will. And I look forward to it. I try to stay calm. Because then I will officially be seen as an adult.
I'll make some real changes. I hold my hands on my lap with a slight squeeze.
Until then, I have to mind Aunt Funda and Uncle Charles still. And at times, be at odds with them. Like how they make no reactions to the whispers. Much to my pain.
"There she goes acting all haughty." Someone whispers deep within the room."She acts like she's already had her blood."
"I wish someone could pull off that damn shawl and push her off the throne."A few chuckle at that comment. I squeeze my hands tighter, trying not to give them any reaction.
They'll change their minds, soon enough. I reassure myself. Instead. Once I am old enough, I will show them. I will prove myself.
This hostility will fade. I breathe out quietly. But until then, I can't let it get to me. I turn to where I should be focused on.
"Speak," I command but still no one moves to step up.
"I said, speak." I go again, but I see how they dart their eyes from me. They look over the room, anywhere, before falling to Mykhol. A look of quiet pity crosses their faces. They want Mykhol to do something.
Except for one, that is. I notice. Out of the group, there is one man who keeps his face forward to me. And he takes a step forward to kneel before me. The scar over his eye shines in the gas light.
"Empress Anastasia," He begins," the rebellion continues in the Southern colonies."
"As it always does." Mykhol retorts. A small chuckle emits from the crowd as he does. Mykhol smirks at their response.
"The South is our problem child." Mykhol smiles at the room. "Those people can never understand what's good for them."
A slight laugh ripples in the room again. All eyes on him now. Mykhol beams and swells at the clear attention and steps up to my side.
"Don't tell me that's all you have to say? Such trivial-" I hold my hand at him before turning back to the human.
"Go on, Admiral Nugen." I cut over.
Mykhol's triumphant smile flatters. But just as quickly, he returns to my side with a slight hue to his cheeks. He regards the human with an unreadable expression.
Admiral Nugen flicks his eye to him but quickly returns to me.
"The Bulgeons have joined them."
"The Bulgeons?!" A gasp erupts in the room. Even Mykhol drops his jaw. The mere mention of the foreign invaders leaves anyone uneasy. But, I do my best to hide my panic.
Instead, I feign calm, seeing the rest of my advisors finally stir to life from the bold statement.
"I recall the Bulgeons were stocking the southern borders of Dawny." A minister points out. "Are you certain, Admiral Nugen?"
"Yes, they are there." Admiral Nugen answers. " but they're active elsewhere. We've reports of them pillaging in Pave."
"So? The Bulgeons are in Pave. Good for them." Another advisor steps forward. Another advisor follows suit to add.
"They'll ransack what they can carry and burn what they can't. The rebellion will take care of itself." He goes. The oldest advisor turns to me, his voice kind as he speaks, but as if speaking to a child.
"This is nothing, your Empress." He goes. "Do not be alarmed. They are sea-bearing people. They will take what they can carry and go."
"Right, nothing to worry about, Your Empress." The rest of the advisors nod with him. "It will take care of itself."
"Will it?" I ask but my eyes turn from them to see the lone human. The stern look on Nugen's face does not make me certain. Rather, it makes my gut tighten.
"Speak, Admiral Nugen." I press on. "What else do you have to say?"
"The Bulgeons are not acting the same. A new chief has risen to the ranks. And he seems to aim for a different purpose." Admiral Nugen pauses as conflict crosses his face. "They…their settling in Pave."
"Settling" Mykhol barks out with a laugh.
"Yes, it appears that way, my lord." Admiral Nugen returns but Mykhol only scuffs.
"The Bulgeons? What kind of fool would think Bulgeons would ever- All they know is to steal and burn everything. They can't work in fields or build homes. Their rats!"
Mykhol turns as if to share the joke with the room. They do laugh. But not everyone shares in the mirth.
I find myself unmoved just like Admiral Nugen. And I can see he is doing his best not to react.
Would a man risk such ridicule to say something like that? I feel there has to be a good reason. But I understand why Mykhol finds it so absurd.
"From what I read, the Bulgeons were scavengers," I recall. "They travel by sea and attack unprotected ports. But they never settle. They return to their homeland after they get what they need. I never read them doing anything else."
"But they are, Your Empress." Admiral Nugen meets my eye. His stare never wavers.
"You must be mistaken, then." Mykhol, meanwhile, still laughs. He looks back to the room. "Can you imagine? The Bulgeons?" His words bring the room to life again with renewed laughter.
I listen to their laughter but my eyes continue to regard Nugen. The man still does not waver or retreat. His conviction makes me curious.
"Admiral Nugen, have the Bulgeons only invaded Pave?"
Admiral Nugen shakes his head.
"No, your Empress. We've other accounts, but they need to be confirmed."
"Where else?"
"Tulham, Chove, and Buswick, your Empress." Admiral Nugen lists off. At the mention of them, Mykhol snickers again.
"What did I say? They scatter like rats." Mykhol smiles at the nobles. Another laugh erupts from the joke.
"Right, Ana?" Mykhol asks, turning. But his smile wavers as he finds me unmoved.
"Ana?" He goes but I look past him to see the human.
"Token and Chive are inland countries, Admiral Nugen." I go on.
"They are, your Empress." Admiral Nugen confirms. "But I have reports they are there, though."
"The Bulgeons would not go that far inland." I reflect with a slight pull in my stomach. Again I feel something is off. But whatever it is seems to be only with me. Everyone else does not see it and can brush it off. Even Mykhol finds nothing to it.
"It could be nothing." I consider but something still lingers. I raise my hand for Admiral Nugen to rise.
"Send reinforcements to the Southern colonies and vessels to carry any Nochten citizens back,"
"But Your Empress?"My other advisors seem to frown at the command. "Your Empress, I don't think this is- Lady Funda, Lord Charles?" They turn towards them. Aunt Funda and Uncle, in turn, give a nervous glance to Mykhol.
"You heard her," Mykhol simply says as if not seeing any reason not to. "Send reinforcements."
"Ah, well," The advisors still frown but seem more eased by that. They turn to me and bow.
"It will be done, your Empress." The oldest advisor goes.
"Your Empress," Admiral Nugen, meanwhile, nods respectfully. He turns to join the others, but not before I raise a hand again.
"Admiral Nugen," I go meeting his glance to find it steady. He does not look away like the others. And I find myself liking him a bit more for it.
"I want you to continue your investigations,"
"Your Empress?" The advisors turn back to me, a quick flash of concern on their faces but I disregard them. My eyes are on Nugen solely.
"You will continue to investigate the Bulgeon's movements."
"Yes, your Empress." Admiral Nugen bows. His white scar reflects again in the low light.
I wonder how he got that? I briefly ponder. Was it when my mother was still around? Did he earn it, protecting her? I wish I could ask, but it is taboo.
Instead, I see him rise. His face determined as he looks up at me.
"As you command, Your Empress." Admiral Nugen replies before returning to his spot amongst the others. They shift to let him in, but I can't help but find a slight dissonance among them. His presence different and unwanted in a quiet way.
It's probably because he is the only human here. I note. That or he was from my mother's court. An old relic.
I find my eyes linger over his hair, a rich dark brown. It sticks out against the sea of red.
Just like mine, I note quietly. But just as I recognize it, I drop it thinking it nothing and unimportant.