As always, Giliath demands your power stones!
*****
It was now 8:00AM. The scenery changed from a bedroom and a hallway, to the main reception annex of Valflame Palace. It was all glossy and shiny thanks to the constant upkeep from maids cleaning it. The Imperial Family didn't just have one or two maids. They had tens, likely hundreds of service maids in employment right now. Even a handful could be seen presently washing the floors to keep it all pristine.
If there was one thing to point out, it was an icy-blue haired woman in her full gray uniform standing still near the doorway that eventually led into the dining hall. A couple RMP Officers stood at the other side, standing guard like she was. Claire paid them no mind, and continued around her own thoughts. That caused Claire to shift her head downward. Near her feet, she saw a cuddly and fluffy silver-white fox currently taking a nap against her shoes.
'Cute...', Claire thought, keeping that thought to herself. Claire did receive an urge to pet Tamamo, but held still in her place. She knew it wasn't the time to do so. Perhaps later. Naoto did leave Tamamo in her care for the time being, so Claire had some responsibility in looking after her. And that's what led to this situation. Seeing Claire shift her head down to observe the cute fox beneath her, the couple of officers glanced her way.
"Say Captain, you've had a more relaxed expression as of late. Has anything changed?", One of the officers asked.
"Right, right. I've noticed that too. Perhaps our very own Icy Maiden's frozen heart has started to melt.", The other officer said. The moment that escaped from the man's lips, Claire's eyes turned icy-cold.
"You two shut your mouth and resume your post. I don't mind giving the two of you a private lesson.", Claire retorted, letting her aura leak out a bit. The hairs on the two officers' backs suddenly quivered, standing on end.
"P-Pay us no mind, Captain! That was just some empty words!", The officers immediately responded, closing their mouths tight. They could feel Claire's piercing gaze strike their bodies. She knew she was being serious. They shifted their posture, standing upright, not moving a muscle. Seeing the officers in her command frozen stiff, Claire turned her head back to look down at Tamamo again. She smiled, keeping her thoughts to herself.
In the meantime as Claire faced her inner demons to Tamamo's cuteness, a different scene was taking place inside the dining hall itself. It wasn't your average dining hall, either. It was one of those fancy dining halls one would see in a palace or a castle. The dining table itself stretched on tens of feet, able to accompany several guests at once. There hasn't been a time where this table ever reached max occupancy. But the code of the Imperial Family was upheld. The seats near the entrance were all empty. Instead, seats on the opposite end were occupied.
This dining hall was used for welcoming and sharing a meal for important guests, most of the time. The Imperial Family themselves often dined elsewhere, or exclusively reserved the dining hall. Right now, there were not one, but two important guests being welcomed. Perhaps a third, depending on how one would view this situation. One of those guests was, of course, me. It wasn't just me, though.
I saw a platinum-blonde haired girl seated beside me. Across from me was the person in question of who I wanted to spend some more time with. He was in his full vermillion splendor. Likewise, Alfin was seated next to him, also dressed in her vermillion-red dress. The one you would see she wear throughout the cold steel games. A playful grin appeared on the golden-blonde haired man's face as he looked at me.
There was also a blue-haired girl down two seats on my side, who was keeping to herself as she ate. That was Tio, of course, who was also invited to this meal.
"You did this on purpose, didn't you, Prince Olivert?", I questioned, squinting my eyes at Prince Olivert, who was seated directly across from me.
"Oh dear, I'm afraid I don't quite understand what you may be referring to, my dear prince-in-arms.", Prince Olivert responded, pretending to be blind-sighted by the present positioning. Hearing that, Alfin giggled. Instead of seated next to me, she was seated next to him.
"Teehee, Lif said she wanted to get to know you better, Big Brother.", Alfin said.
"I said no such thing.", The platinum-blonde haired girl beside me said. She was Lif. "I simply wanted to continue our conversation from earlier. Who I spend my time with is of no concern to you.", Lif continued, throwing her eyes my way.
"Sounds like someone may have woken up on the wrong side of the bed today. What's wrong with wanting to foster friendly relationships between our countries? We're all members of royalty in one way or another. It's a shame we couldn't invite more people to this meal.", Prince Olivert responded. Unlike the rest of us, he had a particular glass with a red liquid inside of it. It was a red wine he was currently drinking.
"Then why am I here?", Tio questioned, seeing Prince Olivert ask that.
"You might not be of royalty miss Tio, but you are still a representative of the Epstein Foundation. We have four countries honoring our table today. The obvious one being us of Erebonia. Then Prince Naoto of Liberl. And then Princess Lif of Remiferia.", Prince Olivert answered.
"That part, I get. Why exactly was our seating arranged like this?", I retorted.
"Oh right, that. No particular reason whatsoever~", Prince Olivert responded, doing his iconic grin you would typically see in the sky games as Olivier. He was very much a tease a lot of the time. He even stretched boundaries here and there, but he never went overboard. It was good he got his act together in cold steel, seeing that he ended up with Scherazard and all that. It'll be interesting to see if that is still the case this time around. Sky hasn't even kicked off yet where Estelle and Joshua begin their junior bracer adventure in Liberl. That won't take place for another year, near the same time I begin my studies. Right now Scherazard is a complete unknown to Prince Olivert, on a personal level at least. I'm sure they teach history in the Bracer Guild.
"Uh-uh, if you say so.", I replied, sighing. I know I'm used to Prince Olivert's teasing by now, but there is still an implication to be had from this. It's very likely he's knowing of the royal harem that was approved by Grandmother. It's pretty clear what Prince Olivert is trying to do here. He wants me to become buddy-buddy with Princess Lif. You do realize I'm engaged to your sister, right?
I guess "likely" isn't the proper word here. Prince Olivert KNOWS about the royal harem I'm making. He wants me to get to know Lif better.
In better ways or for worse. I could only shrug Prince Olivert's teasing off.
"Oh don't be like that. We all know each other here, right? Besides, it's not like Alfin can hog you for the entire day. There's nothing wrong with making a new friend or two.", Prince Olivert responded, letting out a laugh.
"Define 'Friend'", Tio immediately retorted.
After saying that, the five of us just glanced at each other's eyes, before letting out a group laugh. All except Tio, she could laugh here and there. But when it came to being with others, she still had her deadpan look most of the time. It just made the joke that much more believable. Even Lif let out a small laugh, easing the atmosphere. I cracked a smile, and decided to return the conversation to where it should have headed.
"Heh. That's enough of that for now. Where did you want to start from, Lif?", I decided to ask.
"Oh my. You're already addressing her as Lif, Big Brother.", Princess Alfin said, clapping her hands together.
"That's because I requested it, you dolt.", Lif replied, sighing. "Enough of Alfin. I want to know how you and Brother Albert got acquainted. He never spoke about you.", Lif responded, looking my way again.
"Okay, I'll bite. Can't say I'm not interested to know how you got acquainted with Grand Prince Albert.", Prince Olivert also said, letting his earlier playful look vanish. Eyes full of interest was now all he had.
"I guess we'll start from there, then. I can't privy to certain matters, but the two of us have a mutual contact. It's someone you've recently met too. A recent transfer student at St. Astraia.", I said. The one I'm referring to is Sherryl. Her family was once in service of Remiferia's royal family, albeit a long time ago. Her immediate parents henceforth moved to Crossbell city, before the cult ran rampant. That's all in the past now, and Sherryl is currently dealing with the aftermath. Unlike other cult survivors, Sherryl still had family still alive and kicking. Her older sister, Jillian Sky. Me bringing Sherryl back to her side unlocked her Favorability. She was listed under "Other", so I'm not sure if that will develop into anything more. Sherryl didn't come back with me to Erebonia, and is using the rest of the week to stay with her sister. That's why I assigned Lechter to watch over them.
"So it is her after all. We've met before, yes. Her name's Sherryl Sky, if I recall. We even had the pleasure of attending the new year ball under Her Highness. Her mannerisms were always a step apart from the rest of us. She carries herself just like a maid would.", Lif mused, recalling the lilac-haired girl she had met some days prior. Sherryl is attending St. Astraia now, perhaps no more for a year or two at most. Maybe she'll come back with me to attend my duties once school starts? Who knows.
"So you know of Sherryl already, that simplifies things. Grand Prince Albert likely didn't say anything to you regarding Sherryl's situation, and for a good reason. I have to omit some parts, but what I can say is Sherryl's family used to be of service with your family. They no longer do though, considering they're in Crossbell City now. Some things happened, and now, Sherryl is under my employment. I haven't met Grand Prince Albert in person, but he seems to be an amicable fellow.", I explained the situation from my end. Lif raised her eyebrows hearing that.
"Your Highness hasn't met Brother Albert? Then why does it seem like the two of you know each other?", Lif pondered.
"That is a good question now, isn't it? Care to explain my prince-in-arms?", Prince Olivert also asked with a smile.
"Can you stop calling me that?", I retorted. A mark of annoyance appeared on my forehead, causing everyone to laugh. "Like I said, I have to omit some things. We've met, let's just say through letters. Grand Prince Albert wanted to check on Sherryl's well being. I'd love to meet him in person if I can some time.", I simply answered, hiding away the fact we contacted each other through a witch's spell.
"I see...", Lif responded. "Well, if you are that serious about meeting Brother Albert Your Highness, I could potentially arrange a meeting. There's still a few days before our winter vacation is over.", Lif responded.
"You'd do that?", I questioned. My eyes brightened hearing Lif suggest that.