Hykings - {Progression Fantasy}

"You look radiant, princess. He will surely be taken with you."

Keerla applied the last touches as she addressed Tilla through the mirror in front of them both.

"..."

The reflected image of the princess depicted her in a new light. The raised, stylized hair above the royal circlet, the white powder on her face mixed with a slight peek blush, and the cerulean eyeliner contrasting the red lipstick. They all came together to enhance the beauty which was already the subject of many tales and songs on Blumenheim.

And yet, one important detail had still been missing.

"Come now, princess." The lady-in-waiting leaned slightly down so her face was reflected near that of the seated young girl. "Without your smile, none of these preparations would do any good."

For her part, Keerla was wearing a new and intricate single piece dress, keeping with the same colors of her working attire. Her face and hair were sufficiently powdered and stylized, just subtle and simple enough to not overshadow the star she would be escorting.

That star, the very same troublemaker who usually causes all kinds of trouble and always has a rebuttal ready, had now sat in complete silence staring blankly into the mirror as she was readied for what is to come.

"Princess, I am aware you are not thrilled about these proceedings." Keerla began, gently placing her hands on the girl's shoulders. "I heard that you have been teaching the young prince about the importance of considering what is best for the future of the Arunliame clan, and everyone who shares our Force Manipulation Sign. Therefore, you must understand quite well how important this is for Liamen'Iur, and everyone who lives on it. Hence-"

"Blumenheim." Tilla suddenly interjected.

"Pardon?"

"Are we not reinventing the names and language we use to suit a more generalized population?" The young princess spoke with a blank stare, her blue eyes neither hinting at sharpness nor melancholy. "Then it's no longer the Arunliame clan, but the Sternblume or Starflower clan. And our home, Blumenheim, should no longer be referred to as Liamen'Iur."

"Princess, there is no need for such extremities. A culture may contain different languages and names. Introducing alternatives to suit the newcomers is simply to ensure reposeful acclimation and cohabitation with our race. We do not need to sacrifice our own-"

"And yet, here we are, Keerla."

"!"

The princess stood up, cutting off the lady-in-waiting. She looked at herself in the mirror one last time, then turned away from it, holding up the sleeping gown she was still in.

"Princess, King Ammyth might be affronted by your behavior thus far, but if the meeting does not stir your heart even a little, I am sure he would listen to his daughter's plea."

"Don't worry, Keerla. I'll do my duty regardless." Tilla walked towards the table still covered in food from her breakfast. Without turning around, she asked. "Can I have the room for a bit before I put on my dress?"

"... Of course, princess." After a short pause, Keerla bowed slightly and stepped out the door, closing it behind her.

"..."

Tilla stared at the untouched food in front of her, her eyes beginning to shake slightly. She grabbed onto the nearest chair and held herself up.

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It took a few moments for her deep breaths to control the beating of her heart.

"I have to keep my word, at least." She murmured before turning towards her bed.

Making up her mind, she rushed in and removed the cover of her pillow. Then, stuffing as much bread and food in as she could, she wrapped it tightly.

"Luci!"

"Yes, princess."

The young princess called out, and her guardian immediately walked in with little to no delay.

"Luci, while I'm in my meeting, you won't be able to be there. In that time, I would like you to take this to Jurgen and make sure he eats it all, even if you have to sit and eat with him. Can you do that for me?"

"If that is what you wish, princess."

"If I wasn't in a hurry, I would have pulled down that mask and turned your cheeks red for still not calling me by my name, but alas, go quickly before Keerla notices."

"Princess, would you really rather not me stay by your side today?"

"No, I'll be fine. Just go." Tilla paused for a second, then added. "Just, give him my best and tell him I'll try to visit as often as I can."

"..."

Luci took the bag of food while studying the princess' distorted face. The dark elf's brows furrowed slightly at the forced smile coming her way. Even the moonlight leaking through the window missed its mark, leaving the usually bright blue eyes in obscurity.

Without saying anything else, Luci turned around and left through the window, but not before giving the back of her princess one last long-side stare.

She knew the next few hours would be the hardest on this usually bright and radiant young princess.

**👑**

"My lady, for all the praise I had heard prior to our meeting, none could come close to what I am witnessing now."

"..."

Upon walking out into the wide palace garden filled with flowers of all sorts and colors, Tilla was immediately greeted by the young man she was supposed to meet here. He had immediately taken her hand in a slight bow and kissed it.

"They said you shine like the radiant moonlight, and yet, I dare humbly say your beauty does shame the very stars, for no eyes shine as brightly as yours do." He went on, slowly fixing his posture again.

Having released her hand, he held out his bouquet of white roses and watched the royal princess graciously test their scent.

She had come out with an air that made all the sneaky maids gasp and murmur to each other. On top of the stunning work done to her face and hair, she had now been wearing an ethereal gown, flowing like mist over moonlit waters. Its pristine fabric draped gracefully, cinched at the waist with an ornate belt to accentuate a regal and petite silhouette. Delicate golden embroidery which depicted twisting vines around emerald stars, matching her royal circlet on her forehead, traced the high collar and cascaded down the split-front overlay.

"You are too kind, Sir Geraint." Tilla reached down and held up the edges of her dress, bowing slightly. Her next words were accompanied by a slight chuckle she couldn't hold back. "You don't look too bad yourself."

Despite her words, Sir Geraint was draped in a regal white uniform that mixed both military precision and noble flair. Golden accents matched the heavy fur-lined cloak hovering over his shoulders, as well as his blond wavy hair that fell naturally around his forehead. His face showed no sign of blemishes, and on the contrary, was symmetrical to the point.

He stood in a perfect posture that showcased the fine-tuned muscles leaking through the tighter uniform. For someone who barely looked older than the elven princess, the air around this human depicted a much more mature and experienced individual.

"Ehem!" Keerla made a note to clear her throat behind the princess.

"Hahaha! I admire your honesty, princess! I, too, like to be frank and do not care for overly exaggerated praise." He explained, putting hand on his chest and bowing his head slightly again. "But I assure you my words came from the heart, and I am very much honored to be meeting you today."

"I am glad to hear you understand. I look forward to learning more about you."

"Shall we, then?" He asked her, extending a hand.

A moment later, the princess was escorted to a small pavilion covered in vines and flowers. The two sat down for tea and exchanged a few stories about their lives.

"You see, princess, despite having been born with the Force Sign, my clan didn't throw me away. For the Eversun clan, the strictest among the royal clans perhaps, this was met with many oppositions." Sir Geraint explained, taking a sip of his tea. "I was confined to a male-only environment, but perhaps it was thanks to that I was able to become one of the youngest knights in the history of our clan."

"Your clan?" Tilla asked, raising an eyebrow while sipping on her own tea. "You referred to the Light clan as your own twice now."

"Ah, forgive me, a slip of the tongue. I shall be more mindful of that henceforth." The knight lowered his head slightly again. "As I have heard of the fates that usually befell poor souls like me in the past, I am beyond grateful to have been brought up graciously by the Eversun clan."

"..."

For a moment, Tilla noticed Sir Geraint's amber eyes turn towards Keerla standing a slight distance beyond the princess. He quickly raised his back and cleared his throat.

As the goosebumps ran across her body, the young princess clenched her fists beneath the table.

"I am naturally grateful for another reason as well." He began slowly. "I am in a great position to honor the clan that took care of me thus far, and serve my new one in the magnanimous and grand change it is currently undergoing."

He paused for a moment, but the princess simply waited patiently for him to continue. Although anyone could see the slight shivers overtaking her, he still pressed on.

"Our marriage would be a great service to everyone who was born with the Force Sign, bringing change and further prosperity to our clan, if I may be so bold as to call it that already. What say you, honorable princess?"

Tilla's nails began to dig into her palms.

"..."

Her shaking lips struggled to give a reply.