Chapter Text
Prologue: The Introduction
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"Why are you... allowing them to leave you?"
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Far Eastern Parts of the Land of Dawn
She stumped her foot with a loud thud and everyone around her was thrown off of the ground.
Magic buzzed around her as she smirked at the fallen men and readied her fighting stance once more.
"Stop!" A loud thundering voice echoed throughout the training room. And even though she was familiar with the voice as long as she could remember, the voice still gave her chills.
She sighed and broke off her stance, knowing fully what was she about to hear.
"How many times do I have to remind you that your fighting style is too brutal and too barbaric for someone from the direct lineage?!"
She puffed her cheeks, crossed her arms over her chest and rolled her eyes. 'Here he goes again...'
"Closed range combat is not suited for a young lady like you, especially from the main royal family and descendant of the Great Duke, at that," the man snarled, eyes glaring towards the young lady in question. "Use your goddamn magic and not your little fists!"
"Whatever, Rofert," the girl snarled back, "I am not going to be like my father anyway so what's the fuss?" But before the man - Rofert - could come with any retort, she beat him into it. "Brother is going to be the Duke, he will lead this family, not me, so don't waste any more of my time. I'm done here."
And with that, she left the gigantic room.
(｡･ω･｡)
"Ugh," she sighed in exasperation for the umpteenth time of that night, dropping her head on the table in the process.
"What's wrong," a young man's voice replied to her; his calming voice brought her peace even though not much.
"You know what is absolutely wrong," she bit back and, knowing that saying anything won't bring her any peace of mind, she sighed once more.
"Rofert, is it?"
"If not him, then who is?!" She snarled angrily, lifting her head and glaring at the man. "Why did father hire such a bloody old trainer for me? I already excel at what I do!"
"Yes, you already do."
"And what bloody right does that Rofert have to sermon me about what fighting style I should use?! If I am much more comfortable fighting using my "little" fists then he should bloody let me! I've goddamned kick those men's asses, he saw! What a fool, that old Rofert. This is so, so exhilarating," she glanced to the man after her little outburst, "Can you please talk to him, Brother?"
The young man - her brother - offered her an emphatic smile. "If only I could..." He trailed off.
"Well, enough of that," suddenly her voice was cheerful. Sometimes he couldn't understand his sister and her mood swings. "Did you finally find the pretty maiden?"
If he was drinking, he would have choked from the sudden change of subject. "...Who is?"
"Oh, don't pretend dumb, Brother," now she was smiling as she watched her brother paced around the room. "I know you've been searching!"
"...am not," her brother murmured. 'Denying it is futile, anyway.'
She pouted.
"Well, okay, but not too often but–"
"I knew it!" She cheered, smile returning to her lips. "You've fallen for her so hard, Brother. I knew it."
To her surprise, her brother offered her a light chuckle, reaction which she wasn't expecting at all. "I'm sure I'm not the only one who's in love here."
Realizing what he meant, she went beet red. "Geez, why do you have to make me remember that?"
Her brother did not respond but she could see he was still smiling. Blood ran to her cheeks once again.
"But I really do think he's amazing," she whispered, still beet red but there was a warm look in her eyes. "He's fearless, you know. Stupid, yes, but brave. Did you see how he rebelled against his family?" He could sense the pride in her voice as she reminisced some fond memories. "Superb! That just showed how much he loves to pursue his dreams. I bet he has done it by now. It's been years."
'Better change the topic or else...' "Well, it's getting late. You should probably go back to your room and have some rest. You do still have training early tomorrow."
She pouted. "Hmm, if I knew better, I think you're jealous, Brother."
"Oh, don't give me that."
"Do you, by any chance, have sister complex now, Brother?"
"...what?"
"I kid, I kid, geez. Such seriousness."
"Well, that's funny. Ha ha. You okay now?"
"Such a kill joy, you," she rose from where she was sitting and straightened the wrinkles on her dress. "I wonder what has become of my lovely, funny brother?"
"Dead," her brother opened the door of the room. "Didn't you kill him a long time ago?"
"Oh, did I?" She rolled her eyes and walked out of the room, giving her brother a sharp look. However, when the door was about to close behind her, she spoke so softly he could barely hear her. "Uh, Brother?"
Startled by the sudden call, he opened the door once again. "What?"
"If you really wanted to see the pretty maiden, you could, you know?"
"...what are you saying?"
"I am just saying," she turned around so her brother couldn't see her face. "That if you really, really, really want to be with her, you can, you know... And you probably should."
"What-"
"I've left the map by the third shelf on the third corridor of the library. The shift of the night guards will be exactly five minutes before 3 in the morning. You know the rest."
"Wait, why are you suddenl—"
"I didn't have regrets that he left me, if this would make him realize his dreams, you know," she turned around once again to face her brother as she showed him the warmest smile she could muster. "And of course, this goes for you too, Brother-" She didn't finish what she was about to say when her brother pulled her into a tight hug.
"..."
She smiled. "...Really, if I knew any better, I'd really think you have sister complex for real."
"Why are you doing this..."
"..." She noticed the heaviness in his tone.
"Why... are you pushing people away from you?"
"..."
"Why are you... allowing them to leave you?"
Surprisingly, she gave him a hearty laugh and broke off from his embrace. "What are you saying? Who says you're going to leave me? Your beloved sister, at that?"
"..." The confusion on her brother's face was apparent and she couldn't help but to let out a giggle.
"Don't worry, Brother," she had a sad twinkle in her eyes but she didn't seem to mind. "I'll follow you."
His eyes widened a bit. "You mean—"
"Ahuh," she nodded. "Let's leave this damned place, what do you think? Superb, right? Is just that," she spun around and intertwined her fingers behind her. "You're going off first then I'll follow. How's that? Well, it's for you to decide." She didn't give her brother the time to answer as she ran off to her room. "Well, then. Have a good night, Brother Lance!"
All he could do was watch her over the distance as she disappeared from his sight.
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End of Prologue
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Author's Note:
And there you have the prologue, starring our Guinevere and Lancelot. Just a bit of background about the two. Nothing major. Just to set up the setting for the next chapters. Hehehe.
I main Guin, that's why she is the star of this story. And this will become a very Guinevere centered fic soon. Other heroes from ML will be introduced soon, as well.
Please leave a review.
Thanks for reading!