Chapter Text
Queen Camila was in the middle of an important convening, the weight on her shoulders now heavier than ever. She called the Royal Council to discuss their strategies against a possible attack from the Empire, that could inflict them with an assault any time. Emperor Belos had been assertively claiming lands, proceeding to make his empire bigger and bigger. It worried Queen Camila; she had to have an army strong enough to protect the Kingdom and keep Emperor Belos from destroying this beautiful land.
The Kingdom of Avalon was an earthly paradise. The people of this land were told to be the most loyal ones in the world, as they swore never to leave their dear Kingdom. The fields were rich, everyone had a home to return to after a long day and their Queen ensured it would stay this way. They loved Queen Camila. She was honest, brave and caring.
The Queen had sent her daughter - Princess Luz - to travel around the kingdom and assemble the best combatants to enhance the Royal Military Forces. Queen Camila trusted her daughter and knew she would make the right decisions. However, she was still concerned about Luz, feeling the calmest when she was there in the castle too.
Luz, on the other hand, had the best time of her life. She was sent on this important mission, her biggest task as a princess so far. She was currently sitting in the carriage, admiring the landscape from the window with a soft smile on her face. Chancellor Bump drifted off to slumber on the opposite seat, the Sun’s warm beams painted the green hills in a beautiful hue and Princess Luz had already visited three regions out of five, the Royal Military Forces gaining more and more members after her visits. The Kingdom may be in danger, but Luz was hopeful. They could protect what’s theirs.
Their next stop was the Region of Liatris, located east of the Region of Alstroemeria, which was in the middle of the kingdom where the Royal Palace was. The royal carriage was heading towards the main town where the region’s best and most skilled knights were waiting for them.
Just when the carriage stopped, Chancellor Bump woke up and their coachman opened the door for them. Luz stepped on the cobblestones and her dress flowed gracefully around her. There was a fountain in the middle of the square, knights standing in front of it in many comparatively long lines. At first glance, they all appeared suitable for the Royal Military Forces, however, the Princess was aware that they had a lot to prove before they could get admitted into the army.
When Princess Luz and Chancellor Bump stopped in front of the knights, they all knelt before her, and while this was the appropriate thing for them to do, it always made the princess smile.
“It is my pleasure to greet you on this beautiful day! Your region selected you for your exceptional skills and loyalty. You have great chances to join the Royal Military Forces and protect our beloved kingdom! For the forthcoming three days, I am going to join you to your training and choose the new members of the Queen’s personal army. On the third day, the Region of Liatris will contribute its own knights alongside the other three regions I visited already on my journey. However, if some of you won’t be chosen, please don’t be disheartened! Your region needs its knights to protect our lands and people! I expect every one of you to stand by your oaths, no matter where you will be fighting for our kingdom,” Princess Luz looked at the determined faces before her and knew everything would be alright.
Especially when she spotted a knight in the front line with resoluteness shining in her eyes, but an expression soft and calm. Her green hair was tied into a small, precise ponytail and it seemed like the Sun was only shining on her. She was beautiful. Princess Luz couldn’t wait for the training to start.
Chancellor Bump greeted the knights as well, Luz nodding to his every word. The Sun illuminated her hair from behind, and as the light breeze played with her short locks, the green-haired knight tried her best to keep her face from flushing. Her heart, however, was beating happily in her chest like a little bird in a cage.
It was her time. She could show what she was made of. The Princess would be delighted and choose her into her army to defend the Kingdom.
She will make it happen. Her parents will be proud and she would be happy to serve the royal family.
Amity Blight stood proudly in the front line of knights, finally feeling the result of years of training and pain. She got as far as to have the honour of bearing the “Knight” title, however, she received little to no respect for that from her family. She wasn’t asking for much; just to be treated more than as a slave who serves the Blight name.
And now was the perfect opportunity to attain that. To earn that respect she was desiring her whole life. Love was a thing she accepted to never get from her parents. However, she believed they would be capable of some sense of respect towards her.
The Princess and the Chancellor finished their speeches to the knights and began their way to the training grounds where they would watch them have a late afternoon training. But the knights remained still until they were still in sight.
“I’m sure she will choose me,” Boscha whispered to Amity with a smirk. “There’s no way they wouldn’t want me in the army.”
Boscha, daughter of the Commander of Liatris was a highly skilled, strong knight. Amity respected her proficiency and she herself was sure Boscha would get into the army. That, however, didn’t make her comment less annoying.
Amity didn’t look her way, just hummed and fought hard against the urge to roll her eyes. She had to stay professional and exclude everything that could possibly make her lose her composure.
_._._._._._._._._._
After changing into their training apparel, the knights formed pairs and began to imitate battle. They didn’t need their armour just yet since their swords were made of wood to avoid seriously hurting each other. Later on, however, they would train with all their equipment. This was just a warm-up.
Amity tried her best not to lose focus simply because the Princess was watching them. She did want to be a part of the Royal Military Forces which meant no mistakes and no amisses. If she doesn’t get chosen, her life is fundamentally over.
Her parents did not tolerate failure. Not now, not ever. They made it very clear that if she doesn’t get chosen, there will be consequences. Bad ones.
Princess Luz was sitting on a bench beside Chancellor Bump. They had a great view of all the knights, they didn’t necessarily need to walk around them. Chancellor Bump advised to remain seated, in order to avoid getting hurt or interrupting the fighting knights. But Luz didn’t want to listen. Her eyes kept wandering back to the green-haired knight who remained calm and collected which made her effective. She wanted to look closer at the strong and mesmerisingly beautiful knight.
In addition, Luz herself was quite versed in knights’ training. She had weekly training classes and often liked visiting the castle’s training grounds to watch the Royal Military Forces prepare for the worst.
So, without further hesitation, Princess Luz stood from the bench and walked around the knights. She said words of affirmation and encouragement, she sometimes even gave advice. She purposefully avoided the green-haired knight until she wasn’t done walking around the others. The knight was fighting with a pink-haired woman who wore an almost annoying smirk on her face. However, she was undoubtedly skilled, the Princess recognised that. Their eyes met for a second, the knight unmistakably looking for appreciation while the green-haired woman stayed focused on their fight, despite the heat rising in her chest. With one precise stab to her opponent’s leg, she made her lose her balance for a moment, getting her attention back. Princess Luz smiled when the pink-haired knight looked at her again, but the message with the gesture was unclear.
As Luz walked back to the bench with her hands behind her back and her dress floating around her, she couldn’t stop replaying the green-haired woman’s movements. Stolen glances sent towards her during her inspection, then watching her closely as she handled the wooden sword as if it was the continuation of her arm, made Luz feel something. Something thrilling. She wanted to get to know the woman more.
“What is your impression so far, Princess?”
“Surely, I will find some of our newest members of the Royal Military Forces here. I already have a few people I would like to join the army,” Luz’s voice trailed off as her eyes were locked on the green-haired knight once again.
_._._._._._._._._._
After meeting the Commander of Liatris, the Princess and the Chancellor were invited for a dinner shared with the knights and nobles. Princess Luz sat in the middle of a long table, the Chancellor on her left and the Commander on her right. Their table was on a stage, therefore they had a perfect view of the knights, seated at long tables below.
It didn’t take long for Luz to spot her. She was sitting at the table in the middle, next to the woman who was her opponent earlier. She kept her eyes on the plate before her, not even glancing at the pink-haired knight who seemingly couldn’t stop whispering about something. However, in one magical moment, the knight glanced up and their eyes met; it really only lasted for a moment. But to Luz, it felt like a lifetime. Something was captivating about the woman. Many others were present, yet to the Princess, it seemed as if the lights only illuminated one person in the entire room.
To Amity Blight, this moment felt largely the same. She could sense someone was looking at her from above. At first, she thought it was her father, checking whether she behaved like a proper Blight. However, when her glance was met with the Princess’, Amity’s heart skipped a beat. Her father was occupied with talking to someone else, the only one looking at her being the Princess. It was truly special.
But Amity didn’t know the reason why someone like the Princess herself would look at someone like her. At that moment, Amity could swear she saw stars in her eyes; but the more time passed, the more convinced she became that the Princess most likely didn’t find her special. Perhaps someone had mentioned her briefly to the Princess and there was nothing more to it.
Amity didn’t notice she had been staring at the main table for so long, only when Boscha brought her back to their own table. Amity shook her head slightly and returned to her plate, trying her hardest to forget how mesmerising Princess Luz looked.