If there was a time to be anxious, now was the perfect time, and Mandy felt tense, more tense than tense could be.

It was just mere days ago since Mandy finally stood up as the new ruler of Spirit Point, and she already got assigned her first meeting. A growing girl means big exciting things, but meeting a potential threat? …Not so much, and that was why Mandy gripped at her own knees so tightly as she squirmed in her car seat.

To her left sat her sister Nadia, and to her left Nora, leaving her sat in the middle. Amira was in the passenger's seat and in the driver's seat was Amore, driving them to the Hyuns’ apartment.

It was a relief that the Hyuns replied so soon, but of course it was to be expected from those who have received a letter from the royal demon family, an order is an order that is to be answered ASAP, and the Hyuns understood that well. Yet Mandy gulped as it dawned on her, she was about to strike some sort of deal with a threat to the Wimmerson name if this woman didn’t comply with their demands, or maybe they didn’t have to…

No no no, think Mandy, think! Surely there was another way to settle things without the use of blackmail or mind-erasing tech or magic, this was a life, a human life at that, and sparing this poor unfortunate soul should be their main goal, at least Mandy could hope.

“We are almost there, you two should disguise yourselves now.” Amore said with his arms on the wheel, the twins slipped into their disguises and took their masks off, Nora taking in a breath of air, “I seriously hate this,” She muttered, “I hope I get something out of it.” Nadia looked at her with a beaming smile and brought her card out, earning a raised brow out of her older twin. “...What?” The silent demon continued to nudge her shoulder with the card until she took it, looking at Amira for answers.

“She wants you to get whatever you want after this,” Amira stated, “Food, clothes, novels, anything.” Nora glared at her twin who smiled right at her, and she scoffed, begrudgingly slipping the card into her jeans pocket.

Soon enough the group arrived at the building, taking the elevator up to the floor where Amélie’s apartment was. Mandy rang the doorbell and Amélie lifted her head, her ear flicking at the sound of it ringing out. She hurried over to the door, and she was surprised to see that they’ve arrived earlier than she thought. She stammered as she greeted them by the door and welcomed them in, her palms already getting sweaty from remembering the little girl’s very important status.

The poor girl was wobbling all over the place as she looked at the group of royals, she recognised Mandy and Amore, as well as the fire ruler’s guardian Amira, the other two… not so much. She tried to put her finger on who the last two were as she prepared tea for them all, she set it all down on the coffee table and looked to her side to see that Amore had moved the smaller couch to the other side of the table for her to sit, and she thanked him with a wave in her voice, clearly nervous from all the eyes on her.

“Ahah, uhm… ahem…” She started, sitting herself down on the couch as the two girls sat beside Mandy, the Jacks standing by the arms of the longer couch. “Wh-What brings you here, your majesty?” Mandy placed her arms on her lap as she spoke, “Please, Mandy is fine, you already know me as such.” 

Wow. A little too formal maybe, Mandy thought, maybe she should dial it back. “Anyhoo, uh… We came here to speak with you about a certain matter.” Amélie leaned forward, “A-And that is?”

“Your knowledge of me existing as a royal, Ms Hyun, you can imagine how that poses a threat to the Wimmerson family.” A bead of sweat rolled down Mandy’s cheek just as a bead of sweat rolled down Amélie’s, both felt as if they were in a stand-off, unsure on how to continue the conversation, but Mandy pulled through. “We’re here to settle on an agreement, that way we can continue to live peacefully while you well uh… live.”

Amélie gulped and looked at them with fear, spurring Mandy to elaborate, “It’s not as bad as it sounds, the worst we can do is erase your mind but I’d rather avoid that scenario, so I’d like to discuss.” Amélie only looked more terrified at the idea, and Mandy scratched her arm, thinking of a way to keep going. “So uhm… yeah… if there was something you’d like in exchange for you keeping quiet about this we’ll happily do as you ask, just— not too expensive, we’re not made of money.”

“…Anything?” Amélie squeaked, Mandy nodded. “Anything at all?” Mandy clasped her rather large hands together and nodded once more, making Amélie giggle nervously. “O-Oh gee, w-woah, okay! Uhm…!” She stammered in excitement as she papped her hands on her knees, “Honestly I wouldn’t even ask for something big or flashy really, I’d be fine with just seeing the rest of the ceremonies this year, i-if you wouldn’t mind!”

“R…Really? That’s all?” Mandy asked, to which the other short demon nodded, “You could ask for another thing on top of that if you want?”

“If it matters, probably not… I’m sure you’d look great wearing something more expensive than your apartment for a change.” Nora spoke, waving Nadia’s card around to her horror. 

“I-I’m good thanks, and uh… sorry to ask but what’s your name? I didn’t quite catch it.” Nora stopped waving her twin’s card around and gave the short demihuman an answer, “You don’t have to know, my sister and I are just relatives of Mandy, not really in the picture.” 

Amélie blinked at the older twin before looking over at the younger one, and a slight squint of the eyes from the stranger was enough to leave Mandy nervous.

Maybe just one quick peek in her head should clear things up…

… 

Ah, she knows.

Mandy’s arm shook as she brought it back to her lap, the meeting had barely started and this woman already seemed to have seen right through the disguises. So much for the relative plan, it was doomed from the beginning.

“I-I don’t mean to pry… But I have a feeling I’m being lied to.”

Ah…

“Th-There’s no need for that at all! I mean look at me, I can barely lift, I-I mean sure I can talk but I wouldn’t be able to fight!” Nora sat up properly with her eyes lowered just slightly, “...How can we know we can trust you?”

“I-I don’t think my stomach would agree with going against my word, i-if I ever slip up you can go ahead and punish me however. Besides, being friends with royals is something I never thought could happen, but here we are! …We are friends, right?” Nora exhaled through her nose as she leaned back, “Barely… If you mess this up somehow we will take action. Remember that.” Amélie gulped as nodded her head.

“S-So uhm… you two are also Princesses, right?” The twins looked at each other before nodding, and Amélie fanned herself anxiously, “O-Okay good to know, uh… Then would it be okay to know your names?” The three sisters glanced at each other and Mandy nodded at her two older sisters, Nora being the one to answer, “Name’s Nora, you’d know me as Meloredeth of Leafdon, ruler of the plant demons. My…sister, Nadia, is Artialovia of Blackvall, ruler of the fire demons.”

Amélie made notes in her head before asking another question, “That leaves one more sister right? Ehm… Papayalkoi was it? Princess of Abermaw, ruler of the water demons?” Nora flicked her hand around, “That would be Ciara, our oldest sister, she isn’t really a people person.” Amélie’s ear flicked, “Oh! Y-You mean like… introverted?” The plant demon rolled her eyes in response, “Introverted is a strong word, but it’s right, yeah. She doesn’t like talking to many people at once, in fact I don’t think she likes showing her face.”

“Would it be possible to meet her someday? I-I’d understand if not, of course.” The red panda thought to herself before giving her an answer, “I mean… It might take a while for her to wanna meet a stranger in person, even with the severity of the situation she might not budge until she knows you’re trustworthy.” The other short demon’s ears went down, “...So that’s a no?” 

“For now, yes, but it’s likely soon.” Amélie bounced her legs, “How soon?” She asked in an eager manner, calming down when Amore spoke to her. “Pace yourself, Ms Hyun, rest assured you will be able to meet Ms Ciara, just not now.” Amélie slumped back and pouted, reminding herself that she can’t just ask for everything at once before sitting back up properly and thinking up another question.

“So how will the ceremony thing work?” She inquired, Mandy brought her hand to her cheek as she thought to herself, “M’not sure just yet, I’d see if one of our workers are available, maybe one of the royal guards seeing as everyone’s busy.” The young ruler trailed off as she looked over at Nadia, who was flapping one of her hands to gain the attention of everyone, and all but Amira looked at her with puzzled faces.

“She would like to assist with that,” Amira said, “Free of charge, all she would like is your time.” Nora rolled her eyes, “Seriously? I’d ask for a couple bucks at least.” Nadia shook her head and pointed to her lips with a smile. “My young Mistress would love nothing more than to accompany you, Ms Hyun.” The Jack spoke softly, “That is if you are up for it of course.”

Amélie grinned ear to ear as she clapped her hands, “A-Are you kidding? I’d love that!” She cheered, to which the silent demon wriggled in excitement over, and upon watching her twin move around so much Nora glared at her to stop, and Nadia behaved herself. “Joyous as ever to make another friend, I see,” Amore noted, “I do not suppose you would be going along without Amira now, would you?” Nadia shook her head and held onto Amira’s hand with both of her own, prompting Amira to put her other hand on top of Nadia’s.

“Is… there a reason why you don’t talk?” Amélie wondered, Amira replied softly, “My young Mistress cannot use her voice on most occasions, she requires it for her occupation as a musical actress, and due to the affects her voice has on many.”

“W-Well I can understand if your voice is important for your job, especially if it’s powerful!” Nadia gave Amélie an unsure expression and looked to Amira, “I think you may have misunderstood, her voice is that of a siren’s, one that can lure those without their knowledge. Such a gift is dangerous that her kingdom heeds my call, therefore I speak in her place.”

“O-Oh…” Silence filled the room and Nadia shook her hand around, making Amira translate, “But no need to fret, such powers only really have an effect on those who are not of demon origin, so you can relax.” Amélie’s tense body softened up as she let out a sigh of relief, but her eyes widened and her ears perked up at the sound of a familiar voice.

It was Amy, who seemed to have just woken up and gotten out of bed. “The hell’s goin’ on?” The girl mumbled, rubbing her eyes in front of her sister and the royal group, Amélie grinned nervously, panicking as she tried to get her words out as best as she could. “A-Ah Amy! Uh– This is my sister, s-she uh—“ She stopped to look at the royals, who glared daggers at her to the point where she shut her mouth, but Nora sighed, signalling with her hand that Amélie could go ahead to the short demon’s joy.

“You know that letter we got yesterday from the royal demon family? Well uhm…! They’re here!” Amy blinked her eyes at her sister slowly before fully registering what she said, standing up straight in a mix of shock and fear. It was a good thing she didn’t come out in just her undergarments.

“...Charmed, I’m sure.” Nora said, pressing the back of her own hand against her chin at the sight of the unkempt girl. Amy had her jaw agape for what felt like ages, her eyes shifting to the different pairs of unrecognisable eyes in the room in a subtle fit of anxiety and soon enough regaining her composure.

“Shit. Uh… hi.” Was all that escaped Amy’s mouth, and Amélie squirmed in her seat over just how bad that was of a first impression, yet the royals thought nothing much of it to her ease. “Uhm… Hello again, Ms Amy, was it?” Mandy asked, Amy shrugged, “Yeah sure, call me whatever,” She spoke rather carelessly, “You’re that Mandy kid right, what’s with the get-up? Such a… weird combo of clothes.” It didn’t take long for Nora to realise she was talking about her. 

“Mnnyehhhsorry, my sister prefers to be comfy over everything else whenever she’s allowed to.” Mandy apologised, Nora simply scoffed at the comment and held herself back from jabbing back at the stranger.

“Ooh you’re sisters? Shit, could’ve fooled me.” The normal demon spoke, she then seemed to pay no mind as she walked over to the fridge, prompting her sister to speak up, “A-Ah, aren’t you going to introduce yourself to the royal family Amy?” 

Amy lifted her head from the fridge and shrugged once more, “Yuh already did it for me, that’s good ‘nough, right?” Amélie wanted nothing more than to hide her face over her sister’s words, yet the royals didn’t seem to mind besides Nora, who hadn't gotten over the remark that the shorter girl made towards her.

Amélie cleared her throat, “B-But uhm… yes, besides my sister and my parents, no one else outside of my family knows, not even my cousins or aunts or uncles! S-So you can trust me on this.”

“I’m pretty sure with a sister like that our family could be in grave danger…” Nora muttered, shaking her head slowly. “Fine, as long as you keep our identities a secret we’ll do as you ask. Don’t go telling your friends about this either, we’ll always find out.” Amélie gulped and nodded along, and Mandy clapped her hands twice to signal the end of the discussion, “That should be enough, thank you for your time Ms Hyun.” 

“A-Again, Amélie is fine!” She chuckled nervously, watching the small ruler fiddle with her hands, “Mnnsorry, force of habit.” 

Amélie glanced around and at the royals as they got up and walked towards the door, and as they began to walk out Amélie spoke up with one last question, “U-Uhm…!”

Mandy turned her head back to look at her, “I-If I may ask, why are your hands so big?” Mandy slightly scrunched her face up in confusion and lifted her hands up to her chest, squeezing her hands and balling them into fists, opening them back up as they suddenly switched to ridiculously fluffy paws of that of a red panda.

“I always wondered why everyone asks that,” the young ruler mumbled, “There’s your answer.” 

With a held back snicker Amélie waved goodbye to the group of royals before turning to Amy the moment the door clicked shut, squealing at the poor exhausted girl to the point where she covered her ears with her fingers.

Amy felt like telling her to stop but stopped herself over seeing how bright her twin’s eyes were at that moment, and she sighed in defeat, “Fine, you can tell me all about it after I get a snack.” Amélie continued her squealing and started hopping around the place, and Amy rolled her eyes with a smile before speaking.

“So, are ya gonna keep the couch in that spot or are yuh gonna help me with that later?”

Right, the couch. Amélie really should’ve asked one of the Jacks to put it back.

Oh well!