So what led her here? Being carried away by her new appointed Knight, said to produce an heir with her once she is of age?
She hated this, she wanted to be in her room alone…
Lunistria’s hand firmly grasped her wrist and she dragged the princess down the halls. The little girl hated that she couldn’t read her emotions, she’s a blank slate and that’s exactly what worried her to the core.
That and apparently the Knight wordlessly dragged her off to her room again as her father wanted them to get to know each other.
“What’s your name? I don’t want to keep calling you ‘princess’ over and over, and your dad seems to have left that important part out of the agreement for some reason.” Her head finally turned around to see the tiny Kitsune behind her, only to see her eyes drenched with tears and her face puffed up from what looked like scratches splayed across her cheeks. She immediately loosened her grip off the princess, and bent down to eye level with her.
“Hey hey hey, why are you crying?” Lunistria asked concerningly, “did I hurt you?” Yet even after a moment of sobs and silence, she still didn’t answer.
Was the princess… mute? Deaf?
“Uhm…” Lunistria took a moment to think about her next words, “was I hurting you?” Instead of actually answering her, the princess resulted in scratching her tears away, making Lunistria sigh.
A memory followed suit: her teacher, Rhaeth Rhaya, the supposed queen of this kingdom, spoke of a precious little daughter she never got to see before being called into battle. She left the child in her husband’s care, their son was already old enough to also contribute in taking care of her as well.
… What was the name she spoke of so proudly again?
“Nayrorei? Nayrorei Rhaya?” The princess stopped her sobs and looked at Lunistria with teary eyes, her long fox ears drooped down and neatly tucked under some of her tremendously long and puffy hair.
So she isn’t deaf, that’s a check. Lunistria thought, she must be mute or reluctant to talk. As she cleared her throat, she adjusted herself to look more approachable not to scare the tiny princess. “I was your mother’s student, she trained me to be a cool and awesome Knight! She also couldn’t shut up about you.”
Princess Nayrorei looked a lot more content, clumsily wiping away her tears with a potential smile forming across her lips. Lunistria saw this and encouraged her with a smile of her own, “I’m glad you’re feeling better already, Nayrorei.”
“Day one and you’ve already made her cry? Yikes, you’re not good with kids.” A voice spat in a disappointed tone from the halls. Both of them looked towards the voice to see Ither, who was leaned against one of the tall pillars decorated in ashen marks of dark ink, yet soothed with the blessing of light ink, the common elements among the Kitsune race. Ither wore a mischievous grin, and according to the small princess’ eyes, she could tell Ither wanted to pick a fight with Lunistria.
“I’m actually quite good with kids, actually, I’ve just not dealt with a child who’s mute.” Lunistria responded in kind, yet a slight of her mocking Ither as some words slipped lazily off her tongue. “Oh no, she’s not mute, she just rarely talks for some reason. You know, confusing Seer things, I guess.” Ither chuckled, as if he was expecting Lunistria to know this already.
It all seemed so… mocking…
Nayrorei’s ears flipped up from their neatly positioned state before, a pout displayed on her face in her obvious disappointment towards Ither’s rambling.
Lunistria raised an eyebrow, unsure why the princess would seem to be worked up so much about it. On the other hand, as she traded her glance towards the cocky prince, she immediately understood. He’s the type to bully his baby sister, as if she’s a trophy out to the public, but behind doors she was nothing more than someone to vent on.
“Maybe she does have a reason, you reek of the type to bully her into it after all.” Lunistria shrugged, “I wouldn’t know, it’s my first day here and I can already tell she doesn’t like you very much.”
Ither kissed his teeth loudly and glared, “listen, new girl.” He began to approach them, small stomps echoed into the halls. Whatever suspicions Lunistria had were instantly confirmed when the princess decided to hide behind her as opposed to her own brother as he came closer towards them.
He is a bully.
“I don’t take any of your shit, okay? You can insult me all you like but in my eyes, you’re nothing more but another Eldian who’s good for utter fuck all.” Ither growled, “as much as I disagree with father’s last plan with you, you better prove yourself useful for the rest. Otherwise, you’ll have more than just him up your alley.”
He has a short temper, too, and Lunistria knew exactly what nerve to hit to piss him off even more.
“That’s not nice to say to your future big sister, kid.” She wore the same smirk as before in the throne room, but this time she chuckled almost in a pitying manner. “You better work on that attitude too. I wonder what your niece or nephew would think if they found out their uncle is such a rude and rotten little shit for no valid reason at all.” She muttered, “Oh, other than being such a failure that his father had to call over a different Knight to deal with his baby sister.”
Ither’s eyes visibly twitched, and Lunistria could tell that he was fighting a monster inside not to attack her right then and there. Instead, he growled and walked off, wordlessly back to what Lunistria could assume to be his room.
A moment of silence welcomed itself in the atmosphere around the princess and her new Knight. While she was glad it was over, she couldn’t bear the intensity of her brother and Lunistria’s… argument was, Lunistria revelled in the victory. That was a win in her book, she could practically see him fume with anger, but she guessed he would get in trouble now that she was his little sister's Knight. It was the first day and if anything bad happened to her, the king looked like a smart guy to put the two together. Nayrorei's sigh caught her Knight’s attention, “are you okay?” Her voice softly called to her in a near whisper. Nayrorei simply nodded and clung onto Lunistria’s long white coat which made her chuckle shortly.
“You don’t talk much, don’t you?”
She’s wrong, she can, but it’s complicated. Words never made sense to her, she was able to understand them if they were spoken to her… in a simple manner, but to talk for herself has always been the issue. So, instead of actually trying for the first time and talk, Nayrorei hesitantly nodded and shied away from her Knight’s gaze.
She’s cute, Lunistria thought, and before even noticing herself, she comfortingly patted Nayrorei on the head. It was alien to the princess, only being used to whacks and pushes, so she leaned into that touch.
“Come on, let’s go to your room."