How long have I been asleep?

She blinked her weary sleep away and rose from her bed. It must be late… but as she looked outside, it was… sunrise? About seven in the morning, then. She wasn't on duty until later, and the preparations for the wedding were mostly complete. So the only thing she had to do until standing at her guard post was…

Waking up the boys.

She groaned, stripping off her clothes. The girls always woke up early, and there weren't many of them, either - women knights were mostly looked down upon - so she was usually left to her own devices. Takane also had to sleep early, as she always had a hard time waking up, so she was isolated among the castle.

Once her clothes and armor were on, she headed out. Waking the boys was always a hassle, to say the least … especially … that one. A lazy, clueless brunette who had no business in the royal guardship, but somehow the king allowed him to stay, even at top rank with none other than herself.

(It was a bit endearing, actually.)

What a bother.

That's why, every morning, around seven or eight, she entered the large men's suite, and pulled Haruka's pillow from under his head. Of course, that's not all - he never woke up to just that. What he did respond to was her knocking him on the head with the pillow dozens of times.

"Wha...morning already…?"

"Yeah, get up! Don't you guys have posts to maintain?"

"Oh, Takane, I almost forgot!"

"What?"

"Good morning! I hope your day goes well!"

Takane's face heated up, and she turned away, crossing her arms in defiance. "Just… just get your armor, what if someone attacked you overnight?!"

Haruka sat up, rubbing his eyes, blanket slipping off as he did so. "It'll be alright, you'll come running for me!"

"How can you be so- wait, are you naked?!"

"Eh," Haruka looked down at himself, "oh, I guess I am."

A roar of laughter echoed throughout the boy's hall, and Takane was practically steaming with anger.

"Put some clothes on! I'll… I'll wait for you outside! Make yourselves presentable, all of you! This castle can't protect itself!"

Takane slammed the door on her way out. She sighed, but that was the only moment to relax she got before someone interrupted.

"Enomoto, you weren't getting too… involved with Kokonose, were you?"

Of course, it was none other than the king. Impeccable timing.

"No, sir."

"We just don't want a repeat of that one time when-"

"Sir, that was a misunderstanding! It definitely wasn't what it looked like!"

He chuckled. "Of course not. Well, I'll see you later," The King started to leave, but stopped mid-step, "Oh, Enomoto! My daughter wanted to talk to you today."

"I'll tend to her immediately, then."

"As expected. Have a good day."

The King was an odd fellow, though he wasn't mean-spirited. He was actually quite kind, a much more merciful King than the kingdom had seen, according to history books. This Kingdom was actually quite old, though it maintained pretty strict customs that had remained the same throughout it's existence. A strict system of knights, a king and queen (though this time, there was no queen, she'd passed away when the princess was young), and the successor to the throne was always blood related, usually immediate family. However, the kingdom didn't have a special circumstance like that. Everything continued in a haze of normal days, at least for as long as Takane had served there.

At least, that's what she thought, and didn't bother to question it. She didn't have the right to. As a female narcoleptic who was gifted such a praiseworthy job, Takane had to be on her best behavior. Even if it wasn't exactly in her genes.

So when Haruka exited, she only pinched his cheek.

"Ow, ow, ow!" When she had enough of his screaming, she released him. "Oh, you're so lively today!"

"Only because it's crunch time for one of the most important events in centuries! Speaking of which, the Princess wants to see me, so I'll go on ahead! Get to your post!"

"Yes, ma'am!" He saluted, and she started to leave, before noticing his face going strangely blank. (A different kind than normal.)

"Haruka? Are you okay?"

"...oh, uh, yes, I just…well, this is going to sound strange."

"I'm used to that from you."

Haruka smiled, some tension leaving his face. "Do you ever feel like…someone is watching you-"

"-an intruder?! Haruka, why didn't you warn me! Let's go kick his-"

"N-no, not like that, shh!" He put a finger to his lips, speaking in a hushed tone, "Like…in your head…someone right behind you…saying things abnormal to your thoughts…"

"That's..." Was a magic user abusing Haruka's mind? Who would it be? And why?

"…it's crazy, right? I thought so. I'm probably overreacting. You need to see the princess, right? I'll see you later, okay?"

"Yeah, yeah," Takane responded absentmindedly. She just couldn't shake off the uneasiness now.

With two taps on the door, Takane took a step back. Knowing Ayano, the door would bust open in three, two...

Bam!

"Who is- oh! Takane! Did papa tell you to see me? Good, good, I need to talk with you!" Typical Ayano. As the princess' personal servant since she was hired, Takane began to memorize certain habits of hers.

Stepping inside, she watched Ayano walk to the mirror and adjust the wedding dress she was trying on for the tenth time that week. "Shut the door, if you'd please?"

"Oh, of course, your highness." She did as she was told.

"How many times do I have to tell you, no need for silly stuff like 'your highness' and 'overlord'?" Overlord...? Takane never said that... hearing Ayano's audible sigh, she noticed her disposition do a 180. "Anyway... I really need to show you something. It concerns you, and Haruka... and, well, everyone."