I just found a sidequest in the PS3 version of the game in which Patty tries to win Yuri's affection (with the help of Estelle) by putting on a cute outfit. Patty's efforts backfire, and she ends up causing an argument between Yuri and Estelle that sounds like a husband and wife bickering. Patty becomes jealous because of how well Yuri and Estelle get along. She spends the rest of the events trying to out-play Estelle at winning Yuri's heart... and ultimately failing because she ends up creating a scenario where Estelle 1-ups her without realizing. Hahahhaa! That plus the extra scene with Yuri princess-carrying Estelle out a window? I'm so glad the PS3 version added some extra Yuri/Estelle tidbits. Thanks, Namco!

I ship these two so hard. *Headdesk*

Tales of Vesperia: Lights and Shadows

Chapter 02 - A Lake in the Desert

"This looks like all of it. I knew I could count on you guys," stated a red-haired woman with glasses as she tossed some shimmering stones into the air a few times before clutching them in her fist. Mary Kaufman of Fortune's Market scanned the gems one last time before pulling a scroll out of her belt, waving it in the air. "But what about their base and their leader?"

"Mantaic, hidden in the sands on the outskirt of the village. And some restless wanderer named Serge," Yuri rattled off, tipping his head and giving Kaufman a smirk. Had she doubted them?

It was early in Dahngrest, and the town was still resting after a long night of celebration among the locals. Yuri, Estelle, Karol, and Repede had met up with Kaufman, who made an appearance alone.

"Mantaic?" Kaufman groaned. She passed the scroll to Yuri, who in turn passed it to Karol. "Why Mantaic?"

"Cause no one wants ta go ta the desert," Raven murmured, stepping up behind Yuri while ruefully rubbing his head. He yawned before looking at them all with a pained expression. "Why'd everyone get up so early? Today's a day for sleepin' in!"

"Wow," Karol breathed as he carefully inspected the scroll he had received.

"Well, Boss?" Yuri questioned.

"This is great!" he exclaimed. He showed the scroll to his fellow guild members, who looked at it in curiosity. "These are the perfect schematics for upgrading the Fiertia and making it functional again!"

"Gotta hand it to you, Kaufman," Yuri began, looking over the designs they had been given. "You do know how to compensate well for our services."

"What's a little cooperation between guilds, anyway?" she laughed.

"With this, we should be able to sail on our own terms," Karol beamed, rolling the scroll up and holding it tightly. "That'll definitely help with any future jobs."

"Speaking of cooperation," Kaufman started, rubbing her chin thoughtfully.

"Uh-oh," Raven murmured before yawning again and stretching an arm into the air. "Sounds like work."

"Are any of you making a trip to Mantaic in the near future?" she asked, setting a hand on her hip.

"Trying to pawn off all your work?" Yuri chuckled.

"I had prior obligations, and I'd hate to have our goods rotting away in the desert," she said. She thought for a long moment before looking back at them. "And at least when criminals are concerned, you're good at handling that, aren't you?" Yuri glanced back at his comrades before giving Kaufman a look. He was grinning, but it was still a look. One that suggested he was not one to be flattered and she had better try a different tactic. "Of course, you'd be compensated well for your time."

"Cooperation by way of wallet," Raven said, folding his arms behind his head. "The true guild way."

"What's your price?" Kaufman asked.

Yuri immediately turned and looked at Karol. To his surprise, the boy was already deep in thought.

"Mantaic is pretty far, and we'd have to board someone else's ship in order to reach it. And it's the desert, so it could be dangerous…" muttered the boy to himself, eyebrows furrowed and hand clutching his chin. After careful consideration, he looked at the scroll in his hand, and then he looked back at Kaufman. "We'll do it, but we want you to provide the materials for upgrading the Fiertia. And in exchange for capturing their leader, we want you to perform the upgrade itself."

Yuri, Estelle, and Raven stood still with eyes wide and open mouths. Even more to their bewilderment, Kaufman was not stunned in the slightest. She continued to grin before extending her hand, taking the scroll back from him.

"Aren't you quite the businessman?" she chuckled. "Are you attached to Brave Vesperia? I think I could find a nice place for you in Fortune's Market."

Karol laughed nervously before reaching up and scratching the back of his head.

"I agree to your terms," said Kaufman, tucking the scroll back into her belt. "Upgrading a ship is easier for us at this point in time than running off to the desert. Will you bring the Fiertia to Capua Torim?"

"Yes," Karol agreed.

"Then we're set!" Kaufman waved at the group before turning to leave. "Happy hunting in the desert, Brave Vesperia!"

After she had left, the group turned to one another, forming a small circle. Raven looked at Karol dubiously.

"When did you get so savvy, kid?"

"I-it was nothing," Karol stammered, again scratching he back of his head. His cheeks turned a hint red.

"That was amazing, Karol!" Estelle exclaimed, causing his cheeks to burn even more. "You just negotiated with an influential guild leader and succeeded!"

"R-really nothing special," Karol continued, closing his eyes.

"So we're off to Mantaic, then?" Yuri asked, deciding that Karol had enough to feel prideful about without him saying anything more.

At his question, any joy Karol may have been experiencing dissipated, and he quickly looked uncomfortable. Yuri raised an eyebrow and Estelle tilted her head a bit. Raven grinned, whistling a bit.

"Well, actually…" Karol started.

"What did you do?" Yuri offered the boy a dull yet very accusing look.

"Raven and I already have obligations to meet with a few different guilds," Karol started, nervously twisting his fingers in front of him. He smiled and chuckled as Yuri's expression darkened. "Harry asked us to go!"

"So you want me to go to the desert alone," Yuri stated, flatly.

"If you could, that'd be great!" Karol stood up straight and smiled, either completely oblivious to Yuri's tone or ignoring it entirely.

"I see how it is," Yuri turned away from Karol, thoroughly unimpressed. "You did all that bold negotiating because you knew you wouldn't be the one digging through the sand."

"We shouldn't really be sending ya to the desert on yer own, though," Raven said after some consideration. "It's still a desert, and it's still dangerous."

"Aww, you worried about me, old man?" Yuri grinned, catching Raven off guard and causing him to turn away from them.

"What? Me? No," snapped the eldest member of their group. He put a hand on the hilt of the dagger he kept at his side. "You're competition, ya know. It's better for me if ya get lost in the desert. More girls for me and none for you."

"I'll go with you, Yuri," Estelle offered as Yuri shot Raven a dubious look and knowing smile. Her words caused Yuri to stop harassing Raven and caused Raven to turn back and face them, eyes wide. The princess was uncertain if she had spoken too hastily, so she added, "If you don't mind…"

"It's fine with me, but… is it really okay to be traveling so far?" Yuri asked.

"It will be fine as long as I provide a report to Ioder when I return," she said, folding her hands together in front of her. She smiled. "It's much safer if you travel into the desert with someone else."

"Okay then," Yuri said, smiling. He offered one last cold look at Karol. "At least someone isn't trying to send me to be fried in the desert alone."

"Hey!" Karol whined.

"No, we'll just send the little lady in ta get fried with ya," Raven retorted with a grin.

Estelle had to laugh a bit at their jesting. She had missed this. Her laughing bewildered the rest of them and made them stare at her, and Raven gave her the strangest look he could muster. However, all of them were distracted when Kaufman wandered past carrying crates higher than her head. Yuri frowned at her.

"Aren't you supposed to have lackeys for that?" he questioned as she went.

"They all had a bit too much fun last night," she grumbled.

"Fun?" Estelle echoed. She watched as Kaufman carried on and walked away from them, and then she looked at her companions, puzzled. "I wonder if they sang too much?"

Karol blinked, not quite getting it. Raven hung his head and sighed. He was nursing quite the hangover himself, so he definitely got it. Yuri simply looked back at Estelle with a sad smile. She tilted her head to the side in confusion in response to the look he gave her, which just made him chuckle. That was their naïve princess.

"Well, " Yuri started. "Let's start getting ready to go."

"Yes!" Estelle answered, cheerful. "To the desert!"

Yuri and Estelle, naturally accompanied by Repede, boarded a large cargo ship headed for Nordopolica. It was a lengthy trip across the sea, but it was presently their only option to get to Mantaic. They had known this adventure across the ocean would be a requirement of accomplishing their mission. Yuri had been a bit wary at first because the crew of the ship they boarded was populated almost exclusively by men. Estelle was a princess, after all. Estelle, on the other hand, was completely unconcerned with this and was ready for adventure.

The princess found herself spending much of her time at the bow of the ship reading or simply gazing at the expanse of blue all around them. Many sunsets and starry nights were appreciated by her there.

And often, Repede was there with her. The dog baffled her. Estelle was well aware of the fact that Repede did not like her, and yet it was as though he was standing guard over her, protecting her from anyone who approached her that did not meet his approval. Perhaps it was because he was a knight of sorts, if that could be said of a dog, and she was the princess. Whatever the reason, he was usually there with her.

Yuri was keeping busy working on the ship or flexing his muscles with some of the crewmen. None of the crewmen were fighters by trade, but they eventually became determined to take Yuri down by the end of the voyage. It became their greatest goal, with the men of the ship wagering money and valuable items between one another as a means to motivate each other toward victory. But even without blastia, Yuri was tough. He would easily defeat three or four of the crewmen each evening—and then they would surrender in order to regroup until the next day.

When he wasn't doing these things, Yuri would join Estelle. This was one of those days when he finished his work and his games early and had plenty of time to spare. The sun was still high in the sky when he made his way to the bow of the ship. Repede was sitting off to the side, yawning. Yuri could tell the dog was bored.

Estelle, on the other hand, was keeping herself entertained. She was standing up on a ledge at the farthest point forward at the front of the ship. She was protected from falling by a railing, but in her position, she had a clear view of the ocean all around her. The wind blew her hair and her white skirt around her. The princess was smiling and enjoying the smells and the view and the breeze. She clung to the railing to balance herself, and then she spread her arms out around her as if she were intending to take flight. She closed her eyes and really felt like she was going to fly away.

Yuri watched her for a moment, smiling. Repede stood and whined a bit, but the swordsman immediately put a finger to his lips, signaling for his companion not to make his presence known. Then, swordsman approached princess stealthily, though this was hardly a challenge with the sound of the wind and the waves drowning out his footsteps.

Estelle gripped the railing a moment again to balance herself once more, and then she spread her arms again. She was completely lost to the world around her. All she could feel was freedom and the joy it brought her. The noblewoman was completely oblivious as Yuri stepped up behind her.

In one quick motion, Yuri put his hands on the princess' sides and gave her an upwards push, effectively throwing her off balance and threatening to toss her over the railing. He kept his grip on her and kept her on her feet, of course, but that didn't stop her from feeling like she was tipping over the railing. She let out a startled scream, desperately gripping at the railing as she felt like she was tumbling over the edge. It only took a moment for her to figure out what was happening as Yuri's hands steadied her and he burst out laughing.

"Yuri!" she cried, exasperated. She continued to cling to the railing even as he let her go.

"I thought you were going to fly away," he teased.

"You're mean!" she grumbled. The princess kept one hand on the railing but immediately extended the other and pinched Yuri's nose. This only caused him to laugh more.

"What exactly are you doing up there?" he finally asked her, rubbing his nose.

"I was enjoying the breeze," Estelle explained, offering him a pout before looking back out at the water. If she had been offended by his actions, the tension quickly melted away. She smiled, fixing her eyes on the horizon. "It feels incredible up here."

"Oh, yeah?"

Yuri gripped the railing and climbed up on the ledge beside her. She smiled at him before looking out at the water again. She stood with her hands gripping the railing tightly, but he leaned forward and folded his arms over the railing, casually. He had to admit, the breeze felt pretty incredible. The heat of the sun was hardly bothersome under these conditions.

"It feels like freedom," Estelle said, closing her eyes again.

"Really?" Yuri looked around a moment, then smirked. "Feels like wind to me."

Estelle pouted at him.

"Try closing your eyes," she told him.

Estelle was looking at him then. They made eye contact before Yuri gave a little sigh, smiling and deciding to be obedient. He closed his eyes. She in turn closed her eyes, and together they faced the wind.

"Good," she said. "Now, imagine there's nothing around you."

A moment of silence passed between them.

"And then spread your arms out!" Estelle finished, chipper. "It feels like flying!"

Yuri had to stop there. He opened his eyes and tipped his head to the side, watching as Estelle threw her arms out again. She kept her eyes closed and was smiling so brightly. Somehow, she found beauty in anything. Yuri had to admire her for that, and he honestly hoped she would never change. Her ability to see the good in everything was somehow infectious.

"Do you see what I mean?" Estelle questioned, oblivious to the fact that he had stopped playing along. Yuri continued to watch her, smiling warmly.

"Yeah, I think so," he said. Honestly, too.

Estelle blinked and glanced back at him, realizing he wasn't mimicking her. She immediately put her arms down and pouted again. Yuri chuckled and then looked out ahead of them. Meanwhile, the princess glanced down at the waves breaking around the ship, gasping and pointing.

"Look!" she exclaimed.

Yuri looked down and saw flashes of silver, dolphins surfing the waves created by the ship. They leaped and danced and sang, diving deep before twirling out of the water with a burst of speed.

"You know," Yuri propped his head in an upturned palm. "I was thinking we really took Ba'ul for granted, but… This isn't so bad."

They watched the dolphins for a while until the silver creatures dove under the water and disappeared. Estelle smiled, feeling light as a feather and exceptionally happy in that instant. She folded her arms over the railing, then, resting her head on them. The mention of Ba'ul filled her with a familiar warmth and reminded her of so many things.

"Has Judith been well?" she asked, her eyes set on the water ahead. The waves were glowing from the sunlight, causing her to have to squint.

"She left to attend to some personal business," Yuri explained. "I haven't seen her for a while."

"I hope everything is okay," Estelle said, lifting her head and looking a bit alarmed.

"She said everything was fine, and I don't think she was lying," Yuri told her. Estelle relaxed. "How's Rita?"

"The last I saw her, she was doing well," Estelle answered. The thrill she had been feeling suddenly escaped her. Her face darkened a bit. She turned her head away from him. "I haven't seen her in a while, though. She was researching mana."

"Are you okay?" Yuri asked, noting the sudden change in the princess' demeanor.

"I'm fine," Estelle responded, though her voice weakened a bit. Yuri stood up straight and frowned at her, clearly in disbelief. Estelle immediately stood straight as well, smiling brightly again. "After all, this is why I came." She took a deep breath, inhaling deeply the salty ocean air. Then, she closed her eyes and spread her arms again. "This must be what it feels like to be a bird. With the wind under your wings, nothing holding you back…"

Yuri slid off the ledge and turned his back to the railing and leaned on it, setting both elbows against it to brace himself. He inspected his partner carefully. If something had been troubling her, it had quickly melted away and was replaced with sheer bliss.

"You know," Yuri started, closing his eyes. "Some birds get put in cages and don't actually get to fly."

Estelle kept her arms wide but blinked her eyes open. She looked down at him. It was a horrible truth, she realized, and one that resonated well with her. A bird in a cage that could never fly free… But she didn't dwell on it. Yuri was smirking. And waiting.

"You're mean," she said again, moping.

She went for his nose, and he laughed. In reaching for him, she lost her balance and nearly fell on top of him. She barely caught herself, staggering into him instead. He caught her and stabilized her, laughing more when her retaliation backfired against her. He still had his hands on her sides and was looking down at her wearing an innocent smile when she suddenly reached up and pinched his cheeks, pulling on them.

"Hey!" he yelped, startled, but was still laughing.

Estelle very briefly stuck her tongue out at him before turning and heading back toward a door leading to the depths of the ship.

"Let's go, Repede," she grumbled.

Repede looked between his longtime partner and the princess. To Yuri's apparent surprise, the dog stood and trotted after Estelle.

"Traitor," Yuri laughed, rubbing his cheeks ruefully.

He hoped Estelle heard him. After all, Repede wasn't a traitor at all—he was doing what Yuri had asked him to do: keeping an eye on the princess. He just didn't want Estelle to know that.

The trio arrived in the desert village of Mantaic in the late evening. Estelle opted to have a bath after they had briefly settled down in the inn. Yuri flopped down on a bed in the princess' absence and closed his eyes, falling asleep. Repede laid down on the floor at Yuri's bedside. When Estelle returned to the room, she did her best to be quiet so as not to disturb either of them. She smiled warmly at both of them, thankful to be able to travel together with them like this. They had come a long way from Zaphias, and for this she was thankful.

Estelle was about to lie down when a faint glow from the open window caught her eye. It was a pale white light that was akin to moonlight, but the princess hadn't remembered the moon shining so brightly. She rose and went to the window, peering out toward the sky.

Her gaze quickly sank from the starlit sky with no apparent moonlight to the lake nearby. A woman was standing there, her long white hair and billowing white dress glowing radiantly from an unknown source of light. Estelle's eyes widened. Curiosity got the better of her, and the princess immediately headed for the door. Repede had been awake (but pretending not to be) and raised his head as the young woman left the room. Immediately, he stood, shook himself, and went over to the window.

Estelle went down to the lake, finding the lovely woman still standing there. The woman was dressed like a noble, Estelle thought. A part of her hair was tied extravagantly, bound by pearls, though most of her hair flooded to the ground in waves. Her dress was simple but royal, light enough to flutter in a gentle breeze. The woman kept her back to Estelle as the princess approached.

Estelle enjoyed watching people and meeting new people. But she questioned if this was a person at all. The woman seemed to glow in the dark like a firefly. And all at once, the princess wondered if she were a spirit, a being alight with the power of mana.

"Excuse me," Estelle began, carefully. Her voice was meek. "May I ask who you are?"

The woman turned slightly but did not face Estelle. Then, in a hushed whisper, she began to sing. Estelle's eyebrows rose slightly as her eyes widened. The woman continued to sing, her voice haunting yet beautiful. She slowly turned and faced Estelle. The woman had white eyes as well, bright yet somehow solemn. Her voice rose slightly, carrying on her melody to herself.

"My mother used to sing this song," Estelle whispered, surprised.

She thought for a moment about the words. They were in a language unknown to her, a language lost over time, but lyrics she knew nonetheless. Estelle began to sing along, though very quietly at first.

The woman reached out her hand to Estelle, and the princess hesitated only a moment before taking it. The beautiful woman spun the princess around as they sang together. All at once, Estelle was no longer standing by the lake in Mantaic. Rather, the world melted away around her, being replaced by a city made of pale white bricks. People dressed in elegant clothing were all around her, dancing and spinning. And suddenly, they were dancing with Estelle, too. Or were they dancing with the beautiful woman in white? She had let go of Estelle's hand and stood close behind her, and suddenly, they were moving together in tandem. The woman moved her hand, and Estelle's hand moved. Estelle would step, and the woman would step. Estelle stopped singing, lost in the world around her, but the woman continued with her melody.

Repede was watching from the window, ears raised and alert. He barked a few times, though the only ones able to hear him were Yuri and any other guests of the inn. Yuri blinked a few times and then sat up. He immediately noted the empty bed across from his before glancing at Repede. He slid off the bed and went to the window. His eyes widened.

From his perspective, Estelle was standing at the edge of the lake, twirling and spinning as if with others but entirely alone. She had her eyes closed and spun so slowly, so very dreamlike.

"What is she doing?" Yuri frowned. He leaned forward, propping his head in his hand, watching.

Estelle was spinning about with the people in a world of brilliant light. The sky was blue and blinding. She would be twirled into the hands of one person, only to spin and be met with another. All of the twirling was making her dizzy. Fabric was spinning everywhere as light dresses and capes spun around to the melody. All the while, the woman in white followed her like a shadow, making every motion she made and partaking in ever dance.

And finally, Estelle was stopped. A man was there who was quite different from the others. A strong man with a gentle smile. He took hold of the princess' hands and began to spin around with her slowly. The woman in white slowed her song as she moved together with them, and so Estelle and the man slowed as well. Finally, he took a step back. He knelt and kissed the back of Estelle's hand. Or was it the other woman's hand? Estelle could not tell anymore. And then he released her and stepped away, disappearing into the blinding light. The woman in white had kept her hand extended and looked on sadly as he walked away.

As he walked away, Estelle felt horribly sad.

"-llise!"

Estelle blinked. There was a voice calling for her somewhere far away. A familiar voice.

"Lady Estellise!"

All at once, she turned. The world around her disappeared and was replaced by Mantaic. She was no longer surrounded by a royal dance but by palm trees and sand. Her dancing partner and the beautiful white shadow and melodist had disappeared. She looked around, perplexed, before her eyes found the source of the voice.

"F-Flynn!?"

Wearing his usual white and blue uniform with a typical stern expression on his face was none other than the commandant of the Imperial Knights, Flynn Scifo. Flynn was a friend of hers, but in this moment, his presence was unwanted. She took a step away from him, her heart racing.

"H-how did you find me?" she asked, frowning.

"I've been trailing you since Dahngrest, though you nearly lost me in Nordopolica," Flynn said, frustrated. "Don't you think it's time to return, Princess?"

"Flynn?"

Yuri raced over from the inn. He had seen Flynn arrive and came at once to greet his childhood friend. Repede followed close behind. Yuri's casual smile was met with a cold glare from Flynn, causing Yuri to slow and then stop a short distance away.

"I should have known it would be you," Flynn grumbled. He had his hand on his sword then. Estelle's eyes widened before she ran around Flynn and stood between the two swordsmen.

"Please stop, Flynn," Estelle commanded. "Yuri doesn't know anything!"

"Doesn't know anything about what?" Yuri frowned, noting Flynn's grip on his sword.

"Oh? So you didn't tell him how you left the castle against the wishes of His Majesty and the Council?" Flynn questioned, his voice stern and his blue eyes icy.

Estelle sank, her expression darkening. She kept her eyes on the ground.

"Wait, what?" Yuri put a hand on his side, the corners of his lips turning up slightly. "You snuck out?"

"Not just snuck out," Flynn continued, frustrated. "That was after she made a mockery of the Council, and of His Majesty as well!"

"I did no such thing!" Estelle retorted. She immediately stepped back towards the lake, refusing to look at either of them. Her hands were in fists at her sides, and her expression was a mess of anger, fear, and hurt.

"You won your own hand at a tournament you coaxed the Council to hold for you!" Flynn said, exasperated. Yuri's eyes widened at this, but Estelle flopped down on a rock, grim.

"She did what?" Yuri asked.

"Nothing," Estelle murmured, her cheeks red.

"The Council requested Lady Estellise consider marriage, and she agreed to meet a suitor only if they won in a tournament," Flynn explained, frowning at the princess before looking back at Yuri. "Lady Estellise entered herself in the last round and won, effectively winning the right to meet and marry herself."

Yuri grinned. Flynn's grip on his sword tightened.

"I won fairly," Estelle quipped.

And then Yuri started laughing. Flynn turned on him at once, angry.

"Stop! This is no laughing matter!"

"You and Ioder were laughing," Estelle pointed out, twirling patterns into the sand with the toe of her boot.

"And what of those three suitors His Majesty Ioder prepared for you to meet?" Flynn questioned, tense. Estelle did not respond, and so the blond-haired knight took a few steps toward her. "You did not even bother meeting two of them! And the third one, you went dressed in such bizarre clothing!"

Yuri raised an eyebrow. Estelle glanced back at him and helped him fill in the blanks.

"The masseuse outfit from Yumanju."

"Princess, you requested the Council to leave the matter to His Majesty, and when they allowed it, you still refused to involve yourself," Flynn chided, though there was desperation in his voice at this point.

"Did you wear the visor?" Yuri asked, ignoring his childhood friend entirely.

"Of course," Estelle answered with a small smile.

Yuri started to crack up again, fighting a battle to keep from laughing out loud. Flynn turned on him again, forcing the dark-haired swordsman to turn away and cover his mouth. Immediately, the blond swordsman turned back to the princess.

"Lady Estellise, please," Flynn started. He stepped over to her until he was standing just behind her. She did not look back at him. "Please consider how your actions reflect on His Majesty and me when you ask to depend on us and then flippantly disregard us. The Council is furious with His Majesty right now on account of you."

Estelle said nothing. Yuri, who had regained his composure, turned back to them. He kept a hand on his side, casually leaning his weight to one side.

"What's the big deal?" he asked.

"The Council is demanding that I marry before I turn 21," Estelle explained, grim.

Any sense of joy that had been shared between the princess and her dark-haired traveling companion over her antics quickly dissipated. Yuri's eyes went wide as he looked between her and Flynn. He actually chuckled in disbelief.

"What?"

"There is a tradition in the Imperial Family that women marry when they come of age," Flynn explained, though he hardly seemed enthused. "The Council feels that Lady Estellise is in a very crucial position to maintain the Imperial line, and so…"

"'A woman of the Imperial Family shall be responsible for producing heirs to maintain the royal bloodline and therefore shall be wed to a man of noble standing on the passing of her Coming of Age.'" Estelle said, speaking formally as she quoted the regulation from memory. She was sitting up straight now, her hands folded together in her lap. She kept her eyes closed. "It's a tradition that has not been followed for several centuries."

"But because of your power as the Child of the Full Moon, and because you are one of few who can be directly tied to the royal line…" Flynn started, pointing out the argument the Council had used to bind her to this law. "Traditionally, there has never been a need to enforce this rule because…"

Flynn trailed off. He could not bring himself to say it. Estelle hung her head. It took a moment for Yuri to connect the dots, and then he scowled at Flynn.

"Because typically noblewomen sit all prim and proper in the castle and do as they're told," he finished Flynn's statement, his tone heated. "Is that right?"

"They have no concern for the royal bloodline. Even if that were the case, Ioder will one day marry and create a more direct bloodline as Emperor himself," Estelle said, quietly. She was staring down at the sand, wringing her fingers together in front of her. "They are ordering this for two reasons. They do not like that I travel and share with Ioder what I see, because what I see often conflicts with their self-interests. And also, the man of noble standing that I would be required to marry would likely be one of them, so it increases their status in the court."

Yuri stood and listened in disbelief. His mind was trying to wrap around all of this new information, but a sense of shock left him incapable of processing it well enough. He crossed his arms over his chest and looked away, irritated that Emperor Ioder and even Flynn were trying to force her into something like this. He began to tap his foot on the ground, clenching his teeth.

"Princess," Flynn started. Any frustration he had expressed before melted away. He was sympathetic now. "His Highness and I negotiated with the Council and made them agree that we would be the ones who selected your suitors, but they are adamant about this. They are already planning a wedding to be held prior to your next birthday…"

Yuri dropped his hands to his sides, making fists. Estelle's shoulders sank.

"I understand that this is not ideal for you, but please consider your position," Flynn tried. "You are Master Ioder's second, and he trusts you to help him make wise decisions. If you continue to disregard him and the Council, he wouldn't be able to count on you anymore. Not because he doesn't trust you but because the Council would not allow it. Everything you had hoped to accomplish would be wasted."

"Not marrying makes her ineffective in her position?" Yuri questioned, not looking at either of them. His tone was highly sarcastic. "Is that about right, Commandant?"

"Don't be angry with me," Flynn snapped at Yuri, wearily. "I didn't make this decision, and His Majesty and I have been resisting the Council ever since Lady Estellise turned 20." The blond knight hung his head a moment before looking back up at the princess. "But we all have to make compromises. This is a part of our responsibility as well."

"I understand," Estelle breathed, solemnly.

Both Yuri and Flynn lifted their heads and looked at her.

"You'll return with me, then?" Flynn asked.

Estelle stood, keeping her fingers entwined in front of her over the top of her white skirt. She slowly turned and cast turquoise eyes on Flynn, solemn but firm.

"I will do as the Council wishes on two conditions. This is my compromise," she said. Flynn said nothing, so she continued. "You and Ioder will choose the men I am to meet to the very best of your abilities."

"That's—"

"And," Estelle cut Flynn off, firm. She looked him squarely in the eyes. "I want to finish this mission with Yuri first."

This demand left both Yuri and Flynn wide-eyed. Estelle did not back down.

"We are currently in the middle of guild work, and I agreed to join Yuri in order to keep him from venturing into the desert on his own," Estelle said. She adamantly added, "For his own safety, of course. I told Karol I would do it, and it would be unacceptable to leave given the circumstances."

Flynn stared the princess down, expecting her to crumble and lose her resolve. She absolutely did not, and so he sighed. He offered a quick glance to Yuri, halfheartedly expecting his childhood friend to agree with him. Yuri simply folded his arms over his chest again and tapped his foot on the ground, stabbing daggers into the back of Flynn's head with his eyes. The blond knight sighed and closed his eyes, defeated.

"Very well," he agreed. "When you finish this mission, please return to Dahngrest. I will be waiting for you there."

"Understood," Estelle said, hanging her head.

Flynn looked between the two, and then he turned to leave. He stopped as he brushed shoulders with Yuri, turning his head slightly. Yuri did the same.

"Please look after the Princess," Flynn requested.

He knew he probably did not have to ask. It was implied, and Yuri would do it anyway. Nevertheless, Flynn thought to show his childhood friend that he really did have the princess' best interests in mind. Really. Yuri met eyes with Flynn for only a second before looking away. He said nothing in return. Flynn turned his back to them both and walked away.

Silence passed over them. Estelle took a deep breath before looking up at Yuri. He was staring very pointedly at her. She would have wilted under the look he gave her if she had not already braced herself for this. She smiled in retaliation.

"It's late. We should sleep," she said.

She began heading back to the inn. As she passed him, he caught her arm. His grip was soft enough to be a source of comfort but firm enough to still her and break her resolve to leave him there without another word. It was strange how he could manage that. She looked down at his hand on her arm before meeting eyes with him.

"Why didn't you say anything?" he asked her.

Estelle considered why she chose not to. There were so many reasons, and no one reason in particular sufficiently explained her silence. Was it how embarrassing the whole situation was? Or perhaps because of how trapped she truly felt by it? Or perhaps it was because, as soon as she had learned of her new destiny under the Council's will, the only thing she wanted to do was run to Yuri. She knew that he would not interfere, and she had not expected him to. But she also knew that as long as she was with him, at least for a little while, she would be able to smile and taste freedom.

"I knew this outcome was inevitable," Estelle finally answered. She had firmly decided this. She did not look away from him. "I wanted to enjoy this. I wanted to have one last journey with you without anything weighing us down. Is that okay?" The princess reached up and touched Yuri's hand gripping her arm. In doing so, he released her. "Please."

Yuri released her but did not answer her. In fact, he looked away from her.

"Goodnight, Yuri," Estelle finally said, realizing that he was not interested in answering her.

She turned and headed back toward the inn. Estelle was not surprised he was angry. He was often on her case about trying to carry all of her burdens on her own. But he did the same thing, so it was only fair. At least in her mind, anyway. His coldness made her feel sad, but it also gave her an unusual sense of happiness. Flynn, Ioder, the Imperial Knights, the Council… No one had truly seemed to care that these circumstances troubled her so deeply. But it bothered Yuri.

Despite the pressure on her chest and the weight on her shoulders, she smiled as she returned to the inn. At least she was not alone anymore. She was happy she had found him.

Yuri kept his back to her as she left. He was tapping his foot on the ground and biting his tongue. Had she said last journey? Was that really the case? Just what had Flynn and Ioder agreed to, and since when was this Estelle's deepest purpose and greatest service to the Empire? His mind was reeling, and every thought that crept into his head only made him more angry.

And then he remembered. It was here.

Here's to the road ahead.

She had said that to him here while offering him her hand. It was a moment that had left a mark on him. He had received her unconditional acceptance here. In turn, she had earned his trust in a way few others could. Something changed here. Something began here.

And, it seemed, this was also where it would all begin coming to an end.