The cold air wafted along the palace walls as if announcing the arrival of winter. Kingdom of kaneha is a mountainous region of fresh environment and clear waters. The days shorter and nights longer, the citizens preferred to curl up in blankets and enjoy the peacefulness of the surrounding mountains. Winter in kaneha meant two things, the winter festival to honour the goddess of winter and the extravagant birthday of the dear princess of kaneha, Chizurukina Azarinoha. These gave the citizens plenty of excitement to forget the biting cold. Even in the early hours of dawn, the citizens were busy in preparations for the celebrations tomorrow.

But for Ayaka Chihiro, the efficient captain of the Royal Guard, the celebrations meant more work and less idling. Since only three captains out of seven were currently available, major works were mercilessly dumped on her and the work consisted of massive paper works, troop training and frequent patrolling along with overlooking the preparations for tomorrow's celebration. The other two Tachiru Aigini and Bonoru Taiga were busy with aiding the citizens with the decorations. They certainly had some knacks for ditching major and not to mention horridly boring tasks. Now standing for the past three hours in the training room filled with sweating men, she wanted nothing but to run out and jump in the snow.

Ayaka groaned inwardly when she saw the assistant of her vice-commander arriving with the regular monstrous stack of bundled paperwork that towered over her petite shape.

The black-haired, brown eyed pretty assistant of her vice-commander Minu, placed the heavy bundle with a huff on one of the tables placed the along the wall and waved cheerfully to her who was eyeing the stack as if debating on throwing it into the fireplace.

"Ayaka-san! Good Morning!" she greeted loud enough to be heard over the clanging of swords of the practising men.

"Good Morning Minu. You look cheerful as always for someone running around the palace."

"Thank you and you look majestic as always for someone standing in this stinking place for so long." She wrinkled her nose in distaste at the obvious odour wafting throughout the large training room.

"I don't know about being majestic with me sweating buckets, getting soaked in all these stink. The next time Bonoru whines about my taste in seasons, I swear I'm going to dump him into troop training. "

She shot the amused girl a wry grin.

"And here comes the next batch. You sure have days better than anyone." She chuckled pointing at the next swarm of men who marched into the training room, replacing the earlier ones.

Ayaka rolled her eyes in response.

"I suppose it can't get any better than the usual" she shrugged.

A guard in uniform crossed the training room, saluted and bowed before her.

"Greetings to the captain, Her Majesty has requested your presence at the private court as soon as possible."

Minu chuckled,

"I think it just has."

Ayaka definitely detested Suspense.

For the tenth time she wondered why Her Majesty has called for the Royal Guard captains at the private court. Even the Head Guard whom she met on her way didn't know the reason why he was called. All these years of service, she had an ability to prepare herself before the queen's summons. It was mostly not difficult in any aspect, since internal or external affairs of the kingdom passed through her and she was informative enough. Whether it was a conflict, treaty or private affairs she had authority to divulge in it. Gossips, tales and rumours of various people from foot soldier till her own comrades were all relayed to her through informants like Vima the maid, who was the centre of the gossip society.

She disliked suspense due to the very fact that it made her defenceless against the parasitic political system within and between the royalty and nobility. It was widespread even within the secure government of Kaneha, ruled by a female who was not older than any of the other neighbouring rulers. Here, ignorance was not an excuse, but a disability that can cost their lives and others too. Now, she felt as if she was walking blindfolded but she believed she was nothing but defenceless.

She let an inaudible frustrating sigh and glanced at the Head Guard trailing two steps behind her, visibly showing the difference in status. As the massive double doors of the Private Court became visible, she tried once again to ponder over the significance of the meeting but drew nothing but a blank. When she reached the double doors, the guards saluted smartly and proceeded to open it for them.

A high pitched whistle made her stop in her tracks and she turned towards the well-known source for the sound. Just along the far end of the wide corridor, the other two captains were walking towards her in quick steps. As they neared her, she saw the familiar charming grin the brown-haired male was shooting at her as he not too subtly dragged the other captain by his shoulder. she quirked a brow when she saw the burly captain wearing a sour expression and sporting a lump on his head.

"what? Hurry and ask me the question already. Then you will be the 50th person." The burly captain whined noticing her stare.

" Actually I don't want to know. All I want to say is this. Please at least attempt to show the image of a captain for this once"

The burly captain suddenly puffed up his chest and straightened out himself and gave her a hopeful look.

"Because, it will be fine if you went alone, but since we both are here with you, don't make us look like we dragged in an clown with mismatched outfit."

She grinned when she saw Bonoru deflate and Tachiru snort at her implications. The Head Guard cleared his throat and Ayaka shared a final look with Tachiru as they proceeded in.

The Private Court was a place essentially built for holding private meetings between The Queen and the other officials regarding various affairs. The Private Court functioned regularly everyday generally between her majesty and the ministers of the royal court. Discussions about various disputes and remedies, reforms implementation, everyday routine trade check among others. The Royal Guard were rarely summoned for these meetings, since only the Commander and Vice-Commander were required for Defence related. Ayaka, also being the ambassador for the kingdom, was summoned to discuss matters concerning external affairs. She attended the meeting solely as an ambassador, and not as a captain.

The Private Court consisted of High Stand on a raised platform consisting of two seats for her majesty and the heir of the ruler. Next to the raised platform, a row of four seats, pair facing each other was designated for the Royal Prime Ministers. Next to them a large circular table was placed made out of fine wood polished and well furnished. The table was flanked by a row of seats placed in a semi-circular arrangement on either side.

Ayaka's steps faltered a little when she spied colourful heads occupying one side of the semi-circle. She almost wanted to slap her own forehead due to the revelation the very obvious assumption. An almost inaudible snort jerked her from her sulking and her questioning blue gaze met a very smug grey ones. His lips pulled into a lopsided grin when he saw her scowling at him.

He knew. Both about the subject of this meeting and the obvious nerve wracking suspense she was breaking her brain at.

She guessed, her scowl deepening. And would have certainly tripped his feet for own amusement of seeing him face plant. She felt the thought absolutely satisfying. Her thought process faltered when their arrival caught the attention Queen Inohika and the other people present. Her gaze collided with that of piercing black ones of the Royal Prime Minister. His gaze pierced her with obvious animosity and she pushed back the urge to roll her eyes. She let out a resigned sigh as the three Royal Guard captains followed by the Head Guard came to a stop before the high stand.