Well, this chapter went faster than I thought. Enjoy Steiner, people! :P

I don't own FF9 :)

Chapter 3

The knight clanked his way around the castle, checking for intruders. Although the castle was heavily guarded, he wasn't taking any chances. With all the festivities going on for the birthday of the princess, anything could happen.

He was about to patrol the castle for the sixth time when someone called out his name.

"Captain Adelbert Steiner, running around in that rusty armor as always, I see," a woman said, slowly walking towards the knight. She was tall with long brown hair that tumbled gracefully just past her shoulder. She wore practically no armor (which annoyed Steiner to no end) even though she was one of the top generals and fiercest warriors of Alexandria. She merely wore an embroidered white top and reddish-brown tights that clung to her shapely legs. She wore a belt in which her sword, Save the Queen, was sheathed.

General Beatrix has been Steiner's rival for about ten years. The rivalry started when Steiner, in a brief stroke of luck, managed to beat Beatrix in a practice match. Beatrix took her defeat as an insult and has, ever since then, tried her best to outdo Steiner in almost every aspect, like who could make the better banner of knights, who could eat the most pies in one sitting, who could shoot the bull's eye in the archery range first, and even who is better liked by the Queen and the princess.

"Beatrix," Steiner spat out. "At least I'm doing something, instead of just lounging about the castle grounds, looking sex— I mean, busy."

Beatrix smirked. "Heh. To tell you the truth, I've already caught five intruders with this "busy" figure of mine. Well, it's okay, Captain. You've got lots of time to catch up. Best six out of eleven?" She walked briskly past Steiner, flipping her hair smoothly.

As soon as she was out of sight, Steiner jumped up and down on the spot like a child, having one of his infamous temper tantrums.

Oh, that Beatrix, someday I'll show her, he thought angrily. Captain Adelbert Steiner does not go down without a fight!

With renewed determination, Steiner once again started to patrol the perimeters of the castle, hoping to catch at least six trespassers lurking about.

Zero.

Steiner didn't find even one single intruder in the castle (except a stray cat and an oglop, which Steiner absolutely refused to touch). He wondered if Beatrix had been making up lies about trespassers in the castle.

The clock struck eight. Steiner jumped. He was late!

He immediately started barreling his way to the Queen's room (making a lot of noise in the process), lest someone get there first.

He needn't have worried. Nobody was outside the Queen's quarters except for two of his Pluto knights, Blutzen and Kohel. They saluted and greeted him with an enthusiastic "Captain, Sir! Good evening, Sir!"

He acknowledged them with his own salute, and said, "You are dismissed from guard duty. You may go."

They immediately thanked him and started running like little kids, presumably to watch the play. Steiner opened his mouth to scold them, but decided he's let them go this once. After all, it was the Princess' birthday. Celebration was in order. And he was in a particularly good mood because a certain somebody was absent for the moment.

"Captain!"

Speak of the devil. Steiner turned and smirked at General Beatrix. "Well, well, this is a first, General Beatrix failing to come on time as ordered?"

Beatrix looked affronted. "On the contrary, Captain, aren't you the one who's late? Weren't you supposed to escort Princess Garnet, the most important person of tonight, for whom all these festivities have been prepared for?"

Steiner felt like a sword had pierced his heart. She was right. Steiner had felt so honored when Princess Garnet requested him, him instead of Miss Perfect Beatrix, to escort her to her seat on her birthday. How could he forget?

He immediately dashed to the princess's room, thankful that her room was just a corridor away from the Queen's. When he finally ground to a stop in front of the princess's room, she was already waiting outside her room. When she saw Steiner, she immediately smiled brightly at him.

"Captain Steiner! Thank goodness you're here! I was worried."

Steiner blushed. The princess was always nice to him, which was more than he could say for half the population of Alexandria castle. "I apologize, Princess. I – uh, I was patrolling the grounds to ensure that no harm comes your way."

"I am grateful, Captain. Now, shall we proceed?"

"Of course, princess."

They started walking towards the balcony where the Queen and the princess would be watching the play from. Steiner glanced at the princess. She seemed to be thinking about something unpleasant. Her eyebrows were furrowed, and she kept biting her bottom lip nervously.

"Excuse me for my rudeness, but is everything all right, princess?" he asked worriedly.

"Huh? Wha? Oh no, everything is fine, Captain. Everything is fine," she replied. Steiner was not convinced, but decided not to push his luck.

They arrived at the balcony door. Steiner was about to push open the door, when the princess spoke up. "I need to go to the lavatory."

Steiner immediately responded. "I shall escort you there, princess."

"Oh, no need, Captain. It is just right around the corner. And I would not want you to miss the play just because of that."

"But prince-"

"I insist, Captain. I will make it an order, if you will disobey me."

"Oh no! That was not my intention, princess!"

"Then please go ahead, Captain." She swiftly trotted around the corridor.

Steiner could do nothing else except to follow the princess's demands, no matter how odd they were.

Concerning the thing about Beatrix beating Steiner, I read about it in the Final Fantasy Wikia. Apparently, it's true. O.O I can't believe it either.

Oh, and I should thank Shotgunnova for the game script he posted in Gamefaqs. I use it a lot. (Although not with this chapter. Cause this scene didn't really happen in the game :P)

Hope you liked it. :D Comments and suggestions are always welcome ;)