Hiya alls, and welcome to the third chapter!! Yeah, this one's longer, but in my opinion it's just not as good as the other two so far. Ah well. It's a scene I really despised doing, so I'm just glad I got it over with! Enjoy!

Broken Dreams: Chapter Three

Petty Vengeance

Breakfast the next morning was... interesting. Of course, anyone who tells you this is obviously a master of understatement. That morning, tension was stretched to an all-time thin, nerves were tighter than spandex, and conversations were as sour as lemons. Sitting at the table was Leene, Ishtar, Lady Sonia, Ashley, Yuujel, and Duzell, and dozens of servants and bodyguards lined the walls. Even the most stout of heart would have quaked in fear at the atmosphere in the room that morning.

"So, Lady Ishtar, tell us about your home country of Pheliosta" Leene implored. Ever since they had sat down ten minutes ago, she had been trying to find hidden ways to insult the princess.

The aforementioned royalty took a dainty bite of salad before answering. "Pheliosta is a small country, centrally located. It has a mild climate and lush environment. There is not much mining, as most civilians are farmers and fishers." She finished calmly.

"Tell us something we don't know!" the older woman said, exasperated. "Tell us about your customs. For example, I hear that you sacrifice the most insipid woman in the country to the gods once a year."

She stiffened. "That is true only in the less civilized of towns."

Leene donned a look of shock. "Oh dear!! That's dreadful! How did you manage to survive the horrid ritual all these years?"

Jill and Kraal snickered audibly. Chuckles swept across the room, and Leene wore a triumphant smirk.

Okay, I fell right into that one, the princess thought irately. But she's gonna pay for that all the same. No sign of her anger showed on the outside though, and she calmly said, "You know, we have another custom you might like to know about..."

"Oh?"

"In Pheliosta, we cut off the ears of adulterers."

The white-haired woman blanched. "That's horrible!" she cried.

Ishtar nodded sagely. "Yes, it is. Let's hope you never come to visit me at home. You are far too cute for that." The quiet chuckles from around the room increased in volume.

Leene's eyes widened, and she stuttered in a hysterical screech, "Ashley! Did you hear her? The little prat just said I... She said... Can you believe it? The nerve!!!" And so on. Ashley, for his part, tried desperately to calm down his wife. Yuujel simply sat and watched them with a mysterious smile, like he was enjoying a private joke.

Darres rounded on the emerald-eyed princess. "Your Highness! How dare you insult your hostess like that? And you know there are no laws like that! Apologize this instant!"

Ishtar turned her head away and stated calmly, "Don't question me."

"Princess, this isn't funny. You..."

She slammed her fist down on the tablecloth. Suddenly the room fell silent.

"Captain Darres, if I give you an order, I expect it to be carried out." She glared icily at him. "Immediately, with no questions asked. Do I make myself clear?"

Darres gulped. What had happened? Just last night the princess had confessed her love to him, but now she was treating him like an inferior. Which I am, he thought wryly. But this doesn't make sense. Why the sudden change of heart? Was it something I said? But while his mind whirled, he duly replied, "Yes, your Highness."

Ishtar nodded. "Good."

Lady Sonia, oblivious as ever to the straining tension around her, began merrily chatting about an upcoming archery tournament. "I hold it every year. It is ever so exciting!" she gushed. Nobody thought it sounded particularly interesting, but they didn't have the heart to tell the old woman so. Suddenly, she turned to Ishtar. "You'll come too, won't you? I would love to see you there!"

Crap! "Umm, yes... I wouldn't... miss it for the world," She stumbled. Inwardly, she cursed her inability to say "no" to her beloved aunt.

It was Yuujel that came to her rescue. Noticing her expression, he said, "Mother; Lucy and I were planning to take the Princess on a tour of the country that day." Lady Sonia's face fell, but she recovered quickly and said, "Yes, I see. If you're busy, then that's all right."

Ishtar mouthed the words thank you to him. He replied with a smile and a wink. Other people noticed this strange behavior, and whispers started circulating the perimeter of the room. Snatches of the servants' conversations floated across the room.

"Could it be...?"

"I always thought he had a thing for her..."

"But why?"

Naturally, everyone at the table pretended not to hear this. Everyone except Duzell. Sitting in Ishtar's lap and chomping on a tomato, he scowled. What did the idiot girl do this time? He wondered. Ah well. I'm sure it's just a false alarm, like always. But still, does she have to flirt with her ex-magic instructor? The guy gives me the creeps.

Eventually, the waiters picked up the last of the plates and breakfast was officially concluded. Ishtar stood up, placing Duzell in the crook of an arm in the process. "Excellent meal, auntie." She complimented. "We should do this more often." The black-haired princess flashed a smile at Yuginn, and with a slight curtsey to everyone else, she departed. As she swept past Darres, she didn't even glance at him.

Duzell sighed, as well as a kyawl can. Why do princesses have to be so petty? What did I do wrong in my past life to get stuck with such an idiot? Why me?