Her father had just finished defending his title as king, her deficiency in her "royal duties", the lack of security in the castle, and the fact that she had turned down every single suitor that dared to enter the castle walls. As far as she was concerned, under their poised exterior, they were all a pack of rabid dogs looking for a leg to chew on.
It was fast approaching midnight, yet the party seemed more alive than ever. Almost every lady and lord of the court was finely dressed dancing the night away upon the ballroom floor, or had made their way to the king's table to mingle with what was left of the council. The meetings had been adjourned, and most had retired to their rooms getting an early start for traveling home tomorrow.
As she shifted her eyes around at each as they spoke, she could not help but feel as if she was being watched. She coolly lifted her head off of her hands which had been supporting her upper body weight for quite some time. traveling her eyes around the room quickly she saw nothing out of the ordinary. Dario had wandered off to mingle.
She sniggered as she watched him hit on Daera, a daughter of one of her father's acquaintances. Dario always loved attention. She frowned as he took her hand and led her to the dance floor. As he was twirling his beautiful partner he turned and met Melora's gaze with a smile. Embarrassed that she had been caught staring, she lowered her gaze then peeked up to see him give her a wink. She turned her attention back to the conversation in an attempt to forget the awkward scene.
"Balderia's borders lie further southwest than that anyway," Council Deloria slurred abnormally loud. "A group of followers that size couldn't possibly be growing that far in the desert."
She tuned her ears in closely to their words. She threw a glance over at Garai who seemed perfectly bored, though she knew he too was listening closely to their conversations.
Zerell lowered his 5th glass of wine with a bit of incaution. "I'm telling you Deloria there's been some strange activity in the southern borders. The soldiers are coming back with crazy stories about monsters and the like. I think that it was best for us to pull our troops out of the area before another Jenova-worshipping cult got a hold of them."
Melora threw Garai a look. If they were speaking about what she thought they were speaking about, then she had done better today than she had ever dared to hope. Her little speech was supposed to buy them more time at their current location. If Balderia's Imperial troops were now ordered out of the area by the council, then that would mean...
Her thoughts were interrupted by a quiet tapping on her conscious as if someone was knocking on a door in her mind. She recognized this as Garai trying to enter her thoughts so she looked his way once more as she heard his words inside her mind.
Guard your thoughts, Mel. They're screaming so loud I can hear them and I'm not even trying.
She gave him a half-smile then replied. You are too trying. But did you hear them? It can't be true...
W'ell just have to see what Master Benshe has to say about it later. For now, let's get out of this what we can.
She nodded slightly as he left and they both looked back at the table. After a little less than a half an hour of debate, the council had fallen silent.
Garai nodded to Melora and she started to get up but was stopped by her father with a fierce look. Garai noticed this then cleared his throat and bowed asking the king his permission to dance with the princess. With a look of half shock, half joy he agreed heartily and raised his eyebrow at Melora as if she were going to run away with no prior warning. She rolled her eyes at her father then took Garai's outstretched hand, and let him lead her to the dance floor.
"How much longer do I have to endure this?" She groaned.
"Just a bit longer." Garai replied as he took her hand and placed it on his shoulder.
"All this propaganda is agony!"
"Tell me about it." He grunted.
"The only things they care about it ruling the country without the people's consent,
and marrying me off to some pompous, wealthy king who has no moral standards. I hate being royal."
Garai swung her around where he could see her face. "I know how you feel," he spoke. For a moment their eyes met and she wondered how she had never noticed how deep blue they were before.
After a moment, he cleared his throat nervously. "Have you noticed Master Benshe lurking about?"
"No, actually I haven't. He must be doing something important, otherwise he would have sat at the table with us. He is, after all, my father's most trusted advisor."
"Yes, but he knows how the council feels about the Gushido. He would never cause a scene, especially when they are already uptight about some things." He gave her a knowing look.
Not thinking before she spoke she blurted, "Oh, don't worry about that. I'm sure if they really meant to dethrone my father tonight, they would have already done it."
She watched his face turn from confusion to shock as she cursed herself for her loose tongue.
"They are going to do what!" He bellowed.
"Shh! Shh." She threw a glance over to their table where they all seemed to be thoroughly drunk,
contemplating each's druken ponderings.
"Why didn't you tell us?" He hissed as he let go of her and they stopped dancing.
"I didn't think it was important! Besides, taking the throne was going to be my problem. I didn't want to burden you guys with that."
He shook his head. "We're your friends Melora. You shouldn't keep such things from us, especially now that we'll be working as a team."
"You're one to talk!" A few people around them frowned as they were now standing completely still in the middle of the room.
He shot her a wild look. "What is that supposed to mean?" After receiving a stubborn glare and a crossing of arms, he gulped guiltily and offered her his hand. "We're drawing attention to ourselves. I think it's best we go find sensai."
She raised her eyebrows at him. "Please?" He whispered.
She sighed then nodded as she was taken back into a dance. They made their way slowly against the wall furthest away from the king's table trying to get near the doors without being seen. After Garai was convinced no one from the council had seen them, they walked swiftly out the doors and down the hallway as a dark-cloaked man stepped back into the shadows of the Great Hallway.