Vieva hadn't realized that there was a need for a sponsor as she was stopped in the middle of the hall by their training master, Lord Wyldon. She could feel his dislike for her as soon as his eyes moved in her direction. He explained the need for a sponsor curtly before barking at the other boys. Vieva kept the frown to herself, but her eyes showed her dislike in return. She was told to stay still, to stand and wait until some older page decided that he would choose her. Frankly, she didn't care who chose her as long as she would get to start training. Vieva was curious about the lessons and had only a slight idea of what to expect on her first day.

The first day grew longer when no one had wanted to choose her, or at least no one that Lord Wyldon seemed to be allowing. Vieva finally gave into her frown once one boy was finally allowed to approach her. His eyes sparkled as he looked down at her, "Lord Wyldon, I think you should allow me to take this one under my wing. She looks a little lost, a little tired, maybe?"

Vieva tilted her head up slightly to look at the dark-haired page. He grinned down at her now as soon as Lord Wyldon let out a gruff of approval. Her frown worsened, "Who are you?"

"Liam of Conte," he responded. "We shall keep ourselves on a first name basis, and you as my sponsored page shall follow me to the dining-hall."

Vieva's stomach lurched. Her father was trying to keep an eye on her. She looked around and realized why no one else had decided to sponsor her. She was a girl, first off, secondly, she was a princess. Vieva stared at Liam's back with annoyance. Her father wasn't leaving her alone after all. She didn't mind Lenato being there but to have the King's son watch over her? It was embarrassing. She didn't want his pity, she was willing to fight through any emotions she was going to be feeling once the separation from her family began to sink in. However, she didn't intend to do it with a royal baby-sitter. She couldn't hold the irritation any longer as she tapped Liam's back.

Liam turned around, his eyes were still dancing with amusement. "Yes, milady?"

Her frown was a full-blown scowl. "Look, you don't have to sponsor me if either my father or your father put you up to this. You may sit where you want, you may ignore me all you want, however, if I ask you a question that pertains to the structure or the way things work, then you should answer. Don't feel obliged to me just because I am a princess. Also, I don't expect special treatment."

Liam had his hands clasped behind his back, a full smile, in contrary to his brother, Roald's usual cool demeanor, Liam felt more open to show his emotions of joy and interest. "Zenevieva-"

"Vieva," she corrected quickly before he continued speaking.

"I have been asked to look after you," he put his hand up quickly to stop Vieva from interrupting him once more. "But, I do not have the intention of being unfair to the other pages. I will not follow you like a dog, if that's what you're expecting. There is, as Lord Wyldon said, no favoritism. In fact, the complete opposite so I am here to maintain that fairness as best as I can. Now, come, sit with me and eat."

The other pages watched her follow the Prince. She felt a mix of smirks, frowns and angry responses as she took her seat. She looked at the table where she sat and found herself surrounded by the boys that had been at her door earlier.

"Hello little one," Alexander greeted, snickering. He had heard about the encounter that his brother had with the Princess's bodyguard, Lenato earlier, Vieva decided. "I see you've got Liam's protection on your dear father's orders? So quick to doubt our intentions? You scared?"

Liam smiled to himself, plopping down more casually next to Thomas. He nodded politely at the other boys who sat at their table, each one regarding him with either a nod back or a wide smile. Vieva wondered if they actually liked him for who he was or what he was. She would soon find out, she decided before turning her attention to the only person who was addressing her. "I'm not frightened and Prince Liam will not need to protect me. Hence, it would invalidate the reason why I am here in the first place. I am here to be a knight."

Loud scoffs and coughs flooded the room then.

Vieva growled slightly, turning around at the boy who burst out laughing. "Must you all be so rude, I will not-"

Liam had grabbed her arm by now, pulling her roughly so that she was facing him again. He frowned. "Watch your mouth, Princess."

"Vieva," she grimaced slightly, covering it up quickly with her lips reverting back to a thin line. "I don't have any intention of watching my mouth, Liam. I'm not a coward."

"You aren't but if you want fair treatment, you might be getting more then you asked for." He responded in a low tone. Everyone at their table pretended not to hear a thing that Liam was saying. "You say you don't want my protection, but if you're looking for a fight just to be like the Lady Knight, Keladry, let me tell you, she's five foot eleven and no princess."

Vieva was shocked at Liam's bitterness towards the subject. It never occurred to her that Liam might not even have any intention of fulfilling what his father asked of him. He was probably putting up a front in front of Lord Wyldon. Her idea that he was as calm and cool as most monarchs were was an idea that was fast dying with the continued grip on her arm. She pulled her arm away just as roughly, her eyes narrowing at him. "I think I can find my own way around this castle. Stop doing it if you don't want to," she hissed.

Alexander had to give it to her as he glanced momentarily at Liam's face. She might've had the wrong idea about the Prince if she was going to be referring to King Jonathan and Prince Roald's dispositions. Liam was a good friend, Alexander knew that, but he was nothing like the rest of his family. The prince's face returned to being emotionless. Alexander chose to interrupt, whether it be to save his friend from losing his temper or from his own need to protect the clueless girl from making a mistake of trying to create an enemy out of the King's son. "You still didn't answer my question, Vieva." Alexander smiled, "Are you scared?"

Lord Wyldon's appearance at the hall stopped Vieva from throwing her plate in Alexander's face. The training master walked up towards the lectran, clasping his hands together he began in prayer. "To Mithros, god of warriors and truth, and to the Great Mother Goddess, we give thanks for their bounty," he said.

"We give thanks and praise," the audience murmured in response.

"We ask the guidance of Mithros in whatever new challenges face us. However difficult it may be, let not our pride or our mouths curb our better judgment. May the god's light show us a path of victory and success in these trying times of war. We ask this of Mithros, god of the sun."

"So mote it be," again in chorus the pages and visiting squires intoned.

Wyldon sat back down, which brought the loud chatter back up a notch.

Thomas chuckled, "Vieva, you must be worrying the Stump already if he's praying for you."

Vieva was just about to put a spoonful of soup in her mouth before she stopped to glance at Thomas quizzically, "He did?"

"'Let not our pride or our mouths curb or better judgment,'" a first-year page with red hair chirped. He grinned, leaning slightly to show her his face. "Terrance of Whistlepond."

Justice, the boy who had introduced himself earlier walked past Vieva with a group of his second-year mates. He flashed her a grin before heading to the opposite side of the room to sit down. Vieva looked after him blankly before finding another boy with a blank expression looking back at her. He turned back to his friends and began whispering and looking back at her again before lending her a smile.

"When you decide you've had enough of trying to be a knight you can go marry him," another blonde boy Vieva hadn't met before commented before squeezing in next to her. He flashed her a smile. He was tiny and skinny, but his face was the prettiest boy's face Vieva had ever seen. The comment gave this pretty boy a scowl in response though.

"I'm going to become a knight," she retorted, gripping her knife tightly.

Alexander grinned, "Training doesn't start till day after tomorrow, page."

Vieva was about to open her mouth until she realized that Alexander hadn't referred to her as a princess. She smiled at him instead before returning to her food and ignoring the new first-year who sat next to her.

"Nickolai," Liam turned to look at him. "Your father won't be too happy about the idea that you're trying to irritate another year-mate."

"But she's a girl," Nickolai muttered, rolling his eyes as he ate.

"You look more like one then I do," Vieva grumbled before she felt an elbow in her ribs. She gasped as her long hair fell into her gravy. She gritted her teeth before stomping on Nickolai's foot under the table. The banter between them continued all throughout the meal. Everyone ignored the shaking of the table, continuing as if nothing was out of the ordinary due to being under Lord Wyldon's watchful eye.