I'm awaken by gentle shaking.
Who could be in my room?..
I open my eyes and see Belfast sincerely smiling down at me.
"A very good morning, Dido!" She says in an unusually singsong tone.
I yawn and rub my eyes while slowly sitting up.
"...why are you in my room?" I ask, rather rudely.
"George sent me." She states. "She wanted to make sure you're ready for your 'trial', whatever that means."
"Am I late?" I continue questioning.
"No, but I would hurry anyway, she doesn't like waiting." Belfast begins to walk towards the exit.
"Thank you, Miss Belfast." I call out.
"No need for thanks, just doing my duty." She replies as she closes the door.
Why did I agree to King George V's proposal?
What's my Master going to think?
Maybe...he'll think I've abandoned him...
No, I'll have to explain at some point.
I slide out of bed.
What am I standing on?
"Hina!"
I pick up my friend and hug her tightly.
"I'm so sorry!"
Don't cry, don't cry...
"Please forgive me."
Her black eyes stare back at me.
"I'm sorry..."
Belfast's advice rings in my head.
She's right...I should hurry up.
I rush to my wardrobe and quickly throw on a uniform.
Apologizing to Hina again, I clip her to my outfit.
...I need a shower...
I cannot lose composure today.
Let's make it quick...
[Several Minutes Later]
"Dido, you came!" King George V greets me excitedly.
"I could never betray anyone's trust..." My attempt at professionalism is sad...
"Don't worry so much about that." She pulls a chair up next to her. "I want you to stay here during this meeting."
I silently comply and take my seat.
"If you have anything to say, let me know first so I can settle everyone." She instructs.
"Understood." I nod and fidget a bit.
A meeting...
What could we be discussing?
Strategies?
Living conditions?
Faction relations?
This hall is very grand...
The table is solid, dark wood and spans the entire length of the room.
A Royal Navy symbol adjacent to 2 British flags are displayed on opposite ends of the hall.
And in the middle of the empty space, a lone battleship cannon rests with a respectful wreath on top.
The main doors fly open and a shory, blonde girl with a crown on her head enters, followed by a similar-height, also blonde knight with Corgi ears.
I see Sirius doing her best to keep up with the other two.
The crowned girl is coming over to us.
I instinctively brace myself.
"George!" She calls to my superior.
"Your Majesty." She replies.
Majesty?
So, that crown...and title...
She must be...a Queen!
"Who is your accomplice?" The Queen demands.
"She is called Dido, your Majesty."
Why is there a King and a Queen but the so-called King is submitting to her?
"She is on trial as my personal helper and potential advisor."
Advisor?!
What advice could I give?
"Very well." The Queen gives me a short glare before defiantly flicking her hair and heading towards her seat, with the Corgi knight close behind.
King George V sighs as she sits next to me again.
"What's wrong?" I ask, without thinking.
"Queen Elizabeth..." She has a melancholic energy radiating of her. "I know she is a Queen, but she is far too opinionated..."
"I haven't known her long enough to form an judgement..." I remark.
"Here is a tip: don't get to know her, keep your distance as best you can." She smiles, somewhat mischieviously at me.
I look at the ground without saying anything more.
It's this moment, that the doors open again and some unknown women start entering.
None so far look like anyone from the Royal Navy.
Must be from other factions.
One of them catches my eye more than the others.
She is wearing a very elegant dress, has orange hair and has a Bible tucked under her arm.
Even from this distance, I can tell she is a very friendly and generous person.
She might be my first target for a cross-faction friend.
My eyes follow her all the way to her seat.
Before I become unable to, I shift my vision away and back to the door.
The next noticeable pair enter.
First, there is a blonde women with crystal blue eyes in a contrasting black uniform and matching black cap.
Closely behind, a white-haired woman, in a no-skirt dress follows the blonde one.
Suddenly, I notice the white-haired one has a lock of red hair.
Wonder what that's about?...
They don't radiate the same aura that the orange-haired woman did, but they are still intriguing to me.
I look back at the door one last time.
Seems like everyone's her-
My Master bursts into the hall, panting heavily.
"You!" Queen Elizabeth shouts. "You're late!"
"I apologize your Majesty, I overslept." He explains while slowly walkng round the table.
"Hmph!" The Queen scoffs. "Next time, I won't be so benevolent."
My Master sits several seats away.
I long to be by his side right now...
No, I can't abandon King George V.
"Now, let's begin!" Queen Elizabeth's voice ticks me off a little. "I, the great Queen of the Royal Navy, have gathered you here today to discuss a very crucial matter regarding the Sirens!"
There is no protest.
"Activity in the waters close to our homeland have been picked up." The Queen reads off a paper being presented by the Knight. "And they match the signatures of Sirens."
I don't know how long I can stick listening to her...
"We fear that they might be trying to strike us directly to bring a quick end to the war." She stands proud, rather consistantly, which is impressive.
Maybe I was too quick to judge...
"Normally, an issue like this would be left up to just the Royal Navy, but orders from my fellow Queen have told me that I must request for support from you."
"Can I interject something here?" My Master stands.
The Queen looks at him in disgust.
How dare she!
"Speak!"
"I don't see why I need to be here for this." My Master looks about ready to have a standoff with the Queen.
"Foolish peasant!" This girl..."We need you to help with divising a plan of attack. Do you get it now, Servant?"
"Yes...your Majesty." My Master sits down, looking defeated.
I feel myself wanting to strangle the Queen.
Snap out of it!
Maybe she's just in a bad mood...
I can't start a coup because of one event.
The women in the black uniform speaks next. "Queen, surely you are aware of the tension between us."
"Yes, I am." Queen Elizabeth's gaze falls on her. "What's your point?"
"It may be hard for me to convince our homeland to allow us to assist." The woman states.
"I believe that a collaboration like this will help ease the animosity between our two countries." The Queen continues to glare at the woman in black. "Tell your superiors that."
She nods, more in exhaustion than affirmation.
"Does anyone else wish to speak before we proceed?" The Queen refers to the entire hall.
"I do!" A red-haired woman with an accent begins.
"Proceed!"
"I say, our naval might may not be of much help in this operation." She seems confident.
"Why is that?" I think the Queen is getting increasingly agitated.
"Many of our capital ships, Vittorio Veneto, Giulio Cesare, Caio Duilio, among others, are all out of action right now." Odd names...
"Is there anything you CAN do?" Queen Elizabeth puts on a smug expression.
"We can provide you with our own aircraft carrier, Aquila is still in working order." The woman declares.
"Good enough." The Queen's smile disappears.
"Grazie!" The woman sits down again.
"Any more excuses?" King George V was right...
Silence fills the hall.
"Right!" Queen moves on. "Servant, by order of the Queen, come up here at once."
She dares to talk down to my Master still...
He complies and joins the Queen and the Knight on the elevated platform.
"This Commoner will start on the plan to eliminate the threat, any strategists please come forward and assist him now!" The Queen steps back.
For a minute nobody moves at all.
Finally, people start shifting around.
"Dido, please follow me." King George V stands and I emulate.
We head together to the platform and my Master smiles at both of us.
"Commander, I will help with your planning." George shakes his hand.
"Me too." A lady in a Kimono, with fox attributes and holding an umbrella joins the group.
"Dido, come up here." King calls to me.
"R-right away, ma'am." I walk up to the same position as everyone else.
"So, this is where the Sirens were spotted..." The fox lady begins talking, but I tune out.
My supposed Queen...has the nerve to disrespect my Master like that.
I suppress my urge to swipe everything of the table.
Instead, I just hug Hina to calm myself down.
[Some Time Later]
I've lost track of how long I've been standing here, ignoring the avid planning that is happening mere feet away from me.
"Dido!" King George's voice surprises me.
"Y-yes?" I look at her.
"Oh good, you're still with us." She fake sighs. "Would you be so kind as to fetch us all a drink?"
"Of course, anything in particular?" I request.
"Just a regular tea for me." George says.
"I would love a black coffee." My Master states, without turning away from the map.
"I'm quite partial to green tea, but it must be properly prepared." The fox lady stands. "As such, I will show you how to, for later reference."
I think about protesting.
"If you must..." I mutter.
"I'm Amagi, by the way." She extends her hand out to me.
"Dido, but you probably already knew that..." I shake it as best I can.
"Come, let me show you the art of different teas." She begins leading me away.
How is my afternoon turning into a crash course on tea?