Reminisce
Chapter 4: Permitted Vacation
Ayu gave herself the fleeting luxury of enjoying the small breeze that passed through one of the windows within the great hallways of Fabre Manor. Surely, her Majesty, Aunt Natalia can wait a little more as she takes this unprecedented break. She sighed, as the breeze stopped momentarily. It has been quite a while since she was able to enjoy the breeze circulating around Baticul, much more was the air around Auldrant. She spends a lot of her time locked within that library with all those books and files and though it never bored her, the fact still remains; she misses going outside the castle and playing like a child.
The word 'misses' seemed apt despite the fact that she couldn't recall ever playing outside the manor nor did she ever recall having any interaction to anyone besides the butlers, maids, guards and other aristocrats however, just like the feeling of darkness that haunted her every night, she had a blurry recollection of indeed doing it.
Playing around the plains of Tataroo Valley, napping under a random tree, running and playfully casting spells on the surrounding wild animals and then, wrestling on the grass with… someone.
She shook her head, knowing she would be unable to go any further from there though her mind would subconsciously dwell on the matter for quite a long time before snapping out from it. Something about the 'surreal' and faint memories supplied her with the pleasure she craved for such a long time, a sequence of imaginary scenes in which she yearns to relive. Ayu shook her head; she was starting to sound foolish and nonsensical!
A princess shouldn't think like this, it's a distraction! She scolded herself mentally before she assessed her appearance and continued her walk towards the Queen's lounge.
Aunt Natalia –as she had insisted to be called by the young girl – was sitting on one of the exquisite chairs made especially for the noblemen residing in Baticul, sipping her tea daintily from an equally exquisite porcelain cup. Her elegantly long blonde locks that had grown over the years was now neatly tied into a lovely bun that made her stood out and gave the queen a more radiant yet authoritative glow as the mother that governs all in the City of Light.
Ayu had always looked up to her, almost as a second mother figure and as a role model as well. Being the next – in – line for the throne she took note of everything her aunt had done and mentally reminded herself to make use of it in the future. She was 17 after all; a year away from being able to roam the lands freely and involve herself as the representative of Baticul, the way her father had once been as the goodwill ambassador. She gracefully approached her Aunt, making sure to execute the proper manners fit for her status.
"A pleasant morning Aunt Natalia, you asked for my presence?" she asked.
"Indeed, I have, dearest. I have an important message to relay to you Ayu. Please have a seat." Natalia gestured her towards the chair adjacent from where she was.
" A… message?" The young girl repeated, bewildered as she sat down onto the chair with an expression that of utter confusion which made the Queen chuckle.
"I understand your confusion dear. Usually messages are given to you as written parchments that are sent to you by your maids or butlers. But this is important, and I am much more assured to have you hear it personally than have it delivered by someone else."
The implied dire situation she seemed to have been thrust in all of a sudden made the younger girl nervous and yet she could hint the feeling of excitement that lurked inside her as she anticipated for her Aunt's next words. Her silence allowed the Queen to continue, undisturbed.
"You're father himself does not know of this but soon he will receive the message as well. Ayu, I grant you permission to go to Daath immediately. You're Aunt Anise along with Fon Master Florian are awaiting your arrival there."
Daath?! The neutral faction that maintains balance between the two kingdoms wants her in their midst? What for? The fact that this very issue cannot wait until she was legal enough to be allowed outside the kingdom's grounds struck her as odd. Something must be bothering the whole of Auldrant if Daath was concerned and she was involved in it!
"Aunt Natalia, wh-why am I needed in Daath? Is something wrong?"
Her aunt placed a loving yet reassuring hand on her shoulder, though Ayu cannot mistake the hint of worry that seemed to show in her hazel green eyes.
"I'm sure everything will be relented to you when you get there, dear. I know it's a tad too hazy for you to comprehend but perhaps you should prepare your stuff now. A princess must not let anyone wait for her no matter how high her status is."
"Because the importance of the matter outweighs her own" she smiled as she gave her aunt a kiss to the cheek before politely excusing herself and running away in haste.
"I wish you all the luck, Ayu. And I'm sorry… but please… stay strong.." Natalia whispered into the air as the redhead's figure disappeared inside the manor.