Ceres, Malwina, Launcecrona and Fayruza curtseyed before Minako and Kunzite's image.
"A perfect curtsey."Minako said, as Ceres was told to rise.
She had been practicing her curtsey several times every day.
"I should complement your dancing master."Kunzite told her.
"Can't I show you how well I have been learning?"she asked.
"You know that's not possible when viewing."
Ceres sighed.
"I hate viewing."she said. "I like seeing better."
"Everyone does."Minako agreed.
"But we will see each other soon enough. And time goes by much more quickly when one keeps busy."said Kunzite.
"Doesn't time go by the exact same rate?"Ceres asked.
Malwina flinched. Not a discussion or lecture about time! Normally, she would have spoken up. They could sometimes be informal at Ceres's court. She remembered just in time, however, that they were not at her court, and her parents were here. Or rather their images were. Her aunt would box her ears.
"Yes!"exclaimed Ceres, knowing just what was going on in Malwina's mind. "A discussion about time! A long one! That would make the Princess of Pluto proud!"
Her parents could tell she was doing it mischievously, probably to frustrate someone. They looked at the three images which stood along with hers. Launcekrona, as always keeping a respectful distance, and anxious that her charge look her best. Fayruza, quiet, and anxious. And Malwina, scowling, irritation and exasperation showing clearly on her face.
"There are some who would say that time doesn't exist."said Kunzite thoughtfully. "That it is not a reality, but a concept."
"I think it's real. I've visited the fourth dimension, you know. And crossed the Time-Space Door."
Kunzite took out his pocket watch.
"It certainly applies is in chronobiology."
He raised an eyebrow at Ceres. Minako looked at her expectantly. Ceres frowned, thinking.
"Time in…life? Like in nocturnal."
They went on for a while. Finally, Kunzite and Minako began to walk, and Ceres, Malwina, Fayruza and Launcekrona's images followed.
"There are about 320 portraits in the Hall."began Ceres.
"About?"asked Minako.
"Uh…"Ceres bit her lip, trying to remember the exact number. "Three hundred and…thirty?"
"Thirty two."Minako corrected.
"Oh. But everyone hanging in the Gallery took part in the in the Great War against Cephei. Most of the portraits here were drawn with the help of several peasants, mixing the paint, preparing the canvases, and such. The painters were Hayate Koyzumi and Nori Sato."
"Can you name me the portraits?"asked Kunzite. "Their rank, as well."
Some she knew by sight. She saw them in her history books. Others she could tell their rank by their uniforms, but couldn't remember the individual.
"It's passable."said Kunzite, after they had gone through the gallery. "But you have quite a ways to go. You know about three quarters or so of the portraits in the gallery. Like I said, passable, but obviously your military history needs more work."
"She did better than I ever did. Both at her age, and older."said Minako. "I was crowned before I learned them. And that because you insisted I learn. So long as I knew the basics, my tutors were satisfied."
Kunzite shook her head.
"No. Not in Shiju's case."he told her.
They moved on to the Field Marshall's Hall. Here there were fewer portraits.
"Here only the greatest military Venus, and the Moon Empire, has ever known, hang."she said. "The ones who have been promoted to field marshall, including my great grandfather. The only ones who are not field marshal are the ones who have been promoted to generalissimo, which is superior to field marshal and any five star rank. So they're still field marshals, but have achieved a higher rank. There were only four who achieved that rank. They were promoted by the Empress of the Moon back then. Um, Selene III."
"There has been a new addition to the Hall."Minako told her.
"The last time there has been has been my grandfather."she said.
"You know that your father was promoted to field marshal some time ago. I decided it was only fitting that his portrait hang among the others in this hall."