End the war and split the costs. It sounded so simple. So easy. No one would be more at fault than the other. No one would shoulder more blame than the other. It was a reasonable, fair solution to a large, complex situation.
But what would Weiss know?
From the furor taking place in the Council room every morning, it wasn't that simple. Every Councilor had a different argument for or against the war, and many of their arguments didn't make sense. The war was good for morale - winning would lead to growth and prosperity - or, the most nonsensical one Weiss overheard, they 'couldn't just stop.'
The only thing Weiss gained from the past few meetings was a headache. Fortunately, if fortune could be found in such a situation, the Councilors were so distracted by the constant bickering that they hadn't added more work to her plate. Every day after suffering through their arguments, she retreated to the office and resolved to finish the proposals on her desk.
Until now, it hadn't been clear just how much her father hindered her by keeping all manners of politics from her eyes. She might wonder why he would do such a thing, but she could easily think of several reasons. Because he determined that he would be king forever, thus there was no need. Because he thought so lowly of her that he deemed her entirely incapable. Or because he wanted to ensure her failure even after he was gone.
Meanwhile, a letter from Ruby's sister hid in the desk drawer. On it, a list of supplies Vale had already sent to the Badlands - a list of supplies that Weiss was somehow supposed to match. Before she could even think of bringing that up to the Council though, they had to agree to end the damn war. Fortunately, she had an...ally, of sorts.
Ruby had a wealth of experiential knowledge on how to lead a kingdom. Even though Vale and Atlas' governments were vastly different, she understood what was 'right' or 'wrong,' and what did or didn't make sense.
With Ruby's helpful interpretations, Weiss was progressing through the Council's mountain of work. Rather than making haphazard decisions, she learned about Atlas and the authoring Councilors through every proposal scrapped or set aside for further consideration. Most importantly, she saw the light at the end of the tunnel.
She didn't understand why Ruby was so willing to help. Part of her suspected that Ruby intended to get something out of it in return, but Ruby's sincerity was hard not to believe. If only the Councilors were the same…
"This is so tedious..." she sighed, letting the proposal fall to the desk.
"I wasn't going to say it."
Hearing a soft giggle, Weiss felt a smile tug at her mouth when she met Ruby's gaze. They'd spent so much time together over the past two days that she often forgot Ruby was sitting right across from her. It had become a foregone conclusion that Ruby spent her 'free time' in the office, which Weiss found more than agreeable.
Having company was a strange yet welcome feeling, especially when that company was as warm, personable, and beautiful as Ruby. Whenever Weiss asked a question, Ruby answered. Whenever Weiss made a face about something, Ruby asked what was wrong. Weiss was used to being invisible and ignored, but Ruby never seemed to stop watching her. Paying attention to her. Noticing her.
"Generally speaking…" she began, tapping her pencil on a page arguing for a higher tax on vegetables, of all things. "If the war ends, would it make sense to raise or lower taxes?"
"Depends on what you're taxing," Ruby answered. "Why? That's another tax one?"
Weiss nodded and nearly slid the page across the desk, but Ruby stood and appeared beside her in a breath of wind. Sometimes, Ruby moved so fast it seemed like her feet hardly touched the floor, yet it was so seamless and natural that it no longer took Weiss by surprise.
"Let's see…" Ruby mused, leaning over Weiss' shoulder to read.
Weiss watched Ruby scan the page rather than try to read along. Ruby was unquestionably beautiful - Weiss had thought that the first time they met, and she believed it even more now. Ruby possessed enviable inner beauty, but plentiful outer beauty as well. Her silver eyes perpetually sparkled. Her short, brunette hair looked feather-soft and effortlessly windswept at all times. And she smelled heavenly, like a field of flowers in full bloom.
"Vegetables?"
Weiss didn't avert her gaze fast enough, so Ruby caught her in the midst of staring. Ruby didn't comment on it though - she just smiled while Weiss averted her gaze and blushed.
"Vegetables seem like the last thing you'd want to tax," Ruby added. "Kids would be thrilled though."
"So...it's another bad idea?" Weiss asked, recovering from her embarrassment enough to sneak a look Ruby's way.
"It's definitely not a priority." After mulling over the idea a little longer, Ruby sighed. "I wish Barty was here. He'd know what to do."
"Who's Barty?"
"Bartholomew, our head of economy. He's a wizard with this stuff."
When Ruby waved at the desk covered in papers, Weiss noticed that she hadn't yet moved away. Instead, she remained so close that Weiss could watch every emotion dance through her pretty silver eyes. Happiness, homesickness, worry, amusement - Weiss could have stared at the mesmerizing effect forever but, having been caught staring once already, quickly cleared her throat and turned away.
"Think we should send him a copy?" she quietly joked.
"He'd love that." Still smiling, Ruby turned around and leaned against the desk, looking so relaxed yet regal at the same time. "You know what Yang would say though? 'When in doubt, throw it out.'"
"Throw it out?"
"Yeah! Like...just throw the whole thing away." Ruby gestured to the trash can before grinning. "It's her way of saying that things have worked for thousands of years before us, and things will work for thousands of years after us. Raising or lowering taxes for a little while doesn't make much difference in the grand scheme of things. Our job is really just to keep the city from burning down."
After ruminating on the advice, Weiss smiled. Their kingdoms had been around long before they were alive and would hopefully be around long afterward. In that sense, the decisions she faced right now, even though they felt significant, were really just...small drops in a large pond.
"I imagine keeping Vale from burning down is a healthy challenge," she eventually replied. Surprisingly - or maybe not, considering how cheerful Ruby was in nearly all instances - Ruby giggled.
"You're right. Those damn fire spitters just can't help themselves. They have to use their spark everywhere."
"That sounds a bit...annoying."
"Oh believe me, it can be."
When Ruby chuckled at the expense of those with a fire spark, her sister undoubtedly included, Weiss quietly joined in. Once that joke faded, she picked up the proposal and did as Ruby suggested - dropped it into the garbage.
"If only I knew what the people actually wanted..." she mused while pulling the next proposed law from the dwindling pile.
"But that's easy to figure out."
"What do you mean?"
When Weiss looked over, Ruby straightened up from the desk and reached for Weiss' hand.
"Come on, let's go for a walk!"
"Ruby -"
Weiss looked at the remaining work, but Ruby gently took her hand anyway. The tender, considerate touch sent a sudden chill through her limbs, but she tried to keep her spark under control as Ruby pulled her to her feet.
"We've been here all morning! I think you've earned a break. Besides, you're the Queen, remember?"
Reluctance dwindling, Weiss let Ruby lead her out of the office. Before they reached the hall, however, she withdrew from Ruby's grasp and crossed her arms over her chest instead. The intimacy felt nice, but...she couldn't risk rumors of that sort making their way around the castle.
"Where are we going?" she asked while James immediately fell into step behind them.
"You'll see. Have your coat nearby?"
"In the entryway. We aren't going outside, are we?"
"We are!"
Ruby beamed at the idea, but a wave of hesitation washed over Weiss. Surprisingly, Ruby picked up on the feeling almost immediately, and her enthusiasm faded.
"Unless you don't want to?"
Now that Weiss' curiosity was piqued, she couldn't fathom turning back. That, and she really didn't want to debate the economic soundness of taxing vegetables right now.
"No, I do," she agreed and was instantly rewarded by the sparkle of excitement in Ruby's eyes.
"You sure?" Ruby asked anyway, giving Weiss another opportunity to back out.
"Yes."
Weiss nodded this time, which made Ruby even more excited.
"Awesome! Let's get our coats."
"I'll get them, My Queen," James said before Ruby rushed over to the closet herself.
"Oh. Thanks, James!" she said instead, smiling as he completed that task.
One of the butlers noticed Weiss in the hallway and rushed over to one of the other closets as soon as she motioned that she needed her jacket, too. James returned first and offered Ruby's jacket to her without a word. Only when Ruby was appropriately outfitted for the outdoors did he put on his own jacket - another selfless display that Weiss didn't know how to interpret. From his protective nature, he seemed like Ruby's bodyguard, yet Ruby treated him like a friend or equal.
"Your coat, Your Highness."
Leaving that mystery unsolved for now, Weiss accepted the heavy, white coat from the butler and slipped it on. Her gloves were already in the pockets, which she pulled on before nodding that she was ready to face the harsh weather outside.
"Ready?" Ruby asked anyway.
Weiss nodded, and Ruby again smiled.
"Then let's get out of here!" Ruby added before motioning Weiss after her. They hardly stepped out the front door, however, before several Knights moved to Weiss' side.
"They should stay here," Ruby immediately said.
"But -"
"James will come with us," Ruby added, nodding to the man trailing behind them. "If we need help, he can help - trust me."
Weiss hadn't left the palace grounds in some time, and she'd never left without an escort. For all she knew, procedure stipulated that Knights accompany her outside the walls. Logically, such a rule made sense, as harm could befall her even within her own kingdom.
But she wanted to see what Ruby had to show her. And, maybe stupidly, she did trust Ruby. She trusted Ruby possibly more than any of the people sworn to serve her.
"Thank you," she directed to the Knights. "But I'll go alone."
Based on their shared glances, that was an unexpected response. One of the men even opened his mouth to argue before thinking better of it and nodding. "As you wish, Your Highness," he said before returning to his post.
With the Knights handled, Weiss nodded to Ruby. That small bit of trust felt like a big deal - Ruby's grin implied as much - but she didn't dwell on it right now. "Ready," she said instead.
Still smiling, Ruby waved Weiss after her and led them away from the palace. They reached the gates shortly thereafter and, once Weiss motioned for those Knights to stay put as well, they left the royal grounds. As soon as they entered Atlas, the world beyond the gates absorbed her entire focus.
It didn't take long to realize that everything here was...different. Slower, quieter...less shiny and clean. The further they ventured into the city, the more her unease with the stark class divide grew. Compared to the luxuries of her home, the streets of Atlas looked like...like a kingdom that had been at war for a very long time.
She remembered Atlas as cold, quiet, and orderly, yet bright and vibrant. The streets around her, however, couldn't be more drab and broken. Buildings had fallen into disrepair. Once-proud blue-and-silver banners hung tattered and torn. Paint had faded and chipped. And the silence…the oppressive quiet felt as if the populace collectively decided they had no words left to share.
As the spring in Ruby's step disappeared, Weiss realized that Ruby sensed the same thing - that the lives around them wouldn't tolerate such joviality. While the atmosphere made Weiss uncomfortable, however, Ruby didn't shy away from the dilapidation. Her silver eyes took in the scene around them with a calm, pensive aura suggesting she'd seen too much of it before.
Following Ruby around the next corner, Weiss abruptly recognized where they were. The wide, open square ahead of them held more signs of life than the rest of the city, but even here the people were muted and subdued.
"The Market?" she asked as they approached.
She'd been here several times before, always with her father or sister and a group of Knights. The Market had bustled with life on those days. Vendors peddled their wares, children played in the streets, and people stopped to chat with one another. Today...there were still plenty of people, but they conducted their business quietly. Few conversations interrupted the overwhelming silence. Overall, everyone appeared in a rush to buy whatever they needed and get home.
Weiss wanted to blame the weather, but the weather was decent today. Cold, but not bitter cold, and the snow had briefly stopped. Typically, Atlesians would rejoice at such lovely weather.
"Ruby, what are we doing here?" she whispered, edging closer to Ruby's side. The combination of her opulent outfit and Ruby's dark hair drew attention, but Ruby thought nothing of it while walking further into the Market. She looked at ease in this space, contrary to Weiss' increasing discomfort.
"You said you wanted to know what the people want. The best way to find out is to ask."
When Ruby gestured to an elderly shopkeeper selling a variety of fruits and vegetables, Weiss stared. Did Ruby honestly expect her to walk over and ask this stranger what he needed?
"Surely, you're kidding."
"I'm not," Ruby replied with an encouraging smile. "What better way to figure out what Atlas needs than by asking the people who make Atlas what it is?"
"But the Councilors could do this..."
"The people need to see you, Weiss," Ruby gently interrupted. "They need to know you're human, just like them. You smile and laugh like they do. You bleed and cry like they do. You could send someone else to do this for you, but that'll never be the same as being here, talking to them, seeing them - you have more in common than you'd expect."
As much as Weiss wanted to discount the idea as dumb, unnecessary, excessive, or pointless, she couldn't. If Ruby thought it was a good idea, and Ruby was an excellent queen, then how could Weiss argue against it? Even if it made her uncomfortable, nervous, and scared, didn't she owe it to the people of Atlas to try? Didn't she owe it to herself to try?
"You'll come with me?" she asked, and Ruby nodded.
"Of course I will."
Relieved, Weiss took a deep breath before walking over to the older gentleman tending his wares. Her pulse rose with each step, sending tendrils of cold through her veins, but she didn't falter - faltering would be hard to do with Ruby right by her elbow, anyway. The unspoken support was all she needed to walk right up to the stall. Once there, she glanced at Ruby one more time, who smiled and nodded, before clearing her throat and saying, "Excuse me."
The shopkeeper's eyes widened as soon as he saw her.
"Your - Your Highness!" His hasty bow nearly knocked over a bowl of fruit, forcing him to lunge forward to steady them. "I'm so sorry - I wasn't expecting -"
"Please," Weiss interrupted as he righted himself. She tried not to show it, but she was just as nervous as he looked. They were strangers, after all - the only reason they were speaking was due to Ruby's influence.
"I don't mean to bother you," she continued. "I was just wondering..." Trailing off, she again looked at Ruby, who gave another encouraging nod. "I was wondering...how can the palace help you?"
Weiss didn't know what she expected, but it wasn't for him to stare at her like she had three heads. Growing more uncomfortable by the second, she shuffled her feet and shot another glance at Ruby. Did Ruby really believe this would help Weiss learn anything other than how out of place she felt around 'normal' people?
But Ruby just smiled, nodded to the man, and offered a quiet, "Ask another way."
The man was still at a loss for words - a feeling Weiss empathized with. She wanted to leave before he decided that she was an idiot. Instead, she cleared her throat and rephrased her original question.
"I mean, is there anything the palace can do to make things better for you? Are there any particular laws that make it difficult for you to...do your job, or just...enjoy life?"
"Oh." Fortunately for both of them, he finally grasped what she was asking. "Well, I - I don't need anything, Your Highness. Atlas is great to me."
The answer struck Weiss as a bold lie. Ruby's giggle all but confirmed it while also giving Weiss a boost of confidence. If she read the response the same way Ruby had...maybe she understood this man better than she thought.
"I'm asking for your honesty," she added, hoping he heard her sincerity. "Please tell me how we can help you. I can't guarantee we'll make every change, but I need to know a direction."
Now she understood why Ruby didn't want the royal guards around. Even without the Knights' intimidating presence, the man wrung his hands and glanced around as if searching for a way out. But, eventually, he gestured to the fruits and vegetables on the table in front of him.
"I'm sure you know most of the farms are outside the walls," he explained. "With the soldiers checking everyone at the gates, it takes hours to bring this into the city every day. I wish it was easier to come and go, at least for people who have regular business outside."
"So, fewer restrictions at the gates?" Weiss summarized.
"Yes, Your Highness."
"That sounds very reasonable." Glancing at Ruby, who was beaming at her, Weiss felt a smile of her own appear. "Thank you for your input," she told the man. "I'll see what we can do."
After he nodded, Weiss moved away from his stand.
"I didn't realize it took so long to get in," she mused while walking further into the market. "It makes sense if they're checking for weapons or spies, but if the war ends...we won't need such rigorous checks anymore."
When she turned around and discovered Ruby still beaming at her, she frowned.
"What?"
"Oh, nothing." Ruby shook her head, but the smile immediately reappeared. Before Weiss could ask specifically what the smile was for, Ruby nodded to the side. "Want another opinion?"
This time, Ruby gestured at a middle-aged woman tending a garment stall. The thought of starting another conversation filled Weiss' stomach with nerves, but less so than before. She actually felt somewhat confident as she nodded and walked over. Still, she was relieved that Ruby stayed by her side.
"Excuse me," Weiss said, noticing the woman's eyes widen as she and Ruby stopped in front of the table. "I was hoping we could speak for a few minutes."
"Your Highness," the woman replied with a hasty curtsy. "I'm...I'm sorry about your father," she added, her voice shaking at the memory of their tyrant king.
"Thank you, but I'm sure you miss him as much as I do."
The worry in the woman's eyes morphed into curious relief once Weiss smiled. The rapid change made Weiss think that maybe Ruby was right - maybe they had something in common, after all. It was a shared hatred of her father, but at least that was something
"Now that he's gone, things can change around here." Noticing several people listening in on the conversation, Weiss tried to ignore their attention and focus on the woman in front of her. "I'd like to know how the palace can make your life easier. Any suggestions or feedback you have."
The surprised mutters were difficult to ignore, but Weiss shuffled her feet and waited for the woman's answer.
"Everything is...fine. Good, really."
"I know it's not," Weiss gently replied. She could see that now; she had seen it on the walk here. "Please, before I can make things better, I need to know where to start. That's why I'm here."
Weiss didn't want to beg more than that, but she also didn't want this woman to give up on her like the palace servants had. She might not have much experience, but if they would just give her a chance...she would try her hardest to help.
"The...the patrols make me nervous," the woman eventually admitted in a sigh. She was still hesitant, but Weiss patiently nodded for her to continue. "If we're truly safe, why are there so many Knights in the streets?"
"That's a good question." Weiss didn't know the answer, but she understood the concern. "I'll see if those patrols might serve a better purpose elsewhere."
"And the curfew makes it hard for us to do our jobs!"
Surprised, Weiss turned around and found a suddenly sheepish young man grimacing at his interruption.
"What kind of job?" she asked rather than admonishing him for butting in.
"I work in the fields..." he explained, shuffling his feet while several more people joined the fringe of the conversation. "Sometimes...the work isn't done, but we have to run back so the gates aren't closed on us. Even though Knights are still there...they won't let people through if they're even a minute late."
"But...why is there a curfew?"
As soon as Weiss asked the question, she worried that it gave away her inexperience. The people in front of her, however, shared small smiles.
"We don't know either," someone said while someone else chuckled.
"That's something I'll look into," Weiss replied before a middle-aged man caught her attention.
"And clear out the chapel."
Weiss frowned at the suggestion, but everyone else muttered and nodded their heads.
"'Clear out the chapel?'" she repeated before looking down when someone tugged at her sleeve.
"Maybe we can play in the park again?" a small child asked, his wide blue eyes brimming with hope.
"You can't play in the park?"
"Not since the Knights commandeered it for 'training,'" a woman replied while setting her hands on the little boy's shoulders.
"But that…" Thinking through everything she'd heard so far, Weiss frowned and shook her head. "That doesn't sound right."
"We don't think so either," a man offered while several others murmured. As the crowd shared looks amongst themselves, Weiss realized what a great idea this was. Why had she ever suspected differently? Ruby was a better queen than Weiss could ever hope to be, but that didn't mean she couldn't try.
"What else?" Hoping they had more to say, she smiled and motioned with one hand. "What else needs to change?"
"Some of the wells on the West side need repairs," a young woman spoke up. "But the Council says there's no money."
"They say there's no money for full-time teachers either," someone added. "The kids are only doing half-days now, which makes it hard for us to work."
"Plus, they're so restless with nowhere to go in the afternoon."
While the two parents shared commiserating looks, Weiss nodded and made more mental notes. She hadn't thought about the school system at all, but apparently she needed to.
"The new taxes hurt," someone added, making several others mutter. "Especially on basic necessities -"
"Which are getting harder to find."
"And maybe...maybe some of the Knights on the front could come home for more than a few days at a time? I miss my son…"
"Might as well end the war while you're at it. That would solve a lot of problems."
From the way everyone chuckled and shook their heads, that was supposed to be a joke. Weiss, however, realized that they had no idea who Ruby was. That was by design, of course. Councilor Ironwood warned her against getting everyone's hopes up. But when she glanced at the Vale Queen, who watched the crowd with effortless grace and attention, she fully believed that Ruby wanted peace as much as she did. She couldn't even imagine fighting Ruby about anything.
If they knew who Ruby was and why she was here, would they treat her differently? Would they welcome her presence? Would it offer hope?
Before Weiss decided whether or not to divulge Ruby's identity, a series of loud whistles cut through the air. The sound caught her by surprise, but the people in front of her jumped into action. Many rushed off without a word, but one of the men noticed her confusion.
"The Market's closing now," he explained while shifting the bag of produce in his hands. "We're not allowed to be out after dark."
"Why not?"
The man shrugged, but his eyes darted to the end of the market when several Knights appeared. Still blowing whistles, the armed guards marched forward while everyone hurried away.
"They don't want us planning a revolt," the woman tending the garment stall suggested while closing everything up. "No gatherings after dusk."
"I see…"
Curious now, Weiss watched the Knights move through the marketplace. She frowned at their hostile postures and at the way the once-talkative people scurried away. For what sounded like an everyday occurrence, it felt decidedly...unfriendly.
"It was an honor to meet you, Your Highness," one of the remaining young men added, bowing before backing away. "Thank you for taking the time to talk to us."
"You're welcome." Weiss dipped her chin to the ones who remained, but she could see they were in a rush to leave. "Thank you for giving me much to think about."
"Disband and return to your residences at once!" one of the Knights shouted from nearby. Heeding the warning, the rest of the group scattered like the wind, leaving only Weiss, Ruby, and James behind.
"We should probably head out, too."
The suggestion hardly left Ruby's lips before her gaze flitted to something over Weiss' shoulder. Her eyes widened at the same instant someone roughly grabbed Weiss' arm.
"You there!"
Spark roaring to life, cold shot through Weiss' veins as she spun around and prepared to defend herself. Ruby immediately appeared beside her, and James had a hand on the Knight's shoulder before Weiss even realized what was happening. Fortunately, the Captain of the Knights quickly recognized her and dropped her arm as if it burned him.
"Your Highness!" he exclaimed before a hasty bow. "Forgive me. I didn't know you were here."
A breath of frozen air left Weiss' lips as the danger passed, but her heart still hammered in her chest, sending waves of ice pulsing through her veins. When the man glanced at James, James calmly removed his hand and backed away. Ruby relaxed as soon as the two separated, and Weiss thought she heard a breath of relief leave Ruby's lips.
The Knight's demeanor had changed so fast that Weiss wondered what would have happened if she was just another member of the populace. Would he have released her so quickly? Or would he have resorted to more force under no provocation?
"That's alright..." she said while giving him a wary look. "Do you always treat people like that?"
"Of course not, Your Highness. Only if they resist."
The answer implied that yes, he did treat people like that. Weiss didn't like that thought, but now didn't feel like the time or place to address it. With tensions running high and the sky darkening, she wanted to de-escalate and leave as quickly as possible.
"Please be kinder next time." She hoped that didn't sound too much like an admonishment, but she couldn't say nothing about his behavior. "We'll be heading back to the palace now."
"Would you like us to escort you?"
"That won't be necessary. Thank you."
His eyes darted to Ruby and James, but Weiss simply smiled and motioned the pair of outsiders after her. Before they left the square, however, she glanced over her shoulder and watched the Knights disappear into the neighborhoods beyond the Market. In their wake, emptiness and silence remained where so many people had once been. It didn't feel right, but her head spun with so much new information that she didn't know what to think about it right now.
"Are you ok?" Ruby asked before they got far. Her silver eyes were filled with concern, but Weiss frowned before glancing at her arm. Even though the Knight had grabbed her roughly, she couldn't feel anything anymore - it probably wouldn't even leave a bruise.
"I'm fine. Please don't worry."
The assurance worked, as the concern faded from Ruby's eyes. Eventually, she nodded and fell into step by Weiss' side.
"I don't understand though..." Weiss mused while heading back to the palace. "These are people, not prisoners. Why are they treated like this? Not just the Knights either - all the rules and restrictions hindering their lives."
Noticing Ruby look up at James, Weiss turned toward them.
"What?"
"It's nothing." Ruby shook her head, but her contagious smile didn't diminish in the slightest. "You just...did a really great job."
Weiss wouldn't have expected the praise to mean so much, but she turned away while a happy warmth spread through her chest.
"There's a lot of work to do…" she murmured while that warmth moved to her cheeks. "But at least I know where to start."
"Knowing where to start is a good thing. Right, James?"
When Ruby looked up at James, who nodded, a swell of gratitude rose in Weiss' chest.
"Thank you, Ruby."
"You don't need to thank me."
Weiss' heart fluttered when that sincere silver gaze returned to her, but she knew that Ruby was wrong - Weiss did need to thank her. For the suggestion but, most importantly, for the support. Without her presence...what was an amazing experience could have been a disaster.
Accepting Ruby's humility for now, Weiss nodded and focused on climbing the steps back to the palace. If someone told her weeks ago that this would be her life, she wouldn't have believed them. Not only would she refuse to believe that her father was gone, but she couldn't have imagined the unlikely pair walking beside her.
Her father always said that Vale was the enemy, but Ruby felt like a friend. And if she and Ruby were actually becoming friends, maybe she could finally ask the question that had dogged her since they left Vale.
"How did you two meet?" she eventually spit out, gesturing between Ruby and James to make her quandary clear. Any worry about Ruby not wanting to answer disappeared when she grinned and hopped through the palace gates.
"Oh! That's a great story, isn't it?"
"It is," James agreed before nodding for Ruby to tell it.
"So it was a long time ago -"
"Five years, last week," James gently added.
"So it was five years and a week ago," Ruby corrected with an even bigger grin, walking backward toward the palace doors now. "I was exploring the settlements way outside Vale - just seeing what was going on, how the people lived, you know. So I was moseying around, checking out the view, when this huge roaring sound fills the air - like rushing water, you know."
Ruby only paused her story so they could walk into the palace, where the warm entryway greeted them.
"Turns out, it was rushing water," Ruby continued as the heavy doors shut behind them. "The dam above the city just broke, and the lake was about to flood the entire place out. So I rushed to help. Me and a couple other winders joined forces and held the water in place just long enough for everyone to get out. A bunch of houses still flooded, but no one got hurt. James was there helping everyone evacuate. He thought I was pretty cool and has followed me around ever since."
At the conclusion of that story, Ruby beamed up at James, who smiled down at her with what could only be described as pride and devotion.
"That...sounds like quite a way to meet."
That was the only thing Weiss could think to say while removing her gloves and jacket. Ruby giggled at the stunned response.
"Definitely exciting, but we like exciting." After playfully nudging James' side, Ruby stepped closer to Weiss and smiled. "Here, let me put your jacket away!"
The offer caught Weiss by surprise - almost as much surprise as the nearby butler clearly felt when Ruby took his task - but she hesitantly handed her jacket to Ruby. Seeming to think nothing of it, Ruby took James' coat too before hurrying to the closet.
"What she always fails to mention..." James said, his voice quiet while he watched Ruby hang the coats. "Was that she was on the cliff overlooking the city. She was in no danger, yet she rushed to our aid. She held the entire lake back for three hours - far longer than anyone else could have managed."
While Ruby shrugged out of her jacket last, James finally turned toward Weiss. His serious gaze suggested that this was particularly important to him, and particularly important for Weiss to hear.
"She is a queen. No one would have blamed her for staying out of harm's way, yet she didn't think twice. She cared more for us than for herself."
Pausing for a second, James smiled at Ruby, who was already hurrying back to them.
"When you meet someone worth following, you know."
Even if Weiss had a response to James' side of the story, there was no time to say anything as Ruby reappeared by their side with a small breeze.
"Done!" she announced, smiling at her courteous gesture. "What should we do now?"
While Ruby waited for suggestions, Weiss looked at her in a whole new light. She always came across as kind and compassionate, but that story implied self-sacrifice beyond expectation. Rulers had an unspoken responsibility to protect themselves because so many people depended upon them - that was why they had guards, walls, gates, and armies at their disposal.
But, as Weiss kept learning, Ruby didn't follow the rules of royalty very well. And, as much as Weiss' father suggested otherwise, there probably wasn't a mean or selfish bone in her body.
"It's getting pretty late," Weiss said while Ruby lightly hopped between her feet. "I can walk you to your room?"
"You don't have to..."
"But I'd like to."
Looking both disbelieving and thrilled by Weiss' insistence, Ruby nodded to James.
"I'll check on a few matters before it gets too late," he replied before heading away. After watching him go, Ruby smiled at Weiss and motioned to the staircase. Silence settled over them as they headed upstairs, though not because Weiss had nothing to say. She had so much to say that she had no idea where to start.
She wanted a way to express her appreciation for Ruby's help. She wanted to go over the ideas and suggestions made by the people they'd spoken to today. More than anything, she just wanted to spend time with Ruby, discussing how Atlas looked now, how it once was, and how she hoped it to be. As they neared Ruby's room, however, she realized that it might be inappropriate to talk Ruby's ear off all night.
"Thank you again," she said instead. "For suggesting I talk to them."
"There's really no need to thank me." Pace slowing, Ruby smiled at Weiss. "I'm sure you would've come up with that on your own."
Weiss didn't know where that unfounded faith came from, but knowing that Ruby believed in her - no matter how small that belief might be - was an indescribable feeling. Just like Winter had so much confidence in her, so did Ruby, even though Weiss had done nothing to inspire that confidence.
Stopping by Ruby's door, Weiss clasped her hands in front of her and met Ruby's gaze. Standing here, just the two of them, she felt even more enraptured by Ruby's eyes. Pure, molten silver reminded her so much of Atlas, yet Ruby couldn't be further from everything Atlas represented.
"I still appreciate your help," Weiss said before they went their separate ways. "With...everything."
"I like helping you with everything."
The soft, unassuming response made Weiss' arms tingle with emotions she couldn't identify. The way Ruby looked at her right now made it even more difficult to focus, especially as she became acutely aware that they were very much alone.
"I'll...see you tomorrow?" she asked while backing away. Putting space between them helped clear her thoughts, but she could feel a blush rising on her cheeks while a pleasant chill tingled across her skin.
"I'm looking forward to it," Ruby added with another smile. "Have a good night."
"You too, Ruby."
Before Weiss got lost in Ruby's eyes, she hurried away. With her heart fluttering, wings on her feet, and a stubborn smile on her lips, she couldn't remember the last time she felt this...hopeful.
She felt more connected to Atlas - the real Atlas - than ever before. The people she spoke to today were the people she was responsible for - the produce seller, the garment merchant, the young farmhand, those parents and their children - they depended on her. Her actions or inactions impacted their daily lives in nearly every way, from wasting their time coming in and out of the city to not providing for their education.
"Your Highness."
No sooner had Weiss returned to the entryway did Councilor Hill stride over to her. Councilor Ironwood was right on her heels - his expression curious while hers was grim.
"Is it true you left the palace without your guard?" she asked as soon as Weiss paused to speak to her.
"That's true, Councilor."
For a second, the woman looked taken aback. Then her expression clouded.
"You must take protection with you when you leave. Especially with our...guests."
The way she said 'guests' bothered Weiss. Ruby had been nothing but sweet and kind ever since she'd arrived. And James...James didn't say much, but he wouldn't act unless Ruby instructed him to.
"Thank you for the advice, Councilor," Weiss politely replied. "But I'll take the guards when I feel the need."
Again, that wasn't the response Councilor Hill expected. She opened her mouth to say as much - or to argue, perhaps - but ultimately clenched her jaw and shook her head.
"The war isn't over, Your Highness. It would be wise to exercise more caution."
With that clipped advice, Councilor Hill turned on her heel and strode away. Councilor Ironwood, meanwhile, clicked his tongue and shook his head.
"Do as you wish, Your Highness. Councilor Hill hasn't yet grasped that things are changing around here. Eventually, she'll understand."
Offering a small smile and bow, Councilor Ironwood swept off to complete whatever tasks were on his list. Weiss, meanwhile, frowned at that latest brush with the Council and thought about Councilor Hill's words while heading to the office.
Atlas and Vale had been enemies for her entire life, but did that make Ruby her enemy? Were they obligated to hate each other because they were born in different kingdoms? Ruby had never wronged her. In fact, Ruby was the only one who seemed to genuinely care about helping her. The Councilors only wanted to squabble over taxes and petty arguments.
Upon making it to the office, she nodded to the guard by the door and walked inside. The pile of work was right where she left it, but it wasn't nearly as large as before. With Ruby's help and guidance, she'd labeled most of the proposals as pointless or excessively partisan.
After just one foray outside the palace walls, she was done reading the Council's suggestions. These proposals were so far from what the people wanted that they couldn't have been written with the good of Atlas in mind. Most likely, they were written to line the pockets of those authoring them. She pulled out a clean sheet of paper instead. From her conversations, she created a list of the suggestions she'd received firsthand: fewer taxes, fewer patrols, fewer restrictions. This list would be her focus going forward.
While she wrote down everything she could remember, she wished that she could ask Winter if she was on the right track. She felt like she was - the people's requests made more sense to her than the Council's ever had - but Winter would know. Winter would know exactly what to do with the Council. Exactly which proposals to sign. Exactly how to get the treaty done.
Winter might not be here to offer guidance, but Ruby's support made all the difference in the world. Weiss couldn't help but like the Queen of Vale more with each passing day, for her beauty, grace, boundless energy, and freely offered smiles.
Ruby's presence meant that, for the first time since that fateful night in the ballroom, Weiss didn't feel alone. And, for the first time ever, she felt like...maybe she wasn't a complete failure. Maybe she could actually do this. Maybe she could make a difference - make things better - for the people who called Atlas home.