Morg: Heyo! Don't worry, I didn't forget about this story.

Ikuto: I wasn't worried.

Amu: I wish you would.

Morg: Well, I won't.

Ikuto: Good.

Amu: Whatever.

~Queen's Decree~

Midori closed the door firmly behind herself. She waited as the group in front of her bowed before she focused on her daughter and Ikuto. "Is this room secure?"

"I checked the hidden passageways before coming in," Ikuto assured her. "There is no one lurking nearby to listen to us."

"Excellent," the queen said as she took her seat at the head of a long table. She waited as Amu sat and Ikuto stepped up behind her before she gestured for the others present to be seated. "It is of great importance that we keep what is discussed at this meeting today a secret. If you do not think yourself capable of such a thing, please leave now."

No one at the table moved.

Midori dipped her head in acknowledgment. "Then it is understood that you are sworn to secrecy. Agreed?"

Each person at the table agreed.

Midori smiled. "Princess Amu will be traveling with Crown Prince Kiseki and Prince Tadase back to their kingdom for an upcoming festival. It is our understanding that the two princes are not being honorable in their request."

Amu nodded as she caught several people looking at her. "While we don't know what their full intentions are, we are aware of some sort of plot involving myself and our kingdom."

"My Lady," the older knight, Tsukasa said as he dipped his head in a bow. "Why then would you risk putting yourself in danger?"

Amu acknowledged him with a tilt of her head. "Because we do not yet know what their intentions are and how I'm involved. We cannot thwart their schemes if we do not understand them."

"And we cannot risk an international incident by accusing them of something," Midori agreed. "Amu has agreed to walk into this trap despite not understanding the situation fully in an attempt to protect our people and kingdom."

"Whatever you have need of us to do," Ran said as she slowly looked at her sisters. "We will do it."

Midori nodded at the girls. "You are our best Ladies of the Court," she told them. "Ran, Miki, Su, and Dia, you are discrete and trustworthy. I know that you will serve Amu well on this journey while protecting her and yourselves."

Miki nodded.

Su smiled as she caught Amu's gaze.

Dia, ever aloof, sat quietly in her chair. Her face did not betray her feelings.

"I have knighted Ikuto in a private ceremony," Midori told the group. She allowed their shock to pass before she spoke again. "He will accompany Amu, though he will do so without anyone outside this room knowing of his presence."

Tsukasa looked at the younger knight before he focused once more on the queen. "Why is there a need for such secrecy?"

"I grew up with Kiseki and Tadase," Ikuto admitted quietly. He did not like speaking of his past, but he only thought it fair that the people present knew of the importance of keeping his identity a secret. "When we were younger, the princes framed me for a crime that they committed. I was banished from the kingdom on the penalty of death."

"Oh, dear," Su muttered.

"I see," Tsukasa said as he dipped his chin in Ikuto's direction. "I believe we'll be going in full armor, then?"

"Knight Tsukasa," Queen Midori said to draw his attention back to her. "You will be the leader of this group. Ikuto's task is to protect Amu. Your task is to protect everyone, do you accept this duty?"

Tsukasa rose from his seat. He saluted his queen before he dipped forward into a low bow. "On my life and my honor, I will not fail you."

Midori acknowledged his pledge before she turned back to the ladies. "You will each assist Amu however she needs while you travel," she told them. "But your true purpose in going is to pay attention. Watch Kiseki and Tadase. Keep an eye on their servants and guards. Speak to them if you wish."

"You want us to gather information," Dia quietly said. "You wish for us to try and uncover their plot before they have time to act."

"Yes," Midori agreed. "That is what I am asking for you. Do not put yourselves in danger. Do not do anything you do not feel comfortable doing. The road can be a treacherous place. I do not wish for any of you to come to harm."

"We know the dangers," Miki said softly but firmly. "This is no different than a day at court."

"It will be," Tsukasa told them. "But only because I will be there to protect you from any unwanted attention."

"If any of them," Amu said quietly. "If anyone attempts to force you into a situation that you do not like then you will tell me. I will not stand for it."

Ran dipped her head at Amu's words. "Your Highness," she said. "Diverting unwanted attention from eager suitors is what we've been at court to learn."

"You will each carry a dagger," Midori said without hesitation. She left no room for argument as each girl looked at her. "I want them worn on your hips and for the blades to be obvious."

"Even if we don't know how to wield one?" Su asked.

"There is time for me to show you," Tsukasa promised as he retook his seat.

"They are a warning," Midori explained. "They are to be a sign that you are on official business and should be left alone."

One by one, the girls nodded their ascent.

"And me?" Yoru asked from his spot at the end of the table. "What am I to do?"

"Your job is the most important one," Midori told him as she smiled at the young boy. "Ikuto and Tsukasa will have to ride in full armor. It is difficult for them to see while they're wearing it. So you'll need to be their eyes."

"I know all the whistles," Yoru proudly stated. "The knights use them to communicate with each other so that common people don't know what they're doing. I know them all."

Ikuto smiled down at the boy. "Then we'll be counting on you."

Yoru grinned as he sat back in his chair. He wouldn't let them down.

XXX

"Princess Amu," Kiseki said as he swept into a bow as the Crown Princess approached. "I wanted to extend my gratitude for your agreement to accompany us to our home. I know that while he's too shy to say it himself, Tadase was quite hopeful that you would agree. He's very eager to spend time with you."

Amu returned the bow as she stepped off the last step to stand on equal footing with Kiseki. She didn't trust him but that didn't mean she was going to be rude to him. Just behind her, Dia remained as her shadow. "I'm looking forward to viewing more of your country and your customs," she said with a gentle smile. "I'm sure the spectacle of the lanterns will be more beautiful than I can imagine."

"It is a sight to behold," Kiseki assured her. It was clear that he was losing interest in their conversation. "Are you ready to depart?"

"Oh," Amu shifted as though she'd just realized that they were waiting for her. "I apologize. Only, it makes sense if my Ladies-In-Waiting accompany us for at least part of the journey. Duchess Utau and Countess Rima will both have to travel in the same direction as us for a few days."

"Ah," Kiseki said with a nod. "That does make sense."

"And then, of course," Amu said while doing her best to keep her expression innocent. "King Kukai and Duke Nagihiko heard of our travels and decided to line theirs up with ours."

Kiseki's jaw tightened but his smile did not falter. "That sounds excellent."

"I'm glad that you agree," Amu admitted. "Since they're accompanying us for most of the way, my mother and I decided that it would make sense for my own entourage to be smaller."

"I see," Kiseki said lightly. "Who is accompanying you?"

Amu kept her smirk to herself as she watched his interest change once more. The longer she spent around him, the more she could see his tells. "I'll be traveling with four of my ladies, two knights, and a page boy."

Kiseki's brow twitched. "Not your Knight-In-Training?"

Amu knew exactly who he meant. He was asking if Ikuto was accompanying her without having to actually ask. Luckily, she could answer without lying to him. "No," she said in a slightly confused voice. "We're traveling quite far from the safety of my castle. I will need the protection of fully-fledged knights, don't you think?"

"While the roads should be safe," Kiseki said as he bowed once more. "One never knows what sorts of dangers we might face. Bringing knights is an excellent choice, Your Highness."

"Thank you, Your Highness," she said with a curtsey.

Amu watched him leave her to approach his carriage and speak with his driver. Kiseki was more than prepared to depart. It was clear that he was eager to be off.

It was almost too bad that she couldn't make him squirm longer. Utau and Rima were almost prepared to set off, along with Kukai and Nagihiko. The courtyard was bustling around her as servants worked hard to have everything ready for their departure.

Turning, she faced her two knights as they approached her in full armor. Ikuto and Tsukasa, along with Amu's four servants and their page boy, were the only ones who knew about the potential trap as they had all been briefed by the queen and sworn to secrecy.

"I do hope everything works out, dear," Su said as she joined Amu and Dia at the bottom of the stairs. "Traveling is always very exciting."

Amu smiled at her as Miki and Ran joined them. "I am lucky to have you by my side as we make this journey. I could not have asked for better friends to accompany me."

"You're only saying that," Miki muttered. "Because we have yet to tell on you about your secret visits with Ikuto."

Amu coughed lightly as a few of Rima's servants passed them to ready the Countess's carriage. "That's not true."

Ran laughed delightedly as Amu's grand traveling carriage was brought out from the stables. The horses that pulled it were magnificent. "You knew that if we could keep that secret then we could keep this one. Don't worry, Princess, we'll do our best to see you through this just like we have for everything else."

Amu willed away the blush coloring her cheeks. She really should have picked different servants. She wasn't sure if she'd survive the teasing. There just weren't any others that she trusted. Not like the ones she's grown up with at her side.

From across the courtyard, Amu met Tadase's gaze quite by accident. She ducked her head away as the last of her blush faded from her cheeks. "Stop teasing me. They're going to get the wrong idea."

Ran smirked as she leaned in just a bit closer to her princess. She made certain to keep her expression light as she whispered. "I thought the idea was that they thought you were interested in their second prince? Aren't we just helping?"

Amu groaned as she shook her head ever so slightly. She knew that multiple people were watching her at all times. "I was not planning on giving any indication of my desires for company. I was going to merely talk about the festival and the chance to travel. I don't want any misconceptions."

"Don't worry," Dia said in that quiet but serious way she had of speaking. "Almost everyone in the kingdom is aware of your preference for company."

"What?"

"You did only dance with him at the ball," Ran pointed out. "Everyone knows whose company you wish to be in."

Amu coughed as she once again willed her face to cool. "Yes, be that as it may, I do not wish to start any sort of rumors dealing with any princes."

"Our job here is not to spread information," Miki reminded her. "We'll be gathering it."

"Thank you," Amu said simply as her carriage was brought to a stop. She watched as the last of their things were loaded onto the top and the rack on the back before her driver opened the door and held out his hand.

Ran entered the carriage first. She made certain it was clean and everything they would have inside to amuse themselves during their travels was properly stored away.

Miki accepted the driver's help after Ran nodded that she could enter.

Amu watched the courtyard as she waited. She felt indifferent as she stood there as her four traveling companions situated themselves in the carriage. Once they were ready for her, Amu stepped forward.

She paused as a hand was offered to her opposite of her driver's. She looked up from the gauntlet to the masked face of her knight.

"My Lady," Ikuto said quietly through the metal faceplate. "Allow me to be of service to you."

Amu looked at him for only a second before she placed her hand into his glove-covered palm and allowed him to steady her as she climbed into her carriage. "Thank you, sir knight."

Ikuto's reply was drowned out as Kiseki tapped a staff against the side of his carriage to make a loud noise. "As we are all ready," he called out to the crowd. "Let us depart."

Amu looked back at Ikuto. She could not meet his eyes through his helmet but she was certain that he was being as diligent as he ever was when it came to her safety. "Yes," she agreed so only Ikuto could hear. "Let us depart."

.

Morg: I hope you are ready.

Ikuto: Always.

Amu: No.