(Milana)

The seamstresses and maids were running about with my dresses and trunks and possessions, it was far more chaotic than mother had prepared me for.

Lychorida came around the corridor, Kiro in tow, and stepped into my room. Both of them were able to weave like shadows through the scrambling maids.

I hugged Lycho, even though she protested, and sat her down next to me, she stood back up with Kiro. I frowned.

"So why did they want to talk to you, what's going on?"

She grimaced and looked at her dirty fingernails. "I'm marrying the Prince apparently." She translated into sign for Kiro as she spoke, though from his lack of reaction I expected that he'd already heard this news.

But why is she marrying Edward?
She gets Edward? I get some stuffy old man and she gets Edward? I couldn't help myself and slapped her cheek. Kiro tensed up but Lycho took it.

"Well you have a lot to learn. Sit down." I whispered.

"A hunter doesn't sit." Kiro half scolded before Lycho had even made her decision.

"A princess does." I used the voice I had practiced for court and tugged on her hand until she sat down, taking it in turns to glare at me and then Kiro. "You have a lot to learn and a short time to learn it. I'll teach you the best I can but first you need to bathe and get changed. You have to learn how to wear dresses." I tapped Aaida as she came past in the sea of maids. "Can you find my old dresses? We need to get them altered to fit Lychorida immediately. Also prepare a bath for her." I looked back to her and she was conversing in signs with Kiro. His deafness made it more difficult for him to have normal conversations, plus signing apparently made them better hunters.

Aaida motioned to me that the bath was ready and I tapped Lycho's shoulder.

"Bathtime." I informed her and took her hand. "You can't come in." I reminded Kiro as I noticed him coming with us to the bathroom. He rolled his eyes but bowed to Lycho, a gesture she returned, and wove he back out again.

I liked the bathroom, the pale pink tiles were cold through my slippers.

"I don't need a bath." Lycho scrunched her face up at the sight of the streaming copper tub. I picked up her hands, dark with mud and grease, and showed them to her. "Just get in."

Lycho scowled and went behind the pale pink screen. Aaida went to go and help her but I heard a little scream and Aaida rushed back out.

"Don't stab my maids." I warned.

"Tell your maids to leave me alone." I heard the water shift as she got in. I dismissed all of the maids and sat down the other side of the screen from her.

"You'll have to get used to it, you know. Sara will supply us with new maids. Most of them will report back to her so you had better behave."

"I don't want to go. It's not what I'm made for."

I shrugged and looked at her silhouette, she was twirling a knife.

"Mother and father always promised that I'd marry Hanson. I wrote him this morning but I don't think he'll reply in time."

Lycho didn't really care though did she.
"Love is futile." She reminded me.

"That's why mother and father don't love you." I muttered under my breath and the knife slashed straight through the screen and into the wall behind my head.

"You bitch!" She shouted, but couldn't get up to fight me.

"See, love is its own weapon, my weapon, Ly, and you should learn it, it'll save you in La Fer." I pointed out, smirking.

"Teach me." She said meekly. "How do I act? Teach me. I'm scared. What will happen at the wedding. Who do I have to curtsey to?"

I came around the screen and sat with her, telling her the brief history of my life's work. To curtsey to the royal family, stand straight always, let the maids style her, no weapons ever visibly. How on the wedding day (and I cried when I explained this) she would wear a finer dress than I ever would, they would go into the chapel and be completely alone with the priestess in there, and that I couldn't tell her what happened in there because I didn't very well know. She would come out to see everyone of Ebia who was of any consequence, meet most of them, eat, but eat little, don't gorge, but sample every dish. Then accompany the Prince back to his chamber and let him put an heir in her.

"Lana?" She asked, looking up at me through furrowed eyebrows, "How does it... You know... Work? I don't want to ask... Only I want to be prepared."

I shrugged and told her that I couldn't explain it (which was true) and said that it was in her best interests not to fight him (which was false). Then I helped her clean herself off properly for once and she got out.