Seraphina prepared herself as her mind formed various ideas to sneak out of her chamber. She nodded and with determined steps she went near the door and opened it. As soon as she did, she found Alonzo standing right at her door, his mustache flapping with his breath determinedly. Her brows twitched. Why was he so guarded around her, today? He and Celia had been tagging along for a few days but now he was always there whenever Seraphina even tried to peek—or tried to sneak out, for that matter.

"Alonzo..." Seraphina's gaze narrowed down at the tall lean steward, "Move aside! I want to go to Demian's room."

"That, I'm afraid, I can't allow now as his Highness is busy today," his eyes lingered on her as both of them entered into the battle of staring and Alonzo added, "very busy."

There was some more battle and it seemed Alonzo wasn't going to back off any moment. Just how much did he like to obey Demian's words? Seraphina was certain it was that little Devil's planning. To confine her in this room!

But she was Seraphina Flameheart. And no walls could hold her.

Seraphina chuckled as she scratched the back of her head and said with a flowery voice, "Alonzo... Move aside. I am hungry."

"Don't worry your Highness, I've already asked Celia to deliver your meals here." Alonzo returned the smile as Seraphina grinded her teeth. Damn that steward! He came prepared so she couldn't run away from his sight.

"And I've already arranged your favourite dishes," came from behind Alonzo. It was Celia, struggling to balance the plates in her hands. Meat, and a lot of other plates filled with mouthwatering food and her favourite dessert.

Seraphina's stomach growled and she resisted the saliva from dripping off her mouth. Celia placed them on the table and with a smile looked at her.

Seraphina was about to sway with her desire however, she halted. Her eyes drifted between both Celia and Alonzo. Why did Celia prepare that much food when she had always been complaining about stitching open her clothes to fit her and not to forget, the lectures of an ideal woman should always have a thin waist?

Suspicious...

"Why am I getting a feeling that you two are trying to occupy me here?"

"What?" Alonzo exclaimed, "You are imagining things, your Highness." He pushed Seraphina back to the room and carefully closed the door behind him and added, "Now, now... Please eat your meal Princess. You are getting thin and I am certain, our young Prince doesn't like thin women."

"Wha—" Seraphina turned to Alonzo as anger danced on her nose, "and why do I have to eat according to that midg— err His Highness's choice of women?"

"Tsk. Tsk." Alonzo shook his head as his mustache bore a serious vibe as well as his eyes, "A woman should always wrap her man around her fingers, your Highness."

"But you are a man, how can you advise a woman to wrap a man?"

"Because I am unmarried..." Alonzo said proudly as his mustache gave a proud loop.

A gap formed on Seraphina's mouth.

Celia nodded, "Yes, what Mr. Alonzo said is true," she crossed the distance and held a serious expression on her face, "you should always, always have to make sure that his Highness doesn't wonder his eyes around other women."

The pressure that both the maid and the steward created, made Seraphina's head throb painfully and she simply nodded with a weak 'okay'. Seraphina was mistaken thinking there were no walls that could hold her down.

As a good little girl, she sat on the chair as Celia and Alonzo released a sigh. Celia served her the dishes when they both exchanged a look and nodded knowing Seraphina had stopped trying.

Celia already knew how Seraphina would mousetrap trouble and if she went and caused havoc again, their disguise would be caught and she would end up getting killed. It was better if she wouldn't poke her nose in every little thing.

Seraphina chomped on her food and asked, "Is the conference today?"

Alonzo went still and said, "Yes, your Highness. It is today."

She nodded. "So, what has our crown prince decided?"

Alonzo watched Seraphina as she was concentrating on her food and there was no sign of trying to run off. "Well, his Highness doesn't want war to happen in this crucial moment and I'm certain the young Prince feels the same. They will try their best to avoid any pregnant troubles."

Seraphina nodded still munching on her food and asked, "A war, eh?"

"Yes, your Highness. The common class went down to rebel against their Lord however, it's true Lord Heartstone has a great power. His military power is strong as well."

"Do you think the other Lords will consider the poor's plea?" Seraphina asked making both Alonzo and Celia silent as both of them knew the superior classes would rather die on wealth than to consider the poor people's needs.

Celia had always seen the kings, queens, counts every person to take side with the superior even when they were wrong. No one would take side with commoners.

Alonzo had always experienced how superiority won against inferiority. And the Noble people who had come today for the conference, they thrived only on wealth and power. Even though Alonzo had faith in the both princes, they had to make crucial decisions so other Lords and Nobles wouldn't go against them. Politics was a dirty subject and Alonzo despised it however, without it the kingdom would fall. It was a matter of time to see how both of the Salamander brothers handle it.

Seraphina finished her supper and relaxed her shoulders as Celia left the room with the plates.

"Alonzo... I forgot to ask Celia to bring my tea she had made yesterday." Seraphina got up and went to her bed, "Go tell her to bring some while I take rest."

She flopped on her bed as a yawn escaped her lips, "I feel sleepy."

Alonzo smiled and his body relaxed at the sight of princess Seraphina's sleeping body as now, there was no chance she would sneak out. "Yes, your Highness," he mumbled in a whisper and left the chamber to find Celia.

Alonzo's chin went high as he had successfully completed his task that the young Prince had given him. While his body floated in blissfulness he found Celia.

"Ms Celia, Princess asked for the tea you had prepared yesterday." He said as his mustache swam merrily in the air which told he was rather happy.

Celia's eyes went wide, "Why are you here?"

"Well, young princess—"

"I heard that!" She hissed, "She doesn't drink tea after her meals and she definitely didn't like the mint tea, yesterday."

Alonzo, for a while, stood silent and his moustache turned white as well as his face.

"That—" his eyes reddened as he cursed under his breath, "That damn Princess!"

*****

Seraphina, in hurricane speed, crossed Demian's wing in the castle as she went for the conference chamber. She grinned furtively as she finally managed to escape from Alonzo.

Seraphina took a few turns as her steps took speed and after a while, she finally reached her destination. The large door of it stood between her and the room however, before it stood two guards with spears and their large bodies were donned in the dragon's guard armour. Both of their faces had big gaps on their mouths and they exchanged looks with themselves before crossing their spears on Seraphina's face.

"Ah, well. Could you please step aside. I want to make an appearance in the chamber as you can see I'm already late." She said sweetly.

"Princess Seraphina, you are not allowed to enter the conference hall and Prince Demian had given us strict orders not to let anyone in." One of them said,

"Anyone or just me?" She raised a brow.

The guard's eyes drifted everywhere and he weakly said, "Err...you."

Seraphina's jaw clenched. She knew it! But before they had a conversation on this, she needed to know what the nobles had decided behind the closed door.

She looked at the door and felt the heavy atmosphere. They must be powerful Dragonborns as even from outside of the door, she could feel their illuminated aura. She wondered who they were.

She was about to say something to the guards when a few voices came to her hearing.

"...Lord Heartstone. I mean there might be some leaders behind this which is why everyone is getting united," a shrill voice spoke up, mentioning Lord Heartstone. That meant the culprit was present there as well.

"Yes, Lord Accoridin. I have found out from some of my men that there are some leaders who are filling up the minds of the workers and farmers." It didn't take long for Seraphina to know this was the Lord who had been extorting his people and here, he is feigning as if he was the victim. Seraphina's palms fisted.

"That's it then, you should just cut the root of all problems. These leaders, round them up and kill them before the folks and they shall know your power," the same man said. It must be Lord Accoridin from before and by his tone, Seraphina didn't quite like his views.

"Excellent! I shall do so." Lord Heartstone declared making Seraphina's blood boil in her veins.

"I fear it may create some opposite reaction, Lord Heartstone." A deep voice quickly intercepted and she recognised it quickly. It was Billard. She was glad that the crown prince hadn't sided with them. But why wasn't Demian saying anything?

However, the other men engaged in an argument which the crown prince didn't consider. Seraphina felt her chest tightening with the thought that she was his family. But where was Demian? She hadn't heard anything from him. She found her anger vanishing and decided not to interfere as the crown prince was capable enough however, a silvery voice made her blood run cold.

"I have a better suggestion, Lord Heartstone. If you allow me?" It was Casian and somehow his voice said he was up to something. Seraphina's body tensed as he continued to describe the situation of Lord Heartstone's area.

He told to let go of taxes but Seraphina still felt he was up to no good and hoped he would not say something against the poor.

"Once there is improvement in the finances you can reimpose the taxes..." everyone was silent as he added, "eight times the earlier one."

Seraphina could no longer hold her anger and felt her flames were trying to blast out of her body as she went near the door. The guards tried to block her but all she saw was red. She pushed one of them out of her way and he stumbled upon the flower vase behind him and the other one tried to grab her. However, before he could catch her, the doors of the conference Hall were thrown open with her loud voice breaking through everyone's ears.

"That will immediately start a war!"

Demian's face went rigid while Billard eyed the newcomer with his eyes gone wide, all the other nobles had their jaws on the ground excluding Casian Vermence who simply eyed her with the look a viper would give to his prey.

Seraphina's eyes quickly found Casian's who looked like he was actually expecting her, but whatever his intentions were about her would be kept aside for now as the matter at hands was more crucial. She then turned to look at Prince Billard who seemed to have gathered his senses.

"Princess Seraphina? What business do you have here?" His voice was hard and she knew she wasn't welcomed there by the looks everyone had, including Demian.

"I must put my views here just like all these nobles," She knew her point would be considered valid even though she was using a lie to place it, "I am a human princess and I will be the advocate for those who are the real victims of exploitation and injustice."

"What do you mean by that? I am here to find a solution about my problem!" Lord Heartstone thundered as he stood up banging his hands against the table.

Lord Heartstone was a fat man with a stubby nose and deep set eyes, his grey mustache and beard seemed finely trimmed and even his clothes screamed of money. Seraphina despised him at the first look.

"The problem you are calling is the result of your own actions," Seraphina said firmly as she walked towards the nobles confidently ignoring the disbelieved look Billard had and the hard look that Demian had. This matter required her assistance and those people needed justice.

Her strides stopped as she reached right beside Demian knowing full well that he would probably rip her apart later but she knew this was needed to be done. She placed her hand at the backrest of Demian's chair and focused her sharp gaze on Lord Heartstone whose face had turned red from anger.

"Your Highness please mind your words, I'm a respected noble and I would not let you disgrace me like that." Lord Heartstone said trying to hide his glare at Seraphina.

She tilted her chin up, "Just because you are nobility that does not give you the right to exploit the common people. That is injustice, that is crime!"

"Crime?!" He cried out and turned to look at Billard, "Your Highness, please ask Princess to not make any baseless accusations on me."

"I am not making any baseless accusations." Seraphina's voice resonated throughout the Hall as she spoke before Billard could even think of anything. It was like they were suddenly watching a debate going on from the audience and not being a part of the conference.

"Prince Demian, I will not tolerate any more insult from your wife." He finally turned to Demian, Seraphina felt the tinge of fear as Demian moved slightly but what he said ahead shocked her.