Amnicity did not enjoy retroflection. Her brain remained idle during lessons; letting, the percipience flow from Lady Elry to some inconsequential place where words died. The practice of ignoring Lady Elry usually resulted in her tutor giving up. Unfortunately, today, Lady Elry seemed full of breath and displayed little care for her student's boredom.

A soft cough diverted Amnicity's attention from trying to decide which creatures existed in the outlines of dirt on the windowpane to her current reality.

"Yes," Lady Elry enquired, with a slightly raised stature.

"Sorry to intrude your lesson, Lady Elry," the footman started. "However, King Valander has asked Princess Amnicity be sent to him at once. It is a matter of great importance."

"So is this lesson. What could be more important than Princess Amnicity being educated to rule competently?"

"I—He, King Valander, asked Princess Amnicity be sent to him at once," the footman stuttered, reducing his eyes to the floor under Lady Elry's glare.

"If it is a matter of great importance, then it would be foolish to leave my father waiting. He must be sure the knowledge can be gained later," Amnicity assured her tutor with a little bit too much gusto while rising from her chair.

"Princess—"

Amnicity waved her hand to halt her tutor's words.  "My father should not be one to wait, Lady Elry.  It would be horrific for you to be punished for my tardiness.  I must leave."

"Very well. Let His Majesty know that I will be waiting here for your return Princess," Lady Elry stated, crossing her arms and leaning back against a table.  She eyed her charge warily.  

"You waste too many beautiful days," Amnicity sighed as she walked through the door the footman held for her.

The poor footman did not know where to look. Fear of impropriety kept his eyes diverted from Princess Amnicity, and Lady Elry's eyes spoke of malicious intent to his person. Thus, his eyes remained trained upon the pattern on the carpet.

Princess Amnicity, for her part, did not spare him a glance. Instead, she bestowed Lady Elry with a smirk while leaving the room.

Amnicity's victory proved serendipitous in nature when she encountered the newly appointed High General Lessure in the hallway speaking with a guard. She gathered her wits to approach the two gentlemen whispering.

It must be significant information if they are whispering. He does look dashing in his cape.  Amnicity mused with a smile.  

"High General Lessure," Amnicity acknowledged.

"Princess Amnicity," High General Lessure bowed curtly.

The nervous-looking guard made a swift bow before walking away.

"It seems your duties never cease," she smiled.

He nodded his head.  "The protection of the crown is always my greatest concern."

They stood in a moment of silence.  A maid walked past carrying towels.  The two looked at the opposite walls.  

"I will let you return to your duty," Amnicity finally stated, turning.

Her mind instantly berated her awkward nature before transitioning to a small cheer when High General Lessure asked her to pause.

"Would you like an escort through the halls?"

"That would nice." She smiled.  "Though there is hardly any danger within them."

"Within where?"

"The walls," she returned with a light laugh.

"Oh, yes," he nodded.  "Probably just rats."

Amnicity found it difficult to decipher if he meant to be humorous or literal. She decided it best to continue her journey towards King Valander's study.

"Did you have lessons today?" High General Lessure ventured.

"Oh yes, every day with Lady Elry. They are tedious most of the time; however, it is a necessity to prepare me for a life as Queen."

"You are educated upon politics?" High General Lessure queried with some shock.

"Sometimes."

He considered her for a moment before looking ahead of them.  "Then, the rest must be concerning your domestic duties."

Amnicity took a moment to appraise the handsome gentleman. The High General still looked fetching in his cape. It moved becomingly as they walked. 

He must not mean any harm.  No one could wish to cause insult if he looks that good in a cape.  

"For the past year, there has rarely been a lesson on domestic duties. My tutor, Lady Elry, imparts knowledge concerning our neighbors, philosophy, and various forms of government."  Amnicity shook her head slightly with a small laugh.  "She has taken a keen interest in my education."

High General Lessure's eyebrows furrowed together as if he was weighing the information before speaking.  "That is a vast amount of knowledge for a lady to possess."

"It is a vast amount of knowledge for any human to possess," Amnicity returned with more censure in her tone than intended.

Oh shit, Nici.  You might have insulted him.  Think before speaking!

The high general glanced at the princess before nodding.  They walked on in silence before he stopped outside two large wooden doors.  The two guards outside the doors bowed slightly to the two of them.

High General Lessure nodded to the guards before turning back to the princess.  "King Valander's study, Princess. This walk provided an enlightening conversation; maybe we could continue it another time."

"Thank you, High General. Perhaps, if the chance allows." She nodded her head.

Her departure became slightly delayed by the guard taking a second longer than anticipated to open the door.  The two glanced awkwardly at each other and the door.

"Again," Amnicity provided with a slight nod. "Good day High General Lessure."

"Again, to you as well, Princess." High General Lessure nodded as Amnicity turned to enter her father's study.

Amnicity entered the room and took a moment to adjust.  She had expected her father to be diligently working behind his desk but found him standing in front of the lit fireplace.  She sent a questioning gaze to Henry, who motioned her forward. Amnicity's eyebrow furrowed slightly at the flame lit parchment that fluttered from the blaze before turning to ash near the rug.

Grandmother called the rug too nice for this room.  Wonder if she would like the ash on it?

Amnicity shook her head to bring herself back to the present and took a step forward.  "Father, you called for me."

"Yes," Valander coughed, turning from the fire. "Take a seat, daughter."

Amnicity willed her eyebrows not to furrow at his tone. A request to sit could hardly be termed as a good reason to gain wrinkles. She did not even raise an eyebrow as he leafed through a stack of letters before handing an opened letter to her.

Amnicity's eyes scanned the letter as Valander settled into his chair.

"Now, as you read this. Please, be open to the idea of—"

Amnicity gasped, interrupting him.  "Father, this was dated a week ago, and you open—Konrik Loren!" Amnicity rose from her chair. "Oh goodness, he is even more verbose in writing."

"Now, Nici," Valander started, causing his daughter's annoyed gaze to turn towards him. "He has written a very nice letter."

"That you read before me, even though it clearly is addressed to me," she hissed.

"These letters are diplomacy, daughter; and so must pass through me first," Valander sighed, holding his hand up to halt his daughter from retorting. "It would be best if you took a moment to read it and then reflect upon the advantages it provides. Wait, listen. Konrik Loren provides us an opportunity for political gains and to sidestep the display Suzerain Zakarus made. It would be foolish to set this aside due to some simple girlish fantasies."

"Girlish? Simple? Father! He smells!" Amnicity screeched in frustration.  Her agitation changed to a smile on hearing Henry's laughter that quickly transitioned to a cough.  

Henry took a few moments to silence his cough.  "Sorry," he muttered.

"Nici," Valander chided.

"Henry agrees with me," Amnicity countered, sitting down in her chair.  She began to tap the letter on her armchair.

"He may agree upon the smell of the Konrik, but that does not matter when a lady in your position is given an order from her king. You are not allowed to act like a dimwitted lady, who mainly weighs a gentleman's aesthetic appeal when deciding upon courtship. It is time you realize your responsibilities, daughter."

Amnicity's tapping slowed down.  He is right.  The tapping stopped.

Father and daughter held each other's gaze until Valander leaned back into his chair, causing Amnicity's gaze to divert to the flames. She considered the letter in her hand for a moment before rising from her chair.

"Wai—" Valander started, rising from his chair with an arm raised.

Amnicity paused to turn to her father. Her gaze considered her father momentarily before following his gaze to the letter in hand.

"Oh, do not be so daft, Father," Amnicity snapped. "If it is my duty to have some smelly Konrik chase my skirt using written words, at least provide me with space and time to compose it properly."

Henry cleared his throat in the corner of the room.

Valander sighed, sitting down.  "Very well. I will examine the contents before it is signed."

"How else would a private courtship amongst persons of royal standing be expected to take place?" Amnicity questioned as Henry opened the door to Valander's study for her.

The flurry of her skirt left Valander with little question of her sincerity.

"She will be my death," Valander sighed with a bemused smile.

Henry's booming laughter left a small smirk upon Amnicity's lips when turning the corner.  Her smile faltered when thinking of her task.  

I need to be balanced with my response.  It needs to have a light flirtation with some display of interest in him and his people.  At least with this political task, I can avoid lessons for the rest of the day.  Amnicity smirked.  

She had conveniently forgotten Lady Elry's request.  But, to be safe, it would be best to remove her slippers when walking near the—

"There you are, Princess Amnicity," Lady Elry stated in front of the kneeling princess.  Amnicity blushingly rose to see Lady Elry exit the library with three books in her arms.  "I have discovered three new sources regarding Judian political relations and history."

"As enticing as that sounds, Lady Elry," Amnicity started, readjusting the slippers upon her feet. "There is a matter of international importance and—" Amnicity paused to retrieve Konrik Loren's letter from the floor. "—duty, which must be handled immediately."

"A letter?" Lady Elry scoffed.

"A critical letter," Amnicity responded with a soft sniff to the air and turn of her head while placing the letter in a fold of her dress.

"We could discuss possible points of discussion based upon their history," Lady Elry tried.

Amnicity shook her head.  "That will hardly matter."

"Oh," Lady Elry sighed with a soft shake of her head. "So, this is the kind of international importance where the lady compliments his dancing skills, or perhaps his gait. I have heard gentlemen also respond well to compliments concerning their coats and shirts. This, of course, is alarming, considering it transfers the compliments that are historically reserved for the lady to the gentleman."

The princess blushed.  "The advice is noted," she whispered, suddenly feeling a sense of guilt.

"Wonderful," Lady Elry smiled with more severity than sincerity. "Maybe it would also be favorable to note the role you will be expected to take within this international exchange. When you cross the border, what will you become?"

"I am Princess Amnicity," she whispered. 

"What does that mean, Princess Amnicity?"

"It means that she is next in line to the throne," Lessure's baritone crescendoed into the soprano conversation. "Surely, such facts are within the books you read. Maybe you simply need another set of eyes for your education."

"High General Lessure, I did not know you interfered in the Princess's affairs," Lady Elry responded with a slight narrowing of her eyes. "You are right; she is a princess in the most literal definition.  Now, if you excuse us, my student and I are discussing the more abstract meaning of her title."

"There is only one definition that exists," High General Lessure scoffed with a wave of his hand.

Amnicity thought she caught a passing handmaid smirk in the direction of Lady Elry. Perhaps it was because her tutor now had a light blush on her cheeks that was slightly entertaining to watch.  Amnicity hardly ever saw her tutor flustered.

"Maybe you do not know what abstract means and go spend some time studying yourself, High General," she curtly replied.

"As High General, it is within my nature to understand my monarchy," he scoffed.

Lady Elry snorted.  "Many qualities are within the nature of a high general. However, which qualities the High General possess usually depends on the generation."

"The same may be said about being a lady," Lessure retorted with a leering assessment of Lady Elry.

"I am going to go to my gardens," Amnicity interrupted to the shock of the two before her. "If you will both excuse me."

Amnicity hardly inclined her head while passing between them to escape. It did not seem important enough for her to interrupt such a debate. They both were too certain of their opinions for Amnicity's to sway either one. Well, if she even had wanted to.

The fear of their debate turning to her for a decided victor startled Amnicity. Her political abilities were not those of her mother's.  Her mother knew the right thing to say to smooth over a disagreement. Amnicity became flustered within the moment, and her mind would blank.  She would need her husband to manage this. If not, Vetus could be doomed to idiotic blunders within political discourse. 

Perhaps Konrik Loren would not be a good match—no.  These thoughts won't do.  Father knows best.

 Amnicity refused to become distressed.  She let the steady sound of her heels soothe her while walking through the halls. The princess acknowledged her guards with a small inclination of her head while entering her private garden.

Their bowed bodies made Amnicity feel at ease with her power once again. She decided it best to examine the work of her gardeners before addressing the letter.  The garden was one of the few places she could control.

It took a few turns before Amnicity found the young apprentice bent over some lilies.  

"These flowers are too simple," Amnicity dictated with a wave of her hand.

Did he just jump?

"Wha—Princess! Yes, of course. We should have—"

Amnicity pressed her lips together and shook her head.  "I do not need to hear your reasoning.  Just have it changed to something more elegant. A butterfly bush, maybe. Just anything apart from simple, common lilies.  This is my place to relax and feel elevated.  

"Yes, Princess," the soft voice called after her.

In a triumphant huff, Princess Amnicity sat upon the edge of a fountain. She slipped her feet free from the blasted slippers to settle herself appropriately. Amnicity took a moment to clear her throat in anticipation while unfolding Konrik Loren's letter.

"Dear Princess Amnicity, it is my dearest hope this letter reaches you in good spirits and health. These wishes are, of course, passed to your family as well," Amnicity paused in wonder. "How courteous of you, Konrik Loren. Now, what else do you have to say? Oh, how lovely you took the time to meditate before contacting me. Yes, I am sure your mother provided astounding insight. How wonderful, my aura emanates signs of good nature. Maybe with time, our auras could complement one another to feed our nations instead of forging destruction. Pardon?"

Amnicity placed her hand upon her mouth to withhold the laughter now shaking her shoulders.

"Nici, you can read this. Just try it again," Amnicity cleared her throat to read the line once again before falling into laughter. "Okay, stop. This is a diplomatic mission. Be serious. Maybe with time, our auras could form a radiant bridge of perfection and peace, bonding our peoples into a new palate to paint the future."

The princess fell forward with laughter.   "Is it even possible to form an adequate diplomatically appropriate message to respond to that?"

"Yes," High General Lessure's voice sounded from the entry ahead of her.  Amnicity jumped and braced herself from falling backward into the fountain. "Please accept my apology, Princess. I had not intended to startle you."

"Your apology is accepted, High General. I probably should not have been talking to myself aloud.  It is not always the sanest practice."

"Very true. Are you in the habit of talking to yourself often?" He smirked.

"Rarely, it is only needed when the words are too idiotic to confine to my mind," she laughed.

Amnicity bit her lip in slight shock at her uninhibited censure, as High General Lessure tried to cover his amusement with a cough. After a moment of reorganizing her wits, Amnicity found words to speak.

"Is there a reason you are here, High General?"

"Yes, Princess Amnicity, if I may?" he asked with a motion of his hand.

"You may enter," she nodded.

He moved a few steps forward.  "I just wanted to apologize for offending you earlier today. I had no intention to do so."

"It is unlikely any gentleman intends to offend a lady, but somehow it still manages to be done."

"It is a fault that needs to be addressed. Especially when it could offend someone who outranks myself," he responded.

"It would be wise to remember that," Amnicity nodded.

"Lady Elry seemed adamant such truths should never be forgotten," he continued turning his gaze from the princess to the fountain.

Amnicity smiled, almost fondly of her tutor.  "Yes, Lady Elry has a way of wishing for certain knowledge never to be forgotten."

"She also seems to have, how can I put this without providing offense, progressive views."  He wrinkled his nose while turning to the princess.  

"She does." Amnicity nodded with a smile.  She was surprised by the feeling of fondness that came with the action. "Lady Elry thinks of me in very high esteem. So much so that she believes it possible for me to have true diplomatic missions."

"Obviously, she is correct. What is more important than the combination of auras?" High General Lessure laughed at the blushing Princess now shaking her head in bemusement.

"It is not good for you to eavesdrop on my personal matters, High General," Amnicity softly admonished him.  Amnicity felt a sudden fear of the change that came of his face with her censor.  "We cannot all be Lady Elry," she continued, making him smile.

"No, we cannot. It is as if she forgets the importance of family duty and honor."

"No, High General Lessure. A lady so well versed in history could hardly forget such ancestry!"  Amnicity turned to look at the sky.

"James," he whispered.

"Pardon?" she asked, turning to him quickly.

Amnicity's heart suddenly began to beat faster when their eyes met. Her mind began to recount words of her romance novel, willing for this moment to find the perfect match.

His blue eyes held her brown ones, unwavering.  "Pardon me, Princess.  But, when we are together, let us forget these pressures and titles. Just take the liberty of calling me, James."

Amnicity felt heat upon her cheeks as the intrigue of the moment began to settle within her. She needed to find control.  "Thank you, James. You may call me, Princess."

James stared at her in wonder for a moment, causing Amnicity to fall forward in laughter.

"Oh, James, you take life far too seriously. You may call me, Amnicity. However, now my important diplomatic mission requires attention. If you would pardon a swift departure, my new friend?"

"You are pardoned," James smiled as Amnicity's feet found their place within her slippers once again.

"Until we meet again," Amnicity nodded, walking past her new friend with eyes that made her heart race.

"It shall never be soon enough," James smiled, taking her hand for a chaste kiss. "Maybe you should tell Konrik Loren that the auras of our people will always be a pure blended as our essences are united within a shared history that makes us great."

Amnicity's cheek flushed. Her nod had to suffice for an answer as her hand retracted to her chest.

Her smile could not be deterred as she walked back to her room. Sitting down to compose a response to Konrik Loren seemed a less strenuous task when the feeling of James's lips on the back of her hand tingled her skin.

"His touch almost held as much heat as—" Amnicity quickly shut her mouth and shook her head. "This is not the time for such thoughts, Nici. It is time to focus on this task. Konrik Loren, what would you like to hear?"

Dear Konrik Loren,

Please pardon my delayed response. I hope that you are in good health, and your family is as well.

Amnicity took a moment to glance at Konrik Loren's letter, biting her lip.

I have never doubted the auras of our distinct people would blend in an enlightened peace. It is my hope we should always have such clarity and trust between us. Perhaps my education on auras is not as finessed as yours, could you be so kind as to enlighten me further?

"Your flattery is well balanced," Valander noted on reading his daughter's letter.

"Thank you, Father," Amnicity smiled. "It is my hope he responds with an invitation to their winter festivities."

"Yes," Valander nodded. "Such an invitation would allow us a great opportunity to create the rainbow he spoke of."

"A bridge that can span all levels of understanding," Amnicity muttered.

"Even the simplest ones," Valander laughed.

"Father!"  Amnicity shook her head, sharing a bemused smile with Henry over her shoulder.

"You can sign it now," Valander sighed, handing her the letter.

Amnicity scribbled her name at the bottom of the page.  "Am I excused?" Amnicity smiled.

"Yes," Valander nodded. "Henry, have this sent today."

"Yes, Your Majesty," Henry nodded, sharing a smile with Amnicity as their paths intersected.

"Oh, Nici," Valander called as Amnicity moved to open the door.

"Yes, Father?" Amnicity stopped to face him.

"Please be sure not to have any encounters that would cause Konrik Loren to believe your aura unpure."

"Father, I." Amnicity straightened her shoulders with a small swallow. "I know my position and would not do such a thing.  I will remain pure for my future husband as is dictated by the law."

With a huff, she opened the door and departed for her room. Her feet only slowed upon seeing High General Lessure talking with a guard.

Nothing existed beyond my imagination.  There is nothing indecent here.  Amnicity reassured herself, avoiding High General Lessure's heated gaze.

***

A slightly longer chapter, but I hope y'all enjoyed it. 

So, what do y'all think about Nici and James?  And, don't worry, Zak will be in the next chapter ;)