Relocated

Henrietta arrives at the guest room thirty minutes later, guards escorting her inside and waiting by the door as she seats herself opposite Matilda. She brushes the creases from her skirt and looks the woman up and down, feeling as if she'd seen this woman somewhere before. "You asked about a girl named Tiffania?"

Matilda nods, "My sister... I heard that you've met her, is that true?"

Henrietta nods, glancing at the guards at the door and waving them off, "The elf girl purporting to be my cousin, that Tiffania?" she asks after the guards leave.

Matilda's face goes icy at that, why did the princess know about that? Tiffania was told to keep such information secret, for her own safety and the safety of everyone affiliated with her father. "Oh?... I didn't think she'd tell anyone that. But yes, that's her."

Henrietta nods, "Well, unfortunately, you're out of luck Miss Matilda. Since we parted ways, I haven't received any news about her or her travelling companions."

"Michael the False-Familiar, and the Dragon Knight from Albion named Ralf, right?" she asks for confirmation.

"Yes... Understand I don't want this information becoming public, even if one of my men seem to have slipped at some point... I had been kidnapped by the False-Familiar, and I met Tiffania while being held prisoner at their camp. This camp itself was somewhere in the forests to the South East, but I doubt they'll be there now." she says, actually knowing that for a fact as she'd sent many hunting parties after them, but aside from a few burnt out campfires, their trail was cold.

Matilda frowns, well, that's another avenue lost to her. She still had a lead at the bar, but she wasn't liking her odds of actually catching up to them before they left for a completely different country. Their movements until now had been completely random, going from Albion, to Germania, to Tristain to kidnap the princess for some reason... "Princess, may I ask. Why did they kidnap you in the first place?"

Henrietta's face wrinkles in anger for a moment before she hides it behind a face of neutrality, "No, you may not ask."

...

Matilda nods, not wishing to push the princess further than her patience would allow, "Did she look happy?" she suddenly asks, "Tiffania. Did she look healthy?"

"She looks both happy and healthy. Though, her infatuation with the False-Familiar is unnerving at best." Henrietta remarks before shaking her head and changing the subject, "Listen, you are searching for them, and so are we... We could come to an agreement of sorts, you work with us and when you find them, we get the False-Familiar, and you get your sister."

Matilda pauses, wondering if the princess could be trusted. She was still technically a criminal hunted by Tristain, even if they didn't know her true identity... Or did they? Maybe this was just a ruse to get both the False-Familiar and her... Still, despite her suspicions, having access to a kingdom's resources would drastically speed up her search. Once she confirmed with her own eyes that Tiffania was happy and healthy, maybe she'd be free from her oaths...

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Louise slowly gets off of the Dragon with the assistance of her escort, Julio Chesare. This Dragon Knight had been the one to pick her up from Tristain after Princess Henrietta finally accented to their letters.

Julio was handsome, tall with blonde hair and heterochromatic eyes, his right being blue and his left being red. He was like a better, more honourable Guiche, in the sense that he woo'd women unintentionally with his charms and wits. Back in the Palace alone he'd charmed every maid that'd attended him for the short duration he stayed there... A record if the grumbling palace guardsman were to be believed.

The ride was pleasant, and Julio was a phenomenal travel companion, detailing each and every landmark they passed as they travelled through Romalia. Still though, Louise' mood didn't improve.

She was still incredibly bitter that Henrietta, her best friend, had forced her away. It was only after their confrontation after the battle between Michael and that intruder did Louise find out that Romalia had given Tristain many artifacts after Henrietta had sent her away... Indeed, it felt like she'd been sold after her usefulness was over.

When Louise thought back on it, the princess hadn't visited or spoken to her once when she was in the academy and her inability to use magic was known. Then she'd been kicked out, and the princess had pitied her enough to take her as an attendant... Or not? Perhaps she already knew that she was a Void Mage since she'd been able to summon Michael?

Louise' expression darkens, wondering if her friendship with Henri was just lies. Once the Prayer Book had been stolen, the princess 'suddenly' had a revelation and sent her away. Sure, her reasons made sense, but to Louise, it still felt like she had been abandoned.

Julio notices the long sigh she lets out, "What's wrong, Miss Valliere? Was the journey disagreeable to you?"

Louise shakes her head, "No! L-let's just get this over with." she grouses, glancing around at the area in search of an exit. They'd landed atop a broad white tower that looked built to receive dragons and their riders, but there were also many ballistae and cannons positioned around in preparation for an air assault.

Julio just shrugs, "Then follow me, Miss Valliere. His Grace has already made preparation to properly receive you. If I may?" he asks, offering his arm to her which Louise bluntly takes, not getting flustered like she usually would. Her thoughts on the Princess had all but stolen her focus, leaving her with none to even care about anything else right now.