A Debutant's Dance (V)

"Besides the festival, I think that was the most fun Princess has had in a while," commented Lili as they walked back their residence hand in hand with Kamaria.

"I'm not telling," she insisted as she playfully swung their hands while walking looking at both her attendants in turn.

Kamaria inadvertently found herself wondering what Louvaros was like. 

She knew it was a dukedom in the border region of Surcaster but reading books and hearing stories could never do any place justice.

Mahalia barely seemed older than her but was already a captain meaning she would have at least two hundred soldiers under her if not more, that seemed amazing just like her aunt.

All Kamaria had was a title she couldn't even use. In fact, it only restricted her from doing any of the things she wanted and forced her to do all the things she wasn't interested in instead.

While thinking of such things, her mind somehow wondered to Urien and she felt a little guilty that she hadn't seen him the entire night, but she was exhausted after having woken up early as well.

As he had assured her before, they would have other chances to see each other.

The warm bath simply melted Kamaria's bones and she had never been so glad to see her bed, but she could also see that Lili had something she wanted to say. There was another maid in the room gathering any clothing to be washed and Lili dismissed her a slight hand gesture.

The junior maids were used to this unspeaking attitude, so they never felt that she was looking down on them in fact they appreciated that she wasn't always shouting at them unlike the other higher ranked attendants.

Kamaria waited for Lili as she put out a few lamps to dim the room. While the curtains were being let down, she took the opportunity to pounce on her. Lili helplessly looked at the person who was still sitting on the bed while clinging to her torso.

"Princess…"

"Yes, dearest Lili."

"What are you doing?"

"Directly kidnapping you into my bed of course," happily said Kamaria as she finally succeeded in making Lili sit down and then she sidled even closer so she could place her chin on the other's shoulder.

"Stop trying to act cute here when you're speaking like an old rogue," said the straight-faced Lili.

It honestly gave her a small headache thinking about Kamaria's development sometimes. Which family was supposed to be able to handle this woman in their household?

Besides getting married, how could anyone accept a noble lady with this type of personality. Spending time with those old ruffians in the barracks had not helped the situation.

She managed to get Kamaria's grip loose enough to allow her to turn so they could face each other.

"But I am cute, and don't people get gifts for their social debut?" asked Kamaria.

"Even you didn't know you'd be on the stage today so how would us mortals prepare anything?"

Gently, Lili adjusted the braids around Kamaria's face and the pampered girl couldn't help but smile. It was hard to catch one of Lili's moments of tenderness, so she decided to take full advantage as she suddenly put her head on the other's lap.

"Then you can't leave until you think of a gift," she suddenly said.

Lili's usually straight face suddenly brightened with a subtle smile. How had she managed to end up with a such a troublesome master.

The princess was so sweet when she was younger. Then again, could any sweet person really keep their life in a noble family.

Kamaria was too fascinated with Lili's smiling face to be thinking seriously about much else.

'Always pretending to be strict here,' she thought. In fact, Lili seemed strict to others but was helplessly indulgent when it came to the headstrong princess.

Even in this situation, it wasn't impossible at for her to break free from Kamaria's grip, but she simply let her be.

She never tried very hard to persuade the princess otherwise when it came to their adventures but merely silently protected the little ancestor. There would never be a repeat of their childhood if she could help it.

"Afterwards go to sleep," said Lili while softly petting her head.

"I promise! Also, we might have a bit of an eventful time after this since we can't leave the palace just yet. Just bear with me, okay."

Lili's action paused when she realised that certain people wouldn't let them live so freely. It was only a matter of time before someone couldn't help but act.

"I'm here princess, don't worry," assured Lili.

Due to their tacit understanding, there was no need to say more about this topic from either side. Just knowing that they had each other was assuring enough and considering their location, it was not best to have these types of conversations in detail.

"And tomorrow let's prepare for a lunch guest."

"I'll make the arrangements."

"So, have you thought about my gift?" finally asked Kamaria while eagerly looking up and poking Lili's cheek.

The other young woman paused and covered the sparkling doe eyes with her hand. The princess was about to protest when she realised that she could smell a faint scent of jasmine before a soft kiss landed on her forehead.

Lili could feel the feathery lashes tickling her hand as Kamaria kept moving around and trying to open her eyes. If she let go now, she would really cling to her the entire night.

"Who promised that they would go to sleep afterwards?" she whispered as she grabbed Kamaria's restless hand.

"Or do I need someone like Officer Ulfric to make you obedient?"

Kamaria's hand was suddenly honest, and she couldn't help but roll off the smiling Lili's lap and right into her bedcovers without saying a word.

"Don't forget to put on a headscarf," Lili reminded.

"I'm not talking to you," protested Kamaria while a pleasant chuckle could be heard.