1 Calm before the storm

Today was a day for celebration. For joyous cheers of men and the tearful cries of single women. The laughter of children along with church bells rang throughout the city. It was the day their young Emperor would go to the Middle Islands for an engagement with the princess there and unite their two countries. It was a long awaited union that would strengthen both the Empire and the Middle Islands.

Inside the palace maids and guards were rushing around, frantically looking for their emperor. He had disappeared from his room right before his ship would set sail for the Middle Islands.

"Emperor!"

"My liege, where are you?!"

"Sire! We must hurry!"

The voices became louder and soon stopped in front of the door to the emperor's sister's room. The multiple hushed voices all stopped whispering when a loud voice cleared his throat.

*Ahem* "My Princess, would you tell us where the Emperor is?" On the other side of the door a clear soft voice responded.

"My brother is not here. Please do not disturb me as I am currently resting. Look in the armory, you know how he loves weapons."

"Yes Princess!" There were multiple rushed footsteps as the people around the door left but, they suddenly stopped. "May I ask if you know where the head captain is as well?"

"I-I uh, don't know. Go and find my brother. I'm tired."

"Yes Princess!" The footsteps continued walking away. Inside the room the Princess let out a relieved sigh.

"Kade, why are you hiding here anyway?" She turned around to look at her brother who had their head captain in a headlock.

"Why can't I visit my baby sister?" He tightened his grip a little and suddenly the head captain jabbed his elbow into the Emperor's side which caused him to let go, his handsome face scrunched up in pain. In one more move the head captain grabbed the Emperor's arm and twisted it behind him.

"Yield?" The head captain had a smug look as he tightened the grab.

"Never!" The Emperor twisted his leg around the back of the head captain's and pulled forward. Due to being knocked off balance the head captain loosened his grip a little and the Emperor slipped his arm out. The Emperor then grabbed onto the head captain's arm and flipped him over his shoulder. The head captain landed on the floor with a loud thud.

"Yield?" This time the Emperor was the one who was looking smug. The head captain held up his hands in defeat and the Emperor offered him a hand to help him up. Seeing this chance, the head captain ruthlessly pulled the Emperor down to the floor with him. They continued to tussle and laugh with each other until the princess stopped them.

"Are you men or children?" She looked angry but the ends of her mouth were curling up in a smile. The two men stopped and looked at her.

"Hey, who's the one playing now? Trying to act like the adult here." Kade gave the head captain a questionable look and shrugged at the princess.

"I agree, unless, that's an imposter!" The head captain's expression changed and he gave the princess a horrified look. She puffed out her cheeks and threw a cookie at each of them.

"You know what I mean!" The princess turned away from them and looked out the window. "It's just, you guys get to go to the Middle Islands. While I'm stuck here learning stuff like table etiquette all alone. All alone in this cold empty palace." She let one tear fall and wiped it away.

"Asta, I didn't know you wanted to come with us." Kade looked at the head captain, unsure of what to do. Behind Asta's back the emperor was panicking, he wanted to go hug her and console her, but he didn't know how. He urged the head captain to try something, anything.

"Well, why don't you just go with us?" The head captain sounded unsure but what's said is done. Asta whipped her body around, eyes gleaming.

"Don't forget what you said!" Her cheerful tone had none of the sadness from before. She quickly got up and rushed to pack her things. The head captain looked at Kade. Kade's mouth hung wide open.

"Do you realize what you just did?!" Kade was furious.

"Ummm...no?" The head captain was as equally stunned with the emperor as with the princess.

"You've just let Asta on a dangerous sea trip with husky, stinky, lustful men! Everyone will be drawn to her! Who knows what could happen to Asta, being as cute as she is, it wouldn't surprise me if someone proposed to her the moment we get to the Middle Islands. And, to make it worse it's for my engagement! I can't face her tears when she sees me getting married and then I'll have less time to spend with her and then eventually we'll grow apart and she'll end up hating me! Eventually she'll get married to and then we'll be even further apart and soon she'll have kids and not even care about me anymore!" Kade finally finished. He was breathing hard as he had said it all in one breath.

"Ummm, you're overthinking things." The head captain pushed Kade off him. "I think it's a good chance for Asta to learn about the world. It's not good to be inside a castle all day."

"But, there's a garden..."

"You know what I mean. She needs some interactions with new people, new experiences." The head captain walked over to a chair and sat down. "She could see the world with us." Kade looked calmer now but he was still against the thought of exposing Asta to the filth that lurked in the shadows of the world. The head captain saw this and knew that he just needed one more push. "Don't you want to be in her memories when she thinks about the world. And, this'll be a good time to have sibling bonding, away from all this paperwork and ruling." The thought of Asta laughing freely while seeing her eyes fill with curiosity like they used to when she was a child brushed all his reasoning away.

"Alright! Asta will come with us but only because it's a learning experience for her. Not because I don't want to be away from her or anything." Silence followed Kade's statement. Feeling a bit embarrassed at his last statement he cleared his throat. Kade looked at the head captain and grabbed his shoulders, his face turning stern.

"Through this journey we must protect Asta from any and all filth. You have been my right-hand man since before I took the throne and I treat you like a brother. Swear to me, no matter what, Asta is the first priority. Even if my life is in danger you will assure her safety first. Swear to me Pellegrin Richard Seasense." Kade looked at Pellegrin's eyes, his gaze unmoving.

"Ok, ok. No need to get so emotional. And I told you not to say me full name, it gives me chills. What if I called you Kade Sigemund Reinnsson all the time?" Pellegrin returned Kade's unmoving gaze.

"Alright. I get it. It gives me the chills too. It just sounds so weird, like *bleeah* I just got a shiver."

"I know. When you said my full name I could feel goosebumps rising on my arms." Pellegrin put his hands on his arms and began rubbing them up and down like he was cold.

At the same time Asta just re-entered the room, a pack full of luggage in tow behind her. When she got inside she saw her brother and the head captain staring at each other, her brother had his hands on the head captain's shoulders while the head captain was rubbing his arms. In a common sense naturally someone would think that one was forcing the other to do something indecent. Asta instantly backed out and shut the door.

"S-sorry for disturbing you!" She dropped her bag and covered her face with her hands. She was stunned. Was that why they were so close? Were they something more than good friends? What if, they were something more than friends, something perverse? Asta couldn't hold back her thoughts and her imagination was beginning to run wild. On the other side of the door Pellegrin was barely managing to hold in his laughter. He was leaning over and clutching his stomach while banging against a nearby chair. Kade looked like a ghost. His jaw hung open while his body slumped to the floor. Once again Asta gathered the courage to open the door and she saw Kade on the floor looking like a ghost and the head captain laughing his head off.

"Ahahaha! Ast-Asta. When you came in Kade practically froze. And when you left, he shattered." Pellegrin was tapping Kade's shoulder now. His laughter slowly dying. "But, seriously Kade. What's so bad about that?" Kade turned to look at Pellegrin, his body moving in rickety motions.

"What's so bad about it?! You should've seen the horrified look on Asta's face when she came in!" Kade looked mortified. He hung his head in his hands. Asta walked over to him and was patting his other shoulder. Kade looked at her and he saw the pity in her eyes. Before he could say anything more a knock resounded in the room.

"Princess, the Emperor's ship I almost ready to set sail. Please be ready in the main hall soon." The maid had been very quiet but the moment she spoke the lighthearted mood in the room instantly changed. The Kade had gotten up and was straightening his clothes, Pellegrin was putting on his armor and weapon in the corner while Asta fixed her hair and dress.

"Yes, I'll be there." Asta responded coolly. Her tone was calm and elegant.

"Yes Princess." The maid shuffled away and left the door. When Kade finished putting on his cape and crown he turned to Pellegrin.

"How do I look?"

"Like a ruler fit to rule the Empire. My lord." At the end Pellegrin bowed and smiled gently at Kade.

"And you look like the mightiest knight in the entire kingdom." Kade patted Pellegrin's shoulder. At the same time Kade and Pellegrin turned towards Asta and offered their hands to her.

"To have an Emperor and the best knight in the Empire escort you, what an honor." Kade's smile hinted at his playfulness. Asta sighed and gave in. She took both hands and bowed slightly.

"To hold the hand of the purest maiden in the Empire, what an honor." They laughed and walked towards the door, prepared for what would come next. The moment they left the room their outside faces would come on, no longer having the previous playfulness and family feeling.