Ambiance

Chapter Two

"It is fruitless, but I do, want to hear your excuse of wandering out of the castle; without notifying anyone." Beige bellowed, emphasizing on the 'not notifying' part.

Beige Primevelt was in his late thirties, with slightly greying hair and electric blue eyes that missed nothing.

He was glaring at Sarah, demanding an explanation, which she didn't have.

She couldn't say she was bored, she wished to live longer.

"I took Zen with me." She managed to say meekly. "Besides, I had informed Victor" She lied, but she knew Vicky would also wish for her to live longer.

"Regardless, such thing could be expected from her, but why didn't you tell me before going?!" Beige asked, a very innocent looking Zen, who's pale skin became even more white, under the Captain's glare.

"No! Beige it's not his fault, I told him not to, and I wouldn't repeat this please calm down." She requested and Zen nodded vigorously.

"Fine," he sighed, "It worries me to not find you anywhere, I'm not asking you to stop stepping out of the castle, but just let me know next time you do." He said tucking a stray strand of hair behind Sarah's ear.

"We train in an hour get ready, and you'll be training with Zen today." He said.

"Retired so soon, Captain Primevelt?" She teased.

"I'm accompanying His Majesty, to monitor revenue collection, in the treasury today." He said chuckling a bit, which sounded like a growl.

"I'm leaving her to your responsibility Zen, and be careful she has bad aim." He remarked with a revengeful grin.

"Beige!" Sarah wailed absolutely scandalized. Both, Zen and Beige giggled at her embarrassment and then the Captain strode off in his familiar, authoritative manner.

"Ready Your Highness?" Zen asked still amused.

"I will redeem myself, you'll see." She stated and stomped off, to prepare for the training session.

Sarah went straight to her room, where she knew her attendant Arfina, would be waiting.

All princesses had an attendant who helped with all the 'Daughter of the King appearance' affairs, but Arfi was more like a best friend to Sarah.

She was twenty years old and like everyone else, Arfina Sedan was very fond of the effervescent princess of Ivory.

It was hard not to like Sariyah, she was very bubbly and chattery, unlike other princesses and was extraordinarily kind and friendly.

Arfina knew, that Sarah adored her too.

The princess burst into the room, muttering something like, "my dignity is at risk, I have to do this."

"Sarah-" Arfina started but was cut off when, Sarah suddenly took a lily stem from the vase, held it like a dagger and threw it. It fell a few inches away from where she was standing.

Her highness huffed in disappointment and collapsed on the bed, facing downwards.

"This, is called trampling your honor with your own feet." She lamented her voice muffled by the silk bedsheets.

"Your honor?" asked Arfina, completely clueless.

Sarah got up and sat cross legged on the bed, patting for Arfi to come and sit in front of her.

"I am referring to the new recruit and my knight that Beige appointed, who is going to train with me today" She said gravely, with exaggerated hand gestures.

"What about him?" Arfina asked raising her eyebrows.

"You know, how jaw dropping my weaponry skills are." Sarah wailed.

Arfina reminisced back to the time, when Sarah had shot an arrow impressively away from the target, into a horse's tail which scared the poor creature into a uncontrolled gallop, with a shrieking Victor on the saddle.

She smiled to herself at that memory.

"You're good at defense though," Arfina pointed at the brighter side, trying to lift up the princess's spirits "and he's only here to help you get better, isn't he?" She asked, lifting Sarah's chin, as her pretty face lit up.

"You're right, I was being silly." She said sheepishly brightening up instantly.

"Alright then let's get dressed." She said with newfound enthusiasm and adorably clenched her small fists in determination making Arfina giggle softly.

If this recruit knight, discourages her precious Sarah even a little bit, she vowed to add salt, instead of sugar in his desert.

After Arfina finished preparing for Sarah's training, she headed out towards the garden, to bring out fresh lilies for the vase.

The late Queen loved White Lilies, and so the palace gardens, were filled with them.

As she was walking down the hallway, a man came rushing forward and bumped into her, making her fall on the ground.

"I am extremely sorry, Young lady." The burly man hurriedly apologized.

"That's alright, Sir." Arfina got up and straightened her clothes.

The man nodded and rushed away, without another word.

What a strange man, Arfina thought.

He surely was a nobleman, but he looked really troubled.

Arfina shrugged her shoulders and walked away, she had a lot of work to do.