Overly pompous dresses and fancy accessories are never her thing.

The elegant dress with its graceful frills is definitely inviting, but one would think twice before approaching the princess upon looking at her face.

Despite the gleaming crown over her blonde hair smiling proudly, the expression on her face tells others otherwise. With furrowed brows, narrowed eyes and twisted lips, she stares at her reflection with a strong look of displeasure.

"You look stunning, my dear Alaina."

She can see the king's reflection clearly in the mirror. Smiling, he wears an expression of a complete opposite of hers.

A sudden shriek from the lady-in-waiting to Alaina's right doesn't even startle her. Instead, she turns to the source with full alert, instinctively lifting her long dress slightly to allow easier movements if necessary. Underneath and unseen by others, her fingers rest on the sheath of a pocket dagger tied to a belt that's securely fastened around her right thigh.

To her disappointment, it is only a mere insect creeping along the walls. Then again, she isn't really disappointed after all -- nothing ever happens in the palace. The lonely, boring palace.

Unfortunately, Alaina's swift yet slightly rash actions are not gone unnoticed by the king. When she notices his gaze upon her, Alaina drops her head, not wanting to look him in the eye. Alastair Rowell has always been observant. One can not simply escape his sharp eyes.

She knows exactly what's coming.

"What is that you have under your dress?" He lets out a deep, heavy sigh. "Alaina, dear -- how many times do I have to tell you?"

Sighing once more when silence is all he receives as a reply, Alastair starts making his way towards Alaina. "You know very well I only wish for you to be safe."

Unwillingly, Alaina surrenders her pocket dagger to the king's outstretched hand. "Father, listen --"

"Most importantly, you are my one and only daughter," Alastair says, cutting her off. He can see the strange look that's plastered on her face. "I do not want to lose you." Then, softly, he adds, "I do not want to lose another one of you."

She says nothing. Lifting her eyes from the ground, she finally finds the courage to look him in the eye. There's a sharp pain in her chest at the mention of her late mother. It's a depressing topic none of them like to be reminded of, because it's too painful to relive the memory.

"I can protect myself," she says finally, changing the topic in an attempt pull her thoughts away from the painful, unwanted memories. "And I certainly do not wish to become an ignorant princess unworthy of respect."

"You are worthy of respect. The people of Theia expect a lot from you."

Gently, she pulls his hand in hers. Now eye to eye, Alaina locks his gaze. "Father, I know you love me, and you are only protecting me for my benefit," she says firmly, smiling for the first time today. "But I want to see the world. I want people to respect me for who I am, instead of who I ought to be."

Alastair is silent. Indeed, he wants the best of her, but he definitely doesn't want to overlook what's best for her in her own individual, unique opinion.

Before he has the chance to say anything else, however, there is a light knock on the grand doors, which is then closely followed by a call from outside. "Your majesty?"

"Please, come in."

A royal messenger of the palace swings the double doors open and enters. He bows to both the king and the princess in respect.

The king flicks his hand dismissively. "At ease."

"The King of Nyx has called for an emergency meeting. Your presence is required at once," the messenger says before standing straight, gesturing for the king to follow.

Hesitant, Alastair turns to his daughter and kisses her forehead lightly. "We shall continue this conversation tonight."

Nodding, Alaina smiles. "I await your return."

Turning to the lady-in-waiting at the corner of the room, Alastair says, "please look after the princess. Make necessary preparations for her meeting with Duke Neil tomorrow morning."

At the mention of this, Alaina rolls her eyes at the sudden reminder of one of her many troublesome princess duties, but tries her best to hide it from her father.

"Where is Lancaster?" Alastair asks impatiently as Alaina perks up slightly.

Upon sensing the impatience in the king's tone, one of the palace guards standing just outside the room enters. "He is at the courtyard, your majesty," he answers quickly.

"I will go look for him!" Alaina offers immediately, but to her dismay, Alastair only dismisses her.

Facing the guard, he says, "please accompany the princess to her room. See to it that she remains safely in her room until I return." He casts one last smile in Alaina's direction, before leaving with the messenger for the immediate meeting.

The orders Alastair had just given to both the lady-in-waiting and the guard displeases her, yet Alaina's lips twist into a sly smile.

No one can bind her.

She runs, ignoring the cries from the lady-in-waiting gradually disappearing in the distance. Random guards in the hallways try to stop her, but it is futile. She dashes through one hallway after another, not stoping to look back.

Her dress is rather bothersome. She would have reached her destination by now, if it isn't for the long dress and its frills restraining her movements. The dress itself is a statement she is irritated by -- a princess, bound to the castle and her people. A fate she is born with.

But that isn't what she is. Alaina refuses to allow her responsibilities and what people would expect of her get in her way of achieving her desires.

You can be whoever you want to be, her mother always said.

Stopping around a corner, she listens closely for any footsteps nearby. When she knows she's alone, she rips the bottom hem of her dress, pulling apart the laces and frills from the dress.

So fragile, Alaina thinks, as she simply scatters the torn laces and frills of her dress around the hallway. Perhaps she feels too confined, so leaving her mark ought to show the people she can't simply be controlled.

When she's satisfied, she skips along the now messy hallway and out of the palace halls to the sun kissed courtyard. Alaina steps out on the stone steps, letting the breezy air lift her hair and now short dress, allowing the sun to shine on her pale skin.

Looking around, she finds several knights around the courtyard, all swinging their weapons at one another. She eyes them with envy; if she has the power to choose, she would be a boy. Funny wish, she knows this herself, yet she can't help always wishing for something she doesn't -- or can't -- have.

Alaina's eyes fall upon a young knight -- probably the youngest of the group of knights. He swings his sword very skilfully, and she can't help but wonder how he keeps his short, slicked back blonde hair so tidily despite moving around so swiftly around the courtyard.

When he stops to take a break, she clears her throat, earning his attention. "Lancaster Alnwick," she announces loudly across the courtyard, "the king has summoned you."

The other knights bow slightly at the sight of the princess, casting nervous glances over at Lancaster, who has his brows furrowed. She smiles when he keeps his sword back in its sheath on his waist as he approaches her.

"Your highness," Lancaster says when he is face to face with Alaina. "Mind telling me what is going on?"

"The king has summoned you," she answers, walking past him and across the courtyard. Without even looking back, Alaina knows he's following close behind.

"Has the king really, or is it you who summoned me?"

Alaina doesn't answer, but she pouts, although unseen by him. He knows her too well. She doesn't stop until they reach the gardens. Immediately after she stops, she finally turns to look at him. She raises a finger in front of his face before any words can come out of his now open mouth, silencing him and stopping whatever it is that he wanted to ask or say.

"Your highness, you are not thinking --"

"You know me so well," she beams, "let's go!"

Sighing, he finds the princess too predictable. "Really, now? And just last night you went out all by yourself; now you are doing it again? At least I am here with you this time. What happened to my duties of being your personal knight? Why did you go alone last night?"

"Sorry, Lancaster. I just... it was late," Alaina replies, looking downwards at the grass they're standing on, shuffling her feet. Slowly, she glances up to her knight with hopeful eyes.

Rubbing his temples, Lancaster closes his eyes as he thinks slowly. She need not say it nor does he need to ask, to know what's currently on her mind. He has known the princess since forever, and she's one rebellious one if anything else; and once she'd gotten her mind on something, there's just no stopping her.

Another thing about her is that she has natural leadership -- or more like a gift of persuasion: you can never, ever, say no to her. She's got everything up her sleeves: facts, support, plans and even backup. Everything. Because of this, she'd make a great leader for Theia, Lancaster believes, with steady mindset and great leadership. But as a personal friend, you'll have to give in to someone like her. You'll have to get used to it. Nevertheless, she's a good friend.

Heaving a long sigh, he finally says, "all right, since I am accompanying you this time --"

"Yes!" Alaina jumps, startling Lancaster before he has a chance to finish. "You're the best! My father was right to make you my personal knight, no one can replace you." She pokes his side a little. "Except maybe you need to stop being so serious all the time."

"I am only doing my duty," he replies nonchalantly. He stops Alaina from poking him. "And quit that habit of yours, especially since we are still within palace grounds."

Alaina sighs, shaking her head. "That's exactly what I'm talking about."

"What are you talking about?" he questions, but all he gets as a response is Alaina's laughs.

"Never mind, drop it," she says, trying to suppress her laughter. "Now, let's leave before --"

"Before what?"

She is interrupted by a voice nearby. Gasping, she runs behind Lancaster, peaking around from behind him.

A pompous looking boy in his late teens appears before them, an open book in a hand of his. The way he walks and acts, the air around him tells others of his very mature demeanour, that he looks much more mature than his actual age. He shuts the open book in a swift movement without moving the other hand, then shifts his eyes towards both Alaina and Lancaster, staring at them through his frameless glasses.

Adjusting his glasses with his free hand, he says casually, "best be careful. You do not want to stir up more trouble, your highness." His gaze then falls onto Lancaster. "And please stop giving in, aiding her highness do whatever she pleases," he sighs, "especially sneaking out of the palace."

At this, Alaina jumps out from behind Lancaster and nearly yells at the boy. "Who told you that?" she exclaims.

He only raises an eyebrow in response. "You did," he says calmly, "just now."

Alaina flushes. "I -- We, I mean, we are not doing anything," she says, as innocently as her lying voice would allow her to. She backs away and stands behind Lancaster once again. Nudging him lightly at his side, she gives out a forced smile towards the boy. "Right, Lancaster?"

Secretly, she whispers 'say something', hoping Lancaster would help get them out of this situation. However, deep down, she knows full well that it's difficult dealing with this person. He is the palace's advisor and strategist, and an extremely intelligent one, in fact.

Lancaster keeps his face straight as he faces him. "You need not worry. It is, after all, my duty to keep her highness safe."

"Last time I checked, keeping her highness safe is different from bending to her every favour."

"Definitely, but I find that she will be safer if she did not try sneaking out alone."

Glancing between the both of them, Alaina frowns. "Guys," she sighs, "not again."

Perhaps they have completely different views, or even personalities, that the both of them constantly pick small debates every now and then.

"Do whatever you want," the boy in glasses turns around to leave.

"Lloyd, he never changes," Lancaster comments, shaking his head.

"You mean the both of you never change -- never once agreeing with one another," Alaina rolls her eyes. "Let's go now, before anyone else comes interrupting our party again."

"Agreed, your highness. But it is wiser if we return before his majesty finishes the meeting. You certainly do not want him to have more things to stress about after a long meeting, do you?"

"Well, all right," Alaina agrees for once, as they both leave the palace through the garden gates that are seldom supervised.

It is when they reach the exterior castle walls that they hear guards nearby discussing about something that's going on outside. While they're sneaking past the guards, they hear mutters; about something that's making the locals unhappy.

Lancaster frowns at this. On the contrary, Alaina is only happier. She's eager to know just what is going on, and she's grateful that they're lucky enough for something to be happening when they're visiting the locals.

But as they get further away from the castle walls, they hear noises. The noises are rather close by. Even Alaina frowns at this.

It is when they are finally out of the palace's boundaries that they hear the noises much louder than before. No, not louder; but closer, clearer.

Shouts.