"Are you mad at me?"

"Of course not, Your Highness."

Dana tried her best to smile at Crown Prince Jing Han as he sat at the head of the table and she was thankful for the other advisors arrival, who all knelt upon greeting the prince, allowing the awkward atmosphere to dissipate. She stood up to greet them as they piled through. The difficult part of a Challenge was not only the execution, but garnering support from the court for it.

At that point in time, Jing Han's own clan was split between himself and his father, but the Zhang clan that Dana belonged to - on the assumption that his rise to power would mean that she would secure a place beside him and they would, by extension, have access to the benefits - was very supportive indeed. The Zhang clan was powerful and influential in the region of Reeth - an area with large amounts of marsh. Lord Zhang, Dana's father, was a landowner who grew and sold crops to the country, and being able to exclusively supply the Guorun Palace in order to gain influence within its walls was a top priority.

Dana just wanted to be Queen, and she couldn't do that while there was a threat in the way.

But for her own sake, she had to pretend that nothing was wrong.

Jing Han straightened up as the advisors brought out their research for him to review.

"If I may begin, Your Highness." the eldest spoke up. "We have come up with several proposals."

"Let me hear them."

"Well, the first one is to plan an invasion."

"We just did that." Jing Han countered. "Are you suggesting we invade a land we have no interest in?"

"Um..." the advisor trailed, thinking better of trying to convince him of something he was decidedly against. "Then we thought about focusing on your charitable side."

"I've never been charitable, no one would believe it."

The advisors looked to Dana, who opened her own notes.

"I was thinking that we could take a look at amnesty, showing how Your Highness is a caring and kind person, especially towards refugees and displaces people-"

"No." he shook his head. "Since none of you bothered to come prepared today, I'm leaving first."

With that, he pushed out of his chair, Zixuan following after him without a word.

"Your Highness, wait!" Dana gave chase as she leapt out of her seat.

Jing Han whirled around, startling the advisor into a stop

"Please give us more time. We'll think of something better."

"It's not time you need, it's a brain."

Dana's eyebrows raised in shock, her hand flying to her chest at his sharp words.

"Special Advisor Dana is your lover, Your Highness." Zixuan reminded him. "Be a bit kinder."

"I-I didn't sleep well last night, Your Highness." she explained, for it was the truth. "I'm not quite in my right mind today."

"Yes, you were up at all hours, following us around when you should have been sleeping."

"It wasn't on purpose!" she cried. "I was on a walk and happened to see you."

"I was with company. You know not to disturb me when I'm with others."

"Your Highness." she said, perhaps a little too harshly for his brow furrowed.

"I don't know what's with your attitude today. You said yourself that you're not mad at me, so who am I to say otherwise?"

"Am I not important to you, Your Highness?" Dana murmured, not understanding why he was purposely not reading between the lines.

"Of course you are. But what's more important is someone who is competent at their job. I don't need to remind you that it's in your best interest, more than anyone else, to put all your effort into this."

Dana's eyes lowered, a simple nod of her head indicating that she understood.

"Try again tomorrow." he said, clearing his throat and turning on his heels, hands clasped behind his back as he set off with Zixuan in tow.

"Ina." Shiyao began, nibbling on a rose flavoured tea cake and dropping it back on the plate, grimacing at the overpowering fragrance.

"Yes, Your Highness?"

"What do you think I should do?"

"I'm sorry?"

"Like, as a goal."

"Ah, you mean who do I think you should marry?"

Shiyao paused, her brain taking some time to process what her lady in waiting said. She supposed marriage was a gateway to bigger things and a better life, not that her current life was in any way unsatisfactory save for the constant question of what the hell she was supposed to do.

"Sure." she nodded, taking a mouthful of tea as Ina flew over to the table where she was and sat down opposite. "Tell me all about the best men in the Guorun Palace."

"Well, there's Han Xiyang, his clan is involved in trading and they have a lot of members of court, too."

"So what's so special about him?"

"Well he's the right age, not hideously unattractive."

"No." Shiyao shook her head. "I can't be doing with average looking men, it's shallow but this is marriage, I need someone who's as handsome as I am pretty."

"Hmm, then... well, what do you find attractive?"

"A nice smile." Shiyao raised a finger. "And... I suppose someone who has a solid build, too. Sharp eyes are sexier than round ones... hmm... good bone structure."

"That... could be a lot of men, Your Highness."

"Oh! I know, someone whose mouth kind of..." she poked her own lips at either side. "naturally goes up."

Ina thought for a moment, the incredibly specific feature that Her Highness found attractive shouldn't be that difficult to think of.

"Well... the Crown Prince kind of sounds like what you're describing."

"No, Ina. I can't."

"Why not? He's untied!"

"He's the Crown Prince! And we're related."

"Well yeah, how else is the royal family going to guarantee its future? All of the nobility are relatives to some degree and there's no way he's going to marry a commoner, what use would that be? You're in a perfect position, Your Highness!"

"Okay, I don't wanna hear any more, Ina." Shiyao shook her head, unconsciously licking her lip at the fleeting fantasy that one day she could be queen. What a ridiculous dream.

"It would be advantageous for the Crown Prince to be married to you, too, Your Highness!"

"I said enough!"

Jae looked over to where the two women sat, watching Ina gulp as Shiyao bristled. Ina wasn't wrong, he knew that, but she made it sound so easy, like there weren't a handful of families of varying influence that were trying to get their foot in the door. From what he had heard running around the palace every day was that while people were interested in the princess, they weren't sure what to think of her.

"Jae, I want to go for a walk. Please tell Yixing to prepare."

"He's ready already, Your Highness."

"Good. Join me, Ina. This damn robe dress is sleeveless and it keeps slipping down on me today, it's not proper for me to keep fixing it by myself."

"Of course, Your Highness." Ina replied, thankful the topic changed.

If there was one thing she had learned about Princess Shiyao, it was that she had a foul temper when she was told things she didn't like to hear, but never in public, and somehow she always managed to find a way around whatever the issue was in order to get her own way. That would be a very useful skill to have in the palace, for it was no place for anyone soft of heart, at least for someone at the level of the princess. Ina could tell, however, that she was struggling with finding a purpose now that she was back where she belonged in Revenet, and she couldn't begin to imagine how hurt she must have been by the lies when the truth came out.

Her lessons were due to begin the following day, a suitable teacher had been found and had arrived in the palace the day before. She'd have daily instruction on history, literature and, of course, magic. Her treatment was exceedingly special and Ina was rather proud that the King and Queen were paying such close attention to her.

"Your Highness." Yixing bowed deeply as she emerged from the house and she bid him good morning.

"The sun is awfully bright today." she commented, holding her hand up to shield her eyes.

"Allow me." he offered, opening a parasol and holding it over her head.

"Thank you, Yixing." she smiled, stepping down into the garden, her guard following suit as she strolled down into the lower courtyard where the servants were busy running around preparing food for lunch, washing clothes, cleaning and tidying the rooms and living areas. "Let's go outside and see what's happening in the palace."

The three of them set off towards the main gate, Shiyao steaming ahead while Yixing's long legs worked extra hard to keep up with her without running.

"Slow down, Your Highness! What are you in such a rush for?" Ina called out, already out of breath as she held her dress up and jogged behind.

"I don't know, it just feels like a good day today!" Shiyao hopped over a small stone, the circular main gate already open. "Something good will happen. I can feel it."

Shiyao pulled her own dress up as she broke into a jog and Yixing had no choice but to pick up the pace while balancing the parasol, not used to ladies literally running around the palace grounds.

"Almost there!" she cheered, speeding up as she reached the main gate.

"His Highness, Crown Pri-"

"Agh!"

"Ei!"

"Your Highness!" Yixing gasped, tossing the parasol and zooming towards the Princess and Crown Prince who were sprawled on the ground.

"I got it." Jing Han barked, righting himself quickly and grabbing Shiyao by the wrist to help her up.

"Oh, Your Highness, look at your robes! They're all dirty!" Ina scolded, pushing past Yixing and grabbing the hand that Jing Han hadn't, quickly greeting the young man. "Your loyal servant kneels before you."

"I haven't announced His Highness yet!" the eunuch outside interjected. "His Highness, Crown-"

"Look at your robes, mine too!" Jing Han frowned. "Where were you in such a rush to go that you came crashing into me like that?"

"Nowhere, the weather was so nice that it made me feel like something good was coming to me today, Your Highness." Shiyao replied, looking between the two hands that gripped hers.

"His High-"

"Is that so?" he smirked. "Guess you were right, it came right to you."

The eunuch rolled his eyes and slipped away.

"I'm sorry?"

"I'm spending the day here. It's quiet and peaceful and I need to do some work."

"Ah... okay." she nodded, supposing she could spend another day at home - her stomach hadn't quite settled yet from the night before anyway. "Welcome!"

"Your Highness, if I may take Princess Shiyao to change." Ina added.

"Of course, of course." he nodded, quickly releasing his grip on her wrist and gesturing for them to go.

"Make yourself at home, Your Highness!" Shiyao called back as Ina pulled her with surprising strength back towards the main house.

Yixing stood aside to allow Jing Han and Zixuan, who had just arrived, into the residence. He couldn't help but smile at the pair of them.

"The Princess is right." Jing Han stretched his arms up and out as he sauntered through, the staff members dropping to the ground in greeting as they noticed his presence. "It is a gorgeous day."

"You were very keen to come here today." Zixuan said, looking around the residence he hadn't been in before. They'd done a great job with the landscaping, the flowers were in perfect condition. "Lu told me that he offered his visions to you, Your Highness."

"I refused." Jing Han shook his head and stepped up into the study room where the windows and doors were wide open, allowing for a comfortable breeze, adequate light and shelter from the sun all in one. "I need to do this without that help."

"Then would you accept it if it came from Princess Shiyao?"

"I don't think she would tell me even if I asked." he replied, sighing as he sat down and took in the bright, tranquil, quiet view.

Yeah, this would do.