As the battle concluded on Nemeth Island, in another part of Zemuria...
Liberl, Grancel Castle.
It was well into December of Year S1195. Snowflakes painted the skies gray. It made the view of the open terrace even more picturesque. The several trees had small thin layers of snow on its branches. Presently, it was the same day Naoto had his fight with the Jaeger King.
But a couple hours have passed since then. Night had descended onto Grancel Castle.
Before long, a sole figure entered the terrace from the second floor of the Castle. A cold breath of air escaped their lips. Who else could it be but Princess Klaudia? She currently wore her formal white-purple frilly dress. The same one people would come across when they played through Sky. Princess Claudia currently held onto an orbal lamp, which illuminated the dark night before her. Every step she took, Princess Klaudia felt a chill strike against her body.
Once she arrived on the left side of the garden terrace, Princess Klaudia ignored the cold, and shifted her eyes up toward the boundless sky above.
Peering into the scattered clouds, Princess Claudia saw the moon. It was a full moon tonight.
"It really is a pretty moon out tonight...", Princess Klaudia murmured. "And yet, why do I feel this restlessness inside me? I cannot seem to fall asleep.", Princess Klaudia continued. A hint of worry appeared in her eyes. Something stirred in her heart. She didn't know whether it was good, or bad. She didn't feel ill from this feeling, but it was strong enough, making her unable to sleep, as Princess Klaudia said.
And yet, it did not take long for Princess Klaudia to hear a voice call out to her.
"Lady Klaudia?", A voice questioned. This caused Princess Klaudia to turn around, only to spot an aged man with white hair approach her. He was wearing a butler's uniform. She didn't think anyone else would come greet her like this, but she immediately recognized who the man was.
"Is that you, Phillip?", Princess Klaudia asked, calling out to the old man. "Shouldn't you be at Uncle's side?"
"His Excellency is currently being well received, I assure you. I happened to have some free time on my hands tonight. I heard some wandering footsteps head out into the terrace, but I did not think those would belong to you, Lady Klaudia. Is it alright for you to be out like this? The night is quite chilly. I am worried you might catch a cold.", The butler said, greeting Princess Klaudia with a worried look. Hearing that, she smiled.
"Hehe, I am quite fine. Thank you for asking, Phillip. This orbal lamp is more than enough to keep me warm. For some strange reason, I cannot seem to fall asleep.", Princess Klaudia said, welcoming the butler. "Because of that, I decided to take a little stroll. I know we're in the middle of winter, so I will be careful. I promise not to remain outside too late."
"If you realize the position that you are in Lady Klaudia, then the least you can do is allow me to accompany you. Even if it is for a short while. If something is pondering on your mind, you are more than welcome to lend me an ear.", Phillip said, smiling at Princess Klaudia.
"Thank you, Phillip. I will take your words to heart. It isn't necessarily a bad feeling. It's just somehow making me restless...", Princess Klaudia said, only to shift her eyes back toward the scattered gray clouds in the skies above. As each moment passed like this, snowflakes began to fall down.
"Hmm. You must be thinking about him. Aren't you, Lady Klaudia?", Phillip asked, keeping a distance from Princess Klaudia. After all, he had his position to be mindful of. He was a butler to Grancel Castle. Phillip didn't have the same standing as a Princess would. Hearing that, Princess Klaudia kept looking up into the sky. A smile appeared on her lips.
"You could tell, huh?", Princess Klaudia responded, smiling.
"I've been in this line of business for a long, long time, Lady Klaudia. I've once served your late mother. I've even served the current Her Majesty the Queen, after I had retired from the Royal Army, of course. Once you reach my age, it is not hard to get a read on someone.", Phillip simply answered, only to earn another giggle from Princess Klaudia.
"Perhaps inside these unsettling emotions of mine, there is a hint of nostalgia. It's already been three years since Grandmother declared Naoto the contender to succeed the throne. I thought that position would eventually befall onto me as Crown Princess, but that doesn't seem to be the case. On the contrary, I've had quite the amount of free time on my hands. I've been thinking of practicing my sword skills.", Princess Klaudia explained. "But it's only been a year since Grandmother declared her intention at the last Royal Assembly. You don't know how chaotic it has been for the nobles."
"Be as that may, Her Majesty is headstrong. I've received reports, but she's turned down all suggestions otherwise. It is quite commendable.", Phillip said, praising Queen Alicia's actions as of late. It was then he heard an unexpected voice.
"Hoho, I thank you for such praise, Phillip. I did not expect to find such a pair out here on this cold night.", A stern yet gentle voice said, calling out to the two. The voice sounded quite old, but contained a hint of wisdom to it. A sign of old age, much like Phillip. Before long, an old woman in a casual night dress came out onto the open terrace, followed by a couple of maids. After all, a figure of her status should never be alone. Cold breaths of air escaped from their lips while they said that.
"G-Grandmother?", Princess Klaudia asked, seeing the old woman approach her with a smile on her lips. Of course this figure was the current Queen of Liberl, Her Majesty Queen Alicia II.
"Your Majesty...Are you alright to be out here?", Phillip asked with a hint of worry in his eyes.
"This place belongs to both Klaudia and I, Phillip. There is no room from which I am barred from. I wanted to step out onto the terrace for some fresh air. It has been rather stuffy as of late. I am sure you can guess why.", Queen Alicia said, smiling at the two.
"Very well.", Phillip said, nodding his head, as if he understood her. It would seem Queen Alicia announced Naoto as heir apparent to the throne during the Royal Assembly in S1194. It's been pretty chaotic since then. Many opposed the Queen, but the Queen is the one who has the final say in matters like this. That's the difference between a Monarchy and an Empire. All moving pieces fall back onto the King, or the Queen. The nobles can only tuck a tail between their legs and accept the outcome.
"And from the looks of it, you two must be talking about Naoto, right?", Queen Alicia asked with a smile.
"That's right, Your Majesty.", Phillip responded with a nod of his head. "It does beg the question what His Highness is doing all the way out there. I mean, he's in a different country right now, is he not? It looks like His Highness is well received right now, but it still makes you worry."
"Indeed. Naoto can have his fun. For now. I will not go back on my promise to him. He will return to us. And as far as I'm aware, there are many who are secretly relieved that the blood of the Auslese is far from being over.", Queen Alicia answered. Princess Klaudia raised her eyes upon hearing this.
"Is that really true?", Princess Klaudia asked with interest.
"I asked them personally. You needn't worry about what is happening in our courts, Klaudia. Business has been as usual. We're in a period of peace again. There will be a day when Naoto returns to us. And when that day happens, we will welcome him with warm arms. Naoto even told me he plans to begin his studies at Jenis Royal Academy in the coming years. You saw that written in the letter too, didn't you, Klaudia?", Queen Alicia asked.
"I did. Naoto was clear on that. I do not know how much he is planning, but it sounds like he is trying to align some events to his interests. At the very least, we can study at Jenis together once the time rolls around.", Princess Klaudia answered. As she said that, her hands reddened from the cold. Cold air escaped from her lips. She then looked back at Phillip. "And while we're on that topic, you taught Naoto in secret for a while, didn't you, Phillip?"
"Hoho. I did not have a reason to hide it. But yes, I did train the Young Master in swordplay for a little while. He adapted rather quickly. To be honest, I'm quite afraid of such talent. He absorbed every little detail. Or should I say, it should be expected of him? You know who his father is.", Phillip said, sighing. "And knowing this shouldn't escape these castle walls. It would be unwise to learn that the once famed Demon Commander has taken on a disciple."
"That is far in the past now, Phillip. Barely anyone remembers your service in the Royal Army. I am sure Naoto is grateful you gave him such an opportunity to learn nonetheless. Thank you for passing on your techniques to him. As his Grandmother, I couldn't be happier.", Queen Alicia said, smiling at Phillip.
"Your Majesty...", Phillip uttered. After showing a softer expression, a glint of light streaked across Queen Alicia's eyes, acting like she had remembered something.
"Oh, that almost reminds me. The two of you will be turning ten soon. I was thinking of announcing your engagement to Naoto to the public. It will still be some years out until the two of you debut in high society, but if other nobles know you are taken, it should alleviate some uneasiness you may have, Klaudia. What do you think about that?", Queen Alicia suddenly asked.
Phillip raised his eyebrows as surprise swept him the moment Queen Alicia asked that. As for Princess Klaudia, it took her a good moment to register what Queen Alicia had just said to her. Her mind was wrapped around the word, "engagement". It was then that Princess Klaudia's eyes turned wide in shock and her cheeks turned a deeper red.
"E-EHHHHHH?", Princess Klaudia exclaimed, letting her voice carry throughout the castle terrace. In response, orbal lights within the castle began to turn on, as if they became confused by the loud noise they had just heard...