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Princess Raina: Your Highness. (She meets Elva)
Elva: (Exhaling) Don't tell me you're among those addressing me like that now.
Princess Raina: But you are above me…
Elva: (Waving a hand above her own head) Ahyah, forget it. Then I'll address you as Princess Raina in return.
Princess Raina: Well, that is…
Elva: (Grinning) Friend Iri-Raina.
Princess Raina: (Touched, eyes softening) (Grins back) Well… that would mean a lot.
In the background, the Royal Advisor and Commander approach the Elflord. He sits quietly on a simple chair, away from the throne's grandeur.
Elva: (Feeling overly heart-warmed) Ah, enough with the smiles. It's making my face go slack.
Princess Raina: Oh, I didn't—
Braiden & Derliné: (From outside, bursting in) Your Highness!!
They hurry to Elva's sides after quick, respectful bows toward the Elflord and his Red Enchantress.
Derliné: (Lifting Elva's arm, eyes scanning it) Oh Your Highness, how can they be so cruel as to starve you?
Elva: I wasn't starved—at least it's better than being fed like a pig.
Derliné: (Gasps) Pigs could never be compared to our princess!
Braiden: (Hand on chin, mumbling audibly) Though you do eat way more than them.
A few guards—and Raina—giggle at the remark.
Elva: (Raising a fist toward Braiden) Say that again if you don't want your teeth intact.
Braiden winces, then flashes a bright, beaming smile.
Elva cannot resist it.
Elva: (Looking away quickly) [Lawks, she's cute.]
Derliné: (Gasps again) Your Highness, why are you bruised?
She inspects the bandaged marks on Elva's arms and back.
Elva: (Rubbing the back of her head) Ah 😅. Nothing serious. Just a little duel with General Tyrên at the Knights' Castle.
Braiden: (Gasps) General Tyrên?
Princess Raina: You had a duel with General Tyrên…?
Elva: Hm…
Elflord: (Lip resting on the edge of his cup) …which she was severely bea—
Elva—annoyed in an instant—secretly bows the floor beneath her with a subtle surge of air and earth.
The Elflord's chair shifts unexpectedly.
He jerks forward; tea spills across his robes.
Princess Raina: (Rushing to him) Your Flourish, are you quite well?
The Elflord remains silent, head lowered.
Elva: [(Sarcastic) Oops.]
Senior Attendant Hü: Your clothes are stained, Regal Elflord. Allow me to summon your chamber attendants.
Elva: I would greatly advise that as well. As for me, I shall excuse myself from your presence, Your Majesty. (She curtsies deeply and departs, maids trailing behind).
As she leaves, a few servants exchange silent, amused glances.
The Elflord's body tends to be gesturing a silent cackle.
Princess Raina: Are you quite alright, Your Flourish?
Without reply, the Elflord's left hand slips beneath his lowered face.
His thumb gently traces and cleans the soft, feminine curve of his lower lip.
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Laurel Village
The 1st Triplet steps out of their cottage, carrying a cup of water to Elder Zagnon.
The elder stands carving wood, though his eyes are distant, lost in thought.
2nd Triplet: Oathfather, what do you seem to be thinking about?
1st Triplet: (Nearing) Yeah, you've been deep in thought since the departure of Yör et Yär.
Elder Zagnon: And I can continue to be so, if you lads would only be quiet.
The 1st and 2nd Triplets purse their lips.
Elder Zagnon: (Lifting the freshly carved Imperial Emblem into the sun's rays)
3rd Triplet: Wow. You must be determined to see the Imperial Palace walls if you're attempting to carve something as complicated as the Imperial Emblem.
2nd Triplet: Wow… its beauty under the sunlight is dazzling. May your wish come true, Oathfather. (Palms together, bowing)
Elder Zagnon: (Glancing at him) What are you doing? Oh, you distracted young ones. (Looking back at the emblem) You know the Imperial Emblem is very challenging to craft without an example—and very few such crafts are ever seen.
1st Triplet: So how were you able to carve it? There's no example here… unless—you saw it before?
3rd Triplet: But where, Oathfather?
Elder Zagnon: (Sighs, taking up a finer tool to refine the emblem) Not quite long ago, I must confess… the very holder of the Imperial Emblem was here himself.
The Triplets: What?!
FLASHBACK
To the moment the villagers bowed before Emperor Alf and Elva.
Elder Zagnon had stolen a discreet glance at Alf's hooded robes—and glimpsed the Imperial Emblem: a feather from a pegasus wing intertwined within its structure, hanging subtly from inside the hood.
Elder Zagnon: (Stunned) [The Elflord?!]
BACK TO PRESENT
The 2nd Triplet faints in sheer amazement.
3rd Triplet: Amusing! Shouldn't we tell the villagers?
1st Triplet: I agree…
Elder Zagnon: (Flicking wood shavings at their foreheads) Dummies.
They rub their heads, wincing.
Elder Zagnon: If he had wanted that known, it would have been. But he concealed his identity—and nearly the fact that he was the Yör.
3rd Triplet: True. The Yör and Yär have helped us greatly. Even the Cavens Cavians are begging to trade crops with us now. And it is extra fascinating that the Elflord is the Yör—that has never happened in history.
Elder Zagnon: (Tossing the emblem and tool onto the table, exhaling as he eyes the sky) It is. I miss my old friends. I have searched the penetrable Secret Paths and Passages and still haven't found Usgard… (picks up an irregular piece of wood and a sharpening tool) I wonder if T'Khaylun has won the maiden his heart desireth.
A cool breeze howls through the trees.
Elder Zagnon: (Suddenly furious) You despicable cheat! (Stabbing the wood furiously) I'll kill you for deceiving me!!
3rd Triplet: Uhhh, Oathfather…?
Elder Zagnon: (Glaring at them in fury).
3rd Triplet: (He and the others cower) Nothing. (They both bolt away).
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