As I burned with righteous fervor, Ed broke out into a half smile. “That’s my wife,” he proclaimed proudly. Lifting a strand of my hair, he brushed it with a tender kiss. His golden zircon eyes locked onto mine with such intensity, such belief, that a warm blush spread across my cheeks and all the way up to my ears. I cast my gaze down, allowing my hair to fall across my face, hopefully hiding my flustered expression from the others.
Teodore shook his head. “Out of respect for the occasion, I will overlook this episode of rather...indiscreet behavior. Well said, Your Highnesses.” I could see the effort it took him to bite back a lecture on propriety; instead he simply stared at us in mild annoyance. Then, with a tired sigh, his shoulders visibly relaxing, he snapped his sheaf of documents. “Princess Carolina. Know that my following counsel is independent of Lady Flora’s presence at the trials; there is no need to hold back this time. Wield your power to its full extent. Demonstrate to all your true capabilities.”
I nodded decisively at his bold words. I felt the corners of my lips curl ever so slightly upwards as the figurative shackles that had bound my strength at the last trials slipped from my wrists and clattered to the ground. I was no longer afraid of the upcoming reunion with Flora.
Those in attendance at the Saintly Trials shall bear witness to the full magnitude of my power!
A scant fortnight later, the day of the Saintly Trials arrived. Spurred on by a clear goal and fortified by weeks of preparation, I gazed out the carriage window, my emotions a tangle of excitement and anxiety as we clattered our way towards the central cathedral. The streets of the capital were nearly hidden from my view, obscured on all sides by the line of defensive carriages flanking ours. The somewhat excessive security inevitably drew curious glances. Adults paused and stared, while children ran alongside, waving energetically. Some, recognizing the heraldry on the carriages that marked our convoy as that of the Malcosian Saintly candidate, even shouted encouragement. Though embarrassment tickled my chest, I was emboldened all the same by the vocal support of my people. I best not let them down!
As I smiled and waved back at my well-wishers as well as I could, Teodore observed me from his vantage point on the other side of the carriage with a chuckle. “It seems you’ve become quite the people’s champion, Your Highness. Isn’t that wonderful?”
“Ch-Champion?” I echoed bashfully. “Not at all. It’s the Malcosian Saintly candidate they’re cheering on, not me.”
“Then I do hope that Your Highness wasn’t expecting that they will cheer on the Malcosian Saint any less?” Teodore replied with a sly grin.
Ed nodded his head before I could retort. “A beautiful Malcosian Saint no less.” His face was as impassive as usual, but so was his earnest golden gaze, always shining with the full force of his sincerity.
Embarrassed, I felt my cheeks flush deeply.
“Now you’ve done it, Your Highness. She’s as red as an apple,” Teodore teased.
“Lina doesn’t like to be complimented,” Ed replied. “But that just makes me want to do it all the more.”
His smooth, rumbly baritone sent shivers down my spine. In a futile attempt to hide my blush, I quickly pulled the hood of my robe over my face—only to have my efforts thwarted by Ed, who craned his head around to peek underneath. “I almost forgot to say—Lina, that robe suits you well. Almost too well, as if it were designed just for you.”
The most distressing element of Ed’s penchant for affectionate whispers and tender gestures was his apparent obliviousness to the effect of his own actions! When faced with his warm, sincere gaze and gentle words, I had no choice but to fly the white flag of surrender, dropping my defenses and removing my hood once more.
The white robe I was wearing, accented with blue for purity and pea green for healing, had been specifically designed for the Saintly candidates to wear on this auspicious occasion. Only Ed, with his unwavering honesty, could make me feel deserving of such significant attire. But then again, Ed’s perspective was perhaps the only one that truly mattered to me—if he approved of my attire and the status it conferred, then that was all the validation I needed.
“Thank you, Ed,” I said, only a little bashfully.
“For what? Saying what’s on my mind?” he replied, tilting his head in genuine confusion.
Just then, the carriage rolled to a stop, the pure white facade of the cathedral towering before us, monopolizing the view through the windows. The journey had flown by surprisingly quickly thanks to the pleasant company. The cathedral square, closed to the public for the occasion, appeared unusually empty. The only figures visible were a few clergymen, with the deserted expanse of the plaza dotted here and there with empty royal carriages. Thankfully, there would be no crowd of onlookers to give me pause as there would be at the Trials themselves.
Once we had drawn to a complete halt, the coachman promptly opened the door and set down the step, allowing us to disembark. Acknowledging his service with a subtle nod, we filed out of the carriage.
Wispy white breaths escaped our lips as we emerged from the cozy warmth into the crisp December air—Ed’s fire magic had kept us pleasantly toasty on the journey. I wrapped my robe tighter around me, grateful for the additional layer of protection against the chill. I felt a gentle tug at my hand.
“Lina, it’s freezing out here. We shouldn’t linger,” Ed said.
“Catching a cold at this juncture would be no laughing matter,” Teodore added.
Heeding the thoughtful advice of my two companions, I advanced towards the main doors, relishing the satisfying crunch of snow beneath my feet. The path across the square was well-tended, the snow shallow and packed tightly underfoot. At every icy patch or step we encountered, Ed cast a protective glance my way; he expressed his concern in a gentle reminder to tread carefully—a gesture I acknowledged with a tender smile and a word of thanks. Trailing behind, Teodore maintained a discreet distance but an equally vigilant watch.
As we approached the imposing entryway of the cathedral, the paladins standing guard bowed deeply. When we crossed the threshold, the biting cold gave way to an enveloping warmth, a comfort that seemed improbable given the open doors gaping wide to the frosty outside air. The juxtaposition felt strange on my skin, but I knew the feel of fire magic well, and I turned my mind to other things.
“Teo, is our greenroom to the right?” Ed said.
“The left, Your Highness. Really, how many times have I explained the route to you since this morning?” Teodore shot Ed a sharp sidelong glance.
Sensing the incoming lecture, Ed’s gaze immediately started to wander. “F-Five times? I don’t know,” he stammered. “But I was listening. I just...don’t remember, that’s all.”
Teodore’s lips slipped into his familiar dubious smile. “‘That’s all,’ Your Highness? Indeed, that is all. What other matters could possibly be vying for your attention than to simply recall what I tell you?” His peridot eyes glinted with reproach. “Perhaps my efforts would have been better spent discussing our plans with someone who doesn’t possess the memory of a chicken.” He sighed. “Regrettably, I anticipated as much, which is why I am here—to guide your perpetually scattered thoughts into something that approaches the capacity of the adult man I am assured that you are. Please, follow me, Your Highness, if we hope to arrive at the greenroom with any semblance of punctuality.”
Teodore’s tongue was as sharp as ever today. Sharper than usual, perhaps, as his typical digs at Ed were now blatantly unveiled (though I would not dare to make this observation to him out loud.)
“L-Lead on,” Ed quietly acquiesced.
“Follow me closely,” Teodore replied, tightening his smile. He placed his hand over his heart in a gesture of loyalty, then stepped forward to lead the way. But after only a step, he paused and turned. “I trust, Your Highness, you do not presume we’ve exhausted the topic of your elusive memory. We shall delve deeper into this matter upon our arrival.”
Ed’s eyes widened in dismay. You mean that wasn’t it? his expression seemed to say. But it seemed he had no courage left to voice his protest, and he only nodded sadly in resignation.
Teodore allowed himself a satisfied smirk, and we resumed our trek through the echoing corridors of the cathedral. We had scarcely rounded the next corner when our procession was stopped again by a figure emerging from around it. She was cloaked in the same robe that was draped upon my own form, her silver-blonde hair loosely tied back, her breathing heavy and strained. Despite her evident exhaustion and frazzled aura, I recognized her immediately.
It was my elder sister, Flora.
Teodore had mentioned she would be participating in the trials, so I had braced myself for a reunion, yet I hadn’t envisioned it to be so sudden an encounter, here in the quiet confines of the cathedral’s corridors. Surprised, I observed her closely. She was as yet unaware of my presence, her gaze downturned, her fingers carefully massaging her neck. It was only when she looked up that our eyes met, and her reaction was one of unmistakable surprise. This encounter was clearly unplanned. Her padparadscha sapphire eyes darted about, betraying a fleeting hesitation. Then she took a deep breath, forced a weary smile onto her pale face, and stepped forward with a warmth that belied her initial reservation. “Carolina, it’s so wonderful to see you, sister. I’ve missed you dearly.” She then turned to Ed and dipped into an elegant curtsy. “And my sincerest greetings to Your Highness, Prince Edward. Thank you for looking after my little sister so well.”