“Let’s go with a white and silver motif, complemented by sapphire and peridot accents,” the empress went on decisively. “That is, a white base with silver embroidery... Ah, and we’ll need a shawl with a diaphanous material, something like the delicate lace of a veil. To enhance the mystique.”
Now that the color scheme had been decided upon, my mother-in-law was all too eager to finalize my garment, suggestion after suggestion tumbling from her lips. Of course, Her Majesty’s taste was exquisite, and I found myself nodding in agreement to each addition to the design. Truthfully, I began to feel as if my presence was a little unnecessary, if all I was going to add to the process was a tacit approval for each and every one of the empress’s ideas. It seemed she sensed this too, for she suddenly left off examining the designs and got to her feet with a graceful rustle of her skirts.
“Carolina, would you entrust the matter of your Saintly attire to me?” she asked.
“Of course. I would be much obliged,” I replied with a twinge of relief.
“Excellent. Then, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be borrowing a room,” she announced, signaling her intention to depart. I attempted to express my gratitude, but she waved it away with a shrug and a casual “It’s my pleasure, dear” before sweeping imperiously from the room.
I sincerely hoped her words expressed a genuine sentiment, as entrusting the dress to her capable hands left me feeling somewhat guilty for walking away from the entire affair. With the matter of the Saintly regalia more or less settled, all that remained for me to settle was the matter of my formal gowns, which Marisa and I could handle later tonight. Bringing along two or three should suffice, I mused, as I reached for a cup of my handmaiden’s finest.
After taking a moment to savor the brew’s luxurious aroma, I turned to Teodore, who had settled onto the single-seater sofa in the empress’s absence. “Speaking of the meeting with the church, how did it go?” I asked. “Was the matter of my security detail settled?”
As an offshoot of the church, the Faith Council fell under its jurisdiction, which included the protection offered by its paladins. However, my status as an imperial princess consort added a layer of complexity. The imperial family was understandably reluctant to relinquish all control over my security arrangements.
“Yes, I am pleased to report that we have reached an amicable agreement,” Teodore said. “The Pyreborn will be collaborating directly with the paladins to ensure Your Highness’s safety. You can expect to see members from both factions accompanying you at all times.”
“Oh my, is that all right?” I asked. “Will there be no issues with the paladins and Pyreborn dividing the responsibility?”
The paladins served our God; the Pyreborn, their imperial lords. Both groups carried a profound sense of pride in their roles, and I was wary that such divided loyalties could potentially ignite conflict.
But Teodore assuaged my concerns with an easy smile. “Rest easy, Your Highness. Our knights know exactly what’s at stake. If they so much as twitch towards the paladins, they’ll find themselves with a ticket home. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime honor, guarding the Saint. I trust that both sides will play nice.”
“Ah, I... I see,” I managed, feeling my cheek give a slight twitch of its own. It was evident that Teodore had employed some...rather coercive methods to maintain discipline among his knights. While it was somewhat disconcerting to realize how well he knew their dislikes and how readily he used that knowledge to ensure compliance, I could not deny the pragmatism behind his approach. We certainly could not afford any lapses during the proceedings, especially in the matter of my security...
Just then, Teodore lightly tapped his palm, as if he’d remembered something. “Ah. It has also been decided that I will personally oversee your transportation during the events—using my teleportation magic.”
I let out an unseemly noise. Teodore would be teleporting us...to other countries? It wasn’t the notion itself that gave me pause, but the fact that he intended to transport all of us. Including my security detail? That would be a few scores of men at the very least. Wouldn’t such a feat overly tax him?
Teodore smiled reassuringly. “It will just be the five of us, Your Highness. The remainder of our forces will convene with us at the destination.”
“Oh, I see! Then they’ll be dispatched beforehand? That’s a relief.” I exhaled deeply, feeling the tension drain away as I settled back into the cushions. It was reassuring to have even one less thing to worry about amid the chaos.
“Does that mean they’re already en route?” I asked. “I’m sure Malcosias won’t be a problem, but what about Celestia and Noir? They are quite distant, and Celestia is our first destination.” I cast my mind back to the details of the itinerary we had confirmed the previous evening.
“Indeed, the detachment headed for Celestia has already departed,” Teodore confirmed. “The team for Noir will follow shortly.”
“That’s good to hear,” I said. “I pray for their safe and uneventful journey.”
My concern lingered for the knights venturing into foreign lands, but Teodore shrugged off my worries. “I’m confident they’ll manage,” he assured me casually. “They’ve been instructed to avoid all dangerous areas, and they are well-equipped with both arms and provisions. Besides, we’ve selected some of our most highly decorated veterans for this mission. Should any issues arise, I trust in their capabilities. Rest easy, Your Highness,” he added, his lips curling into a reassuring half-smile.
Well, if their vice commander holds them in such high regard, what room is there for my worries?