Spanning the great river Feitas, in the center of the Queendom of Falena, stood the Royal Capital of Sol Falena, home of the Sun Palace. Standing just outside of the shadow of the river's source, the Ashtwal Mountains, Falenans were fond of calling it the most beautiful city in the world, upon which the sun never sets.

The Crown Princess was not inclined to be so generous. She loved her home of course, but for all the sparkling waters and marble architecture, she was also constantly assailed by fawning, scheming nobles about one favor or another. Not to mention gossip rags about the... aesthetic draw of her family and the knights (and, most recently, a new Rune mistress?). The latter she put herself through, technically, as knowing the latest buzz in the capital had obvious benefits, but quite a bit of it was drek. Increasingly dangerous drek, in fact. Falena had no laws about Lese Majeste, technically speaking, but that hadn't stopped her royal mother from nearly going on a Sun Rune fueled execution spree when she heard one tabloid had published a particularly detailed and LURID story about a supposed affair between Princess Freyja herself and the aging senior Queen's Knight Galleon. It took quite a bit of soothing from the princess to convince Queen Arshtat to calm down, and even then Freyja was obliged to send Queen's Knights Zahak and Kyle to the paper's offices. They were supposed to suggest that the paper issue a retraction and find something else to write about in the future. And indeed, Sol Secrets did exactly that, though the Princess imagined that the company packing up and departing for Rainfall was an additional bit of prodding from Zahak.

Far more irritating than any tabloid were the nobles, not the least because Freyja could at least stop reading the tabloids if she wished, while the nobility hounded her in the halls of her own home. It had always been such, granted, and to a point she was fine with that since it was her duty as the heir to the throne to hear such supplications, no matter how petty or foolish. However, it had gotten worse over the last two years, both due to her drawing closer to being of age and because people seemed to think that she was the key to getting whatever they wanted out of an increasingly erratic Arshtat.

Would that I had such influence over Mother, thought the princess as she strolled down the hall with Miakis, occasional clusters of people scurrying to go around the two. Eventually, the pair rounded and corner and a small comet made impact with the heir to the throne. Only years of training in poise and restraint kept her upright, her reaction confined to a small wince and an 'off' as she looked down at the tiny brunette that had impacted her, who'd stumbled back and was rubbing her own head a bit. "Ah, there you are Lym. What have mother and I said about running in the halls?" The elder sister scolded the younger.

Second Princess Lymsleia, all of 10 years old, managed to at least look somewhat contrite. "Sorry big sis," she said, smoothing her dress before shifting to a smile, "but I heard Auntie was back! Mom's been sending her on all these inspections, I hardly get to see her anymore!" The smile shifted to a frown, "In fact I don't get to see you much now that you're helping Mom all the time, and we live in the same house!"

"Princess!" came an indignant bark from behind the younger sister, as a short girl with black hair ran up behind her, dressed in the black and gold of the Queen's Knights (despite technical apprentice status). "It is your sister and aunt's duty to help Her Majesty run the country, you shouldn't pout about it... or run in the halls! OR call the Sun Palace a 'house!'"

Miakis giggled from her place behind the elder sister, "having trouble with babysitting duty today Lyon?"

The effect was immediate, as the younger royal stamped her feet, causing her sister to sigh and develop a slight headache in anticipation of the next few minutes. "'Babysitting!?' Who are you calling a baby Miakis!?" Then, after a moment's thought, "And stop picking on Lyon! She's the best bodyguard there is!" The second princess gave a 'hmph,' crossed her arms, and turned away.

"If you feel that way," Freyja interjected before her own bodyguard could prod her favorite teasing targets further, "then perhaps you should make things a bit easier on her? Less running about at top speeds, perhaps?" The younger princess looked down, kicking her feet a bit. The message sinking in, her sister continued, "Now, as for Aunt Sialeeds, she was tired from her trip and went to bed after reporting to Mother, Father and I. Do you want to wake up Aunt Sialeeds?" A furious shaking of the head was the response: Sialeeds Falenas' temper on waking was legendary. "Right, so: I unfortunately have a bit of work to do at the Senate House and then I myself will be turning in. However, our Aunt isn't going anywhere for a bit and my schedule is clearer tomorrow, so we'll play then, alright?"

A pair of arms thrown around the royal waist, with a muffled, "I love you big sis," was the response this time.

Patting her younger sibling's head, Freyja smiled, "I love you too Lym. Now, run along and don't cause trouble for Lyon, ok?"

Removing herself from her sister's skirts, Lym looked up with a bright smile and nodded, before going off with her bodyguard.

"My, my," Miakis murmured, "no matter how many times I see it, you've got the magic touch with that little firecracker. If Lady Sialeeds tried to lecture her like that half the palace would hear them."

"It's a feedback loop," Freyja replied, turning down a staircase and into the main hall, intent on exiting the main building entirely, "once one person starts yelling the other will respond, and then it just turns into who's louder. Those two are especially bad about it, but it's hardly uncommon."

"...You sound like Lord Rovere," was the whispered, sad response.

"That's the most dangerous thing you could possibly say in this city," Freyja wheeled on Miakis, replying equally quietly. "Never do so again."

Miakis nodded, then forced a change of subject. "So... let's go see who's trying to get under the royal skirts, shall we?" Her charge scowled, and strolled towards the main gates without reply, intent on the senate house.