The following days proceed quite quickly.
I'm getting daily lessons about how to behave at the royal court, basic knowledge and history so I appear somewhat cultured, and some instructions about things I really should avoid if I don't want to start a war.
One day, after I returned from my lessons, a slightly trembling human messenger arrives at the temporary courtyard.
"P-pr-pr-princess E-Erys. I sh-shall i-inform you that th-the king's envoy w-wishes to c-consult you." (human messenger)
"Ehk, okay. I'll visit him." (E)
And as soon as he received my answer he's running as fast as he can back to the surface.
Poor guy, but I guess it's now part of his job to go to the insect base.
But maybe they should start to ask their messengers if they have any phobias.
So the king's envoy.
I don't envy him for his job.
He certainly was traveling for quite some time, just because he has to handle my audience affairs.
I should talk to him since he's handling everything regarding my invitation.
So I'll inform him that I'm coming.
But because the messenger already left I'll have to send my own to tell him that I intend to come this instant.
I believe it's basic courtesy that I ask for permission before bringing my whole escort.
Even if this isn't their role, I commonly use nurses to send messages to the castle.
The soldiers and servants simply react better to them.
They're not as intimidating with their smaller mandibles and lack of blade arms.
This is definitely a factor.
Since those are also very motivated with their tasks it doesn't take long for her to return and tell me that the envoy will receive me now.
I'm also bringing Honiu.
She basically got the role of maintaining the security and logistics of our delegation.
So it's important that she knows what the other party has to say.
Even if I don't think that she really cares about their opinion.
But at least I can try to mediate, right?
And because "a princess cannot be left unattended" this means her "personal nurse" is coming along, or in other words, my mum.
Also, it seems Kyska gave her some instructions, so she's now more discreet during my talks with the teachers or officials, if not for occasional winks in my direction.
So our group enters the castle through the now much more frequented gateways.
At least the guards got somewhat used to my presence by now.
Or rather the stupidly large escort of one hundred elite insects shadowing me wherever I'm going.
I mean their abilities advance continuously.
Now they even practice their security tactics while moving as teams.
Two to three teams of ten soldiers scout the rooms I'm entering and very diligently check all the entrances, while the rest makes sure that a route to escape is always maintained.
I think they are doing an efficient job, but I get why people might become nervous when my royal guard swarms a new room.
We almost had incidents the first few times when the guards thought this was part of an invasion.
Now that I'm thinking about it, I should talk to that envoy about this little trait of my escort.
No matter what I say, they won't stop with it, and I understand that a minimum of security has to be maintained.
And we shouldn't forget that I'm not the one who commands the "escort" troops here.
That's the lunatic next to me.
So I should appease her by showing that I'm not abandoning all my safety measures so she doesn't have to establish her own.
After passing the hallways our group reaches the place where the envoy established his office.
While my escort is no unknown sight at this point, I hope the envoy won't be caught off guard if he just arrived and like this isn't familiar with them yet.
But I don't hear any shouts after my escort entered before me, which is a good sign.
When I enter, the king's envoy smiles in my direction as soon as he spots me.
"Princess Erys... and Princess Honiu if I'm right. I was sent by his highness Kieran Redora to ensure that your trip to the royal palace runs smoothly. I've heard that my predecessor lacked in many ways and want to assure you that I'll treat you with the utmost respect." (Aaron)
He bows deeply to us and when he raises his head, there's that smile again.
(H)
"Ahem, I need to say that I am unfortunately not capable of speaking your language." (A)
"It was nothing of importance Sir..." (E)
"Please, call me Aaron. His majesty sent me here to make sure that you'll arrive safely at the palace and I plan to make this happen, beginning with your soon departure." (Aaron)
He has a certain firmness in his voice.
"Ehk, yes. I as well wanted to discuss the details of our audience. Principally, the necessary preparations for the journey and how our arrival will exactly commence." (E)
"I understand. We have already prepared a coach to depart as soon as you're ready. Just give the word." (A)
A coach?
Oh, he doesn't know how we arrived here.
I believe this is only a courtesy from his side, but we have already our... flesh carriage.
Now that I think about it, a real carriage wouldn't be so bad.
To be honest, I'd absolutely prefer it.
"Would it really be fine to travel by coach? Isn't this a bit difficult to organize?" (E)
I'm not even sure if the tunnels are all big enough for a real coach.
And to transport it below the earth in the first place might prove to be difficult.
"That won't be a problem. The roads to the capital are still mostly secured. Yet it's a bit of an effort. We have to send scouts in advance and prepare sufficient protection. To make full use of the light I'd like to depart early in the morning. After this, we'd travel with only a few stops till we reach our destination." (A)
The roads?
He's talking about traveling on the surface!
Oh my, when did I stop thinking about this as the natural way to move from one place to the other?
But it's a shame.
The Formicea are far too overprotective to allow any less than the secured tunnels.
Even though I still don't know how "terror worms" play into that.
But I guess they're not too frequent.
And then there is Honiu.
It seems impossible to convince her to do something as risky as this.
Or not?
(E)
(H)
(H)
If she says it like this...
(E)
The following days proceed quite quickly.
I'm getting daily lessons about how to behave at the royal court, basic knowledge and history so I appear somewhat cultured, and some instructions about things I really should avoid if I don't want to start a war.
One day, after I returned from my lessons, a slightly trembling human messenger arrives at the temporary courtyard.
"P-pr-pr-princess E-Erys. I sh-shall i-inform you that th-the king's envoy w-wishes to c-consult you." (human messenger)
"Ehk, okay. I'll visit him." (E)
And as soon as he received my answer he's running as fast as he can back to the surface.
Poor guy, but I guess it's now part of his job to go to the insect base.
But maybe they should start to ask their messengers if they have any phobias.
So the king's envoy.
I don't envy him for his job.
He certainly was traveling for quite some time, just because he has to handle my audience affairs.
I should talk to him since he's handling everything regarding my invitation.
So I'll inform him that I'm coming.
But because the messenger already left I'll have to send my own to tell him that I intend to come this instant.
I believe it's basic courtesy that I ask for permission before bringing my whole escort.
Even if this isn't their role, I commonly use nurses to send messages to the castle.
The soldiers and servants simply react better to them.
They're not as intimidating with their smaller mandibles and lack of blade arms.
This is definitely a factor.
Since those are also very motivated with their tasks it doesn't take long for her to return and tell me that the envoy will receive me now.
I'm also bringing Honiu.
She basically got the role of maintaining the security and logistics of our delegation.
So it's important that she knows what the other party has to say.
Even if I don't think that she really cares about their opinion.
But at least I can try to mediate, right?
And because "a princess cannot be left unattended" this means her "personal nurse" is coming along, or in other words, my mum.
Also, it seems Kyska gave her some instructions, so she's now more discreet during my talks with the teachers or officials, if not for occasional winks in my direction.
So our group enters the castle through the now much more frequented gateways.
At least the guards got somewhat used to my presence by now.
Or rather the stupidly large escort of one hundred elite insects shadowing me wherever I'm going.
I mean their abilities advance continuously.
Now they even practice their security tactics while moving as teams.
Two to three teams of ten soldiers scout the rooms I'm entering and very diligently check all the entrances, while the rest makes sure that a route to escape is always maintained.
I think they are doing an efficient job, but I get why people might become nervous when my royal guard swarms a new room.
We almost had incidents the first few times when the guards thought this was part of an invasion.
Now that I'm thinking about it, I should talk to that envoy about this little trait of my escort.
No matter what I say, they won't stop with it, and I understand that a minimum of security has to be maintained.
And we shouldn't forget that I'm not the one who commands the "escort" troops here.
That's the lunatic next to me.
So I should appease her by showing that I'm not abandoning all my safety measures so she doesn't have to establish her own.
After passing the hallways our group reaches the place where the envoy established his office.
While my escort is no unknown sight at this point, I hope the envoy won't be caught off guard if he just arrived and like this isn't familiar with them yet.
But I don't hear any shouts after my escort entered before me, which is a good sign.
When I enter, the king's envoy smiles in my direction as soon as he spots me.
"Princess Erys... and Princess Honiu if I'm right. I was sent by his highness Kieran Redora to ensure that your trip to the royal palace runs smoothly. I've heard that my predecessor lacked in many ways and want to assure you that I'll treat you with the utmost respect." (Aaron)
He bows deeply to us and when he raises his head, there's that smile again.
(H)
"Ahem, I need to say that I am unfortunately not capable of speaking your language." (A)
"It was nothing of importance Sir..." (E)
"Please, call me Aaron. His majesty sent me here to make sure that you'll arrive safely at the palace and I plan to make this happen, beginning with your soon departure." (Aaron)
He has a certain firmness in his voice.
"Ehk, yes. I as well wanted to discuss the details of our audience. Principally, the necessary preparations for the journey and how our arrival will exactly commence." (E)
"I understand. We have already prepared a coach to depart as soon as you're ready. Just give the word." (A)
A coach?
Oh, he doesn't know how we arrived here.
I believe this is only a courtesy from his side, but we have already our... flesh carriage.
Now that I think about it, a real carriage wouldn't be so bad.
To be honest, I'd absolutely prefer it.
"Would it really be fine to travel by coach? Isn't this a bit difficult to organize?" (E)
I'm not even sure if the tunnels are all big enough for a real coach.
And to transport it below the earth in the first place might prove to be difficult.
"That won't be a problem. The roads to the capital are still mostly secured. Yet it's a bit of an effort. We have to send scouts in advance and prepare sufficient protection. To make full use of the light I'd like to depart early in the morning. After this, we'd travel with only a few stops till we reach our destination." (A)
The roads?
He's talking about traveling on the surface!
Oh my, when did I stop thinking about this as the natural way to move from one place to the other?
But it's a shame.
The Formicea are far too overprotective to allow any less than the secured tunnels.
Even though I still don't know how "terror worms" play into that.
But I guess they're not too frequent.
And then there is Honiu.
It seems impossible to convince her to do something as risky as this.
Or not?
(E)
(H)
(H)
If she says it like this...
(E)
