thehometree | The Royal Court

She watches him closely when he shifts, pushing her own lips out in curiosity. But his words aren't surprising, so the tension relaxes from her shoulders as she resumes pouting at him.

"I'm going with you because of the danger. The others can speak with the queen. I don't want to deal with royalty." Her experience isn't as straightforward as those of their companions, so Orcelito's right, she wouldn't be of any help. Fortunate then that she'll yield the opportunity. "But I do at least want to see her for myself."

That he can understand - he’s curious too. But being in the presence of royalty means being responsible for your actions… and possibly even the actions of others. And while Riona has an excellent head on her shoulders, past experience leads Orcelito to hesitate. (That pouting expression isn’t lending him any optimism either. She shouldn't take this lightly.)

He shakes his head. “I know. But I… I don’t want you to get hurt.” There’s a lot of concern hidden in that line, but he controls it behind a steady gaze.

"If the ants decide to attack us, it won't be through any fault of mine. But if anything happens, we'll just—we'll protect each other."

The pouting unfortunately persists. She doesn't have her magic, yes, and that's unsettling for various reasons, but seeing Orcelito and Kit return from the last quest looking worn for wear left an impression that won't be easily dismissed. Her expression changes slightly, a bit of concern visible now.

"Tell me what you're so worried about."

He appreciates the reassurance, but reality is finally setting in. They’ll be in unknown territory, surrounded by an army, and reduced to basic weaponry. And external forces aside, he’s beginning to doubt if he can protect his teammates from each other… or themselves.

Orcelito considers his response, then glances towards the rest of the discussion for emphasis. He speaks carefully, and only to her.

“During the last trip, everyone had access to their powers. I saw how much everyone relied on them.” He spares a thought towards Saber and Gil in particular; without them, the ship’s crew may have drowned in that lake. “And I think everyone gets used to it after a while. When you think that nothing can hurt you… it is easy to do foolish things.

“I’m concerned someone may underestimate the situation and cause an offence, that’s all.” He tries to pass it off as a general concern, though there’s a familiar tightness in his chest. His personal history hardly matters now.

She listens and then contemplates his words. Seeing where Orcelito's attention goes for a moment, she believes she has a good enough understanding of where his concerns lie. People are dangerous. No matter what they say, it's their actions that define who they are, and you can never know the consequences of those actions until it's too late.

"... If it sets you at ease, I won't do or say anything when we're with the ants. But I am coming with you. You can't convince me otherwise. The ants are only the first step, right?" There's more to do after they meet the queen. She folds her arms loosely over her chest while settling her gaze on their companions; hers lasts longer than Orcelito's.

"I'm not underestimating anything. This tree has caused all sorts of trouble for us from the beginning, but it's people who frighten me more."

Not 'these' people, but people as a whole. Her pout fades into a soft frown a she continues.

"We don't have our magic, but we have weapons to protect ourselves if it comes to that. I do know how to use this." She nods her chin to her hip, where her dagger is strapped securely to a belt. Now, granted, she has yet to use the blade on people, but she's conquered her fears of wielding it months ago.

He resists a sigh, but allows a small smile to ease his expression. “I know you won’t.” He’s witnessed her caution and her kindness both, and he trusts her to be sensible. If something happens, she’ll just grit her teeth and stand by his side, no doubt. He probably can’t convince her otherwise… at least, not right now.

He blinks in surprise at her honesty. It’s one thing to show fear of people in one’s actions. It’s another entirely to admit it. He’s knows better than to voice his own mistrust, particularly when there’s a chance of being overheard. He needs the team to work together; if one of them heard him express more doubt than he already has, it would put a fracture in his influence.

Orcelito follows the gesture towards her dagger, and the fact that she’s willing to fight suddenly coalesces. It brings up a more familial concern. With barely a thought, he reaches forward to rest his hand on her shoulder. It takes effort to keep himself calm, and to find appropriate words, but his voice is gentle when he finally speaks. “Let’s do our best to make sure it doesn’t come to that.”

She'd grit her teeth so much she might crack a tooth, but she would hold her ground if that's what she promises. And if the ants somehow provide clues to leaving the forest and returning to their individual homes, she'll be on her best behavior. Until then, she'll be aware of herself, Orcelito, and the few others in the group she's acquainted with.

But truly, the ants are not her biggest concern when it comes to danger, army or no. In the end, they're just insects, and insects aren't capable of cunning or deceit, something Riona has been on the receiving end of more than once. Humans are capable of terrible deeds and she's seen too much for a girl her age. The fact that she admits this to anyone at all means that person is most likely exempt from her suspicions. It's only been a few months but she's come a long way to feel comfortable around her friend.

Her gaze returns to Orcelito, noticing the change in his voice, and stares at him for a long moment before nodding.

"Yes... I'm prepared, but I would rather avoid fighting." She pauses, her thoughts going back to something Orcelito said while speaking with the group. It's a slight shift in topic, but she asks, "... If you're going to speak with the ants, I think we'll be fine. We have Saber as well, and she's a knight. Hakuryuu as well. He's a part of an army himself. If anything does happen, I don't think it would be our fault."

He nods in agreement. There are those on this team he believes will present themselves appropriately. Agitha’s warm enthusiasm and Fuu’s polite manner both remind him that there are many ways to approach the encounter. He looks forward to seeing what his allies are capable of.

If only there wasn’t this fear. Fear not of failure, but of losing someone. Again. He tries to step back from the heavy sense of responsibility for now. He can’t control the actions of the others, and he won’t pay for their mistakes. Hopefully… hopefully the ants are intelligent enough not to hold the actions of one against a whole.

The best thing would be to focus on what he can do. And if Riona insists on accompanying him, he’ll need to prepare her. Based on the descriptions of the ant court’s previous visit, he should educate her on formal etiquette.

Orcelito gives Riona a pat on the shoulder before taking his hand away. “If you’re coming with us, let me instruct you in some basic decorum while we travel.” A wry smile and he adds, “I know you don’t want to speak to the royal court, but you should be able to understand the proceedings.”

The touch brings out a curious glimmer in her eyes, like it's a surprise, but she soon focuses on what Orcelito has to say. Then there's that smile... Well, an opportunity to learn is always a treat, and Orcelito's explanations are easy to grasp.

"Are we sure an ant's court is the same as a human's?" she asks skeptically. The idea of ants having a court to begin with still boggles the mind, but at least it's interesting. She had her hands full with learning the formalities for her own to-be court. She wishes she could tell him she does have an idea of how royals like to be treated, but that would mean revealing much more, and this isn't the place for that. But lately, she's been thinking the time for it is nearing. First, they'll have to get through this cursed quest.

“Heh, no, probably not.” He keeps a smile to cover his concerns. “But as I’ve heard from the others, the basic etiquette of showing respect to the queen was similar. As for the particulars… we’ll learn through observation.”

If she’s read stories about royalty, she may already have a basic idea of what is expected. But stories are not reality, and she lacks practical experience. Taking her question to mean she has reservations, he adds some encouragement.

“You told me you had a favorite story about a prince, right? Just think of this as… learning more about how he may have acted while visiting those other kingdoms.” Yes, it’s a stretch, but maybe she’ll feel better having someone familiar – even fictional – to relate to during this mission.

Stretch or no stretch, that's an interesting way to look at things and it's definitely caught her attention. Having something familiar to hold onto in such a foreign situation can only be beneficial.

"Mhm...that makes sense, I suppose. Yes, I'll try that." Her skepticism slowly fades and probably for the first time that day, she smiles. "I told you that so long ago. You actually remembered such a thing?" She can't deny that pleases her.

"If the etiquette is the same, then...I know one must wait to be addressed before speaking to royalty. Interruptions are unforgivable, and titles—ah, well, we don't know how the queen is addressed, do we?" She suddenly sighs, as the simple act of remembered her brief studies are enough to exhaust her. Learning was only entertaining enough until she had to go through the practices over and over and over again. If there was anything good about her nomadic-like childhood, it's that she didn't have to go through those studies again.

"Well, I won't be speaking to her to begin with. But you will, right?"

It’s always nice to see her smile. His tone lightens in response and he echoes her smile. “Of course! You remember details from our conversations too.”

His eyebrows raise in encouragement and interest. Ah, so she does know some basic etiquette. Good, that will get them started. “Yes, those are some general guidelines.” He pauses at the subject of address. “I suppose… if she’s queen, then ‘Your Majesty’ is appropriate. If her court calls her something else… there may not be a way to communicate it. Showing respect may be more important than the title we use in any case.” And from personal experience, he can promise that tone and delivery mean a lot more than the actual words spoken.

“Perhaps I will.” He admits. Though he’s prepared himself for it, he cannot deny that the encounter itself will determine whether he speaks or not. Saber is the one preparing bargaining supplies, so she may be the one to lead. What he has to offer… he is still thinking of. He will likely form his plan during the wagon ride and as he observes the situation.

The Royal Court

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