Chapter 18 The Journey Begins

❄Snow❄

Snow found herself gazing at the pane of glass; looking at her reflection, the sun had just begun rising into the sky behind her. She appeared no different than yesterday, but the realization that she would be leaving her home for the first time in her life had begun to sink in. After pondering the hundreds of what-if scenarios, she finally accepted reality for what it was and started to rehearse how she was going to convince men, that she didn’t even know, to do something that they didn’t want to do.

“So, the upcoming vote for the Regalian construction… I am here to make sure you vote yes on it.”

She changed her posture to seem more imposing.

“I am here representing my mother. The High Queen, you must vote yes on the Regalian construction for your kingdom or else!”

Her shoulders lowered and her back hunched as she held her hands up like a beggar. Putting up a pity filled face.

“The slaves, you don’t want them to resume their backbreaking work? Right? Actually, you obviously would, but you must think about how they would feel…” She trailed off. That wouldn’t work. It was official-she was awful at this stuff. It’s one thing to mess with people in power, but it was another to negotiate while having something to lose. And, she wasn’t much of a negotiator. She should probably ask Lussuria for some advice on how to go about speaking to these councilors.

Snow turned away from her reflection and took a look around her recently cleaned room. Lamille had packed her bag, and the clothes she had on were sufficient for the first few days of the trip: she was ready to start heading out.

As she was strolling down the Royals’ Hall, Snow stopped by Gravis’ bedchambers to give her good-byes.

“Come in!” She heard Gravis call out after she knocked. The sound of rhythmic breathing could be heard as Snow entered.

Gravis’ room was probably the simplest out of all her siblings. Marble tiled floor with only the bare necessities as furniture: a desk, bed, night table, and large wardrobe. The only flair that indicated Gravis’s taste was a coat of arms that decorated each wall of the room. In the corner she could see Gravis doing pushups.

“Forty-seven…forty-eight...forty-nine…fifty.” Gravis finished with a huff as she hopped back up to her feet.

“You sure you didn’t start counting at 40 to impress me?” Snow joked as she stepped further into the room, but her sister was not in the mood.

“I heard you and Lussuria are leaving for the Mountaineer Kingdom. Mom won’t allow me to go with you, no matter how much I argued.”

Snow paused in what she was going to say and just looked at Gravis. Her sister seemed to tower over her, toned muscles on display in her exercise clothes and she seemed fully recovered from her injuries. It was rather impressive, and Snow decided to use that to

deflect from her own worries about her trip…

“You sure are tough Gravis. Look at you, all healed up and looking even stronger. I bet you’ve gotten better with your Frostblood too.

…but her sister was having none of it.

“I’m still weak, the frostblood is only a crutch. The fact that man overpowered me in that alley is proof I need to train harder. I don’t want to rely on that power if I don’t need to.”

“Well, part of why I need to do this is so I can be like you and the rest of the family. This is how I contribute. This is me ‘getting stronger,' I guess.” Snow shrugged, her uncertainty shining through.

“Don’t forget-those savages that attacked us were from the Mountaineer Kingdom, you need to be careful. If they were bold enough to attack us here, in Regalia, I can’t imagine how dangerous it would be in their own home. I told mom how it is absolutely stupid sending you two over there, but she wouldn’t listen to me.” Gravis growled; her frustration was obvious.

“Don’t worry she’s sending us with three Lotus guards. They are her personal soldiers. Better than the royal knights that were with us in the alleyway.”

“Those animals will still try though, I’m sure of it. Make sure to watch your back and Lussuria’s too; she’s too smart for her own good and gets arrogantly careless.”

“Don’t Gravis, I’ll be on extra alert.” Snow replied, subdued at the thought of needing to watch out for Lussuria too. It had never struck her before, but so far away from home, she would be the oldest one of their family present-the one with the responsibility of making sure everything turned out okay.

Gravis moved to her nightstand, unaware of her sister’s inner turmoil. She opened a drawer and took out a small, elegant dagger.

“Here take this.”

Its blade was six inches long, silver with a gold handle; the engraving ‘Freedom’ flashed across its side. Gravis spoke as Snow took a look at the weapon.

“Remember that day you shoved a popsicle into that bastard’s eye? You picked up his dagger and held it like a pro. Heh, I didn’t know you had it in you. I personally hate daggers, so I figured I would give you mine to be safe. Its small enough to fit in your boot.” She held it out for her to take. The dagger shined in the light.

“Wow Gravis, I appreciate it…but I don’t think I need to go as far as taking a weapon with me.” She responded.

“Are you kidding me? You don’t know how to use your frostblood. If something happens and you don’t have a way to protect yourself, you are screwed. Just take it.” Gravis huffed, then sheathed it and placed it into Snow’s right boot herself.

“Wow, you’re right. It fits perfectly.” Snow said, her uncertainty fading in the face of her sister’s insistence.

“Good.” Gravis nodded.

Then her older sister gave her a hug and whispered to her.

“I love you. Be safe, okay?”

“I will, I promise. Thanks Gravis.”

They stayed like that for a moment before they were interrupted by crying from the hallway.

“Lussuria! Don’t leave!” Lily cried as she grabbed onto Lussuria’s leg.

“I’ll be back soon. Time will fly by, and you won’t even notice, don’t worry!”

Lussuria had always been Lily’s favorite, so her reaction right now was hardly surprising.

“I don’t...want you…to leave!” Lily sobbed between her wailing cries. The streams of tears and snot ruining both Lily’s clothes and Lussuria’s-she really was an ugly crier. No matter what Lussuria said or did, Lily refused to let go. Gravis moved to help detach Lilly from Lussuria’s leg.

“Lily, get off her! Lussuria and Snow need to leave!

After Lussuria was free from Lily’s tearful clutches, she and Snow exited the castle gates. They could see the Royal Guard standing around and further up, their mother, who was talking to three men in black uniforms in front of an older looking carriage. These must have been the Lotus Guard coming along with them.

“Uh... my dear sister?” Lussuria asked nervously.

“Yeah Luss?”

“We wouldn’t be taking THAT carriage, would we?” Lussuria sounded terrified at the thought. Which strangely amused Snow, though she managed to hide that feeling and answered in a neutral tone.

“The inside will be comfortable, don’t worry Lussuria. I am sure there is a good reason we’re taking this one.”

“Ugh, this trip will be awful I can already tell.” Lussuria sounded defeated before the trip even began.

Snow privately thought Lussuria was being overly dramatic: Lussuria even looked as if she was going to cry. Snow ignored it and they continued forward up to their mother and the three men.

“Good, you two are here. Say hello to the men who will be watching out for you on your trip.” The three men wore high quality darkened jackets with many straps and pockets. Snow could see thin, dark metal armor just underneath the attire they were wearing, that looked like scales. The only indication of their affiliation was a white Lotus symbol in the middle of their chests. Lotus Guard were supposed to be specialists, but she didn’t know at what. She had barely seen any Lotus Guard in her life. Let alone three at once.

One of the men stepped forward. He had short brown hair and blue eyes; he smiled as he bowed.

“Greetings Princesses. My name is Arthur. I am the leader of our little team here. As you know we have been assigned to escort and accompany you on this trip.” He began to introduce his two partners. “Allow me to introduce my partner ‘Crow,’ he is our driver and our ‘eyes’ for this trip.” The man on his left who had long black hair and brown eyes gave a quick silent bow before Arthur turned to the man on his right. “As for him, you may refer to him as ‘Ares,’ he will be handling any hostility we run into.” Ares’s hair looked messy, and his jacket was unbuttoned exposing more of his armor than the other two. He appeared to be the only one with a weapon, something that looked like the fusion between a sword and axe. It was unique and caught her eye.

“Let’s hope that doesn’t happen... for our opponents’ sake.” ‘Ares’ laughed as he tapped his weapon.

“They are Lotus Guard, so show them respect.” Her mother stated. “Now, do you both have your insignias?” Snow and Lussuria both took out rather large medallions, proof of their royal status. “Good, make sure you do not lose them. Now, I believe Lamille should be bringing your belongings. Have a safe trip girls and don’t do anything too crazy while you are down there.”

After that short goodbye, their mother left. Not a minute later Lamille came hurrying to the carriage with their stuff. Lamille gave Snow a hug so tight she thought she would die, before seeing them off.