After the boat ride back to Snowfei, I hardly remember what happened. We did report everything back to queen Charlotte and got a stern scolding because we lost one item.. an oversight on my part I will admit. I underestimated the infamous Rika.

The next morning, I was summoned before the queen once again.

"What's the situation?" Was the first thing I asked when I entered the throne room.

"Gee, uptight much?" Was all I heard in response. I froze up when I saw the female who had said those words.

"You." Was all I managed to blurt out. It took a hard amount of self-control just to stay put.

"This is Diana Gwen. You already met her two months ago. She decided to generously help with the ceremony." The queen said breaking the tension.

"Ceremony?" I asked, filled with utter confusion.

"Yes ceremony." Charlotte continued. "Your ceremony. Since you've 'returned', we can finally celebrate your official crowning as princess of Snowfei."

I didn't trust myself to say anything. So I kept my mouth shut and just nodded. I mean I didn't know the queen would take this princess pretend so far..

I still can't keep up with all the royal stuff.. in fact I'm pretty untalented at table manners.

"Kianna has been working really hard on the ceremony, so I figured she could use some help knight." Diana added.

"You have a lot to explain to me Miss Gwen." I glared at her, she is an enemy to the knights.

"Yes, that's part of the reason why the Queen summoned me. To explain.. even though she could have done that herself.." She stared at Charlotte for a moment, then turned back to me. "You see.. I was sent by Queen Charlotte Whiteblind to steal some documents from HQ, and while I was successful I was rather sloppy.. I tried to return to Snowfei as soon as possible, but then you showed up and I had to take a detour. And there is that.."

"I'm not convinced. I still have questions." I responded to her explanation.

"Ask away. I don't want to be on your radar, that would prove quite troublesome for me."

And before she knew it, this whole conversation turned into my interrogation.

"You said that you came to steal documents, however in the case files nothing of theft is mentioned. Only physical assault."

"The document had some incriminating information on the knights. That's why they didn't want to publicize what I had actually done. But you shouldn't ask me that, you should ask the Queen." She glared at queen Charlotte once again.

"Why would you attack me and Kianna if you were working with the queen?" I asked.

"Simple misunderstanding. The Queen failed to inform me of your presence in Snowfei.. so I thought you were intruding."

"Did you think Kianna was an intruder as well?" I replied sarcastically.

"Kianna is way to naive to recognize a treacherous knight. I was just doing my job"

"Uh huh.." I almost chuckled at the thought. Kianna naive.. this woman doesn't know what she is talking about. "And your job is..?"

"Similarly to that idiot Seven, I serve the castle mostly.. but I would work for anyone wanting to pay up. I dirty my hands so you don't have to."

"It sounded awfully personal, that job of yours." I teased.

"I had my own motives for taking the job as well, don't stick your nose where it doesn't belong.. you pesky knight."

"Alright, I'm satisfied.. for now." I said finally.

"Listen here.. " she looked me in the eye. It was unnerving. "Don't think I haven't noticed how chummy you and Seven have gotten. Don't try anything.. I will slit your throat have I made myself clear?"

I slightly nodded turning my head away from her gaze.

"Good." Was the only thing she said, before she left the room.

..

...

"She has her way with words doesn't she?" I heard Charlotte say.

Even though I was stonger physically.. she still made me tremble with fear. She was so calm and composed this time around.. unlike last time.

Guess that makes up for her lack of combat abilities.

"Hello? Earth to Paper."

I slowly turned around.

"Yes?"

"Would you be so kind to help Kianna with preparations?"

I nodded and started to leave.

"Thank you very much.. also sister." I stopped. "Don't turn on the lights.."

"Okay."

I was in my room counting time and doing nothing productive for about twenty three minutes and forty seconds.

I was lost in thought..

The ceremony.. huh

Beings a suspended knight is the worst ugh..

I heard a knock on the door.

"Come in." I shouted.

"Stop skulking, I have one day off and Marko is filling for me. And you know I don't trust him."

I heard Seven say as he opened the room.

"Finally resting up? About time! I got really concerned about you." I walked up to him.

"Yes. And I need you to keep an eye on Marko while you help with the preparations so I can rest easy... Please I give you all rights to physically hit him just- What's with the formal attire..? Aren't you the rebelious princess knight or something?"

"Yes well, I better work on the princess part before someone gets suspicious.. now if you'll excuse me, I need to find Kianna." I walked out if the room.

"Fix your corset." He added before I rushed off

Kianna didn't show up at her usual work hours today because of the preparations so I have no idea where she might be..

I'll check the potion shop and ask her sister.

I heard the bell ring when I set foot in the potion shop and it was a mess.

"Ah princess..! Very sorry but we are pretty crowded at the moment because of the upcoming ceremony!" Kae said in a hurry.

"Is there any way I can help?" I asked.

"If it's not to much trouble,until my fiancé gets back, thank you.."

We finished some of the deliveries after one hour, fourteen minutes and two seconds.

"Once again I thank you. Please take this free potion." I took the potion and observed the contents of the bottle.

"Is this some kind of medicine? Why would I need this?" I was quite confused, why would Kae give me something like this?

"That's one way to look at it. Royal blood gets powers on their coronation ceremony, and that magic is sometimes harder to control.. so this potion can help reduce magic for a while until the person gets used to it. Didn't Charlotte tell you as much?"

Right, royals. Ha ha ha

"No, she did not." Does Charlotte have magical powers too?

"Thanks.. I'll keep this gift close by.. I got side tracked!" Honestly, how did I even forget?

"Have you seen Kianna anywhere?"

"Kianna? Well, she is helping with preparations besides the frozen lake."

"Okay thank you again! I must go!" I quickly left to find Kianna.

My head hurts from all the information I have to keep track of.. let's just get this over with..

"Paper..! Where have you been?" Marko said when I arrived.

"I got distracted, how are the preparations going.?" I inquired, scanning the area for Kianna.

"Pretty great, all things considered! I get to fill in for Seven!! I finally don't have to sit in an office all day!"

"You sure seem.. enthusiastic.." Lucky him, I was soo tired..

"Yes! You should have seen the look on Sevens face when Kianna replaced him with me temporarily.. he was so angry!" Marko chuckled slightly at the thought.

"Yeah well, he did also say to keep an eye on you soo.." Marko continued to laugh while I said that.

"He also said I could hit you whenever I want!"

"Eek!" Marko shrieked and jumped back a little.

"Marko!" Marko turned behind to see Kianna "Break time is over. Go help with the stage!"

"Not even a small chat with me?" His question was met with silence. "Okayy.. I'm going now.!" Marko waved us all goodbye before he walked away.

"Could I speak with you for moment?" I asked Kianna.

"Yes of course! What do you need?"

"What is the porpoise of this ceremony exactly? I mean, why go through all this trouble of setting this up..? Can't we just lie about me already having a small coronation and move on?" I brought up the question that has been sitting on my mind recently.

"I don't want to do this either, but the thing is.." she pulled me off to the side where no one could hear us "the real Paper was supposed to have an official coronation before she bailed. If we don't so this.. the people will get suspicious. I also think that the Queen has ulterior motives.. but that's just my hunch." Kianna explained quietly. I nodded.

"Can I do anything to help around here?" I then asked.

"I appreciate the gesture but you have already have a lot of responsibilities right now.. you need to act like a royal.. and like Paper Whiteblind.. you will also have to dance before the crowning.. and, no offense.. but you lack all of the abilities mentioned."

"None taken." And for the first time I hate playing pretend.

"I know you don't like acting like a princess.. but you're gonna have to fake it until you make it. And we have only a week to accomplish it. Meet me at 3 o'clock sharp in the ballroom tomorrow. Marko will help as well." Kianna snickered mischievously when she mentioned him. "And try to practice your table manners.. seriously."

And with that said we parted ways.. I went back to the castle and rushed straight into Papers room.

I'm a knight, I went on countless different deadly missions and this is what stumps me? You have to be joking me..