The Next Sovereign

Chapter 4: The Problem

It was a bright and sunny morning; sunlight seeped through the windows and the new day exuded positivity and presented new opportunities. 

Walking down these precious hallways were a princess and her servant conversing between each other. "What a brilliant morning, isn't it Lucien?" Valeriya smiled softly, facing his direction. "Yes it is, Your Roya- Valeriya." Lucien smiled back. "So what's our meal today?" She asked with curiosity in her tone whilst tilting her head. "I heard from the others that it was egg and cheese soufflé." He told her. "Ah, that sounds lovely." 

They were casually strolling through the hallways unhurriedly, talking about the competition. "I spectated your practice yesterday. You usually avoid Mizuki's attacks, though it seemed you kept letting her hit you. What seemed to be the matter?" Lucien questioned. "Frankly, I was getting tired of doing fights everyday. I despise that we have to do the competition. Why can't me and Mizuki just both be queens?" Valeriya looked down, visibly saddened. She remembered when she asked a similar question back on that day, when Caieta announced the event. "I don't know. I-I mean, it's always been like that where there is only one queen, but..." the volume of the servant's voice gradually faded, until he was quiet and didn't say anything. The brunette princess unpredictably asked him about the kingdom's prized possessions. "Why do you think Mother doesn't let us train with the kingdom's necklaces?"

There were four kingdoms, each having their own magical necklaces. Zemira, Valeriya's kingdom, had necklaces that granted aerokinesis and other related powers. The three other kingdoms beyond theirs had necklaces of pyrokinesis, hydrokinesis, and terrakinesis.

"Well uh, why are you asking me, Val?" Lucien shrugged. "I'm not exactly certain. It might be for Mizuki to not y'know.. be violent and everything?" he added. Valeriya nodded in understanding. She pondered for a while, with her finger on her lips. "I was talking to Mother, and when I asked her about the whereabouts of the necklaces so I could perhaps practice using them, she said they were kept hidden behind a certain place in the throne room." She mentioned about a conversation between her and the queen. They were conversing more about the necklace, not knowing a certain someone was walking down the hallway behind them overhearing their discussion. "Mother really thought that she could hide them from me." the golden-haired princess mischievously smiled, and the three made their way to the dining room for their breakfast.

Everyone had soon arrived at the dining room and they sat down, looking at their plates in wonder. The main dish was indeed egg and cheese soufflé, as Lucien stated, but there was also fresh salad as a side dish as well as lemon water for the morning drink. "Alright, let's enjoy our meals now." Caieta announced, and everyone started to dig in. Valeriya used her dinner spoon and ate her soufflé, adoring its taste and beaming. Queen Caieta laughed silently, observing this. "I see you like our breakfast this delightful morning, dear." she spoke. The brunette looked up, let out a tiny giggle and nodded. "Yes, Mother." 

The grey-haired queen and the auburn-haired princess prated about food, yet the golden-haired princess had yet to speak. Mizuki was unusually quiet, mulling over what her sister mentioned earlier. Hiding behind something in the throne room...? She pondered over it. What could be that 'something' it was hiding behind? The throne room, as she remembered, featured the portraits, the thrones, the pathway, the stained windows.. was there maybe a secret puzzle that when solved, revealed the necklaces? She planned to check the location of the necklaces later on.

Each of the monarchs went to their quarters, yet one was devising a plan to take the artifacts hidden in the throne room. Pacing around the room trying to think of a scheme to get the heirloom concealed within the throne room, Mizuki looked behind the thrones and under the carpet, while Mio stood at the throne room's entrance, watching vigilantly for anyone coming. "Are you sure this is a good idea, Your Royal Highness?" the maidservant sighed. "Of course it is, Mio! Imagine the power I'd have when I get my hands on those necklaces!"

Mizuki then looked up at the portrait of her father, a metaphorical light bulb lighting up in her head. "Of course! Behind the portraits!" She approached each portrait one by one and took them down temporarily, and found five special boxes behind her father's portrait. This made her happy. "They are hidden behind your portrait, Father dear... you truly are a splendid man." Mizuki stared at the boxes for a while. "Let's not steal these now though, maybe..." A long pause is shown, then her face lit up with a scheme, "A day after my celebration, certainly. I'll have my father's necklace, by then." She smirked in victory, yet it faltered to the thought of- "There might be an alarm - it didn't ring when I took the portraits off though, maybe it turns on the moment I open the boxes. Knowing my mother, she'll be extra careful..." She thought carefully, and it took a while but then she got it. "I have to do it quickly, remembering my father on the field, his necklace can teleport." She had a smirk plastered on her face, "By the end of that day, I, Mizuki Leighton, will have my father's necklace within my hold." She said pridefully as she returned the portraits.

Mio ran towards Mizuki. "Your Royal Highness, have you found it? The queen is incoming." Mizuki nodded joyously, held her maidservant by the wrist, and hid behind a pillar. Caieta entered with two servants and sat down on her throne. "What shall we get done today?" Mizuki and Mio cautiously creeped behind the pillars and made it out of the throne room, then sprinted towards Mizuki's room. While they ran Valeriya and Lucien spotted them. Valeriya waved and Mizuki didn't even bother waving back. They continued to dash and the princess was suspicious. "Why do you think they are in a hurry, Lucien?" The servant shook his head. "I don't know, Val." They didn't spend time pondering about it and continued to roam around the castle leisurely.

The golden-haired princess shut the door and panted, and the brown-haired maid dusted off her dress. "That certainly got my heart pounding." Mizuki smirked. "At least I have located the necklaces, however." She faced Mio, and the latter looked back, slightly afraid. "Thank you for your services. Without you, Mother would've walked in on me."

That was unusual. Mio almost never got thanked for being helpful. She bowed and smiled. "Just my duty, Your Royal Highness."