A Phoenix's Heart

Chapter 6: Meetings

Fuegoleon's point of view

The meeting room was stuffy and overcrowded with warm bodies and dusty papers. For the past week and a half, I've been in and out of meetings as a captain and as a member of the Royal Family. Mars and his now pregnant wife Fana, the new king and queen of the Diamond Kingdom; Lolopechka, the Queen of the Heart Kingdom; and a representative from the Spade Kingdom have been visiting.

"Okay," cheers the wizard King. "Just to recap all those been discussed: trade routes will be established between the Heart, Clover, and Diamond Kingdom; 20 magic knights will be stationed in the Spade Kingdom to help with their recovery; and the Border guard will be turned into a training program for healers, guards, support mages, and magic Knights. In a few years, an exchange program will be established for training between all of the kingdoms. Is that everything on our agenda?"

"Yes sir."

"I believe so."

"Then this meeting is adjourned!"

With that, we all stand and bow to each other in respect before exchanging goodbyes with the foreign Royals as they prepare to travel back to their home countries. I and the other attending couldn't help but yawn after the meeting was finally over. I overheard Yami grumble about how the meeting started at midnight to end at 10 a.m. I agree that the meeting could have been shortened or rescheduled. I study Estelle and William as they pass me, standing guards for Mars and Fana. I felt a sting of jealousy when he was chosen to help her and not me. I thought I had forgiven him for the past but I couldn't help but hate him and think of him as a traitor. I've Estella every day but it feels like she has never come out of hiding. She wears her old border guard uniform and stands at attention constantly. Never even looking in my direction.

I walk around the Magic Knights headquarters waiting for the next meeting to start. Rill suddenly jumps out at me from out of nowhere along with Dorothy, Charlotte, and Yami, all backing me into a corner.

"Sooo. What's with you and The Wizard King's sister?" teases Dorothy with a knowing smile that none of the others didn't seem to notice.

"Yeah! That's what I've been wondering. You've been making goo-goo eyes at her for weeks" cheerfully calls Rill pulling out his paint brushes and painting a caricature of myself with heart eyes.

I turn away, attempting to hide my blush but Yami blocks my way. He just smirks at me while smoking.

"What's going on with her? Do you know something we don't?" asks Charlotte.

"Didn't you grow up with her? What's your relationship with her? You watch her like a hawk these past few weeks. You even reacted to her every movement before everyone else did," teases Dorothy.

"Do you know what her magic is? What are her plans for the future."

"She mentioned a fiance."

"Come on Fuegoleon, confess."

I was bombarded with more and more questions as Nozel and Kaiser joined the group. "I understand that you are curious but my life isn't any of your busin..."

"That's not true," interrupts Dorothy. "If she joins one of our squads, we must learn about her past and power. Her relationship with you might affect our squads."

"Bold of you to assume she would join a squad. If multiple squads want a person to join them, they get to choose which one they want to join."

"Bold of you to assume she wouldn't. Is there a reason why you're so confident she wouldn't join one of our squads as opposed to yours? What about your relationship makes you think that?" quizzes Yami.