Suikoden VII

Chapter Seven: Part One

Note: The remaster is proving to be both a blessing and a curse. A blessing because I'm enjoying it, but a curse because it's absorbing a lot of my time. 😅

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Chapter Seven: Part One

Dawa and Sigrun didn't necessarily have a rivalry, but when Dawa was first assigned as Astraea's assist they would compete very good-naturedly regarding having sisterly roles with Astraea. One thing they used to compete about was brushing Astraea's hair. Though Dawa was responsible for maintaining Astraea's hair length below the required twenty-five centimeters, they both liked to play with her hair. Astraea didn't have a preference; she loved both of their company.

"Do you think they'll notice?" Sigrun asked. She was ascending the stairs leading to the war room beside Astraea, while Dawa and Ferdinand followed behind their respective charges.

"Not likely, Your Highness," Dawa said, her tone somewhat amused.

"To be fair, I did not notice until you pointed it out to me, Princess," Ferdinand said.

"Shh, we're here," Astraea quickly whispered over her shoulder. "Good morning!" she announced to the war room.

"Good morning, Your Majesty," the room chorused, saluting Astraea as she moved to the head of the table. Denzel, Vahan, Brendan (and their assists), David, Richard, Lambert, Regulus (with his bodyguards), Sasarai (with his advisers), Primrose, Viktor, and Brownie.

"Thank you all for coming so early," Astraea said with a small smile. "Rufino is fixing a breakfast buffet that we can attend after this meeting is over."

"He was trained by the Black Dragon Clan, right?" Richard asked. "I knew someone from that clan."

"So did I," Viktor said. "People kept showing up challenging him to cooking competitions. I was put on the judge's panel a few times."

"Our next focus is going to be on getting Kion and Philomena," Brendan said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Has there been any news from the capital since my defection?"

"For all intents and purposes Blutkrieger appears to be under lock down," David said. "The city is sealed."

"'Sealed'?" Denzel echoed, his brow rising. "The King must know our intentions."

"It's not surprising," Vahan said. "He's not been King so long without reason. He probably realizes that we're going to try for Philomena next and is keeping her under house arrest."

"Philomena is his favorite out of all us," Sigrun said. "It would make the most sense for the King to keep her closer."

"It sounds like it will be difficult to get the Princess to our side," Regulus said thoughtfully. "What about Prince Kion?"

"Our reports say he's north off the mainland in a sea patrol," David said. He glanced at Astraea. "We might have to—"

He suddenly stopped speaking. Everyone looked towards him in confusion and Astraea gave him a sideways glance. "What's wrong, David?"

"Your Majesty," he said after a moment, his brow furrowing. "Your hair."

Astraea broke out in a small and she pointed to him. "You're the first to notice!"

"What about her hair?" Sasarai asked.

"Well, you have it down and not tied back," Vahan observed. But then his eyes widened. "Astraea...! You've grown out your hair!"

"Yes, I have," Astraea said proudly, puffing out her chest a little. "Dawa, how long is my hair?"

"It's measured at thirty-four centimeters as of this morning, Your Majesty," Dawa said with a soft smile.