♔ Elise’s eyes widened at the compliment. It was strange, especially coming from one of her family’s major rivals. It was good, though— it made her heart skip a beat, her face flush with hot red hues— but it was strange. Elise couldn’t recall a time when she had been called beautiful by someone other than her family or close friends. Sweet, cute, precious, maybe… but never beautiful. It was a strange, yet lovely feeling.
♔ A sunny and cloudless day like this one could never keep Elise inside the castle. After lunch, the young girl bolted through the castle halls and out the door before anyone could try and stop her. She took a moment to feel the warm sun on her fair skin, arching her back and raising her head up towards the sky. Elise sighed cheerfully, and continued to run towards a small forest near her home.
Elise stopped in her tracks when she saw it— the perfect tree. It was tall, but not too tall. Sturdy looking branches stuck out from the trunk close to the ground. It would be a breeze to climb. With a determined smile, Elise ran towards the tree, and like a small monkey she climbed it with ease. The bright sun and sky grew closer and closer as she climbed higher, her breaths becoming rapid and drops of sweat trickling down the side of her face.
The cracking of a branch and a rustling sound near a bush caused Elise to pause. Maybe someone was looking for her? She carefully turned around and sat down on one of the thicker branches, quietly waiting for someone to appear under the tree she was hiding in. Through the tree’s leaves, Elise could make out a small figure of a redheaded young girl wearing a dress. She looked vaguely familiar, but Elise was sure she wasn’t from Nohr.
The sweet smell fills her nose and Luna knows almost immediately, leaning against her door frame with a smirk, Luna looks over the selection that fills the younger’s arms. She could practically taste it from where she was standing.
“ Perhaps if you… spare a few than I would be more than happy to keep this a secret. “
♔ Elise’s guilty smile turned into a bright grin, and she darted into Luna’s room before she could object. Elise set down the mini tarts she was carrying onto a wooden table, and raised up a finger signaling Luna to wait a moment. She then took a couple of minutes to chew and swallow all the sweets she had in her mouth, before inviting Luna over to the table.
❝ Ok, so here we have some raspberry tarts— here are two strawberry tarts, but I want one of those— and then here are a couple of blueberry ones! You can pick whatever you want! ❞
After she spoke, a soft sigh escaped her pale lips. Closing the wind tome in her hands, Kaida shook her head and sat on the ground. Doing magic was hard, and taking up a whole new identity was even harder. The worse part of all was that she was alone.
Well, for the time being she was.
Not even a moment later, there was someone there, and Kaida did her very best not to panic. For she never knew what could come about in this realm. The Manakete turned her head, gazing at what seemed to be a young girl.
“Yes, may I help you?”
♔ Elise gaped at the young girl in awe. Those ears— she had seem them before. Elise had almost thought it was Kamui, but this girl was about as short as she was, and was wearing strange garments.
❝ Who are you? Your ears… they look like Kamui’s! Are you an IMPOSTER? ❞
♔ The young Rod Knight grabbed her stave and pointed it at the stranger, a determined look on her face. Although Elise didn’t enjoy fighting, she would do anything to protect her family. Hopefully, the girl wouldn’t realize that her stave wasn’t meant for a fight, but for healing.
She let out a charming laugh towards the young girls remark. Elise was truly a master of words, masking her clever trait with virtue and purity. It was all part of the reason why she adored her little sister so much; showering her with gifts and kisses, anything she wanted, Camilla would deliver. Anyone who dared to wrong her— well, let’s just say that the eldest sister’s hands were not as innocent.
⎡Elise! Who taught you to be so darn charismatic? Have you been talking to Lazward? If so, I’ll have to have a word with him⎦
With her delicate fingers, she picked up the warm drink before her, letting the aroma fill her nostrils before taking a small sip. The flavour was truly impeccable; Camilla knew she had made the right decision in choosing chamomile tea to end the day. Her gaze shifted over to the little girl sitting across, admiring the youthfulness which she held.
⎡Tell me, my darling, how was your day? I want to hear all about it! Don’t leave anything behind ♥⎦
♔ Elise let out a laugh, similar to that of her sister’s. In fact, she had been hanging around Lazward lately, and therefore had picked up on some of his cheap, cheesy, yet oddly witty pick up lines. Oh how Elise unequivocally admired her elder sister. From her alluring charm to her gorgeous looks, her protective personality to her incredible strength, Elise found Camilla flawless. She was her role model. Elise looked up to her so much that she’d always try and mimic her actions when the two were together, and getting in trouble with her was always heartbreaking. The light purple strands in Elise’s hair were an example of her efforts to be like her sister.
❝ Well, I didn’t really do much today, actually… I wanted to play hide and seek in the castle this morning, but everyone was too busy! I’m glad I found you though! I know you’d say yes, right? ❞
♔ Elise took a small, porcelain cup and poured some tea for herself— her large, hopeful eyes remaining on Camilla’s.
Accepting his little sister’s tackle with an equally warm grin, he let out a chuckle for when she fully enveloped him in a tight hug. Eager to return the favor, he wrapped his arms around her waist and squeezed her as well. “Elise! We did see each other just a week ago, but… from now on I’ll be allowed to stay with you guys!”
“Today I’m going to get my sword. I’m a bit excited about that…” He mused, mostly to himself, as he let go of the girl and instead took a hand and set it gently on her head, giving it a small pat.
♔ Elise giggled softly as her brother gently patted her on the head. She let go of him and took a few steps back, looking into his eyes with her own bright and cheerful ones. The girl slightly cocked her head, and said with a teasing frown:
❝ A week is far too looong, Kamui! I missed you! ❞
♔ Her fake frown quickly turned into another lighthearted grin, and Elise extended her arms to give Kamui one more quick hug, before releasing again.
A hard day of sparring and also a long one at that. With a sigh, Luna set aside her sword next to her bed before stretching her sore muscles. Camilla always loved working her subordinate hard to keep up her skills but to Luna it was exhausting having to keep up. Nevertheless, she didn’t complain.
She was about to crawl into bed to take a short nap when she heard tiny foot steps fly past her door and out of curiosity, Luna stuck her head out of her doorway to see Elise.
❝
Miss Elise? What in gods name are you doing?
❞
♔ Elise stopped dead in her tracks at the sound of Luna’s voice.
Caught.
Her mouth and hands were full of various sweets and baked goods stolen from the kitchen, and she panicked. With her back still facing Luna, Elise decided to play it off cool.
❝ Uhm– nothing… just goin’ back to my room… ❞ she said, her voice muffled by the pastries she had been chewing on before Luna caught her.
♔ It was useless. Elise rolled her eyes at herself, and slowly turned around to face Luna in defeat. She gave her older sister’s subordinate a guilty smile.
❝ D– Don’t tell Camilla… I’ll give you these mini fruit tarts! ❞
“Ah, Lady Elise!” Arthur beamed at the familiar voice that called out to him and peeked his head into the doorway to look over at the bedridden princess.
“Are you feeling any better–?”
He asked as he made his way into the room (albeit a rather messy room). It just so happened that his foot caught onto an object laying on the floor–
“GAH–”
And down down down he went, face flat onto the floor! THUMP.
♔ Elise burst out laughing, collapsing onto her bed and clutching her stomach. A variety of sounds were coming out of her, ranging from giggles to sickly coughs. She sat up again once she calmed down, and took a look at her fallen subordinate. The stave she had left on the floor a couple of days ago lay near Arthur’s feet, and she quickly felt guilty for laughing so hard.
The young girl took her legs out from under the covers and crawled towards the edge of her bed, still trying to stifle some giggles. She scratched her head, her fingers getting tangled in her knotted and messy hair, which had been let loose for the time being.
❝ S– Sorry, Arthur… ❞ Elise said with a nervous chuckle,
❝ Are you alright? Hey, at least you managed to cheer me up a bit! ❞
