Editing Daybreak:Volume 2 Chapter 5
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A silent moment of eye contact soon followed. Yet as uncomfortable as the air grew, Kaede did not shy away from Sylviane's steady gaze. In a situation where she had nothing to be guilty about, weakness would only mislead the other's judgment to worse ends. All she could do was wait patiently for her turn to speak: a courtesy appropriate for differences in social rank, as Pascal reminded her this morning. |
A silent moment of eye contact soon followed. Yet as uncomfortable as the air grew, Kaede did not shy away from Sylviane's steady gaze. In a situation where she had nothing to be guilty about, weakness would only mislead the other's judgment to worse ends. All she could do was wait patiently for her turn to speak: a courtesy appropriate for differences in social rank, as Pascal reminded her this morning. |
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− | ''She isn't just some noble from the academy either.'' Kaede reminded herself as she tried not to fidget in her small heels. ''She's Pascal's dear fiancée, someone I MUST |
+ | ''She isn't just some noble from the academy either.'' Kaede reminded herself as she tried not to fidget in her small heels. ''She's Pascal's dear fiancée, someone I MUST get along with.'' |
− | After what seemed an eternity, Sylviane finally bestowed upon Kaede the grace of a gentle smile. Her hands, which were clad in long, periwinkle gloves, left the armchair's sides and folded on top of her lap. Her violet |
+ | After what seemed an eternity, Sylviane finally bestowed upon Kaede the grace of a gentle smile. Her hands, which were clad in long, periwinkle gloves, left the armchair's sides and folded on top of her lap. Her violet mid-calf skirt had clearly been smoothed out after she sat, as it did not show even a single wrinkle over her legs. |
Her actions were straight and simple, yet they exemplified the Princess' behavior. Sylviane's movements held neither natural grace nor crudeness. However they were all taken with a delicate touch, as though she concentrated upon her image with every step. |
Her actions were straight and simple, yet they exemplified the Princess' behavior. Sylviane's movements held neither natural grace nor crudeness. However they were all taken with a delicate touch, as though she concentrated upon her image with every step. |
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"In other words," Kaede moodily interjected, "you would have the same problem with a sister, if Pascal had one." |
"In other words," Kaede moodily interjected, "you would have the same problem with a sister, if Pascal had one." |
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− | She heard a groan from Pascal |
+ | She heard a groan from Pascal, and then did Kaede realize that she just completely tore up his request of "''speak only when you are asked.''". |
"Apologies, Your Highness." She hurriedly added, finally breaking eye contact to glance down. "That was inappropriate of me." |
"Apologies, Your Highness." She hurriedly added, finally breaking eye contact to glance down. "That was inappropriate of me." |
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"How could one travel to celestial bodies without magic...?" |
"How could one travel to celestial bodies without magic...?" |
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− | Kaede's eyebrows shot up instantly. ''Did that mean mages figured out space travel?'' |
+ | Kaede's eyebrows shot up instantly. ''Did that mean mages figured out space travel without advanced sciences?'' |
Nevertheless the Princess puzzled for merely a brief second, before her eyes soon refocused upon Kaede. Sylviane would not be side-tracked easily, a sign of mental discipline as expected from someone whom Pascal deeply respects. |
Nevertheless the Princess puzzled for merely a brief second, before her eyes soon refocused upon Kaede. Sylviane would not be side-tracked easily, a sign of mental discipline as expected from someone whom Pascal deeply respects. |
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"Could you promise me that you will not develop romantic relations with my husband-to-be then?" |
"Could you promise me that you will not develop romantic relations with my husband-to-be then?" |
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− | "Of course!" Kaede rushed to answer. '' |
+ | "Of course!" Kaede rushed to answer. ''I am, or was, a guy after all!'' |
Yet even as she said that, she felt something uneasy deep within: was this really something she could promise? When she could be spending untold years in this body? |
Yet even as she said that, she felt something uneasy deep within: was this really something she could promise? When she could be spending untold years in this body? |
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"I guess it must have been a shock, suddenly finding yourself like this." |
"I guess it must have been a shock, suddenly finding yourself like this." |
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− | Kaede nodded back as images of that fateful first night flashed through her mind: |
+ | Kaede nodded back as images of that fateful first night flashed through her mind: |
"Waking up in some stranger's bed and finding myself stripped and dressed in 'bridal lingerie' was... not exactly pleasant." |
"Waking up in some stranger's bed and finding myself stripped and dressed in 'bridal lingerie' was... not exactly pleasant." |
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The weight atop Kaede's head increased as it was turned into a royal headrest. She rather doubted that the slim-waisted Princess was heavy, but her own body was smaller and hardly built for strength. |
The weight atop Kaede's head increased as it was turned into a royal headrest. She rather doubted that the slim-waisted Princess was heavy, but her own body was smaller and hardly built for strength. |
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− | ''Apparently I'm a large teddy bear,'' Kaede thought. |
+ | ''Apparently I'm a large teddy bear,'' Kaede thought as she strained to keep her back straight beneath the weight. |
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− | Still, being treated like an oversized ornament wasn't that bad of price if it meant earning the Princess' trust over time. The real question that troubled Kaede was: ''where does this go?'' |
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"Edith took Vivi south with her, so I haven't even had any chances to relax like this in the past few weeks," Sylviane complained as she crossed her hands over Kaede's chest. Meanwhile she continued to rub her cheeks against Kaede's silky hair. "And you weren't around to help either." |
"Edith took Vivi south with her, so I haven't even had any chances to relax like this in the past few weeks," Sylviane complained as she crossed her hands over Kaede's chest. Meanwhile she continued to rub her cheeks against Kaede's silky hair. "And you weren't around to help either." |
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Kaede could not fathom why one of Rhin-Lotharingie's most notable individuals would allow themselves to be treated like... well, a stuffed animal. |
Kaede could not fathom why one of Rhin-Lotharingie's most notable individuals would allow themselves to be treated like... well, a stuffed animal. |
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− | In the meantime, |
+ | In the meantime, Kaede could almost feel Sylviane's pout press into the top of her head. Compared to the poised and careful princess, this was Sylviane's true, relaxed form. |
"I kept calling though," Pascal kept his voice neutral as he defended himself. "You never accepted the ''Farspeak''..." |
"I kept calling though," Pascal kept his voice neutral as he defended himself. "You never accepted the ''Farspeak''..." |
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Pascal's fuming voice made it clear that he found the demands downright offensive. It wasn't even a surprise for Kaede. Pascal had always been someone who believed that responsibility and power should be given based on professional merit. |
Pascal's fuming voice made it clear that he found the demands downright offensive. It wasn't even a surprise for Kaede. Pascal had always been someone who believed that responsibility and power should be given based on professional merit. |
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− | Meanwhile, Sylviane sighed with a wry, little smile, as though she expected this from him as well |
+ | Meanwhile, Sylviane sighed with a wry, little smile, as though she expected this from him as well. |
"I know you felt strongly about the 'Trial by Jury' part. And the taxation point is just..." |
"I know you felt strongly about the 'Trial by Jury' part. And the taxation point is just..." |
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"Yes." Sylviane nodded. "I did promise Duke Kenneth to seriously consider its contents. It was a promise made in good faith and I intend to keep it." |
"Yes." Sylviane nodded. "I did promise Duke Kenneth to seriously consider its contents. It was a promise made in good faith and I intend to keep it." |
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− | ''Devious to her foes, yet honest to her allies,'' Kaede reflected. ''She really does have |
+ | ''Devious to her foes, yet honest to her allies,'' Kaede reflected. ''She really does have potential to be a great leader.'' |
The conversation was then interrupted as several taps came from the window. |
The conversation was then interrupted as several taps came from the window. |