Below, the cheers of many erupted from the crowd, the stairs leading to the small outpost overlooking the crowd seemed daunting. Minara took the first step, more cheers erupting and a flock of attendants reaching out to help Minara finish her descent to the outpost. Minara waved them off, keeping her gait clear and confident, step by step closing in.
"Here we have my daughter, the one and only Minara, one of the brightest of the country," Astaros's voice echoed in the courtyard, "Today, being sworn in as one of the successors to our kingdom."
Astaros looked back, beckoning for Minara to come forward, to face the billowing crowd, and deliver her speech. Minara stepped up beside him, embracing him, Astaros giving her a kiss on her forehead. She let go, turning to face the crowd, ready to deliver her speech, one she had not wanted to do, but was forced to.
"Greetings everyone, as you all know I am Minara Pfeistos, daughter of king Astaros Pfeistos," Minara started, "and today, I am honored to be accepting this position and prestige as one of the figureheads of this country."
She looked out over the crowd, thousands waiting to hear her words, "Throughout my life, I have been hesitant to be in the forefront, involved in politics and pleasantries, preferring to work in the background on more pressing issues such as agriculture and academics, but combining the two could lead to new innovations and the betterment of our people."
The crowd clapped and cheered, Minara quieting for a moment until they finished. When they did she started again, "I hope I can live up to my father and help this country blossom and grow, helping you all in the process. Now, is everyone ready to celebrate?"
The crowd went absolutely crazy, yells and cries coming out, and Minara started her way down to the courtyard floor, skipping down the steps fast, quickly approaching the crowd. At the bottom, she yelled out, "We have a wonderful feast prepared, and everyone's invited, come on up!"
Minara started her way back up, the crowd following behind her, making their way towards the bustling castle, servants running around with mounds of food and drinks, enough to feed all of the city twice over.
At the top of the steps, Minara stepped aside and helped guide citizens to the many tables and areas with all of the decadent cuisine, the aroma wafting throughout, tantalizing in smell and taste. Over walked two young men, wearing black and blue coats with matching pants to boot, an insignia of House Pfeistos on the front above their left breast.
One held the remains of a muffin, crumbs drifting to the grass, and the other held an iced wine, sipping lightly.
"So, where did you get all of that confidence today?" The one holding the muffin said, as he tossed it at Minara, "You haven't been one for engrossment in politics and pizazz."
"I have done what I must and what I am drawn to," Minara spouted out, smacking the muffin back at him, "And I won't take such nonsense from someone like you, Galan."
Galan smiled, dodging the incoming muffin, "I don't mean to upset you, Minara, you just have never seemed one to enter into the spotlight, and you won't be leaving it now."
"He is right," The one carrying wine inserted, "There really isn't a situation where you might be able to extricate yourself from the eyes of the many from now on."
"I see your point, Rolando, and I have that in my plan to keep my privacy, while I also become more public than ever," Minara said while looking around anxiously, watching the crowd intermingle among themselves.
"I feel there may be other more important things to worry about, though," Rolando said while taking a sip of his wine, "The Peace treaty between Plohara and Galhock is being ratified in the next few weeks, the final details being ironed out mostly by father, his advisors, and other city lords of Plohara. Even I had a chance to look it over and the depictions it entails shows restrictions for our trade and commerce that could lead to havoc down the road for us as a whole."
Minara looked over with an inquisitive look, "You were able to look it over? I have never seen such fervor for those dealings ever come about from you, Rolando, and I don't see you with the proper knowledge to add anything worthwhile."
"I have been attending meetings by father's side for years. Have you forgotten that small detail?"
"No, I have not forgotten anything, but when I've walked by those meetings, I have not seen a soul under 50 in there."
"Well, you might need to look a little harder, because I have been there since I was 18, it has been 7 years, and the input that I contribute has led to further economic and cultural growth in our country. I have worked tirelessly to better my understanding of trade, while you stayed in your room, working on nothing of importance."
Minara grabbed Rolando's wine, taking a sip herself, "I have read and studied history, of our countries and world, sciences, culinary arts, and others not of importance right now. How dare you slander my name such as you've done."
Minara drank the rest of the glass, wiping her mouth with the back of her left hand, cutting into her left cheek, lashing out "Fala shusarak!" She was not one to curse and using an ancient tongue such as Old Ruluk wouldn't be understood by most, but Rolando and Galan understood the premise.
"Will you excuse me, I must tend to this before any of our people see," Minara spouted as she walked away, her face feeling hot around the cut, a drop of blood sliding down her cheek. Rolando and Galan both looked at each other, wondering why she was so aggressive today, against any usual behavior of hers, and their gazes told they did not know the reason.
________
Minara walked off to the left, back towards the castle, where a small tent was set up, walking into the brightly lit interior. A few attendants were moving around, moving kits filled with ointments, creams, and other such items for any situation. An attendant with a concentrated look on her face turned, seeing Minara standing at the entrance, blood running down her cheek.
"Oh, heavens be, what have you gotten yourself into Minara?" The attendant spoke as she rushed over, grabbing some damp cloth on the way over to Minara, dabbing at her cheek, "You've only just become princess, I can't see you getting yourself hurt, how did this happen?"
Minara looked around, trying to hide her embarrassment, holding up her left hand, "You know the ring I usually wear right here? I was wiping a drop of wine off of my mouth, and I believe that I got myself a bit."
"You need to be a little more careful, Farrow gems are some of the sharpest in the world, I've seen some wild injuries from those things," The attendant said as they applied a thin cram over the area, the heat dissipating over the next few seconds. Minara was always amazed at what the castle's alchemists were able to make, things that have helped her over the years, though she didn't have a clue what was in each one.
As the pain and heat dissipated, a cold sensation permeated around the cut, feeling better than ever for her. The cream had all but disappeared, the cute already starting to close up. Minara was astonished, she had never seen anything work that fast on her before.
"Well, I'll be. It looks to have already started to close up. I haven't seen something like that in years," The attendant said as she inspected the cut site closer, "Are you sure that this was a real cut?"
Minara looked towards Donella with a bewildered look, "Of course it was, Donella. I wouldn't have wanted to leave the gathering if it was possible not to. What would people say of the princess leaving her own induction before meeting with her people? I already feel bad enough having to leave for a moment to deal with this."
"I didn't mean to offend Minara, just basing it off of past tendencies. I mean, you do not have a reputation of enjoying large gatherings."
"That is okay, my mind and emotions are all over the place currently due to the coronation. I don't know if I am up to the task, even though I have spent my whole life studying every academic topic under the sun. Putting it to the test feels completely different. And this cut was definitely real, Galan and Rolando saw the gem cut into my skin, and it felt pretty real to me."
Donella backed away, walking to a table with flasks of water, filled to the brim, grabbing one and handing it to Minara, "I know what you mean, I did not believe I could work over all of the menders, but I am here now, no fear or anxiety towards my work. Here, this flask has some cool water, take a sip and head back out to the festivities."
Minara grabbed the flask, bringing it to her lips, taking a quick sip, feeling the refreshing liquid coating her dry mouth, something she hadn't paid much attention to with everyone else going on. "You were right, Donella. It did help quite a bit," She smiled, "You better stay here a while longer, until I am old enough to become queen, you are quite the asset."
Donella laughed, "Of course I am, young Minara, you just haven't needed me enough yet, and I hope it stays that way," Donella started backing away, her voice growing softer, "Off you go, child."
I must make her one of my closest attendants, Minara thought as she made her way back to the others, joining the celebration, filled with a renewed spirit.