Reunion, kinda
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Eirawen tilted her head off to the side, a thin frown on her lips. "You are different."
Einhart blushed, her heart rushing. It was like she was turning back into the naive amnesiac the princess once knew. Her cheeks pumped. Her eyes glanced aside. She hadn't returned the castle in years and the last time Eirawen saw her, she was here for a favour. They didn't even get to talk. Not that Ein tried to make time for such an occasion anyway. She was too embarrassed to confront her old student again. She had changed so much-- too much. She used cower in fear at the thought of having to talk to people. She used to spend hours sitting alone in the gardens watching the clouds go by. She used to be so meek. But now the princess knows she chewed Glewyas out a couple of days ago. How embarrassing. How embarrassing. She threatened to kill and replace the royal chef. Even if she hated him, there were limits to arrogance. Does Eirawen think any less of her now? Ein couldn't bear to find out-- but here she was-- standing in the throne room.
"You've changed so much," the princess said with a bit of a sigh. "But then, that's your people's curse."
Curse, huh? Well, that was one way of putting the Milletian's plight.
Whether the princess said that our of jealousy or pity, Ein couldn't be sure. She tucked her pink hair behind her ear, eyes shifting across the red carpet on the floor. "I'm sorry... for not visiting."
"Don't apologize."Eirawen snapped. "But I don't suppose you could imagine how I felt when I found out you were making regular trips to the kitchen lately. Was it so difficult to come up and say hello?"
Ein rubbed the back of her neck and laughed sheepishly. "I..."
"Anyway-- I've heard plenty of stories. You've made a reputation for yourself in the war. They're calling you the 'ice princess' now, aren't they?"
The smile on the princess' face was sarcastic. Given that she's the one who taught her how to use ice magic in the first place, Ein wasn't surprised. The milletian could've made a witty reply, but she bit her lip to stop.
"Lift your head. You look like you think I'm going to punish you or something." Eirawen let out an exasperated sigh. "I don't have that kind of authority on you anymore, remember?"
Ein looked up slowly, as if that particular fact had just occurred to her. Oh.
Eirawen hopped off her throne and marched up to the milletian. She was several inches shorter than Ein, but her posture was much more confident. Ein's cheeks burned at the sudden proximity. "Y-your Majesty..."
"You know what else they say about you now?"
"W-what..." Ein cleared her throat and shook off the nerves. "What?"
"They say you're a huge flirt."
Ein's face turned an even brighter red than it was before. Even those stories had gotten to her? How? Were people gossiping about her? She could flee in the country in embarrassment. "About that-- you see... I just..."
"I am quite jealous, you know." The princess interrupted her. She pouted and stepped away, wrapping her arms around herself. "You used to belong to me."
"Wha--"
Both their faces burned as they stared at each other, as if trying to figure out how the conversation ended up here in the first place. Eirawen twirled her hair nervously, but Ein's expression eventually softened in comparison. What had she been so embarrassed about anyway?
She giggled sheepishly. "I love you too, you Highness."
Eirawen's purple eyes widened for a moment before she spun around and walked back up to her throne. "Okay, that's it. You're out. Get out!"
"Aw, but--"
The princess stomped. "You're leaving now. Might I remind you that you are happily married and I am a princess."
"Were you just imagining me having an affair wi--"
"Stop! Nope! I won't hear it!" Eirawen turned around again, her face still strawberry red. "Please excuse yourself, Einhart."
Ein rolled her eyes. It was Eirawen calling her a flirt in the first place. Yeesh. Nonetheless, she bowed politely, trying to hide the smirk on her face. "By your leave then, princess."