PeaceMaker

The room sits in silence for a second as they discern the voice that had replied to the question. 

"All she does is talk about swords, swords, and fighting. Even forgot to make the scarf…" the voice pouted. 

The king breaks into laughter and soon the whole room follows. It was none other than the youngest child of the royal family, the second son, Dominic Aarvi.

"It seems you have a lot of complaints about Litian, my son?" The king asked, turning to Dominic. 

Dominic nodded his head immediately, "I even told her not to come today. I don't want her to become a lady in waiting, she wants to stay in the army afterall."

The king raised his eyebrow, "Is that true Litian?"

Litian flinched, her head bowing deeper. "It is your graciousness. But, I am willing to take whatever option is given to me."

"Hmph!" Dominic huffed, his rosy cheeks blowing up in dismay as he looked down at Litian, his green eyes glowing in mischievousness.

The King grinned, his eyes glowing with softness when he looked at Dominic. He turned back to Litian and chuckled, "Well then, since my son protested, how about you get to stay in the army Litian? You get the choice this time. Lady-in-waiting or army?"

Litian sat in silence for a moment. She didn't know what to pick. Lady-in-waiting was what her father wished for last but the army was where her path truly laid. He knew that too. It was all on her. It was a hard decision but the answer was as clear as her father's sword, gleamed. 

"I would like to... stay in lady-in-waiting, your graciousness," Litian answered. 

The room laid in silence. 

"Ah.." The king muttered.

It was an unforeseen answer. One that stunned the people in the room.

'What?' Justin thought to himself, 'why would she... Why would she pick lady in waiting over all of the other choices? Is it not her dream? Is the army not where she wants to be? Why…?'

"What?!" Dominic called out, his voice filled with frustration.

"I would like to stay in lady in waiting, your graciousness," Litian repeated. 

Dominic's lips pressed against each other into a thin line. 'What a lie…' he thought to himself, 'stupid.'

The king sat there in silence for a moment with the rest of the room as they stared at Litian. It didn't make sense. Her answer didn't make sense.

Litian remained with her head facing the ground. She didn't want to look up. She was over this, she wanted to leave. All she needed was the badge afterall. A stamp of the princess to be on her chest and her life pledged to the same woman. That was all she needed to do. There were no swords sounding in her backyard. No swords on the walls and no battle talks at the table. There won't be for the rest of time. 

This was the last time she was going to touch the sword, she had pledged to herself and in the face of death touching a soul she loved. 

The sword would go back to the house and became the only one hanging on the wall. She would pick up her sewing machine and her teacup. She would follow the princess to be. That was all she needed to do.

The king peered down at her in silence before nodding his head grimly. 

"Very well then, let the ceremony go on then," The King nodded, addressing his subjects. His eyes locked with Litian's when she looked up momentarily, invading her gaze to Dominic. "We shall see who is chosen to be lady-in-waiting in the end."

"Thank you, your graciousness," Litian nodded, finally standing up from her position and pulling her sword out of the ground. 

She tightly gripped its grip and slowly walked away. Her steps slowly drowned out by the murmurs in the room as she left.

Antonio stared at the scene for a moment before looking away and taking a sip of his tea. "How tragic."

Justin nodded his head, confusion slowing easing into a forced smile. "Isn't it?"

"Why would she pick the lady in waiting?" Addison muttered, blatant confusion showing on her face, "I get that she is a lady but if it's something that she wants to do and something that it seems like she is very able to do, judging by her skill, why won't she do it?" 

"What a loss," Fall added.

"Hmm?" Walter turned his head to look at Falls who sat beside Justin.

"I've seen some of the soldiers struggle to even pick up their swords and even worse at swinging it. Those people are much older than her," Falls explained. 

Antonio nodded in agreement, "If they tried to do what she did today, it would most certainly end in casualties. In fact, this sort of thing wouldn't even be attempted with a real sword, a wooden or light, a blunt sword would be used instead."

"The sword the girl was using seemed very much real and sharpened," Santiago commented as he recalled the sword in her hand. 

"Right. With a single mistake, she could have really hurt herself. A scar at her age is something she cannot risk but yet she is able to pull that off very easily and not even break a sweat. She's a child bursting with talent," Antonio sighed.

"If she had been trained more, she would have easily climbed the ranks," Justin commented. Everyone turned to him in surprise. "She would have been a value in the military. For her to spend her days now as a lady… it's not something that she can't do or is wrong for her to do but…"

"She shouldn't do it," Antonio interrupted.

Justin turned to him, locking eyes with him for a moment before nodding. "Correct."

"Hmm… she must have been something if Justin would acknowledge her like that," Walter sighed, "we saw his skill earlier and he would probably be able to kill me in one swing."

Justin stared at Walter blankly for a moment, making eye contact with him. He burst into laughter a second later, "Don't exaggerate," he chuckled.

Walter blushed and looked away. "It's not a lie though…" 

Justin grinned. "Sure sure." He looked at the exit Litian left through. 'It would take her a bit more time, but she could probably do the same. What a shame.'

"Wow…" Addison muttered. 

"Hmm?" Louis turned to her, his face showing concern.

"I'm just kinda… astonished," She grinned, "we've seen a lot of talent and even a goddess, and I'm honestly just wondering what comes next and what happens to them after."

"What do you mean?" Louis cocked his head, his hand traveling to pat Addison on the head. She looked so cute when she was in awe or confused.

"I mean, from what I just saw, there might be some people that are performing that want to do other things with their lives other than being a lady in waiting. Some might just want a completely different path like Litian but yet are forced on this one," Addison explained, "it's no secret that they all probably have some kind of talent that they excel in but what happens to them after they become a lady-in-waiting? What happens to the talent that they have?"

There's a silence that greets Addison's question.

"They are thrown away," Justin replied, "the moment that they are given that title, all they do is for the Queen and nothing of their own. Their talents are rendered useless and are therefore replaced with those that are needed to help the Queen."

"Ah…" Addison muttered. 

"Unless the talent is to be a mother or an amazing caregiver, then the talent isn't useless but other things, like what Litian has, are basically like a plus one that won't be used. Ever," Justin added with a sigh after.

"That's horrible. Why would people want this position if it renders them useless like this?" Addison muttered.

"Because the role has its benefits. You get the right to speak at certain events, control over whom you marry, and if you grow close to the Queen or person they are tending, they get to go up in title and earn even more benefits," Santigio answered to which Justin nodded in agreement. 

"But these are all possibilities. Except for the ones granted for sure, getting close to the Queen is not a guarantee and in fact, they may not get any extra benefits except speaking rights and the basics," Dramio commented.

"Yup, it's a complete gamble but it's certain that they lose their talents," Justin shrugged.

"That sucks… I'm glad I didn't try to fit for that role," Addison shivered.

"I'm especially glad you didn't" Louis grinned, "who knows who you would have married in place of me."

"Oh shush," Addison rolled her eyes.

Antonio smiled before turning back to the performances to watch the new girl presenting. But his thoughts were in a different place. He was worried. About her. The fact that that might become of her was frightening.. He didn't want to see that happen to her one day, she was too beautiful for that.