The Princess And The Demon

"That...Was strange...", Nara said with a frown as she and Dahlia walked into the castle after a stole in the capital's streets, They visited the school, the hospital, and the local market, it was something Dahlia usually did on her own but the princess insisted on joining her, saying she was a part of the people as well...

Strange indeed, Dahlia thought while nodding silently, something was definitely off, a tensed atmosphere, a hidden animosity underneath the uptight smiles and faked hospitality, a distance and even a line drawn between the people and them, Dahlia was far too familiar with the people to miss the subtle changes but Nara wasn't and even she noticed the... Strangeness as she called it...

Heading toward the main office to report back to the king, Nara and Dahlia walked in at the loving couple kissing passionately, Henry was sitting on his big chair while Rima sat on his l.a.p, her hands holding the sides of his face so delicately while Henry's arms surrounded her waist like a fortress, Nara quickly turned her face with her cheeks turning red while Dahlia, as expected of her, kept her face expressionless and her eyes unwavering...

"We are so sorry Brother..." Nara said with a shy smile while secretly poking Dahlia's back, hoping her friend would drop the stone face and act a little bit human for once, "We should have waited out side, We will give you a moment..." Dahlia turned to Nara with a look that said "Why?", For her, they were already there with a serious matter at hand, the moment was already broken between the love rabbits and an few extra minutes of exchanging saliva could wait for later...

"It is alright, Nara..." Rima said with a big smile, her cheeks were flushed and her eyes beamed with happiness, she tried to get up but Henry's hold tightened around her, keeping her in place while his heated gaze stared at her, his face radiating with the happiest of smiles, He urged her with his eyes to stay where she was, and she stared right back at the blue eyes she loved so much, lost in their own world, they were interrupted by a very rude cough...

Nara almost slapped the back of her friend's head, but Dahlia's face remained the same as if Nara's finger wasn't digging a hole in her back...

"What is it that brought you here My beautiful ladies?" Henry said with a sigh as Rima pulled his arms for her to stand up, the smile never leaving his face while his beloved hand was caged in his, he wasn't done with her yet and he planned to have more when his sister and her annoying friend were taken care of...

"We just came back from the city, Your Grace, We need to share our observations with you..." Dahlia spoke directly, not bothering with an apology for her "rude" interuption, Henry was already used to the girl's behavior so he didn't take it to heart, she was weird, rude, full of secrets but she had a pure heart and good intentions, not to mention something every ruler needed by his side which was an honest voice that would tell him straight in the face that he was failing his people, Dahlia, although rude and strange, reminded him of his goals, of himself and the kind of king he wanted to be...

"We? " Henry asked while looking at Nara who gave him a nervous smile, Odd, he thought to himself, it wasn't the first time Nara accompanied Dahlia in one of her strolls so why was she acting nervous for something so normal...

"Me and the princess, We noticed a weird stiffness if i may say in the people's behavior, something strange is going on, it is subtle and barely noticeable for now but i doubt it would remain that way..." Dahlia didn't made any stops at she briefly reported to the king whose brows were knitted in a deep frown...

"And why is that?"

"I don't know yet, But as you mentioned before, the latest riot had some hidden individuals feeding it, i don't think they had gave up, I think they are preparing for something bigger..."

"That is...Why now?" Henry said with an unreadable expression causing both Dahlia and Nara's curiosity to fire up...

"Why now? " Nara asked, What was happening for the riot to be the bad news it was to her brother...

"We..." Rima's smile was replaced with a worried expression... " Me and Henry are expecting a baby..." Rima said while placing her hands over her belly...