ROLEPLAY HQ - departure

Hope quietly wondered the long castle halls, as she usually did in the mornings after breakfast. Today wasn't anything special though Hope had felt like putting on a dress that was usually reserved for special occasions. The long and elegant black dress contrasted against the marble halls, the clicking of her heels echoing throughout the castle* Hope yawned softly, placing a hand over her mouth "I wish I could have slept in longer.." She muttered to herself quietly

A knight clad in beautifully crafted armour struts along the carpeted ground, taking in the early-morning sun's glow through the castle's windows. As Anaëlle rounds the corner, she is met by the sight of Hope. She performs a cordial greeting punctuated by a slight bow before addressing the princess. "Good morning, your highness. I trust the night permitted you to sleep well?" The knight speaks in a tone as clear as cool river water.

Hope instantly light up at the sight of the royal guard, just being in her precense sent the feeling of safety through the Princessess body "Good morning, Ana! I slept very well, how about yourself?" Hope replied with a wide small, trotting over as she lifted her dress slightly to avoid stepping on it and tripping herself "I'm not familiar with the guards sleeping quarters but I do hope they aren't too bad."

She nods gently, closing her eyes for an instant before reopening them to gaze down upon the radiant lady before her. "They are satisfactory. Though they would hardly compare to the chambers of the royalty." Anaëlle turns her eyes to the window, allowing the amber glow to be soaked up by her cheek like a lizard basking.

Hope let out a quiet giggled as she looked up to the knight, unable to help as her eyes admired the heavy armor "Maybe I'll see if i can have the guard quarters upgraded so you can sleep a little better. I can't guarantee anything, I'm not on the throne quiet yet." Hope began to walk once more, humming quietly to herself "Do I have anything do to today? Any meetings or anything? Father does like to keep me busy these days..." Her voice trailed off as her tone lowered with sadness. Her father kept going with this war and it was killing many good soldiers. It was hard to not think about the lives lost when she spoke to her father..

"That won't be necessary. The quartermaster would likely protest. Besides, we live well enough as is." She follows alongside Hope, cape drawn to just behind her heels as the clicking of her armour echoed across the walls. "I have recruit training during your studies and then the rest of the day will be dedicated to being at your side, your highness."

"Probably, I suppose..." Hope replied as her gaze lowered. It quickly rose once more as she smile widened "That doesn't sound too bad... I already know everything I'm being taught this year so it'll be super boring. I hope training is more fun!" Hope turned to her knight with a soft giggled "Maybe you can teach me how to use a sword sometime!"

"Maybe..." She contemplates for a brief moment only to brush aside the thoughts of her teaching the princess how to weild a blade. Surely such an engagement would see her permanently removed from her position as royal guard.

Hope turned back around to continue walking, thinking about the clashing of steel as she slayed mighty foes with her blade! The thought made her giggle out loud, causing a maid to look curiously at the pair as they walked "Is recruit training necessarily difficult, Ana?"

"For the recruits. For me, it's monotonous." Anaëlle shakes her head gently before glancing at the maid. She then shifts her eyes to look upon a family portrait of the king and queen with Hope when she was a little girl. "If I may pry; what are your studies like?"

Hope nodded, figuring the knight would have easy during her training. She continued to walk, adjusting her dress every other minute or so. She had forgotten how uncomfortable wearing this dress was.. "My studies? They're usually fun and interesting, always learning something new about the world! But lately its been things I've already been taught, mostly things to do with.." Hope's voice trailed off as the thoughts of her last study session filled her mind. The idea of clashing blades didn't sound so fun now.. "H-how was your day yesterday?" She quickly asked, turning to the woman with a forced half smile

"I believe I would find your classes enjoyable." She states with an ever-monotone voice. "I painted a little last night... B-but it was sub-par, so I scrapped it." The knight turned away, embarrassed at what had really happened. Anaëlle had painted a portrait of Hope seated upon a rock by the lake not far from the castle.

"Would... you like to attend with me? I'm sure you'd find it enjoyable!" Hope quickly replied with a soft giggle. The mention of Ana's painting caught Hope off guard, causing her to stumble slightly. She caught herself before she fell face first into the marble floor, though just barley. She cleared her throat, her face turning red with embarrassment "W-what did you paint? I'm sure it was lovely, Ana."

She shakes her head again before responding; "Duty does not permit me. The king and queen wouldn't approve either." Ana cups the back of her neck with her hand and cracks her back, trying to think of a believable response. "The... lake. By the western woods surrounding the castle. I once saw a little bird there and wanted to capture its beauty. But... I couldn't. A canvas is much too limiting."

"We can visit your training area quickly and I'll excuse you!" She giggled once more, the thought of telling an older fearsome warrior that one of their best warriors was going to attend studying with her was oddly funny "Oooh! That's such a pretty view. I wish I could visit there more often.." Hope replied, thinking about the painting. She was sure it was marvelous, there wouldn't be any reason to throw it out "Well.. I could see how getting some bigger ones. That would allow you to overcome that limit, wouldn't it? She said softly, still deep in thought "May I see your paintings from now on, Ana? It's a shame you'd throw one out before I could see it. You don't talk about your hobbies too much.."

"I guess it would be alright, then..." She trails off as they pass a window overlooking the courtyard where recruits are trained. Anaëlle shifts a little in her armour, even more embarrassed by Hope's interest in her hobby, but chooses to oblige. "Of course, your highness. Anything you would like." Immediately, the knight's mind shifts to urgency; she must hide the paintings of Hope from her.

The two walked in silence for a short while, only the clacking of thick armor against itself and the clicking of heels against stone. Hope spoke up, her tone shifting from her normally cheerful and playful to a more neutral tone.. "I think you underestimate my intelligence, my dear Knight.. You know that your tend to touch the back of her neck when your lying or nervous, don't you?" Hope asked softly, stopping in her tracks before turning the steel clad warrior "I would like to see that painting, Ana. It sounds so beautiful!" Her cheerful tone returned as the princess smiled brightly

07:07

@deleted-user

The knight sighs as she is caught out on her little, white lie. Anaëlle walks in silence alongside hope before speaking in a semi-defeated tone. "Wise you are indeed..." Like clockwork, she scratches the back of her neck to signal her nervousness without words.

"Let's stop by your quarters after studies and take a peek!" Hope giggled once more as they continued to walk, soon reaching the main hall. Training was close by, to the right as the existed the castle doors "I wonder what the painting is really about.. Must be something because you felt you had to lie." She said, the guards at the doors opening the massive gates to allow them passge

Anaëlle strides quickly with Hope. Her face, a stone statue of pure stoicism, but underneath lies a woman practically crying from embarrassment. Images of Hope's dissatisfaction flash through her mind. "T-that won't be necessary, your highness. A-aren't your studies beginning soon? I wish not to be the cause of your tardiness..."

"I suppose so... I'll just have to excuse you some other time then." Hope puffed her cheeks in a pout though turned away from the doors, heading to her study room. The guards closed the heavy doors as the pair walked off deeper into the large castle "Is there anything you'd like to learn, Ana? The old man is addment about sticking to the schedule but I wouldn't mind teaching you something you'd like to learn about!"

The knight taps the underside of their chin quizzically, brow furrowing as she contemplates her response. Finally, Anaëlle turns to Hope with an answer on her lips. "I want to learn about renowned artists." She responds with a clear tone and an expression portraying uninterest contrary to her statement.

Hope thought for a moment before nodding "Alright, I know a bit about some artists!" She exclaimed with a soft laugh, stopping at the entrance of one of the smaller libraries in the castle. It was usually only used for Hope's studies so it wasn't too well known

Anaëlle enters with Hope, gazing up and down at the towering bookshelves. She approaches one of the columns and pulls a book away from the shelf. It's a geography book, the third volume. She flicks through the pages before becoming bored and returning to Hope's side. "Have you read all of these book?"

Hope smiled at the woman and nodded "I have had alot of free time in my life without much to do. So books filled that gap. Would you like to borrow some?" Hope asked before turning to the opposing shelf, digging out a pair of books about geology "Rocks are pretty neat. Some even have magical properties!" She exclaimed, offering the book to her trusty knight "Just be sure to return any books before the old man notices they're missing." The princess added with a giggled

"I might take some art related books. My anatomical pieces are quite terrible." She reaches for two books on art technique and stows them under her arm. She then glances at Hope, silently studying her form to improve the sketches of her. "I believe it would be quite comedic to see a knight who enjoys painting. I don't laugh all too often, so I'm not entirely sure. I guess it would be ironic?"

"I suppose one wouldn't normally think of an iron clad warrior as a gentle hearted painter. I don't think just because you swore to defend me that you can't have a hobby. Painting is super relaxing! Or so I've heard, I've never actually painted myself" Hope replied as she settled in a chair, her dress making it slightly difficult. The princess pointed to a chair on the far side of the room and beckoned it closer. It, of course, stayed still causing Hope is sigh deeply "There's a chair over there if you'd like to sit with me, Ana"

She strides to the other side of the room, retrieves the chair and returns to sit with Hope. The knight places her chair opposite to Hope and sits down. "I suppose so." Anaëlle glances up at the circular ceiling painted with the images of cherubs and clouds. One day, she'd like to paint in a similar manner, but her duties would surely keep her from any pieces.

Hope hums to herself as the two wait, her silk smooth voice filling the empty library. It seemed that the teacher would be late so something had to fill the pairs time. "Ana, what have you painted recently aside from that 'lake'?" Hope asked as she turned to the knight, she infectious smile glowing brightly in the dimly light room

She gazes pensively into the leatherback cover of a large book, seemingly thinking of what she might say. Finally, Anaëlle speaks; "I have a few paintings of the castle from different angles, times of day, etcetera." The knight runs her thumb over the creased leather cover before turning her head to look directly at Hope.

"Have you ever painted a person? Or an animal?" Hope asked softly, turning around to face the book shelves. "Painting one thing over and over, no matter the angle or time, just seems like it would get boring." Hope stood up and walked along a shelf, taking a peek at a book or two along the way "I think you'd make amazing paintings of people, Ana."

The knight ponders for a moment. She thinks back to the foxes she saw scampering along under the autumn trees, the hedgehogs of spring which rooted around in the undergrowth and the butterflies of summer which fluttered between the blooming flowers. "I have painted animals, yes. As for people... I'm not yet skilled enough to accurately replicate the human form..."

"Stop doubting yourself, Ana." Hope said plainly as she began to pile a few books in her arms, the weight notably straining the princess. Hope had never been physically able and despite her normal, healthy appearance, the princess was quiet fragile. "I'd love.. to see your paintings. " She said with a huff of breathe as she waddled over to the desk "Why are these books so heavy.." Hope huffed again, swinging her arms up and dropping the books on the desk with a loud thump which echoed through the small library

Anaëlle follows Hope to the table, but doesn't take a seat. Instead, she stands next to the princess, scanning the books intently with her piercing eyes. "You could have asked me to carry them if you would have to strain yourself so." The knight glances up at a ticking clock before turning to face the window. The dull pink glow has turned into a more golden hue as the sun finds its footing in the sky.

Hope huffs once more as she takes her seat, her arms feeling like wet spaghetti noodles after training them "I can do it, Ana. It just.. takes me a bit.." She muttered quietly as she face began to flush in embarrassment. Her fragility was always embarrassing despite not being able to help it.. "Doesn't matter, what's done is done. I grabbed some adventure novels! Slaying dragons, rescuing damsels! So exciting!" Hope began to swoon before giggling, her joyful laugher filling the room

Anaëlle simply stares at Hope, her expression devoid of any visible emotion. She silently enjoys the princess's cute, little protests and claims of strength. The knight picks up a novel and flicks through the pages. They're wholly inaccurate and romanticised depictions of knights in battle against fierce foes. "These look rather interesting."