“In truth, I was rather struck by your ability with a blade, Lord Lantal. And please allow me to call you Lantal, and you must do likewise for me! Are all of Noelictus’ nobles so adept? I should know if so; I am to marry the [Earl] of Ovela.”

Fallien of Ovela. Which would make her Afiele’s ruler, if jointly with her husband and his twin sister. That would be…complicated. But it was already so, with the twins of Ovela ruling and fighting one another.

The other local provinces were part of the Ovela region. They didn’t often need management, but Lord Lantal was pleased by the compliment nonetheless.

“The…nobility are somewhat adept at combat, your H—Lady Seraphel. We must be, to guard the lands.”

“Ah, I see. I see. Lady Risel, are you a—”

Seraphel turned to Risel but was cut off by a wail from a horse. A boy was kicking his sister as she tried to ride the pony.

“Father! Culin is kicking me!”

Sasi, a young girl, shrieked at her parents, mortifying them as her younger brother, even less able to keep his calm, began to throw a tantrum.

“I want to go home! It’s dark! I’m bored!”

Culin wailed and his mother rode over. She pinched both her offspring’s ears as she transferred Culin to her horse. The little boy clung to her sulkily, staring at Seraphel.

Lord Lantal was red again.

“I am so sorry, your—”

“Lord Lantal, I do have younger sisters. It’s quite alright. Culin and Sasi—you have two lovely children. I can understand their restlessness. We have delayed you quite long.”

She’d heard their names once from afar and already remembered them? Lantal blinked. But that was a

[Princess] for you. Indeed, Culin stopped crying and stared at Seraphel, caught off-guard by the royal visage speaking from her carriage’s window.

“Perhaps my [Handmaidens] should keep them company while the fallen are seen to and we disembark?

They know any number of games.”

“Oh, Your Highness, we c—”

The two parents exchanged a quick look. They silently and with the telepathy of parents, which owed nothing to Skills, calculated how many more embarrassing outbursts they’d get from their children whilst trying to accommodate all of Calanfer’s people.

As the party disembarked at the keep, Lord Lantal saw the small staff of the keep all turning out to stare at the new arrivals. Seraphel and her Thronebearers rode with Afiele’s retainers around them and the sounds of giggling children and the two [Handmaidens]’ voices came from the carriage.

“Announcing her Royal Highness, Princess Seraphel du Marquin of Calanfer!”

One of the Thronebearers announced to the startled people in a ringing voice. He would have gone on, but Seraphel stopped him and inclined her head.

“Good evening to you all. Dalimont, enough. Let Lord Lantal do what must be done without formalities.”