The world, to an extent, is rather simple to understand, as it revolves unequivocally around three fundamental pillars: coins, sex, and power. It is only natural, and the reasons behind them are just as straightforward.

Coins are the tangible embodiment of wealth; they hold the power to procure anything, from goods to services and, with a fair price, even lives. They provide security, access to opportunities, and a means to fulfill desires and aspirations.

Then, sex; a concept deeply rooted in human nature. Sexual attraction and fulfillment play a significant role in all social interactions. Its presence is felt in every facet of society, from relationships to cultural norms, and to the end goal of preservation, through reproduction.

Power, being the latter, and yet the most important, as it holds the key to everything else... Power can take various forms, but generally speaking, its essence remains consistent: the ability to shape destinies through control and manipulation. Nobles solely pursue it, driven by desires for dominance, recognition, and security, striving to influence decisions and outcomes...

A king is no different, really; trying to maintain their status quo, spending left and right to acquire security and material possessions, only to find themselves with more things to secure, leading to more spending, all the while managing sex and marriages to ensure they have more power through relationships and alliances to extend their dominion.

A lifestyle, in my opinion... quite boring.

My mother once dwelled on such concepts, saying that power held in the wrong hands could unleash irreversible disasters, leading to consequences without a point of return. Whereas, coins in the wrong hands could really... do nothing; only the one spending could suffer the consequences, and sex alone wields limited influence over the world. But power... oh, power in the wrong hands has the potential to reshape reality in unimaginable ways.

Though, it is worth noting that my mother didn't fully agree about coins being able to procure anything since, in her opinion, there are many things that cannot be bought.

"What do you mean?" I asked her, tilting my head as I observed her washing the dishes.

"What do you think I mean, sweetie?" she countered with a gentle tone.

"Well, I've heard people say that coins can even buy you happiness," I replied.

She dried her hands before continuing. "And do you think that's true?"

"Hmm, well... I was happy when you bought me that chocolate cake."

She chuckled before scooping me up into her arms. "So your happiness is a chocolate cake?" she asked, planting a kiss on my cheek, making me squirm with laughter.

"Well, you're also my happiness."

Her lips curled into an even bigger smile.

"You're still not answering the question though, mom..." I pouted.

"Yes, and I won't answer it," she said, sticking out her tongue in response.

I pouted even harder. "Another one of your secrets?!"

"Not a secret, sweetie. I just want you to find the answer for yourself. One day, I'm sure you'll understand what I mean, and you'll be happy..."

...

And so, the day of the celebration at the Royal Palace finally arrived. I was in my room, standing in front of a tall, ornate mirror, checking myself out.

Choosing a dress Crimson would dislike was no easy task, considering each one before me was a masterpiece in its own right.

In the end, I chose a dress in a mesmerizing shade of night-sky blue. The patterns on the dress reminded me of constellations, and the fabric had a fresh, cool feeling against my skin, draping around me with gentle grace. The delicate bodice accentuated my figure and, somehow, highlighted my collarbone, leaving it elegantly exposed, while my back remained covered.

Sheer, dark-blue sleeves, almost purple like a nebula, cascaded down my arms, adorned with intricate lace and tiny crystals that twinkled like little stars. As I twirled before the mirror, the skirt of the dress flowed around me with a gentle rustle at every step.

To complete the ensemble, I chose simple silver earrings and a delicate bracelet adorned with purple moonstones. Then, I pinned a small, star-shaped hairpiece into my white hair, adding the final celestial touch.

Perhaps, thinking about it... I chose one a little too wonderful, but Elizabeth's and Selena's still seemed way better. However, in this dress... I felt like I was cloaked in the very essence of the night sky; a celestial Goddess summoned to dance amidst the stars!

I even had my nails painted an azure; I was initially against it, but Selena insisted on having a 'girls night' with me and Elizabeth, and I decided to participate to demonstrate my commitment to belonging in this guild. I'm not so interested in stuff like makeup, though my mother always emphasized its power to make a statement and win over people. But since Leonard instructed everyone to dress properly, just for this night, I had to be dazzling... Thanks to Selena, I could say that both my hands and feet were adorned with azure paint, adding a subtle yet captivating detail to my overall look. And my face looked more polished than ever; my eyebrows long, beautiful, and delicately arched, complementing my lips, now a glistening pink.

Overall... I felt somewhat out of place. But simultaneously, I couldn't deny that I looked stunning, a real and pure beauty.

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A knock on the door interrupted my twirls in front of the mirror, the voice of someone calling my name from the other side.

"You can come in, Joey," I replied.

Joey opened the door, remaining petrified at the sight of me. "Ah... It seems I've got the wrong person," he jokingly said.

I chuckled, giving my dress a final twirl. "What do you think?"

"You look... stunning."

"You did seem stunned," I remarked. "But don't get used to it; I'll use this dress only tonight."

He shrugged. "I'll make peace with that."

"What brings you here?" I asked, since he rarely visits my room.

"Ah, Leonard just asked me to come call you. Shortly, you all will be going to the Royal Palace, and he wanted to make sure everyone was getting ready."

"I see. I'm ready, I'm ready."

I turned over once again to the mirror. Yes, I was definitely all dressed up and ready. However, my attention was soon pulled away by Joey, his hand extended toward me in invitation while he was slightly bowed. "Would you honor me with this dance?"

A giggle escaped my lips. With a little curtsy, I accepted. "It would be my pleasure."

I gracefully took his hand, and we moved to the center of the huge room. I placed my left hand on his shoulder, while he gently placed his right on my waist, our free hands linking together.

We gracefully moved around the room while our eyes kept reflecting each other's, the gentle tap of my heels accompanying our steps.

"I didn't know you could dance," Joey remarked, a hint of surprise in his voice.

"There are many things you don't know about me, Joey."

"And here I thought I had finally found something I could do that you couldn't..." he softly sighed with a smile.

I chuckled. "I don't mind you sucking at everything."

He laughed lightly. "You're so harsh..."

"I am surprised, though," I complimented. "Who taught you how to dance?"

"My parents wanted me to learn, so I had to," he replied. "What about you?"

"My mother did, along with all the etiquette the nobles adopt."

"Well, she did a splendid job. I took tons of lessons, and you're still better than me."

"Cheer up. There are things you're better at than me."

"Trying to cheer me up after you rubbed salt in the wound?"

"Hmm... yes," I quipped.

He raised an eyebrow. "She didn't teach you tact, did she?"

"I don't need such a thing," I countered. "Besides, you're talking about tact and all the dance lessons you took, but you still haven't complimented me about my hair after you said I'd look good if I let it grow. Where are your manners?" I teased, shaking my head.

"I see you're letting it grow. Well, I excuse myself, then. I said you're stunning, but I take it back. You're simply mesmerizing, not even the Queen can equal your grace," he teased back.

That was a compliment; I felt a warm blush spread across my cheeks.

"Yet, you had to make me let you notice it. You're an awful gentleman, barely a chaperone. Flattery will get you nowhere at this point..." I retorted, though my blush may have betrayed me.

He sighed as he smiled. "Hmm, you're right. I still have a lot to learn."

Slowly, I decided to stop the dance, and sat on my bed letting out a sigh.

"Is something wrong?" he asked me with a concerned tone.

I let my body dramatically sink, staring at the ceiling.

Joey laughed at my theatrics. "Are you sure you should lie down after all the preparation? Your hair will get messy, you know."

"It's fine, I just want to lie down for a bit. There's still time," I replied.

"Do you want me to leave you some space?" he asked.

"No... come here, lie next to me."

He complied, laying close to me, and we both stared at the ceiling together.

"Isn't it strange?" I wondered aloud.

"Hm? What is?"

"It feels like an eternity since we last had a conversation like this... just laying around. And yet, now we're even in the same guild."

"You're right," he murmured. "Ever since we reached Zafferbridge, our lives have been turned upside down. For days you seemed extremely lost in thoughts, and then you went into that dungeon. And once you returned, you seemed distant as well..."

"Sorry..."

"Don't be. I also got caught up in the flow; now I'm a collaborator... Our roles may be different, but I'm happy to be in the same guild. I'm actually the one sorry; I'm unable to assist you in all this crazy stuff you're doing. Now you're off to a fallen city, and all I can do is... wait."

I turned around to meet his eyes. "You've done so much for me, Joey," I reassured him, resting my hand over his shoulder. "You followed me so far, you gave me a dagger when I lost mine, which saved my life, and you always cook for me when I'm hungry."

He chuckled upon hearing the last part. "But that sounds like the bare minimum. You're risking your life constantly, and I'm not helping you with any of that. And it's way more dangerous than when we were in our hometown..."

"You don't have to, Joey. Coming back from an expedition to find you waiting, ready to cook something delicious just for me... is enough," I said with a warm smile. "Besides... I think I just discovered something you're better at than me."

"Hm? You did?"

"Hmm-hm. cooking," I proudly nodded.

"What?" he laughed. "That's just cooking. You can do that as well."

"But you're way better than me. Don't try to find excuses now! And you really wouldn't make me cook after returning tired from my life-threatening adventures, would you now?"

He sighed, knowing full well I was the one in the right. "You're unbelievable..."

I got up from the bed with a smile of satisfaction at my victory, stretching out.

"See? Your hair got messy," he observed, getting up as well.

I quickly glanced at the mirror; he was right. Walking over to the dressing table, I retrieved a brush. And with a twirl, I extended it to Joey. "Here."

He stared at it with a puzzled expression. "What about it?"

I pushed it to him. "Brush my hair."

His expression was amusing to look at. "I know I said not even the Queen can equal your grace, but are you actually acting like one now?"

I stifled a laugh. "Well, you're the one who said I would look great with long hair. Don't you think you bear some responsibility over it?" I then gracefully settled into a chair. "Come on, don't keep me waiting."

He sighed in mock resignation. "At your command, my Queen."

It was brief, but he ran that brush gently and diligently through my hair. He then handed me back the brush. "Shouldn't you go now?"

"Hmm... you're right..."

"What's wrong? You seem weird this evening," he said, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder.

"Nothing really... It's just that going to the Royal Palace, acting out by following the etiquette... I don't like these things. I'm glad it's going to be short," I replied.

I rose from the chair, my eyes falling on my dagger... I took it, turning to Joey. "Hey, can you do me a favor?"

"Of course, what is it?"

As if afraid of letting it go, I extended my dagger to him. "I'm sure they won't let us bring weapons with us there, and I don't want to leave it alone somewhere... You're the only one I trust enough to entrust it to."

He took it. "Alright, I'll keep it until you come back. But... the only one you can trust? I'm happy about it, but aren't you bonding with the other members?" he asked, his voice slightly trembling.

"Well, in a way..." My answer didn't really sound convincing. "Are you?"

"I am; I think they're pretty great!" he exclaimed with a cheerful smile. "I rarely see Mika, Louise and Crimson, so I can't say much about them. But Jerald and Selena are really nice people! Leonard looks serious, but he has a reassuring aura, especially when Laura is around. And Elizabeth..." he suddenly stopped, his cheerful expression shifting to a pensive one as his eyes lowered.

"Hm? What about Elizabeth?"

"Ah, nothing, nothing," he chuckled, waving his hands.

"Hmm?"

"Anyway, alright. I guess I'll just keep an eye on your dagger, and wait, as usual," he shrugged with a reassuring smile, holding the dagger like a warrior.

A giggle escaped my lips. "That's right," I nodded with a content smile. "Just wait for me, as you always have."