Morrigan held her back straight and her head high, taking careful, measured steps across the ballroom. There was a heavy stack of books on her head, threatening to topple over at the smallest mistake. Her teeth were clenched and every muscle felt like a tight wire, stiff and unwilling to move the way she wanted.

"Princess Morrigan, please relax. You look like you are made out of stone," Lady Lily said, carefully observing her every step from the side.

"I feel that if I relax all the books on my head will fall," Morrigan said through gritted teeth, afraid that even the movement of her mouth could shatter the fragile balance she was keeping.

"If you keep your gait proper and straight, then they will not fall. Please relax your muscles," Lady Lily urged. Morrigan exhaled, a drop of sweat rolling down the side of her face, and slowly relaxed her muscles.

She started with her hands, trying to make their movements more natural and fluid. Then she relaxed her shoulders, allowing them to lower ever so slightly. And finally, she relaxed her legs, attempting longer, less shaky steps. The stack of books on her head wobbled. Morrigan panicked, stopping and the stack tipped over completely and fell to the floor. Lady Lily sighed, and Morrigan slumped.

"This is impossible! Why would I ever need to walk so straight to hold up a stack of books on my head?" she complained and began picking up books.

"It's not the books that are important, it's the ability to walk without losing your balance," Lady Lily explained and helped Morrigan pick up the books. "Although such etiquette lessons are still too early for a small child like yourself. What was His Majesty thinking – promising those fallen scum to bring you along?"

"I'm sure there's a good reason," Morrigan chuckled awkwardly.

Father no doubt just wanted to brag about his prodigal daughter, which I suppose is fine, but why do it in front of a foreign delegation?

"The reasons don't matter when a child as small as yourself is involved," Lady Lily grumbled, then sighed in resignation. "But it's not like he will change his mind now. Don't worry, child. I'll do everything in my power to prepare you for the occasion."

"Thank you, Lady Lily. I really appreciate it," Morrigan replied, putting the last fallen book on top of the stack.

"Morri! Mom! How are you doing?" Deziara skipped into the room, smiling from ear to ear. However, seeing the books stacked on the floor, her smile faded. "Not too well, I guess."

"I don't how you do it so easily Deziara. The only way I keep the books from falling is if I move as rigid as a…" Morrigan was about to say 'robot', but stopped herself at the last moment.

"That is a problem. I wonder why it is more difficult for Morri than it was for me. I learned pretty quickly," Deziara said, and Morrigan felt her pride being broken to pieces. She knew her sister didn't mean anything bad by it, but it hurt nonetheless.

"It might have something to do with her body," Lady Lily said, glancing over Morrigan thoughtfully.

"My body? Is there something wrong with it?"

"No. There's nothing wrong with it. It's just too small. You need to grow taller – keeping balance should be easier then," Lady Lily soothed then took the stack of books and set it aside.

"How do I grow taller in one month?" Morrigan chuckled nervously.

"Maybe you could transform into a taller version of yourself?" Deziara offered excitement radiating from her.

"Oh! I could do that!" Morrigan said and was about to transform when Lady Lily put a hand on her shoulder.

"No. You won't be able to meet the delegation in your shifted form. Let's move on to a different lesson. We'll practice walking again if we have time," the demoness said. Morrigan slumped, her mind reeling at all the possibilities that could go wrong when meeting the people from the Fallen Kingdom. Without a doubt they would be critical of her every move.

That means that one mistake could instantly make me into a laughingstock, which in turn would enrage Alphegor and plunge the Demon Kingdom into a never-ending war with its neighbors. No pressure.

"Are you thinking of some ridiculous scenario again?" Deziara poked Morrigan's forehead, forcing her out of her thoughts.

"No…"

"You totally were. Whatever you were thinking I am sure you were vastly exaggerating. It'll be just fine – Father will be together with you after all," Deziara said with a smile.

"Deziara is right. You are just ten years old. Nobody is expecting you to have perfect manners," Lady Lily said, then paused, appearing thoughtful. "But let's learn as much as we can."

"Yes!" Morrigan nodded, internally praying that she'd be able to learn just enough manners and etiquette that the fallen wouldn't have a reason to belittle her.

***

Morrigan sat hidden under Haku's wing in the recesses of the giant dragon stable. The building had been reconstructed at least three times since the dragon's birth to accommodate his ever-growing size. However, at the rate Haku was growing, the stable would need another renovation in less than a year.

This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

"You're getting really big, Haku," Morrigan said as she brushed his glistening, red scales, making sure to get rid of any dirt and debris. The dragon hummed with delight occasionally shifting this way and that to better scratch an itchy spot on his body.

"Sometimes I wish I could grow bigger more quickly," she sighed, thinking back on everything she had gone through in the past few weeks to prepare for the Festival. Countless lessons in table manners where she memorized which one of the dozen table utensils she had to use for each dish, how to properly eat each dish (most of the time it involved taking ridiculously small bites), and how to signal the waiter for whatever needs might arise at the table.

Why do I need to use some vague signals to call the waiter? Would it really kill somebody if I just called them over?

Haku lifted his head up and looked at her, concern apparent on his draconic features. Or at least they were apparent to her. Morrigan could always tell what he was feeling, although Deziara claimed that she saw absolutely no change in the dragon's demeanor.

"I'm alright, Haku. I just wish there would be less of the delegation and etiquette nonsense and more of festival fun," Morrigan huffed. Her politics lessons also hadn't really stopped due to the approaching celebration. In fact, Lord Weisedun doubled the speed at which he spoke the names, making it sound like a weird rap of sorts.

But her mind was so full with etiquette and manners and proper ways of speaking, that there just wasn't enough space in her head to learn anything more.

The dragon crooned and gently nudged her arm, encouraging her to continue brushing. She giggled and obliged. The time she spent with Haku seemed like the only peaceful time she could get during the day. That and whatever little time she had together with her father during the evenings.

"It's a shame you can't come to the Festival. I bet it would be fun for you to look at something new. Otherwise all you see is this stable and castle yard," she said, wondering whether the dragon felt trapped like she often did.

Haku shook his head and blew his breath at her, messing up her hair and forcing her to giggle. She grabbed his maw and gently shook his head, earning a puff of smoke in her face. Morrigan waved away the smoke and then put her forehead against Haku's, enjoying the closeness of her friend.

As they enjoyed the moment, the stable door opened, and Deziara peeked in, her black hair flowing down the side of her face. The girl smiled when she saw Morrigan and ran up to her cheerfully, "There you are, Morri! Mom has been looking for you – said it was time for the lessons again."

Morrigan groaned and slumped over Haku's neck. The dragon stiffened, gingerly lowering his head so as to not drop her to the floor. Deziara's smile also waned and she walked up to the pair.

"My mom isn't that strict," Deziara said, trying to catch Morrigan's eye, but the younger girl kept her face pressed into Haku's scales.

"It's not about your mom. It's about this etiquette thing as a whole. I've been learning every waking moment, but it feels like I haven't learned anything at all," she complained while scratching under Haku's chin.

"That's not true and you know it. You've learned more things in these few weeks than some of our older sisters have in years," Deziara pulled Morrigan off the dragon, setting her straight on her feet.

"But it's not enough. One mistake could cause a war," she said, waving her hands helplessly. Haku must have thought it was a game and began to gently nip at her fingers. Morrigan giggled and began to boop the dragon's noise while trying to avoid his mouth. Deziara laughed at the sight and before long, joined the silly game.

"You know Father wouldn't allow that," Deziara said and grabbed Haku's maw, forcing it shut. The dragon shook his head and freed himself without any issues.

I'm not so sure about that. Sometimes it feels like Father wouldn't mind going to war and just wiping the Fallen Kingdom from existence.

"But I still don't want to make a fool of myself. I have to be a good example as a Crown Princess," she said and her hands slumped to her sides.

"It doesn't matter how perfect you are, if they want to find something to fault you for – they will," Deziara pointed her finger at Morrigan.

"Great, so it doesn't matter what I do," the girl said and sat down on the rough stone floor wrapping her hands around her knees. Haku whined and put his head next to her in an attempt to cheer her up.

"No, wait… " Deziara waved her hands as if it could erase the words she had just said. "No, it does matter, but you shouldn't stress over it just because you are not perfect."

Morrigan didn't answer, instead staring at the pile of straw on the floor.

"This isn't like you, Morri. The last time you acted this way, you ran away and disappeared for two years. You better not be planning to do that again," Deziara warned and poked her forehead.

"No, I won't run away again!" she shook her head fervently.

"If you do, I'll chase you down myself and then tie you to Haku's back," the girl warned, and the dragon whipped his tail back and forth in approval.

"I promise I won't. I just wish I had more time. There's barely two weeks left until the Festival."

"I know, I know…" Deziara said and sat down next to Morrigan. "I am worried too, you know. While most eyes will be on you and Viana, of course, people will be looking at all the princesses. All of us have to be a good example."

Morrigan nodded, realizing that Deziara must have been worried about the delegation as well. The whole Kingdom was probably worried about the fallen coming at the time of their biggest celebration. Some might be angry, some might be worried, and some might even be scared.

"I just wish there was something we could do to help everything pass by peacefully. Us talking politely and curtsying at every guest isn't really going to ease the ongoing tension," Morrigan said.

"Well, it is a festival so there shouldn't be any reason for there to be tension," Deziara said, then winced. "But then again it is the Fallen Kingdom we are talking about. Nobody really likes them."

"Exactly. And I doubt they like us either. I have to do something truly extraordinary if I want them to consider signing a peace treaty afterwards," Morrigan said.

"Your whole being is extraordinary. Whatever you show them, Morri, they will surely love it. Even if they are fallen," Deziara said with a smile and patted her on the back.

"Whatever I show them…" Morrigan could feel an idea forming in her mind.

"Yeah. Just show them what you are good at and surely they will forget and forgive any mistakes you could make."

"That's it, Deziara!" Morrigan jumped up to her feet, startling both Deziara and Haku.

"What is it?"

"I'll just show them what I'm good at. Thank you, sister! I need to go and prepare now," Morrigan said and rushed towards the exit.

"Wait! Prepare? Prepare what exactly?" Deziara called after her.

"You'll see!" she yelled back, her heart swelling with excitement. Deziara shouted something at her, but Morrigan was already in her shadow form, rushing inside the Demon Castle.