The moment Aqua and Azure were about to separate toward their own chambers, much to the dismay of the champion, the usual voice belonging to a certain princess reached Aqua's ears.
"Well, look at that, finally grew a spine and went on a date?"
The princess wrapped her arms around the duo and smiled wryly at the blushed expression of Azure. "So did you, you know?" She let go of the duo and stepped in front of them before she made scissoring motions with her hands.
Yet neither girl understood what she meant.
"Sheira…" Azure grumbled while trying not to fall through the ground out of sheer shame.
"Just kidding, you two ladies are too innocent for it." She placed her hands behind her back and approached Aqua.
"I love that hairstyle ~"
"Thank you, Azure styled it for me."
"Oh, she did?" Her grin grew wider as she switched her gaze to Azure. "And I guess yours is Aqua's doing?"
Both girls nodded in response.
"I see~ Good progress, I am proud of you." Sheira nodded with apparent pride in her eyes.
"You tease me, yet I see you getting rather chummy with that maid~" Azure leaned forward; she finally had a way to fight back.
"Ah, her, yes, she is cute. If she wanted, I would definitely show her a good time."
The answer made Azure's jaw drop. "Y…you really have no shame!"
"Shame is for the weak, Azu~"
"You are a princess!"
"Yes, and I would be someone's pillow princess without any issues~" Sheira pushed her tongue out slightly before Azure raised her hand and struck Sheira over the top of her head.
"Ooow!"
It's always so colorful with these two. Aqua crossed her arms and smiled warmly as Azure proceeded to ruin Sheira's neatly styled hair.
Aqua's hand slowly glided in front of her mouth, and she let out a soft chuckle, which made both girls stop fighting.
"Ah, I almost forgot!" Sheira gasped.
Aqua tilted her head slightly, "What's wrong, Sheira?"
"Alright, hear this out." She grinned before she clasped her hands together. "You two are going to the Academy with me!"
Azure stepped back, "What?!"
"You and Aqua will be classmates, ain't that gonna be the cutest thing ever!"
"Sheira, you do realize I have many duties to attend to?"
"Hah~ Do not worry, Dad has allowed you to go for one semester, perfect time for you to catch up and even refresh on things!" She then turned to Aqua, then back to Azure, and winked.
Aqua tapped her foot against the ground, "Why me?"
"Well, I thought you might like to see how things are taught to us."
She is right. Aqua nodded as she pinched her chin, "Aren't there better ways than the Academy?"
"Maybe, but it is a good time to socialize and learn! It's rather short, too. I say it is worth it." Sheira placed her hands under her chin and stared at Aqua with a puppy stare.
Aqua slowly blinked. In all fairness, she would have loved to experience something like an academy, yet it did not make sense for someone experienced like herself to attend an institution meant to nurture those who had just begun their journey in pursuit of knowledge.
"I do not mind, but I would like to know a real reason." Aqua patiently waited for a response.
"Do I need one?"
"No, but I would like to know why you would want to drag me through the academy."
Sheira sighed loudly, "Because I would be lonely without you two!" Her face turned bright red as she turned toward the floor.
"It's like you just want to fluster me."
Aqua smiled as she tilted her head slightly. Sheira's reason was adorable, and she had no issue with such. If anyone had deserved to be indulged, it would have been Sheira.
"I will go, I am not one to throw away such a unique experience."
"If Aqua is going, then I have no objections either. Though it will be pretty strange for someone as old as me to attend." Azure raised her hand sheepishly.
"Of course you don't, Azu, and do not worry, I heard some older nobility returned to finish their studies." Sheira chuckled for a moment before she slid her hands under her dress and pulled out three letters.
"Aqua, I hope you do not mind, but Father wanted to give you the title of countess, of course, without responsibility."
While Azure stepped back in shock, Aqua merely observed with cold indifference. She tapped her fingers and clicked her tongue, "Are you sure about that?"
"Yes! Only that, you can believe me, mommy~" She slowly fanned herself with the three letters as she stepped in front of Aqua.
"Yes, these will go to the headmaster. I will carry them, but I wanted you to know what was relayed to me."
"I will, but don't you dare tangle me in your politics." Aqua frowned, yet her aura was restrained; her leniency for Sheira and Azure was higher than anyone else.
The princess raised her arms defensively and smiled, "Not at all, it's just so people don't think you are some nobody."
A groan escaped Aqua's lips, "I told you many times now, I do not care about that."
"Well, I do!" Sheira pouted and turned away. "I want you to be appreciated as much as you deserve!"
"Thank you, Sheira." Before the princess could even react, Aqua wrapped her hands around her adoptive daughter.
"Eh! You want me… here?!"
Aqua tightened her grasp before she released the princess. "Your teasing is adorable, never change."
Sheira's ears twitched, "I don't intend to, after all, I am a supreme prodigy!"
She placed her hands on her hips and raised her nose high.
The princess had a unique personality; no matter what she did, Aqua found her endearing.
"Sheira… when are we supposed to head out?"
"About a week, and then we would have two days before exams; however, I think we should be admitted no matter what due to the letters."
"Great…" Azure rubbed her chin as her mind wandered.
"What's wrong, Azu?" Aqua's lips spread into a thin line as she stared at her friend's emerald eyes.
"It's just…" She bit her lip. Despite despising the fact that her superiors overworked her, it did not mean she did not understand the need for it. Their army needed training, and if she were to go to the academy, the recruits would fall behind.
"Who will train the recruits while I am gone?"
"Azu…" Aqua sighed. Her friend was duty-bound, and she had respected it. She raised her hand and placed it on Azure's shoulder.
"I know, I should not be the one doing everything myself, but there is nobody else who can."
"Azure~" Sheira approached as she stashed the letters into her dress. "There is one thing we can do."
Azure crossed her arms and tilted her head in utter befuddlement."Huh?"
"Have you forgotten? The Golden Rose is still in the dungeon. Wouldn't it be a great idea to make them train our troops? Each one of them is better than most of our elites."
"Sheira, are you proposing to use your kidnappers as our instructors?"
"Precisely!" Sheira winked as she turned to Aqua, "No issues with this?"
The red-haired girl shook her head. It was a good idea. After all, relying on a lone person, even if it was Azure, was rather idiotic.
"You forgave them rather quickly for what they did to you." Azure crossed her arms and huffed.
Sheira shook her head. There was no point in holding a grudge after everything that happened. While she was sad and angry that they had killed her loyal guards, she could not lament over it forever."I was never one to hold grudges, and come on, if we can find a use for them, it will free so much time for you to spend with Aqua."
"I accept!" Azure's face gained a serious expression, as if she had just accepted the most important role in her life.
"So easy~" Sheira flicked Azure's nose before she turned to Aqua. "Would it be a problem if you went with me? I am pretty sure they are more scared of you than of someone they could pick up and carry where they want."
"Of course, Sheira. I will go and accompany you."
"Excellent! Let's do it tomorrow. I really want to free Azure's hands before we go to the academy." Sheira's ears twitched as she turned heel and headed toward the noble quarter. "I will go and take a nap, you two have fun~" She waved as she disappeared into the elegant halls of the Onost Palace.
Azure and Aqua turned to each other. A lot of new things have happened recently, some bad and some good, yet everything seemed to finally be peaceful.
"Azu, I enjoyed today very much."
"S…same…" Azure stumbled over her words as her ears slumped.
"After we talk to the Golden Rose tomorrow, we could do the spar you asked for." Aqua winked.
"I would love to…" Azure averted her gaze to the side.
"Good, now would you like to join me? I am in the process of creating a new spell. I would not mind pleasant company like yourself."
Pleasant company, huh? It had seemed that she had truly grown to enjoy Azure's presence. With a smile, she gestured for Azure to follow as Aqua opened the door to her chambers.
She stepped in and was quickly followed by Azure.