423 Winter Solstice

Two days later, Mikaela was changing in her dorm room's bathroom with Saavi's help. Dressed in the freshly cleaned gown, hair done into a updo and jewelry provided by Ailwin, was accenting her neck and ears.

"I can't believe you bought this dress." Saavi said, shaking her head at the sight of Mika wearing the gown she threw up on. Whether it was intentional or not, she didn't know for sure. All she could remember is the look of horror on everyone's faces.

....And this is supposed to be Queen Analise's great great great granddaughter, the true princess of Kaia Kingdom...? Saavi hung her head, We can never go back into that store again...

"Why not? I got it for a really good deal."

"Of course you did, no other customer in the store would want a dress another person grew up on. Plus, the manager was about to have a heartattack after the way you were haggling her. The shop attendants took any priced you offered after that, just to get you out of their shoppe...hahaha." Jaonos commented from the opposite side of the bathroom door.

"Well, it's not my fault they allow drunk people to come into their store." Mika muttered.

"I still don't understand why you want to go to this banquet. First of all, your sisters will be there. Flaunting their status and secondly, aren't you and Prince Ailwin, walking into a trap…?" Jaonos expressed his concerns.

"Yes, this baquet will stinks to the high heavens of crap. However, we need to know what the King is thinking and planning. If we don't show up it will look bad on our part." She said coming out of the bathroom with Saavi right behind her, fixing last minute details to her attire.

"Wow…you both look beautiful." Jaonos was stunned by their appearance.

"Yeah, if we didn't know any better about that gown you are wearing, I would probably think you spent a fortune." Saavi nodded her head.

"Hehe...good. By the way, neither one of you are to tell Ailwin how I got the gown when he gets here, got it?" Mika warned, assuming a dignified image.

"Got it."

"En."

"Okay, then let's go."

Saavi and Jaonos were also dressed in formal attire as were many other students at the academy. Being from elite clans and rich families, the majority of them got invitations to the palace. The other half were going out to enjoy the festivities on the streets.

Jaonas had received his and decided to take Saavi with him. We were planning on spending their evening in the shopping district, celebrating the winter solstice like everyone else. However, once Mika came back they decided to nix that idea and go watch the fun at the banquet.

Mikaela was skeptical about having them go there with them. So instead, they will be arriving separately with some of Shadow Wolves soldiers, dressed in disguises, in case something goes wrong.

In addition to the disguised soldiers, if something really does goes wrong, Mika had taken the time showed Saavi and Jaonas her warship left in Ailwin's private home in the capital.

She suggested that if things really do go south at the banquet tonight, they should all meet up there for immediate evacuation.

With the rest of their group of friends completing the missions in other parts of the country, it only left Saavi and Jaonos she needed to worried about.

"Is that him?" Coming out of her thoughts, Mika look to who Saavi was talking about and saw Ailwin standing next to a shuttle, embossed with his prince totem.

Dressed in all gray, he looked sleek and polished.

When he saw Mika walking towards him, he couldn't stop from staring.

"You look beautiful." Looking at her now, he could see the young lady she will soon become.

"You don't look so bad yourself..." Mika glanced down at his formal attire. This would be the first time she has seen him dressed in something other than sleepwear, military uniform and his training gear.

"We're leaving now." Saavi interrupted. They needed to arrive before Ailwin and Mika do with the disguised soldiers.

"Okay...remember the plan." Mika reminded her friends before they parted ways.

"Let's go." Ailwin held out his hand to help Mika inside the shuttle.

"En."

Settled into their seats, he took off, heading towards the imperial palace.

"Are you nervous?" Ailwin peeked over at her hands, which were fidgeting on her lap.

"A little…this will be the first time I see the King face to face." Through all the hacking she has done, she has been unable to get a picture of the King's face. It left her feeling like she was facing an invisible foe.

"Emm...Mika, can you promise me one thing night."

"Sigh...I won't draw attention to myself." Mika said tiredly. Saavi already nagged her long enough about that already.

"Yes, that too...but also, don't try to confront the King alone." Ailwin turned to look at her seriously. He couldn't stress this point to her enough. They were not ready to fight the King head on.

"….I won't. I promise." Mika wasn't planning on doing anything crazy at the banquet tonight. Why does everyone make it seem like I'm some loose cannon…?

After thirty minutes of flying, they could see the imperial palace looming in front of them.

Mika felt butterflies fluttering in her stomach, Am I really this nervous?

Taking in a deep breath and closing her eyes, she tried to calm her nerves as Ailwin got comm'ed by the palace's security.

*Beep* *Beep*

"Prince Ailwin, please enter your confirmation code." He did as they told and a short while later they were being guided on where to land.

As dozen of other shuttles were flying towards the palace at the same time, it took several royal guards to keep the skies and land organized.

Landing in a section reserved for the royal family, Ailwin grasped Mika's hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze before escorting her out of the shuttle and towards the banquet hall doors.