This story is part of the Wanderer series.
Ahead of them, they saw another group approaching the grand steps. Cladded in bright, gold-plated armor, they glimmered like the sun crawling close to the horizon.
“What fortuitous timing,” the Consul remarked. “The delegation of the desert kingdom.”
Sobering, the ambassadors muted their conversations and eyed the golden delegation with caution, maintaining a stern yet not overly hostile front. The royal guards of the Kingdom of Light, they too gazed back with masked expressions, acknowledging the Republic’s presence in this space.
Nozomi and Rin, however, leaned forward with anticipation. Their eyes scanned through the ranks of these soldiers, landing near the front. There, flanked by guards with long spears, were a group of golden-haired young women. These women were familiar to the two, but their appearance and stature were off. Though not taller than the men ranking them, they were not short either. Though they had long hair, they were styled in unfamiliar ways, being too curled, or bound in different spots.
Then, Nozomi’s eyes widened. Her lips drew in, her breath holding. There, following behind these three slender women, she noticed her. A short, young girl, no taller than the shoulder of the shortest of the three women. Though only the top of her head was initially visible, as the delegation rounded the bend towards the steps and a vantage from the side was afforded, an instantly recognizable face appeared behind the backs of her sisters.
“That’s her!” Nozomi piped up. “There she is!”
The young girl blinked, then glanced in their direction, as if recognizing Nozomi’s voice. Seeing this, a big smile formed across Nozomi’s face.
“Chiara!” Nozomi screamed.
Rin honed in to where Nozomi landed, finding the gaze that was looking their way. She too widened her eyes with silent excitement.
With a visible gasp, Chiara broke forward out of the ranks of gold-plated guards and ran forwards. Already alarmed by Nozomi’s abrupt shout, they were equally frightened by their princess scrambling away, but none moved forth to apprehend her.
Seeing Chiara break out towards them, face brimming with excitement, Nozomi and Rin rushed forward as well, the barrier between the two delegations erased from their minds. Their chaperone uttered a closed-mouth gasp, leaning forward to chase after them, but stopped as the Consul held out his hand.
“Let them go,” he assured. “This gathering is safe enough.”
The chaperone glanced briefly at the Consul before flashing a troubled glance at the opposing side’s royal guards shuffling uncomfortably, seeing their princess rush out from the safety of their ranks. “But…”
The Consul did not bend, watching the girls group up with a tempered yet musing gaze. “Well aware am I that I assigned you to them. But here, it is different. If they are to succeed, they will need some space.”
The chaperone eased as he watched the royal guards hang back, approaching no closer to the assets he was supposed to defend.
A light grin emerged on the Consul’s face. “So long as the other delegations respect their space… Watch them from a distance.”
Breaking out from her hug, Nozomi scanned up and down Chiara’s attire, acutely aware of the uncomfortably stiff metal plate she was pressed against.
“You’re so pretty! And golden!”
Chiara gleefully giggled. “Big Sis had it made for me to look just like her!”
“Definitely makes you look like a princess,” Rin remarked.
Chiara nodded enthusiastically, gazing back and forth between the two. Then, her smile subtly weakened.
“Why are you two dressed like men?”
Confusion took over Nozomi’s face. “Huh?”
Rin reddened a bit. “W-we’re not! This is just our republic’s uniform!”
Seeing her seemingly take offense to her question, Chiara pulled back. “Oh… Sorry, I didn’t mean it like—”
“Chiara!”
She flinched. Her elder sister’s bark cut sharply through the air. Turning, she saw Tatiana at the foot of the steps, scowling impatiently over her shoulders.
“We’re going ahead! Don’t fall several stone’s throw behind, you hear?!”
“Y-yes, Sis!” she quickly replied.
Chiara turned back to her friends, reluctant to say goodbye already. However, Nozomi simply smiled, stepping forth to her side.
“Let’s go!”
With a smile and burgeoning confidence, Chiara stepped forward with her. Rin joined their side, but, as they started walking, she hesitated for an instant, as if realizing something. She glanced back, finding the Consul and their chaperone watching them. The Consul simply returned a brief nod, giving her reassurance as she turned and continued forth.