Happily greet the Emperor, you're excited to see your father but his position as Emperor requires some decorum.
Training in the outer marches under your Grandfather's supervision
(Forgive me for the tardy update, drama at SB (not the big drama but FTA, took up my quest writing time this week)
Your face light up as you spot your father, but you remember your manners as you give a proper but firmly excited bow and greeting of "Your Imperial Majesty" before your stopped by the very according to the rules of the court inappropriate spiraling bear hug, crushing you against his chest two feet off the ground while he rubs the back of your head.
"Vicky, forgive me daughter for not calling you here sooner. Angel above you look like her so much." he whispers into your ear. Your unable to regain your dignity or even say anything due to the choking nature of the grasp, your father oblivious to your plight as his face is almost tearing up with happiness. A sharp voice comes from behind the Emperor.
"Alzonio, drop her now before you crush the life out of her, you idiot." the Emperor stops and puts you back on the floor, and turns around, you taking the moment to hurriedly trying to fix the damage he did the ornate folds of your clothes and fix your hair again, while he turns and look at person who would dare insult him in public like that.
Sakura-Zel, Empress-Consort, Archduchess of the Osakan Reach, most powerful feudal lord in the Empire barring the Emperor, whose ancestors sat on the Phoenix Throne before Rifter Crisis, is woman of almost inhuman beauty, almost elfin in her look, her long white silver hair and red eyes, coupled with the white and silver robes, gave mind to your thoughts of a story book one of your nannies read to you about legendary monsters from across space, and the one that is famous from the Reach was of the Yuki-Onna.
"You forget you....." Sakura's red eyes flash in the light of the sun drifting in from the stain glass windows of the hallway, and he stops turns and looks at you as your trying to make yourself look presentable again, stops and then laughs rubbing the back of his head. Sebastian stands off the side, a with a painted on smile on his face at this interplay.
"Ah sorry, it's been awhile since I had a little girl around." you cast a surreptitious glance at Sakura-Zel who looks further annoyed at that statement, and is about to say something when a man steps between the two and looks down at you.
"Just go don't go greeting the Jardin ambassador like that Alzonio and we'll forget this incident." the man says dryly and then bows to you, "Greetings your highness, I'm Duke Feril, welcome to the Palace."
Your mouth starts to go dry, Duke Feril is about the same age as your father, but looks far older, probably as a consequence of his job, short black and white hair with a meticulous salt and pepper goatee, and purple eyes, he is dressed in the pitch-black dress uniform of the Imperial Guard Kommandant, and in the history of that office is the most powerful due to his close friendship with the Emperor, and ruthless of all the heads of the IG there had been in history. Even at your young age you know his hands are stained with blood of rebels beyond counting and even your Grandfather feared the man and warned you off him when it was determined that you were to head to the Palace. Called the Landless Duke as he owns no fief, only the tile, his longevity in the Court was tied to his fanatical loyalty to the Emperor, and his disavowal all personal power outside of his role.
You respond politely, and Duke Feril turns and looks at Alzonio and Sakura-Zel who is glowering at her husband, "I think perhaps some alone time should be in order, if her imperial majesty would be so kind, I do have some thoughts about the security at Honnō-ji station."
"Of course Angus." Sakura-Zel says her voice considerably softening, the duke escorts your step-mothers out, Sebastian follow suits saying he has other affairs to take care off, leaving you just with the Emperor (and his very quiet servants in the distance). Without any ceremony he pushes open the doors into Sebastian's office and soon has you seated in front of him in the chairs and sofa in front of old-fashion bookcase, having ordered refreshments (though you note he didn't stop to ask what you wanted, having ordered you a cherry fizzy drink).
As the drinks are served, he slams down a shooter glass of some alcohol you don't quite recognize and before moving onto a coffee, he smiles at you, "So I heard you gave Da Moya's little minion a run for her money."
"She asked me to do a simulator mission, and I managed to beat it with luck and help from the Imperial Guard trainees."
"Angus tells me, we make our own luck, and he heard about you, he's interested in poaching you actually, I think he's just jealous that last savant we got I gave to Da Moya. I know a girl of your standing would prefer to be Starforce, but..." his eyes goes distant as he looking somewhere else or perhaps the future, "The Imperial Guard on your side can be useful to have."
It was after all the Imperial Guard that put decisive end to start of the civil war that saw your father go from youngest and last surviving heir to the throne, to Emperor after the series of disasters that plagued the Throne. You choose your words carefully he obviously trying to set you up with a tutor in military affairs and favors his friend.
[] Yes I would be interested in learning under Duke Feril
[] No, actually I would be interested in learning Da Moya
[] I would like to learn how to be a statesmen like my brother Sebastian
[] Other