Finding the Timing

At last, the festival began in earnest.

Ugh...! I said I'd confess to her during the festival, but I just can't find the proper timing! Viviane fidgeted as she cast intermittent gazes toward Medrauta. The knight was dressed in traditional Higashi clothing that Sakura had lent her, and she looked rather riveting with her silver hair done up.

Medrauta certainly noticed her lady's glances, but she paid them no mind at the moment. Even though it was only the first day of the festival, their booth was dreadfully busy thanks to its unique appearance and exotic flair that drew many of the festival-goers to it.

While Sakura was the one who directed the procedures and applied the finishing touches to each bowl of tea, Medrauta played an important role in the ceremony as well. She had been given the important task of whisking the tea, an important step that required speed, precise technique, and concentration.

For that reason, Medrauta simply could not find the time to flirt with Viviane, not even with a quick wink.

"It's almost time to swap," Sakura said as their latest guests departed from the booth-turned-teahouse. "Lady Rosaline and Dame Leticia's shift will be ending soon."

Since Gwenhwyfar didn't have the chance to properly learn the tea preparation method, she was relegated solely to advertisement duty. As that was the only contribution she could make, the group decided on rotating shifts for each task as a means to lighten the burden of the princess' permanent post.

"Nice timing too," Medrauta set her whisk down. "I imagine Leticia went to get her qualifiers out of the way already, so I might as well too."

"...You're participating in the tourney?" Sakura asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Yeah? Why wouldn't I?"

"Well... Wouldn't it be kind of unfair?"

Medrauta stared at Sakura blankly for a couple seconds before bursting into laughter. "The competitors are knights, Lady Sakura. We're all up for a challenge, no matter who it is. Besides, it's not like I can win every category. I already know I'm gonna get swept in archery, and I don't think I'll place within the top three in the joust. Really, it's just the duels that I'll be winning."

"You think so?" Leticia said with a smirk as she slid open the door. Rosaline stood next to her, beautiful as ever. "You might be in for a surprise this time around."

"Hah! Winning that gauntlet sure got your head all nice and swollen, eh? I'll be lookin' forward to it, Leticia."

Viviane set her sifter to the side as the two knights traded banter. She stood, curtsying as Rosaline approached her. "Lady Rosaline! You look positively stunning today."

"Perhaps, but I struggle to match your radiance, Lady Viviane," Rosaline said, returning the curtsy and stepping closer to Viviane before speaking again with a hushed voice. "I've made some arrangements with the princess. She wasn't exactly happy about it, but she'll give you the space you need for your... opportunity."

Viviane nodded her thanks before excusing herself from the teahouse with Medrauta by her side after they'd changed out of the clothes that Sakura lent them. A large line had formed outside while the group was in the process of changing shifts, but the crowd graciously parted for the two girls.

"Ah, shit." Medrauta exclaimed. "I forgot to ask Leticia where Gwenhwyfar was. Did Lady Rosaline tell you?"

Viviane shook her head, only just realizing that fact as well. "Unfortunately not. Though, she shouldn't be too hard to spot."

And indeed she wasn't. This year's festival had a surprisingly large turnout which helped to lift the gloomy atmosphere that had hung over the academy, and the waves of excited attendees certainly did quite a bit to boost the students' morale. Despite the crowds being large and plentiful, the princess' distinctive pink hair was easily found.

"Your Imperial Highness! We're here!" Viviane waved to the princess who was currently holding a stack of fliers in her hands.

A medium-sized group of people were clustered around her solely for the sake of attempting to forge a connection with the imperial family, though some were actually interested in the teahouse that she was promoting.

"Lady Viviane! Medrauta! You've arrived at last!" The relief in Gwenhwyfar's voice was more than evident. "Ugh, it's so exhausting having to deal with such an unruly crowd! Even the royal gala is not as claustrophobic as this!"

"They're gonna hear you, princess." Medrauta said as she picked up a stack of papers that laid on the desk next to Gwenhwyfar. Viviane did the same.

"Yes, yes," Gwenhwyfar said dismissively as she continued to hand out fliers with her best noble's smile plastered on her lips. "More importantly, you haven't gone for the tourney qualifiers yet, have you?"

Medrauta shook her head in response as she busied herself with the flier distribution. Now that she and Viviane had arrived, there were even more visitors who joined the crowd.

"That is quite unfortunate. For me, at the very least," Gwenhwyfar said with a sigh. "Very well. I will permit you and Lady Viviane to depart after fifteen minutes. Were I not so exhausted, I would not have to rely on your aid."

"Viviane too?" Medrauta asked, surprised. "The tourney is for knights. There's no need for—"

"No." The princess' tone was firm, and it rang with such authority that even the crowd froze for a moment as they heard her utter that sole word. "I insist, Medrauta."

"I... Alright, then. That's mighty generous of you."

Time flew by as the three of them distributed fliers and made small talk with the crowd of attendees. True to her word, Gwenhwyfar excused Viviane and Medrauta after fifteen minutes had elapsed. As Medrauta began picking her way through the throng of people, Viviane stayed behind for a few seconds longer.

"Um... Thank you, Your Imperial Highness."

Gwenhwyfar clicked her tongue in annoyance. It was an improper way of expressing emotions for someone of her station, but the hubbub of the crowd drowned it out. "There is no need for thanks. I am simply making amends, and... I wish the two of you a happy future."

"...Yes. We'll definitely be happy!" Viviane smiled. Though she could hear that those final words were forced out, she accepted them anyway. It had taken the princess all her pride to speak them, and it would've been terribly rude to point that out.

"Viviane? Are you alright back there?" Medrauta called out, turning as she did so.

"Yeah! I'm coming, Medrauta!"