"You wretched bird, stop right there!"
At the palace gates, Lucille Xing chased after a flapping, flying Ninefeather Bird. In the five years that had passed, she had changed a lot—her features were more mature and beautiful, she had grown taller, and wore her hair in a long braid. Yet her personality was just as before, unchanged.
The Ninefeather Bird ahead seemed to be teasing Lucille Xing on purpose: it would fly for a bit, stop, turn its head to chirp at her, then take off again just as she was about to catch it.
Just then, giggles came from inside the palace. A petite figure darted out, two small fair hands wrapping around the Ninefeather Bird's neck. The bird struggled at first, but soon became docile, nestling its head against the neck of the six-year-old girl and nuzzling her affectionately.
Lucille Xing put her hands on her hips, glaring at the Ninefeather Bird, fuming.
"Yuna Ji, why did you run out again? Didn't you just get your bottom pricked a few days ago? Doesn't it still hurt?"
Lucille Xing squatted in front of Yuna Ji, taking a soft cloth to wipe her runny nose.
"It stopped hurting ages ago! Haha, Lucille, come play with me!"
Just then, a girl of about ten ran out of the palace gates, looking flustered as she shouted.
"Yuna Ji, you can't run out here! If Queen Grant finds out, she'll blame me!"
The approaching girl had a delicate, graceful face. She ran in small, hurried steps, then suddenly tripped and fell to the ground.
"Lona Long, why are you always like this? So clumsy."
Lucille Xing helped Lona Long to her feet. Three years ago, Lona Long arrived in Grant City with the exiled Wild Tribe. She was fortunate to be chosen by the Grant Family to serve as an attendant to the royal household. Her only flaw was her clumsiness, which often led to trouble.
Just then, Yuna Ji came over, stubbornly refusing to return home. She insisted that Lucille Xing take her outside the city to play.
"Take me, Lucille. I'll give you something tasty."
Yuna Ji smiled sweetly and pulled out a piece of bright red jerky from her pocket. Lucille Xing licked her lips.
"Alright, I'll take you."
"Lucille, is this really okay?"
Lona Long immediately protested. Lucille Xing laughed, pressing down on both Yuna Ji and Lona Long's heads.
"Don't worry."
Once outside the city in the open woods, Yuna Ji seemed liberated. She darted between the trees, playing wildly, picking up stones and firing them with her slingshot.
"Yuna, this might be your last chance to play outside. Queen Grant found someone to teach you, and they might arrive any day now."
Yuna Ji pouted.
"I don't want that."
After a whole day of play, Yuna Ji collapsed from exhaustion and fell asleep. Lucille Xing carried her back to the palace, where Queen Grant stood at the doorway, looking displeased. Lucille forced a smile, and Yvonne May was also there.
"Lucille, can't you behave for once? Staying in the city is fine, but you took Yuna out again."
"Alright, Yvonne, I get it. I told Yuna today—her teacher will be here soon."
Lucille said this, and everyone instinctively looked southwest.
Two days later, a caravan loaded with grain slowly entered Grant City. Nearby soldiers waited to assist, and as the grain arrived, they quickly helped with the unloading.
In the past five years, only last year saw any improvement. Years of drought and blizzards left the northern tribes unable to wage war. Wynn Domain and Sage Domain remained inactive. These five years had passed in quiet stagnation.