The World Dragon's Heir

Chapter 796: Katerina In The Capital

The day of the King’s birthday came, and Katerina was looking like the perfect little princess, with her wings carefully retracted, no claws out, and her horns adorned with a cute gossamer scarf attached by golden rings.

That had been her own demand for the outfit. Because, apparently, her horns needed ornaments today.

"Now, you know what to do, right?" Dominic asked.

"Got it, Dad. Play the perfectly cute Princess, don’t be mean to stupid people, and don’t show off dangerous magic in the Palace. Why can’t I do it if the magic won’t hit anyone, thought?"

"It will set off the alarms and make more work for all the guards."

Katerina nodded. She hated when people made more work for her. Every student at the Academy had a rotating list of chores as part of their duties. She despised it when people did dumb things and made more work for her, so she did her best not to make more work for other people.

"Alright, we’re ready to go. Remember, Miss Amie is your escort for the day. In the Palace, she is the daughter of the Baron of Skipton River. That is how everyone knows her, so she can guard you and will have access to all the places that a regular maid from the Manor would not.

The Veiled maids will have a few people near your mom, as well as the Royal Guards.

Her whole team goes with her, but I’m just bringing two this time. The rest will stay here in the Manor to help Dave keep things safe."

Katerina giggled. She knew as well as anyone that trying to get past a clan of armoured Mountain Trolls that had mages to cast fireproofing on them was a losing battle for anyone. It was an overpowered combination by any standard.

"Alright, let’s go. The King will be waiting for us to arrive, and he knows that we’re going to introduce you to the public today. Extra good first impressions are important."

"Got it, Mom. Don’t worry, I’ve got this."

In her party dress, red with gold trim, and her horns decorated with golden rings, she looked very bit the perfect dragonkin Princess.

They climbed in the transport, and Katerina immediately stuck her head out the window. Sitting in behind the curtains was too boring, and they were still in the Manor. She would have to wait inside the whole drive to the Palace, and she had been cautioned not to open the curtains on the way.

She was riding alone with Alexis, as Dominic was in the first vehicle, driven by Benedict.

The ladies got their own ride, surrounded by Alexis’ Royal Guard team on mechanical horses, and dressed in their full formal regalia. It was certain to be an impressive sight for everyone that they passed on the way to the Palace, a show of wealth and power.

They passed through the portal to the edge of Cygnia City, and Katerina sniffed as she smelled the unfamiliar air.

"This place smells dirty."

"It’s the coal burning. They haven’t changed everything over to magitech yet. They’re trying, but it’s a slow process. So, there are still many vehicles that burn coal moving around the city, and that is the smoke that you smell. The rest is just the smell of a big city where people don’t clean often enough."

"Interesting. I smell food. Are we going to stop for snacks?"

"No, there will be snacks once we have greeted everyone at the Palace. The first part of the event is in the garden. There will be people coming around with food. They’re servants of the Palace, just remember the gesture I taught you, and they will hand you plates of snacks.

Don’t eat too much, there is a dinner later, but there is no rule that you can’t have some snacks while you meet people. Just don’t let snacks stop you from talking to them."

Katerina nodded. They had been over this a dozen times.

The vehicle stopped, and Katerina heard the guards dismounting from their horses, a familiar sound in this unfamiliar place.

They opened the rear curtain of the vehicle, and Wilkes helped Alexis down so she could offer her hand to assist her daughter.

Dominic was already standing by a bunch of old men who Katerina wasn’t interested in.

The interesting ones were standing over to the right. Unfortunately, she had to go meet other kids her age, and couldn’t go visit the old mages and Techno Witches. They were likely better conversation, as they were old enough to know answers to more of her questions than anyone else did.

She had just finished mentally preparing herself for the struggle of talking to boring people when a young boy about her age rushed out of the crowd to confront her.

"This is my cousin? What’s she even wearing? Those fake horns look ridiculous."

He reached out and grabbed her horn, then found himself flying through the air. Not tossed by the much smaller girl, she had picked him up with a [Mage Hand] on the back of his coat and deposited him back next to the horrified Princess who appeared to be his mother.

The mage hand was translucent, but clearly visible in the daylight, and the crowd gasped in shock as Katerina straightened her headwear, then used a silk cloth to wipe the fingerprints off her horns.

"So rude."

By her standards, that was remarkably restrained, Alexis decided. It was also a wonderful introduction to society. Now, everyone knew that the five-year-old was already a partially trained mage with significant skill in mana control.

You needed it to use Mage Hand for complex tasks.

A group of young Princesses, the daughters of the other Royals, came out to greet her.

"Ignore him, he’s a dummy. I’m Jasmine."

"I’m Katerina, your dress is lovely. I love red."

The other girl smiled and gave a twirl. "It really is the best colour, isn’t it? My older sister loves pink, but pink is just faded red."

Katerina smiled as she found someone else who understood her feelings on the colour pink.

"Mom says that there are snacks in the garden, when do we get to go there?" She whispered.

"Just a little longer. They will bring a bunch of adults to come talk to you soon, and then we can all go. I will stay nearby, so they don’t drag you off to do boring adult stuff."