a bed of flowers [p] stained red with rain

name: hyeon, yuna.

title: princess of kyoumei; magnolia flower maiden. sometimes she's referred to with her last name by underlings.

age: twenty-four.

gender: dfab, identifies as such.

sexuality: homoromantic/homosexual; is fine with anyone feminine presenting though.

reference: x.

appearance: vivid violet eyes beneath naturally long eyelashes are often the first to grasp viewers' attention. yuna's eyes contrast greatly to the rest of her lighter features, more so her skin, which is almost reminiscent of porcelain. it is pale and unmarred, save for the simple outline of a rhombus shaped tattoo on her left ankle. her hair is long and thick, ending at her mid-back. it is somewhat wavy and a silvery white in hue. years of utilizing expensive products has made it silky to the touch. yuna exhibits a height that's slightly taller than average, standing at about 5'8". however, she might seem taller, as her shoes often tend to boost her height. a few days before bloom, her hair gradually acquires a soft pink tinge, similar to the appearance of the chinese magnolia. during bloom, magnolia tattoos (slightly like this) start sprouting from the edge of the rhombus and wrap around her body, more specifically the left leg, abdomen, and chest. usually, the tattoos don't go past the shoulders or neck. once bloom ends, the flowers wither away and her hair returns to its original colour.

in the eyes of the public, yuna is usually adorned with the finest of silks, the most expensive of garbs. thus, for the sake of discretion on her travels, she prefers to wear the opposite of her general style. while she's usually seen in flowy fabrics and her hair masterfully done in an assortment of styles, she now wears slightly more tight-fitting clothes and leaves her hair out. i'm tired so i'm not going to describe it, but it's something like this, but a pink shade replacing the red.

personality traits:

❀ quite calm, it's difficult to make her upset, although there are a few things here and there that quickly set her off

❀ for instance, she can sometimes be quick to anger if you belittle her right in front of her

❀ fairly chipper and tries to keep a mostly positive attitude

❀ at the same time though, she's realistic and practical and wouldn't be falsely optimistic

❀ a little bit scheming. she often does have little ideas and thoughts running through her head, though they're not necessarily malicious

❀ mature, but does have a sense of adventure and likes using the opportunities she has to have a bit of fun and relax

❀ secretive, not necessarily on purpose but when it comes to certain things such as family secrets and other things of that nature

❀ enjoys teasing those she's comfortable with

❀ would be willing to make questionable sacrifices if it meant achieving a certain goal

❀ passionate, isn't one who's quick to give up very easily; also makes her quite stubborn

❀ confident in herself and others

headcanons:

❀ as a flower maiden, she naturally gives off the scent of magnolia. they smell sweet, but slightly of lemon.

❀ speaking of sweet stuff, yuna has a big sweet tooth and often enjoys trying pastries and other desserts

❀ while they're traveling, she's probably going to have an almost childlike excitement for certain things, considering she hasn't experienced stuff some would find mundane

❀ that person who would buy useless things just because she finds them cute

❀ also that person who would shower someone with gifts just because she feels like it

❀ has a resting face that's honestly kinda intimidating, but when you speak to her she's usually pretty kind

❀ that being said, when she is pissed off by something she gets hella scary

❀ has a soft spot for animals, especially felines

❀ i haven't decided much on her history, but i might add in some sort of family drama!! like, perhaps some bad rumors about the royals (including herself) that may actually be true and stuff like that

❀ more to be added later, i'm tired

The heart of Moonlight Garden was an area free from the wandering glances of commoners. Like the treasure it was, it had been hidden away behind the walls of the palace, leaving its existence to be perceived as myth by peasants, and a sanctuary for those granted access within. The perception of the peasants was not incorrect, for the garden indeed resembled something from a fairy tale. The strong, almost sickeningly sweet fragrance associated with flowers was the first to hit the senses of any viewer who entered. Perhaps if it was day, there would've been the mellow songs of chirping birds, however it was instead replaced with the persistent tune of crickets. Some would've argued that its beauty reigned at dawn, when the sky gleamed orange over the vibrant rosy hues of the flora, but Yuna came to believe that the garden received its name appropriately.

The only sound to break the monotony was the noise of heels clicking against stone steps, until Yuna stopped to stand on the path leading further into Moonlight Garden. Tilting her head up, she could see a dark canvas of black encompassing the sky. A myriad of stars blanketed above, yet none of their light seemed to filter low enough to create a difference. Instead, all the illumination came from the moon, which hung round and brilliant in the otherwise inky sky. The moon was a loyal companion — it was always present, watching over even the darkest of nights, changing forever just as the nature of humans. Yuna was silhouetted against it as she headed down the winding path. The breeze gently rolled, swaying her long locks of silvery hair and carrying petals in its wake. They danced in the air with the wind as its partner, until the pink petals gave in and slowly fluttered onto the blades of grass below.

Within a few minutes of walking, Yuna could see the pavilion — the designated place of meeting — which overlooked a serene lake near the center of the garden. Lily pads and lotuses rested at the surface, moving along with the gentle ripples. A few stray petals had fallen into the depths of the water. The dazzling night sky reflected off the lake as if it was a mirror. Yuna found the corners of her lips tugging into a slight smile at the sight. Moonlight Garden possessed beauty as an ever-present season. There was no other place where the magnolias blossomed so pure upon the Earth, where the wind played melodies like the softest of lullabies. It was truly unmatched by the likes of others — and it was all hers.

With the shake of her head, Yuna cast her gaze away from the scenery and resumed her steps to the pavilion. Soon enough, she stood underneath its protective shade, where her violet eyes locked onto an awaiting figure. For a moment, she stared at the individual with an unchanging expression, before her lips finally parted to speak. "You must be the bodyguard, no?"

Once she straightened herself up from the bow, Yuna made no effort to conceal the fact that she was most definitely looking the female up and down. Not even for second did her gaze shift from the unknown woman, as if she was a raptor meticulously eyeing its prey. The individual, who she now recognized as Jasmine after her courteous introduction, was not quite someone who stirred her memory. In the sea of servants she retained, it was difficult to remember every face, every name, despite Yuna attempting her best. The woman in front of her wore garbs fitting for those of her occupation, which she supposed was no surprise. She stood at a height that appeared not too far from her own, if Yuna was willing to take the time to kick off her shoes. Her hair was chopped short but neatly framed her face. The colour of the locks were quite interesting; they reminded her much of a drifting cloud during a rainy day. The maiden's observing finally came to a stop when her gaze rested on the bodyguard's eyes, which were like the hue of rich amethysts.

Kirishima. Did that name ring a bell? It wasn't unusual for guards to follow in the footsteps of their family, as if their surname fated them to serve for the royals the remainder of their life. Not that it was a bad thing, Yuna liked to think. She, along with the rest of the Kyoumei royals, ensured that servants were treated equitably. Still, certain individuals preferred the freedom of pursuing their passion, which Yuna considered understandable. It was illogical to tie down a bird who wished to soar. Regardless, her mind was drawing a complete blank on this woman's name, which was actually rather unusual. She possessed a youthful appearance, despite her high status as a personal guard. Surely, she would've been told of someone so young making their way up the ranks so successfully? Instead, she was like a phantom to Yuna — present, but invisible, at least until now it seemed. Perhaps the guard wasn't aware of it herself, but she managed to pique Yuna's interest, purely for existing.

For the first time in front of Jasmine, a sweet smile came to the older woman's features. "I am Princess Yuna Hyeon, flower maiden of Kyoumei. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance." The words easily rolled off her tongue, for it was an introduction she commonly used in the presence of others. Subconsciously, her forearms moved behind her back. It was proper stance,as her mother likely would've called it. Her stare finally snapped away from Jasmine when her attention was grasped by the sudden motion of a single petal drifting in the air behind her. Only after it was out of her line of sight did Yuna glance back at the bodyguard, this time her head beginning to tilt slightly. "I must say, I'm quite intrigued that someone of your stature would be sent for a task like this, but I suppose that's no matter."

Now, she was in no way trying to belittle the woman already, but there was nothing worse than a bodyguard biting off more than they could chew. Although Yuna presented herself in a self-assured nature, she wasn't completely blind to her own flaws. Outside of bloom, she was a susceptible target, so she required a guard who could do their job. It was the one task they had, so failure to do so was simply pathetic. "I entrust that my adviser, along with you, aren't overestimating your own caliber." A smile remained on her face, although there was something about it that was oddly intimidating. Perhaps Yuna was quick to spew harsh words, like a snake spitting venom, especially when she knew nothing of Jasmine's talents. However, she couldn't afford taking risks with the major threat of assassination.

A small, yet pleasant sigh escaped from the maiden's lips. "Now then, I'm sure you've been told that we will bestow you with anything you need as you accompany me. By any chance, do you have any requests?"

This time when the princess smiled, the look behind her vivid eyes was one of amusement rather than a passive scare tactic. The fact that the bodyguard's voice had remained as fluid as before, without a hint of a waver or stutter, was something that Yuna appreciated. It was truly disappointing, watching people's ego shatter like glass from the strike of doubtful words coming from her mouth. It was almost frightening how some people treated her words as if they were an unquestionable law, simply because of her status as a maiden. She was a human, albeit a special one, which still ranked her far from a deity. Her actions were not meant to be worshiped by commoners, and sometimes she spoke far from the truth. She much preferred having a companion willing to challenge her claims rather than one who mindlessly sacrificed their own honour to concur with her opinions. If she wanted an obedient dog, willing to follow her with every beckon, Yuna simply would've asked someone to bark.

"My, what confidence. Let's hope that doesn't falter." She couldn't help but add yet another challenging statement into the air. She liked keeping her guards on their toes, having them know that she wouldn't be so forgiving if they disappointed her. Although, she supposed if her guards truly failed, it was impossible for a corpse to be merciful. With the same amused expression on her face, Yuna glanced down into the woman's violet eyes while gently humming a single soft note to herself. They said that such were windows to the soul, yet the maiden couldn't quite see anything past resolve. The expression, the look in her eyes had yet to be changed, as if she was purposely locking her emotions into unattainable chambers. She wondered, what could this young lady possibly be thinking? Perchance Yuna would figure out soon enough, as the bodyguard wasn't the only one to possess strong determination.

At first, she shook her head as a simple response to Jasmine's question. "No. I don't believe I have any questions I'd like to ask you as of now." There were things about the woman that intrigued her, but something was telling Yuna that her curiosities were better off left satiated with time. "I suppose this leaves a good opportunity to discuss the plan. As you should know, we leave tonight." Some found midnight to be the most dangerous, for it was the time thieves and bandits roamed the streets, but Yuna thought otherwise. However, that was more so because of her status as royalty — a civilian's perspective would obviously differ. During the day, crowds bustled throughout the streets of the city, and she easily would've been recognized, even without the expensive silks and jewelry she usually adorned in the public's eye. She simply didn't have the time to allow her own people to hinder her travels. Sneaking throughout the depths of the night, at least at the beginning of their journey, was the wisest option if they were trying to remain discreet.

Slowly, her hands that were formerly behind her back moved forward to cross underneath her chest. "Unless you figure it's unwise to leave now?" Once again, her words had come off as challenging, however Yuna hadn't purposely intended that tone this time. If something was going wrong beyond the walls of the palace, the royalty would've been the first informed. Nothing of that sort happened, so the flower maiden could safely assume that this night was just like any other. "If there's anything you wish to do before we leave the palace, I suggest you get it done, as we won't be stepping foot here again for a while."

As if an interesting comment had been spoken, one of the royal's eyebrows slowly began to quirk upward. She had mentioned, at least in her mind, that an obedient hound, willing to comply with whatever suggestions or orders commanded, was the least of what Yuna was looking for. Perhaps she would've gotten a similar impression from Jasmine, if it wasn't for the expression laying on her face from the very beginning remained. Positively, there was something, definitely something running through that girl's mind. Servants were trained to be complaisant, but that didn't require restraining any emotions or forcing a smile. Yuna only felt that it was correct to be mildly suspicious, for it was impossible for someone to be so void of notion. She wanted to crack through that unfazed wall of hers and see what she was so desperately hiding.

There was the sound of her heel pressing against the wooden floorboards as she stepped forward, so simple yet so authoritative. Aside from the gentle chorus of nature, the only noise came from the princess's slow footsteps, which circled around the bodyguard. Even when she was out of sight, it was likely that she could feel Yuna's gaze burning into her back. Soon, she found herself standing back in front of Jasmine, however she didn't speak a single word. Instead, the maiden leaned forward almost uncomfortably close, the smile on her face seeming a bit sinister in comparison to before. "What are you? A puppet to be pulled at the strings? Have you got no mind of your own?" Her voice dropped as she spoke, a purposely provoking edge to her tone. "Are you too wooden for emotions? Be too obedient, and I'll have you swaying into an ill fate."

It was only then that she backed away from the younger girl, her attention averting to the small stack of papers and the quill clasped between her fingers. How professional. Yuna took the documents from Jasmine's grasp, immediately taking brief moments after to step into the light of the full moon. She was not the type of person to blindly sign things — she would not let herself fall into a ploy that could've easily been avoided by skimming through a few papers. Magic contracts especially were an auspicious, yet dangerous agreement. Although she never signed or enforced one herself, Yuna heard tales of how abominable they could be — of how their magical prowess could enforce an individual to conform to the contract against their will. Soon enough, she came to the last page, her violet eyes stopping at the thin line at the bottom. There was nothing overtly concerning in its contents, so without hesitating any longer, she lifted the quill and signed the paper.

The documents were handed back to Jasmine, the very last being the one at the top. Her name, signed in very fancy lettering, rested on the line. During her childhood, her mother had always went on about how penmanship was a significant skill for royals to have. Slowly, a smile began to creep back onto her features. "Is this the only thing you require me to sign?" Reading through papers was not a laborious task. Yuna only wished to knock simple necessities out of the way before heading to their next destination.

It was only for a split second that shock registered in her expression, mostly from the slight widening of her violet eyes, before it completely vanished. As a royal, she was trained to sustain a nonchalant composure, to hide necessary feelings within — this was no different. A little ray of sunshine? The phrase repeated in the back of her mind. Her head slightly tilted as she peered at the bodyguard. "Getting a little bit cheeky, are we?" Her voice remained calm, as did the smile across her face. Although Yuna was not at all impressed by the servant's actions, she would admit that her feat was very... unique. Most of her ranking did not have the audacity to prod at her character. Frankly, anyone with a functioning brain knew better than to question royalty — especially if they happened to be a flower maiden. Doing so was like a personal request to be reprimanded.

She supposed it wasn't unusual for people's judgment to change upon actually meeting her. The general public reputed her as an incredibly compassionate and polite individual. Similar to a flower, maidens were supposed to act gentle and delicate, but the facade wasn't something Yuna was interested in presenting at all times. By all means, she was not cruel or heartless, but those of the palace came to know her as a much more dominant figure compared to the docile side usually shown to the people. In reality, she was anything but that. Yuna would not let herself be crushed, like a petal underfoot. She was assertive, dogmatic — an imposing force that dolts wish they hadn't provoked.

With the wonders of magic, the stack of papers and the quill disappeared just as quickly as when they first appeared. Her gaze moved back to the bodyguard, however Yuna's smile was wiped off her face. Instead, her lips were pressed into a thin frown, a pensive look replacing the happier one from moments ago. She was not an oblivious idiot. She had taken notice to the change of her words, the structure of her sentences. Even if this girl was attempting to be polite, it was obvious that the light of her true nature was starting to shine through the cracks. The flower maiden figured she wasn't the only one present with two faces.

Slowly, the corners of her lips tugged once more into a smile, an amused chuckle escaping from her lips. "Autographs? I would hold it close to my heart if I were you, as I don't fancy offering another." For a moment, she paused before slowly turning against her heels. Now, Yuna faced away from the bodyguard, but she stayed in place instead of walking forward. "I must add, I don't quite appreciate when people take me for a fool, either." Without saying anymore, Yuna walked ahead, taking steps down from the pavilion until she stood back on the stone path. Now that their meeting ceased, she had no desire to burn time in the gardens any longer.

A small part of her being was regretting wishing for an alternative to a dutiful hound. This woman had bark, although a subtle one interwoven into her more polite mannerisms and gestures. It made it necessary to second-guess the intentions behind her phrasing. Perhaps it would've been clever, in the case that Yuna hadn't noticed. But no, she was a vigilant person, who took notice to even the most minor of details, like the wavering of one's breath or a change in pitch to their voice. What was this woman thinking, trying to purposely rub her the wrong way? Especially even after receiving an evident warning, she was still speaking unfiltered? Fear was a proficient benefactor, yet Jasmine appeared to hold none. Yuna enjoyed someone who could be courageous, but this? This was just an elusive form of disrespect.

If vexation was what Jasmine wished to see, she was far from obtaining it. Yuna would not give her the pleasure of becoming heated. No, instead, she would be calm, cool, as persistent to her objective as the rhythm of the sea. Still, her thoughts couldn't help but fixate on the bodyguard's aim herself. Her purpose to protect seemed true, but her speech was mystifying. Had she done anything to set the servant off already? Not that she recalled, which left no possible explanation, or at least, not one that Yuna could fathom. Unless... was Jasmine attempting to make her look bad? Was this all a ruse to sabotage her? She protected her image diligently — she wouldn't let her efforts result to nothing, especially not at the hands of a servant blind to their position.

Their walk towards the exit of the garden had been mostly silent, until Yuna decided to speak up. "Tell me. Who was it that requested your service? The Emperor? Empress? Or was it my dearest siblings?" Hopefully, her mild suspicions were just a result of overthinking. But, depending on her answer, she might need to be more attentive of her own acts — not Jasmine's. Her tone hadn't faltered when she spoke, and luckily she didn't need to worry about her facial expressions now that she was facing away. Hopefully her concern would be overlooked because of that, instead of another concept to be prodded at by the woman.

About another minute passed before they arrived at one of the exits to the garden, where two guards stood on duty. As the princess approached, they respectfully bowed before moving to open the door for the two. "I wish you a safe journey, Princess," one of the men uttered. In return, all Yuna did was dip her head in acknowledgement and smile. She stepped through the doors, which lead into a single building. It was only after exiting that more stone paths appeared, heading all sorts of directions. Some directed to the palace, others to the servants' housing units, and so forth. Without looking back at Jasmine, Yuna gestured to her with the simple wave of her hand. "Come."

[ sorry for the rushed ending! i got some stuff i need to do but wanted to get this out ]

Upon listening to Jasmine's answer, a wave of relief surged and washed away any sense of apprehension in its path. Ah, so it was her father's doing, and not a sibling's? That was good. Very exceptional, even. Despite the gradual wrinkling of his skin and strips of ashy gray growing in his hair with passing time, her father's attitude itself never seemed to change, and that was for the better. Unsurprisingly, he was a busy man, consumed with the arduous task of regulating the land. However, even when she was a young child, he always made an effort to make sure she was alright, whether it was in the form of a personal visit or sending maids her way. Yuna was positive that her father would never want her harmed, and thus, there was no reason to doubt the qualities of her new bodyguard. His judgment was reliable, so she had no reason to prolong her suspicions.

Her siblings, on the other hand? They were questionable characters. Years upon years of facing their taunts, and more importantly, their slandering had made her skeptical of even the simplest gestures of kindness from them. There was a time where maybe Yuna believed in their goodness, but now their consideration was simply a way to catch her off guard. They were always lurking, listening, scheming opportunities to destroy her plans. She would say they were alike rats, but that was an insult to the creature. To an extent, she could understand why her siblings treated her the way she did. She was always the first to catch her parents' eye, the child who gained the most affection and admiration from peers. Yuna tried to be courteous to her siblings, but nearly always, she was met with a grimace, or a tale of how she'd never understand what it felt like to live in someone's shadow. Needless to say, they were correct, but what was she supposed to do? Apologize for existing?

A little sigh escaped from her lips, breaking the silence, before she shook her head to herself as if it would clear her thoughts away. "Congratulations. Being selected by the emperor is not an honour most receive." The Hyeon family did not consist of people who thoughtlessly threw titles as if they were nothing. They believed in honest work and broad expertise, which reflected on the ranking system of the servants. It was only those who persevered through strenuous labour and maintained their dignity that rose to the top. "And if I'm guessing correctly, you're quite a young age, are you not? That is all the more admirable." Truthfully, when she arrived at Moonlight Garden, Yuna was expecting to meet with an individual a little older than herself, as that was often the case with prior personal bodyguards. If Jasmine already achieved such a rank now, she must've been very gifted. Who knew what the future had waiting for her.

Some fellows were astounded by how easily the flower maiden appeared to traverse throughout the massive palace, but it was only natural given that she was living there for nearly two decades and a half now. If anything, it was embarrassing if she was unaware of every corner, every shortcut in the layout of her own home. Speaking of shortcuts, it explained why she stepped off the lengthy path, and instead cut between two buildings. From where Yuna stood, she could see the outline of the exit, along with two rows of guards protecting it. Instead of continuing ahead, the princess stopped and tilted her head to look back at Jasmine over her shoulder. A calm expression was on her face before she spoke. "This will be your last chance to retrieve any items or say any final goodbyes."

It took everything in her power to refrain from turning and snapping at the shorter woman right then and there. The rational part of Yuna enabled her to simmer some of that anger, but she was incredibly close to boiling over. Instead, she turned her head away, refusing to allow her expression to be apparent. Her face became rigid, and her jaw clamped shut tightly. Her frustration was like a fire, burning with the warmth of an inferno. Maybe it was even possible to feel the heat radiating off of her, for this audacious servant of hers was only recklessly adding fuel to the flames. One of the maiden's hands slowly trailed to her waist, where she pulled out an authentic paper fan from her garbs. With the flick of her wrist, there was a swift noise of the item opening. Even something as simple as the folding fan screamed of its owner's wealth. Luxurious and intricate designs were engraved on it, along with the Hyeon family crest.

For a few moments, she used the fan to conceal the bottom portion of her face. Only her eyes remained above, where they stared ahead, slightly narrowed in irritation. It wasn't long before she began using the fan for its intended purpose, pushing gusts of wind upon herself to cool the heat. It was only after the glowing embers of her rage subsided that she finally began to speak. "My... I do wonder... who 'they' must be..." Old? Perhaps Yuna wasn't as youthful as before, but she wasn't old! She knew it, Jasmine sure as hell knew it — the woman was just trying to hit a nerve. "I believe the expression was respect your elders." Clearly, it was something far from Jasmine's intention.

There was a final artificial stroke of wind before the fan closed with the quick swipe of her thumb. With it still clasped between the pads of her fingers, Yuna turned around to face the bodyguard. And here she was, thinking her generosity would pay off. Usually, nobody was capable of ridiculing her a second time. She had let Jasmine off the hook too many times, and now she was getting excessively comfortable with her choice of words. This only furthered her point that rebuking someone on their first mistake was necessary — harsh, yes, but it prevented future problems. Jasmine had taken her mercy for granted, and now she was only spiralling further and further down the funnel that was the Kyoumei maiden's wrath.

A smile — a dangerous, unnerving one — made way to her face. Yuna raised up the fan, and using the end, she pressed it against the younger woman's forehead. It was not a forceful push, but she maintained just enough pressure so that Jasmine could feel the weight of the contact. It wasn't uncommon for those who disappointed the princess to additionally be met with the discipline of the accursed fan. "You are shameful." Her words were blunt, for there was no purpose to sugar-coat her thoughts. "Five minutes pass, and you already forget your place? Who do you think you are?" While continuing to press the closed fan against Jasmine's skin, Yuna took a quick glance to the side. The guards by the doors had their heads tilted, curiously watching the exchange, but scrambled back to their original position with the maiden's gaze on them. She released a huff of air before looking back at the girl.

"Someone of your status should be an exemplary model to others. Yet here you are, wasting my precious time. I should not have to reprimand you for basic etiquette. Even beginners know when to hold their tongue." Whether it was out of respect, fear, or a mixture of both, nobody dared to disrespect her until now. "Speak to me in that manner again, and I'll have you demoted all the way back to the start." She finally drew the fan away from the girl's forehead, only to utilize it to give the top of Jasmine's head a gentle, harmless whack. "And you keep your head bowed when you approach me."

Without hesitation, she turned and started stepping towards the exit. The maiden simply didn't have the patience for anything the bodyguard had to say.

Her father might have handpicked the finest guardian there was, but she supposed that had no correlation to how insolent one could be. And perhaps she never resided, let alone visited an area as grimy as a farmstead, but Yuna knew when she could scent complete and utter bullshit.Who did this girl think she was fooling, with her half-assed apologies? If she truly was feeling contrite, she would've heeded her first warning. "I don't recall asking for an excuse." Her tone, although not infuriated, dripped with venom nonetheless. What a brainless justification it was. Admiring her status? Her current position? As if her age had anything to do with that! She was carrying her title of not just a princess, but a flower maiden from the cradle to the grave. Nothing, not even time, was capable of taking that from her.

The bodyguard's voice was never-changing, which possibly explained why Yuna felt as if she was still being mocked. She was like a feline with its sleek fur on end, anticipating what was to come, but already hissing. "Nor did I ever say anything about my own bodyguard, did I?" She thought she was clever, mentioning the contract? How suspicious of her to plan ahead... What could Jasmine be hiding up her sleeve? "Considering your blatant disregard of my ease, I would be unsurprised if your crass mind hasn't realized that I am a busy woman. My time runs short. Quite unfortunately, I don't have minutes to burn seeking another guard." If anything, guards would've came to her if she asked. Some would immediately drop to their heels, begging for the opportunity to obtain a position beside her. But, it was a matter of whether or not they were fit for the challenge. Yes, some of her servants were undyingly faithful, but Yuna was not looking for needless sacrifices.

In her honest opinion, Yuna believed it was easier to keep the mouth shut rather than spew bold remarks. Her lack of filter was inexcusable. Had her mother, father, anyone taught her any manners? "Respect is something you learn during childhood. In fact, I have met young children more behaved than you, which I must say is quite embarrassing." Had a mentor never bothered to put Jasmine in her place? It was a foolish decision, messing with someone who had the power to change every aspect of your life with a single command. "However, this might be a fortunate opportunity for me. Who better than the princess herself to teach you discipline?" She could personally see to it that Jasmine was made reverent. After a lesson or two, she wouldn't dare converse so unmannerly.

Yuna paid no mind to the guards who bowed as they walked through the exit, past the walls that protected her home. Still, they had a while to go before they reached the streets, for the palace was situated above many, many rows of stairs. From where she stood above, the princess could see faint glow of lanterns that illuminated the streets, like low-hanging stars. At night, it looked peaceful with the streets mostly empty, save for the occasional merchant or an active nighttime bar. For a moment, she took in the sight, as she realized that it would be a long while before she'd be capable of returning back home. With the slight shake of her head, the flower maiden tilted her head down and began her descent down the stairs.