Janessa and Greta had the day after the ball off. Due to yet another raging blizzard outside, they opted to spend it in Janessa's quarters. At the ball, Janessa had seen many hairstyles, particularly braids, that she had never seen before. Greta was more than happy to let Janessa try to duplicate them on her hair.
Greta was reading a book on military strategy, Janessa just finishing up a complicated but beautiful braid, when there was a chime.
"Oh!" Greta slammed her book shut and pulled up the hem of her gown, revealing a glowing silver anklet. Janessa watched, fascinated, as Greta gently pressed the heart-shaped charm on it.
"Hello, Greta?" Anya's video said. Janessa gasped. "Oh, you are not alone?"
"Janessa is with me," Greta said.
"Oh! Good! How are the two of you?"
"We have been doing fine here," Janessa said. "But eager to return home."
"That will not be for some time," Anya said sadly. "We have reached an impasse in the war. Neither side gaining nor losing. Unless one side gets outside assistance, I fear the conflict will drag on for years to come."
"Oh..." Janessa murmured sadly.
"But enough disappointment. I wanted to ask how you find Northfjord. I have never been, and have heard it is beautiful."
"It is," Janessa gushed, relieved to be on a nicer topic. Though also frustrated that she was not being trusted with more details of the situation in Karagot. Then again, there wasn't much she could do from here anyways.
The women told Anya all about their experiences in Northfjord. It was going well, until Greta brought up the event the day before.
"Yesterday, we attended a ball," Greta said. She grinned at Janessa. "Janessa caught the eye of many men."
"Ooh," Anya said, sounding interested in the possible gossip. "Did anyone stick out?"
"Yes! There was one particular man who kept coming back to Janessa for more and more dances," Greta said gleefully. Janessa could feel her cheeks burning at the playful teasing. "He was so smitten with her, I overheard him speaking to Prince Vidar about courting her!"
"Really?" Anya and Janessa said at the same time.
"Yes!" Greta crowed. Janessa's heart did a flip. She had been charmed by Sven, to be sure. But she still felt uncertain about it, remembering Antyny.
"Greta thinks I should let Princess Lilia matchmake me," Janessa said.
"I think that is a fine idea," Anya said. Janessa gaped.
"Not you, too!"
"Look, if you marry a Northfjord citizen, you become one. That would save you from Antyny using law to bring you back. And if you happened to marry a nobleman, that would be even better. Antyny would not risk the poor optics of targeting a foreign noblewoman. Is this mystery suitor a nobleman?"
"Yes," Greta said. "And a military man, judging by his dress uniform."
"What is his name?"
"Sven," Janessa said. "I suspect him to be a general, given his medals." Anya gasped. "What?"
"General Sven is the man we have been trying to convince to side with us, rather than the rebels!" Anya said eagerly. "He has the King's ear when it comes to military actions. If you could sway him to our side..."
"It could end the war sooner rather than later, with the royalists victorious," Greta said. Janessa swallowed.
"But..." she started. Greta placed a hand on her knee.
"Do what is right for your kingdom, not for you," she said softly. Janessa swallowed again.
"If I allow Sven to court me, it will help us?" she asked hesitantly.
"Yes," Anya said. Janessa sighed.
"Then...I will do it."
The next day...