Liandra gets closer

The princess refilled her own cup, even if Kendra sipped but a little of her own. She realized what a poor hostess she had been, by asking so many questions about the baroness she didn't give her any time to enjoy their food.

"I have been the one making all the questions... You must think I am like the Luxian kingdom of old, making all the demands" Liandra slid closer to her companion. "Feel free to ask too, aren't you curious about me?" She had a little bit of a pout, a girlish mannerism she still hadn't lost.

The princess picked a delicacy from the basket, and treated her guest from her very hand. Liandra felt she was almost seeing the young lady behind the eloquent diplomat, her alluring lips nibbled from the pastry in her hands. "You barely ate anything, I wont stop until you do" The princess and the baroness both laughed at the situation, and the baroness surrendered to the royal whims.

"Can I have another tart, please?" but Liandra wouldn't just hand over the treat now that she found a game she enjoyed. "Your hair is so beautiful, it has the color of strawberries and wild fire" Liandra comments, savoring the baroness perfume while she fed her the blueberry tart.

"Your beauty is reputed far and wide, Princess..." but Kendra is interrupted. "Call me Liandra, please, foremost when it is just the two of us"

"... Liandra. The bards sang of it even in Emperor Keldan's court, where it was compared with a sunflower field under the sunniest summer day." A lie.

"Were you disappointed after you met me, Baroness?"

"If I am to call you Liandra, you should call me Kendra" The budding friendship felt refreshing, Kendra took a long sip from her wine "But you are far more than I expected to meet. An unique beauty, yes, but also charming and friendly, and open minded too"

"You expected the prejudices against your country to be more firmly ingrained against you" It wasn't a question.

"I could never hate you, Kendra" The princess leaned closer, her lips hovering but inches away from the Nocterian. The baroness was frozen still. She closed her eyes and parted her lips, and the kiss came.

It was a small, brief touch, just in the corner of her mouth. She could even feel the princess delicate tongue touching her skin. Not a kiss at all.

"You had a little something there... and it was too delicious to waste" Liandra's voice whispered.

"My gratitude..." Kendra smiled, and reached for the basket, but without pulling back from the princess. She dipped her fingers in one of the cream pies, and smeared it just under her lower lips "... is it gone now?"