Takari had never seen the jungles of the south before. It's fearsome foliage showing how untamed these lands truly are. If she has her way, they will stay as close as possible to this natural beauty.

"How close are we to the base camp?" She asks a nearby man holding a map

"Only a days travel away now Princess" the man says with a bow

"Good. Let's make haste then men." The Princess ways to the caravan of wagons, carrying supplies to her new home

Making a deal with her father is akin to making a deal with an Akuma, he will always find a way to make the deal unfair. Yet what other choice did she have? It was either this or be married off to that moron. Whether she agreed or not, her father plans to ravage these lands, at least with her overseeing it she can minimize the harm as much as possible.

"Princess, we're ready to head out!"

"Very well, let's go!"

Takari gets into her carriage, Hiroko already inside, and after a few seconds it begins to move.

"You should get a look of the place Hiroko." Takari says

"I will once we get to the base camp. I'd honestly prefer if you'd stay in the carriage as well. It could be dangerous."

"We have a retinue of some of the Empires finest at my call, don't worry so much. Anyways, it's good for the men to see thier leader, it raises moral."

"While that is true, the local people here still see us as invaders and-"

"Well, we were. I understand their mistrust. While my grandfather left them autonomous, my father has pushed to expand imperial interests down here since his coronation. They fear for their families and their culture, as any normal people would."

"I'm sure your father has good intentions..."

"I'm not sure Hiroko. He's been... Different since the death of mother."

"He lost the love of his life, that's understandable."

"I'm aware... Can we stop this conversation please?"

"Yes princess.."

It doesn't take long for her carriage to come to a stop. Takari is confused by this, it's only been a few hours, and they normally travel until dark. She gets out of the carriage, much to Hikoro's dismay, to see what's wrong. She notices several of the soldiers crowded around the front of the caravan, do she moves forward to inspect what the hold up is.

The men part at her command, and she sees that a bridge has collapsed, the bridge laying in the small river. While the river is easily crosssble on foot, getting a carriage of wagon through it would be basically impossible, especially with how many wagons are in their caravan.

She holds the bridge of her nose, releasing a long exasperated sigh. Great, she thinks, a detour to another bridge could extend their trip by another week... A thought then crosses her mind.

"Quartermaster, does base camp have the supplies to repair the bridge?"

A stocky shorter man comes up to her.

"Almost certainly princess."

"Very well. Get me some of your best men, I'll head there and order the bridge repaired."

"Princess, are you sure you dont want me to send a messenger?"

"They might find the messenger suspicious and that'd slow them down. If I go we can get this done quick and easy. Don't attempt to stop me."

"Very well princess, at your order."

The man says while a bow then runs off.

Takari retunds to her carriage and explains the situation to Hikori. Hikori heavily protests the plan, but Takari ignored her and changes her clothes into something more suitable for travel.

Takari leaves her carriage, now in a simple beige kimono and a straw hat. Outside are four men, all armored and armed with weapons.

One of them is clearly the senior in the group, his face wizened with wrinkles. Another one is a bulky man several heads taller than average, his square like face stoic. The third man is lanky, his features reminsicsnt of a falcons. The fourth man is younger, not much older than Takari herself.

"Are you to be my escort?" Takari asks

"Indeed, are we leaving now your highness?" One of them asks

"Yes... We'll want to travel with a swiftness."

The group of four men bow. They cross the river, Takari's kimono getting soaked in the waist height water, bit otherwise it goes well. The men help her up the slope of the river's edge and begin heading down the road. Takari is blown away by all the different plants as she walks, the scenery almost looking like a painting with all the different shades.

As they travel, Takari notices that the men are rather on edge, the younger one even drew his sword at the sound of bird. That earned hearty laughter from the other men. Takari is unsure of the need for the jumpiness though, the only real danger out here are tigers, and they rarely attack humans.

"Is there something I should know of?"

The guards stop walking for a second, and turn towards Takari. Finally one of them confesses.

"The quarter master is almost certain that the bridge was sabotaged." The older man says

"Sabotaged?" She responds

"Yes, after a close inspection it seemed the bridges supports were cut with an axe." The lanky man answers

"That's concerning... Why wasn't I informed of this?!" Takari asks in a loud voice

"The quarter master told us he was ordered to not try and stop you. We wanted to tell you, but we're ordered not to. Apologies your highness" the older man says with a bow

"Very well...." Takari says

At this point in the travel the sun is beginning to set.

"Let's get camp set up."

The men quickly get to work and have a camp set up in several minutes. The younger man starts a fire and the four men sit around the fire, still on edge. Takari sits down with them.

"Can you to tell me about yourselves?" Takari asks

The four men look between themselves, and the older man coughs.

"My name is Morimoto Masashi your highness." He says

"Asai Sora." The younger man says meekly

"Takenaka Daichi." The bulky man says with a bow

"Chiba Washi, your highness." The lanky man says

"Morimoto, Asai, Takenaka, Chiba... Those aren't family names I recognize. You're all from the common class then?" . The men all nod. Perfect, Takari thinks. She prefers to be around the common folk, they're much more... Real to her. As egotistical as the thought is, she prefers a bow to actually mean something. How many nobles have bowed to her and in the same day gossiped about her to their associates.

"I'm going to get some rest, someone always needs to be on watch though. You may decide the order amongst yourselves."

Takari goes into her tent and lays onto her futon, the men talking quietly around the fire as she drifts off to sleep.

Takari is awoken suddenly by the sound of Takenaka yelling loudly. As she attempts to up from her futon, a sword slashes through her tent, causing a scream to bust out from within her. The man raises the sword, about to swing, but falls toward her, landing on her legs. She's stunned by this, but notices an arrow sticking out from the back of his neck.

Masashi opens up the already torn tent.

"Princess, come on!" The man shouts grabbing her arm

He pulls her out and begins dragging her. Takari looks around and sees that the campground has become a battlefield, her soldiers battling unknown assailants. She watches as Daichi bashes a man's head in with a Kanabō, gore splattering everywhere. The sight causes her to gag, never seeing violence like that before.

A man jumps out of a nearby bush and slashes Masashi across the chestfortunately the sword couldn't penetrate the steel lamellar. Masashi quickly draws his sword from his hip and and parries another blow from the man, this time aimed towards his head. Takari keeps on running but is tackled by a man.

The man is holding a knife and attempts to thrust it into her, but Sora slams into the man, sending him flying off of her. Before the man has a time to get up, the young man impales his Yari through his unarmored chest. Another man attempts to attack Sora from behind but an arrow strikes the man from back, causing him to fall over and groan in pain.

As quickly as it began, the battle seemingly has ended. Takari's heart is pounding like a drum in her chest she's never been so close to combat before.

The four soldiers stand at attention in front of her. She collects her herself after a few seconds.

"Do we know anything about the attackers?" She says wearily

"Their tanned skin is that of the natives in this land. I suppose we found who destroyed the bridge." Washi says

"Aye." Daichi says

Takari thinks about what will happen if her father finds out about this attempt on her life... Despite their strained relationship her father does care for her and would likely bring the full imperial force down upon these people..

"Hide the bodies." Takari says

The four men look confused for a bit, but quickly get to work and hide the bodies in the dense foliage of the jungle. After a few moments they report back to her.

"No one is to know of this, understand?"

"Yes ma'am!" The four men say in unison

"As much as I want to go back to sleep, I doubt I'd be able to after all that ruckus. Go ahead and pack up camp and let's get a move on. We don't want to be out in the jungle for long." Takari says

After camp is packed, the group gets a move on. Takari is concerned heavily after the assassination attempt on her life by some of the natives. What if the relationship between them and the Empire is irreparable already? What if another war happens. After last night, she doesn't want to see more blood shed.

"Thank you all." Takari says while walking

"What do you mean your highness?" Daichi asks

"For protecting me." She responds

The large man laughs full of heart

"It's our job." Washi says

"Indeed, no thanks is necessary your highness." Mashashi says

"Well, even if it isn't, I still want to do it. Which one of you was shooting the bow?"

Washi raises his arm.

"Your timing is impeccable." She says with a laugh

"Thank you, your highness" Washi says with a sly smile

It takes another two days of travel for the group to reach their base camp. Upon arrival to the make shift wooden fortress, Takari is stopped at the gate.

"Hold! Who are you and what is your business!"

The four men give the man a look of indignation.

"I am Princess Takari Amari, daughter of his imperial majesty, Emperor Ryü Amari!" Takari annoucnes

The man grows pale and prosttrates himself

"I apologize for my insolence your Majesty!

"It is fine. You were merely doing your job. Fetch me whoever is currently in charge please."

The man stands up and runs inside the fort and after a few moments, the guard brings out a man only slightly above his prime to her.

"Your highness!" The man says with a bow "My name is Hase Chiharu. I welcome you to your new domain."

"It's... Homely." Takari says looking at the ramshackle fort. "First things first, the northern bridge has been destroyed, and the caravan is held up there. Send some men with supplies to help them repair it, as swiftly as possible."

"Yes ma'am. Handle that." Chiharu says to the guard from earlier who runs off

"Now, give me the tour please."

Chiharu shows Takari around the fort. Takari doesn't know much of architecture, let alone defensive structures but it clearly was hastily made and probably wouldn't last long in an actual siege. That will probably be one of the first things on the list to do, as much as she doesn't want it to come to war, it's a possibility. As they walk they reach head quarters.

"As this is your head quarters, where you'll meet with and deal with any buerocrats."

Takari inspects the room and sees an office like room with a table with a center chair one side and four chairs on the other side. She notices that the chair that's supposed to be hers, is much more ornate than the chairs. The carpet in the room is also extremely ornate, a mix of red and purple dyed cloth.

"Replace my chair with a normal one, if I am to meet with people, I will do so as an equal. Also, replace that gaudy carpet with a tatami mat." Takari orders

"I... Yes ma'am." Chiharu responds

After the rest of the tour they return to Takari's office and she asks for the four men who escorted her to be sent here. Chiharu disappears and he appears with the four in several minutes. At this point Takari is sitting in her chair, already writing on a scroll.

"Here are the men you wanted to see." Chiharu says

"Good. These men are to be my honor guard." Takari says

The four men and Chiharu are clearly caught off guard by this.

"They answer directly to me, and treat any order by them like an order from me." She says

"Yes.. ma'am."

"Now leave us, I'd like to discuss some things privately with them."

After Chiharu leaves, Masashi coughs.

"Your highess, we were just doing-" he says before being caught off

"I'm well aware. However those who excel at their tasks should be awarded. Without you four I'd be dead right now. This is the highest honor I could give you without my father's approval. Let me make one thing clear though, keep that attack a secret."

"Yes ma'am." The four men say

Several hours later, Takari is met with her first visitor. A tanned man in a beige robe with dyed red lining walks into her office. Next to him is Chiharu, who goes to annonce him but the man cuts him off.

"My name is Navi, I am ambassador to Raj Aarav, Raj of the Varaka people." He says with a bow

"Oh? And what do I owe the pleasure?" Takari responds

"My Raj was awaiting your arrival so our clan could make a good first impression."

"Hm... Fair enough. I also hope to make a good first impression. Chiharu, leave."

He does as ordered and leaves.

"Now... Let's get to business. Two days ago, there was an attempt on my life by some of your people."

"What?! What fools..." Navi says with anguish

"As a show of good faith, I've kept it quiet. The only people who know of it are the people in this room, and I plan to keep it that way. Not even my father is aware. I'm sure you know what's likely to happen if he found out?"

"Likely the destruction of my people and our lands." He says with despair

"As I said before, I don't plan on letting anyone outside this room aware of this transgression."

Navi perks up a bit

"Thank you, your highness. I will let my Raj know of this and of your lenience."

"No need to thank me. I came here with the intention of strengthening the relationship between our people. Work with me, and I'll work with you."

"I will keep that in mind and inform my Raj."

"Once we've made this place less... Not constructed, I'd love to meat with your Raj."

And I'm sure he with you. I will return to him for now, I'll keep in contact your highness. And thank you."

"Your welcome."

Navi leaves the room. First impressions have been successful, Takari thinks to herself. With how horrified Navi was, she doubts his King was behind the attack in her life. He wouldn't risk his people for something like that. If he's wise and cooperates, that'd be best for the Empire and thier people. Takari is exhausted, the last few days have been sapping on her mental strenght, howevee she'll need to prepared for much more taxing tasks in the future for the best of the Empire.