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In the coldest winter they've ever experienced, the interviewer walked through the patched streets of a village, tucked away in the tundras of Iglaceas. While they hadn't gotten an audience with the Tsaritsa herself, they had a scheduled meeting with the Princess of the freshly born empire.
Their trek to the appointment took them through the streets until they reached the bare face of an overpowering glacier. Guards joined them at that point and guided the way to the platform that would take them to the top. At the top, through a large bare snow field, was the castle. The towering blue peaks and spires formed from the nature of the very world to make a work of art exhibiting the stones and soil to the craftsmanship of the people, their exclusive steel, to the architecture of their culture framing through the structure.
For this interview to take place, it did not occur in the formal greeting chamber of the Empress but instead inside the castle and in a professional but more personal setting. The smooth floors traced elegant designs as though the foliage was frozen in its place as it had raced to fill every corner of each room and hallway leading into a library.
The rows and rows of books stretched high into the second floor with ladders and balconies to bring ease to anyone looking to reach one book or shelf or another.
The interviewer was informed that the wait for the princess would not be long, which was quickly followed by some maids and a tea cart. They set up a nice arrangement of local treats and delicacies while serving some hot chocolate in a pot to pour as one pleased. They did enjoy cocoa to help warm their stomach, just taking a sip when the princess appeared.
They greeted her respectfully with a bow when she acknowledged the gesture and they were both seated. "Greetings Your Highness, it's my honor to be here today. Thank you for having me." "It is a pleasure." She said calmly while they both sat. There was a stiffness in her posture, the same kind that one who has not grown up in nobility would have over these kinds of formalities. "I do apologize that the Empress is quite busy and did not have time for any kind of interviews at the moment. I do also hope my presence is a fine enough consolation for the circumstances," she said, keeping her dignified tone.
"It's no consolation but just as much a blessing, princess." The interviewer comforted. "There are not for anything big or any newspapers. Purely just interviews to get to know you on a more personal level."
The princess seemed to relax quite a bit at the reassurances, enough to reach over and pour herself a cup of hot chocolate with suppressed excitement. She sipped the drink and with a smile just as warm as the drinks she nodded. "What would you like to know?"
"Let's first go through a thorough introduction by telling me things about yourself such as your name, and age but only if you're comfortable with that. Any thoughts about your upbringing, and title of being Princess of the Empire? And some optional things like; what motivates you or if there is any potential future royal emperor or empress that will be by your side?" They asked patiently and slowly, letting her enjoy the drink more which she blissfully did.
Finishing the last sip of her drink, she politely places the cup back on the saucer. "I am Seraphina Vasilisa Survost, Princess of the Fjordyanoy Empire. I am.." she trailed off, counting subconsciously to herself, tapping her fingers gently, before very quietly whispering "25?". Straightening up she continued "I am a proud phoenix by the hand of our mother Selline. I follow her path and guidance in life and by the example of the Empress to go through life with love and kindness first. While I know that is not something everyone would want or can do, I feel the world could do with more kindness." With the last initial question, she smiled into her lap a bit to gather more professional composure. "No, there is not a future royal spouse at the moment, I don't think there will be one anytime soon as far as I can see."
"I see" They nodded and carefully wrote everything down on the notepad in their lap. "Now some more simple and open questions if you don't mind." They asked and the princess nodded politely and collected some sweets.
Q: In a stage performance, what kind of role do you think you would have?
The princess was a bit surprised by the question and thought about it for a moment while enjoying a small danish. "I would hope to play the part of the guide or support. I don't know if I could say that I would be able to have the confidence to play the lead. But I would like to be the one that helps and guides them through their long journey." She smiled with an excited sparkle and wonder in her eyes.
Q: Do you believe in fate or do you make your own destiny?
"I believe in both." She said now sitting up with a conviction and confidence that shone through the fires of her hair. "I believe that there are things in life that were always fated to be but I also believe that it is up to us to carve our own paths to reach the good destined for us, or else we'll never reach them in our lifetime."
Q: If you were a creature, monster, or cryptid, what kind would you be?
"I would like to stay a phoenix." She said with a small giggle. "It may sound silly, but I am rather quite happy with the way I am. Weather I have hands and feet to move and interact with the world around me as I am or if I had wings and sharp talons to fly above it. I like me. So I'll stay a phoenix."
Q: What's your love language - acts of service, gifts, words, quality time, or touch?
"I think my love language to express my love is through giving the ones I love gifts…" She took a slow deep breath. "While we live in luxury now, our life wasn't always like that. I know what it's like to be so excited that just having meat to put into soup would mean the world and that night, in the cold, we were spoiling ourselves a bit. I know that a necklace or something like that might not be necessary for living from one day to the next, it's the memories and the feelings attached to them that matter."
She thought for a moment, wanting to continue her answer but looked for the words, or pretended she did so she could have another treat and still answer after. "As for receiving love, I don't ask for much. I like spending time with those I care about, keeping them near to me. Hearing something nice every now and then isn't all that bad either." she pouted a bit, twirling a piece of hair between her fingers with a small pout.
Q: What's the most ridiculous rumor you've heard about yourself?
"All the rumors I've heard about myself are completely ridiculous." She leaned in, whispering not so quietly. "One time, I heard that someone thought I really was Vivian's born daughter and that the only reason why it was kept secret was because it was a scandalous affair. Oh! Or another one where someone else said that with Viv's glorious blessing, she created me." She said before giggling hard at the absurdity of the rumors as she was right, they were completely absurd.
Q: What's something you regret but would never take back?
The princess calmed down with another warming cup of hot chocolate and stared into the dark liquid for a long moment. "I regret.. that in a moment that meant so much to me, I chose indecision. When I really wanted to have something in my life, I neither chose to pursue it nor let it go. But I wouldn't take it back because it has let me have a very small and simple joy in my life whenever it's time for it to appear again."
The interviewer finished their notes with a gentle smile. "That's rather endearing your highness. Those were all the questions I had for this interview. You truly are an inspiration for your people and I thank you for your time." They said with a respectful nod. "Well, I do try to be." She smiled while standing up and smoothing down the creases in the fabric of her dress. They gave her one more respectful bow and she politely dismissed him. "The guards outside will help guide you back out so you won't lose your way," she said while gesturing.
Just as they were about to leave, they turned to her with a curious glance. "May I ask something more personal?" the person in the trench coat asked with a sparkle in their eye. The princess was suspicious but curiosity was written all over. "And what might your final question be?" "Have you met another phoenix? Maybe one that is also a half-demon?"
The princess was quite caught off guard by the question and keeping her composure was not something she had quite come to grasp yet as her face flushed a bit. The fires of her hair flickered with a fluttering excitement that was also out of her control. She straightened her posture after taking a moment and quickly turned to face the window, feigning as though she was looking outside. "I don't seem to know what you're talking about."
The interviewer gave a small chuckle as he could see that she was still bashfully fidgeting with her hair, even after when they left.