"Tousan?" Amelia wandered into her father's library, a confused look on her face. "What are all these men doing here?"

Gourry, Lina, Zelgadis and she had just gotten back from another journey a few days before, and everyone had been relaxing peacefully. And then last night, she had gone to her room to go to sleep, only to find it filled with flowers. So many so that she had to sleep in one of the guestrooms because there was no way to get rid of them all. Except for maybe a Vomerdale Wind, but that was a bit extreme.

And now there was the strange feeling that she was being stalked. Or at least constantly watched at every turn. About two0 people she had never met before, all male ranging from her age to someone who could be her grandfather had all introduced themselves and attempted to take her places.

Amelia liked people, but she was starting to get a little nervous. This was weird, approaching creepy.

Her father looked up from the papers he was reading. "Ah, Amelia!" He grinned at her. "It seems that word of your beauty and spirit has spread far and wide! Men from even beyond the barrier have come to court you!"

She stared at him in shock. "C-court? Me?" 

"Yes! The Council thinks this is a wonderful thing, as you are next in line for the Crown. They think it wouldn't hurt for you to be married and settled down before you take over for me. 50 more are expected in the next few days."

Amelia blinked, feeling a little dizzy. Married? Crowned? She had always expected she would, but not like this. And certainly not now! She wasn't ready!

"I see. Thank you Tousan." She turned and unsteadily walked out of his office. 

"Anytime Amelia!" He waved before returning back to his reading. He didn't like the situation, but there was little he could do about it. Amelia would just have to figure something out.


About a week later, the four friends found themselves hiding in Lina's room. Literally. They had just finished searching the room for un-wanted guests and were taking a moment to relax.

Actually, Lina relaxed as everyone else looked around nervously, expecting an ambush at any moment.

Amelia was starting to droop, not having had a moment to herself since the suitors had first shown up. She couldn't even take a bath in peace, she'd had a couple men suddenly pop up out of the bubbles or try to invite themselves into the tub. It had gotten to the point that she had asked her friends to guard the door when she went to the bathroom.

Zelgadis was tense and looked about ready to run the nearest suitor through with his sword the next time one looked at either him or Amelia funny. As far as Amelia was concerned, they were ALL looking at them funny and she'd cheerfully cheer Zelgadis on. 

Gourry kept his backside to something solid at all possible. A few too many people had mistaken his backside for a females and he was getting tired of getting pinched.

Lina was about the only one to escape virtually unscathed. With the possible exception of one nut who had come running up to her, a bokken in one hand and a large bouquet of roses in the other shouting 'My Fire-haired Goddess! I would date you!!!"

Fortunately, said nut had encountered Gourry's fist before he touched Lina. Although they hadn't seen hide nor hair of him after Lina's Dil Brand. She'd been feeling generous at the time.

"Ano, Amelia?" Lina yawned, hanging her head upside down off the bed so her hair spilled all over the floor. "I'm bored."

Zelgadis snorted. "You're just mad because Phil won't let you blow up any of the suitors without the Council's permission."

Lina made a face at him, he was out of striking distance and she didn't feel like moving. Zelgadis smirked, knowing he was safe.

Amelia sighed. "They're just too many of them. There has to be someway to get rid of them without hurting anyone."

The red-haired sorceress grinned. "I could always take them outside of the palace and get rid of them."

"Lina-san!" Amelia scolded. Lina just smiled innocently, a 'Who, Me? Nah!' look on her face.

"At least the food's good here." Gourry remarked. "And there's a lot of it."

"Phil hired extra cooks when he heard you were coming." Zelgadis informed the swordsman dryly. "He didn't want you two scaring them off like you did the last batch."

Amelia smiled, grateful for her friends humour. She'd been rather surprised when they hadn't left, instead voting to stay until this current crisis was over. It was about the only bright spot in this situation, her family's hands appeared to be tied.

Something clicked in the back of her mind, an idea forming. "Say that again, Zelgadis-san." She asked. 

Zelgadis blinked, looking at her with a puzzled look. "It's good thing that your father hired extra cooks when he heard we were coming. He didn't want Lina and Gourry scaring them off like the last batch."

Amelia grinned, her first real smile in days. She'd have to ask somebody to makes sure, but - "I've got an idea!"

"Food?" Gourry asked.

"No." Amelia's smile turned down right wicked, an expression usually seen on Lina's face before the pain started. "You'll see."


The next day, Amelia strode into the Council chambers, Zelgadis on her right and an elderly woman who had served as her nanny when she was young on the left. Lina and Gourry followed a few feet behind, their usual confidant expressions in place. They stopped and waited off to the side until a pause in the meeting.

Amelia stepped forward, Zelgadis and the woman shadowing her. "I'd like to address the Council about the suitor issue." She said politely. 

She got a grudging nod to proceed and gave a small bow before starting. "If I understand our customs correctly, it is traditional to ask and gain both the girl's Mother and Father permission before pressing a suit." Amelia looked around at the Council members, taking note of the agreement in their faces. 

"My Mother is dead." She continued. "My sister, who would take usually take her place is missing. So therefore I would like to nominate someone else to this task." 

The nanny straighten her posture, her face glowing with pride at the Princess' words. Many of the Council members noticed this and started to murmur among themselves. Phil leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms as he watched impassively.

Amelia took a breath, steadying herself. "The person whom I would like to take this place has known me for quite sometime, and is probably one of my closest friends. Without her, I would not be the person I am today."

By this time, the Nanny could practically have lit the room with the way she was glowing.

"We see nothing wrong with this." The Council spokesmen agreed. "Who would you like to nominate?"

Amelia smiled, raising an arm to point....

At the flame-haired sorceress behind her.

"Lina Inverse."

The Nanny broke out in giggles. The Council looked slightly horrified. Phil beamed with maternal pride. Zelgadis looked smug. Gourry smirked. 

And Lina just GRINNED, playfully wiggling her fingers in hello.

There was an audible gulp from the suitors in the room.

If word of Amelia's beauty and spirit had traveled far around the lands, Lina's reputation had spread even further.

In order to woo the Princess of Saillune, one had to get permission from the Dragon Spooker first.


The next day, Amelia found that she didn't have a suitor problem anymore.

Fin.