Minxi, the princess of the defeated kingdom, enters the garden of the palace. She kneels to clean her dress, but it is too wet to do so with her wet hand towel. Minxi tells her that her dress is made from good fabric, and she apologizes for her highness. She inquires about the girl next to her, the blonde Miss Caroline, who is the earlhoward's youngest daughter. She is said to have inherited the fire elemental magic talent from her father's sister, who died sixteen years ago. The narrator tells Minxi that she needs to choose the heir to the throne from among the kingdom's aristocracy, and that her choice will conflict with the interests of the many people present at the tea party that is to be held later in the day. She wonders if she is the daughter of two families, since she is wearing an oriental dress. She asks why the king would allow such a princess to be sent over to a defeated kingdom. She wants everyone to remember her. She tells them that since she was sent to the palace as a pawn and not a chess piece, she does not mind being a pawn