Yves faltered. He brought the book down from over his head, and for a moment looked like he might return it. “Yeah– no!” Suddenly he clutched the book to his chest, once again out of Leanne’s reach. “Leanne, you’re our leader, and that means you have obligations to fulfill!”

“Now, now, Yves, there’s no need to grump like that.” Jean joined in, setting a hand on Yves’ shoulder. “Hey, Leanne, are you reading that for Emmit?”

“Yeah. I want to learn to like the things he likes.” She said easily and innocently, like it was the most natural desire in the world.

“So that’s how it is,” Jean smiled and rested a hand on her chest, covering her heart. “Ahh, I’m touched. I like a young woman ready to put in the extra effort.”

“Shut up, Jean.” Yves snapped. “Listen, Leanne, are you…” he trailed off, his eyes sliding away from Leanne. “I mean, well… How do I put this?”

Leanne watched as Leni wandered closer to their group. Jean’s smile grew into a grin at Yves struggling to find the words.

“Are you so focused on Emmit as a friend? Or is it, well, you know…” Yves looked incredibly uncomfortable even attempting to insinuate anything other than friendship between the two of them.

“Do you love him?” Leni asked plainly.

“Do you want to sleep with him?” Jean went straight to the carnal.

“Hey, hey!” Yves yelled, looking shocked the other two could be so blunt. “Leni, that’s too direct! And Jean, you can take a long walk and come back when you’ve cleaned up your mind!”

“I love him. I want to sleep with him.” Leanne answered with a placid expression.

Yves and Leni gave a start, their eyes growing wide and mouths hanging open. Jean’s eyebrows went up and her grin deepened. “Oh?”

Leanne burst into rich laughter. “So that’s how you’d react if I really meant that, huh?”

Beauty’s Time was slowly losing petals as the flower bloomed, counting down the days until a final decision needed to be made. More than half of its petals now sat discarded at the bottom of the display.

Emmit had been busy at work with his task as Belle. Suriyel had arranged for him to spend a day with each member of the royal family, following them through their official duties and activities. Over the last week, he had been busy from sunrise to sunset getting to know the prince and princesses and pouring through study materials when he wasn’t otherwise engaged.

Today, he was in a meeting with Suriyel in her office. She periodically held check-ins with Emmit to be certain he was getting the experiences he needed to uphold his duty as Belle. It was her job, after all, as the King’s Regent, to make sure he was well acquainted with the royal family, and armed with the knowledge he needed to make his choice.

“I see.” Suriyel recounted. “So you have reached out to each individual candidate, and listened to them tell you about their beliefs. Those captious–”

“Those captious siblings can’t have been easy to deal with!” Rina suddenly popped into my line of sight, interrupting Suriyel and looking cross for a moment. Then she beamed at me, bouncing over as she exclaimed, “You’re amazing, Emmit– but then, I always knew that! I’m so proud of you!”

I glanced at Suriyel to see if she was as surprised as I was to see Rina there, Suriyel smiled her usual proper and polite smile that still gave me shivers.

“Ahh, you really knew what you were doing when you chose Emmit to be Belle, Mistress!” Rina turned to look at Suriyel now that she was at my side.

Suriyel regarded our new arrival. “I will accept your praise, Rina. Now, tell me… what exactly are you doing here?”

“Good question! What AM I doing here? I don’t even remember.” Rina shrugged. “It’s like I just unconsciously gravitate to wherever Emmit is. But that’s love for you, I guess.” She took hold of my arm, hugging it and leaning her head against me.

Suriyel let out a noise of discontent. “...Hmph.” I had to try really hard to keep my jaw from dropping, I pressed my lips together as I looked from Suriyel to Rina, amazed that there was a person that could get the better of Suriyel.

Rina glanced up at me, “So, Emmit… have you decided yet who you’re going to pick to be the next on the throne? Am I right in thinking you’re going to pick Princess Leanne?”

“Uh… what makes you think that?” I tried to step away from Rina. She had always been cuddly, but it still felt awkward when she’d continue the contact longer than necessary.

“Well, you’ve spent the most time with her, and you two always seem to have fun when you’re together.”

I narrowed my eyes suspiciously at her. “How… often are you… You know what? Nevermind that. Leanne has fun with everyone, she’s just that kind of person. And she has been nice enough to teach me things and help me out and guide me around the palace– but that’s all it is.”

That’s all it is. She has just been supportive.

Rina’s bright blue eyes stared up at me, and suddenly I felt uneasy and guilty like I had just lied to my best friend. It was different lying to myself, I could internalize the guilt and resentment. But I also knew I couldn’t speak the truth here. It wouldn’t be appropriate to explain how much I had enjoyed the time I spent with Leanne. It would look like I was letting my personal feelings sway my decision on who could bring Rhodolite the greatest prosperity and brightest future. And I was certain that wasn’t the case at all.

Leanne was amazing on her own no matter how I felt about her. I had witnessed her turn many situations around into something that brought more joy to the people around her rather than the dismay that could have occurred.

Unlike Chevalier… who killed all those people.

I tried to shake the thought from my head. Chevalier had her reasons and ambitions. Just because we didn’t align didn’t mean she was wrong for the actions she took.

I’m just not sure it’s the right path for Rhodolite right now.

“In other words, you have not yet fully determined who you wish to choose. Is that correct?” Suriyel asked.

“Yes, it is.” I admitted.

I knew that Beauty’s Time wouldn’t bloom forever, and that I needed to make my decision before the final petal fell. I also knew that with everything going on with Obsidian, the sooner I chose the next leader, the better. The longer Rhodolite was without a crowned ruler, the more dangerous it was for the whole kingdom.

But I still hadn’t cemented my choice in the matter. It was a big decision, one that needed to be fully considered to every extent possible. I was ready to dedicate the rest of the time I had here to weighing the possible futures to come. I had all the information I needed, I just needed to give it enough thought that I was sure, beyond a doubt, that my answer would be the best course for Rhodolite’s future. Because I wanted what was best for the country. I wanted this place to continue to be a place I loved.

The day was quickly fading into evening, pinks and orange giving way to purples and blacks as night approached. I began wandering through the gardens earlier in the day before the sun had started to set, but now with night coming soon I made my way back to the palace fearing that if I ended up in the gardens at night I might not find my way in the dark.

Unfortunately, I had been dedicating a lot of my thoughts to the future of Rhodolite, and hadn’t been paying as much attention to which turns I had made through the vast greenery. Peering down the heavily foliaged paths at another junction, I tried to remap my route in my mind, but my eyes caught sight of something peculiar.

Is that…

I took a path that was clearly leading me further into the gardens, the roses growing so thick that the scent was almost dizzying. Among this landscape of flowers and brambles, beauty and thorns, I found Leanne sitting on the ground, leaning against a column with her eyes shut and a book in her lap. She was sleeping peacefully, her expression gentle and relaxed.

I glanced back the way I came, wondering how far the palace was from where we were. I was loath to wake her, but I also wasn’t about to leave her outside all night long. Almost without thinking, I moved closer and knelt down beside her, admiring her delicate features that were made even more soft by the shadows that blanketed her as night rolled in.

Something stirred in my heart, and for a brief moment I entertained the idea that I might be able to see her sleeping face in the early morning light rather than the evening sunset.

Impossible, Emmit. Don’t be silly.

That sweet warmth that had started to grow a second ago was replaced by pain as I crushed the idea, refusing to let myself give into such a far-fetched fantasy. I bit my bottom lip and closed my eyes, willing my heart to harden.

I can’t give this feeling room to grow.

Taking a slow and steady breath, I opened my eyes and found Leanne’s amber gaze aimed at me. With a small start, I jerked backwards at the surprise of her suddenly being awake, nearly falling over. Her rich, hearty laughter filled my ears as she burst into a guffaw at my reaction.

“Leanne!” I shouted, grabbing at my chest with one hand. The fright had sent my heart racing and I didn’t need an additional reason for it to be pounding so painfully. “You startled me!”

“Good morning to you too, Emmit.” Leanne managed to huff between her fading chuckling. “Oh, wait– judging by the colors of the sky, I guess it’s good evening.”

“Were you even asleep?”

“Yeah. But I heard someone approaching and it woke me up.”

You were awake the whole time I was staring at you?!

There was absolutely no way I was schooling my face to keep the horrified embarrassment I was feeling off of it.

Please, let a hole just swallow me up right now.

“Okay, hey, I have some good news for you.” She was grinning amusedly, and while I appreciated the topic change, I wasn’t about to forget this feeling, or how blazingly hot my cheeks were at this moment.

“News for me?” I asked cautiously.

“Yeah. I finally finished reading this.” Leanne tapped the cover of the book in her lap, her smile smug.

Oh my god, you’re so proud and that’s so cute.

“That’s really something, Leanne! So, what did you think?” I dropped down from my knees to sit next to her. 

“The ending really got me. You know the part when he saw his love, and thought she was dead, and drank the poison? Even I couldn’t put it down.” She was animated as she spoke about it, and I felt a warmth growing in my heart. It felt really good to have someone enjoying the same things I did. It felt even better because it was her.

“Yes! That scene is so tragic, but so beautiful, too! And it really wouldn’t have had the same impact if not for his desperate monologue as he lamented about his lost love.”

“Yeah, I liked it, too. Hmm. I just read it, what was it…” Leanne appeared thoughtful for a moment, then the words began to fall from her lips.

“‘Eyes, look your last.’” She set her warm, glimmering eyes on me. “‘Arms, take your last embrace. And lips, o you, the doors of breath’...” Her voice was velvety and sumptuous, and I forgot to breathe as it dipped to a murmur. “‘Seal with a righteous kiss’...”

Her amber-gold gaze held me captive, and I stared into those endless pools. I hadn’t even realized she had leaned in closer, but her breath was pouring over my lips, heating them. Time seemed to stop completely, and all I could think was that I didn’t want this moment to end.

“Hey, Emmit?”

“Yeah?”

“Do you let all the ladies get this close with a few lines from a book?” Her eyes wavered.

“Sorry,” I whispered. “I was just… really impressed by how well you remembered the lines. And you have such a great voice for it, too…”

Suddenly, Leanne drew back, glancing away. I felt like the spell I was under retreated with the distance she put between us. I quietly gasped in a breath and silently sighed while I watched her.

“Hmm. I appreciate the compliments.” When she turned towards me again, she was smirking mischievously. “Still, I hope you don’t space out like that if someone else tries that on you, like Jean. Or Jean. Or Jean…”

“Or maybe even Jean, huh?” I snickered and Leanne nodded in agreement.

“You’ll have to watch out for her.”

“I think I’ve managed well enough so far. Besides, there’s not much longer left on Beauty’s…” My chest constricted at the thought and the words died in my throat. Even Leanne’s usually warm smile had fallen from her face.

We sat in the silence of the night, staring at each other. The solemn stillness dragged on, eating away at the time we had left to spend together. A chill dread began to claw at the back of my mind at the thought that this could be the last time we sat like this.

“Tell me some other books you like.” Leanne’s voice was hoarse, but with her words the sullenness began to recede.

“Okay.” I said, but I couldn’t think of any at the moment. I had so many titles that I held dear, but all of them had vanished from my mind. “Uh, like… what?”

Leanne smiled. “I don’t know! That’s why I’m asking. Do you have anything with a bit more intrigue?”

“Intrigue, huh?” Slowly the names of several books were coming back to me. “What sort of intrigue are you thinking? There are court dramas, and murder mysteries, or we could branch out into romance adventures.”

“Hmm, let’s see.” She grew quiet, eyeing me as I waited for her to narrow down possible recommendations. “What about… a story where two people look exactly the same, and they end up swapping places and one of them becomes the ruler of a whole country?”

I blinked at how specific the request was. “You know, I’ve actually read a book with a story like that in it. Do you want me to find it for you?”

Leanne remained quiet for a second longer than felt natural and then she smiled and shook her head. “Nah, I don’t actually think it’s all that interesting, to be honest.”

I knit my eyebrows together, perplexed at the sudden change of heart. “Okay?”

“Anyway, clearly I don’t know what book to read next, so pick something for me, okay?”

“Don’t worry, I heard from Nokto that you wanted to have dinner with us. But…” Lucy trailed off as her eyes stared down the long table absent of guests.

“But?”

“I think Chevie and Candice maybe went to check the border or something. Haven’t seen ‘em all day.”

“Oh.” If that was the case then Nokto wouldn’t have even managed to let them know, since she had said she was returning when I saw her late this morning. Even if she had left them a note in their office, if they still weren’t back, there was no way for them to know. “What about Nokto?”

“Oh, yeah. She left that and went off somewhere.” Lucy flicked her hand towards a seat further down the table.

I had to move further into the room to see that an envelope was innocently lying there. My name had been scrawled across it in a lazy, slanting font. I assumed it was Nokto’s writing seeing as how Lucy said she had left it before leaving, and I cautiously flipped it over to break the seal and peer inside.

There was a card that noted where a social function was being held tonight, along with the time and a simple map. I reread it several times, but there was no other information to glean from it. It felt like Nokto was testing me, telling me to follow her to this place.

You’re attempting to see if I’d have the gall to show up to some mystery gettogether, aren’t you?

I didn’t honestly want to go, the idea of being surrounded by nobility made me nervous. I was aware I had only received the basics on etiquette, definitely not enough to fool a room full of people that I was anything but an educated commoner. Plus, the way Nokto was always dressed so resplendent brought on a whole new concern that even my most expensive and well tailored formal attire was nothing compared to hers, or the clothing of the company she keeps. 

“Emmit, she’s basically telling you to go find her at that social thingamajig, right? She’s always going to those.” Lucy asked between mouthfuls of food.

“Yeah…” I chewed on my lip as I stared down at the card and map. I could feel myself being lured into Nokto’s schemes, and maybe I was a fool, but I was seriously considering taking the bait. If this was a challenge, Nokto was going to learn that I can face any challenge that comes my way.

I got praise from Suyirel today. If I can manage that, I can meet this head on.

“I think I’m going to go.” I slipped the card and map back inside the envelope, determination setting in.

“What? Right now? Why go all the way there, when you can just wait and see her tomorrow?” Lucy looked worried for me, and I was reminded of the day we met when she had looked the same way. My chest warmed at the concern, but that only further cemented that this was the right choice for me.

“You’re right, I could just wait. But I have a feeling if I don’t answer Nokto’s challenge, I’ll never get to know her better. I think she’ll just give me the run-around over and over again. She’s measuring my worth, that’s pretty clear. She’s asking if I’ll hold up as Belle.”

“I dunno… Well, if you think it’s the right idea, you should go, but… be careful, okay? I don’t know much about those thingies since I was raised as a commoner, but the way Nokto talks, they’re full of champagne and sex.”

What sort of social function is this?!

I blinked at Lucy, who seemed completely unaware of me staring at her. I wasn’t sure how to take that comment that came so casually from her.

I wouldn’t put it past Nokto to be attending a party of that sort, but surely she wouldn’t invite me along, right?

A knot began to grow in my stomach. I tried to convince myself that everything would be fine, that when I would arrive it would be a normal party and not some sort of orgy. 

“I have to go get dressed. Thanks, Lucy.”

“Mhm.” Lucy smiled and I returned it, though I know mine was far from genuine.

Unsure of what I was about to get myself into, I picked out my best vest and slacks from my clothes. Suriyel had told me that if I needed new items for events, it would be provided for me, but there was no way that counted for something on such short notice. Plus, I wasn’t supposed to be getting involved with anyone outside of my duties as Belle, so I worried about even meeting Nokto at this social gathering.

I reeeeaally don’t want Suriyel to find out.

A shiver ran down my spine as I climbed in the carriage. I didn’t dare look back to see if the devil in the shadows was watching me. My heart was pounding during the entire trip to reach the place on the map, and I tried my best to distract myself by watching the passing scenery. When I arrived, I stared up at the large, imposing mansion suddenly feeling very underdressed. But I was already here, and I was going to find Nokto to show her I was serious about being Belle, and come hell or highwater, I was ready for her tests of character.

I just wish my body would agree.

I felt my nerves twanging. My knees felt a little shaky and weak as I took my first steps towards the doorman. I couldn’t manage to get any words out, so I just showed my invitation and was allowed entrance. The first challenge had been overcome, but there were sure to be many more before the night was over. Next up, I had to find Nokto.

I moved from the entrance to the reception room, where many people were gathered. The groups and crowds trickled out another door on the other end of the room, and went further into the mansion. There were so many people, and every one of them was dressed in shiny, sparkling attire. Sumptuous dresses - rich and full - were wrapped around the female guests, and tailored suits - embroidered and adorned with decorations - cut a striking figure on the gentlemen of the party.

No one is naked. That’s a relief.

The guests’ finery wasn’t the only thing that had me clenching my jaw to be sure I wasn’t walking around with my mouth hanging open. The opulence in the mansion was different to the palace, but it still spoke of money and riches beyond my wildest imaginations. I had never envied those of higher standing than myself, but I also never thought I’d be working my way through a house full of people who broke bread with princesses. It was all enough to make me dizzy.

A hand touched against the crook of my elbow, gently calling my attention. Then a voice I recognized sweetly murmured next to my ear, “If you’re free, how about a little decadent fun with me… Belle?”

It seemed like Nokto found me before I found her, and when my head snapped in her direction, I was met with her provocative smile, and amusement dancing in her crimson eyes. “Nokto,” I urged in a hushed whisper, “Don’t call me that here–”

“I know, I know,” she said with a sigh, waving her hand dismissively. “If people find out about you, they find out about His Majesty. But that’s why I’m whispering in your ear…” She paused, purposely drawing out the rest of her thought to measure how long I would wait on her. “Or maybe I just like having my lips this close to you.”

My eyes narrowed and flashed to her smug smirk. I took a very pointed step back from her to establish a proper distance, straightening my back and tugging on the bottom of my vest to right it while I quietly cleared my throat. I could feel my cheeks heating up, but I wasn’t going to look away from Nokto knowing that if I did, she’d figure out how to work me around her fingers. She studied me with a curious tilt to her head, eyes drinking all of me in, and just like every other time she took her time to watch me, I felt like a vulnerable creature she intended to toy with.

“I didn’t think you’d actually come, you know.” She drawled, taking a slow and measured step closer. “I guess you’re one of those tenacious types?”

“I guess I am.” I watched her cautiously, edging a half-step away, but since I was not willing to take my eyes off her I couldn’t move much further than that.

“Hmm?” She tilted her head in the other direction, eyebrows raising quizzically.

“If I was the sort of person who gave up that easily, I’d never have been chosen for– er… this in the first place. And besides, if I’d given up here, you’d never have given me another chance, would you?”

Nokto didn’t answer, instead she just smiled at me and drew closer.

“I don’t have a lot of time to make my decision, and I have to get to know everyone to do that. So I don’t have time to second-guess things, or wait for an easier time to make it work. I have to keep moving forward through all inconveniences and obstacles, by whatever means necessary.”

She was nearly as close as when she first found me tonight, we were almost chest to chest with only a handspan between us. Her eyes never moved from me, just as mine didn’t move from her, but we watched each other for two very different reasons. I was watching her stalk me like prey, and she was enjoying the way I tried to stay resolute in her presence.

“Interesting. Mmm, you are a clever one, aren’t you?”

Her breath gusted against my skin, the silky touch of her words caused goosebumps to crawl along my arms. Her eyes moved over my face and I found myself breathing shallowly, my heart drumming a frenetic rhythm. Without warning, she leaned in and brushed against my ear as she murmured, “I happen to find pertinacious men quite appealing.”

It took everything in me to not jerk away from her when she had grazed my ear. I swallowed hard and took a slow, deliberate breath to keep it and my voice from trembling in nervousness. “That’s not what my goal is, Princess Nokto. I have a task to complete.”

She swayed away from me, chuckling softly. “Aww, rejected already. I’m heartbroken.”

You don’t look it one bit.

With that gentle pull away from me, she glided into a turn to make her way towards a nearby table set up with some chairs. She was so elegant, it looked almost like she was dancing with the way she gracefully swayed in her walk and movements. Nokto stopped in front of a chair and I realized belatedly that she was waiting for me to pull it out for her like a proper gentleman ought to.

Oh hell.

In this game of cat and mouse, I had forgotten that she was a princess despite having just used her title. I quickly joined her at the table and pulled the chair out for her. Nokto rewarded me with a stunning smile in thanks to the demand she had wordlessly made. I expelled a silent sigh as I took the seat next to her.

“Now, since you were such a good boy to come all this way just for me, I’m going to have to give you a reward.” She daintily reached for a wine glass sitting in the middle of the table, and brought the glass to her lips that were painted only a shade darker than the drink she sipped.

I unconsciously licked my lips as I watched her. “...What sort of reward?”

“You wanted to get to know us better, right? I’ll tell you a bit about us. A short break would do me good, especially in the company of a man that isn’t trying to seduce me.”

Seduce YOU? Did I hear that right?

I waited to see if she was going to laugh at her own joke. Clearly she was aware how sensuality permeated her every action, and how those actions were seductive promises of intimacy with the way she touched and toyed. It certainly wasn’t only ME that she was like this with. But Nokto didn’t laugh. She just watched me as she sipped her wine, waiting to see what sort of reaction I’d give her.

“... Thank you.” I wasn’t sure if those were the words she was looking to hear, but if she was going to give me some details about the foreign affairs faction, I was going to listen, and be grateful for it.

“As you probably guessed after tonight, our faction isn’t in the habit of sitting around chatting amicably over dinner. We don’t do much together at all. The one thing we have in common is that we all tend to go our own way and do our own thing.” Nokto shifted in her seat to cross her legs, looking to be settling into place for our conversation.

“Wait, then why are you even a faction?”

If you don't do things together, would forming a group really be worth the effort? Can you even really call it a faction?

“Mmm,” Nokto pressed her lips together and glanced up like she was considering the question. “Because we are?”

That’s not an answer…

“Candice is a hedonist beyond compare, you know.”

I didn’t know.

“She devotes her every waking moment to the pursuit of pleasure and entertainment, most of the time to the detriment of those around her. Do be careful in the gardens lest you fall into one of her many pitfalls and other traps she has concocted.”

“I’m sorry, what? Pitfalls? Traps? Why?!”

Nokto gave a shrug and continued on without offering more of an answer. “To Candice, our flawless Queen Highness is an unending source of fascination and amusement. So it was inevitable that she would follow Chevalier wherever she decided to dedicate her time, meaning Candice and Queen Highness were the first of our faction.”

“Lucy didn’t come to the palace until after…” Nokto tipped her glass subtly towards me. “Anyway, she hasn’t been there long, and I don’t know where they even found her. I wasn’t aware we had another sibling out there, but she definitely has royal blood in her. She has no interest in the throne, or our political factions, however, she really loves honey, so Candice lured her in with some sort of rare honey. I didn’t ask for details, it didn’t matter to me in either case.”

“Huh…” I didn’t expect Lucy to have joined a faction simply because Candice gave her some honey. “Okay, what about you?”

“That buddy-buddy vibe the other lot have going on isn’t my thing, so by process of elimination, here I am. Besides, Leni is my twin. Put us together and people start mistaking us for each other, and…” She sipped from her glass again, giving me a knowing look. “Technically I was the third to join the faction, since Lucy is newly arrived. But Candice and Queen Highness have always done their own thing, and I’ve done mine.”

After spending time with Leanne’s faction, and finding that they all shared a similar view on politics and the future of the kingdom, I just expected more. But as I studied Nokto, I realized this was it. There wasn’t anything more no matter how much I wanted there to be.

“Okay… Princess Chevalier focuses on foreign politics, and that’s at least something you all agree on, right?”

“Isn’t it obvious? There’s no future for Rhodolite if all we do is stay on the defensive. We’re tiny, and we have three countries crowding us in. It seems obvious to me that the best way forward is to prioritize figuring out a plan to win them over, and then enacting it.”

“Okay, good.” I smiled with relief. At least they had something keeping them together.

Nokto’s eyes languidly looked me over. “What do you mean ‘good’?”

I swallowed, my gaze sliding away as I tried to figure out how best to express my thoughts. “You said you don’t do much together, and I understand that you don’t have to work as a group to get to the same goal. But you still clearly have some sort of agreement in place about how you want to protect and nurture the kingdom.”

“An agreement, hmm? I guess you could say we have a shared ideology. But we all have our own ways of implementing it, and some of us choose methods that aren’t what you might call reasonable.”

I looked back at Nokto, foreboding building in my chest at the wording she used. “What do you mean by ‘not reasonable’?”

“Mmm.” Nokto smiled and sifted in her seat again, moving from the comfortable recline she had going on to lean forward and bring her face so close to mine all I could do was see her. “This?”

I couldn’t move away due to the back of the chair pinning me in place, so instead I turned my head. Even without looking at her, it was clear how close she had gotten, I could feel the heat from Nokto’s breath rolling down my cheek.

“I’m joking,” she breathed into my ear but didn’t move away. I shivered at the sensation. “It wouldn’t matter how much I desired you, I wouldn’t beg a kiss from you in a place like this.”

I slowly turned to look at her, and Nokto allowed me enough room so we never actually touched as I came nose to nose with her. Her smirk deepened as she watched me trying to understand what she was getting at.

“This is the social space of the elite, Emmit. Look there.” I saw her eyes shift to indicate something on the side of where we sat and I followed her gaze to see two people standing very close near a wall, whispering furtively to each other. I suddenly realized we looked like we were in the same position, whispering conspiratorially to each other with how close the two of us were.

“This is where they gather and share their idle gossip.” Her words caressed my ear once again, now that I was looking elsewhere. “And do you know what? That gossip is a treasure trove of information. Glamorous nights, delicious alcohol… it’s amazing how it makes people eager to let slip all sorts of important little details.” 

Her heat moved away from me as she settled back into her chair, taking up the comfortable recline she had been in before. “I come here to collect exactly that sort of information. Mainly from handsome young men looking to make a name for themselves, please a princess, or play in other ways.”

“Oh…” I hadn’t realized that was what Nokto was doing here. I hadn’t even realized what this party was about. But it became apparent to me that Nokto was much more than a frivolous woman, as Yves often referred to her. She was really clever, and really shrewd too.

I looked around the room, taking a good look this time. Behind the glamor and glitz, it was exactly as Nokto had said, couples murmured hushed conversations to each other, the mingling of guests never exceeded groups of more than three or four, any larger and it was likely to turn into polite conversation and not whispered words. Nokto was in her element here, she watched people and she seemed to know how to work others with a simple look or only a few words. The way she had waited by her chair and I knew immediately that she was waiting for me to pull it out for her was exactly the sort of thing she could manage, she didn’t even make a show of the expected gesture, and I fell right into line with her without even a look from her.

You're really, really good at this, aren’t you? I bet you have everyone all figured out. I bet no one can catch you off guard. 

“In other words, it’s not in your best interest to make a move on me, right?” I murmured, suddenly feeling like she had let me in on her trade secrets, or the secrets that she could trade.

“That’s right. Although, I’d be more than happy to have a little fun with you somewhere else.” Her cherry eyes smoldered and I couldn’t stand to look into them anymore. She chuckled as I glanced away, but my eyes landed on her wine-colored lips as she sipped from her drink.

“Fine, I suppose I’ll have to explain. Chevalier’s faction has very different ideals to us… and they act differently, too.” Yves had taken over for Leni, which was just like him. He tended to handle Leni a bit more delicately than the rest of us.

“Are you talking about their focus on foreign politics?”

For as harsh as Yves was, he was always reluctant to outright say reprehensible things about others. It probably was because of his heritage and the things that nobles said about him behind his back, or within earshot of him, knowing he’d hear. I could hear him struggling with how to word his concerns.

“That’s part of it. And sure, it sounds fine when you describe it like that, but what they actually do–”

“Come on, Yves, that’s enough.” Jean interrupted, she was using the ‘eldest sibling’ voice making it clear to Yves that there wasn’t going to be an argument about this. “I get why you’re worried, but if you say too much you’ll just cloud Emmit’s judgment.”

While Jean was right, I knew what Yves was about to say. He was attempting to warn Emmit about the violence that Chevalier’s ideals encompassed. Yves saw it as cold-blooded murder, and while it was true that Chevalier killed others, I knew she didn’t murder people for no reason. She wasn’t petty, if anything she was more detached than most which made it easier to be judge, jury, and executioner in an instant.

The problem was, no matter what sort of language we used, no matter how neutral, there was no way to tell someone that Chevalier’s faction handled matters in that fashion without clouding their judgment. And Emmit had to learn those things for himself. It was up to him to figure out Chev’s true intentions, and to decide whether she was a beast, or a human fit to lead Rhodolite.

I know you have the strength to face it, Emmit. I just wish you didn’t have to.

“I… guess so.” Yves agreed. Even he knew when to back off when Jean issued a warning. “But listen, Emmit, if they bully you in any way, tell me at once. And I’ll… Well, I’ll give them a stern talking to!”

A smile played on my lips at that. It was very much Yves to think a scolding was punishment.

“That sounds kind of weak… no, really weak.” Leni remarked.

“It does?” Yves folded one arm across his chest, resting his other elbow on his hand, he tapped at his chin in thought. “What about… ‘I’ll tell Suriyel on them’?”

“You’re missing the point.”

“I am?” Laughter rose up from the soldiers seated nearby, and I saw Emmit’s expression relax into a smile.

“Right, I think it’s time we got back to training.” I stood and clapped my hands together as I began designating duties. “You lot, get everything tidied up. Everyone else, back to the training grounds!”

The groups broke up and everyone began taking care of what they needed to do before filtering back into the building for training. I stayed outside, waiting for the last of the stragglers to head inside, and I saw Emmit walking back towards the palace, seemingly lost in thought. His pace was slow, but resolute. 

I know you have to get to know Chevalier, and the others. I know that.

I wanted to warn him as well. I wanted to tell him to brace himself. His heart was soft, and I wanted it to stay like that. The way he continued to throw himself in front of everyone to save a single life, the way he thought everyone was equal… Chev was going to leave a mark on him. Those ideals were just not the ones Chevalier and her faction paid attention to.

“Sorry, Jean, go on without me.” I made up my mind and jogged after Emmit.

“Hang on, where are you off to, chief?” Jean called behind me.

“I’ll be right back, I swear!”

Emmit had made it out of sight of Jean and the rest of the soldiers, but it didn’t take me long to catch up with him at his slow pace. I reached out to catch the back of his sleeve, giving it a light tug to get his attention. “Emmit, wait up.”

He stopped immediately and turned towards me with curiosity in his eyes. I felt the clarity in his gaze again, suddenly feeling like he could see the thoughts in my head like I did the first day we had spoken. Once again I was about to hide something from him, and I had the uneasy feeling that he was going to know without me saying it.

“Leanne? I thought you were going back to training.”

“Yeah, there’s something I forgot to tell you.”

What would those eyes look like when you learn how callous Chevalier is with life?

Several thoughts ran through my head, several ways I could tell him to prepare himself for what was to come, but I couldn’t get any of them to come out. It wasn’t for me to shield him from the truth of this world we lived in as royalty, but I wanted to.

“If anything happens, call for me, okay?” I finally managed to say something. It was simple, but it needed to be said. I wanted to be there for him. I wanted to be someone he could lean on. I knew all too well what living in this world was like, and I didn’t want it to change who Emmit was at heart.

“...You came after me just to tell me that?”

Yeah, you know it’s an excuse, don’t you?

“Hey, it’s important. If I don’t keep my eye on you, you get reckless–”

“ I get reckless?! I think you’re talking about yourself there, Leanne.”

I couldn’t help but grin at his quip. I loved how quick-witted he was and I could always count on him for a comeback. I also really loved how it seemed that my smile could make him smile, it felt nice to know he was laughing with me. “I have the memory of you trying to fight off a few drunks to contest that.”

“... Okay, you have a point.” Emmit returned my grin, and my heart thumped.

“Honestly, you can call for me even if nothing happens. I don’t mind. I’d still gladly come running.” The words just tumbled out of me, but they were out now, there was nothing to do about it.

I saw something in his gaze waver and for a moment I worried that I should have swallowed those words down. He went silent, and for a few seconds we just looked at each other. My lips twitched, threatening to drop my practiced grin, and my heartbeat sped up. When Emmit finally smiled, my stomach lurched.

Why are you looking at me like that?

His smile was strained, but clearly he didn’t want me to know whatever it was that was bothering him. After my promise to be there for him… it hurt. It felt like that distance between us that we’d been closing suddenly grew into a chasm.

“Thanks, Leanne. I’ll remember that.”

“Good.” I managed to say. “See you later, Emmit. Work hard, but not too hard, okay?”

Should I back off? Let you shoulder your burdens on your own?

“I will. And good luck with your training.”

With that we parted. Turning, we both walked in opposite directions, but as his footsteps faded away into the distance behind me, I found myself glancing back for one last glimpse of him. I knew he was strong, and that he could manage on his own if he had to. Suriyel wouldn’t have chosen him as Belle if he wasn’t able to overcome this tumultuous task. But that didn’t stop my desire to be nearby in case I could take a little bit of that load from him.

I wasn’t entirely sure what it was that had me coming back to check on him again and again. I just wanted to make sure he’d continue to smile– like he had said on the night we met. He wanted a Rhodolite where he could help make people happy, and I wanted that for him, too.

I’m sure that’s it. We share the same dream, working towards a place where people can smile freely.

‘Mistress’?! Rina is really into the whole attendant thing.

“... Rina, when did you come in?” Suriyel calmly eyed the other woman. The dichotomy of their energy was always surprising to see, but at the moment I was more surprised that Rina had somehow got the jump on Suriyel.

“I think… it was right about when you started marking Emmit’s test? I just had the sudden urge to see him.” With that Rina bounced over to me and threw her arms around me. “Congratulations, Emmit! I knew you could do it!”

I smiled brightly, truly feeling triumphant in this moment. “Thanks, Rina. Your support really helped.” I let her squeeze me and I reached up to pat her on the arm, after a few seconds I gently dislodged her from me. If I didn’t, she’d keep on hanging on me until I had to stand from my seat. She has always been cuddly and clingy.

“I’m at your disposal, Master.”

Oh my god… I’m never going to get used to that. Nor the way you say it.

Burying my face in my hands to hide the blush that had quickly formed, I heard Rina next to me ask Suriyel a question.

“Now I’m wondering something, though. I mean, there was SO much to learn, so it’s possible Emmit wouldn’t have been able to pass your test at all, right? And there’s so little time, as well, right? So what would you have done then?”

“In that instance, I was considering binding Emmit’s arms behind his back and dumping him in the river.”

“What?!” Rina and I went wide-eyed, yelling at the same time.

Suriyel chuckled lightly, it was polite and musical, and if it had been any other time I might have enjoyed the sound. “Naturally, I am joking. I have absolute confidence in my judgment of character. I chose Emmit as Belle because I knew he was up to the task. Today’s outcome is exactly what I expected of him.”

I don’t know… I still believe you’d dump me in the river if I failed to meet expectations.

“Now, there is no time for rest, Emmit. I am sure you know what you must do next.”

I nodded. I had been running the variables through my head every time I started a task. There were 23 days left and now that I was armed with the information to understand each candidate’s personal perspective, I had to get to know them and find out what their idea for our kingdom was. Eight people, if I dedicate a few days to get to know each faction, I can still spend two full days with each person; I don’t need to spend a full two days on those uninterested in the crown - that was Jean, Lucy, and Leni, but I still need to get to know them.

“Right, I have to get to know all the candidates. I’m ready.” I said with newfound determination. If I could learn ALL of what I learned in five days, I could do more in 23.

“That is correct. Run along now.” Suriyel urged.

“You’re going to do great, Emmit! Because you ARE great. I’m rooting for you.” Rina gave her support, and I was thankful all over again that she was here with me.

“Thanks!”

And off I went! I strode out of the room, down the hallway, and then I stopped at the first intersection realizing I had no idea where to find anyone at this time of the day. I knew where Leanne’s faction’s office was, but not where the other faction’s office was. I also didn’t even know when they were in their office.

And Leanne showed up all over the place the last few days, does that mean she’s not often in her office?

I began wandering aimlessly through the palace, my ultimate destination was the domestic affairs office, but I had a feeling I wouldn’t be lucky enough to catch everyone in there. And I certainly couldn’t just open every door that looked interesting to see if someone was in a study room, receiving room, or the various other rooms held in the palace.

My pace gradually slowed to an uncertain stroll and I chewed on my thoughts. No one was in the office, the kitchens, or any open door that I could find. I was headed towards the rose gardens, but I had started to lose hope that I’d happen upon anyone.

I suppose I could go back and see if Rina knows where they are. Suriyel would probably know as well… but I don’t want to give her the impression I rushed off without a plan. I mean… I did, but she doesn’t need to know that.

I was deep in thought when the sound of metal clanging against metal reached my ears, along with shouts. I looked up in surprise but couldn’t identify where it was coming from with the way it echoed through the open courtyard. Taking my best guess, I started wandering towards the opposite way that I had come from.

My guess turned out to be accurate as I found a large, open archway that the noise was banging out of. Tentatively I peeked through the wide doorway and saw dozens of people grouped up and paired up, doing what looked to be training exercises. Some were fighting each other. Some were fighting the air, or working on technique, maybe? I had never seen soldiers train before, but I had to assume this was what was happening.

My eyes wandered the room and I noticed Yves with a group, then found Jean with another. In the far end of the room, I saw Leni strolling around with her hands behind her back, inspecting several soldiers as they fought.

“You lot there!” I heard Leanne’s voice and found her calling out to a crowd. “You’re swinging those swords too far back! Don’t waste energy needlessly. Keep each movement tight. Got it?”

There were a few shouts of acknowledgement in response, and then her eyes went to another row that was practicing swings. I slipped inside and pressed against the wall, trying to stay out of the way as much as possible.

It shouldn’t be a problem if I just quietly watch.

I wanted to see what they were like commanding their troops. How they interacted with the men and women under them said a lot about the type of leader they’d be for the entire kingdom. My intention was to be a fly on the wall, but almost as if Leanne had felt me watching her, her eyes met mine from across the room.

Last night’s rendezvous replayed in my head and I instantly found it difficult to maintain eye contact and glanced away. We didn’t say anything about it after we woke from our nap, and I haven’t seen her since, so I wasn’t sure what things were going to be like. I mulled through my thoughts while watching the others in the room, directing and correcting. It was actually a really interesting thing to witness, and I never realized that groups this large would train together.

“Hey, Emmit. What’s up?” Leanne’s voice was right next to me and I blinked in surprise, starting a little because I hadn’t heard her walk up with all the noise.

“Oh! Uh, hey, Leanne.” I gave an awkward smile, though she didn’t seem to be any different from usual. “I heard you guys training, so I decided to come check it out. Is it okay if I watch?”

“Yeah, you’re welcome to come by anytime. But we’re about to wrap up for lunch. Have you eaten?”

I shook my head. Leanne smiled. “You should join us, then. Hang on for a second.” Leanne turned back to the groups of soldiers and shouted across the large room. “You lot, weapons down! It’s a sunny day, so let’s have lunch outside!”

The room exploded in noise, cheers went up from some, conversations started between others; I had thought that the clanging of metal was loud, but the buzz of this many people in an enclosed space filled the room with a different sort of loudness. The formations crumbled and everyone started making their way towards the doorway. I waited for most of the large group to exit before I followed.

The soldiers broke into small groups, eating and talking amongst themselves. Some wandered through the crowds to hand out a small, simple bagged lunch to each person. I collected mine and took a seat not far from where Leanne was sitting, near Leni. Lunch wasn’t anything special, but for some reason seeing everyone laughing together under the sunny sky, it just tasted better than usual.

I watched the soldiers, and I watched Leanne and her siblings. While they had sat in the same general area, they weren’t separating themselves off from other groupings; several soldiers were gathered around and everyone seemed to be on the same level during mealtimes. It reminded me that Leanne’s faction focused on the people of Rhodolite, and you could see it in the way they interacted with knights and guards.

“Hmm? What’s this, a picnic?” I heard a soft, cheerful voice from behind me, rolling with an edge of amusement. I turned to see Nokto dressed impeccably, the same half-lidded look she often wore that spoke of seduction. “I see you’re as buddy-buddy as ever.”

“... Nokto.” Leni murmured. I wasn’t sure if it was a greeting or a curse, and Leni’s reticent way of speaking and expressionless facial features made it impossible to know the difference.

“Wow, it’s been ages since you actually called me by my name, Leni.” Nokto smiled ruefully.

The twins looked at each other, and despite similar eye and hair color, they didn’t really share anything in common. Nokto was oozing with charm, and Leni put everyone at arm's length. I had become aware of the reputation Nokto had from Yves’ complaints about his sister’s promiscuous personality, and Leni showed interest in absolutely no one, except Yves from time to time.

“Why are you here?” Leni asked dully. “If you don’t have a reason, leave.”

“Oof, you’re so scary, Leni.” Nokto remarked in chiding sarcasm. “I’m not here because I want to be. I’m just on my way home after a lovely night out.”

Leni’s eyes slid away from her twin.

I think this conversation is done.

“Mmm…” Nokto hummed after standing silently for several seconds once Leni had looked away. She turned her provocative smile on me, painted lips drawing the eye. “Anyway, I’m tired enough that I’m going to do as I’m told. Bye-bye.” She raised a hand and wiggled her fingers at me in a playful wave.

“Hang on!” I blurted out. Belatedly I realized she hadn’t actually moved to leave, besides saying her goodbye and the wave, she hadn’t turned or shifted at all. Nokto seemed to be on her own time, and I guess I was now falling in line with the pace she was setting.

“Hmm? Yes?” Her alluring crimson gaze sparkled as she gave me the time to answer.

“I’d like…” I was stumbling under that challenging, toying look in her eyes. “Do you think it’d be okay if I joined you– erm, Chevalier’s faction for dinner tonight?”

“So you plan to start by getting to know us as a group?” She looked thoughtful for a moment, before smiling again. “Not a bad idea. I like it.”

I wasn’t expecting you to read the situation so well with how badly I fumbled that.

“Sure thing, I’ll let the others know.”

“Thank you, Nokto, I really appreciate it.”

“No problem.” She purred and I suddenly felt like I had asked a favor from the wrong person. “I mean, it’s no fun if you go picking one of them without getting to know the rest of us. The game has to start off fair and all that.” I noticed the way she danced around the actual words and implications relating to my position as Belle. The current company wasn’t supposed to know who I was, and Nokto made it look so easy to keep that concealed.

“Now don’t be late tonight, okay? See you then.” She wiggled her fingers again, giving a foxy and cunning smile before sauntering off towards the palace.

How are you overflowing with intimacy in the middle of the day?

“I’m not sure I trust her… but at least she agreed to my idea.” I muttered to no one in particular.

“Are you really going to go?” When I looked up, Leni was looking at me, the same impassive expression on her face. I, on the other hand, was wide-eyed. She had never initiated a conversation with me before, so I was trying to come to terms with what prompted this first for us.

“Uh, yes? That was my intention. Why wouldn’t I?”

Leni just stared at me silently before Yves cut in to offer an answer.

I guess that was the most you were going to say.

“Fine, I suppose I’ll have to explain. Chevalier’s faction has very different ideals to us… and they act differently, too.”

I wasn’t understanding what Yves was trying to say, of course they’d be different. There was a reason the royal family was split into two different factions to begin with, because they focused on different aspects of the kingdom. I’d learned that the first day I got here.

“Are you talking about their focus on foreign politics?”

Yves huffed and looked like he was struggling with his wording. Maybe he was just annoyed at having to explain to me, but I’ve never known him to be at a loss for words and I started to worry. “That’s part of it. And sure, it sounds fine when you describe it like that, but what they actually do–” “Come on, Yves, that’s enough.” Jean interrupted, her voice issuing a warning. “I get why you’re worried, but if you say too much you’ll just cloud Emmit’s judgment.”

With a worried look, I glanced over at Leanne, clearly they all understood something I didn’t. Leanne gave nothing away as she watched the back and forth of the conversation, staying out of it unless she was needed.

“I… guess so.” Yves relented. “But listen, Emmit, if they bully you in any way, tell me at once. And I’ll… Well, I’ll give them a stern talking to!”

“That sounds kind of weak… no, really weak.” Leni remarked.

“It does?” Yves folded one arm across his chest, resting his other elbow on his hand, he tapped at his chin in thought. “What about… ‘I’ll tell Suriyel on them’?”

“You’re missing the point.”

“I am?” Yves didn’t seem to get it, and laughter broke out around us.

I felt better knowing that Yves was trying to adopt me into his mother henning of all his sisters, and I smiled at the thought of him fussing over me. It was such a change from a week ago when we had first met and he had looked at me with disdain.

The conversation moved on without me, and soon Leanne was issuing orders for everyone to pick up, pack up, and return to training. It had been an enjoyable lunch, and now I had a direction to go for learning about the princesses I hadn’t had a chance to talk to since arriving - Chevalier’s faction. I still needed to learn about Jean, Leni, Yves, and more about Leanne, but I had spent a good amount of time around them as a group and felt I at least understood the barest bones of them. 

As the rest of the group headed back to the training grounds, I made my way back towards the palace with the intention of studying up on recent dealings the foreign affairs faction had been involved with. I wanted to come prepared for whatever might be brought up during my talk with Chevalier’s faction.

Suriyel would have some resources I could brush up with.

“Emmit, wait up.” There was a light tug on the back of my sleeve and I turned to see Leanne right behind me.

“Leanne? I thought you were going back to training.” I stopped and turned towards her, her hand breaking away from where she had grabbed my shirt.

“Yeah, there’s something I forgot to tell you.”

I waited for her to go on, the two of us gazing at each other in silence. She looked like she was studying me, and I was enraptured with the way the sun made her amber eyes glitter with warmth.

“If anything happens, call for me, okay?”

“...You came after me just to tell me that?”

“Hey, it’s important. If I don’t keep my eye on you, you get reckless–”

“ I get reckless?! I think you’re talking about yourself there, Leanne.”

“I have the memory of you trying to fight off a few drunks to contest that.” She grinned at me.

“... Okay, you have a point.” I smiled in return. Leanne really had gotten me out of a few sticky situations in the past week. She was reliable. And even when that fight with the failed robbers turned violent, she managed to find a happy ending for the situation. We seemed to be on the same track for resolutions, just different ways to get there.

“Honestly, you can call for me even if nothing happens. I don’t mind. I’d still gladly come running.”

My heart fluttered. The words were so innocent, but the implication that she’d be happy to spend as much time with me as I wanted was… painful. I fell into silence as I thought about last night’s library date– No, Emmit. It wasn’t a date.

It almost felt like one. The memory reminded me of the way her mouth felt on mine, and the taste of her lips; it reminded me of the way she felt under my fingers, and how far out of my reach she really was.

What are you doing, Emmit? Pull yourself together.

I felt myself place a smile on my face as I drifted back to the present. “Thanks, Leanne. I’ll remember that.”

“Good. See you later, Emmit. Work hard, but not too hard, okay?”

“I will. And good luck with your training.”

We both turned and walked away from the moment. I quietly chewed on my lips as I chewed on my thoughts, trying my best to work through this problem in my head. After several steps I shook my head to try to dislodge the current focus in my mind - Leanne.

“Wow… this is…” The place was huge! “This is AMAZING. I bet the whole bookstore could fit in here with room to spare!”

The room was tastefully decorated and luxurious. It wasn’t as fancy as the grand entrance, or the throne room, but it was clear that only the best furniture and items were used in crafting the comfortable atmosphere. Not only was there a bed, a dressing table, a full sized mirror, and a wardrobe, but also a sofa, a writing desk, and a table where someone could take meals. It really was an entire house, except for a kitchen area, and there even appeared to be a door on the far wall that was likely my own private bathroom.

I hadn’t ventured any further in than where I ended up when Rina pulled me into the room, glued to the spot. I rocked slightly from toe to heel, taking note of the plush carpet beneath my boots. Realizing my mouth was hanging open, I slowly clamped it shut and tried to convince myself that this wasn’t a dream, that this really was happening.

“It’s a little daunting, isn’t it?” She had read my mind.

“Yeah…” I breathily agreed, my gaze running from the sparkling chandelier to meet Rina’s sparkling eyes.

“But, hey, you know what?” She stepped closer. “I’m here with you, so you’re gonna be fine.”

I realized she was still holding my hand when she gave it a squeeze to reassure me. I gave a genuine smile in return, suddenly feeling much better knowing I wasn’t going to be doing this alone. “You’re right. Thanks, Rina. I feel a lot better knowing you’re here with me.”

“Emmit… I’ll always be here for you, no matter what.”

I knew she meant it, too. Since that day three years ago, she had always been a part of my life, and whenever I needed her, she was always there. I wasn’t sure what I could offer in return, and I hoped that I was somehow half the friend to her as she was to me. I found myself at a loss for words despite opening my mouth to say something in response, and we stood there, the moment passing into something more intimate.

There is that look again. It’s almost like you’re serious about–

Rina’s smile tilted, stretching to a crooked, mischievous grin. “And I think you should enjoy yourself and live it up a little while you’re here. So use me as you wish, Master. ”

OH MY GOD! YOU DID NOT!

I broke away from Rina, pulling my hand free and taking several steps back. I turned in a circle to try to make it look like I was looking around the room rather than running from her, but with the way she was giggling, I knew she knew.

“Hey, you know what?” I said without looking at her. My eyes trying to find purchase anywhere but in her direction. My cheeks were burning, I could feel the heat so intense my eyes were warm. “I should probably go take a look around by myself, try to learn my way around instead of just following you blindly.”

“Sure thing!” She chirped happily. “But if you get lost or you need me, just call my name and I’ll come running!”

I made my way slowly through the palace, trying to better orient myself so that I wouldn't get lost every time I left my room. I wasn’t used to being in a place that felt like several city blocks, only indoors. And while it wasn’t exactly the same down every hallway, all the doors were very similar in singles or sets of two, and they were all colored the same. Sure, there was some art and other decorations placed in various locations, but I didn’t have any clear landmarks to mark which corridor was which.

I nodded and glanced in her direction before flashing a smile. “Thanks again, Rina.”

Let’s see… the ministerial office was down there… And that hall leads to the kitchens, I think…

Blowing out a puff of air, I glanced down the way I had just come.

I’ll manage, I’m sure, but…

I was finding myself overwhelmed once again. Closing my eyes, I took a slow breath to try to sort out the circles I had just walked. I was sure I could figure this out if I stopped doubting myself. I could hear the distant sound of meals being prepared, I was near the kitchens.

I haven’t eaten since lunch… 

I gave the air a sniff, hoping to add the scent of food to the memory of this corridor, but it was the faint fragrance of roses that caught my attention. More than happy to take a break, I let the delicate and delightful scent lead me astray, and allowed my mind to wander along with my feet out of the repetitious hallways.

Somehow I made it out onto a balcony that overlooked the city below. Long, languid vines twisted around the railing, covered with roses in full bloom. It looked like several varieties of roses had been worked into the framework in order to create a bouquet of colors.

No wonder it smelled so good.

The last remnants of day colored the very edge of the horizon, covering the town in the distance with a dim blanket of dusk. Dark sky hid the edges of the town in shadows, and while I couldn’t make out the entirety of the city, I knew there was more out there than my eyes could catch right now. I had never seen the city from so high up, and it was surprising to see how big it really was.

You’d never think it when you’re in the city that it would stretch so far.

I had been so taken by the scenery that it took me a few moments to realize that I wasn’t alone. Leanne stood silently further down the extended balcony, staring out at the city, or the skyline, I wasn’t sure which. The breeze that had brought me the scent of roses now toyed with her hair, allowing it to sway enough to let me glimpse her amber eyes. Her gaze seemed oddly lonely somehow, and I found myself captivated by her expression.

Without warning she turned that gaze on me and I quickly looked away.

Well, crap. She definitely caught me staring.

“Emmit? What’s up?”

“Oh, um–” I slowly turned to follow the random direction I had looked to try to keep her from knowing I was staring. “There are a lot of roses out here.”

Really, Emmit? You’re hopeless.

Leanne chuckled. A brief glance at her allowed me to see the grin she was wearing. I relaxed a little and huffed a small laugh, then turned back towards her and wandered a bit closer. “I was just trying to get my bearings here, this place is huge. All the doors look the same. I don’t even know where the exit is.”

“Mhm,” she nodded, giving me her full attention. Her expression was open and friendly as she waited for me to go on, and it reminded me of the way she had looked when interacting with the lost child earlier in the day. Once again I was drawn to her; the warmth and safety that radiated from her was a pull that I didn’t really want to ignore, so I let myself shuffle a few steps closer.

“Hey, do you remember our conversation back in town? When we first met you made it sound like you barely knew Chevalier, and it turns out she’s your sister.”

Her lips quirked into a smirk with a bitter edge to it. “Yeah, but it’s not far from the truth. I wasn’t kidding when I said we don’t talk much.”

“Okay, I guess I get that, but I had no idea you were royalty, either. You could have said something.” I thought about how she had collected my fallen books, and how I hadn’t even properly thanked her for preventing that drunk from hitting me. Embarrassment for my earlier actions began to gnaw at me.

I would have done SOMETHING different if I knew you were a princess. I don’t know what, but… having you see me like that– I was so out of sorts and it was so uncool.

Wait, why do I care if I look cool?

I stared at Leanne, trying to sort out why that thought had crossed my mind in the first place. She met my gaze head on. The look in her eyes at this moment reminded me of how she had looked at me in the Round Table room. While everyone was deciding for me if I should be acknowledged as Belle, she was the only one who had looked at me, the person, and asked for my thoughts about my future.

Now that I think about it… You were watching your siblings, too. Nothing really escapes your notice, does it?

I couldn’t help but think that she was somehow appraising everyone in every situation. Watching those around her like we were all out of reach and only joining when brought in by someone else. Even now, with her standing out here all by herself, she was far away from everyone, and her gaze made that distance feel even farther.

Leanne huffed a small laugh and brushed her fingers through her loose hair, pulling it back behind her ear. She broke eye contact and shifted her weight to one foot. “Sorry if it felt like I was keeping secrets from you. How about I do something to make up for it?”

“Oh, no, you don’t need to–” I was already shaking my head but I didn’t get to finish my protest.

“Sure I do. And tonight they just happen to be holding a festival to celebrate Foundation Day.” She nodded towards the city cloaked in darkness. “Festivals are way more fun in the evening than they are during the day, you know.”

I didn’t actually know, but I didn’t want to tell her that either. In previous years, and most cases in general, I was either working or staying at home with a book.

“Can you hear that music on the breeze?”

I looked out at the night sky and I could actually hear the faint sounds of music. “Wait, that’s the town? You can hear that from here?”

“Sure can! And the streets look amazing at night, all lit up with lanterns.” She was painting a picture of the place I loved that was even more lovely than I knew it to be.

“It sounds great and all, but I kind of got the impression that I’m supposed to stay here, in the palace, for my duration as Belle. Suriyel is…”

“Easy to manage.” She finished my thought with the complete opposite answer I was aiming for. I blinked at Leanne, trying to figure out if she was being honest about the shadow devil minister of the court. She looked entirely serious, a knowing grin on her face, and that charming smile was winning me over.

“I don’t think I can just go waltzing out of here.”

“Wanna find out?” Leanne inclined her head, giving her the impression of looking down at me in a challenge despite me being taller than her.

“I don’t even know where the exit is…” I gave my last excuse, but it was weak and I knew it didn’t hold water as long as she was with me. Certainly she knew how to get out of the palace.

“All we have to do is make it through the doors– once we’re out, they can yell at us all they like, but we won’t hear them.”

I found myself nodding. It was sounding better with each new point she made.

“And it's not hard to shake off anyone trying to follow us. I think we’d be fools not to go, really.” She gently grabbed my upper arm, leaning back as she took a slow step away from me to coax me along.

I studied her. She had already convinced me, but I was trying to figure out why she was trying to convince me to sneak into town with her. Yeah, it sounded great. It sounded fun. And I already felt comfortable around her, but today had been so eventful that I wasn’t sure if I should chance another exciting encounter. I took a step, following her lead, Leanne granting me another charming grin, knowing she had won.

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. I reminded myself. I wanted to make this adventure I’ve embarked on as thrilling and amazing as I can. I want to remember this time forever.

“Okay, smooth talker, but if I get in trouble, I’m blaming you– I don’t know any better! Of course I’d trust the words of a princess!” I flashed a teasing grin back at her.

“Perfect,” she said. “Get ready to run.”

“Wait, run?”

“Of course, try to keep up.” With a wink, Leanne turned and trotted a few feet away, starting the pace slow. I pulled myself together and hurried after her.

“Right behind you!” I yelled, feeling a joyous chuckle rolling out of me.

The great escape was underway. We ran through the halls, turning corners, dodging servants, with Leanne a few feet ahead of me and I somehow managing to keep up right on her tail. People turned to stare at us, but Leanne only grinned as we passed them by.

“Princess Leanne?! Are you–” some maid called, clearly concerned, but Leanne cut her off.

“We’re fine!”

I saw a flash of silver quickly exiting a room up ahead. It was one of the twins, but I honestly hadn’t figured out which was which at first glance. She stopped in her tracks, eyebrows crawling up her brow. “Leanne? And… Belle?”

Yves peeked out from the room the twin princess had come out of. “Hey, hang on! Where are you two going?! We’re about to–”

“Sorry, Leni! Sorry, Yves! Get everything ready, okay?” Leanne shouted, her voice full of laughter as we sprinted past the two of them. I threw an apologetic look over my shoulder, trying to bite back my grin at their stunned expressions.

“Uh-oh, looks like there’s a final boss.” Leanne warned me.

Ahead, Suriyel was standing with her hands folded in front of her, not exactly blocking the path, but I certainly wouldn’t have wanted to try to make it past.

“Princess Leanne, surely you don’t intend to sneak out of the palace yet again? Especially not with Emmit in tow?” She smiled calmly.

That’s the smile of a devil! We’re done for!

“Yeah, actually, I do, so…” Leanne spoke as she fussed with something around her neck that I couldn’t see due to her being ahead of me. In a practiced movement, she slid free of both her cloak and jacket and threw them at Suriyel. “Hold these for me, will you?”

Suriyel let out a surprised squeak when the clothes crashed into her and I saw her stumble backwards, giving us plenty of room to maneuver past.

I can’t believe she just did that!

We’d come to the grand stairs and Leanne paused for a moment, just enough time for me to catch up. I heaved a heavy breath, this was the most exciting thing I’ve ever done in my life. At least I thought it was, but without warning Leanne wrapped an arm around my torso and dipped to scoop me up into her arms.

“Wha–!” I twisted, trying to find the ground again but she snuggly pulled me closer.

“Arms around my neck. Hold on tight!” She commanded and I obeyed immediately.

“Wait, can we–eeh!” My words launched into my throat as my stomach lurched with the sudden leap Leanne took, jumping onto the nearest banister. She jerked with my weight and I squeezed her tighter, certain we were about to fall and crack our skulls open on the hard stone floor below. Then we were speeding towards the bottom floor of the grand entrance, sliding down the railing at a breakneck speed. In seconds, we’d reached the bottom, but my heart was still pounding as Leanne leapt again, jumping off the banister to land with what seemed like little effort.

She set me down with a small “oof” and stood tall next to me, grinning triumphantly. All I could do was slowly lower my arms and stare at her.

I can’t believe you just did THAT!

I was still reeling from everything that had just happened, I didn’t even know how my mind was going to catch up with the events. I looked back at the stairs and thanked the heavens that only one banister was heavily decorated with roses, Leanne might have just lept from the upper level if they both were.

“Emmit,” her voice snapped me back to the present, it was warm and inviting. I turned my wide eyes on her and noticed she was holding her hand out to me. “Take my hand, and your whole world is gonna change forever. But the choice is yours.”

My heart was thrumming, thumping hard, but it gave a little flutter at her words. This was just like when she asked me if I wanted to be Belle and I had a feeling that she would respect my choice if I said no. But she was giving ME the choice, and I really didn’t want to say no now that I’d come this far.

I know what I want.

I gave a firm nod, sliding my hand over hers, and I felt a buzz of elation as she twined her fingers with mine. Her hands were rougher than I expected, calluses lining her palms and fingers.

“I’m ready.” I declared, finally managing a smile after our rapid descent of the stairs.