It was tradition for the troupe to celebrate a performer's departure, temporary or not, with a big sendoff ceremony. There would be festivities left and right, topped off with nonstop singing and dancing, and it would last until the wee hours of the night, or until everyone passed out—of course, it was usually the latter. During the night of hers, Juliette went all out in her performance, her last for some time. It was no surprise that she was the first to fall, but even when she missed most of the celebration, she slept well knowing it was one of the best they've had.

Juliette awoke hours later under the cool shade of a wide oak tree and with a pile of freshly laundered clothes as a pillow. The expanse of green that surrounded her surprised her out of her drowsy haze. Oh, right. They had taken a detour from their route to drop her off at the city, and they set up their encampment in the forestland bordering the city walls. Papa Bear was not going to be happy with her. As she rose, she realized that she was surrounded by the rest of the troupe, some draped over each other, snoring away and looking exactly like they enjoyed the festivities a little too much. The sight should have made her smile; instead it made her heart ache. She had been with her troupe for fifteen years, three months, and nineteen days. This was the first time she would be away from them for more than a day, and just the thought made her reconsider. 

Perhaps she had been too hasty with her decision after all. Surely, she can control herself around Renner; after all, she had done so for a decade now. What's the worst a few more years could do? All she had to do was keep her feelings to herself and [i]not[/i] sabotage their friendship. Easy peasy! But then the person in question approached her, dazzling blue eyes locking with hers and the morning sun's soft glow lighting up his face, and [i]shit.[/i] Juliette could feel herself swooning at the spot.

"Do you really have to go?" he asked, looking down at her with that lopsided smile she had more than once dreamed of kissing.

[color=#ffb9b9]"No,"[/color] she blurted out before catching herself. [color=#ffb9b9]"Yes."[/color]

"Why?"

[i]Because if you keep smiling like that I'm going to have to tell you I love you, but you're in love with someone else so we'll be awkward and then you'll never speak to me again and that will break my heart.[/i] Juliette chewed on her lower lip. [color=#ffb9b9]"Just something I have to do."[/color]

"Just come back soon, okay? I'm going to miss you."

[color=#ffb9b9]"Promise."[/color] She walked away before she wavered any more than she had and looked for the only person who wouldn't make leaving any harder. He was the last person she had to bid farewell.

Juliette found him in his tent, huddled in his seat, blowing his nose on a handkerchief. He was uncharacteristically unkempt: eyes bloodshot from sleep deprivation, dried out tear stains leaving streaks in his powdered face. Talberon spent the first two hours of each day primping and preening, but here he was, still dressed in his clothes from the night before and hair looking worse than a bird's nest.

One would think it flattering to have affected someone so drastically. But one would be wrong.

When she had passionately announced that she would be taking time off to answer the call of the emperor, Talberon had been none too pleased. He sulked for days, reverted into a petulant child that pointedly ignored her to make her feel guilty. She tried many times to make her case, but he refused to listen. Even now, days after, he still made a show of his disapproval. Just as she entered his quarters, Talberon looked over the schedule of performances he had mapped out on a parchment and scratched his pen angrily where her name was written. 

"My perfect lineup," he cried out, throwing his hands in the air theatrically. "Ruined!" 

The flaxen troupe master continued to mumble to himself, about silly children and foolish decisions, without once acknowledging her presence. He was a man who devoted his life to this troupe, to the artistry involved in his people's performances, and he was infamously neurotic in his ways. Her temporary absence left a rift in his perfectly balanced programme, and reordering the acts drove him mad. He spent the last few days ignoring her, but Juliette liked to think it was his way of saying he'll miss her.

[color=#ffb9b9]"Take care, Papa Bear,"[/color] she laughed. He refused to speak to her still, but he finally looked her way. [color=#ffb9b9]"Try not to get too crazy while I'm gone."[/color] 

After her farewells, she washed up in the nearby riverbank and dressed in her travel wear: baggy trousers caught in at the ankle, its sheer fabric faintly outlining her legs, and a lace-trimmed one piece blouse that fit exactly. It didn't make for the most modest of attires, but it allowed for easier movements and that was most important. Her agility was her best asset, and it would do the emperor no service if it were hindered in anyway.

The imperial city was but a few minutes' walk from their encampment; even in the woods, she could glimpse the towering castle in the horizon. As Juliette took the first steps out of the forest, she already felt lighter, but that could have as well been the butterflies fluttering wildly in her stomach. She forced herself not to look back, or temptation would sow its seeds and trap her, and all but rushed toward the city gates.

It wasn't long before she reached the castle gardens, where the royal guards paraded about the emperor in his blinding ivory armor and his lovely wife, looking not so pleased with the turnout. She wondered why, but a quick glance at the small groups that gathered near them was answer enough. From what she gleaned as she walked through the gates, diversity was not an issue. There were nobles, a mercenary, a scholar, and… whatever that armored man was. She hadn't gotten a proper look, but she did give him props for withstanding the morning sun under all that armor. In any case, age had seemed varied, as well, and she spied at least three young ones in the garden.

Her gaze zeroed in on the brown haired boy standing alone and looking quite lost in his own thoughts. She approached him, for no other reason than to make him look less lonely. Maybe he wasn't sure what to do? His guarded, almost anxious stance reminded her of one of the newer performers in the troupe. People like that needed a little nudge.

[color=#ffb9b9]"Oh, you're even younger than me,"[/color] Juliette said without preface, as soon as realization dawned upon her. She looked the boy up and down, then flicked her gaze toward the armored noble who was once sitting comfortably atop his steed. He definitely looked out of place—even among the decidedly motley recruits, herself included. [color=#ffb9b9]"You're pretty ballsy,"[/color] she grinned, giving him a casual pat on the back. [color=#ffb9b9]"So have you greeted the Emperor yet? I think you're supposed to say hi. Come with me."[/color]

Without waiting for his assent, Juliette dragged him along toward the royal couple, past a couple of guards and a female mercenary. She nudged the boy gently as a signal before she bowed, unconsciously twirling her hand in flourish as she had become accustomed to during performances. Juliette had been prepared to mimic the mercenary's introduction, to at least look somewhat professional, but the sight of the beautiful Empress distracted her.

[color=#ffb9b9]"Wow! You're even prettier up close,"[/color] she said instead.