[i]There's at least one thing Adila is wrong about (half a dog that she is): Dandy is far from the most dangerous princess in Hyperborea. It turns out that title actually belonged to a properly motivated Rita von Catabas. Mittens couldn't remember ever feeling more outmatched in her entire life. The way she moved! The way she... well. It was all Mittens could do to bravely sacrifice herself to maintain Azora's freedom. 

Also, maybe this was just part of her curse? But something was definitely making Rita a lot, um... friskier than usual. Like, there was no need to lace the ribbons through her collar and around her wrists like that. Or bind her in ribbons instead of ropes in the first place, come to think of it. And for that matter, while Rita was pulling her elbows in close to her sides and wrapping all those extra bindings around her chest, was there really a need to tie them in a big bow? Also, does capturing a Knight in[/i] Heist! [i]usually involve that much ear massaging?

In the end, all she could do was sit there on her knees with her legs delicately bound together and her arms lifted up to dangle her p-- hands! Dangle her hands just under her chin like she was begging for attention or table scraps or, um. Y-yeah. Anyway, Rita was dangerous. And this was the single worst game of[/i] Heist! [i]Mittens had ever seen played. Although...[/i]

***

It's been ten, maybe even fifteen minutes here in the Winner's Tent, and Azora Howl has not shut up for a single sopping second of it. On and on she goes, bragging about how well she did, how great her plan was, how her brilliant moves lead to the winning capture of Eska, and barraging Mittens with those awful crushing headpats the entire time. 

For her part, Mittens endures the assault with the kind of good humor and grace worthy of an Illuminan Queen. She doesn't complain, and she laughs enthusiastically like a good Number Two should. When she cuts in, it's to (delicately) make fun of Eska, or Kazelia, or herself. She lets the useless twit puff herself up and waits for an opening. And then when it comes...

"Princess, Princess, you have to try this!" she chirps and pushes a plate with a beautiful chocolate tartlet in front of her, "Seriously, it's uh-[i]maze[/i]-ing! Come on, come on, you're our MVP! You deserve a treat!"

And then she watches with glee as Azora takes a bite and makes that face like she's just fallen through a cloud and found heaven. 

"See? See? Puts the sandwich platters to shame. She made this herself, I guarantee it! My family? The [i]best[/i] at desserts."

Mittens had pushed that one up specifically because she recognized it. She'd learned this recipe from Momma, actually: a salted caramel and marshmallow chocolate tart. All the tightly packed layers of decadent sugar made you feel like you could fly... and had a tendency to weld your mouth shut, if you weren't careful. Ah, blissful silence. Mittens smiles and takes a long sip from her lovely cup of oolong tea.

Her eyes smile at the "other" Adila from over top her cup, but hidden in those crystal depths, there's a challenge there waiting. Do you see, she says without speaking. Do you see? This is my greatest enemy, and yet I'm having fun. I won't forgive her, but I'm trusting her. Just like your successor's trusting me. And do you see what we're accomplishing, just with this? 

But these aren't the words she chooses to say when she sets the little glass cup back on its saucer. It's these:

"Look to love, always." Mittens smile is toothy, a little pointier than it ought to be, but beautiful, "I don't like the Watch, I'm sure you know this. But I've always liked those words. They're yours, right?"

She pushes a beautifully iced sugar cookie in the shape of a rainbow sheep across the table, and waits for a response. There's none. She sighs.

"I think about them a lot, actually. Whenever I'm talking to Adila. My Adila, I mean. You know, [i]she[/i] loves you. No of course that's obvious, right? She can't hide her heart from anybody. But I love that about her! But that's not the love you meant, is it? And, obvously... Eupheria loves you too, right? I mean, that dress and..."

The smile falls off her face. Mittens watches the starry eyed Adila coolly.

"But that's not what you meant either. Look to love, always. I'm sorry, I just... did you ever plan on telling her? That you'd fallen in love with someone else?"