“So this is the mischief you’ve been up to, hmmm?”

Yue could be forgiven for letting out a little shriek when she spins around. No one would judge her too much for that! The thing looming over her shoulder is fearful, more like the demons of the river and the blade that she has already met today than either of the Princesses. Like the heart of the forest, roused in anger by the unlight of the Night Sun, bough-limbed and rough-skinned and only imperfectly mimicking humanity; like the massive river serpents that raise their slick black bodies out of the water before falling to crush wagon and unwary traveler alike, a tower of rippling strength that will presently descend like a thunderbolt; like a coming tempest that makes the chimes sing and drowns the world in the rich smell of plums, even as it grows so dark that you cannot see past your own hand; such is Rose from the River in her fury and form of war. Cyanis dangles pitifully from one of her four hands, held by her adorable scruff, turning on her best pleading eyes at everyone in the hopes that somebody might save her from this monster, knees curled up and arms wrapped around them, already having given up any hopes of wiggling free under her own power. Rose’s braids whisper and twist in no wind, agitation clearly expressed through their almost-natural lashing.

But Rose from the River, while daunting, is not looking at Yue with fury, or covetousness, or dour doom. Look at the soft curl of her lips! Look at the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes! Watch as the braids lose their fervor and settle, rubbing against and winding about each other. That is the happiness at the end of a tiring day; that is approval and understanding. Rose from the River looks down at the dearest wish of an innocent heart, and remembers the gift of a fox.

“Well,” she says, holding Cyanis up at eye level to address her as easily as if she was a young girl’s ribbon, “you did right by her, little fox. Well done. Don’t make trouble where I can see you.” This doom declared, she sets Cyanis down and gives the teeny tiny troublemaker indulgent scritches behind one fluffy triangle, even as she turns her attention back to Yue.

“Your heart’s desire is beautiful, Yue. No small wonder that the Princesses fight over you.” Her eyes flicker over to Chen and Hyra (the latter of whom is unsubtly fluffing herself up and giving Rose a glare), and she bows her head in deference to Yue. “A moment, if you will.” Then she maneuvers herself around Yue such that she does not pass between Hyra and the shepherdess, and comes to stand— no, she descends to one knee before the diminutive Princess Chen.

“Princess,” she says, holding herself to formality as she takes Chen’s hand in two of her own, “you surrendered yourself to me willingly and in return I carelessly allowed you to be stolen from me by scoundrels. I am glad to see you safe despite, and hope that you can forgive me for failing you.” She drinks in Chen’s face until satisfied with what she sees there, ignoring everyone else (and surely the assumptions that anyone else might be making) and presses her forehead to the back of Chen’s hand before rising.

“You spoke well to Yin,” Rose from the River says to Chen. (Is that anger bitten down? Is that anger at Yin, or at herself?) “Let’s let Yue the Shepherdess speak for herself, make her own decision...”

There! Sudden betrayal! One hand clamps over Chen’s mouth, holding her jaw firmly shut. That arm pulls her in close until her pale cheek is smushed right up against Rose’s firmness, feet just barely off the ground. No amount of stamping or wriggling will save you now, little princess! It is like being trapped within a tree’s trunk, there within the grasp of Rose from the River, and that intoxicating floral fragrance all around. And is that little Cyanis hiding her mouth behind her own hand to hide her reaction, tails wagging furiously, peeking out from behind Hyra? It very well might be.

“...[i]without[/i] any more Princessly propaganda,” Rose from the River concludes. “She’s heard enough for one day, hasn’t she? Enough of destinies and politics. Yue, clad fast in a shining dream... what do you have to say to us?”

And everyone’s attention turns from the blushing Chen to Yue, pushed into the spotlight by Rose, who has wordlessly declared her control of the stage entire.