Of course Rose recognizes the shining light in Chen’s eyes. How could she not? That joy, that hope, that belief in fox wishes: she would have to have a heart of stone lying leaden in her chest not to recognize it and love it, because once she knew it, too. And it is certainly for Chen’s sake that, instead of putting her foot down immediately and informing Cyanis in no uncertain terms that she was banned, yes, [i]banned[/i] from doing any more fox mischief, and that they would figure out a more practical plan all on their own, one that would not get hearts racing and so beguiled with delight that they would miss the delightfully wicked fox crimes being carried out right in front of their helpless eyes, Rose just blushes darker and thornier and feels her own heart start to race with that familiar excitement and longing. She should not! She should be strong! She should, at the very least, carry out her duty as a mendicant monk and supervise Cyanis in her granting of a wish.

But what Rose instead does is hum thoughtfully. So thoughtfully! One might almost imagine that she was developing some sage insight, not sweating like an ordinary girl (all apologies to Yue, who we are sure sweats a simply ordinary amount when in the presence of Hyra). “Well,” she says, her voice slightly huskier than usual. “[i]One[/i] prize might not be enough for a globe-trotter like Jessic. And we can’t let dear Chen here get dangled as bait alone. Her plan is... sound.”

And then she turns to Cyanis suddenly, back to looming, full of doom. “Little fox,” she says— no, she declares, tipping Cyanis’s chin up to look at her. “If you carry this out and then make an attempt to run away, then I [i]will[/i] make you regret your choice to flee justice. But if you carry out the wish of Princess Chen, to be the lure that brings Jessic here, I will regard it as Service to the Community. Consider carefully the fact that we are likely to be peers for a [i]very[/i] long time.”

It should be obvious to see, despite any protests to the contrary, conflict war across Cyanis’s darling little face. On the one hand: tie everyone up and then escape from the monk! On the other hand: have both a grateful princess and a monk in your debt! On the third hand: make Chen, Jessic, [i]and[/i] Rose in your debt with a successful hand-off and then get pampered as a fox should be in the Sky Castle! Oh, look, resolution. Wasn’t that quick?

“Cyanis, pure-hearted fox,” Rose manages to say without a hint of irony, “I offer myself into your hands. Secure me alongside our dear Twinshard Chen, spare no expense in making sure I am truly helpless so that Princess Jessic has no reason to suspect treachery, and...”

Rose closes those great golden eyes and lets out a shaky sigh. “Please take this collar off my neck and then give me a makeover. A dragon-attracting makeover. I suggest Royal Concubine or High Priestess, but you know best.”

Now this. This is a surrender. To admit that she needs Cyanis’s help to remove the collar, then to give her free reign over her wardrobe, all but begging her to be strict and stifling and be impudent in showing off how helpless she can make one of the pilgrims of the Way? To allow herself to be put into a position where Cyanis could walk off with all her belongings (and some cute new floral panties) and leave Rose from the River shouting “~n, ~n!!” after the fox?

Chen isn’t the only one unable to hide the sparkle in her eyes, suffice to say. After all, is it not said:

[i]The river from the mountains runs clear,
the window of the palace is wiped clean:
so too is the heart of a maiden
when awoken to her secret desire![/i]

Rose then turns and shares a long glance with Hyra, and then offers one hand to Yue. “You are, of course, not required to join us,” she says, doing a remarkable job of seeming composed. “But it behooves every young adventuress to take the plunge and explore new experiences in a safe way.” And what could be safer than the hand of the monster who binds her own heart?