Um. So.

The plan has hit a snag.

He’s gone and double-booked himself, you see. At this time, yes, at this time right here, he’s supposed to be staring incredulously into the sharp war-mask of Bagyum Olesya, and discovering that bone and paint will not budge. Only, he’s just remembered that he’s due to bury his face in his hands at any moment. True, he’s using those hands to cling tightly to Olesya’s arm (singular! He can’t get them both!) but if he buries his face in her upper arm there should be more than enough room for one fawnish face. 

Well. Nothing for it. He’ll just have to squish in tight, cheek to muscle, and try to look at nothing and only her at the same time.

This will work.

[i]What do you think, Keli, do you think he could ever be a Princess?[/i]

[i]Yah~ <3[/i]

(Isn’t it nice, to find out that Foxgirl Trick could be true? That by the power of maids and makeup, Hazel Valentine Fletcher could be special? Precious? Like royalty? Even if it was only for a night?) 

“Take the lead.”

The…prince? Princess? Prince Princess whispers to his huntress.

“It’s okay. Do whatever you think will convince your mom it’s going well. I’ll play along. If she thinks you’re winning, she won’t need to interfere any more, right?”

Amidst twirls, amidst kicks, amidst strong arms and crushing closeness, he sends a little smile to that fearsome mask.

“First rule of sneaking: Sneaking isn’t just hiding. It’s showing your prey only what they expect to see.”

(The Khatun will see a bundle of speechless silks, a silly boy trembling in her daughter’s arms. Helpless to escape. Caught fast. She will not see a promise being made. She will not see that this, too, is just a performance.)

In the crook of her arm, his thumb curls up.

(Olesya will see…royalty. Apparently. She will see a boy out of his depth, trying his best, happy to do what he can to help. She will see him tremble to make the attempt.)

“Go on. I’ll be fine. We’ll keep Juni safe.”

(She will not see it is because he cannot stop wondering what it would be like if she [i]properly[/i] kissed him. She will not see, in all that she would dare do to him, how his heart will flutter from inexperience instead of surprise. She will not see Hazel’s face in the glow of a Yukisearth tablet, wandering where he should not in the dead of night. The stories he found, of the boys who could neither outrun nor outwit their pursuers, and what songs were drawn from their helpless lips.

She will not see how little courage this really takes.

She will only see a good boy.)