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As dusk settled over the city and painted the sky with sleepy hues of orange and gold, the procession neared the lake where the festival was to be celebrated.

Banners and strings of lanterns could already be seen hanging from the branches of the cherry trees that lined the edge of the lake, the petals of which were floating down and covering the lakeside like a soft, pink spring snow.

Ripples echoed across the surface of the lake as it mirrored a distorted sunset, and Princess dismounted her carriage to look over the scene.

Princess Luna took a deep inhale of the cool evening air, her face lighting up at the beauty that was painted in the sky and reflected on the water, the many small lanterns twinkling like fireflies.

But she had no sooner stepped out than another curious crowd began to gather near the lake, pushing closer to get a glimpse of her, so she lowered her head and raised the hood of her cloak. The soldiers suggested that Princess get out of sight of the crowd as soon as possible.

"I want to go into the market before heading down to the lake," She told Chan as the others held off the people, and he nodded in approval. "Just take someone with you, and keep your face covered."

"Jisung will come with me," Princess immediately volunteered the soldier without even consulting him, which made him jump. Jisung opened his mouth to protest, but quickly bit his lip to stop himself. He reasoned that he would much rather be alone with Princess than trying to deal with another crowd.

As he brushed his fingers across the hilt of the sword at his hip, he thought that being alone with the Princess might be a good chance, too.

Princess turned away from the lake to go back into the city, and Jisung followed, staying close to her until they reached the markets on the outskirts of Daor, which were specially stocked and decorated for the festival, the stalls on either side of the road brightly lit.

They walked into the street, but despite the tempting smells and colors of the food and merchandise that were being sold, Princess continued to walk right past them all and dodge into an alleyway.

Confused, Jisung took longer strides to catch up with her, coming to her side instead of walking close behind. The shadows of the dark alleyway enveloped them as they trekked further, leaving the lights of the marketplace behind.

"Princess, where are you going?" Jisung hissed, keeping his voice down for fear of what — or whose — attention he would draw, for anyone or anything could be lurking in the shadows. He gripped the hilt of his sword, ready to draw it if something jumped out at them.

"Just be quiet," Princess hissed back, which was useless since Jisung was already careful to be quiet, but when she pulled back her hood and began to remove her veil, Jisung forgot about being quiet as his eyes widened.

He reached out to grab her hand and stop her, stunned. Wasn't she supposed to keep her face covered? "Princess, your veil—!"

But he couldn't protest against her actions much more before  he noticed a figure emerging out of the shadows, and he froze for a moment as the outline of the phantom became clearer.

However, seemingly unbothered by the approaching  figure clothed in shadows, Princess turned to scowl at Jisung, who had shuffled behind her to hide himself. She looked over her shoulder at him and scoffed, the few beams of moonlight that crept into the alley highlighting the sharp angles of her now unveiled features.

"Coward. Aren't you supposed to protect me? " She said, raising an eyebrow at him, then shaking her head. "What a guard you are."

Suddenly remembering his purpose, Jisung apprehensively stepped up, beginning to draw his sword, but it was unnecessary as the phantom figure drew back its hood.

The girl underneath the cloak smiled at Princess. She looked about the same age as Princess, her dark eyes friendly as she greeted the latter. But the girl's brows furrowed as she looked from Princess' uncovered face to Jisung, his sword ready to be unsheathed. "...Luna, your face, does he..?"

Princess shook her head. "He's seen me before, don't worry. Do you have it?" "He's seen you??" The girl's eyes widened before she began to hurl questions at Princess. "H-How? When? Did he tell your father—"

"He won't tell, Karina, don't worry about it! Do you have what I asked for?" Princess Luna inquired with urgency, and the girl nodded, quickly retrieving something from her cloak.

As the two girls referred to Jisung as "he" and spoke as if he wasn't there, the soldier slowly resheathed his sword and looked from one to the other in bewilderment. He felt as if he should speak up and possibly stop this interaction, which — depending on what they were about to trade — might be illegal, so he looked to Princess.

"Who is this?" Jisung demanded in a whisper, jerking his head towards the girl apparently called Karina. Princess Luna's eyes cut to him, glaring into him for a moment before she sighed.

"Karina, this is one of my guards, Han Jisung," She reluctantly introduced the two. Karina only stared at him, looking him up and down with a judgemental gaze, so Jisung balled a fist over his heart and bowed slightly, introducing himself as he was taught with a small "at your service."

Karina handed a bag to Princess Luna without tearing her eyes from Jisung. Jisung's eyes, however, immediately darted to the bag that Princess tucked into her own cloak.

"You think he'll tell?" Karina questioned, speaking again as if the guard himself wasn't right in front of them. Princess Luna shook her head again. "He won't," she smirked. "I'll make sure of it."

Jisung's brows furrowed and he tried to figure out what that might mean as the two girls hugged, and Karina disappeared back into the shadows of the alley, leaving he and Princess alone.

When Karina left, Jisung and the Princess both turned to each other with something to say. Jisung opened his mouth first, his eyes narrowed in suspicion.

"What's in the ba—"

"Don't you even consider telling anyone about this," Princess Luna threatened, her voice turning ice cold as she poked a finger in Jisung's chest. 

Her rosy lips curled into a devilish grin, her dark eyes sparkling mischievously as she continued, each word heavy and deliberate.

"..former citizen of New Solace, Han Jisung."