"Your highness prince Nokto, why are we here? I am not properly dressed for such an occasion at all..."

"I can easily arrange that, dear Kaleigh. Surely you won't disappoint a prince, hmm?" Nokto whispers huskily into Kaleigh's ears as he wraps an arm around her waist, to which she responds by taking his arm off by grasping his wrist and putting his arm away. "I thought you needed our approval to become a court minister~?"

"Do you act this intimate to every woman you meet, your highness?" Kaleigh asks with no sarcasm intended since she was away for quite a long time, but Nokto took it as such. Kaleigh was nothing but his friend, so she never received such special treatment. She feels a bit salty - if Nokto had acted like this when she had a teeny, tiny crush on him during their childhood years, she would have fallen so much harder for him.

Nokto is the seventh prince of Rhodolite, possessing an ethereal beauty like that of a moon fairy. His long, fluffy silver hair that frames his face and hugs his neck nicely gives him a suave and dreamy look. His attire is rarely properly worn, with the tie always loose and the jacket half-buttoned up. With those hypnotizing ruby red eyes, he has seduced countless ladies into his bed like a cunning fox that always get what he wants because everyone willingly gave everything up for him, but not without a reason. His sultry words and promises are always for one purpose or another. More often than not, when his business is done, whether it be a deal or a contract or an agreement that benefits Rhodolite, he acts as if nothing ever happened between him and his bedmates.

"What? Are you jealous that my attention isn't on you only~?"

"...You're getting annoying, Prince Nokto."

"And you're a fun one to tease, Kaleigh~ You're so expressionless, yet your retort is so refreshing to gauge~ I shall see how you'll fare in this party...and maybe I'll sign that little piece of approval paper for you if you perform well as my companion~" 

"But I don't know how to dance. We're not compatible as partners, in or out of parties." Kaleigh says and raises an eyebrow, silently questioning Nokto's choice.

"To be honest, I thought you were quite dull when we first met~ But when I saw how King Highness pulled you to the faction's office so urgently...I knew I had to discover more about you, dear, so you're coming with me tonight, Kaleigh~." Kaleigh had to hide her distaste at Nokto's words. So it was all Chevalier's fault!

Nokto leans closer and whispers, as if it is a promise for a late-night rendezvous between couples. "Now, let's get you in some proper clothes. And... your hair needs a little makeover too. They weren't cut properly at all. And the thick layer of makeup too, what a waste of such a pretty face~"

Kaleigh averts her gaze, feeling quite nervous already, yet showing none of it. The makeup was put on her face with a view to conceal her beauty spot under her eyes as well as downplaying some of her features. She looks nice and easy on the eyes, but her features are too distinctive and easily recognized from afar. With her round eyes paired with thick eyebrows inherited from her father, as well as her full lower lips make her pretty recognizable from afar. Betting on the glow up that occurred between her teenage years and adulthood is a chance Kaleigh won't take.

"By the way..." Nokto snakes his hand around her neck to pull her face closer to his lips. "What did you discuss with King Highness earlier~? I rarely see him taking an interest in anyone at all~."

Kaleigh takes a few seconds to process and to come up with a convincing lie. Chevalier, through his ice-cold tone, has inferred that no one shall know of his secret order. "His highness wanted to ask me for a favor. However, I cannot disclose more as it is a violation of our agreement."

"So, you're telling me that King Highness just set his eyes on a woman he first met with an important task that should be confidential? Nokto hums "sounds fishy to me~"

"How it comes over is none of my business, sadly." Kaleigh shrugs. She told half of the truth, so it's not necessarily lying, right...? "Are we at the dressing room of this mansion yet? I don't mean to be demanding, but I expect myself to show up to the party with the correct dress code."

"Aww, so uptight. Yes, we're here, Kaleigh. Come in and I'll have a maid dressing you up." Nokto says sultrily with a subtle wink as he ushers her into the dressing room. Kaleigh heaves an unnoticeable breath of relief. She roused Nokto's interest rather than his suspicion, it seems. Still, a small part of her had hoped selfishly that Nokto would know that it's his childhood friend at first glance.

-a few hours ago, when Kaleigh was in a hurry to find Emma-

"Ugh...how am I supposed to know which tavern they took Emma to..." Kaleigh groaned silently. She stood on the pavement of a street, looking around. She didn't really trust the princes - not that they would harm Emma or anything, but Kaleigh was still worried. Kaleigh has lived within the capital for two years and has already memorized the way around here already, so she was determined to take Emma back to the palace herself!

When Kaleigh reached a dark alleyway, which there was supposed to be a nice, cozy tavern here where Kaleigh would have some nice matches of Poker and chess, no money involved, yet the shop had been closed down because the old man had passed away last year. Kaleigh sighed, silently cursing her poor memory. No sooner had she turned away towards the light from the streets lamp than a hand clamped on her mouth from behind. She panics for a brief moment before recognizing the familiar scent.

"Mhph!?"

"Quiet, dear. Kaleigh, isn't it~? I need your assistance for tonight~"

That was the second time of the day that Kaleigh had been taken away unwillingly by a prince...

-end of chapter 12-