Speak of the Old Gods. There she was, holding a glass of champagne and looking like she'd never left the party. "I'm back, beloved! Did I miss anything?"

He gestured to the king, who was doing his best impression of a chicken doing the tango. "This." He raised an eyebrow, hoping Thousand would get the message. What is this?

"Oh my! His Majesty seems to have had a little fun already!" She winked. "It would be a shame if he spilled something important." She whispered this last part in her usual tone.

Lucas nodded. Got it. She motioned to the door. We can talk in the gardens without being overheard.

Once safely in the gardens, hidden in the labirynths, Thousand did something he'd also never expect – she let out a sigh of relief.

"Thank the stars we're done. I couldn't play that stuffy idiot Rosa for another second," she groaned.

"You're acting like Rosa's a real person."

"All my characters are. Otherwise I can't play them." She cocked her head, as if this was a perfectly normal thing to do. Lucas had to admit, he found it endearing.

"Wait, what other characters are there?" he couldn't help but ask.

"There's that shallow bore, Yasmin, angry Helene, dumb Nella... I guess I like Kuya best, because she's slightly less annoying. Only a smidge below the rest, though..." Thousand suddenly trailed off, and Lucas could've sworn her cheeks were dusted pink. "Nevermind. What did the king say to you?"

"Wait, wait. You're telling me you have all these characters. And you've never shown them to anyone." Lucas stared at her wide-eyed. He couldn't believe it! He was making so much progress – he'd never seen her talk this much before!

"Yes. Now tell me what the king said, idiot. I need to finish the job if I want food on my plate." Lucas laughed, not even registering that she'd technically insulted him. People can insult others in a fond way, right? That's a thing. It had to be a thing, or he was so, so screwed.

"The king said..." He blinked twice, then three times. Focus, you idiot. Was that his brother's voice? It seemed more like Thousand's this time. "The king... kind of suspected this all being a plot. But– if it fails we can always accuse Rosa of witchcraft! Boom, money saved." Was he rambling? He hoped he wasn't rambling too much.

"Witchcraft? That would mean I can never use her alias again." She paused, deep in thought. "But it would work as a last resort. I never liked her much anyway."

Lucas nodded. "So, when can we meet next?"

He regretted the words as soon as he said them – and his mind helpfully filled him in on five hundred better things he could've said. I've been talking out of place this whole mission, he reminded himself. It's probably best if I don't continue.

"Your family is hosting your cousin's birthday party. I'll be the blue-haired lady again." Lucas wondered if this was the 'Kuya' that Thousand liked best out of all her characters. "We'll have to both be seen leaving the country, but the moment we arrive I'm going back to my base."

Lucas felt a pang of disappointment. No, no I didn't. Shut up, inner voice.

"Got it! Kuya with the blue hair." She raised an eyebrow, impressed, and he had to fight the heat that rose to his cheeks. "I- uh, thanks for the help, Thousand," he stammered.

"My name's Diora," she replied.

Lucas gaped, his mouth barely open – but tried his best not to show it. Still, he would never be a good enough actor to hide his surprise in this moment. (Perhaps a better word for it would be complete and utter shock.)

"Did you just– give me your real name?"

No, you moron. She's obviously not telling the truth, Rodric's stony voice spoke in his mind – and Lucas had to admit, there was some sense in his words. Would Thousand – well, Diora – ever give someone her true name? Did she even have a true name? Great. All of this is fake and I've made a fool of myself.

"Yes." She looked away. "I know you won't bother telling anyone else. They won't believe you anyway," she added, as if reminding herself why.

It was cold, hard logic. A mercenary's logic. But, he hated to admit, it was all true. What were the chances his brother would believe him if he suddenly told him about Diora's name? Slim to none. And if he did, he wouldn't care much anyway. Her name was meaningless compared to what she could do – politically inconsequential, of no value, useless and unimportant.

But he had a feeling that she didn't just hand it out to anyone that happened to walk by. Suddenly, Lucas felt as if she'd given him a polished, shining jewel that he would treasure, instead of a couple of meaningless syllables. Diora. Di-oh-ra. It sounds so nice! I wonder who named her.

"That's– I mean, thanks, Diora! See you. I mean, no, we're leaving together in the speedboat. I meant, uh. See you tomorrow." He left her behind in the labyrinth, without even knowing why he'd run away.

Oooooh, someone's in loooove. He almost shushed Rodric as always, but this tone decidedly belonged to Azure. So, in my head you're not mad at me anymore, huh.

He decided to ignore her comment – no, not ignore. He would deal with it later, of course. Which might mean tomorrow, or three months from now – or never.

Don't get too attached. It was Rodric's voice this time. But what in the world did he know?

~

It had been nearly a month since their conversation in the gardens' labyrinth, and Lucas felt like he was going insane.

Well, going insane was a stretch. They'd arrived home peacefully, despite not talking much on the boat ride. Only, as soon as they'd touched down on land, Diora had all but vanished. He knew, obviously, that she was in her base, preparing for other jobs – it wasn't like his brother was her only employer.

Try to tell that to the gnawing in my chest, though, he thought with a bitter laugh.

He stood in the Riel family porch, observing the rolling sea waves in Aunt Primrose's beach mansion – just where he'd been when this mess all started.

Except he didn't fiddle with his bow any longer. Diora had taught him how to tie it flawlessly, like everything she did. Stop it! Think of other things!

But it was hard to fake his indifference when he knew he'd be meeting her today – possibly for the last time. He knew, as a last resort, he could ask his brother to hire her a second time. Say – what again? – she was useful or something like that. The Riel family had no shortage of enemies to crush beneath Aunt Gladys' ridiculously tall, pink high heels. Dispose of, Noemia would say with her saccharine voice. Enemies to dispose of.

He sighed. The snake herself was inside, surrounded by her friends from the Seclusion – the world's most privileged university. They were nice enough and even called her Andromeda – what she'd done to deserve them, he didn't know. Sell her soul, maybe.

Well, that's enough time outside for you, he thought, stepping back inside the house. He hadn't grown to hate his aunts and uncles any less, but Diora was inside, and that outweighed any resistance he might've had.

"Oh, hi, Lucas." He thanked the stars for his luck when Noemia had no baited, thinly veiled insults to offer. She actually seemed quite distracted – well, as much as a person with her awareness and intelligence could be.

Wait, he thought as he did a double-take. Is she staring at someone? He wondered which of her friends had had the utter misfortune of having Noemia fall for them of all people. My situation with Diora doesn't seem so bad compared to hers, he thought. Well, if there was any situation. Which there isn't, he added.

Was it the blond, attractive man he'd been told was Prince Charles of Sotterfall? That would certainly make for a convenient political marriage. Then again, Gladys liked to shoot big. Why have the Prince of Sotterfall when you can have the Emperor's own son?

Hold on a minute, he realized, hands leaving his pockets. Noemia is staring at a girl.

He had to admit, the petite blonde wasn't too bad to look at. Then again, I generally fall for personality, not looks. And none of that mattered anyways – Noemia would be in heaps of trouble if Gladys ever so much as heard a peep. (Simply because, of course, she couldn't have any politically useful children that way.) See, Rodric? Life is fair after all. Noemia's finally getting her karma.

He left the room almost beaming – he wouldn't say anything, obviously, but the leverage was there, just in case. In this family, secrets were the best currency.

Of course, he considered the option that he'd been wrong, that Noemia was indeed staring at the blond prince. Either way, she was smitten for someone, that much he could tell – and the snake having a crush would definitely make her less mean.

Since when do you know about romance? his brother said in his mind. Well, Rodric, since–

His inner monologue screeched to a halt. Diora!

There she was, clad in her Kuya disguise, her sky-blue hair tied in a fashionable double braid, and her pale peach gown flowing behind her.

"Hey! It's me, Lucas!" he whispered, taking care so Noemia wouldn't hear him. A snake was still a snake, smitten or not.

"I saw you enter the party, idiot." The amused gleam never left her eyes. Lucas grinned in response.

"Knowing you, you probably know the detailed backstory of everyone here," he replied, chuckling as Diora crossed her arms and frowned.

"Only a little bit," she said defensively. "It's the prince of Sotterfall. I had to do my research." She popped a strawberry from one of the plates in her mouth.

"So, do you know when my brother will..."

"I'm here." Rodric's stony voice was even more jagged in person.