In his opinion, switching genders was the best disguise. Well sure, he probably still looks like himself, but who would ever suspect a girl? And now he would be able to keep a closer eye on her now.
I suppose I should refer to him as "she" now.
This very lovely girl walked into a store. She needed clothes that would suit her, rather than this drab cloak that was as uncomfortable as it was ugly.
"Good morning!" she said cheerfully to the store keeper. "I'm looking for a nice dress. I'm thinking of taking part in the new maid selection."
"Would you like to look around, miss?" the lady at the counter asked.
"Oh, I've already seen everything. Do you have anything less...obnoxious?"
The kind lady at the counter smiled mischievously and invited her into the the back of the store. Inside, there were racks and racks of beautiful garments, ranging from the most ornate of dresses to the most elegant of suits.
"You've chosen the right place, miss. This is the best garment store in the entire capital. We have everything in and out of fashion. Take you pick."
The girl looked around. She chose a few different outfits. One was a long, flowing dress with lengthy, airy sleeves that had a slit going all the way up to the shoulder. There were a few blue flower and vine designs near the waist and the bottom of the dress. She liked this one the most.
She also picked out a dress that reminded her of butterflies. The top was sleeveless, meant to be paired with a set of matching gloves. The entire thing seemed to fade from light sky blue into a deep indigo. There were other accessories paired with this dress. A fake flower pin with ribbons gracefully falling from it. And a transparent blue cape in the back. The finishing touch on the outfit was a big, ocean blue bow at the back, tying the whole thing together.
The girl also bought a few other outfits as well. After all, the money just kept on coming, endlessly. As if she could make anything she wanted happen in this world.
When she went to change into her newly purchased dress, she felt around the pockets of her cape for anything she could have accidentally left. Her fingers brushed against a small, folded sheet of paper.
Unfolding the carefully preserved note, her eyes widened.
How had she missed this for so long? It had been...what, five years since then. This...this was the final prophecy. The entire thing. Complete, without missing parts. She would have to ask the witch about this.
And now, she finally realized why they could have never escaped.
***
"I'm sorry, Cleo," Fiona said. "But this is something I have to do. I can't serve you anymore."
Cleo was disappointed, but she still wished her maid the best. "No problem. I guess I'll just need to find someone else."
"With the maid selection coming up, I'm sure you won't have any trouble. I'm taking part as well."
"Then why can't you continue to be my maid?" Cleo was confused.
Fiona shook her head. "You're going to need someone stronger. Someone who can protect you when things go wrong. I can't do that."
Cleo nodded.
"But we'll be able to see each other still. If I get chosen, of course."
"Okay. Good luck, Fiona."
The two girls hugged and each went on their way.
The maid selection was not the most interesting of events in the book, but Cleo knew that strong and valuable companions would be revealed during the heated competition. Grace had been able to survive until the very end in the original novel because she had found a reliable companion. If Cleo wanted to make it far enough to help Cecil get to the tower, she needed to find someone who could get her there. Preferably unharmed.
"Hey," Theo said, tapping Cleo on the shoulder. "That girl...uh...Fiona, right? Is she taking part in the competition?"
"Uh-huh." Cleo nodded. "Why do you care?"
Theo backed away, hands up in defense. "N-no reason. I have to go. See you later!"
Then he ran off.
"Hmm." Cleo smiled. "I guess I will be seeing Fiona pretty often."
She was on her way back to her room, when Cleo almost crashed right into someone.
"I'm so sorry! Are you alright?"
The other girl nodded. And then it struck Cleo. She looked almost identical to Cecil, if only he were a woman. The same silvery-white hair, cold ice-blue eyes, and when she reached to pick up her sword, she twirled it around her hand once, then, catching herself, quickly hid her hands behind her back.
Cleo's mind flashed back to the time she had watched Cecil sparring with Theo. When they had finished, he waved to her, accidentally dropping his sword. Startled, he made an embarrassed face and went to pick it up. Cleo had laughed. But amidst all the laughter and smiles, she remembered clearly how he had done the exact same motion as this mysterious new girl.
The movement was practically identical.
"What's your name?" Cleo asked her.
"It's Anastasia, my lady," she replied with a bow, and then after realizing her mix-up, switched to a very awkward curtsy.
Cleo did not recall anyone in the novel who went by that name. "And your family name?"
"Nova, my lady."
"I see. You're here for the maid selection, right?" Cleo recalled a very minor character who went by that name. Was he a Count or a Viscount? She could not remember. But this girl was probably his daughter.
Anastasia nodded.
"Good luck."
Cleo watched as the girl walked past her. The sun had come out, and she noticed a necklace that she had not seen during their conversation. The light reflected off of the gold amulet, and Cleo sucked in a breath when she saw the single character engraved on the round, golden locket. It looked like a small square inside a larger square.
She was sure it meant something. She just did not know what it meant. Why would this girl in a made-up world have a necklace with a Chinese character engraved it it?
And the meaning of that character...
Huí.
To return. To go back.