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Rishe jogged off the training grounds, slipped into a nearby storage room, and removed her wig. Instead of changing into her dress, she put on a maid's uniform.
Placing her training clothes in a laundry basket, she covered it with some sheets and returned to the detached palace disguised as a servant. She entered her room in her usual fashion: via the balcony. Her arms quivered on her way up the rope, nearly bringing her to tears.
"I'm back, Elsie!"
"Welcome back! I've got everything prepared for you."
She took a quick bath with some help from Elsie, her only maid in on the cross-dressing. Rinsing off the sweat, she changed into a clean dress and dolled herself up. Drying the light waves of her coral hair, she ran a comb through it—and thus her preparations were complete.
"Good morning, Lady Rishe!"
"Morning, everyone…"
Her fatigue leaked into her tone, endangering her cover story of sleeping until noon before relaxing in the bath, but her maids didn't seem to notice.
Returning to her room from the bath chamber with a handful of maids, she ran into an unexpected guest.
"Prince Arnold."
"Hey."
Before she could exclaim how fortuitous she found their meeting, Rishe realized why Arnold was here.
Accompanying him were several knights, all carrying things into the space prepared for Arnold's office.
"How's the move going?" Rishe asked.
"Who can say? I'm not the one doing it."
"My lord—I mean, Your Highness! Your instructions are far too general…" Oliver poked his head out of the office.
Seeing Rishe, he smiled. "If it isn't Lady Rishe! Thank you for the wonderful room you've prepared for His Highness."
"Of course, Oliver. I just hope it proves to be a productive work environment. Apropos of nothing, did you just call His Highness, 'My lord' ?" She glanced at Arnold.
He looked extremely unamused.
"I keep telling him to stop using that title—it's creepy. He won't listen to me."
"More importantly, do you want last month's documents on the right-hand bookshelf? Please, just come inside." Oliver returned to the office, directing the knights.
That title… Is it just me, or is he attempting to clearly denote Prince Arnold as his master rather than the emperor?
She made a mental note to inquire further. As she considered the matter, Arnold called her name.
"Rishe."
Arnold bent down and whispered directly into her ear. "Come to the western gate tomorrow at two in the afternoon. Don't let anyone see you."
His husky voice tickled her ear. As Arnold pulled away, Rishe reached up, cupping a hand around her mouth to whisper back, "Should I dye my hair?"
"No need to go that far."
"Very well. I'll wear something appropriate for town."
Rishe dropped back down and stepped away from Arnold, when she noticed the maids staring at them.
Wh-what? Why did they...?
The maids were watching Rishe and Arnold with flushed cheeks and glittering eyes. It hadn't occurred to her how their furtive whispers might read to an audience.
"Your Highness, please!" Called Oliver from the office.
"Shut up! I'm coming." Arnold followed him in a huff.
Rishe parted ways with the rest of the twittering maids, heading back to her room with Elsie, who was also acting strange.
"Um, Lady Rishe, why were you speaking in secret just now?"
"Well, you see, Elsie—I've got an engagement with Prince Arnold tomorrow," Rishe said. "Outside the palace."
Elsie's eyes lit up. "What sort of outing will this be?"
"He didn't tell me. But it was an order, so I'm sure he just wants help with some official business."
"…"
"Regardless, I need to dress covertly tomorrow. Would a brown dress work, you think? I have a gray robe as well; I can scuff it up to look like I've been traveling… Oh!" Rishe exclaimed as Elsie grasped her hand.
"Leave it to me, Lady Rishe."
"Huh? Leave wha—"
"You must absolutely, positively leave tomorrow's preparations to me. Don't worry, you'll look cute as a button, my lady!"
"Umm…"
Elsie's impassioned declaration gave Rishe a bad feeling. "Listen, Elsie, I'm just going into town for business, so don't trouble yourself!"
"It's no trouble! Your clothes, your hair, everything must be perfect!"
Rishe had never seen Elsie this motivated. She was vibrating with excitement, blind to the discomfort she was causing her mistress.
"I'll make sure you look fit for town, but your clothes can't be drab!"
"Uh…"
"I'll borrow some clothes from Miss Diana. In fact, I'll go fetch her right now!"
"My, you two really get along well now, don't you…? Hey, wait a second!"
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