Bijou and Nadeen were each assigned separate rooms in the royal palace. Although the rooms were not particularly large, they were furnished with every luxury and comfort.
Exhausted from the long day of standing and observing, Bijou collapsed onto the plush bed the moment she caught sight of it under the soft glow of the golden lamps.
Her eyes fluttered, struggling to stay open, but soon gave in to the heaviness, closing completely. Contrary to what one would expect from someone who had just made it past a critical stage, Bijou wasn't jumping with joy—instead, she surrendered to sleep almost immediately.
***
A sudden knock on the door jolted Bijou awake.
"What now? I haven't even had enough sleep," Bijou mumbled, yawning.
But the knocking persisted. Her mind gradually cleared. That's right—she was in the palace, not at home. She couldn't afford to act rudely or carelessly here.
Reluctantly, she slipped into the bunny slippers placed neatly by her bed and shuffled over to the door, expecting to find a maid sent to prepare her for dinner, even though it seemed a bit early for that.
As soon as she opened the door, a man dressed in black swiftly stepped inside. In one fluid motion, he kicked the door shut and covered Bijou's mouth with his hand, preventing her from crying out in surprise.
Of course, Bijou was shocked, but she quickly forced herself to calm down. If this man intended to kill her, he would have already done so the moment she opened the door. No, he was here for something else—something that required her alive.
Her intuition was correct. Once Bijou steadied herself, the man spoke.
"I'm with WISE. Don't be afraid…"
The WISE organization remained a mysterious entity to the entire kingdom, secretly maneuvering to get close to the King of Figurati for unknown reasons.
"Call me Agent Maxime," the man introduced himself as he cautiously removed his hand from her mouth.
Bijou relaxed slightly. After all, she was also a member of WISE, and this entire scheme in the capital was orchestrated by their organization.
"What's going on?" she snapped, plopping down on the sofa with an irritated huff. "You told me not to worry because everything was in place. Now look at this mess!"
The man sighed and sat down opposite her. His face showed clear frustration, reflecting his own confusion over the situation. It was obvious that Maxime hadn't anticipated things turning out this way either. The unexpected appearance of Nadeen and the supposed malfunction of the testing equipment had completely blindsided them.
Shaking his head, Maxime admitted he had been monitoring Bijou from a hidden corner of the crowd, but when she and Nadeen were escorted away by guards, he'd lost his opportunity to intervene. He could only wait until nightfall and use his skills to track down the room she was staying in.
Bijou sighed as well. She knew Maxime didn't have any more answers than she did. Unexpected developments were beyond anyone's control.
"Look, sitting here and panicking won't do us any good. Why don't you do this for me instead…" Bijou's eyes glimmered with a new plan.
"What else can we do but wait? That damned machine!" Maxime ground his teeth in frustration.
"Come on… Just investigate Nadeen for me. Isn't gathering intel your specialty as a spy?"
Though Bijou's tone was soft, the underlying authority in her words was unmistakable. To Maxime, it was a command.
***
The next morning, King Dennis of Figurati invited both Bijou and Nadeen to join him for breakfast.
Bijou received the message through a maid while she was still groggy from sleep.
She hurriedly got out of bed, threw on a simple outfit, and headed to the royal dining hall. Rushing down the corridor, she smoothed her hair with her fingers, mentally noting that she wouldn't forget to brush it properly next time before heading out.
In stark contrast to Bijou's casual appearance, Nadeen looked completely different today compared to yesterday. She was dressed in a gown adorned with delicate, shimmering threads, her hair elegantly styled, and her face meticulously made up. Her aura exuded a refined elegance that was polished and flawless.
By the time Bijou arrived, the King of Figurati and the young prince Sandy were already seated at the table. Bijou almost gasped at the sight of the lavish spread before them.
Bijou and Nadeen had crossed paths in the hallway, but as they approached the dining room, Nadeen quickened her pace, stepping in front of Bijou.
"What's the point?" Bijou thought, rolling her eyes. "We're both already here."
But no matter how quick-witted Bijou was, Nadeen still managed to stay one step ahead. As a result, Nadeen secured a seat right beside Prince Sandy, while Bijou had to settle for one further away.
"Did you two sleep well last night?" King Dennis asked warmly, his face calm and amiable.
This time, Bijou didn't let Nadeen steal the spotlight. The moment the King finished speaking, she quickly replied.
"I slept very well, Your Majesty," she said, flashing a gracious smile at Nadeen as if they were dear friends.
Throughout breakfast, Nadeen kept piling food onto Sandy's plate.
"Would you like some salad, Sandy? Vegetables are very healthy."
"Would you like to try this dressing? It's delicious. Let me get some for you."
"Are you full already? Have a bit more. Poor thing, you look so thin."
Despite Nadeen's endless display of affection, Sandy remained completely indifferent. While he was known for being reserved, Sandy rarely came off as an ungrateful child. He usually treated people with polite respect, which made Nadeen's repeated rejections sting all the more.
Seeing Nadeen's subtle disappointment, Bijou had to bite her lip to keep from laughing out loud. There was something utterly ridiculous about watching Nadeen's over-the-top performance fall flat.
Sitting at the royal table like this, even the finest food seemed to lose its appeal. Bijou ate sparingly and with careful manners, despite the gnawing hunger in her stomach.
The King, too, picked at his food. When Bijou glanced at him, she had the feeling he was carefully observing both women.
The meal ended when Prince Sandy quietly stood and left for his room.
"Thank you for the lovely breakfast, Your Majesty," Nadeen said politely, her tone formal and distant, as if trying to show that her interest wasn't in the throne that would come with being the prince's mother.
"Well, if Nadeen is putting on this show, then she really is quite clever," Bijou thought, her competitive spirit flaring. She needed to outmaneuver this mysterious woman before it was too late.
"I have some matters to attend to," Dennis said, rising from his chair. He glanced at both women. "I noticed you haven't eaten much, Nadeen. If my presence made you feel uncomfortable, now's your chance to enjoy the meal. The same goes for you, Bijou."
With that, Dennis turned and left the room.
The large dining hall felt much emptier now, but both women were sharp enough to know that they shouldn't take his words at face value. There was no guarantee the King wouldn't suddenly return.
Bijou understood the unspoken rules better than anyone. She adjusted her chair and quickly made her way to the door, ignoring Nadeen entirely.
But as she was about to leave, Nadeen somehow stepped in front of her.
"I'm warning you," Nadeen said in a low, icy voice, her tone dripping with menace. "It's best if you back off now, or else you'll face the consequences."