"I never would have guessed I'd see the day I'd be outfitting my precious little brother's date..." Camilla said, with a smile, as she quickly browsed through her wardrobe. "I've thankfully kept a few pieces from my younger days, perhaps they will fit."

"I sincerely hope something does, as nothing in town will, and apparently it takes a few more days to have something nice enough for a royal occasion tailored to her measurements... It wouldn't make it in time." Niles said, sighing. Shopping for a lady's clothes was one thing he never expected to pop up in his list of duties as royal retainer... But he admitted that Charlotte's empty threats towards him as he watched her-with great interest-get measured by the seamstresses... That look on her face was quite priceless.

"Now the only day I'll have to await is the day I outfit Xander's lover... whenever that may be," Camilla said, gazing up, as if quickly daydreaming of who and what Xander's lover may look like.

"What if it's a man, like all the gossips say?" Niles asked, snickering.

"Shush, Niles! Not everyone swings the way you do." Camilla retorted. "What with royal duties as crown prince and the war, how can anyone think Xander has the luxury of time for romance? Even I hardly have time for suitors..."

"...Oh? I would gladly offer a limb to be your royal date, milady."

"Uhmm..." Charlotte spoke up, feeling a bit uncomfortable breaking the conversation between the princess and the outlaw. "I'm not sure Lord Leo and I are... well, we aren't lovers. I'm not even sure why he invited me."

"I thought you were the sort who just accepted gifts without question," Niles said, raising a brow at her. "There is no need to question something that is beneficial to you, yes?"

Of course there wasn't. None at all. Usually Charlotte would just lavish in gifts given out of affection, but... She wasn't delusional. She could tell that Leo wasn't even interested in her.

She was about to ask something, but it was Camilla who spoke up, shock registering on her face. "...They're not lovers?"

She gave Niles a glare, demanding he come out with the story-there was a story here, Camilla knew-yet the outlaw just looked away, whistling.

Camilla was frozen for a moment, thinking, until it finally dawned on her. "...And I'd have thought my brother would be above using a woman for his own selfish motives. Niles!"

The outlaw finally turned to give her full attention, knowing by the way she raised her voice that she was dead serious. "Yes, my lady?"

"I would take care of everything from here, so you may leave us. Be assured that Leo has nothing to worry about."

"...Of course, my lady," Niles said, bowing out.

"Lord Leo, I brought Lady Charlotte as you requested..." Odin walked into Leo's tent, ushering Charlotte inside.

It was evening, and the tent only illuminated by a couple of lamps, one in particular on Leo's desk, where he was struggling with a stack of paperwork. "Thank you, Odin, feel free to take your leave," he said, not even looking up to acknowledge them. That blasted party is leaving me with a lot of things to finish up, Leo thought to himself, sighing. Performance reviews, battle strategies, patrol routines and assignments to review, things Xander wanted doubled-checked-

"T-That's it, milord...?"

Leo paused from his paperwork, and looked up to Odin. "What do you mean?"

"You're not in need of anything else? A dark god defeated? A spirit of the lake brought to you? All you need do is ask, milord, and I shall-"

"Thank you, Odin, and I appreciate your enthusiasm, but that is all for today. Like I said... Feel free to take your leave."

Finally, Odin left, muttering something about escort and fetching missions along the way.

There was silence in the air, and finally Leo turned his attention towards Charlotte. He found her in a daydress-red and gold, embroidered and fancy enough for a minor noble, yet none too complex as it were meant to be used for what would be someone's day about town. He faintly recognized it-perhaps something that Camilla wore a couple of years back.

"You... You look really nice," Leo said, breaking the silence.

He stared at her for a bit-she looked a lot like a different person, with more fabric on her form as opposed to less. Sure, the dress hugged her bust snugly, and showed a hint of cleavage-this was Camilla's dress, after all-but anything was honestly tame compared to Charlotte's... "armor".

"Thank you, Lord Leo," Charlotte said, giving him a curtsy and a smile. "...It pleases me so that you approve of my appearance."

And there it was-Charlotte's impeccable act. I have to hand it to her-she's very good at this. Give her the proper clothes and a bit of polishing, and she could very well pass for a prince's date.

"Let's get one thing straight first, Charlotte," Leo said. "I know of what a skilled fighter you are. In fact, I was just going over the last battle's records, and reportedly you took on a third of the enemies by yourself-"

"A third?! No, I swear it was only a handful! N-No, I mean... you must be mistaken, milord! I would never harm a flea! Perhaps the records were wrong?"

She's very good at this... Save for the part where she fumbles when confronted about her immense strength.

"...I saw you break a man's arm with your bare hands myself," Leo said, matter-of-factly.

"...Oh," was all that Charlotte said.

"...Oh, indeed. So please... there is no need to lie or hide to me. I take it you have your reasons for hiding your strength, but rest assured, it doesn't affect the way I see you."

...An ambitious woman who'd lie and fake her way to position, that is.

"...You talk of lies and hiding, but I fear you're hiding something from me too, milord," Charlotte said, eyeing him with suspicion.

"Excuse me?"

"I know you didn't invite me to the royal banquet out of the goodness of your heart, or because I have your favor," Charlotte said. "I heard that much from Lady Camilla. I'm guessing these is something you want done? Arm candy so that people wouldn't gossip about you?"

"That... That is true," Leo said, coming out clean. He had intended to be honest with her to begin with, not wanting to lead her on and make her expect that there was anything more to his invitation. "I want you to get certain people off my back, nothing more."

"...And what's in it for me?"

Leo chuckled. So the mask is off now, huh? Spoken like a true gold-digger. "I'll have you know that I'm in charge of reviewing everyone's battle performance... and awarding promotions and bonus to any exemplary ones."

"Oh, is that so?" Charlotte started to listen with interest. "Go on, I'm listening..."

"Now, as for you, Charlotte, you're long due for a promotion, what with your excellent war contributions," Leo said. "Why you're still a border guard baffles me to begin with. After all, you could take on a third of the enemies by yourself-"

"It wasn't a third, I swear-"

"Exactly as you say," Leo said, surprisingly agreeing with her. "Perhaps these records were mistaken, after all. If it's as you claim, then you've probably never physically harmed anyone since you enlisted as a soldier. After all, you're a very frail woman, am I not wrong? However, this poses a problem for me... See, I have no need for soldiers who can't fight."

"E-Excuse me? You think I defended the border with my looks alone?!" Charlotte began to panic, seeing where Leo was going with this. "Are you threatening to fire me if I don't do what you like? T-This is abuse of authority!"

"...I never said anything like that," Leo said, trying to calm her. Well, I hinted on it, but just a hint. "I just meant to explain that, yes, you have everything to benefit from aiding me. Is that clear?"

"...Of course, milord."

There was a shuffling noise outside, and Leo quickly got up, on the alert, Charlotte not too far behind him. He quickly opened his tent, scanning the area for whatever was amiss.

...And there it was, two forms hiding behind the bushes, one even holding up a sprig of leaves as camouflage, and some incoherent squabbling being muttered Under their breaths.

Leo sighed. "...I made myself clear that you may take your leave... Odin. Niles."

"H-Hah... It seems milord has seen through my disguise. As expected of Lord Leo!" Odin said, getting up and discarding the sprig he had been holding onto. "You've penetrated my ruse! I surrender! Mercy, please, milord!"

Again, a heavy sigh from Leo, who now turned to Niles for an explanation. Niles gave him a confident smile. "Milord, as your retainer, your safety is my utmost priority. I could never leave you alone with the devil herself... No telling when her claws would come out."

"EXCUSE ME you little piece of human sh-!" Charlotte overheard, quickly charging at the outlaw and grabbing him by his cape, tugging so hard Niles almost tipped over and lost balance.

"Me-ow. Easy on those claws, kitty," Niles said, taunting Charlotte.

Realizing what she had done, Charlotte released the outlaw. "Oh my, I am so sorry..." she quickly issued an apologize, obviously fake. "I wonder what came over me? Maybe I just get sore at the sight of your smug-ass face-"

"Oh, it is going to be so fun trying to see you attempt to keep up an act in front of every nobleman of Nohr, I swear-"

"Ahem." Leo cleared his throat, trying to prevent an argument from breaking out. "Charlotte. Niles. Enough, please... But now that you two are here anyway, kindly escort Charlotte back to her tent, will you? We've finished discussing."

"A-Again with another escort mission?" Odin said, looking devastated. When Leo gave him a confused look, Odin immediately fumbled. "I-I mean, of course, milord! You can entrust milady's safety to me, Odin the Dark!"

"No need to say so to the entire camp, o dark one," Niles said. "Keep it low. Do you really want everyone to know that milord has anything to do with this poor excuse for a woman?"

"Why you-!"

"Enough." Leo said, finally laying down an ultimatum. "We have an early day tomorrow and I have reports to finish before we leave for the blasted party. I... I implore you all to get some rest and call it a day."

He was met by a collective of sheepish nods and "yes, milord".