Chapter 11 - The Princess' Plan

"You want to do what?"

Prince Ellis snorted. Only the emotionally suppressed Rei could manage to convey shock and horror in a subdued whisper. He could see that his best friend was close to breaking the dainty floral teacup and saucer she was holding in her hands.

"Please, Rei~! It would be so fun," sang out the female voice belonging to 12 year old Princess Mirabelle, the younger sister of Prince Ellis.

Rei set down her cup on the table. She was quite rough and it made a loud clattering sound, "You can't be serious," she admonished tersely, "It's bad enough you make me play these crazy games with you, but now you want me to do that?"

"Playing tea party is not really a crazy game, you know," Prince Ellis replied, sitting cross legged and sipping from his own cup in a delicate manner, "A lot of girls play this game."

"Then why are you here?" Rei asked, looking pointedly at his pinky finger sticking up.

"Because I am a supportive older brother," Prince Ellis said proudly.

"Which means you're going along with her plan too?" Rei asked, genuinely floored by what the royal siblings were asking her.

"Think about it!" Ellis said excitedly, "Us, dressed up as common folk, running around on the streets tomorrow?! Being able to celebrate like everyone else? It would be so much fun. We'd be free for the first time in our lives."

"And in the most danger," Rei countered, "Think about the risks. Be logical!"

Mirabelle crinkled her nose at Rei's statement. "Rei-rei, you sound like father-sama more and more every day. That's not good. You need to sound more like a lady."

"But I'm not a lady," Rei said exasperatedly. She was beginning to lose her cool and she got up from her seat. She gestured around the the Princess' room that was covered in laces, fresh cut flowers, and pink embellishments, "I don't like the things you do. I am not into flowers, tea parties, or dresses!"

She spat out the last word as if her mouth were on fire. Rei took a deep breath to say more but she noticed that Mirabelle had tucked her lower lip in and started to form tears in her round, blue eyes.

"Now you've done it," Ellis said, putting down his cup and rushing to his sister's side.

"I-I-I-I'm sorry I f-f-f-forced you to do all these things," Mirabelle blubbered out before burying her face in her brother's frilled blouse and letting out a muffled, but still very shrill wail.

Rei looked at Ellis, at a loss of what to do. Ellis motioned for her to come comfort Rei but Rei shook her head. Ellis motioned harder for Rei to come over and Rei reluctantly sat down on the other side of Mirabelle.

She slowly reached out her hand and made three rhythmic pats at the top of Mirabelle's head, which was covered in blonde curls. The tears immediately stopped.

"What are you doing?" Mirabelle asked, more confused by what was going on than upset from Rei's outburst.

"Comforting you," Rei stated.

Ellis and Mirabelle shared a look and the two siblings burst into laughter. "You are so awkward!" Ellis choked out in between laughs.

"I don't know. I don't usually deal with crying children!" Rei shouted defensively, "I'm a tactician! Not a baby comforter"

That sent Ellis and Mirabelle into another round of laughter. "Baby comforter," Mirabelle squealed, "What does that even mean?"

"You know what I mean," Rei grumbled, rolling her eyes. She patiently waited for the two to stop laughing. She wanted to say more but she didn't want to provide them with any more material to make fun of her. Finally, when the prince and princess were composed, she asked them a serious question, "Do you think going out tomorrow is worth risking your lives?"

"Yes," Mirabelle answered almost immediately.

Ellis was a bit more hesitant to give his answer. "Our lives won't be in danger. We're all pretty strong fighters if we need to defend ourselves. We'll be in masks so no one will know who we are. Plus, we have you to help protect us if anything goes wrong! Honestly, we'd be more in danger here than out there."

The corner of Rei's lips twitched as she stifled an amused grin. Ah, he's going for that argument. He's really a lot smarter than he gives himself credit for. "How so?" she challenged.

"While we're here, bored out of our minds, everyone is paying attention to what is going on out there. Three quarters of the guards have been given a day of leave to celebrate. All the High Commanders are leading task units to guard different parts of the island. Father-sama is focused on preparing for his speech. And well, the Royal Doctor and his Medical Team will be attending to Mother-sama as they do everyday," Ellis pointed out, "No one would be really caring about us."

"You will have two Green Cloaks each to guard you," Rei countered.

"Yeah but you're stronger than ten of them put together," Ellis shot back.

"Compliment me again and I'll kill you," Rei shot back without much malice in her tone.

"You know it's true," Ellis said defiantly.

"And how's your training going?" Rei asked, not denying his claim.

"Mine?" Ellis asked, "It's going okay, I guess. I'm pretty good with the sword and my Armament Haki is getting stronger and stronger."

"And I can see weeks into the future now!" Mirabelle boasted, beaming with pride.

"Weeks?" Rei said, "I thought yesterday you said you could see months ahead."

"Well, months have weeks, don't they?" Mirabelle said exasperatedly.

"Okay, yes, you two are strong fighters and yes, I'll keep you safe," Rei said but she put up her hand to stop Mirabelle and Ellis from cheering, "BUT, if it's okay with you, I'd like to discuss this with the king."

"That's a no, then!" Ellis wailed, "He'll never say yes to that."

"You did make some very valid points, Ellis," Rei said, "He will say yes if I help argue your case."

"So you'll do it?!" Mirabelle said excitedly.

"Yes, but on three conditions," Rei said sternly, "First, the king has to say yes. Second, you two must stick to my side the entire day and do what I say when I tell you to, no questions."

"Done and done," Mirabelle said crossing her heart solemnly.

"What's the third thing?" Ellis asked, even though he had a feeling of what's coming next.

"You can't put me in a dress," Rei replied.

"Fine, but you'll still need to go as a girl and not pretend to be a boy," Ellis countered.

"Why?"

Ellis reached over and grabbed her braid which was down to the middle of her back. "Because of your stupid, long hair! We can only hide it under long wigs and even then you need to pin up some of your braid."

"I mean, if you cut it…" Mirabelle mused.

"No!" Rei replied grabbing her hair back, "We are not cutting my hair."

"So you'll be a girl?" Ellis asked, nudging Rei with his elbow.

"Fine, I'll be a girl," Rei said dejectedly, "Let me go talk to the king now."

She picked up her mask, which was laying on the Princess' pink bed with a white canopy overhead. She fastened her hood back over her hair and left the room but not before turning around and giving an order to the two Royal siblings, "Go visit Queen Adela before you go to bed. She might not be feeling well but seeing you puts her in a better mood."

"Of course, we will," Ellis said giving her a playful push out the door, "She's our mother, you know."

He sucked his teeth and immediately regretted saying those words as soon as they were out but before he could apologize, the door closed behind Rei. She took a deep breath to help fade the unintentional sting. She knew he didn't mean it that way but it still hurt. Just as she was about make her way down the hallway, a green cloak came running up to her.

"Commander Rei, sir!" he said panting before standing upright and giving her a salute, "The king requests your presence immediately."

"Oh good, I was just about to go see him myself," Rei said, brushing past the guard.

"So you know about the food poisoning already?" the guard asked.

Rei whirled around, her eyes wide as she looked at the guard. "Food poisoning?!"