The stairs leading up to the Royal Sorcerer's room in one of the castle towers was surprisingly chilly in the evenings, especially for early summer. "It's so damp here, like we're underground. Why hasn't Cedric ever bothered to fix that?" Amber muttered.

Next to her, Hildegard shrugged. "It's hardly as well kept as my castle, but I can't ever quite wrap my head around Enchancia's intolerance for cold. Sometimes, you can just walk across the ice in the channel separating Freezenburg from Arendelle, did you know that? Admittedly, this only happens in the dead of winter, but still."

Amber rolled her eyes. "I know Queen Elsa's ascension happened in summer, Hildy. Just because I'm not from there doesn't mean I don't remember the history."

"No! No, I mean, non-magically. It happens. I went once. I really did." Amber couldn't decide if Hildegard was hurt that she was called out on her bluff and trying to cover that up, or if she was hurt that Amber didn't believe her. ...Probably the former. Oh well.

"I see. Well, at any rate, we've arrived." The door to Cedric's workshop stood slightly open in front of them. Without pausing to knock, Amber pushed her way inside and said, "Cedric! We've come up with a plan."

At the sound of Amber's voice, Cedric jumped - and the vial and eyedropper in his hand were both dropped in to the desktop cauldron he sat in front of. A small 'boom' sounded, then bright pink, somewhat sparkly smoke billowed upwards.

"How nice of you to drop in, Princess Amber." Cedric turned around, face and bangs quite as pink as the smoke, bearing a very obviously fake smile. "Oh, and Princess Hilt-n-guard! Even better." Amber wasn't sure if that was supposed to be an insult or a genuine misremembering or pronunciation of Hildy's name. She was about to reprimand Cedric, when Hildegard managed better.

"If you'd prefer not to see the blade, you might want to hold that tongue." Cedric rolled his eyes, but remained silent.

This was new. "Hildy… You can swordfight?"

Hildegard looked back at Amber. "What?" She looked back at Cedric, who had gotten up to wipe off his face. "...No. It was a play on words." Amber couldn't tell if Hildy's smile was faked or just weak, but she chose to believe the latter and chuckled in return. Was this still about the Queen Elsa thing?

Hildegard cleared her throat, and looked back at Cedric. "Right, so. The plan. Sorcerer, you are to make me gifts to give to Sofia. Things she'll like."

Cedric's laugh interrupted Hildegard. "Oh, Merlin's Mushrooms. And here I was planning on giving you things she wouldn't like." He looked mildly surprised for a moment after he said this, then huffed in - irritation?

Hildegard didn't seem to notice the expressions, just the words. "What did I just say about sass?"

"You see, Princess-" Cedric paused suddenly. So he had forgotten her name, it sounded like. "Your Highness. Honestly, are you going to ruin this whole scheme of yours by activating your leverage over a few measly retorts? Seems awfully petty, if you ask me- as well as inefficient."

That seemed a fairly decent point, though Amber scowled to herself about it. Why did he always have to be so wordy.

Hildy wasn't done with retorts of her own, however. "Well, you do seem to be an expert at both."

Contrary to Amber's expectation, Cedric merely shrugged, wide eyes and twisted expression seeming to ask: Yes, and your point? Amber had to stifle a laugh, though at whose expense she wasn't even sure.

"But fine," Hildy went on. "So, we've established gifts. Amber will get them from you. Sofia is not to see them at all beforehand. I should hope that would be obvious, but I don't know that I have that much confidence in you."

Was that really necessary? Yes, sure, Cedric was bumbling, but not stupid. ...Probably.

"Secondly," Hildegard continued, crossing her arms, "If she shares plans - going to derby races, or the circus, or the like - you're to tell Amber."

"So if I understand you correctly…" Cedric said, "You're going to stalk her."

With a gasp, Hildegard said, "No! I am going to do no such thing. I am simply going to… accidentally run into her. A few times. With the help of planning."

"Like I said…"

Amber rolled her eyes. Going to the same things as someone was not stalking. It's not like they were doing anything inherently creepy, such as gathering information on her behind her back… or… anything. Amber bit her lip at this thought, but chose to remain quiet for now as she continued to watch the two in front of her.

"Third, as previously discussed, we'd like you to help us learn what she like these days. What does she do, how does she spend her time, what does she think? Even you couldn't object that knowing these things is good, hm?"

"Yes, that does tend to make conversation easier." Cedric shrugged. "Or at all possible," he mumbled- Amber only barely catching it- then continued in a regular conversational tone, "I'm glad to hear you actually plan to talk to her now."

"Yes! Yes, of course I plan on talking to her." Hildegard's laugh came off a little too facetious for comfort, and she seemed to be averting her gaze.

...Hildegard...didn't plan on talking to Sofia normally, did she. Why. How could that end well. Hildy.

"Lastly, either you will make potions for me to make me excel in these fields, or I shall come 'round every now and then such that you can cast them on me physically." Amber didn't remember that being part of the plan. ..Surely, Hildy just forgot to mention it. It wasn't as though she'd intentionally leave it out for fear of Amber advising against it, right? "Of course, potions would be more convenient for both of us, but I understand you have your limitations when it comes to magic."

Oh stars above… Amber mentally groaned. Yes, Hildy. That'll teach him. Make him learn better than to be someone that your crush might, possibly, have passing affection for. This is absolutely helpful. She sighed, but the others didn't notice.

"My dear," came the nauseatingly sweet response, "that is a tall order you're asking for anyone, even myself - Cedric the Sensational." He huffed, dramatic as all his other gestures at the moment, and stuck his nose a little higher in the air - quite noticeable, given. "If one could simply gain skills and remove flaws via magic, everyone would likely be a sorcerer now, and nearly gods to boot." There was a pause and a slight change of tone as he went on. "I, for the sake of my neck, will still try. Though even if I can concoct such an elixir, or such an enchantment - it will be temporary. Not to mention there's no true way to learn the ins and outs of a field aside from studying or practice."

Hildegard blinked. "Duly noted," she said, and then paused. Amber wasn't sure what exactly was going on in Hildy's brain, just then. "Well. Finally, you shall keep Amber appraised of general conversation themes and important notes. Or both of us, if I'm here. So let's get started, shall we?"

The discussion of Cedric and Sofia's conversation was shorter than Amber had expected. He finished, "And then there's the things she asked about me, which I don't think you young women care to hear, mm?"

"No, not particularly. Are you sure that's quite everything, though?"

Cedric drew a sharp breath, and hesitated. "Yes." He never was terribly good under pressure, and a few moments of brow-raising prompted him to go on. "That is.. Eugh. Fine." He sneered at them. "There is a small bit more, but it's a rather private matter, and I cannot in good conscience share it without her direct consent."

"Cedric!" Amber exclaimed, intentionally emphatic. "I can't believe you! Withholding information from the royal family? Oh, I'm quite sure Daddy wouldn't like that."

Cedric blinked slowly, then responded, "Well, I'm sure that quite depends. Are you actually threatening to do bodily harm to someone for not wanting to betray your sister's trust?"

It was Amber's turn to blink. That was… A very good point. The best of the evening, but not the only good one he'd had recently, even. Had Amber perhaps been too quick to dismiss him? Giving him too little credit all these years?

...Or, more likely, this plan was really that poor, such that even a bumbling failure like Cedric could unravel it.

"...Hildy?" Hildegard turned her pointed gaze from Cedric, but it took a moment to soften for Amber. Amber continued, "Perhaps this isn't such a good idea after all… This plan. There-"

Before Amber could finish her sentence, both Hildegard and Cedric said, "No!"

"Much as I'm not a fan, Princesses, you've started me on this and I am not about to just give up."

"This was your idea, Amber. But no, we've got a decent start, and this should make things so much easier."

Well, it was worth a shot. Amber gave a raised-eyebrows grimace and shrug, that she hoped was read along the lines of 'whatever, it's not like it matters to me.' She couldn't voice those words, quite right now, so...hopefully.

Instead, she said, "So... I think we're done here for tonight, right Hildy? Cedric, I'll check in with you tomorrow on your progress. For now, though, I think we should go."

Hildegard turned to look at Cedric again. "Make no mistake, though. We're not through here."

Amber took Hildegard by the hand and led her out of the workshop, since the latter seemed to be intent on glaring daggers at Cedric all the way out.

Back out in the hallway, Amber said, "Hildegard. I know what you said in there, but I really do think we can think of some better plan than this. When I suggested this, I thought, perhaps… You know. We'd get a few tips from him on magic, a little insight to give us a jumpstart - not.. Not longterm espionage with you two constantly at each others' throats."

Hildegard both bit her lip and slightly pouted. "Mm.." She fidgeted a little, then finally leveled: "Look. I realize it's gotten a little… messy, all right? But Amber, don't you see? I need this."

Amber did her best not to sneer. "Do you? Is this really what you want?" She hoped she didn't sound too short with her. "It's one thing to take a back alley or two as a shortcut; that's how you get ahead of the Game. But do you really want your whole relationship to be built on… on deceit and showmanship and a.. Apparently a total inability to communicate?" Amber fought the stinging in her eyes for a moment before asking, "Do you really… want a relationship that has to be built on that?"

Hildegard slowed to a halt before they'd quite reached the bottom of the stairs. Her silence was more concerning than any answer she could have given, and Amber fought the urge to panic.

"I- What I mean is-.." She wished anyone could understand what an awkward position she was in here, but she found it hard to imagine anyone else being self-destructive enough to put themselves through this. Ugh. Taking a deep breath, and doing her best to sound gentler, she asked, "Are you sure Sofia's worth all this? You know I love her and I agree she's an amazing person, but… Are you sure you aren't taking this too far? For.. For both your sakes, are you sure you aren't letting this infatuation get the better of you?"

The pause to follow was a bit too long for comfort, but Hildegard finally broke it just as Amber considered rambling further. "Amber, I…"

..O-oh no. Were those tears? Amber's mouth opened, and her hand started to move toward Hildy, but as the latter shifted and looked her way, the prior found herself withdrawing both actions.

"I guess I can understand why you'd think that."

"-I didn't say-"

"No, it's okay," Hildegard reassured her. "I know you're just concerned and looking out for me." That certainly was the unabridged list of reasons, all right. Amber forced a weak smile. "But I promise you, it's not like that. Sofia is just… She's so…"

The tears seemed to be holding their position, and as Hildegard continued on about Sofia, they seemed increasingly more likely to die down than fall. That much was a relief; Amber wasn't sure she could handle actually making her cry.

"Sofia has always been there for me. And I realize she's like that with most people, but it still.. It means a lot to me. She showed me how to be...a better me." Hildegard's gaze became more distant as she reminisced. "It took me longer than I care to admit to really take her advice to heart in a lot of regards, and I'm still learning in a lot of others.. But she showed me how to love myself, how to be a more empathic person, and how to be respected without having to feel superior."

A moment's pause, and something between a grimace and a false smile came to her face. "The irony isn't lost on me that that's sort of... out of the picture, now." She laughed weakly. "When I say it like that, I almost want to agree with you about this whole plan. I can't imagine what Sofia would actually think of it."

Amber fought the urge to make any sort of told-you-so or yes-thank-you remarks or gestures, partially to spare the other princess's feelings, but even moreso because she sensed a "...but?"

"But it's just too important," Hildegard defended. "And it's not like it'll be like this forever. I just… I just need help getting her attention, and then I can wean off all the magic help. It's just… just a little extra reassurance, so I don't make a fool of myself and lose my chance."

So… Manipulative, and rationalizing. … But Amber couldn't say she really blamed her, either. Not entirely.

"It probably is infatuation, to a point. The 'blushing and butterflies whenever I even think about her' part of it, at least. But.. To be completely honest, I've had feelings for Sofia for… probably longer than even I've realized.. It was easy not to notice when we were simply schoolgirls. So many emotions and hormones and first loves - it's easy to be swept up, and just as easy to drop everything and go along with the next tide. Not to mention, I hadn't realized I was even interested in girls for most of that, so of course I dismissed anything and everything I felt."

Amber sniffed a private laugh - only slightly sharper than a normal exhale, really. Maybe she ought to take a while and travel abroad, if distance really makes the heart grow fonder.

Not noticing, thankfully, Hildegard continued, "And then she left. I've tried to be a better person- kinder and humbler and so-on. You probably know better than anyone how far I've actually gotten with that, and how far I still have to go, but... Still, I am better. And I'm pretty happy. And I'd like to make her happy. I'd like to be there for her if she needs it, to share her downs and her ups. To be someone she can lean on, like she's always been for me."

Amber bit her lip, as she debated reminding Hildy, despite her having just mentioned as much, that Sofia was like that with all of her friends. As a friend. So if that was most of Hildy's concern, couldn't she also accomplish it as-

"And I mean.. Not to sound shallow, because it's far from my focus, but.. The fact that she's absolutely gorgeous certainly doesn't hurt. I can't tell you how many times I've caught myself fantasizing without meaning to- even at times while she was away, but especially since she got home."

"I.. see," Amber mumbled.

"And I can't tell you how distracting it's become." But she was certainly going to tell her; Amber mentally sighed. "What I wouldn't give to gaze deep into her eyes and have her gaze longingly back. To feel the brush of her soft strawberry lips, the gentle curve of her back, the swell of her-"

Amber quickly threw up her hands and urgently interrupted, "Whoa, whoa, Hildy, that's enough. I get it." So it seemed just leaving and reuniting wouldn't be enough for Hildy anyway. There was the physical level to it, too, and…

Amber inwardly sighed. There was no way her slender frame, her near-lack of breasts, her somewhat knobby knees and elbows - of course none of that could compete with Sofia. Her commoner's blood with the richness of a royal lifestyle, even given that she hadn't had much of it the past few years, lent Sofia a much more attractive frame, especially with how her favored Amulet brought attention right to her cleavage.

Sofia was small and cute - the perfect pint-sized package - while Amber had a few inches on even Hildegard, who was not the shortest princess herself. Tall women were.. not exactly romanticized, in her experience. It had been some time since she checked, but Amber was pretty sure she was even slightly taller than Miranda, now. Of course that meant there were still plenty of men on eye-level, or slightly taller, and a good number who still towered over her, and any of them might not find her height to be any issue. This would be more consolation if Amber had any interest whatsoever in men.

And there was just that, overall, Sofia looked very soft, somewhat squishy- adorable and huggable. Someone one might actually want to lie with, metaphorically or just-literally. Conversely, lanky Amber's bony joints were likely to stab anyone who tried.

Breaking away from that rush of thought, Amber sighed and said, "But… All right. I understand now, and.. I'll do my best to help you." Her smile was weak, and sad, but she could honestly say it was genuine. "But you do need to spend time with her, normally, too. All right? This whole espionage affair might help you, but it can't be the only foundation you have."

"-Well I, that's-.. Of course I. The.. We uh." Hildegard illustrated how well she'd do in a conversation with Sofia, ending with a desperate expression.

Amber couldn't help but chuckle softly, even if it was half sigh as well, and put a hand on Hildegard's shoulder. "Would you like me to write some scripts for you?" she asked. "Some things to memorize for small talk, perhaps, or some more general ideas to follow."

Hildegard clapped her hands together in a praying gesture. "Yes pleeeaase," she whimpered. "I should be able to keep my head about me enough with a guideline, but if I have nothing at all - I fear I'll go entirely blank. .. As I have the past few times."

Amber nodded. "Good!" She paused and raised an eyebrow, forcing a bit of a smirk. "...Any chance you're willing to drop this farce if I write the scripts?"

"No," Hildegard said flatly. "Besides, you have to admit, at least the gifts are a good idea, even if the rest remains to be seen. But really, I just need a little help getting started; you'll see!" She paused and looked at nothing in particular, and Amber could tell her thoughts were wandering. "It is a shame that the skills will be temporary though. Assuming your sorcerer can really pull that off at all. Oh well."

Amber sighed. "All right. Well, I'll start writing things and send them to you soon."

"Thank you so much. You really are the best friend a girl could ask for." Hildy finally finished her descent of the stairs and headed for the door, and Amber fought the urge to cringe as she followed. "... Ooh, do you think he could make me good at flying derby?"

"... I. Suppose? I can ask next time I see him."

After a brief moment, Hildy gave a self-mocking laugh. "Wait, no. I'd need something for the heights, too. Not to mention I don't have anything I wouldn't mind getting that.. dirty." She rolled her eyes.

Amber did as well, for slightly different reasons.

"Ooh, what about…" She continued giddily brainstorming possibilities as they left the tower, and Amber simply smiled and shook her head.

A/N: Romance! will be taking a brief hiatus on updates, through the month of November. I'm attempting NaNoWriMo this year, and intend to work entirely on that (aside from having finished up this chapter, most of which either I did in October, or Poly Goggles wrote.) I'll be posting my NaNo as I finish up chapters (with only slight polishing, as it is NaNo), so I'll see you around... but this story, specifically, will be dormant.