~ Heine ~

Our carriage makes its way through the streets of Wienner. Kai and I are dressed for this evening — him in an elegant black suit, and myself in a worn charcoal-grey one that I had to dig out of the bottom of my wardrobe. I'm still wearing my holsters, and I realise that I slipped my teacher's pointer into my clothes out of habit. As least it's small. Undoubtedly, Kai is the better looking between the two of us. The white of his gloves and his hair shimmers against the black fabric.

'Forgive me for asking, Prince, but would there happen to be a particular reason your hair is white?'

Kai tilts his head, and fingers the roughly cut locks at the base of his neck. '…I don't really know. It's been like this… as long as I can remember. Maybe I hit my head as a child?'

Maximilian and Ludwig are also in the carriage with us, dressed in formal wear as opposed to their guard uniforms. With trained eyes, you can pick the outlines of holsters beneath well-cut suits.

Kai toys with his gloves. He looks stressed. 'Do you… really think Beatrix won't mind? About this?'

'She shouldn't — ' The carriage jolts over a rut and it knocks me right off my seat and throws me across the carriage.

Kai catches me, strong arms around my shoulders. 'All right, Teacher?'

Maximilian splutters, trying not to laugh. I grimace and sit beside Kai. 'Yes. Too small to stay anchored, it seems.' To alleviate Kai's stress, I offer him my hand, for comfort, and he rubs my palm with his thumb. The motion and the turning of the wheels blur together.

We've left Wienner, and it's only a few minutes until we're rolling up the driveway of the von Lothringens' country manor. We pull around the circular paved driveway and step out of the carriage. I cast my eyes over the stone and marble house, and its gardens. 'Have you been here before?'

Kai nods. 'A couple of times.'

Ludwig opens the carriage door. 'Maximilian, stand guard outside.'

'What — why me?!'

'Because the last time you accompanied these two into a building, all three of you were kidnapped and held to ransom!' Ludwig snaps. 'We're not having a repeat performance, understood?'

Ah, that's right, isn't it? Maximilian rolls his eyes, and nods. 'Roger.'

Kai, Ludwig, and myself walk up the steps to the door, and knock. After a moment, a servant opens the door for us and announces to the residents. 'His Highness Prince Kai von Glanzreich, and Herr Wittgenstein, the Royal Tutor, and Herr Steiner.'

We wait inside the open doors. Each piece of furniture is chosen with taste, and open corridors lead off to rooms with Fonseinian windows, which gives the house an airy feel. Ludwig stands at a distance, effectively blending into the background.

After a moment, a female figure descends the steps. And I realise, and the obviousness of it stuns me. Viktor's wife and Beatrix's mother must have been sisters. They look so similar, and their children are cousins, after all.

Mrs. von Lothringen approaches — poise and smiles, the perfect hostess and an older mirror of her daughter. 'Why, Kai — what a pleasure! Aren't you rather early?'

'I… wanted to see Beatrice.'

At that, the maids pretending to mind their own business stifle a squeal, and even the stoic butler that announced us clenches a fist in victory. Kai manages to miss all of it. A rather impressive feat.

Beatrix's mother smiles and gestures for us to follow her. 'That's lovely. She's still getting ready, however, so would you care to join me for tea while you wait?'

Kai nods, and I say, 'A pleasure.'

We follow her to a sitting room, and we sit on opposite settees. A maid places a tea tray on the table, pours the tea, and buzzes out again.

'Two sugars, Kai?' Mrs. Von Lothringen asks.

Kai nods, and takes the cup she passes over. 'Thank you.'

'Herr Wittgenstein?' I bring my attention from my surroundings to the matter at hand.

'Straight black, please. Thank you.' I breathe in the steam and muddied scent, and take a sip.

'I apologise for keeping you waiting. Beatrice is probably getting ready now,' Mrs. von Lothringen says, glancing at the ceiling.

Kai gestures, protesting. 'No, we're early — '

'She's been beside herself with excitement. She was thrilled to bits.'

I decide to keep my mouth shut and stay out of the conversation. I get the sense that Mrs. von Lothringen is rather domineering, albeit nice, I suppose. Beatrix obviously comes from a family of strong women.

Mrs. von Lothringen obviously won't let the ball drop in her court, so she makes some blithe remark about the weather, earning a nod from Kai and a comment on the fluffiness of the clouds. Yes, I'm not getting involved in this one. Before we have to go through the routine of complementing their manor's grounds, however, running footsteps interrupt us.

The door swings open and Beatrix strides in, dressed in her usual dapper attire, blonde hair curling around her waist and half a wardrobe of clothes in her arms. 'Mother, what do I even wear?!'

She completely misses the fact that Kai and myself are in the room.

'Well, dear, I — '

Beatrix holds up a shockingly ornate number that looks as though she stole it from a museum. Ropes of pearls and crystals hold the whole contraption together. 'I can't wear this — it will look like I'm throwing myself at him!' She holds up a starkly funereal mourning gown. 'And why do I even have this?!'

She throws up her hands, scattering garments left and right. 'Do I even wear a dress?! He just said a date — is this meant to be casual or formal, or what?' She tangles her fingers in her hair and nearly tears her pretty blonde locks out. 'What do I do?'

Kai tentatively raises a hand and the wind goes right out of Beatrix's sails. She stands, frozen, with her varying ensembles clutched in her fingers.

'Oh. Kai. Um… Hello,' she manages. She snaps out of it and flushes violently. 'A-Ah… I'm not even ready! Am I late — ' she whirls around to her mother, ' — is my clock wrong? Is it daylight savings? Am I losing it?'

I can see dizzy rings spinning around her head. Kai gets up, and walks over. He picks through the dresses hanging from her hand. '…I like this one.' He holds up a sapphire blue gown up to Beatrix, and she drops all her items with a clatter.

She gives him a wary grin. 'What, really?'

'It looks pretty.' Kai brushes a strand of hair from her eyes. 'And you're pretty.'

Beatrix's face glows scarlet. 'T-Thanks.'

Kai reaches into the depths of his coat, and pulls out a loosely tied bouquet of flowers, pressing them into her free hand. 'I got these for you… sorry they're a little… squashed. Happy birthday.'

Beatrix's eyes widen to saucers. She buries her face in the scent and breathes it in. 'Oh, Kai…' She straightens the dress of choice on its hanger, and smiles, and pivots on her heel. 'Well, I'll be quick,' she says with a laugh, 'but I didn't think you'd be this early…'

I stand. 'Lady Beatrix.'

She startles. She looks over Kai's shoulder and catches sight of me. 'Oh, Professor Heine. What are you doing here?' My expression must be speaking volumes, because the room ices over into a frozen lull.

Party dresses and conversations about the weather suddenly feel very far away.

Kai rubs his shoulder, before choosing the right words. 'Beatrix, something… happened. Several things… actually. I need to tell you about it. '

Beatrice suddenly looks a lot less poised. An unbalanced mannequin, with the blue satin dress piled in her arms. 'What do you mean? Is this about you returning to military academy?' Fabric grates between her fingers. 'Did you get hurt?'

I see that Mrs. von Lothringen is looking a little temperamental over in her corner. I rest a hand on Kai's arm. We don't have time for that, so I'll take over. He's done his part, and more.

'No. It's not about military academy. It's the fact that Kai hasn't been hurt yet that's the problem.'

I can see Beatrix's heart sinking in her chest. 'What do you mean?'

I straighten my glasses. 'Over the past week, there's been a planned series of attacks on the princes. Kai is the only one that hasn't been targeted as of yet. It's almost guaranteed that it will go down tonight.'

'Attack — what do you mean attack? What happened?' Beatrix's shoulders prickle. This isn't just about the kingdom's princes for her — the princes are her family, her friends.

I tick them off on my fingers. 'Leonhard was assaulted. Licht was poisoned. Bruno was shot at and nearly stabbed.' Each blow makes her flinch. 'I was asked to help look out for the princes, so I've been involved with all three cases. We're making headway but in a limited fashion. We think another country is responsible. Kai, Viktor, and I all agreed on a plan that involves using Kai to bait our target into a military setup, but there's a problem. You.'

She blinks, distracted from her shock. 'W-Why me?'

Kai takes her hand. 'Bea… I don't want you to get hurt. I'm sorry. I don't want to let you down, but… I don't want you to be in danger. I'll take you out again. I promise.'

Beatrix closes her eyes. She exhales. 'So what will you be doing tonight, then?'

'…Bea?'

'What will you be doing, Kai?'

Kai looks stressed. 'I'm part of the military operation, so I — '

'So you're going to put your neck on the line while I stay in my tower like a princess? I don't think so!'

'Bea, wait — ' Kai tries to placate her — I have a feeling that Beatrix's mother might be the reason why — but she's not having it.

She steps forward, close enough that their noses nearly touch. 'I'm already furious that you're throwing yourself under the carriage like this. Give me one good reason why I shouldn't come.'

Kai stands frozen, hands up in an awkward surrender, practically holding his breath to avoid further provocation. He glances at me, pleading for backup.

I shrug. 'Including Beatrice was always an option all along. It was just extremely unlikely.'

Beatrice reaches up, and touches Kai's jaw. His eyes snap back to her. 'I am your fiancee, you know,' Beatrice mutters, a faint blush marking her cheeks. 'I want to be by your side for this kind of thing.'

Kai places a hand on her waist, his expression painfully torn. 'It's going to be dangerous. I was there… when Leonhard… So I know…'

'Me too.' She cups his face in her hands. His eyes widen. 'We're family, Kai. I'm just as mad as you are. So let's do something about it. We get our date, everyone else gets their revenge. Happy endings.' She smirks, he smiles, and crushes her in an embrace, her fingers in his hair, his hands squeezing her shoulder blades. They're embarrassingly perfect.

'It will be the perfect cover,' I say. 'No one will guess that the game has changed.'

They break apart, just the barest amount. Beatrix glances at her piled wardrobe on the floor. 'Do I need to rethink my outfit?'

I raise an eyebrow. 'Do you have any weapons?'

'Stop!' Mrs. von Lothringen is on her feet and sparks are zapping. 'Everyone stop right this instant!'

Beatrix cuts her a look. 'We're not discussing this, Mother. Drink your tea.'

'Beatr — '

'You should be happy for me, Mother. As I've looked forward to this so much?'

Mrs. von Lothringen snaps her mouth shut. By I, I imagine that Beatrix means we. And I'm sure Mrs. von Lothringen is possibly even more excited than her daughter about the prospect of Kai and Beatrix's relationship progressing, if the enthusiasm of the maids and staff was anything to go by.

'Have a nice evening, dear,' Mrs. von Lothringen manages, before excusing herself and walking out.

Whether she's finding some vacant floor space to faint on or not, that would depend on her strength of character, I believe.

But I must admit, I'm curious now.

Because despite shutting her mouth, the queen's sister's eyes were anything but silent.

To be continued…