The next day, Melissa decided to act on Lucient's advice and take the day off. It may have only been one day, granted, but she needed to recharge after putting up with Felix and Victoria for the whole day. She just wanted a little time with her friends and to rest her feet, then she'll get back into the action. Hopefully. Eventually.

She decided to have lunch with some of her closest friends: Sadie, Pandora, Marie, and Lillia. They invited Adenine, but she gave it a pass. She was busy with something, but didn't say. It didn't matter too much for Melissa. A nice simple lunch with some casual talk to take her mind off things was all she needed.

Pandora groaned and slammed her head down on the table. "So stupid…"

Melissa set her teacup down and giggled. "Come on, Pandora, it is not so bad. I am sure you would not like to be surrounded by so many nobles." She looked away with a deadpan glare. "Believe me, they can either be the most entitled jerks in the world or the most soul-sucking wells of boredom to interact with."

Marie smirked. "So, you weren't fancied by the suitors that stalked you for your hand in marriage?"

"Well, I would not call it stalking—"

"Hon, you're a princess. It many cultures, any form of spying and harassment can be considered stalking. Or just harassment."

Melissa glared. "You are one to talk."

"Admitting it doesn't make me a hypocrite. I just make bad choices." Marie licked her lips. "Especially when I see some cute tail—" Sadie bonked her with her tankard. "Ow!"

"Bad Marie! Don't act perverted to the precious bean!" she scolded.

Marie grumbled. "I certainly didn't miss you."

Sadie stuck her tongue out and giggled. "Love you, too, hon." Marie rolled her eyes, but giggled as well.

Pandora groaned. "Stop talking about how weird you are! We're talking about me!"

Lillia patted her head. "It's not a big deal, Pan. You could still make a better version of…whatever it is they're unveiling at the Senbo party. You're twice—no, thrice times the inventor than any of those stuffy nobles."

"But I want to see it now!" she whined, slamming her paws on the table. "It's not fair! Why do the rich get everything?"

"Because they're rich?"

"I'm rich, too!"

Marie grinned. "Charm and character don't equal money, hon, though you have a lack of charm, too." She ducked a thrown tankard and laughed.

Pandora stuck her tongue out at her. "You wouldn't be laughing so much if you were blessed with my unfathomable genius. I need to figure out what's so special about this secret project. If I can crack its secrets before it's made public, I can monopolize off it and make something even better."

"So, stealing an idea?" Lillia asked.

Pandora raised her digit. "I'm evil, duh. Stealing's on my business card."

"It sounds more like plagiarism," Melissa pointed out.

Pandora laughed. "Oh sweet, naïve Melissa, everything's plagiarized! Even old legends are stolen ideas from something in reality. Same idea with books about knights saving princesses and slaying evil demons. They just take different forms. It's not stealing if you change it up a little."

"So, you're not stealing anything?" Lillia asked.

"Oh, I'm definitely stealing something, but not my point." She groaned and slammed her head down again. "Of course, I can't get in because the place will be packed tight with security. Very, very tough security."

Sadie snickered. "You could always send Melissa's apprentices to cause a distraction."

Melissa groaned and pulled on her ears. "Please do not remind me of what I endured yesterday."

Sadie snickered. "A tiny bit of payback for sending me overboard."

"That was not even my fault!"

"I know, I just like seeing you squirm."

Lillia patted Pandora's shoulder. "Hey, so what if they make some revolutionary new invention? You're Pandora Day! I bet you're making something even cooler. Like…I don't know, that other thing you were working on? An…airplane, was it?"

Pandora sat up and scoffed. "Airplane? That's a stupid name, it'll never catch on. My idea is called a sky slayer. Much cooler and strikes fear into my enemies." She sighed and slapped herself in the cheek. "Though, mechanics are still in the testing phases."

"How far in are you?"

"Still trying to figure out the staying in the air part."

Melissa sighed. "It is a miracle no one gets seriously injured from your test runs. How do you keep convincing people to help you?"

"Blackmail."

Melissa's eyes widened. "Excuse me?!"

Marie clamped her hand over Pandora's mouth. "No, no, she's not blackmailing anyone. She just gives them chocolate as payment."

Melissa relaxed, but still raised her brow at them. "Your test subjects are putting themselves in danger for a little bit of chocolate?"

Pandora grinned. "Really good chocolate. I know a guy who owes me. I get a fresh box of the stuff in care packages."

"…Pandora, how many guys do you know?"

She snickered evilly and clicked her claws together. "Many with very specific talents for an evil overlord."

"…I am not sure if you are serious or not, and that concerns me." Melissa went back to sipping her tea.

"Then let it be known never to underestimate an evil…overlord?" Her eyes wandered off.

The girls, curious by the pause, followed her eyes and spotted Adenine walking by. She appeared to be caring a dress in her arms. She didn't seem them or even wave in their direction. She powerwalked away like she was in a hurry.

"Huh? Was Adenine working on something?" Lillia asked.

Sadie scratched her chin. "Not that I know of. We don't have much reason for dresses except disguises, and even then, that's in very limited situations."

Pandora squinted. Something tickled in the back of her mind, though she wasn't quite sure why. Still, it centered on Adenine the more she thought about it. "Hey Marie, Sadie. Remember how Adenine leaves the fort every once in a while? When's the last time she did that?"

Marie cupped her chin and glared. "Huh, a couple months ago, probably."

Sadie shrugged. "I don't know, I just got back here."

Melissa and Lillia shared a confused look with each other, then back at the girls. "Uh, mind filling us in here?" Melissa asked.

"Yeah, what's up with Adenine?" Lillia asked.

Pandora shrugged. "Well, that's just it, we don't know."

Sadie leaned forward on the table. "Check it. Every once in a while, Adenine takes some time off to leave for something. She has permission from Jason because he thinks it's a family thing. Adenine's close to her family, so he didn't bat an eye at it."

Melissa glared suspiciously. "Buuuut, something tells me that is not what you think."

Sadie grinned. "You catch on quick, my fluffy-tailed bestie. Thing is, Adenine gets very skittish about certain things. She sometimes gets these letters in pink envelopes specifically for her and says they're from her parents. Thing is, I've seen the envelopes she gets from her parents, and they're not color coded like that. No, those letters are coming from someone else."

Melissa tapped her chin. "Come to think of it, I remember her getting a pink envelope right around we were signing up for our field assignments."

Lillia nodded. "Right, right, I remember that. I didn't think much of it at the time. I was more focused on the assignments."

Marie shrugged. "I noticed, but didn't want to fuss over it. Adenine's fun to tease, but she gets pretty upset whenever I try to take a peek at the letter. So, I just leave it alone. I'm many things, but I am not a jerk."

Pandora glared. "Well, I'm definitely curious. She acts all secretive about those letters, and it's bugging me."

"Didn't bug you before," Marie said.

"I know, but I just feel…weirdly invested in figuring out what Adenine's hiding."

Melissa frowned. "Pandora, it is rude to snoop on someone else's private life. She clearly wants to keep it to herself."

Pandora smirked. "Oh, drop the nice girl act, Mel! You and I both know you're just as curious. You can't help yourself. You love butting into other people's business."

"Wah—I do not!" Melissa crossed her arms and pouted. "I am just very spirited about helping people in need even when they close themselves off."

"Uh huh."

Marie tapped her chin. "I actually have to side with Pandora on this one. If you ask me, with the way she's acting AND with the pink envelopes, it's obvious what she's really hiding." She wiggled her brows and grinned. "Adenine has a boyfriend."

The girls gasped. Lillia dropped her tankard and slapped herself in the cheeks. "Oh my gosh, now I need to see this for myself!"

Pandora rubbed her paws together and snickered. "Adenine may be a joyful sort, but she's awfully skittish about romance. I'm suddenly intrigued."

Melissa shifted uncomfortably in her chair. "I-I-I-I still do not approve of this behavior. Adenine clearly wants to keep it to herself, and I will not disrespect her feelings like this. The shame on you girls. Shame!"

Lillia and Pandora pouted. Marie, however, smirked and rested her cheek against her fist. "So, not even a little bit curious about what the country girl's potential beau looks like? I mean, she lives out on the countryside, so she's more likely to run into those strong farmer-types. I heard farmer guys tend to be notoriously cute and strong. Imagine that for a moment. A buff Adonis ripping with muscle, cute face, and drenched in glistening sweat after a hard day's work on the farm. That's one possibility, you know."

Melissa's face twisted and strained while turning bright red. Try as she might, she couldn't withhold the mental picture forming itself in her mind. A Pangoro came to life in her mind, dressed like your average farmer while carrying a dozen barrels in one arm. The mental image tipped his hat and whispered, "Howdy."

Curse you for exploiting one of my several weaknesses, Marie!

Marie leaned forward and grinned devilishly. "Melissa~? You still with us~?"

"Uh…" Melissa shook herself awake and stared wide-eyed at the girls. She awkwardly tapped her fingers together. "O-Okay, let us say hypothetically I went along with this plan—"

"How hot was the dream farmer?" Sadie teased.

"HUSH!" she snapped. She huffed and continued, "Assuming I agree to this, there is one tiny problem. We have no idea where she is going, and have no idea how to follow her without being spotted. Not to mention, depending on how long this takes, someone is going to notice we are gone."

Pandora waved it off. "Godfrey gives her a lift in his cart. We'll just bribe him into carrying some extra cargo along for the ride. With us inside."

Sadie nodded. "And I can cover for you guys."

Melissa's eyes widened. "You will?"

"I can't leave anyway. I'm on temporary suspension from field missions since most people are going to be suspicious of Audino now. I'll just divert anyone looking for you and say you're off doing special training with Victoria and Felix."

Melissa winced. "Ooh, right, I am a teacher."

"I'm sure Lucient and the boys won't mind keeping them occupied. You've got time before the carnival starts."

Melissa whined. "You have all your bases covered."

"Totally," Pandora said with a grin.

Melissa slammed her head down on the table and groaned. "I hope she does not hate me after this."

Marie waved it off. "Oh, it won't be that bad. Now, finish up your drink so we can prepare for our exciting stalking trip!"

"You are making it sound WORSE!"

The elevator descended down from Fort Lucus and dropped Adeneine to the ground. She stepped off and waved up to the snow-covered branches. "Thanks for the lift, y'all. See ya in a week!" She straightened her snow cloak, picked up her bag, and headed to her awaiting transport.

She spotted Godfrey waiting by the road, nibbling into his food bag hanging around his neck. As she closed in, she stopped and paused on the single crate sitting in the cart. She didn't recall anything about a delivery being made, not by Jason or any of her superiors.

She jumped into the cart and walked up to Godfrey. "Godfrey, what's with this here crate?"

Godfrey craned his neck and said, "Delivery. Promised Petra."

Adenine frowned. "Oh. B-But she does know we're not—"

"Passing it off to other mailman. To deliver to Wick Kingdom." He shook his head. "Does not know."

Adenine sighed in relief. "Thank ya, Godfrey. Sorry, Ah am a mite nervous." She rubbed her hands together awkwardly. "Thank ya for keepin' mah secret. Ah mean it."

Godfrey shook his head. "Nothing. Is nothing." He looked forward. "Never told girls?"

"Hmm?" Adenine frowned and looked away. "Ah don't know if Ah should tell them. Ah know they mean well and all, but Ah don't know how to break it to them. What if they hate me? What if they told Jason or—"

Godfrey shook his head again. "Friends. Your…Friends. They mean well. Never hate you."

Adenine smiled. "Ya're a good listener, Godfrey. Thank you."

The Mudsdale nodded. "Go." He snorted and trotted onto the main road. "Get comfortable."

She nodded and sat down. "We will only be in town for a day. Plenty of time for the two of us to be alone." She sighed and leaned her head back against the cart. "Ah can't wait to see him again…"

Meanwhile…

"Ha, I knew it, she does have a boyfriend."

"Did she say Godfrey's her boyfriend? I can barely hear anything."

"Godfrey, eh? Not my first choice."

"Hehe, well, given that his ability is Stamina, I can't blame her—"

"Marie, gross!"

"Oh, you were thinking it, too!"

"Was not!"

"…"

"…Okay, a little, but cut it out! And get off my foot!"

"I'm not on your foot."

"That's my foot."

"Who's tail is this?"

"Eep!"

"Oops. Sorry, Pandora."

Indeed, sitting right near to the oblivious Kecleon was a crate filled with extra passengers. Melissa, Pandora, Marie, and Lillia squirmed inside the box to get comfortable. There was barely enough room for four Pokémon their size, and it already felt like they were suffocating.

Melissa squeezed herself into a corner and pressed her hands against the box to find her bearings. "Are you sure she can't hear us?"

Pandora tutted. "This crate was designed specifically by me for espionage purposes. Completely soundproof as long as you aren't screaming like someone's viciously stabbing you. It even has air filtration to keep us from suffocating."

"But apparently no insolation," Marie grumbled, who was shifting in the darkness.

"Eh, it's not that bad," Lillia said.

"You lived on a snow-covered mountain. Of course this isn't a big deal."

"True, but we have our own portable heater beside us."

"Lillia, stop hugging me!" Pandora growled. "I am not a blanket—" She tensed up as more bodies pressed against her.

"So warm~," Melissa gushed.

"Hehehehehe, this is the life," Marie said.

Pandora groaned. "Now I'm starting to see why Shingo hates tight spaces."

"So, uh," Melissa started, "how long are we going to be in here?"

"Until we get to town, of course," Pandora said. "It shouldn't take too long to get to the Wick Kingdom from here. A couple days at most."

"You mean I have to sit in this cramped box for another couple days on the way back?" Melissa asked with fear in her voice.

"Oh, you'll live. It's like being stuck in a coff—okay, bad example." Pandora groaned. "Look, we'll be fine. The inside of the crate is smaller than the outside looks. The spaces between here and exterior have secret compartments for food and water. We'll live."

"Oh, good," Melissa said in relief. "That is something, at least."

"…Hey, Pandora?" Lillia suddenly asked.

"Yes?"

"What do we do when we have to go to the restroom?"

"…"

"P-Pandora?"

"…"

"W-Why aren't you saying anything?"

"…" A soft whistling filled the silence.

"Pandora?!"

"…So, like I said, the box has some hidden gaps. Walls and ceiling are for storing food and water. Multiple compartments, so I didn't need to invest as much space into the design there. If you look at the box from the outside, its height is greater than the length and width. The bottom was thus designed to be much larger—"

"Pan, you're stalling."

"Um…so, has anyone ever used an outhouse before?"

"PANDORA!" the girls yelled.

"It's not a perfect design, alright?!"

20th Rebirth Moon, 908

Godfrey trotted over a hilltop and approached the upcoming wall. He stopped by the guards and nodded to them. They let him through without a fuss, as this wasn't his first time through the gate. Adenine leaned out of the cart and smiled as they passed by the buildings. The snow covering the streets and rooftops gave it a whimsical aura like out of a holiday novel.

They passed by shops that displayed baked goods for bystanders to view through the window, clocks made by clockmakers, cafés and eateries, and more. Her eyes wandered at a passing shop with a sign that read Ye Ole Tinkering. As expected from such a revolutionary part of Virdis.

Godfrey turned a corner and parked himself by a tavern. Adenine hopped out of the cart and went up to hug his leg. "Thank ya for the ride, Godfrey."

He nodded. "Welcome."

She picked her bag up and shuddered excitedly. "Okay, Ah'm goin' to get changed and meet up with him. Ah'll be back by sunset, promise."

He nodded. "Take…your time." She smiled and ran off, giggly with excitement. He watched her go until she disappeared around a corner. He sighed and shook his head before giving a swift kick to the cart.

The lid to the crate popped off, and the girls scrambled out like they were escaping the underworld. As soon as fresh daylight hit their eyes, they wailed and squirmed on the cart floor.

"What is that horrible ball of fire in the sky?!" Pandora screamed. "It's stabbing my eyes!"

Melissa pulled herself up and leaned over the cart wall, shuddering. "That…was the worst three days of my life."

Lillia dropped herself alongside Melissa and groaned. "We shall never speak of this to anyone ever."

"Agreed."

Marie pulled herself up and vigorously rubbed her eyes. "Th-Thanks for not blowing our cover, Godfrey."

"Hmph."

Melissa finally adjusted her eyes to the light and turned to Godfrey with a frown. "You are disappointed in us, are you not?"

"A little."

Melissa whimpered and covered her face in shame.

"But…" The girls looked up as he returned a softer look at them. "Adenine needs you. My English is…not good. I cannot…give the words she needs. You three…no, you four are her friends."

Melissa blinked, then smiled at him. "Aww, Godfrey."

Marie glared. "So, you do know who Adenine's boyfriend is?" He nodded. "Well, what's the big deal? Is he super ugly and too embarrassed to tell us?"

"Say it is not so!" Melissa gasped. "Not the dreamy farmer!"

He shook his head. "Something else. Not…embarrassing. Forbidden."

Pandora finally picked herself up and joined the conversation. "Forbidden? What? Is her family at war with another family, and now Adenine and this guy are star-crossed lovers?"

"…Not wrong, but not right."

Pandora groaned. "Well, deciphering your broken English isn't going to get us answers." She hopped out of the cart and looked around. "Which way did she go?" Godfrey lifted his hoof and pointed in the direction Adenine left. "Great! Let's get a move—"

"Hang on," Melissa interrupted as she jumped out. "I-I may not get out much, but this does not look like the Wick Kingdom."

Pandora blinked and looked around again. "What do you mean?"

"Well, for starters…" She pointed across the rooftops. "Most towns don't have walls that big."

The girls followed Melissa's figured and gasped upon seeing the giant wall standing in the far distance of the city. It was huge and, from the looks it, encompassed the entire city. Far too extravagant to be some town. Maybe a smaller stone wall, but nothing to that scale.

"Second, the air feels different here." Melissa raised her hand and let the wind brush through her fur. "I have been through Wick Kingdom territory before, and this is not the same dry air I remember. If anything, it is not dry enough."

Pandora rolled her eyes. "Weather is weird. I heard there's crazy weather in the Galar region. They say there's one giant stretch of land that has sandstorms, rainstorms, and blizzards right next to each other." She crossed her forelegs and laughed. "Besides, if we're not in the Wick Kingdom, where are we?"

"Senbo Kingdom capital."

"Exactly. Thank you, Godfrey!"

…

…

The girls gasped. "The Senbo Kingdom Capital?!"

After the girls donned their disguises, mainly consisting of Melissa's stolen wardrobe, they quietly shuffled through the street and kept their heads down from passing Pokémon. Their minds were mostly lost in the realization they were an entire kingdom away from the destination they expected.

Sure enough, however, Godfrey wasn't pulling an elaborate jest with them. They managed to find higher elevation via a public tower and saw the royal castle. Imposing black stone surrounded by an equally imposing wall. The higher elevation also revealed to them the factories and other industrialized parts of the town.

What they assumed were more dark clouds from the snowy weather was, in actuality, smog being produced from the factories. Strange-looking Weezing hovered around these smoke stacks and inhaled the toxic air like it was water, expelling out a much crisper and cleaner air from their top hat-shaped crests.

The girls returned to ground level and continued their search for Adenine, now with mixed emotions. "Okay, so she probably isn't dating a farmer," Marie said as she massaged her temples.

Melissa whined. "Goodbye, imaginary dreamy farmer."

Pandora glared. "I bet she's dating some inventor guy, one who thinks he's better than me, too! Oh, I've got some choice words for that jerk!" She nearly took off, but Lillia grabbed her by her dress' collar.

"Return to reality, Pan," Lillia said.

Melissa sighed and looked around. "This is so strange. This is the last place I expected Adenine to show up in. Does she live in the Senbo Kingdom?"

Marie tapped her forehead and tried to think. "If I remember right, Adenine did mention she had some extended family here. She doesn't visit them often, only a handful of times."

"I'm not surprised. Senbo has always been wary of outsiders until recently," Lillia said. "Must've been hard for Adenine to visit her boyfriend. Huh, how do you suppose they got together if Adenine doesn't come here much?"

Melissa clasped her hands together and sighed. "Perhaps it was a case of love at first sight~."

"Or he was super rich and Adenine's secretly a gold digger," Pandora mumbled. Marie slapped her swiftly across the head. "Ow! I wasn't serious!"

Lillia squinted ahead as the girls squabbled, then gasped. "Guys! I see Adenine!"

They hushed up and ducked around a corner. They peeked their heads out and saw their Kecleon friend waiting outside a fancy-looking eatery. The sign hanging above her head read The Capital Delights. It had lanterns hanging by the doors, a beautiful awning overhead, and was made from the most stylish of blue stone to highlight its elegance. What little the girls could see through the windows further proved it was a high class establishment.

Adenine herself, however, caught their eyes. Rarely seen outside her uniform, she stood by the door draped in a snow cloak. Underneath, she wore a modest yellow dress. The frilly skirt reached down to the snow-covered ground, and the wrists of the sleeves were lined with a warm cotton that she kept her hands tucked into. A beautiful white flower was pinned to the left side of the chest.

"Oh. My. Arceus," Melissa gasped. "She looks so beautiful."

"Dang," Pandora mumbled. "I've never seen her dressed up like that."

Marie smirked. "She's itching to impress."

Lillia cupped her cheeks and gushed. "She looks so nervous and happy~! EEE! Too cute!"

"This was so worth sneaking out," Melissa said, bouncing happily on her feet. "Ooh, I know it is wrong, but I just cannot help myself! I want to see her being happy and loving with her beloved!"

Marie rolled her eyes and laughed. "And you girls thought I had issues?"

"That guy better not stand her up, or so help me…!" Pandora growled.

Lillia looked up and smiled. "Ooh, is that him?"

The girls followed her eyes and saw a cloaked, four-legged Pokémon approaching the eatery. The second Adenine faced them, her face lit up. She smiled and ran over to the covered Pokémon, giving him a hug that was instantly reciprocated. The girls awed at the touching scene.

"So sweet!" Melissa squeaked, her tail wagging uncontrollably.

Pandora squinted. "Huh, they seem to be talking. Can't hear them, though."

"Let me try." Melissa leaned her head out and extended her ears.

"Well?"

"Um…yeah, I think I got it." She cleared her throat and translated for them. "Are ya sure it's fine for us to be out together? Ah wouldn't want ya to get in trouble." Marie and Lillia gave her wry smirks. "…I have not been practicing my Adenine impression," she quietly denied.

Pandora grinned. "Ooh, maybe he's a bad boy with a reputation, and he can't be seen out in public. Didn't know she had it in her."

"It is fine, my beloved rainbow," Melissa continued with a deeper voice. "The owner owes me a favor and will keep my secret. You will be fine."

"Ah'm still not sure. Ah'd really hate to—"

"Shh. No more. We are fine. There is hardly anyone out right now." The girls immediately ducked their heads back behind the corner, but continued to eavesdrop. "And I have my knights on standby to keep any attention off us."

Lillia's eyes widened. "Wait, knights?"

"Is he a noble?" Pandora asked. "Yeesh, if that's the case, I don't blame her for wanting to keep this quiet. Jet would blow a fuse if he—"

"That…voice." Everyone turned to Melissa, her eyes wide in disbelief. "I…I have not heard this voice in a long time, yet it sounds so familiar. Oh my Arceus, I-I know that voice. Oh my Arceus, I know that voice!"

Marie glared. "Wait, what's wrong?" The girls poked their heads out from around the corner again. "Melissa, who in the world is—"

The mystery man's hood came down. Their hearts stopped as he smiled at Adenine, taking her hand in his paws while she blushed and giggled. It was too much to believe, but the mystery man was, in fact, a Glameow.

All the clues fell into place. The fancy eatery, Adenine's suspicious behavior, the knights, the Senbo capital, everything! As they pulled back behind their cover, their minds exploded to the one and only conclusion.

Prince Talbot?!

Erasmus?!