Co-written with miss mika namariya! We own nothing.

The day after the tournament was incredibly busy for Sir Kijima, as he volunteered to personally inform each lady at court that she was not the Prince's True Love. And of course, upon hearing the news, many noblewomen needed a shoulder to cry on, which the knight was more than happy to provide.

Back in the Prince's chambers, Kyoko was also crying — although unfortunately for Kuon, not on his shoulder. His bodyguard was doing one of her sobbing, flat-on-the-ground apologies for the hanky incident. Not because it was insane to do, but because it hadn't worked. "...and I promise I tried my best! I really thought it would work — I'm looking really hard!"

"Yes, I know. You don't have to grovel," Kuon replied, trying to pry his sobbing bodyguard off the floor as the other guards looked on awkwardly. Kyoko just let out a pathetic little whimper and seemed to liquefy, making his efforts to pull her to her feet moot.

"BUT I—"

"I appreciate your efforts," Kuon said, cutting off the puddle that was his bodyguard. And it was true, at least partially. He might not approve of her methods, but Kyoko's zealous dedication was nothing if not admirable. Kuon would have even found it heartwarming, if not for the fact that his True Love was apparently hell-bent on trying to match him with literally any other girl in the kingdom besides herself.

Kuon sighed. It was one of those sighs, the type Kyoko had privately dubbed the Prince's 'No Good' Sigh — a very particular type of exhalation that meant the Prince was not satisfied, but too polite to say so out loud. Personally, Kyoko thought this was an incredibly ineffective way to communicate, but she kept her thoughts to herself since the prince was (1) her employer and (2) nobility, and everyone knew that nobles seemingly found it impossible to say what they meant, as if speaking plainly was for commoners. Still, Kyoko did her best. But she was a bodyguard, not a mindreader. Sometimes she understood what the problem was, but just as often as not (especially recently, with all the True Love business), whatever solutions Kyoko tried or suggested just caused the Prince to sigh even deeper. She wished that he would just come out and say whatever he was thinking, honestly. It would probably be less frustrating for everyone involved. But it wasn't her place to correct royalty, so Kyoko stayed silent.

"Look, these things take time— you can't force True Love. Maybe you should try looking less hard," Kuon suggested as Kyoko continued to sniffle on the rug. He gave her what he hoped was an encouraging pat on the back. "If anyone could make my soulmate appear through sheer force of will, it would be you. But I think it's time to try a different strategy."

"I've been so useless!" Kyoko cried, ready to throw herself onto the floor again. But Kuon's hand on her shoulder prevented the motion.

"You haven't been useless at all. Your methods may be a bit unorthodox, but no one would say you aren't trying," Kuon said. Staring at his bodyguard and hoping she could feel his sincerity. Kyoko sniffled but didn't protest, and Kuon took it as a good sign. "You have to promise me to stay, though. Until I… find her."

Kyoko nodded. She had no idea why he was so hell-bent on making her promise to stay; this was the second time he'd asked, after all. Where did he think she would be going, anyways? Even when he eventually did find his True Love, she had no intention of leaving Prince Kuon's side.

(Line break)

The next week passed calmly and peacefully. Kuon was happy to have things seemingly back to normal as he went about his usual business. And of course, wherever the Prince went, Kyoko followed — lurking in the shadows or high above, tucked away behind a bookcase or crouching on top of a column, keeping a watchful eye on her charge as she waited for him to announce what his new strategy would be to find his True Love. But after about a week, Kyoko began to grow impatient.

One morning in the library, Kyoko plopped herself down across from the Prince at the small table Kuon had claimed. Kuon marked his place in the royal records he was reading and looked up at his bodyguard with an eyebrow raised.

"Your Highness," Kyoko began primly, in the same tone she used to lecture Kuon about nutrition, "it's been a week since—" the Hankie Incident — "the tournament, and we haven't done anything about finding your True Love," she scolded.

"I thought we agreed that I should be in charge of the search strategy from now on," the Prince countered.

"Of course! Of course, Your Highness," Kyoko said hastily, bowing in her seat. "I just— it's— I couldn't help but notice that you seem to just be going about your usual routine. Are you even looking?"

Kuon stared directly at his bodyguard. "Yes. I am. I'm looking very hard."

"It seems like you're just waiting for her to find you," Kyoko said.

"Perhaps," the prince replied mildly, his eyes returning to his book. "It's more efficient this way. True Love sometimes comes at you when you least expect it." He looked up at her again, pointedly. "Like a guard dropping out of the ceiling."

Kyoko nodded. So he wants someone acrobatic! I have the day off tomorrow… I should go check out the traveling circus! He might not have a chance to check there himself, being prince and all. I'll have to go instead.

Which is exactly what she did. The very next day, Kyoko trotted her perky self down to the fair grounds to have a look around. By this point, however, there was something even the best academy trainees could not have foreseen (or at least, not ones who are Kyoko): the hanky stunt had spread the news far and wide that the prince was looking for his True Love. This generally led to people saying "Finally!" but also opened the door for some charlatans. Case in point being the circus ringleader when Kyoko asked him about his acrobats.

Now, here's the thing about the ringleader. He's actually a pretty decent guy. He does well by his employees and pays them above average wages. But he's not above trickery for the sake of the show. And in this case, he needed a new acrobat.

"Oh, yeah, I've got just the girl for the prince, fits your list to a T!" he said, when Kyoko had outlined what the prince was looking for in a partner. "But she's, uh… out of town for a few days! Tell you what, you fill in for her, and I'll be sure to introduce you so you can bring her to the prince!"

To which of course Kyoko was like "Sounds good!" and didn't think it sounded at all like a scam. So she put in for vacation, confusing the prince something awful.

"You're - you're leaving?" he asked, looking like a sad puppy.

"Just for a bit, it's super important!" she had said, scribbling down Sir Hoppington's feeding instructions for Maria (who had volunteered to feed him so she could spend more time with Kuon). "Don't worry!"

And that was the last he heard of her for a few days. When he did hear about her again, he didn't realize it was her at first. His other, lesser guards (who are perfectly fine guards, they're just not Kyoko) were talking about a new performer at the circus who was simply phenomenal.

"You've got to see the way she moves!" Hikaru exclaimed to the other two. "I swear, she's so fast it's like she's using magic or something. And the way she twists in the air - plus, I hear she's got this crazy knife act!"

At which point Kuon had decided to follow the illogic his godfather had tried so hard to teach him as a child, and went down to the circus. There, spinning through the air in the main tent, was Kyoko. In a blindingly pink leotard and a wig.

He caught her after the show. "What are you doing here?"

She blinked up at him. "I'm waiting for their usual girl to come back so I can introduce you! The ringleader said she was perfect."

"What?"

"What?"

The ringleader chose that moment to shove Kyoko's pay into her hand and dart away.

Kuon sighed through his nose. "Come on. Let's go back to the castle."

"But your True Love could be here!"

"I appreciate your dedication, but why would my True Love be working at a circus?"

"You said you wanted someone who could drop out of the sky! Like an acrobat, right? Or a tightrope walker?"

Dear God. "That… was a metaphor."

"Oh." She pouted and took off her wig. "So I wore this itchy thing for nothing?"

"Yes." The certainty in his voice confused her.

"How do you know that she's not a circus performer, though? That would make sense for the list of traits you gave me."

"She. She could be. If she really wanted to be. But I don't think she is one."

"Oookay?" She leaned back a little. "You're being very intense about this."

"I just want to make sure that you understand. What. I'm. Looking. For."

"Yup, don't worry, I've got you, I was listening!"

"I'm not sure you get me."

"I do!"

She did not.

(Line Break)

They had almost made it out of the circus grounds when a small, glittery booth caught Kyoko's eye. She was certain it hadn't been there when she started performing. Maybe this could be the mystery girl's booth! She dragged Kuon over to it eagerly.

"Welcome, my children, welcome to your future!" said the fortune teller, who was definitely not Queen Julie in a wig and costume. "Care to look into my crystal?"

"Oh, this is good!" Kyoko said, clapping and turning to Kuon. "Your Highness, you could ask her about your True Love!"

Kuon looked at the fortune teller, who was definitely not his mother, and sighed through his nose again. "I don't think that's a good idea." But Kyoko was already handing over a coin and asking for the prince's future to be told.

"Ah, yes… I see something…." The woman who was Not Julie said, staring into her crystal ball. "I see… a great adventure…."

Kyoko perked up. An adventure, just like in the stories! This was great news!

"I see… long travels… and tribulations…."

She nodded, looking eagerly between the Completely Legitimate Fortune Teller and the prince. This was sure to be it!

"And I see… two figures returning hand in hand…."

Jackpot!

"From this I deduce… that you will have luck in love on adventure. Good day." The woman who was Definitely Not the Queen, No Sir, then pulled a rope, closing the booth.

Kyoko turned to Kuon, beaming.

"I guess we're going on an adventure?" he asked weakly.