Most people said King Garon loved all his wives equally, and always strived to be fair to them. Whether it was true, or not, Leo could never say for sure. If he even loved them, and they him, to begin with... Leo could never say for sure.

The idea-no, even the vaguest suggestion that he was going to be anything like his father when it came to women-was silly.

"Lord Leo...?"

The small, feminine voice interrupted his thoughts, and finally Leo turned to the doorway, recognizing Charlotte's voice, opening the door for her.

She peeked into his chamber, face alight with curiousity, eager to see a royal prince's room. It certainly did not disappoint-Leo was favored by Garon, and it showed in his rooms. The furniture was fine quality, intricately carved, occasionally lined with gold or silver. A big four-post bed was in one end, some books left open on them.

While she scrutinized his room with curiosity, Leo in turn scrutinized her appearance-her hair done up, trademark white bow holding it in place. Leo wondered for a minute if it was too much of a statement-it was quite a sizeable hairbow-but thought it at least made her easy to find in a crowd. She wore an old dress that Camilla had but never wore-and old dress, but not out of fashion at all, colored a deep blue with a splash of silver lace at the hem.

"You... You look nice."

The compliment didn't come out as smoothly as he wanted it to, causing his cheeks to turn a bit red in embarrassment. Complimenting women, unless it were his siblings, didn't always come easily to him.

"Really...?" Charlotte, tilting her head to one side in disbelief.

Leo then knew he'd have to have sounded awkward, if she didn't believe it. "Yes, it's definitely much better than seeing you in... your armor." That poor excuse for armor.

"You don't like it my battle gear? Oh, but I hear so many men tell me that they love it..."

"...Oh ...I wonder why," Leo said, trying to sound genuinely puzzled.

"Oh dear me, brother. Your skill for complimenting women needs some brushing up on."

It was Camilla, entering Leo's chambers, but not by herself-she was holding onto Niles, clinging precariously to his arm. He was dressed in his best-one of those suits that Leo gave him but he'd never worn, not much for dressing up even for the most formal occasion-and Camilla had gone out of her way to wear a matching gown of the same color, every bit making them look like the pair.

Leo just stared at them, looking confused.

"What, I'm not allowed to appear to these banquets with a date?" Camilla said, looking every bit smitten. "It's not like people are going to pay as much attention to me-I'm not the crown prince or the second prince, after all."

"Camilla, you have a waiting list of suitors dying to marry you after this war is over," Leo reminded his sister.

"Oh, I would so like to see them dying at my feet after the war then," Camilla said, a dangerous sparkle in her eyes. "Now I'll have the delightful thoughts of what impossible tasks to put them up to..."

"Ooohhh, I like the sound of that," Niles said, an equally dangerous sparkle in his eye as well. "My lady, if you ever need any ideas of how to make them suffer, know that I can provide a list or two. ...But I wouldn't mind suffering at your feet as well, any pain is pleasure when it's for you."

Camilla giggled, playfully hitting Niles with the feathered fan she was holding. Charlotte only put a hand to her mouth, as if confused at what she was witnessing, while Leo shuddered. "Get a room, you two," he said. "And where is Odin?"

"He will be escorting my retainer, Selena," Camilla said, matter-of-factly. "I can't let my retainer wander alone while I already have someone at my side."

"Oh, for the love of-"

Charlotte cut him short, suddenly clinging to his arm, almost emulating the way Camilla held onto Niles. "Ooh, isn't this wonderful? Is this like, a group date?"

"Yes, exactly!" Camilla said, as if Charlotte finally got the point. "Elise is too young for this, but maybe Corrin and Xander would be interested to bring someone along as well. We shall all have dates and make tonight a first in all of Nohr!"

She soon pulled Niles along, saying something about finding the perfect match for Corrin.

"How long have they been...? Why don't I know this?" Leo muttered soon after they left, still stunned. "What the hell is Camilla thinking? Does she really want to make a big spectacle out of today?"

"...She's doing it for you," Charlotte said.

Leo only looked at her, confused.

"If you brought me to dinner, I heard it was going to be the first time one of the royals brought along someone with them. Everyone will be focusing on us... But if Camilla and the others showed up with dates, too..."

"...Then the attention would be divided," Leo said, realizing the rest. "Of course, why didn't I think of that?"

Charlotte giggled. "You're so smart on the battlefield and among the soldiers. Why isn't it exactly the same in court?"

"...Because I have no interest in social politics like these," he said, after giving it a bit of thought. "I don't care so much what people think, as long as I have results."

"Appearance and how people see you is important," Charlotte said. "After all, what they give or don't give you depends on how they see you."
That was what she was-every bit careful of her image and charm, using that to her advantage.

"...Sometimes someone has to look like the bad guy for something to get accomplished," Leo said. "Not all of us can afford to look pretty and kind."

She stared at him quietly for a moment, the man who people think drove off and killed the helpless dancers of Cyrkensia, but secretly saw to their escape. A cold, hardened prince with blood all over his hands, every bit willing to look like the villain or pawn to save what he believed he had to.

She felt small next to him in that moment, realizing that her warm, pretty facade was hiding a less-than pretty motive; but his cold, uninviting facade was likely hiding a kinder soul.

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