9 Miss Designer (1)

Realizing I looked like a mess, I let the tension in my brow dissipate. For some reason, I didn't want to make a bad impression on the noblewoman, mystified by that encounter earlier.

In pursuit of her answer, I asked, "Pardon me, but who exactly are you?"

She frowned but couldn't stop a chuckle from coming out. "I'm a little sad you don't remember me. I recall the shy little girl by her father's side in my parents' castle quite well." She let go of my shoulder, providing me some relief. "I suppose, though, she's all grown-up now into a fine young woman eager to be her father's successor."

As she looked at me, I thought over her words, almost embarrassed about the sudden compliment.

*Her parents' castle? No, she couldn't possibly be…*

"Are you the princess?" I immediately bowed, humiliated by the lack of formality with which I spoke when her identity was concealed. "Apologies, but I forgot your name."

She clapped. "Bingo! Great observation, Advisor Ophelia!"

Perhaps she didn't mean it to be, but the comment came off as disingenuous.

"Since you can't remember the specifics, I'm Princess Koharu." Chuckling and extending her hand, she almost hit a lady beside us. "Pleasure to officially meet you. I'm sure a lot of people have said that to you today."

I shook it, meeting her soft skin for a moment. "As it is for me, miss. You're right about that, too."

She withdrew the appendage while making a dismissive gesture. "Of course, I am. But—ah—no need for all the formalities!"

I raised an eyebrow at her lackadaisical attitude. "Pardon?"

*Do you not want to crucify me for greeting you like a peasant?*

"You're probably older than me, for one, and I prefer to be more casual. Akiyoshi's the opposite. He's boring. You forget to say the 'r' in 'sir', and he'll have you on the streets." Her loud cackle drew attention from some nearby men.

"Now, really? You're talking a bit like I'm a child to you, but if it matters in any way, I'm the ripe old age of twenty-two," I said sarcastically as I grinned at how sociable she was. It would be easier to warm up to her and the Sun Kingdom than Inei and Akiyoshi.

Koharu burst out laughing again, awfully giddy for no reason. "Certainly older than me,"—she made her eyes wide as if she was accused of an offense—"and in no way have I meant to disrespect my senior. I'm twenty-one, by the way, since we're sharing ages here."

"I should baby you then," I joked, swiping a hand over both of our heads to emphasize the minute height difference. "I'm taller, nonetheless."

"Ah, no need!" From under long eyelashes, she looked at me. "You've proven your point, but if it makes you feel better, go ahead."

I giggled. "Sure, sure. Now that introductions are over, may I ask why you're here? Aren't you from the Sun Kingdom?"

"Correct!" A lady bumped into her, and she almost tripped.

I stepped away, not wanting to be the next victim. "Could… Could we move away from the crowd before anyone gets trampled? The dance floor isn't a good place for a civil conversation." (Regardless, I had to shout over the latest dance tracks to be heard. Inei hadn't exaggerated at all while speaking to me.)

Koharu chuckled and pulled me towards the perimeter of the room so that we stood by the buffet—a table covered in a rainbow of food and drinks arranged perfectly by color. This was courtesy of Leo, of course, for even Akiyoshi lacked the patience to do such a thing without help.

"Better?" she asked, pouring herself a glass of wine. It was a purple bottle amid all the dark-colored fruits. "Would you like some?" She pointed the nozzle towards me.

"Preferably not. Would you answer my question?"

"Ah, yes." She took a long sip of the alcohol, sighing at the end. For a second, her tone was more serious. "I felt like it would be a good idea to meet you."

I gave her a questioning look while letting my face wrinkle. "And why? Aren't the two kingdoms still having political issues?"

"That's my parents' problem. I guess you could say it's daddy—daddies—issues." Koharu laughed heartily as she shrugged, already seeming less than sober. (Based on the way she walked earlier, I knew she had at least a few sips before even greeting me.)

As immature as it was, I cracked a smile at the joke. "And is that all? Certainly, that can't be it? It must have troubled you to come here."

*You didn't even try to disguise yourself, though.*

"Ah, my father. Yeah. He wants to see you. Diplomacy. Dull things, you know? Meeting someone for the heck of it is more fun to me. Plus, it's night here. It's easier to sneak away. Technically, I'm not supposed to, but I don't think Father will say anything if I'm here."

I nodded, watching her. At the rate she guzzled down bottles of wine, I worried about her liver. The thought of joining her was, in fact, tempting, but that seemed so improper at a royal ceremony. Yet here a princess was, sitting in the wrong castle and getting drunker than a sailor.

"I guess. Maybe you should slow down the drinking, though?" My voice was thin and cautious.

"I think it's cute you think I'm that drunk." She brought her face close to mine, smelling of wine, and I squirmed against a pole. "I'm always this mouthy, anyways."

*Oh, really? This inquisitive, too?*

Those traits had the potential to get on my nerves, but I found myself bothered for some other indecipherable reason, though it wasn't in a negative way.

"Hey, hey." She backed away but nudged me, slurring her words some. I gave her an irritated look. "Have you seen my brother? I want to talk to him a minute. Haven't seen him in a while."

Recalling my mother, I showed her some sympathy, evening out my voice. "I think he's in his bedroom. He was complaining all afternoon about… well, everything." Theoretically, I didn't know anything, but enough eavesdropping gave me the hints I needed to make a conjecture.

"Mind telling me where that is? Or rather,"—she grabbed my cuff—"leading me there so that I don't drop like a fly in the hallway?"

I chuckled.

*She seems like something, doesn't she?*

"One second you claim you're not drunk and the next you're clinging to my arm while saying you're about to fall over." I cocked an eyebrow. "What's it really?"

She lazily grinned. "Okay… *Maybe* I'll take what I said before back then. I perhaps drank a lot tonight. I'd still prefer you escort me to Aki unless you want to find what looks like my corpse in the hallway on your first day as an advisor." While pausing, she tugged on the jacket again. "Now, go before I say anything else dumb."

I rolled my eyes with a reluctant grin before I gestured and said, "All right. Follow me."

*Need to practice getting places if I'm ever going to remember.*