✦ ✦ ✦
Yet deep inside, she found feelings that could only be described as jealousy.
I’m jealous? Why? Maybe I’m just feeling a bit sensitive since everything’s coming to a close?
Puzzled though she was, Eve had no business here, and soon left.
“……Mm?” Phyllo was the only one who sensed something…
“Thus, Lloyd and I are bound by fate!”
“……You are not.”
But Selen’s ravings soon distracted her.
Eve resumed her search for Lloyd.
“Hmm, is he taking a leak? That would work for me…”
She could stick that hypodermic needle in him as he was shaking off…but what if it was number two? Hit him as he stepped out of the stall? Eve had to consider these eventualities.
“Sigh…”
Then she spotted Lloyd out in the center garden, on his own.
“There he is!”
With catlike steps, Eve tried to sneak around behind him.
If he’s alone, that’s perfect! But why is he here? He’s not the kind of guy who’d piss on the flower beds. Haha, no way.
Locating her target had made her a tad giddy. In the sleeve of her hoodie, her hand was clenched around the syringe.
She certainly was curious about why he was here, but she was not going to let this chance slip away.
Yes, she was deeply underestimating Lloyd. She knew he was from Kunlun, but figured he was just a child, and he seemed rather out of it, so she assumed her invisibility cloak would make it easy to get the drop on him.
“Hmm? Who are you?”
“Hnggaah?!”
But Lloyd sensed her coming like it was nothing and turned to face her.
He’d been staring into space, then whipped right round—and Eve yelped despite herself.
Huh? He spotted me? Was he not totally in a world of his own?
As she reeled, Lloyd gently reached out.
“Oh, so that’s how you’re staying hidden! I thought I hadn’t seen you anywhere.”
He smiled, but Eve was swearing internally.
Christ almighty! He was here looking for someone?! Not staring at nothing, but honing his senses for the slightest sound?
He’d caught her, and her brain went into overdrive, searching for a way out. He had all the advantages physically, so she swiftly concluded there was no way she’d get that syringe in him now.
I hate to, but I’ve gotta show myself and talk my way out of it. Say I’m a special guard or whatever.
Eve pulled back the optical hood, revealing her face.
From darkness emerged the face of a well-bred young girl.
Lloyd looked her over intently.
Why is he staring at me like that? Wait… Does he know I’m Eve?! He knows what’s in the costume? Did he identify me by scent?!
Eve wasn’t about to underestimate Lloyd twice, but that left her overthinking his every word and gesture, as if common sense could not possibly apply here.
Lloyd saw she was flustered, so he maintained his smile—but his eyes remained very serious.
“I already know,” he said, softly. As if urging her to confess.
He does?!
“So there’s no need to keep hiding the truth. We can skip past the questioning.”
Questioning?! He looks way too cute to be so ready to interrogate me!
“You’re…”
He knows! This boy’s figured out the secret I kept for a hundred years, save those I intentionally revealed myself to!
“…The Azami princess!”
I shower daily, there’s no scent to catch— Wait, what?
Her wildest dreams could not have prepared her for that sentence, and she was left staring blankly at him.
“Uh…princess? What? I’m Profen security…”
“You are far too adorable to be a security guard, your Highness.”
“I’m…confused.”
Eve was at a loss for words, but Lloyd just nodded confidently.
“You don’t need to lie to me. I already know the truth. You’re the princess!”
You don’t know shit! What is wrong with him?! There’s nothing worse than a clueless imbecile who’s this sure of themselves!
Blithely ignoring her horrified look, Lloyd continued confidently.
“That invisibility cloak is so you can investigate Profen’s misdeeds, right? Just like the king said! I know you’re trying to do the right things, your Highness, but this plan is far too reckless.”
Is he serious about this princess thing? Has he seriously failed to work out that Marie’s the real princess?! How dumb is he?! And how unconvincing is Marie?!
✦ ✦ ✦
Meanwhile, Marie was quaffing spirits.
“Red wine! White wine! All you need in life!”
“Chug, Princess!” Ubi was applauding her performance.
She was certainly reckless. Her liver was screaming.