The sun was already kissing the hills when Princess Serenthia kicked open the door to Virelle's room, hands on her hips and grin unrepentantly smug.
"Wake up, sleepy duchess," she declared. "Today is our day."
Virelle sat up from her bed, blinking sleepily in the golden morning light. She was still pale, the bruises faint beneath her eyes, but her posture had regained strength. She rubbed her temples and squinted toward the intruder.
"Do you ever knock?"
Serenthia grinned. "Do you ever say thank you when someone brings you the best day of your month?"
Lia, curled on Virelle's pillow like a regal ornament, flicked her tail in mild irritation.
"Don't wake her like that," Virelle mumbled, carefully stroking the kitten's head. "She's sensitive in the mornings."
Lia let out a light mrrrp, clearly siding with Virelle.
Serenthia threw herself onto the foot of the bed. "Oh, please. We've been cooped up in this mansion for days. No assassination attempts, no political schemes, not even a dramatic letter from the capital! We must go out."
Virelle yawned. "You say that like those are good things."
"They are if you're bored."
Lia rolled onto her back and offered a tiny paw in the air.
Virelle translated. "She says she wants pastries."
Serenthia gasped. "A noble creature. A cat after my own stomach."
One Hour Later
The west wing bustled like a secret mission headquarters.
Virelle stood before the mirror in a soft powder-blue dress, her golden hair braided over one shoulder in a ribboned weave. Lia perched on the vanity, tail swishing with approval.
Princess Serenthia wore her favorite traveling outfit—a dark gray riding jacket trimmed with silver and black trousers tucked into polished boots. A short-sleeved mantle cloaked her shoulders.
"You're sure about this?" Virelle asked, adjusting her sleeve.
"No guards," Serenthia declared again. "Just us. I want a day without being followed by armor that clinks every time I breathe."
"They'll protest."
"Let them."
"They'll report it to the Emperor."
"I'll tell him I was kidnapped by a kitten."
Lia sneezed.
"I think that's agreement," Serenthia said brightly.
Downstairs
They stood at the entrance of the main foyer, eyes alert as a pair of footmen passed carrying trays of morning tea toward the study. None of the guards had yet noticed their change in attire. One maid paused at the sight of Serenthia in traveling gear—but wisely said nothing and backed away.
"I've arranged a discreet carriage," Serenthia whispered like a criminal. "The driver's loyal to me. No insignia. No seal. No nonsense."
Virelle's eyes widened. "Did you smuggle in a royal coachman?"
"I call it delegation."
Lia meowed and leapt onto Virelle's shoulder, curling like a scarf. Her tail flicked Virelle's nose.
"I feel ridiculous."
"You look charming," Serenthia said. "We'll say you're a noble scholar traveling with your aunt and emotional support cat."
"You're not my aunt."
"I'm very emotionally supportive, though."
The Town of Elerwood
Elerwood sat just beyond the rolling hills of the duchy. A small, picturesque town lined with cobblestone paths and quaint storefronts, its flower boxes burst with color and its air smelled of cinnamon and crisp bread.
The trio stepped out of the carriage with the quiet grace of people who definitely weren't doing something suspicious.
Lia rode high on Virelle's shoulder, surveying the town like a judge.
"Where to first?" Serenthia asked, hands on hips. "We have the whole day."
Virelle thought for a moment. "There's a bookshop I used to visit with my brother. And a bakery nearby that makes almond cakes."
Lia purred.
"Cakes it is," Serenthia declared.
The Bakery
"Three almond cakes, two lavender shortbreads, a slice of rose-honey tart, and… oh, do you have those butter cookies shaped like cats?"
The baker, an older woman with smile lines and a headscarf dusted in flour, chuckled warmly. "We do, Your—er, my lady."
Virelle tried not to laugh as Serenthia lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper.
"We're incognito today. Call me Sera."
"And I'm Mira," Virelle added, cheeks pink from embarrassment and joy.
Lia, sitting on the counter like royalty, pawed at a basket of soft, warm croissants.
The baker leaned closer. "And what's this little one's name?"
"Lia," Virelle said proudly.
The woman smiled. "A lovely name. She has kind eyes."
Lia blinked, flattered.
The Bookshop
Stacks of old books towered around them in delightful chaos. The shelves were overfilled, the corners draped in spiderwebs of dust and wisdom.
Virelle walked between the aisles like someone returning to a cathedral.
Serenthia wandered toward the mythology section. "Did you know there's a story about a fox who fell in love with the moon?"
"I thought that was a song," Virelle said, flipping through a history volume.
"It's both."
Lia made herself at home in the windowsill, curled into a sunbeam while a little girl nearby cooed at her through the glass.
A Brief Interlude: The Alley
"We're being followed," Serenthia said flatly.
They'd stepped into a side alley near the florist's shop when Virelle paused mid-step.
"Someone from the estate?"
"No. Sloppy. Probably someone from the local noble houses. Word travels when royals sneeze."
"What do we do?"
Serenthia smirked.
"Follow me."
The Escape
Fifteen minutes later, they were sitting inside a fabric shop with three scarves, two pairs of reading glasses, and a curtain rod.
Virelle now wore a green scarf and round spectacles.
Serenthia had wrapped herself in paisley and insisted on holding a cane.
"We look ridiculous," Virelle whispered.
"We look invisible," Serenthia countered.
Lia peeked out of Virelle's handbag and meowed judgmentally.
Sunset
By the time they reached the town square, the sky was painted in strokes of orange and rose. Children laughed in the fountains. A violinist played near a garden wall.
Virelle stood with Serenthia by the edge of the park, arms full of books, pastries, and fresh cloth.
"I don't remember ever laughing this much," Virelle said softly.
Serenthia smiled. "Good. Then we'll do it again."
They sat on the edge of the stone fountain. Lia climbed onto Virelle's lap and began grooming her tail, eyes half-lidded with contentment.
"I wonder what Lia will want to do on her next full moon," Virelle said.
"Eat an entire bakery, probably."
"Scratch a suitor?"
"Bite an archduke."
They both laughed.
And under the setting sun, for the first time in what felt like forever…
They were simply girls.
Free.
Safe.
Smiling.