Sophia Elise the Eighth was the worst wife anyone could’ve ever asked for.

  A catastrophe, a mess: the rot of House Elise.

  She could see how terrible she looked through the reflection of the motor carriage’s window, keeping herself a seat away from her own husband as she hides this horrible ugliness that was her.

  A sundress she had salvaged from the floor pile (Zai had very kindly, partially, complimented her on it once before when she was in the midst of memorizing the alphabet, so it was perhaps the safest pick), and a slightly rogued up cheeks; all covered by taking an actual bath in the washroom (perhaps the first she had *really* done in weeks). Long blonde hair rolled into a short bun, expressions practiced in the mirror: she was in theory ready for this… outing.

  Her mind betrays her. You never really thought about this, but you don’t actually look good. It’s all about perception. Your royalty makes you look better than you actually are, but strip that away? You’re nobody.

  Zai must’ve been the most disappointed husband on this small rock orbiting Unudo, how as the Guardsman pulls the motor carriage onto the cobblestone streets of the town square Sophia made as much effort as she could to hide her figure from him.

  Goddess, if he knew how much of a wreck we were, he’d never have agreed to this.

  Too late for any regrets, the vehicle was coming to a stop now.

  “Alright, we’re here.” Guardsman Fushimi informs ever so casually, taking the first step out.

  Sophia keeps her face towards the window, side eyeing her partner in a panic.

  Goddess DAMNED he looked so good.

  The Crown Prince of Tianci wears his usual clothing, no change to that dark black tunic for what was this small outing his wife had asked him to accompany her on. But he had combed his usually semi-unkempt hair back just slightly, enough to sharpen those already unfair facial features.

  Sophia Elise just stares, a mind attempting to make a mathematical analysis of his contours; his shapes in a poor attempt at keeping this festering desire within her chest from exploding like a hand grenade.

  We should’ve just said it was a date… The thought processes all panic. Oh Goddess why did you make us this terrible…

  And he takes a moment to smile, turning towards her. “Come on Sophia, it’s going to be fun.”

  This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

  Well, at least he’s confident about it.

  The Fourth Princess is not a good conversationalist, especially not when there’s at least forty eight people in direct line of sight of her. Eyes darting around as she walks next to him. Too many stares. Too many eyes. Her Ensolian clothing, her Ensolian hair, her Ensolian eyes, her Ensolian body, her Ensolian gait catching the glances of nearly everyone they pass.

  Behind the handful of hastily setup vendor shop fronts selling sweet snacks and fresh cut fruit, small paper postcards, and a handful of lanterns; behind the handful of families that almost aimlessly wander between the buildings are eyes.

  Eyes that are staring at this outsider, at this intruder into this space.

  Someone, a blurry face, waves out towards the couple. “Hey yo Jin!”

  It’s Zai’s cover name, called out towards by a vendor beneath the strung electrical lights that were hung across the street. Sophia flinches at the sound, at his call towards this outsider’s husband.

  The Prince of the Dominion, in hiding, and with quite a well put on northern Tiancin accent, responds effortlessly. “Hyunwoo, good to see you this evening.”

  “Likewise!”

  “Jin!” Another calls out to him.

  “Jaehee.” Zai responds, the name slipping off his tongue with practiced ease. “How’s your mother doing?”

  “Jin!”

  “I hope your son’s grades are getting better.” He flashes a smile.

  “Jin!”

  “When’s the next volume of Heroes of the Fang coming to your shop? I’m waiting for it~”

  “Jin!”

  More faces, an endless series of strangers striking up conversations with her husband of all people. Each one with a name, each one responded to with such grace and perfection and understanding…

  He must’ve been busy in town while we were all holed up in our room this past month. Her internal monologue realizes. Shopping, living, existing in this Small Town with an Ocean View.

  A pang of envy hits her heart, cutting deep before someone asks the burning question to Jin. “Is that your wife?”

  Oh CRAP. Sophia freezes in place, a mind completely crashing. What’s he going to say, is he…?

  “Yes she is.” He says it without even a single pause, as natural as breathing.

  This stranger is middle aged, her skin pale and hair graying. This utterly unknown variable bows slightly in the common Northern Tiancin greeting to strangers, to this literal Princess in disguise. “Nice to finally meet you Sylvia. Jin has told me all about you.”

  Sophia Elise goes back to basics, a scowl like a blizzard crossing her face alongside harsh words. “I hope it was all positive.”

  The woman chuckles at what she must’ve assumed was a joke. “Of course. Though I never expected someone so beautiful.”

  “He’s lucky.” Sophia bites, cringing at the answer as it leaves her mouth.

  The internal monologue snaps at the rest of the Consciousness Committee. Someone get this idiot off the speech controls, we’re ruining ourselves!

  The stranger takes it with a smile, with Zai holding in a small laugh to add to her (unplanned) deception. He smiles, his arm wrapping itself around Sophia’s shoulder and bringing her closer to him. “I’m just lucky she chose me.”

  Sirens blare, the entire body and mind frozen like a marble statue.

  PHYSICAL CONTACT ALARM.

  swimmingly