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“My lady,” an exasperated voice called out behind her.
Coco promptly decided to ignore the figure tailing her like a second shadow. She slid on her boots and slunk through the darkness, being extra careful to keep her steps quiet.
“Your mother will have choice words,” the voice added, lowering to a whisper as they snuck around the castle, “when she discovers you slipped out of the castle."
A mischievous glint danced in Coco’s eyes. “She won’t mind me having a fresh air, hm?”
Her hand pressed to her lips, stifling a giggle as they both slipped past a unsuspecting guard.
“You’re highness, must we?”
“We must, now come give me a hand here.”
The figure behind her sighed in defeat and knelt down near the wall. She extended a hand towards her foolish charge.
“Watch your feet, milady.”
Coco pressed a hand against the wall as she stepped onto her retainer's shoulder. Her retainer slowly rose beneath her, bracing herself against the stone as Coco reached for the top.
Coco awkwardly hauled herself, her foot scraping against the stone as she climbed up.
“Hurry, please.”
Coco finally managed to hook an elbow over with a rather unbefitting grunt. She pulled herself onto the top of the wall.
Before Coco could offer her hand. A loud clatter rang out from somewhere behind them.
Purple eyes widened in a flash of panic meeting hers.
“Uh-oh.” Coco glanced over her shoulder, her heart giving a nervous flutter. “Hurry!”
Without a second thought she hopped off the wall, landing with a thud on the other side.
"Milady!"
Agott’s voice was uncharacteristically pitched high, followed by the scrambling over the stone with considerably less grace than she would ever liked. She jumped over the stone quickly, landing with a undignified grunt.
Coco took off before any of the guards or scouts could catch sight of them. She could hear quick footsteps following after her as they raced through the darkness.
Her pulse picked up when the sharp clatter of armor echoed frighteningly close behind them, barely missing the two of them.
"Your Highness!"
"Quiet down!" Coco whispered urgently. "Are you trying to blow my cover?"
“You—!”
Coco suddenly pressed a hand over her retainer’s mouth, swiftly putting an end to her protest.
“Shhh!”
Agott’s glared murderously at the back of Coco’s head.
Coco held perfectly still, breathing evenly as she watched the knight continue farther down the path, apparently having failed to notice them.
After the footsteps had faded into the distance. A muffled string of complaints followed. Coco eased her grip while releasing a relieved breath.
Agott yanked her wrist away, freeing her mouth.
“Your Highness, do you have any notion how high that wall is? One small mistake could have left you with a sprained ankle, or worse. Such reckless climbing is hardly becoming of a princess.”
Coco dusted herself off, apparently unconcerned.
“Well, we made it didn’t we?”
Agott muttered a quick prayer for the heavens to grant her patience, lest she commit the unthinkable and strangle her own liege.. “Your Highness.”
“Hey, quit it with the title.” Coco warned, a flicker of genuine concern in her eyes. “If someone hears a word, we’re done for.”
Agott’s gaze narrowed. With a quiet sigh of resignation, she unclipped her own dark cloak. The heavy fabric rustling with the wind, then approached the princess. “Very well,” she conceded, “What would you have me call you, then?”
“My name,” Coco teased, a playful gleam returning to her golden eyes. “Or perhaps you’ve forgotten it?”
Agott merely draped the cloak around Coco’s shoulders, instead of offering a response. Her hands gently lifted the hood to conceal her liege face.
Purple eyes gazed at the princess with something perilously close to fondness, a warmth that belied her stern facade.
Coco stared at Agott, pleasantly stunned, her heart giving a pleased little jump. Her lips curved into a small uncharacteristically shy smile.
Agott felt her face instantly burn. She looked away clearing her throat awkwardly.
“There. That should suffice.”
Agott busied herself with the cloak as if it’s a matter of grave importance.
As she pats the cloak down, Agott noticed the scrape across Coco’s palm leaving a thin line against her skin. Before the princess could hide it, she grasped her hand tightly.
“And this?” Agott muttered lowering her voice unconsciously, tinged with concern.
“A mere scratch,” Coco answered, attempting to slip both of her hands away wearing a sheepish grin.
“Indeed,” Agott responded with a flat tone dragging her hands back firmly.
Agott drew out a clean cloth, its white fabric a stark contrast to the darkness. Her hands wiped the dirt from Coco’s palm, the gesture slow and meticulous. Her gaze fixed on the task pointedly avoiding the pair of golden eyes throughout.
Coco watched her quietly, the corners of her mouth curving into a teasing grin.
“You’re terribly shy whenever I catch you off guard.”
“We are not having this conversation.”
The village was lively despite the late evening. A creature of excitement named Coco bounced from stall to stall. A random baked loaf vanished in quick bites, leaving a faint smudge on her chin. Before Agott could even offer a handkerchief. Coco had already moved to another stall. Her gaze flickering by skewers of roasted meat.
“Another one?”
Coco tore a piece from the skewer. “It’s different,” she declared “The cooks are too…stiff. Everything is too carefully arranged and perfectly seasoned. Here, it is better!” She declared wildly swinging a half eaten skewer, nearly poking a passing bystander.
Agott pulled the skewer guiding it away before any harm could be done. "The cooks are quite capable of preparing any dish you desire, even a thousand of these, should you wish it. You could throw a feast every night." Her voice held a note of exasperation yet her fingers slipped a silver coin into the vendor's outstretched palm.
She took another bite a happy hum escaping her lips, her eyes visibly twinkling in happiness. “But it wouldn’t be the same, would It? The adventure. The freedom.” She gestured around the place with her food, somehow not smearing sauce across Agott’s dark cloak. “Besides,” she added, her voice dropping to a whisper, “I’m tired of being watched. You’re the only one I can truly escape with.”
Agott’s only response was a slight tightening of her jaw. Her gaze sweeping the bustling crowd. As Coco ate another skewer of another meat with Agott silently sliding the payment.
Coco noticed a group of young women giggling behind their hands. Their eyes glancing a moment too long on her retainer. Coco’s lips curved into a smile of mischief as she grabbed a random treat. She nudged Agott with her elbow.
“Look at that,” Coco whispered with a playful lilt in her voice. “You’ve got admirers.”
Agott ever diligent on her duty, brushed a stray crumb from Coco’s cheek with a thumb. “My only concern is your safety, Your Highness.” Her voice was even, her attention seemingly entirely focused to the princess.
“Oh, I’m sure,” Coco teased, her gaze carried the soft gold of flowers blooming under sunrise. She munched on the candied sweet with a hum. “They’re practically swooning. Perhaps you could offer them a gallant smile, Agott.”
Agott’s lips remained a thin line. A faint flush crept to her neck but she offered no response. Her hands tugging the hood to conceal Coco’s face.
Suddenly a figure squeezed through the narrow way. His shoulder brushing roughly against Coco, almost sending her stumbling. The candied apple slipped from her grasp rolling into the rough ground. Coco regained her footing putting on a forgiving smile.
But before any of them can utter a word, a hand clamped down on the man. A pair of hands grasped on the collar of his tunic tightly. Agott’s whole face had gone dangerously cold, her purple eyes turned glacial in fury.
“You have just shoved a lady aside without so much as an apology,” Agott hissed, her fingers tightening around the man's collar as she hauled him back. The fabric strained beneath her grip, drawing a startled gasp from the unfortunate man.
“I—It was an accident, Sir. I didn’t see her.” the man sputtered practically shaking in his feet.
“One does not simply put their hands upon a lady and carry on as though nothing occurred.”
“But I didn’t put my hands on her!” the man protested his face turning white, his gaze meeting plum eyes carrying unforgiving hue of a winter storm, promising far more than her words ever would.
“Agott.”
Agott did not hear the serious tone. “Had she fallen, I assure you, an apology would have been the least of your concerns.”
“Agott.” Coco grabbed the end of her sleeve, giving it a insistent tug.
Agott's gaze followed the motion, still holding the man tightly. The frost in her plum eyes softened by the slightest degree when their gazes met. Her grip on the man's collar remained firm.
Coco smiled trying to reassure her, even as her eyes flickered toward the growing crowd of curious onlookers.
“Consider yourself fortunate,” she murmured, her voice still held a chilling promise. She released his tunic with a dismissive flick of her wrist. The man coughed, scampering into the crowd like a frightened mouse.
Coco looked at the growing crowd behind them. “My, my, Agott,” she crooned, looping an arm around her retainer. “such a ferocious protector. You almost had a duel in the middle of the market. And all for a measly candied apple!”
Agott turned her head away. She cleared her throat, crossing her arms. “It would have been less about the apple and more about the disrespect, Your Highness,” she stated, her voice regaining its usual even cadence.
“Oh, but it was alright” Coco said, dragging her away. “And besides,” her voice dropping to a whisper, “you looked quite dashing. I daresay those young women from earlier are even more smitten now.”
Agott scowled sharply, completely doing the opposite. “My focus remains solely on your safety, Your Highness,” she repeated.
Golden eyes traced her face, noticing how the lantern light caught the sharp line of Agott's jaw. With the absence of her cloak the rest of her attire was visible, a white tunic fastened high at the throat, framed by a vest carrying the colour of her eyes. Her black trousers and polished boots completed the almost princely vibe.
One of the tunic's upper fastenings had come undone during the scuffle, leaving the normally immaculate collar slightly askew. A sliver of skin left exposed.
Coco wisely kept this observation to herself. It would be terribly unkind to point it out. Besides, Coco saw no reason to deprive herself of the view.
She could already hear the indignation, drawing a smile on her face.
She stole another glance.
Agott really ought to smile more.
There was something strangely pleasing about seeing Agott like this. A little disheveled, her usual immaculate image loosened around the edges. It made her seem almost softer, and maybe even adorable.
Before Coco could notice her lost candied treat. Agott reached for another candied apple hurriedly replacing the sugary treat. She reached out in silent offering while her gaze steadfastly fixed on the fruit rather than Coco’s face.
Coco took the apple and leaned slightly closer to Agott trying to catch her expression. “You know,” she continued, “sometimes, a little attention isn’t so bad, especially when it’s from you.”
“We should keep moving, Your Highness,” she choked out, stepping back hurriedly. “Before we truly attract the wrong kind of attention.”
Coco plopped onto a bench tucked away beside a closed stall. A contented sigh escaped her lips. Her legs which had carried her on a tour of every enticing aroma and shiny trinkets the market offered, welcomed the respite. She still clutched a half eaten candied fruit.
A moment later a cup appeared before her, held by Agott’s hand. She settled beside Coco but remained stiff as ever, her gaze sweeping the dwindling crowd with a practiced eye.
Coco took the cup its coolness a welcome contrast to the warmth of the candied fruit. She took a slow appreciative sip. As she lowered the cup, her eyes darted past Agott’s head. A young woman lingering near a stall piled with woven blankets quickly averted her gaze, a blush rising to her cheeks. Then another different woman haggling over a string of beads, cast a surreptitious glance before pretending having an intense interest in her purchase.
“You know, Agott,” Coco murmured with a playful lilt in her voice, “it seems I’m not the one attracting attention tonight.” She nudged Agott subtly with her elbow, her eyes twinkling in mirth.
Agott remained utterly unperturbed. Her gaze was fixed on a group of rowdy merchants further down the street. “Attention? Only that which is curious about your unusual consumption speed, I imagine. You’ve eaten enough sugar tonight to fell a horse. I wouldn’t be surprised if your stomach decides to protest later.” Her voice was a lowered into a soft gentle chiding.
Coco rolled her eyes, thankfully hidden beneath the hood. “Always fussing,” she sighed wearing a soft smile.
A different hesitant voice drifted from beside them. “Excuse me, miss?”
Agott turned, her eyes widening imperceptibly as she found herself face to face with a young woman holding a basket of freshly baked bread. The woman’s face looked red, her fingers fidgeted with the edge of her apron.
“I haven’t seen you around before,” the young woman continued, her voice carrying a hint of hope. She clutched her basket a little tighter, focused solely on Agott. “My name is Elise. I haven’t caught your name?”
What, precisely, am I expected to tell her?
“Pardon me, but I cannot entertain your affections. I am currently attempting to prevent the Crown Princess from being murdered.”
Very well. Politely dismiss her. Now.
“I am afraid we must be going,” Agott said, composing herself. “We have somewhere we are expected.”
Elise still wore a hopeful smile. “Oh. Perhaps I might accompany you for a little while?”
Agott looked at the young woman, then at the basket of bread, then finally shot a desperate plea in her eyes, at Coco. “Coco,” she began, her voice a lowered to a strangled whisper, “a word?”
Coco simply took another slow sip of her drink, wearing a wide smirk. “Mhm?” she asked, her voice fluttering a innocent melodious hum.
Agott’s gaze held a bewildered pleading quality, glancing at Coco. Her lips parted slightly, but no sound emerged. A faint flush crept up her neck and settled high on her cheekbones, the sight that only made the princess before them smile even more.
Coco perched beside Agott let out a tiny, almost inaudible squeak of amusement that she quickly muffled with a hand to her mouth. Her shoulders shook with suppressed laughter. Her eyes sparkled with mischief, darting between her flustered retainer and the young maiden. It was a delightful spectacle with the usual Agott rendered speechless through unexpected encounter.
Under the bench a urgent thump against her ankle gives Coco a clue of Agott’s silent plea to aid her.
Her eyes still danced with mirth, held an expression of understanding. She leaned closer to Agott, her arm easily slipping through the retainer’s. She rested her head lightly against Agott’s shoulder being a picture of contented affection.
“I’m afraid you’ve caught her at a rather unfortunate time,” Coco said sweetly.
“uh, She is?” Elise stuttered surprised.
Coco glanced at Agott with an affectionate smile. “She is already spoken for.”
Agott’s eyes widened. “I am?”
Coco’s fingers quietly pinched the fabric at Agott’s side.
Agott’s face became painfully stiff.
“I mean—” she waffled, feeling nails dug in her side.
“Yes,” Coco said smoothly, giving her arm an affectionate squeeze. “You are.”
Elise’s expression fell ever so slightly.
“I see.”
“I’m sure you understand,” Coco said keeping her tone warm and perfectly courteous. “It would hardly be proper for her to encourage another young lady’s attentions.”
Agott stared rigidly ahead. Coco could practically see a steam radiating from her face.
“I had no intention of causing any trouble,” Elise said quickly in panic, her eyes darting between the two.
“And you haven’t.” Coco’s smile looked positively radiant. “Your kindness is quite flattering. Unfortunately, I’m rather attached to her.”
Agott nudged her slightly. Coco gave her arm another tiny squeeze.
Elise’s gaze flickered between them, her cheeks colouring with sudden embarrassment. Agott’s expression suggested she was beginning to understand exactly what Coco had done.
“And I suppose,” Elise said hesitantly, “I ought to congratulate you.”
“How kind.”
The young woman dipped her head before retreating toward her stall but not before casting one last wistful glance at Agott.
As soon as the young woman disappeared into the crowd. Agott whipped her head toward Coco, her purple eyes wide with a mixture of disbelief and utter confusion.
“Your Highness,” Agott hissed, her ears flushing redder. “what in the heavens was that?” The flush on her cheeks, deepened painting her skin crimson.
Coco merely offered a beatific smile in return. “Whatever do you mean, Agott?” Her eyes, sparkling with unrepentant mischief, met Agott’s bewildered gaze. “I merely saved you from an awkward situation.”
“Overwhelmed? I certainly was not. And to imply… to imply that I am ‘spoken for’!” She sputtered, gesturing vaguely to the candied apple still clutched in her hand. “It’s… it’s hardly proper. And entirely untrue!”
Coco leaned in, handing her the half eaten apple carrying a dangerous glint in her eyes. "Oh, but it is true, isn't it?" she murmured, her voice lowered to a teasing purr painting her retainer entire face red. "You are quite thoroughly spoken for. By me." The bold declaration inspired a sudden an overwhelming need to disappear for Agott.
Her gaze darted around in panic as If the very trees were privy to Coco’s outrageous claim. Her hand shot out yanking it forward, the smooth fabric falling over Coco’s face effectively obscuring the winning grin and molten pools of gold.
Hidden under the cloak a muffled peal of laughter drifted through the air.
“You are certainly too sweet for someone I am meant to drag home.”
It was a nice sunny afternoon on the palace. The sunlight glinting off the surface of a pond nestled near a large towering tree.
Coco had just hooked her knee over a branch with her long, green blonde hair tangled with leaves. But two gloved hands slid firmly under her armpits.
Before she could realize what was happening. Coco was hoisted smoothly off the branch like a misbehaving kitten. Her feet dangled in the air for a second and set unceremoniously back down on the ground.
Agott stepped in a touch too close, catching her completely off guard and sending a pleased flutter through her chest. Her retainer face carried a hint of annoyance but her long slender fingers still remained gentle and careful as they worked quickly plucking twigs from Coco’s long hair.
“Your Highness,” Agott began with her voice carried a strict formality, breathing deeply as her gloved hand tucked a strand of almost green hair behind Coco’s ear smoothly . “We are supposed to meet your Mother in ten minutes. Had you slipped, I would have had to explain to your mother how you fell into a pond.”
Coco blinked back to reality wearing a innocent grin. “Oh! Agott! Hi!”
“Do not ‘hi’ me,” Agott grumbled, giving Coco’s shoulder a push before she finds another excuse to cause trouble for them both.
Coco beamed and pointed towards the towering tree. “Hey look! I had a noble cause!”
Agott looked up. Perched on a thin branch was a white kitten, letting out a pathetic mew.
“It’s stuck! It’s terrified!” Coco insisted, looking up with heart melting empathy. “I just wanted to help it…”
“I suppose,” Agott sighed, smoothing down her own pristine vest. “I will handle it.”
Coco’s eyes went wide. “You’ve climbed a tree before, haven’t you?”
Of course not, she never needed to climb a tree serving a noble.
“I am fully capable of climbing a tree,” Agott said stiffly, reaching for the lowest branch.
“Agott, please be careful, it’s slippery!”
Agott almost muttered a cuss, her voice squeaking just as her knees scraped against the bark.
A few precarious moments later, Agott reached the branch. She sat on the wood the horrible pond gleaming directly below her. She put on her best charming smile for the kitten.
“Good afternoon, little one,” she whispered softly. “If you’d be so kind as to step into my arms…”
The kitten flattened its ears and let out a hiss.
Agott’s polite smile twitched. “Listen here, you ungrateful little ball of fur,” she hissed back. “Do not test me.”
Mew! The kitten adorably slapped at her gloved fingers.
“Agott!” Coco’s frantic voice echoed from below. “The branch! I think it’s going to snap!
“Agott, jump!”
“Absolutely not!”
The branch snapped down. The kitten panicked but Agott’s instincts kicked in instantly, snatching the kitten by the scruff of its neck and tucked it against her chest.
“Got you!”
Agott plummeted straight down through a flurry of leaves. The pond exploded in a massive splash of mud and water.
Coco gasped rushing to the edge. “Agott!”
Agott was drenched from head to toe. Her dark curly hair was plastered to her face, mud dripped from her temple. Weeds was stuck to her vest and a sad piece of lily pad rested right on her shoulder.
Tucked safely against her wet neck and completely dry was the white kitten.
Agott slowly wiped a blob of mud from her cheek. Her purple eyes glaring daggers at her liege.
Coco slap a hand on her mouth. Her golden eyes looked bright as a loud snort escaped her nose.
“Not. A. Word. Your Highness,” Agott growled, her voice dripping with humiliation as she carefully handed the dry kitten over to Coco’s waiting hands. “We are now… both going to be late.”
Agott entered the royal bedchamber, wearing a horrible frown. She scrubbed away the mud and changed into a fresh tunic. The weeds still felt glued to her skin. Her dark curls were a damp, unkempt clinging to her neck with her bruised ego ruined worse than her vest ever been.
Coco was already by the fireplace carrying a thick towel in her arms.
“Come along, Agott,” Coco said turning around with a soft smile. “I’ll dry your hair myself before you catch cold.”
Agott reflexively followed along, an awful habit pulling her toward her liege before she snapped back to reality and froze in her tracks.
“I appreciate the offer, Your Highness, but I am quite capable of drying myself,” Agott muttered, her face heating up as she quickly turned her head away, suddenly having an intense interest on the walls.
“Very well,” Coco agreed easily, nonplussed. “If you will not heed my request, perhaps you will heed a command.”
Agott’s sharp purple eyes snapped back to her. “You wouldn’t dare t—”
Coco was looking at her with golden eyes brimming with a fond stubborn warmth.
“You leave me no choice, I’m afraid,” Coco said softly, tapping the cushioned stool in front of the fireplace. “Sit down.”
Agott opened her mouth to protest but the sheer weight of Coco’s gaze pinned her in place. With a defeated grumble, the grouchy retainer crossed the room and sat stiffly on the stool.
“Good girl,” Coco murmured a mischievous dimpled smile appearing on her face.
Before Agott could scold her for that remark, a towel was gently enveloped over her head, muffling the room.
Agott winced expecting Coco to scrub her hair with the same reckless energy she often carried. But Coco’s hands were remarkably soft. She worked quickly squeezing the water out of raven curls with her fingers lightly skimming the shell of Agott’s ear and the nape of her neck.
The tiny kitten now purred in content, resting near the fire. It’s ears flickered to their voices, oblivious to the mess it had caused earlier.
The heat from the fire washed over Agott’s face but it was nowhere near as warm as the faint blush spreading across her cheeks. Sitting between the princess knees surrounded by the scent of clean linen and Coco’s floral soap. Agott felt her rigid shoulders reluctantly ease.
“You really didn’t have to jump, you know,” Coco whispered from above, her hands working through a stubborn curl. “I would have figured something out.”
But she kept her lips pressed into a stubborn line, her eyebrows furrowed. Her purple eyes fixed steadfastly on the floorboards. She was pouting, partly because her reputation had been ruined by a bunch of weeds but mostly because she was entirely capable of drying her own hair, thank you very much.
Coco ran her hands smoothly through Agott’s damp curls one last time before gently tilting her head back.
“Smile for me, handsome. You look positively tragic.”
Agott opened her mouth to deliver a scathing response but Coco’s hands trailed smoothly down from her hair to rest on her shoulders. Coco leaned forward and wrapped both arms around Agott from behind, pulling her stiff retainer back in a cozy embrace.
Coco rested her chin lightly on top of her raven curls, the soft laughter rumbling gently against Agott’s back.
Agott thoughts turns to a screeching halt, her heart jumping in her throat. The pout on her lips faltered, her sharp purple eyes widening as the heat in her face travelled all the way to the tips of her ears.
“…Your Highness,” Agott mumbled, her voice muffled against Coco’s arm as she reached up with a gloved hand to uselessly pat Coco’s wrist. “Please, kindly release me. I cannot even turn around.”
“I am merely taking care of my retainer,” Coco cooed sweetly, nuzzling her cheek into Agott’s damp hair with a happy sigh. “And you aren’t allowed to pout.”
Agott entire face twisted into a scowl.