Camouflage

-What do you want to do today?- I question XianLen, who is casually drinking more soup he stole from the storage sharing it with his fox

-Uhm... Are you familiar with the Royal baths?- he smirks

-If you want to have a bath I can prepare you one here, I do know a few things about herbs... But I'm not allowed to enter those baths if not on duty-

-Won't they let pass two maids?- he blinks

-What are you planning to... Woh wait!- he grabs my wrist and run back inside the house.

...

-Just tie it as much as possible, we can't let those be seen too much... You gotta pass unobserved as all the other maids- he points at my chest

-I'll be right back... Just wear these clothes in the meantime!- he throww me a standard bath maid outfit and leaves the room.

-Well then...-

As I'm finishing to tie the skirt on, he comes back dressed identically as me...

His hairs tied like a maid and makeup to accentuate his bit of femininity... I could swear he did something to modify his chest and waist...

It is indeed a woman in front of me, not like Hua who is absolutely sensual for a man while still keeping his masculine traits...

This is a real woman!

-Let me do your makeup! For a boring and forgettable face now!- he claps

We sneak inside and get called by the head maid right away

-You two! Yeah you!- she points at us, watching eachother worried

-I see you are new uh? Come here then... Nobody is willing to go there today- she hands both of us a vassoil with rice and plum wine on it

-Now go, they are waiting!- she sends us off so I just follow XianLen...

-What are we doing exactly...?- I come to whisper in his ear

-Simple... Place these on a table and stand behind it, until the Royals ask us to pour them a drink!- he grins as if this was the most normal thing ever for him

-Are you kidding me...? They will find out right away, there's probably not a single person in the Palace who won't recognize me...!-

-Mmhn... They won't recognize you, my makeup should work just fine... But if you really are anxious... Let me- he stops walking and turns to face me, staring at my face -Let's see... Oh yeah right!-

-Right what?-

-Shh, you are distracting me- he passes the vassoil on one hand and place the other on my face, focused...

I feel tingles all over for half a second -That should be fine now, let's go-

-What have you done excatly?-

-Nothing much but they won't be able to recognize you even if you said your name out loud now hehe-

We walk past the first smaller hall where guards and other staff members are allowed to bath too, in their days off duty...

A group of men is occupating one of the small tubs, talking and laughing loudly

-I tell you! One woman like that prostitute is one in a million!... And the food is so good too there!-

-As if you paid any attention to it haha!-

-What? Jealous cuz you are getting married?- smirk one

-Contrary to you I care for my wife!-

-Liar!- they splash water to eachother laughing

One man approaches them with fierce steps and his towel over the shoulder, completely naked

"Pei'Ge!" I blush embarrassed, looking away as if that alone was a sin

-What's that? Never saw a man? Haha- mocks me XianLen

-It's not that but... It's my brother...!-

-Oh that change everything haha... But you do have a brother with a... Uhm... Prosperous future- he comments look in his direction

-Oh please, it's my brother! Stop! And he is not available anyway- I yell with a tone only we can hear

-Talking about wives... What about Mister untouchable Ying PeiZhi?

I heard some sweet talk coming from your room and you always run away whenever you got some free time... What beauty are you hiding from us, uh?- giggles a man rising his eyebrows amused

-Only sweet-talk?! Man, I heard much worse!

She's definitely a better ride than Guo's beloved prostitute haha!-

On Pei's eyes pass an hint of rage as he seat in the water -It's not a good ride, but you perverted idiots would never understand-

"Wow... Do I sound like that too when talking? Now I kinda understand when Hua says I'm annoying..." I laugh to myself as I leave.

We enter the second hall, approaching the main bathtub which is way bigger than the ones at the dormitory... It's almost like a lake instead of a tub...

The water is milky and warm, producing heavy steam which fills the air with warm humidity. All over the perimeter there are golden candles enlightened and roses as decoration...

We place ourselves behind a table, where the crown prince is having oils poured on his skin... In the water there are two other Princes relaxing

-Ge...! Come here! I made another decoration to show you!- yells one who looks extremely young

-I'll be right there... As soon as our guest arrives- he smiles sending away the maids... Only me and XianLen are left, except for the two guards at the door many meters behind.

Soon after a gorgeous man arrives... Black perfectly braided hair and golden eyes.

Enchanting in a way...

As he walks, I cannot stop following his figure with my eyes and XianLen has to elbow me, bringing me back to reality...

"Right... We're Maids..."

I fix my posture and look ahead, still stealing a quick glance as the the man removed his only robe and enter the tub

"Well... That's a nice view"

XianLen roll his eyes forcing himself to stay serious as a laugh approach both of us, who clearly enjoyed the display of tonic muscles from head to toe... Especially the more plump areas.

The Crown prince moves to enter the water too, not obstructing my view anymore.

I keep looking at that man who seems familiar...

"Oh right! That Noble from afar at the Feng banquet... We met recently at the Capital too"

After some time the two younger Princes leaves and soon after the Crown Prince becomes serious, sending a signal to the guards who nod in replie and leave the room... Locking the doors behind them.

"This isn't supposed to happen..."

I can almost read XianLen thoughts as his face grow darker with worry...

We are not allowed to leave even if the Prince asks us sadly...

So whatever is going to happen... We will be part of it.

"This is not going to end well..." I cleanch my jaw worried...

If he sent the Guards away it means something bad will happens...

What an unlucky day for us to sneak in here.

XianLen can evade death easily if I help him escape...

But not me, if I happen to hear or see something I will be killed right after.

And if I run away to denunce it, I will be killed for going against the Royal laws and who knows what other sentence will be thrown along... Nor can I fight back a Prince and hope to get back home with no consequences.

As I am lost in thoughts I don't notice the two men now seating in front of us, with clean robes getting wet over their soaked skin and hair

-Would you like some Wine before we begin our business Mister Wang Chia-Hao?-

"Right, that was his his name..."

-Indeed... It would be very beneficial for more relaxation-

The Crown Prince nods toward me... XianLen looks at me with scared eyes... He knows what's happening as much as I do.

Whatever happens, we're going to get disposed of...

I take a deep breath and begin serving some wine to both of them.

The Prince just takes it, still talking, while the other man turns slightly to face me and as he does so the smile on his face wears off...

"Did he... Recognize me? Is this good or bad for the situation we're in?!"

He fixes himself up in half a second

-Actually... I would prefer to have such a talk in a different place.

As I was coming here I noticed some soldiers on the other side of that wall... It's better to be careful Your Highness-

-As you prefer My Lord... Then I'll leave you to chose our next meeting point, as I get everything ready properly.

Send me a letter like last time... You know how- replies the Prince gulping down his wine and standing up

-I surely will chose carefully...- says the other following him...

As they leave the Noble, Chia-Hao, slightly nods toward me with a wicked smirk and leaves...

Once the doors close XianLen falls on his knees, grabbing the table with one hand -I'm so sorry... I didn't meant to... Oh my... My heart...- he says with trembling voice

-Now I see why the Emperor requested for me to keep an eye on you...- I try to joke, taking a deep breath once the adrenaline washes off

-Aside from that... We must find out what's happening.

For the Price to send away the guards... It must be dangerous- he nods, agreeing with me

-That man... I wonder what happened for him to change mind so suddenly... At we're safe now-

-He recognized me... He's a person extremely keen on details, recently He managed to remember me after we was eachother for ten minutes only, one year before-

-It's still impossible...- he murmurs

-How's so? Makeup is just makeup... With his memory he-

-I said it's impossible!- he yells -Look- he takes one of the silver vassoil, now empty and shove it in front of me -Look at your face!-

I stare at my reflection and what meets me is not my face... Not my eye color or hair... It's a completely different person.

-This...-

-Excatly... Now I'm even more worried about who he is- he says staring at the door with cleanched fists