All at once everything clicked. If Zeke had had the grace to blush when she had remarked upon his (unintentional) ability to be poetic, it was nothing compared to the blush that flared across his cheeks when he realized who she was. All she had had to do was mention swordsmanship. There was only one girl that had seen him practicing since he arrived in Licia. At the time he had thought it to simply be just another student. What else was he supposed to conclude? She had been, after all, wearing a mask.
When the maids had addressed her as Princess Alarice, heir to the kingdoms of both Licia and Deamone, however, there had been no denying her identity—just as there was no longer any denying that his mystery companion was the very same royal. Zeke could kick himself—knew that his father would love to. The more Alarice spoke, the wider his eyes became. Even now, her figure was shadowy and he could only hope the same shadow hid his own embarrassment, but he wondered still how he had been able to be so blind. To have been unable to clue in sooner, or at the very least recognize her voice. Instead, he had surely embarrassed himself, talking so casually and so brazenly. What was wrong with him?
All Zeke could do was gape, stammering noncommittally in an attempt to formulate some sort of coherent response, when a third individual busted through the trees and into the clearing. It was as if some switch of propriety had been flipped on inside his brain, saving him at least a measure of continued misbehavior. The formal skin he crawled into was, of course, nowhere near as practiced and as perfect as Alarice’s. Convincing perhaps to the similarly unpracticed but boasting a distinct sort of hesitance in those who knew better. Still, it was better than nothing.
Zeke hardly registered himself standing, straight and attentive, when the Princess did the same. “Not at all, Princess,” he assured, bowing respectfully and managing by some great magic not to flinch or wheeze as he forced the bruised skin to fold over itself. “You honor me with your concern and kind words. I’m quite sure it’s nothing that can’t be remedied with time and care.”