Daita raised an eyebrow, his arms crossed, still watching Zuzu with suspicion. "Forget it, but what are you doing here?" he asked, tone slightly irritated. "I told you to spy on them! You should be at Minister Muzui's house, not here."
Zuzu, not missing a beat, adjusted his hair slightly and straightened his sleeves, a calm look settling on his face as he responded. With a casual gesture, he pointed at the mansion behind them, the moonlight casting long shadows across its walls.
"Seventh Prince," Zuzu began, his voice smooth and professional, "I am doing my part of job properly. We are, as you can see, standing before the Kogane mansion. You can read the nameplate too, yes?"
Daita blinked and looked back at the mansion. Sure enough, the nameplate glinted in the soft light. "Kogane Mansion," it read, nothing out of the ordinary. Daita glanced back at Zuzu, who appeared to be adjusting his sleeves.
Daita cleared his throat, clearly not satisfied with the answer. He narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Yeah, I can see that. But what are you doing outside and not inside at this late hour?!"
Zuzu shifted slightly, adjusting his sleeves and eyeing Daita with a knowing, almost smug look.
"Seventh Prince…you forgot something important," he said o, holding a finger up. "I can't sleep at night until it's almost dawn. And as for what I'm doing here outside?" He pointed casually up at the balcony. "I was watching you from up there, since quite a while ago. When I couldn't sleep, I got suspicious… less of you and more worried about what idiotic thing you might do. So, I came down to stop you before you really did something stupid."
Daita sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of his nose like he was fighting the urge to smack him again. "Whatever. Just get back to your real job," he muttered, waving him off. "And become a woman while you're at it, mule bag. And listen carefully don't just assume things by seeing them. Eyes can trick you."
With a knowing nod, Zuzu straightened up. " Of course, Seventh Prince. I will—" he started seriously, then immediately tiredly bent over, loosening his straight posture. "But…" he pointed at his own dress and long sleeves, "how long do I have to pretend to be Suzuran?!" He slumped, looking pitiful. "I know I'm good at acting, but this—" he shook the frills of his outfit "…this is exhausting."
Daita tilted his head slightly, an impish smirk creeping onto his face. "Lady Suzuran," he drawled, leaning closer like he was about to whisper a big secret. "It's not just your acting… it really suits you."
Zuzu blinked in confusion. "Huh?"
Daita chuckled lowly, tapping his chin. "I mean, you really look more beautiful as a woman… it's convincing. Makes me wonder—why didn't I think of this sooner?"
Zuzu jerked back, his mouth gaping open. "Seventh Prince! What are you saying?! And what's with that creepy smirk?!" He took another step back, looking scandalized.
"Don't tell me you're—!!"
"Idiot!" Daita cut him off sharply, flicking his forehead with a snap. "I told you, don't assume stupid things by yourself, mule bag."
Zuzu clutched his forehead, muttering under his breath while Daita just snickered, clearly enjoying himself way too much.
Just as Daita finished scolding Zuzu, a soft muttering floated to their ears.
Both of them turned sharply toward Arisu, who, still half-asleep against the wall, mumbled something. "…no… no more spinning… slow… slow carriage…"
Zuzu blinked. Daita sighed deeply, rubbing the back of his neck. He glanced at Zuzu, who immediately tensed as if sensing something bad coming.
"Zuzu," Daita said, voice low and far too serious. "I need your help again."
Zuzu hesitated but nodded slowly. A loyal servant through and through. But the very moment he nodded, Daita gave a small, sly smile and swiftly shoved Arisu into Zuzu's arms.
"Just drop her home," Daita said casually, brushing off his sleeves like it was no big deal.
"I have something to do, and I won't be here for the next two days. I'm leaving now."
"Eh—Wait, what?!" Zuzu barely had time to react before—
WHOOSH!
A strong gust of wind blasted against him as Daita disappeared in a flash, vanishing into the night like a rogue. The sudden wind made Zuzu's carefully styled hair whip wildly around his face, leaving him standing there, stunned and thoroughly disheveled, with a sleeping Arisu slumped in his arms.
Zuzu sighed heavily, his whole body sagging in defeat as he looked down at the snoring girl.
"…I accept my fate," he muttered, trudging toward the mansion like a man…no, woman marching to his doom.