Chapter 105: Operation: Trojan Horse (Musical Edition)

It is Sunday. It is the day of the Imperial Garden Party.

It is terrifying.

There are so many security guards. They all have earpieces. They all look like they could kill me with a single finger.

I am standing in the staff entrance line.

The cello case is digging into my shoulder.

Toujo is ahead of me in the line, and he is holding a tray of empty glasses. He is sweating profusely.

"Name?" the security guard asks him.

"Uh, Chef Boyardee?" Toujo stammers.

I close my eyes. We are doomed.

The guard checks his list. "Toujo Shoji. Assistant Caterer Class-C. Go on in. Try not to sweat on the hors d'oeuvres."

"Yes sir! Thank you sir!" Toujo sprints inside.

It is my turn.

The guard looks at me. He looks at the giant case.

"Name?"

"Yamada Hanako," I say. It is the cellist's name.

He checks the list. "Cellist. Okay. Open the case."

My heart stops.

If he opens it, he will see the dress. He will see the makeup.

"It is tuned," I say. My voice is stiff. "It is very precisely tuned. If you open it, the humidity will ruin it. I will have to re-tune it. It will take an hour. The Crown Prince will be furious if the music is late."

I am channeling Mariko. I am using the Crown Prince threat.

The guard hesitates. He does not want to make Takahito mad.

He looks at me. I give him my best tortured artist glare.

"Fine," he grunts. "Go ahead. Musicians are always such a pain."

I did it.

I walk through the metal detector.

I am inside.

The Palace grounds are huge. It is like a different world. Everything is green and perfectly manicured.

I see rich people everywhere. They are wearing fancy kimonos and expensive suits.

I feel like a cockroach in a jewelry box.

"Psst! Aoi-chan!"

It is Rika's voice. She is hiding behind a perfectly square bush. She made it in as Mariko's assistant.

"Over here! The changing room is this way!"

We run to a small gardener's shed that Mariko secured for us.

I open the cello case. I pull out the dress.

"Okay," Rika says, her hands shaking as she unpins my severe bun. "There are ten minutes until the Crown Prince makes his speech. You have to be ready to walk out when he is finished."

I strip off the grey uniform.

I put on the midnight-blue armor.

Rika does my hair. It is not a bun. She lets it down, but styles it in elegant, deadly waves.

She applies the makeup. It is sharp eyeliner and dark red lipstick.

I look in the small dusty mirror in the shed.

I do not recognize myself.

I look dangerous. I look regal.

"You are ready," Rika whispers. She is crying again.

I take a deep breath.

I am Bloody Twilight. I am Aoi Isuzu.

And I am here to steal a Prince.

I kick open the shed door.

It is showtime.