I looked back at the big box in my hand that Fang had left. There was no way it only had a costume. The box was blue with a white ribbon or it, holding the lid. It stretched from my waist till my shoulder.

Taking it back inside, I undid the ribbon, and it slid down. As I lifted the lid, I saw a heavy dress. I could tell it would have a huge skirt for it to puff till the brim of this box. It looked expensive, something only the royals could buy in this kingdom. Fang sure was rich, after all, he took everything opportunistically.

I held the shoulder of the dress and lifted it up and as expected; it had a huge and layered skirt. It was sky blue and sparkles adorned the skirt. The dress was made of silk, but the outer layer of the skirt had a shiny material which gave a tiny indigo hue. A diamond belt held the waist of the dress and the upper section was simple, with some folds of the cloth stitched together.

The curving V-neck had a net like collar that fell over the chest area and had carvings of flowers on it. Sleeves of the dress continued to the collar, a transparent net that ended with frills at the wrist.

My eyes gawked at its beauty. How can I wear something so beautiful? I'd rather put it in some show piece and keep staring at it.

I was the Princess, someone who was supposed to grow up wearing such dresses every day, even though we were in the 1990s. But I grew up in dungeons, wearing scrubs or sometimes the maid outfits which Dandeline used to bring me from her closet. My heart was heavy after a long time remembering that part of my life. I guess I was not not as numb to it as I had thought I was.

I kept the dress back over the corset that was at the bottom of the box. It looked like a renaissance design. I hope Fang wasn't taking me to some cafe or restaurant wearing this. Even if I wear this to the castle, I would attract all the weird eyes.

It was almost one in the night. I slid the box under the bed and headed towards my condo. Luckily, the lights in the village were low, and I was wearing black. No one saw me as I entered the residential area, climbing up the stairs to the highest floor. I saw the condo that unexpectedly my father had bought for me and rang the doorbell.

Dandeline opened the door in a half asleep state. Her eyes narrowed at me and then suddenly realising who it was, the waterfall flowed down her eyes, "Pri- Madam, it took you so long"

"Shhh, you'll wake up the entire colony," I said hurriedly and pushed her inside, hastily slapping the door shut behind me. "Dandeline, you need to be careful. And get used to not calling me Princess already"

Dandeline sniffed, wiping her nose with the back of her hand, "Yes, madam. I heard you were injured. How are you? Is it big?" She started ruffling my clothes and checking where the injury was.

"I am fine, Dandeline." I said, holding her shoulder, "Pull yourself together, will you. Aren't you aware of my abilities?"

Dandeline was crying uncontrollably, watching me finally coming to live at the condo. "Yes, but-"

"Dandeline, we have a bigger mission to finish here," I said, cutting her mid way and her back straightened immediately. I wiped her face, and she staggered back, not letting the princess touch a mere maid. But I did not care about that status. "Go wash your face. Let's make something for dinner after that"

"No, no, Princess, you have been working hard," Dandeline wiped her face, "You sit here, let me serve you today. It is my duty after all." She turned but then stopped and asked, "Can I ask why did you enter the competition for Beta? It doesn't align with our mission here"

I chuckled, "Put a little more thought, Dandeline. Beta gets access to the village elders and a lot of other inside stuff. It is a position right below the Alpha, second in command of the village, after the elders. Even the police ranks below them."

"I see," Dandeline said, connecting the rest of the dots. "You make yourself comfortable I will prepare the dinner"

"Okay." I wouldn't say I was a good cook, and I had been eating too much of my simple homemade food. Finally, I would have some good food. I took a shower and changed into comfortable clothes. Remembering the text I had received previously, I informed her as I took a seat at the table, "My in-laws are leaving tomorrow. There is a feast for them and I will visit the castle for it. Help me dress up."

"Of course, madam, it would be my pleasure," Dandeline had sparkles in her eyes and it made me smile. This girl had given her entire life in my service, and there were very rare moments when I asked for her service on my own. "But Princess, we did not bring any dress befitting for the event," her voice held panic.

I thought about buying one from the capital before heading to the castle. Something befitting for a party at the castle.

Suddenly it clicked me. The dress Fang given to me for our date would be perfect. Too perfect that it made me doubt where exactly he was going to bring me for the date. He talked about going tomorrow, and did not mention when or where. How did I manage to be this absent minded!

As much as I knew Fang, he would surely pull this. What was he planning to do by taking me to the castle for a date? He knew it was where I come from. He couldn't be thinking of asking the King for my hand in marriage. Even if he were to introduce me as his date, it would be a done deal for me.

I had to cancel the date, but I did not have his number. Damn it!

"Madam?" Dandeline called, and I snapped out of my daze. "What about the dress?"

I murmured, "Let's buy it from the capital city tomorrow."

"Okay," she went back to her cooking. My feet paced briskly back and forth in the room, not understanding how to talk to Fang. I did not have his number, he probably got mine from my thoughts, and I had no choice but to wait till his call. I couldn't possibly go to Channing and ask. It would be too awkward now.

I will just have to wait for Fang to call me tomorrow and refuse him, then. He had said he would call hours before the date, possibly giving time for me to prepare myself. I will tell him then and postpone the plans.

As I stood near the window, my eyes caught sight of a person in disguise walk out of the same building. He wore all black and baggy clothes, but his buffed body was still visible. Somewhere I guessed it to be Channing, but in the night's dark I couldn't be sure. He was looking around as he strode away from the building.

The person walked ahead, and I saw Sam seated near the fountain in the middle of the residential area. The man in black handed two sets of paper to Sam and explained something before looking around and walking away.

"Madam, the dinner is ready," I heard Dandeline and walked back to the dining table after seeing Sam go back to his home.

After thinking for some more time, I ignored what I just saw. I did not expect Sam to do any shady work, so putting my head in that matter was useless. There were already too many questions weighing on my mind today, and I wanted no more.