“Excuse me?”

I asked, without moving a single muscle in my face—though internally… well, I won’t say I screamed, but it was close.

Navia smiled. That smile she used when she was about to drop a bomb in a sweet, charming voice.

“I said we’ll pretend to be a couple. It’s the only way to infiltrate Countess Margot’s private event. It’s an exclusive gala… only for committed couples.”

“And there was no other option? No one else available? No other agent in the corps?”

“Oh, of course there were. But none as adorable as you when you’re nervous.”

“Breathe, Clorinde. Breathe.”
That’s what I told myself in that moment.

I’d like to say I refused. That I stood my ground. That I put logic and professionalism first.

But when duty calls, one obeys.
Even when that “duty” comes disguised as an elegant dress and sea-blue eyes wearing an all-too-satisfied expression.

“Ready?”

Navia asked as she stepped closer, adjusting a flower in my hair with unnecessary slowness.

“I’m doing my best to maintain my composure.”

“Oh, I can tell,”
she whispered near my ear.
“But you still look too stiff. Couples don’t stand with their backs so straight. Come a little closer.”

“I’m not sure that’s necessary.”

“Do you want them to get suspicious?”

I sighed. And slowly, I let her guide me until I was beside her, her arm linked with mine.

“That’s better,”
she said softly. Then she added, lower,
“Besides, it’s not so bad, is it?”

I didn’t answer. I wasn’t going to give her the satisfaction.

The gala was a parade of fake smiles, shimmering dresses, and expensive wine glasses. Navia fit in perfectly, like an actress in her element.
I, on the other hand… felt like a knife inside a velvet case.

“You need to relax a little, mon amour,”
she suddenly said, turning to me with a clearly provocative tone.

“What are you doing?”

“Flirting, obviously. We’re a couple, remember?”

And without another word, she took my hand in hers.

I swallowed.

Things only got worse when one of the hosts approached us, a glass in hand and an unreadable smile on his face.

“Ah, the newly engaged couple. You can tell you’re in love,”
he remarked lightly.
“How long have you been together?”

Navia didn’t even blink.

“Two years. Right, darling?”

I nodded. Automatically. Almost mechanically.
But then Navia slid an arm around my waist… and pulled me against her.

“It was love at first sight,”
she added, never taking her eyes off the host, lowering her voice just slightly.
“Although… at first she was very shy with me. Very shy.”

My face was burning.

When the host left, laughing and wishing us luck in our marriage, I turned to her with narrowed eyes.

“You’re enjoying this way too much.”

“It’s not my fault you look beautiful when you’re nervous,”
she replied without a hint of shame.
“Besides, you need to improve your performance. Couples kiss, you know.”

“No.”

“No to the kiss… or you didn’t know?”

“Navia…”

She smiled like she’d just won a battle, though she didn’t move any closer. She simply toyed with the wine glass in her hand.

“I’ll let it slide for today. But if we keep up this charade… eventually you’ll have to kiss me.”

“We’ll see,”
I said sharply. But my voice lacked its usual firmness. And she noticed. Of course she did.

Because she leaned in and whispered to me with dangerous sweetness:

“The best part of this mission… is that I don’t have to pretend I like you.”