The Fox, The Fury,and a fiasco mess.
Princess Vixen, having successfully cemented herself to Sterling, refused to budge. Her fox tail swished excitedly, creating a small, persistent breeze that ruffled Sterling's perfectly coiffed hair. She was a whirlwind of flirtatious, bold, and energetic chaos.
"Oh, my dearest Sterling," Vixen purred, tilting her head back to look up at him with wide, dramatically pleading eyes. "You simply must save me! The castle is full of stuffy wolves, and I fear my mother has sent her most terrifying hound—I mean, butler—to drag me back to endless, boring diplomatic teas!"
As if on cue, a tall, imposing wolf shifter with a severe expression and an immaculate grey uniform rounded the corner. This was Lord Fenris, the Fox Kingdom's head retainer, and his jaw was set in granite.
"Princess Vixen!" Fenris's voice boomed, sharp and devoid of warmth. "It is time to depart. His Majesty requires your presence for the trade negotiations with the Southern Clans."
Vixen squealed dramatically and tightened her hold on Sterling, using him as a human (or rather, wolf) shield. "See, Sterling? Torture! He wants to subject me to hours of talk about silver mines and wool tariffs! Protect me! Tell him I am suffering from a sudden, terribly urgent need to discuss… the state of your exquisite coat buttons."
Sterling, despite the overwhelming absurdity of the situation, handled it with his usual unflappable grace. His wolf ears twitched slightly with exasperation, but he merely offered a small, polite cough. "Lord Fenris, with all due respect, the Princess does appear to be... indisposed," he said, using the diplomatic equivalent of she's being ridiculous.
Lyraen, now standing with Usagi, couldn't
suppress a grin, finding the chaos oddly funny and refreshing. He squeezed Usagi's hand. "Sterling is a saint," he muttered, shaking his head.
Usagi, still giggling, leaned over to Lyraen. "She's so bold! And her tail-wags are spectacular!" she whispered.
Princess Vixen, hearing the laughter, finally turned her attention to the royal couple, her eyes narrowing. She saw Lyraen holding Usagi's hand, and her problematic nature kicked in.
"Oh, Prince Lyraen!" she chirped, finally stepping away from Sterling, only to loop her arm through his instead, giving Sterling a quick, conspiratorial wink. "You haven't told me about your guest." She looked Usagi up and down with exaggerated scrutiny, her fox ears turning inward slightly. "Such a simple dress, and those... droopy ears? Well, never mind, I suppose. Sterling and I were just leaving to explore a very private, very interesting part of the castle. Do try not to get into trouble while we're gone, dear," she finished, a sly smirk aimed squarely at Usagi.
This time, it wasn't Lyraen who reacted with fury, but Sterling. He gently but firmly disentangled himself from Vixen's grasp. The soft, sad look from moments ago was replaced by a sharp, protective gaze fixed on Usagi.
"Princess Vixen," Sterling said, his voice dropping to a low, warning register that immediately commanded attention. "The lady standing next to His Highness is Queen Usagi, and she is far from a guest. I suggest you apologize for your unwarranted rudeness immediately."
Vixen blinked, her flirtatious façade cracking for the first time. The casual chaos was suddenly gone, replaced by the weight of royal protocol. Her head snapped to Lyraen, who simply nodded, confirming Sterling's statement. The flustered fox princess had finally gone too far.