"Disguise," Elenya replied, already dipping a brush into dark something. "You want to enter the City Lord's estate wearing your true face? Be my guest.
"You're going to paint me like a noble's concubine."
"Shut up and tilt your head."
Reth groaned but complied. "I fought a sewer monster. And now I'm being remade into another person using powder."
Asthia leaned back and smiling. "Told you we had a plan."
"You didn't say it involved this."
"You didn't ask."
Elenya worked quickly, intently. She applied a painted-on scar across his cheek, deepened his jawline, and even changed the shape of his brow. It was strange how altered he already was.
"There," she said at last. "You don't look like an outlaw anymore."
"What do I look like?"
"Like someone nobody would go out of their way to remember."
Asthia regarded Reth, then turned to regard Elenya, who was continuing to put away her brushes.
"…Hey," Asthia spoke softly. "Do me next."
Elenya blinked. "Seriously?"
"I can't just draw a hood over my hair and pray no one sees. I need more than that."
Elenya arched an eyebrow, but she was already digging back into her bag. "Alright, sit down. You sure about this?"
Asthia nodded, taking the circlet off again and sitting down in the chair. "Let's do it before I change my mind."
Elenya extracted a tiny jar of dark brown paste and a comb. "I'm just going to temporarily dye it. It'll come out in a few days—unless you work too hard, in which case. you'll just be ugly."
"Can't wait," Asthia grumbled.
Elenya set to work, combing the dye into her silver locks. The color slowly changed from bright to muddy brown.
Reth observed, half in entertainment. "It's like witnessing a queen transform into a barkeep."
Elenya worked efficiently. She bound Asthia's hair into place, pinned it next to her scalp, and cleansed her hands of the task on a rag. Then there was the makeup—a little enough to mellow out her sharp face, flatten the radiance from her skin, and lend her a rougher edge.
"Okay," Elenya said, taking a step back. "No more Princess. You look. like you've been through some stuff."
Asthia caught her reflection in the broken mirror in front of her. "Good. That's just how I feel."
Reth watched them, a brow raised. "Okay, what's going on now?"
Elenya waved him off. "Nothing. Just some girls doing felony-level disguise. Sit still, pretty boy."
Asthia stood slowly, balancing. "So? Do I pass?"
Reth gave her a once-over and nodded. "You look like someone who could stab a guy in an alley and walk away without anyone remembering your face."
"Perfect," she said, adjusting the cloak.
Asthia then glanced at Reth's arm and noticed the blood had finally stopped seeping through the bandage. She let out a quiet breath of relief and looked at him.
The bleeding's stopped," she replied. "You don't need to push yourself. If you wish to remain here and rest, Elenya and I can manage the initial section."
Reth shook his head almost at once, sitting up a little straighter in spite of the pain. "Not going to happen. I'm your bodyguard, Miss. If you're walking into danger, I'm not remaining behind.
Asthia watched him for a moment, her face impassive. Then, without saying a word, she scooted under the table and produced a folded stack of dark fabric, throwing it at him.
"What's this?" Reth asked, catching it.
"Uniform," Asthia said, producing a matching set for herself. "Catering staff for tonight's banquet. The City Lord's party.
Reth held up the outfit, raising an eyebrow. "You're kidding. From sewer monster to waiter in one day?"
Asthia's lips curved in a faint smirk. "Think of it as blending in. Besides, you'll look less suspicious carrying a tray than carrying a sword."
Reth snorted. "Fine. But if anyone asks me for wine refills, I'm going to give them a good service."
Asthia did not hear him grumbling, already shedding her disguise cloak and switching into the uniform piece by piece. "We sneak in, gather some clues some information of whats happening and get out, we wont dig much deeper we are not in condition to."
Elenya tightened the final strap on Asthia's uniform and stood back. "Okay. You two are now the world's least cheerful catering staff. Redhill's upper echelon will adore you."
Asthia donned a simple cap to conceal what remained of her colored hair, looked at Reth, and said,
"Ready?"
Reth hunched his shoulders, wincing at the tugging on his wound. "Yeah. Let's go make some trouble.