Miku

"For the greater good…" The words that Phantom had used were all Miku had to hold onto, to keep her from breaking her promise. "Was this a mission worth dying for?" she had wondered so many times. "Even if it makes me a hero?" The possibility of ending up dead after this was greater than she wanted to admit to herself. "I never asked to be a hero." It hadn't mattered the tiniest bit to Phantom, though.

"I'm starting a revolution, Miku, and you shall be its epicenter." Then he handed her the narrow, cloth-wrapped object. "Do you know what I want you to do?" he asked. Her eyes cast down, she gave a slight but affirmative nod. "Good," he replied. "And it must be done tonight. There aren't any second chances. Besides, you know that the magic of your persona will only last-"
"Until the clock sticks midnight," Miku said. "I know the spell."

Slowly, she pulled the many layers of silky fabric away from the object he had handed her, revealing a small, shining dagger, which she held at arm's length, examining it for a moment, before wrapping it up again.

So now, here she was, the ball gown clad assassin, come to kill the prince, and start a revolution in the name of a greater good.

Luka & Gakupo

The carriage came to a halt and the driver climbed down from his seat to open the door. A tall man with long purple hair stepped out, accompanied by a woman with almost equally long hair, which was pink. They were speaking quietly to each other.

"What was Kaito thinking, having a ball at a time like this?" asked the woman. "It hardly seems right, seeing as the kingdom is in such a state."

"I know," agreed the man. "But we're here anyway, so we might as well enjoy ourselves. I hear there's going to be a foreign guest, a princess no less."

"Is that so? I hadn't heard. Not a relative of Lady Meiko's, is she?" She asked with a smile.

He laughed, "Not at all. I believe her name is Miku. I didn't catch where she was from though."

"I imagine her parents are some king and queen of a small country, hoping to get their daughter married to the prince," the woman suggested.

"Well, I wish them luck. Price Kaito certainly doesn't seem interested in getting married. Meiko's already tried that," the man added.

They had reached a pair of great wooden doors, and a guard appeared to escort them inside.

"Duke," said the guard, bowing his head politely, "Duchess." He led them inside to the main entry hall. "I will let the Prince know you have arrived," he said, then left the room. Kaito appeared a moment later.

"Gakupo, Luka, I'm glad you could come. How are things on the eastern border?" he asked.

"Well enough." Gakupo replied. He glanced over at Luka, to see if she had something to say, as she often did on this subject. She didn't try to hide the fact that she thought very little of the way things were run, although she didn't believe it was Kaito's fault. He'd been left with quite a mess after his father died. The villages were rarely calm, but so far were lucky enough to not have had any rebellions.

Kaito moved quickly to another subject, which just happened to be the foreign princess, "She ought to be arriving very soon," he said.

"Where is it that she's from?" Luka asked, hoping to get an answer to her and Gakupo's earlier conversation.

"Um," Kaito looked slightly uncomfortable at this, but brightened up as he said, "Ah, look, you can ask her yourself in a moment. A carriage just pulled up."

Gakupo and Luka turned around to see a girl with turquoise hair coming up the path. She had on a heavy looking pink gown with diamonds stitched into the fabric. Upon seeing Kaito, she looked away slightly. However, when she came close enough to speak with them, she looked directly in his eyes and said, "You must be the prince, Kaito. I've heard so much about you," she was smiling, but laced within her smile, and buried under the sweetness of her voice, was something else. Only none of them could see it, least of all Kaito, for he was immediately captivated by her. Just as had been the plan.

Miku

She followed Kaito and the two other guests into the ballroom. The music could be heard from halfway down the hallway. It sounded like a good time. She wished she was really here as a guest, as the foreign princess she was posing as. There wasn't any way she could enjoy herself, knowing what she would have to do. She realized that she was standing alone now. The other two guests she had been with had dispersed into the crowd and were speaking to a woman in a red dress. She couldn't see Kaito anywhere, so she helped herself to a tasty looking cake on the refreshments table. Just as she finished it, she felt a hand on her shoulder. Startled, she turned her head quickly to see who it was. Her bag fell from her shoulder with a heavy clatter. She attempted to bend down to retrieve it, but was restricted by her dress. Instead Kaito, who had been the one to tap her in the first place, returned it to her. He made no comment about its unusual weight or any inquiry as to its contents. She exhaled in relief as she slipped the purse back onto her arm. However, her plight was only just beginning.

"Miku," he said, smiling, "I'm sorry, I lost track of you when we were coming in. I meant to introduce you to some of the others here."

"Oh, it's fine," she replied, also smiling, "I was just sampling some of the pastries. They're quite delicious."

Kaito laughed. "I'm sure Rin and Len will be glad to hear it. They spent most of the week preparing for today. They're the main servants of the castle," he added.

"Well, pass along my compliments then," Miku said.

"I will," he replied, pausing for a moment before changing the subject by saying, "I suppose, seeing as this is a ball, we ought to dance. Would you do me the honor?" He offered his arm to escort her. She started to take it, but remembered the dagger hanging there. The bag was small, so she quickly tucked it inside her dress. The clock was just chiming seven as they began to dance.