They slowed down as they neared the kitchen doors, their gait casual as if they were guests for the party rather than two wanted outlaws who’d just incited a massive prison escape.

The kitchen doors swung open again. Two waitresses pushed out a cart loaded with champagne bottles and flutes. As the doors swung, Aina caught a glimpse of the kitchen.

At least twenty workers were in there, cooking meat on the large stoves, chopping vegetables on the tables, and setting up trays of food.

“Too many people,” she whispered with a shake of her head.

Teo nodded toward another door farther down the hall, open by a small crack.

They walked toward it, and Aina waited, listening. Inside, people were rummaging through pots and pans and speaking in low voices. She swung open the door.

Three kitchen workers stood inside the small pantry. Before they could do more than look up, she and Teo had each grabbed one of the workers, putting them into holds that made them lose consciousness in seconds.

The third worker had flattened herself against the pantry wall and looked too scared to do anything other than stare at them with an open mouth.

As Teo removed the jackets, aprons, and hats of the two unconscious employees, Aina placed the tip of a dagger at the third one’s jaw.

“You saw nothing,” she whispered. The woman gulped and nodded, then winced as the blade clipped her chin with the movement.

They tossed aside the Diamond Guard uniforms and donned the kitchen attire, Aina stuffing her scarf in the apron’s pocket. All three employees they’d attacked were women closer to Aina’s size, so while the uniform fit her well enough, Teo had to squeeze into the blouse and apron, ripping one of the sleeves in the process.

Fighting down a laugh, she asked, “Are you off to bake some cakes? Maybe an apple pie?”

He shook his head while tugging on the tight sleeves. “Shut it, or I’ll bake you into an apple pie.”

They left through the same door and made their way down the hall. According to Ryuu, if they walked straight for another few minutes, they’d reach a stairwell two floors above the balcony that surrounded the main ballroom where the princess would receive the black diamond.

A pair of Diamond Guards rounded the corner as they went. They both nodded politely at the officers, but the two were engaged in such a low, rushed argument that they hardly noticed the kitchen employees walking by them.

As Teo walked on, Aina dropped to a crouch and pretended to tie her shoes. Straining her ears, she caught snatches of the conversation.

Once the guards disappeared, she caught up with Teo and whispered, “They know there’s been a breakout. Apparently, they’ve taken most of the Diamond Guards out of the main part of the Tower to try to get the prisoners back.”

“At least there will be less of them around to notice us.”

She nodded stiffly. “You should go meet up with Ryuu and Raurie. I’ll find Kohl.”