Curiosity shown like a flame behind her eyes as she stepped forward, paired with an inquisitive tilt to her head as she stared. Though she did not recognize the man from the court of her past or any of the denizens she had spied in her world before, the unfamiliarity did not deter her. Instead, it intrigued her. Her father had made it seem that beyond those that they knew, there were more that the Celestial Dragon had guided to them—this man must’ve been one of them.

And so she similarly approached him as she would have had he been a citizen of their empire who had requested an audience with the royal family. Carefully and with poise. Just as her tradition had taught her.

A smile, gentle and soft beneath the clouded evening, parted across her lips as she lowered her head into a minor bow. My apologies if I startled you, She countered as her attention swiftly caught the rising of his guard hairs. Perhaps it had not been the wisest decision to sneak up on others in the dark, but alas, Fen had never been good at keeping her nose where it shouldn’t be.

This was just a prime example of one of those times.

A velveteen laugh parted behind her lips, following in the shadows of his own, as her eyes glimmered with quiet amusement. It had been a long time since someone had not recognized her, and oddly enough, the informality of his question was relieving.

I’m Princess Fen, daughter of the Emperor Shēnléi of the Tianlong Dynasty, She introduced herself with a sense of nonchalance, as her tail swayed quietly behind her. And you? What is your name, stranger?

Sometimes, when she really thought long and hard about it, the titles and propriety of her royal lineage almost felt like she was playing dress-up in a role that she shouldn’t. Alas, she shook the title from her mind easily as her gaze flashed toward the surface of the water behind him.

Have the fish given you any positive news? She inquired.