Marcus starts to enjoy looking pretty

It was late afternoon, and the young prince was once again sitting in front of the mirror, turning his head from side to side as he examined the pretty girl staring back at him. He'd finished putting on his makeup and it was quite a shock just how much difference a day and a half of lessons on femininity with Coraline had made. Marcus had always known he looked kind of girly, and there even had been times where guests to the Castle had mistaken him for a princess, but right now he knew no-one would ever think he was a boy at all.

It wasn't just the dye on his lips or the powder round his eyes, making his lashes look even longer and prettier. He was also wearing another very pretty dress, this one pale blue and quite cut high up his thighs, with lots of ribbons and frills on the hem. Underneath, a soft silk gown that felt very nice on his bare skin. Then, over his feet, he wore a pair of long white socks, and some comfy velvety shoes. His hair was quite long anyway, for a boy's, but Coraline had made it up to look even more girly, brushing it out until it was smooth and silky, and tying it with two blue ribbons into a pair of cute little tails. Even the way he was sitting was meant to be feminine, with a nice, straight back, his legs folded demurely over each other and his head up, to show off his pretty face his maid had told him.

It should have all been very embarrassing, especially since he knew he was about to go out in public looking like this. Marcus usually hated being mistaken for a girl, but right now he felt a warm little thrill at the thought of that annoying Castus getting tricked. He and Coraline were working together to hide who he was from his nasty uncle and all those horrible soldiers. It felt like a game or an adventure to the young prince. Even if he was worried about getting caught, when he looked like this there didn't seem much chance of anyone at all guessing his secret just from looking at him. All he had to do was remember what he'd been taught and everything would be fine, right?

"Oh, you look so very pretty!" Coraline cooed from the side, looking into the mirror over his shoulder. She was wearing a much more practical woolen dress and a shawl over her shoulders, but it still couldn't hide the large swell of her massive boobs. "My baby girl, you're just gorgeous right now."

"Thank you, Mama." Marcus blushed, the pink flooding into his pale cheeks somehow making him look even more girly.

"We'll be meeting the Lieutenant soon." The maid continued excitedly, fussing around him like a mother hen as she adjusted some of the ribbons on his dress. "He's going to want to talk to you a lot when he sees you looking so good. We've got to make sure you don't make him suspicious when you answer. First, what's your name?"

"My name is Marcia, your daughter of eighteen." Marcus replied quickly. "I've lived with you my entire life after my Father left us when I was very young. I was sick a lot as a girl so I didn't get out very much, but I'd just recently started joining you in working at the Castle as a maid before the soldiers attacked." It wasn't hard to remember any of this. Coraline had made him say the whole story over and over this morning until he could recall every word.

"Very good." Coraline nodded. "What do you like doing, Marcia?"

"Um, I enjoy sewing and cooking for my Mama." Marcus continued shyly, his long lashes fluttering. "I spent a lot of time alone because of my sickly childhood while you were working to support us both, so I wanted to help as much as I could."

"Oh you are just adorable!" The maid clapped her hands, a delighted smile on her face. "Just keep acting that way when you're talking to the Lieutenant. Shy and demure, remember? He's going to say anything he can to charm you into bed, that's the way men always are around a pretty girl, but you mustn't listen, okay Marcia?"

"Yes Mama, I'll be careful." Marcus nodded, knowing by now it was better to just go along with what she said. In his head, he didn't think there was much chance of that annoying soldier charming him into anything. He might be dressed like a girl right now, but that didn't mean he wanted much to do with the man. This was all just to make sure his uncle didn't catch him! Even if he was starting to enjoy wearing makeup and looking pretty, and even if the thought of being mistaken for a girl was kind of thrilling.

"Okay, up you get!" Coraline stepped back. "We're meeting the Lieutenant at the town square and I don't doubt he'll be there early. The man's just **** to meet you again." Marcus shuffled off the chair, carefully smoothing down his dress. It was so pretty, he didn't want it to get any creases or anything. Funny how he'd never bothered that much with his boy's clothes, but then they'd never looked quite as nice on him. Coraline reached over and grabbed his hand, her fingers gently stroking his own. Despite what they were doing, tricking a soldier and risking capture, she didn't seem at all nervous. Marcus took in a sharp little breath, squeezing her hand back. If she was brave, he could be too! Fooling that annoying Castus was going to be simple, he told himself, as she gently pulled him over to the door. All he had to do was remember what she'd told him.