A Farewell to Charms by Lindsey Leavitt

done for generations was wrong. Especially when they had things like boy blush to worry about.
    Isabel was still going. “…I appreciate the venerable traditions of sovereigns and surrogates past, and think those relationships should continue into the ages. Let us not forget, we work for monarchs, for the elite, the exalted, and the privileged. We must not lose our credibility by adapting the ideals of…” She paused, making a face. “Democracy. We have a wonderful institution here. I elect we keep Façade exactly the way it is. Thank you.”
    Lilith burst into applause. The crowd followed with polite clapping. Genevieve cleared her throat. “Well, thank you for those heartfelt adulations. Glad to hear you support Façade so fervently. A lovely note to end on, I believe. Ambassadors, you know the framework for future meetings, and you will be contacted when it’s time for you to address the council. This section of the meeting will now close so we might celebrate our newest member. Please, enjoy the music and food, and thank you all for your hard work at Façade!”
    Well, that was a royal waste of time. I turned to tell Meredith this, along with a bunch of other grievances, but she was already standing, already being whisked away by the congratulatory masses. She was glowing and laughing and…happy. It was the happiest I’d seen her at work, almost as happy as she was with her prince. I sighed. Great. That wasn’t something I could mess with, not today. Yet another important topic to save for another time. I might explode with all the save-upiness inside me.
    The crowd spilled into Dorshire Hall. Banquet tables and bouquets of fresh flowers added more appeal to the eloquent space. I set my sights on the dessert table. At least they would have cream puffs. Cream puffs would never leave me. Cream puffs would never promise a revolution and then provide a student council speech. They may be puffy, but they are true to what they are.
    I reached the table and took in the petit fours, the iced tiara cookies, the macaroons. There weren’t any cream puffs. The one thing I wanted, and Façade couldn’t deliver. Typical. I settled for an éclair. An éclair and a fleeting chance that anything at Façade would ever change.
    A brass band jammed in the corner as waiters circled with appetizers. Agents mingled with council members, who chatted with people I’d never seen before, serving on committees I’d never heard of. If this many people were at an “exclusive” event, it made me wonder how big Façade really was. Meredith’s promotion was a very big deal. And if she was a big deal now, was she still going to have time for me? If I didn’t have Meredith on my side, who did I have?
    The other Level Threes stood in a circle near the salad bar. Reed caught my eye and nodded me over. Oh, goodie. Maybe Gregory would share ideas on how to save his manly cuticles. And I wasn’t too eager to talk to Reed, either, since our conversations left me feeling so sweet and sour. And Lilith’s little prodigy…no thanks. Still. I didn’t know these other subs. Maybe one would turn to me and say, “You know what I was just thinking, Desi? That whole magic-stealing thing is a bummer. Let’s lobby against that, K?”
    Gregory was receiving compliments on his moving cosmetics speech. I leaned back on my crutches and tried to eat my éclair in silence, but when he started to compare himself to some of the American founding fathers, I snorted.
    Gregory squinted at me. “Is there a problem?”
    I swallowed the rest of my éclair and licked my fingers. “No. I mean, its just makeup. Not life or death.”
    “Do you know how hard it is to get in character for a self-confident prince like Harry when I don’t feel confident underneath? Do you?”
    “Harry?” I asked. “Prince Harry? Of England? You sub for him?”
    “I’m his Match. And as such, I deserve the same respect and privileges afforded our agents.”
    “You’re still